NASHVILLE (AP) UNDERWOOD The opening day of the Country Music Association’s annual festival found many fans like Ray and Nyra Draper jostling for a signature or a snapshot of their favorite artist ? or wondering where their favorites were. Many claim the 34-year-old event that prides itself on interaction with the stars isn’t as cozy…

TO THE EDITOR: Let?s take a trip to newly renovated downtown McMinnville today. First let?s find a place to park. We have parked in front of the old City Drug store. Now let?s go look at some antiques. We spend about 30 minutes looking in each antique store downtown. Now it is kind of warm…

TO THE EDITOR: I am already missing the coverage of the Pamela Rogers saga by the Southern Standard. Like the spring, it burst into full color onto the front page, had several ups and downs, then faded as she was finally committed. I don?t know what it did to the paper?s circulation, but it made…

Cokie & Steven Roberts When the great racehorse Barbaro shattered a leg, his career ended. Democracy also runs on four legs: the two chambers of Congress, the presidency and the Supreme Court. If one collapses, the whole system crashes, and that’s exactly what’s happening now in the House of Representatives. With 435 members, who represent…

James Clark The search for a new McMinnville city administrator has come down to this ? two people I?ve never heard of, who come from places I?ve never heard of. A look at the two finalists reveals in one corner there is a Mr. David Rutherford from Springfield, Ga. I?ve heard of Springfield, Ill., but…

Morton Kondracke Dismal new results on U.S. student performance in science ought to spur Congress to pass President Bush’s competitiveness agenda this year — and to extend his “No Child Left Behind” program to high schools. The competitiveness agenda — which includes scholarships aimed at producing 10,000 more science teachers per year as well as…

Margo Howard Dear Margo: My wife and I were married last June. We have yet to consummate the marriage. She is very reluctant to have physical contact of any kind with me. This reluctance does not extend to her three dogs, to whom she is very attentive. I am a fairly romantic guy, but all…

Actress and comedian Kathy Griffin will appear at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center?s Andrew Jackson Hall on Sunday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. to deliver the juiciest, funniest, most out-of-control celebrity secrets live and in person. America?s favorite celebrity dirt-dishing comedian stops in Nashville on her national tour following the success of several Bravo specials,…

Somewhere between when Father’s Day was first established in June of 1910 and present day the tie has become synonymous with the holiday. One may never know just who introduced the tie into the picture. It certainly wasn’t the person credited for making Father’s Day a mainstream holiday. Sonora Dodd, of Washington, came up with…

Bonner FCEC met May 12 in the Magnolia Room of the Warren Administration Building. Vita Gulley conducted the meeting with Hilda Lytle attending as a guest. Freda Bouldin read ?The Watchers,? and gave the prayer. The club gave the pledge to the flag. Agent Lytle presented a program on ?Med Wise, concerning prescription medicines. It?s…