By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard RHINEHART State Rep. Charles Curtiss has tried to remain optimistic throughout budget discussions. But that optimism was missing from his voice Thursday after a 4.5 percent flat rate income tax failed in the House, 49-45, Wednesday.“My greatest concern is we’re going to get in a quagmire…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard TANNER Mystery still surrounds the death of a local auto dealer as crime teams are completing their three-day investigation of his Viola Highway home where his body was found Tuesday morning.“We’re going to keep working this as a homicide until we are told otherwise,” said…

Waymon (Clint) Hale, Donald Holt Lawson, Rev. James D. Waddell, Eliza Jane Odineal, Edith L. Bates, Francis Katie Cantrell, Hoyte M. Bell Waymon (Clint) Hale, 26McMinnville resident and Warren County native Waymon Clinton Hale, 26, died unexpectedly May 18 at his home.A construction foreman with Waymon H. Hale Construction and a member of Northside Baptist…

TO THE EDITOR: This is in reference to your editorial that appeared in the Friday, May 17 edition of the Southern Standard.First, let me agree with you that a tragedy was avoided. The system worked as it was intended. The school personnel did their jobs. Mr. Troy Jones should be commended for teaching gun safety…

By Duane Sherrill / Columnist Every man has a certain possession to which he has a special connection, a possession which women do their best to separate from them.For some men, it’s an old ratty T-shirt with mustard stains on it or a tattered pair of old tennis shoes with the soles flopping off. For…

By Will Stewart / Columnist Since 1996, when the Republican-sponsored welfare reform bill went into effect, welfare roles have been cut in half, to only 5.3 million, and the proportion of children in poverty has declined to the lowest level in two decades.It’s hard to argue with results and I have to give credit where…

Together for the first time in Cumberland County Playhouse’s revival of The Foreigner, Terry Schwab and Jason Ross will star in the wild comedy which opens May 23 in Crossville. During its Crossville run extending through Sept. 15, the show also visits Knoxville’s Bijou Theater on Fridays June 28 through July 9.Schwab leads the Playhouse…

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard Boyd Christian High School honored its upper classmen recently at a Junior/Senior Reception aboard the General Jackson riverboat in Nashville.The students and their dates, President C.N. Womack, Principal Eva Ferrell, high school faculty and other chaperones enjoyed a formal dinner and entertainment while cruising…

Best known for chart-toppers “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” “Puppy Love” and “(You’re) Having My Baby,” Paul Anka is one of only a few artists in history to have a record on Billboard’s Top 50 charts for five consecutive decades. With well over 900 songs to his credit, he has been named among the…

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard Scott Dunham goes all out with creativity and color as he makes a tie-dyed T-shirt. Art students at Warren County High School accepted new challenges with eagerness and anticipation when recently participating in the High School Art/Vocational Craft Program at the Appalachian Center for…