By JAMES CLARK / Business Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) Patsy Roller emerged from a Three Star Mall crowd estimated at 3,000 to win a 2002 Chevy Cavalier Friday night. Mall officials say they received about 7,500 entries. For all the folks who spent the last few weeks collecting tickets to try and…

By Jim Glenn / Columnist “Welcome to Wal-Mart!”“Would you like to super-size that order?”“May I show you something in a different size?”These are some of the phrases and questions you might start practicing if you’re among the millions of Americans who take seasonal jobs during the holidays to bring in a little extra spending money.…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Charges have been leveled against a pair of local women accused of stealing purses from customers at Wal-Mart.The suspects, Teresa N. Baker, 46, and Betty E. Conley, 36, are both charged with forgery and theft for allegedly stealing purses over the weekend from shoppers at…

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard SPIVEY Acquitted on child abuse charges last week, teacher Teresa Spivey will return to the classroom after the holidays, Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale confirmed yesterday.“We talked it over and she will be returning to teach at Bobby Ray,” Hale said.Spivey, 36, was charged…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard BRANDON WILEY The absence of their attorney from court Wednesday will mean the two teens accused of trying to murder their father will remain in detention at least until Monday.The suspects, Gregory Wiley Jr., 17, and Brandon C. Wiley, 15, were scheduled for a detention…

By TOM SHARP / Associated Press BREDESEN NASHVILLE — The state cannot strip any more TennCare recipients from the rolls and must reinstate roughly 200,000 people who have lost their coverage since July 1, a judge has ruled.If the ruling stands, it could cost the state $300 million between now and the end of the…

By Rob Nunley / Columnist In the spirit of the season, a new look at “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas),” with apologies to Major Henry Livingston Jr.:———Five days before Christmas, in the wide world of sports;sixth-graders were running, up basketball courts.And faithfully there, right up in the…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard The Warren County Middle School Lady Pioneer sixth-grade team advanced to the tournament finals on Tuesday night with a 35-6 win over the Lady Bulldogs of Eastside.The Lady Pioneers played a complete game as solid defense controlled Eastside’s offense. The Lady Bulldogs were held to…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) Dibrell’s Sloan Sweeton (42) and Morrison’s Carly Potter (23) and Melita Pelham go for a loose ball on a rebound during Tuesday’s semifinal matchup. (Rob Nunley photo) Morrison’s sixth-grade girls had little trouble reaching the championship game of the Warren County Middle School…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Eastside’s Tyler Gilley (33) weaves his way down the floor against Dibrell defenders Dylan Blair (22) and Cody Bond during Tuesday night’s semifinal game at the Warren County Middle School fifth- and sixth-grade Invitational. The Wildcats of Dibrell took on the Eastside Bulldogs Tuesday night…