By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) Hickory Creek Elementary kindergarten teacher Phyllis Snider leads her class in physical activity Tuesday afternoon. Snider’s emphasis on physical activity was the inspiration for a new teacher wellness program. (Will Stewart photo) By implementing the No Child Left Behind Act, the sweeping education…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Early voting got off to a surprisingly brisk start this week as over 250 people cast early ballots Wednesday and Thursday.“This is a pretty good start for a primary,” said Election Administrator Donna Yates. “Typically, primaries don’t generate a real big turnout.”However, the fact the…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Railroad track surveillance led to charges against three local teens who reportedly used the tracks lying between West Riverside and Westwood as a path to commit various crimes ranging from vandalism to burglary.The suspects, ages 14 through 16, are charged in juvenile petitions alleging burglary,…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) Hypnotherapist Stephanie West Blaylock will be offering one-hour sessions beginning Feb. 4 at McMinnville Civic Center. Blaylock has been highly successful helping people lose weight and quit smoking. (Seth Wright photo illustration/ James Clark photo) Billy McMillen may never know exactly what happened some…

By MELISSA STOVER / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Parking near the courthouse has once again sparked a feud between county and city officials, but police chief Joe Melton told McMinnville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen in their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday it was all just a misunderstanding.The incident began last Friday when three…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard ZECHMAN With early voting on the local sales tax referendum under way, most county leaders are urging voters to approve the measure which could pump as much as $2 million a year into the local school system.“It’s clearly a winning proposition for the taxpayers of…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) Warren County’s Whitney Pelham applies some tight first-half defense against Lebanon’s Kristin Kirkland. (Rob Nunley photo) For the first time in several seasons, the Lady Pioneer basketball team has reason to celebrate at the midway point in its district season.Coach Ann Eades’ squad…

By Rob Nunley / Columnist The atmosphere in and around the Charlie Dalton Gym was decidedly gloomy after Tuesday night’s District 7-AAA doubleheader against Lebanon.It was upsetting that former coach Doug Keil had come back to his former home floor and downed his former team by a whopping 32-point margin — in a game, mind…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) Reese Bishop (23) is swarmed by Lebanon defenders while going up for two of his team-high 15 points in Tuesday’s 88-56 loss. (Rob Nunley photo) Former Pioneer basketball coach Doug Keil’s much-anticipated return to his former home court didn’t live up to its…

Motlow students Keri Campbell, left, and Lisa Walling examine a sample under a microscope at the biology lab on McMinnville’s campus. The young ladies, both sophomores, plan to go into nursing. (James Clark photo) Motlow College has contributed to the education of thousands of students since its inception in 1969 in areas that include education,…