By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard McMinnville Drug Center owners Charles Marsh, left, and Whit Taylor say they enjoy being independent pharmacists and have no plans to sell out to a large chain. (Will Stewart photo) Corporate takeovers of the small town independent businesses have become a common occurrence in today’s…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard Standing in front of a stuffed turkey, The Outpost Army Surplus Store owner Jason Hillis holds a tube of the Denver’s Sting Stopper. The sting stopper ointment is available at The Outpost. (James Clark photo) It was a wasp sting that led to Denver Blanton developing…

By TODD HERZOG / CEO ROUNDTABLE Don Pennington founded McMinnville Screw Machine and operated the business for over 20 years until its sale in the early 1990s. Don was a well-known, successful industrialist in the area who always wore a smile for those in his personal company.Unfortunately, Don succumbed to cancer at the early age…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard The Pool Shop Plus owner Amy Reynolds displays some of the merchandise she carries at the store. Reynolds offers three kinds of water clarifying programs including SoftSwim, chlorine and Mineral Springs. (Duane Sherrill photo) With a wide array of chemicals to suit any swimming pool…

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Frank and Tammy Miller say they never forgot how much fun they had skating when they were children, which led them in part to open Hot Wheels Skate Center, located off Sparta Street on Hot Wheels Lane, almost four years ago. (Amy Satterwhite photo) While…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A resolution calling for a change to the state constitution that would allow consolidation of city and county governments by majority vote of all the residents was approved Wednesday by a House subcommittee. Resolution sponsor Rep. Randy Rinks, D-Savannah, said consolidating governments would be more efficient and save taxpayers money. “When I…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — A battle between pharmacists and Gov. Phil Bredesen over a provision in his TennCare legislation ended Wednesday in a compromise that allows the bill to move forward in the General Assembly. It keeps pharmacists at the table as the governor overhauls the $7.3 billion health…

By JOHN GEROME / Associated Press Writer Toby Keith performs the opening song at the Flame Worthy Video Music Awards show in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, April 21, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) NASHVILLE (AP) — Toby Keith took home three awards Wednesday in Country Music Television’s Flameworthy Video Music Awards show, including video of the year…

MT Media Relations MURFREESBORO — Francis Cuyler strives to be a difference-maker on the basketball court, but he realizes it takes more than an individual to make an overwhelming impact. Cuyler, a 6-foot guard from Leesburg, Fla., believes accomplishing dreams and reaching new heights requires the unified effort of a hard-working team that shares the…