City resident supports enforcing codes for weeds
By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard City resident Rick Hartman says he fully supports hiring a property maintenance inspector, a position being considered by city officials.Sitting with fianc?e Betty Welch and looking out at a trimmed yard full of flowers while eyeing a patch of knee-high weeds located under a tree…
Read MoreIn face of deadly disease, Galligan embraced athletics
By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard When athletes begin the grueling course this Sunday in McMinnville’s City Triathlon, they will be following in some dedicated footsteps, those of Devin Galligan.This year’s triathlon will be run in honor of Galligan, an athlete who overcame incredible odds to run many races during…
Read MoreJury to begin hearing Tallent murder case
BLOUNTVILLE (AP) — Twelve jurors and three alternates will arrive in Lebanon to begin hearing the murder trial of a Maryville woman accused of running down two Wilson County lawmen with a stolen car. Jurors were sent home Tuesday evening to make arrangements for a trial expected to last seven to 10 days, including Saturday.…
Read MoreS&P upgrades state’s credit rating from negative to stable
By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — Bond rating agency Standard & Poor’s upgraded its outlook for Tennessee from negative to stable Tuesday, the first step in Gov. Phil Bredesen’s effort to rebuild confidence in the state’s financial future. The change will “add credibility to Tennessee’s rating and create more interest in the…
Read MoreState to resume count of children in custody due to meth
By BILL POOVEY / Associated Press Writer CHATTANOOGA — After state reports showed methamphetamine abusers losing custody of their children at a rate of more than one a day, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services stopped keeping count. But agency Commissioner Viola Miller and a top aide said Tuesday they would try to get the…
Read MoreWe should remember the oyster
By George Plagenz I didn’t receive any invitations to make a commencement address this year. Maybe it’s just as well. What could I tell today’s graduates that would inspire them?When I graduated from college, the commencement speaker told us, “The future will not be easy but it is bright.”You couldn’t tell that to today’s graduating…
Read MorePeterson a Jekyll-Hyde fascination
By Joan Ryan At one time, not long ago, Scott Peterson was an ordinary man. He lived on a leafy suburban street in a ranch home with a kidney-shaped pool and a built-in barbecue. He belonged to the Rotary Club. He had a golden retriever.Now he sits in a Redwood City courtroom, accused of murdering…
Read MoreTaking A Stand: We get one free pass out of jail
By Duane Sherrill In a rarity this weekend, I found myself reading James Clark’s column in which he questioned why all these embezzlers are avoiding jail time by getting judicial and pre-trial diversions.I think we’ve all noticed it. Some person steals tens of thousands of dollars and gets a judicial diversion while the next guy…
Read MoreIce cream and summer a natural combination
Our Viewpoint There’s a old chant which goes, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.”Now that summer has arrived, it’s the perfect time to indulge in some ice cream – free ice cream to be exact.Most of us don’t need an excuse to dig in to a bowl of ice cream. For…
Read MoreEMA director has become vital position
Our Viewpoint The resignation of Phillip Prater on Monday leaves the county with a void at the helm of its Emergency Management Agency.Prater gave the county six months of dedicated service before realizing the job was too much for one person to handle on a part-time basis. In stepping down, Prater was straightforward about the…
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