By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard Naomi Morrison performs at Dollywood last summer with the band Naomi and the Wood Brothers. She is scheduled to perform at Songwriters Night with Jacky Jack White this Friday at the Civic Center. The show starts at 5 p.m. If you want to treat your ears…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard Brother Michael Shaver, pictured with daughter Rachel Chisam, stands at a pulpit located in a small sanctuary that seats around 40 people. Regular church services are held at Ray of Hope Ministry on Hobson Street. (Charles W. Johnson photo) Brother Michael Shaver wants to…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard HALE Although Warren County High School will be operating under a state-mandated, 4-point grading scale, in order to simplify calculations used to qualify for state lottery scholarships, the local school system can still choose the grading scale used to determine class rankings, including valedictorian…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard A 15-year-old boy faces child rape charges for allegedly carrying on a long-term sexual relationship with his younger sister.The boy, whose name is being withheld because it would identify his sister, the alleged victim, is being sent for evaluation prior to his hearing slated for…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard McMinnville Police Chief Joe Melton, left, and Lt. Investigator Derwin Adcock examine a crack rock as police raid a Swann Street home Monday afternoon. A total of 38 grams of cocaine was found. (Duane Sherrill photo) A raid on a Swann Street crack house Monday…

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Rock Island resident and DeKalb County native Sheron Ann Whitworth, 50, died April 3 at St. Thomas Hospital after a short illness.An assembly worker with Federal Mogul in Smithville, she was the daughter of Homer Lee and Juanita Johnson Bates of Smithville.She is survived by her husband, Wayne Whitworth; children, Donnie and Charlotte Barnes of…

Palmer resident Ples King, 78, died April 4 at V.A. Medical Center in Nashville.A U.S. Army veteran serving in the Korean War, he was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Louise King; son, Charlie Edward; and infant sons, Lester Royce and Timothy Elton King.He is survived by children, Kathy Morrison of Gruetli-Laager, Esther J.…

McMinnville resident and McMinn County native Pauline Wilson Rich, 87, died April 3 at her home after an extended illness.A retired employee of McMinnville Garment Company and McMinnville Health Care Center and a member of Gath Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Peeler and Ura Dodd Wilson; and was preceded in death…

McMinnville resident Jessie David Underwood, 62, died April 3 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville.A homemaker and a member of West Side Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Earnest and Cythia Ann Potter Davis.She is survived by husband, Jack Underwood; stepson and daughter-in-law, Fred and Ramona Underwood of Manchester; step-grandchildren, Ivy Petty…