Sisters Taylor, left, and Morgan Parsley chow down on some of those great candy apples at the fair Tuesday night. Both wisely kept their plastic wrappers on hand so they could save some for later. (Charles W. Johnson photo). Travis Young, left, and Tyler Steele give new meaning to cruising the midway at the fair.…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard AmSouth financial specialist Michael Griffith talks to students in Jimmy Haley’s economics class about smart ways to handle money. (James Clark photo) Nowadays, high school students have to worry about more than algebra and science. Cell phone and car payments now factor into their everyday lives.That’s…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard STANLEY With probation officers revealing 95 percent of meth addicts re-offend after their first conviction, a daring new plan to cut into the exceptionally high recidivism rate started paying dividends this week as the first three graduates of drug court walked from the course clean…

By AMY FOSTER / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard DAVENPORT Main Street McMinnville fulfilled its commitment to the downtown restoration project Tuesday when representatives from the organization presented the Board of Mayor and Aldermen with a check for $69,570.The check, along with a check given earlier to the city in the amount of $55,430,…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard NELSON A man who led police on a high-speed pursuit after they witnessed him selling cocaine in front of a market in 2002, was given 22 years in prison for his crime Wednesday.The defendant, Adrian Nelson, was issued the long jail term following his conviction…

McKenna Ashli Rhea is crowned 2005 Fairest of the Fair by 2004 queen Madesta Smedley. The royal court consists of, from left, Merranda Dawn Holmes, third runner-up; Hannah Marie Higgins, second runner-up and Miss Congeniality, Rhea, Smedley and Lacey Jade Link, first runner-up. (Margaret Hobbs photo)

By Bonnie Collier / Columnist It should come as no surprise that 30 years of research regarding family involvement in education shows student achievement rises when parents support and encourage education.A 1994 study by A.T. Henderson and N. Berla entitled, “A New Generation of Evidence: The Family is Critical to Student Achievement,” states that, “The…

By Roger Cook / Columnist My sister and most of her children have lived on the Gulf Coast for a number of years, so I have had the opportunity to visit the entire area where Hurricane Katrina slammed to shore a few days ago, leaving in its wake much death and destruction. I have stayed…

“Into the Woods” will be playing at Cumberland County Playhouse Sept. 16 through Oct. 31. The play is a family adventure, a tale for all time that is entertaining for the whole family. (Photo provided) Beginning today, the Cumberland County Playhouse presents, “Into the Woods” the Tony Award winning musical from Stephen Sondheim. “Into the…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Crouch Motors holds a one point lead over Beacon Federal Bank in the Gold and Silver Bowling League. McMinnville Lanes is in third with 5.5 points, Dr Pepper has four, Holder Realty 3.5, Jones Twins Beauty Salon 3, Security Federal 2 and Cumberland Lumber one…