Join us at Standard for free banana splits Friday

If so, the Southern Standard office is where you need to be this Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. The newspaper is holding its annual Banana Day bash to celebrate the official beginning of summer.

In addition to free banana splits, the Standard is also holding a drawing for its grand prize ? $300 worth of gasoline cards from area businesses.

?In the years we?ve done this, we have figured out people will come for free banana splits,? said Standard executive editor Pat Zechman, who noted 650 free banana splits were given away last year. ?With gas prices the way they are maybe it will encourage even more people to show up and help us celebrate Banana Day.?

If free ice cream and the chance to win free gasoline aren?t enough, the Standard is offering one more incentive ? discounted subscription prices.

On Friday only, all new customers can receive 25 percent off their subscription price. For a one-year subscription, customers can get the Standard for $54 ? a savings of $18 off the already low rate of $72.

?If you look at how much one 10-minute trip to the doctor costs, or how much it costs to have a plumber or electrician make one house call, the Standard is the best deal in town,? said Zechman. ?Getting 156 newspapers delivered to your home for $54 is a bargain.?