The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville) Naysayers predicted President Bush’s decision to send National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border wouldn’t have any effect on the number of illegal immigrants entering the country. Guess what? It’s working. Since Operation Jump Start began six months ago, apprehensions of illegal immigrants dropped by 8 percent overall and 11 percent in…

By Lisa Hobbs On Dec. 13, I was asked to cover Eastside Elementary?s attempt to help break a World Reading Record. Specifically, I was allowed to take pictures and talk to the children in Diane Knowles? third-grade class before, during and after a page of ?Charlotte?s Web? was read. Recently, I received from Diane a…

NASHVILLE (AP) ? Tennessee reportedly remains a strong contender for Toyota Motor Corp.?s eighth U.S. assembly plant as the Japanese automaker nears a decision on where to locate the facility. Gov. Phil Bredesen last summer said Tennessee was on Toyota?s ?relatively short list? for a new assembly plant. And citing anonymous sources, The Wall Street…

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday fined the marketers of four weight loss pills $25 million for making false advertising claims ranging from rapid weight loss to reducing the risk of cancer. FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said the products would remain on store shelves, but that the companies would have to…

By Dave Ramsey Dear Dave, My husband?s ex-wife used his Social Security number to establish credit card accounts. We?re disputing the charges, and writing the credit card companies. Can we do anything else to protect ourselves? ? Kim Dear Kim, Yes. Put a fraud victim alert on your credit bureau reports immediately. You also need…

By James Clark The Avenue concept, introduced by Cousins in 1998, has been extremely well received by customers and retailers in the seven existing Avenue centers. It?s an open-air, pedestrian-friendly center that features distinctive architecture and heavy landscaping. There are few things better than wearing shorts in January which is something I did all day…

Applications are available for the 40th annual Little Miss Valentine Pageant sponsored by the Morrison Ruritan. The gala will be held Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Morrison School, with rehearsal held on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. Contestants must be between the ages of three and six-years of age, not in school other…

In keeping with holiday tradition, the McMinnville Garden Club gathered up their tools and supplies on December 4 and headed over to NHC Healthcare to assemble Christmas corsages for the residents. Each year the members arrive early and put together from ?scratch? enough corsages and boutonnieres for the residents to wear to their annual Christmas…

Southern Standard readers are invited to extend happy birthday and anniversary best wishes to friends and loved ones through this weekly column. Please submit your messages by our noon deadline each Thursday. No more that three wishes to any individual, please. Happy Birthday Wishes: Jan. 7 ? Tommie Sue Nunley, have a wonderful birthday. Love,…

Southern hospitality has traditionally meant making people feel at home with a warm welcome and good food. The secret of the good food part of this equation centered on the old smokehouse, where delicious hams, bacon and a variety of sausages were slow smoked over hickory wood. Today, having these smoked meats on hand means…