By Rick Edelman Q: My 10-year-old daughter received $100 and a Wall Street Journal subscription from her aunt for Christmas. She’s picked a few stocks to invest in, but we don’t know who to talk to in order to invest her money. Although it is ‘fun money,’ she does plan to buy, hold and invest…

By Consumer Reports Cellphone service seems to stubbornly resist improvement. Consumer Reports’ National Research Center recently found that fewer than half the respondents questioned in its Annual Survey of Cellphone Service were completely or very satisfied. That makes cell service one of the lower-rated services that CR surveys. Mandatory contract extensions were one of respondents’…

By JAMES CLARK Tammy’s Little Tikes owner Tammy Young spent nearly a year earning a Child Development Associate Credential for her outstanding work with children. Tammy took a course at Vol State through Tennessee Tech and had professor LeeAnn Jules. Tammy says this is a certificate required by the state for anyone who will be…

By JAMES CLARK In the interest of checking out every Business Pulse question that comes my way, a man came into the Standard office last week wanting to know what was going on next to Tennessee Technology Center. No, he wasn’t talking about Motlow expansion. This was different construction work and he was curious what…

By JAMES CLARK There’s a new tenant at Plaza Shopping Center and it’s not a new business. It’s a church. Living Waters Church is holding its first services this morning at the spot that was formerly Lifeline Christian Store. Plaza Shopping Center is taking one-stop shopping just a step further. In addition to clothes, toys,…

By JAMES CLARK Andrew Grissom prepares some honey BBQ wings yesterday at the new and improved Pizza Hut Wing Street. Friday was the first day the new Pizza Hut Wing Street menu was unveiled and the hot wings were flying out of the kitchen. There are five different flavors to choose from, such as garlic…

By JAMES CLARK Security Federal has purchased the over 20 acres of property next to Kidd Ford Lincoln Mercury on Manchester Highway with plans to eventually put a branch at that spot. ‘It will probably be a couple of years before we get out there,’ said Security Federal president Joe Pugh. ‘It all depends on…

BY JAMES CLARK I just learned January is National Oatmeal Month. Now I have to figure out how to celebrate. One thing is for sure, it won’t be by eating oatmeal. My mother cured me of that urge by making me eat oatmeal for seemingly every day of my life until I was 8. I…

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior I’m looking for some neat gift and gadget ideas for my retired parents who have almost everything. Any tips? Shopping for Seniors Dear Shopping, Gadgets make fantastic presents! Everyone loves to receive gifts that make their life a little easier or more fun, and today there are thousands of…

Every three minutes, a child puts a hand in his/her nose or mouth. Considering that some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables and doorknobs that children touch throughout the day, it is easy to see how clean hands are critical to avoiding sickness. Keeping hands clean is…