I just sold the Standard Banner, but not to a group

August 7, 2025 |
By Dale Gentry, Jefferson City, Tennessee

A few days ago, I was waiting to cross the street at a new crosswalk in front of a popular downtown Jefferson City restaurant. 

The pick-up to my right immediately stopped when he saw me at the edge of the street. Another vehicle coming from the left didn’t. He sped right through the cross walk, prompting the driver of the pick-up to honk his horn at the other driver, then motion for me to cross. When I reached the other side, he gave a friendly wave before moving on.

Now I don’t know for sure, but I would bet the driver of the pick-up was local, and the other driver was from out of town. 

Local matters. Whether it’s newspapers, or crosswalks, there’s just a different degree of caring involved.

My wife and I just finished selling The Standard Banner, which my family has owned for the past 69 years. 

We didn’t sell to a chain. Instead, we kept it local, handing it off to a former employee and her husband who will carry on our locally-owned tradition. 

I realize I am lucky to have found a new local owner, and to retire with the peace of mind that I have put one of the most important businesses in any town in good hands. 

As we’ve seen over and over, chain ownership is not good for newspapers – or the communities they serve. It’s like the out-of-towner who sped through the crosswalk without stopping – in too big of a hurry to care about anything local.

My friend in the pick-up truck understood. Local matters … whether it’s people, a crosswalk, and especially if it’s the community newspaper.