Southern Standard sports reporter Jeffery Simmons has won the coveted crown of newspaper Employee of the Year.

The presentation was made by publisher Patricia Zechman during a luncheon Tuesday.

Simmons is known for his fair and balanced coverage of local sports with an emphasis on youth sports. Simmons is an avid UT Vols football fan. He is such a sports enthutiast, he is one of the few people in Warren County who follows NBA basketball. Really.

Simmons also plays softball where he has hit a home run over the fence.

For his sports reporting, Simmons writes a mildly popular column called "Simmons Says." One of his strengths is his game reporting where he provides readers with all the play-by-play details they crave. He finished second in the state in sports reporting in the Tennessee Press Association.