Sherri Gardner Howell began her career in what was then the Women's Department at the News Sentinel in 1976 after graduating with a degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. She worked as a writer and then as assistant features editor for entertainment until 1988. While she took a few years off to spend more time with her family, she has had a constant presence at the News-Sentinel through her weekly column, Rhymes and Reasons, and, for a time, as a writer for the School Page. Gardner Howell returned to the News Sentinel in 1996 as features editor, overseeing eight weekly sections, and became Assistant Managing Editor for features and entertainment in 2000. In August of 2004, Sherri became publisher of Blount Today, a new Scripps Howard community newspaper in Blount County. She is continuing her involvement with the News Sentinel through her weekly column. Sherri Gardner Howell is married to Neville Howell, and they have two sons, Trey and Brett.