McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Lorene R. Rigsby, 79, died March 12 at NHC after a six-month illness.A greeter at Wal-Mart and a member of the Baptist House of Prayer, she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for many years.The daughter of Elzie and Recie Witt Russell, she was preceded in death…

Spencer resident and Van Buren County native Larry Lynn Russell, 37, died March 16 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.The son of Larry D. and Linda Russell of Spencer, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Dewey Sullivan; and paternal grandmother, Myrtle Marie Russell. In addition to his parents he is survived by maternal…

Spencer resident and Van Buren County native J.B. Madewell, 72, died March 15 at White County Hospital after an extended illness.A timber and saw mill worker and a member of Clark Chapel Church of God, he was the son of the late Clarence and Minnie Louise McCormick Madewell; and was preceded in death by his…

Spencer resident and Van Buren County native Laura J. Clendenon, 76, died March 16 at White County Hospital after a one-week illness.A homemaker and a member of the Methodist Church, she was the daughter of the late Will B. and Laura Josephine Mosley Hendley.She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Laura Sue and Johnny Sherrell,…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Norman F. Winnett, 94, died March 16 at Raintree Manor after an extended illness.An employee of Neuhooff Packing Company and a member of Bethel Hill Baptist Church, he was the son of Ellick and Margaret Peden Winnett; and was preceded in death by son, Raymond Winnett.He is survived by…

Morrison resident and Warren County native Sharon Mae Pennington Wallace, 41, died March 14 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville after a short illness.A homemaker and a member of the Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Ruby Pennington of McMinnville and the late Gaston Pennington.She is survived by sons, Matthew Wallace of Murfreesboro and…

By TED BRIDIS / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Nuclear weapons plants have eliminated or reduced training for guards responsible for repelling terrorist attacks, leaving the government unable to guarantee the plants can be adequately defended, the Energy Department’s internal watchdog said Tuesday. One plant has reduced training hours by 40 percent, and some…

By WILL LESTER / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of people living in Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey say they believe the U.S. is conducting its campaign against terror to control Mideast oil and to dominate the world, according to an international poll released Tuesday. The governments in all four Muslim-majority countries…

By APARNA H. KUMAR / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing estimates that 11 million people sometimes drive under the influence of illegal drugs, a growing chorus in Congress wants the government to do something about it. The states are wary. Eight states now have specific laws on “drugged driving,” but their statutes are…

By DAVID CRARY / AP National Writer In courtrooms and state capitols nationwide, opponents and supporters of gay marriage have embarked on a collision course, pursuing lawsuits and legislation so deeply at odds that prolonged legal chaos is likely. One plausible result: a nation divided, at least briefly, between a handful of states recognizing gay…