TO THE EDITOR: The news has recently mentioned one or two Protestant denominations which are having national conferences next month. The main issue will be trying to get gay ministers accepted in their church bylaws.Before I get further involved, let me make it clear I am not a gay basher. Even God believes in freedom…

By Tad Bartimus / Columnist The Wal-Mart checkout lady couldn’t contain herself.“Cleaning out the garage?” she cheerfully inquired, banging her barcode reader 28 times against the huge plastic tub on top of 27 others just like it.“Nope,” I replied.She banged some more.“Growing a container garden?”Nope.”22, 23, 24…Finally I took pity on her.26, 27… “I’m moving.…

By William Rusher / Columnist I have been planning for some time to write a column on the prospects of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to be the Republican nominee in 2008 and the next president of the United States. Then my old magazine, National Review, scooped me with an excellent article by John J. Miller…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices fell by the largest amount in more than two years in May, helping to ease concerns that a big spike in energy costs earlier in the year might spell inflation troubles. Meanwhile, May retail sales tumbled by the largest amount in nine months, a decline that was blamed on unusually…

By MADLEN READ / AP Business Writer Q: A lot of my friends are leasing cars now, but I was always told that it’s a bad idea. Is it ever smart to lease instead of buy? A: Yes, but not usually. In most cases, leasing is a waste of money. Car leasing fell in popularity…

CABOT, Vt. (AP) — Warning to motorists this summer: Rough road ahead. From New England — where the punishing winters leave roads rutted, cracked and riddled with potholes in the spring — to the Deep South, repaving projects are being canceled or postponed because of the rising price of oil, which is used to make…

NEW YORK (AP) — It now seems like a distant memory. Last summer, Google Inc. slashed its asking price for shares in its initial public offering by 30 percent to $85 a piece to attract more demand. Who would have thought that 10 months later the stock of the Internet search engine provider would be…

Tullahoma resident and Warren County native Vurel (John) Kennedy, 82, died June 11 at Veteran’s Hospital in Nashville.A machinist for AEDC, a Mason and a member of First Methodist Church, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the VFW, and American Legion Post 43. He…

Beersheba Springs resident Patricia A. Richardson, 58, died June 13.The daughter of the late Charlie and Mary Rankhorn Spakes, she was preceded in death by sister, Charlie Mae Norris.She is survived by her husband, Don Richardson; daughter, Maggie Richardson; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Suzan Richardson; sisters, Lynda Hines and Gaye Glover, both of McMinnville;…

The funeral service for Jo Wooldridge, 56, of Wagoner, was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 14 at First Christian Church in Wagoner. Rev. Carl Tinnea officiated.Jo Wooldridge was born March 11, 1949 in Centerville to Woodson and Ellen (Safely) King and departed this life June 10 in Tulsa, Okla.Jo was employed as a district…