(AP) ? Tiger Woods had an answer for everything. When he missed the cut at the U.S. Open for the first time in a major ? his first tournament after his father died of cancer ? some questioned whether he could rekindle his desire to dominate. He never finished worse than second in stroke play…

Infant Sebastian Dante Sanchez died Dec. 23 at River Park Hospital. He was the son of Ramon and Tanisha Sanchez of McMinnville and is survived by brothers, Austin and Eathan Sanchez; maternal grandparents, Treva and Isdro Manzano of McMinnville; paternal grandparents, Tresa and Luis Sanchez of Mexico; uncle and aunt, Billy and Diane Bouldin of…

McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Sammie Edwards Phillips, 55, died Dec. 26 at his home after an extended illness. An employee of Oster, he was the son of the late Charles and Mary Lou Phillips and was preceded in death by sister, Dorothy O?Neal. He is survived by his wife, Audrey Hudson Phillips;…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Ruby (Jill) Holland Whiteaker Byrd, 81, died Dec. 25 at NHC in McMinnville after an extended illness. A homemaker, a retired hair stylist and a member of Shellsford Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Claude and Jewel Walker Holland; and was preceded in death by brother, Chester Holland…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Ricky Lynn Jacobs, age 54, was born Nov. 15, 1952 and died Dec. 24 at River Park Hospital following an extended illness. A self-employed commercial construction worker and a member of the Central Church of Christ, he was the son of Grace Blackburn Jacobs of McMinnville and the late…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Otis “Dude” Merritt, age 71, was born June 30, 1935 and died Dec. 23 at NHC Healthcare McMinnville. The retired owner of Merritt Nursery, a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Church of Christ, Hwy. 56 North, he was the son of the late Odus and Lillian…

Margaret B. Wood, 87, of Shelbyville, died Monday, December 25, 2006, at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 28 at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. She was born Sept. 9, 1919, in Knoxville, to the late…

Martha T. Zimmerman peacefully passed away on Thursday at the Life Care Hospital of San Antonio, Texas with both of her children by her side. She was born in DeKalb County on Sept. 19, 1923. She was the daughter of the late Clarence P. and Jennie (Gibbs) Kirby and was the wife of Col. Kent…

By Jim Mullen Soon, if they haven’t already, the networks will start blasting us with cheaply produced year-end specials (full of footage already bought and paid for) with titles like “Unforgettable Moments of 2006.” Isn’t the essence of an unforgettable moment that we haven’t forgotten it? If it happened earlier this year and we can’t…

By Thomas Vaughn This Christmas season I find myself thinking more of Christmases past than Christmas present.?My fondest Christmas memories are of those spent with family and friends.?However, my military career caused me to miss more than one Christmas at home.? For example, Christmas, 1960 found me serving as a 22-year-old staff sergeant in the…