Minnie M. Kirby, 96, of Smithville, passed away Jan 8 in McMinnville after a extended illness. Mrs. Kirby was a member of the Church of Christ and a homemaker. Survivors are daughter and husband, Glynda & Wallace Stevens of McMinnville, sons and their wives, Edward and Virginia Kirby of McMinnville, Douglas and Nell Kirby of…

Detroit, Mich., resident and Warren County native Mary Ellen Melton, 88, died Jan. 8 at Garden City Hospital in Detroit. A production worker with Ford Motor Company and a member of the Assembly of God, she was the daughter of Franklin and Josie Smith Ritchey; and was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn William…

Louise Ramsay Poag, 85, of Nashville/McMinnville died Jan. 6 at Vanderbilt Hospital. Mrs. Poag was the daughter of the late Jennie Belle Ligon and James Fulton Ramsay of Lebanon. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Charles Hugh Poag. Her survivors are two daughters and sons-in-law, Jennie Poag and Roger Brown…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Cory Alan Smith, 29, was born Dec. 5, 1977 and died Jan. 5 at St. Thomas Hospital following a sudden illness. A tool and die machinist at Calsonic Yorozu and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son Terry and Twana Durham Smith. He was married…

Spencer resident Billy Gene Helton, 70, died Jan. 6 at White County Hospital. A railroad employee and a member of the National Guard, he was the son of Frank Moore and Georgia Price Helton. He is survived by his wife, Doris Dalton Helton; sons, Billy Gene Helton Jr. of Florida, Charles Helton of Spencer, Robert…

Franklin resident and DeKalb County native Alton May Burbage, 86, died Jan. 8 at Bethany Healthcare in Nashville after a brief illness. A retired employee of Mary?s Greenhouse and a member of Franklin First Baptist Church and former member of Gath Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Joseph McKinley and Clara Hale Smith; and…

John Martin Dodson, 63, of Antioch died Sunday, Jan. 7 at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville. He was born on July 19, 1943 in Pontiac, Mich. He was preceded in death by parents John Rufus and Alice Irene Barnes Dodson and wife Melba Sue Cooper Dodson. Mr. Dodson is a veteran of the U.S. Air…

NASHVILLE (AP) ? Democrat John Wilder, the eccentric and wily senator who has controlled the Tennessee Senate since 1971 no matter which party held the majority, lost a bid Tuesday for another term as speaker to Republican Ron Ramsey. Ramsey, R-Blountville, defeated Wilder 18-15 by garnering the votes of all 17 Republicans plus Democrat Sen.…

By Kathryn Lopez Abstinence educators and responsible parents teach young people to resist the urge for instant gratification. When it comes to the Republican presidential field, a similar strategy of waiting may prove fruitful for Rudolph Giuliani. Of course, Rudy 2008 would be well advised to avoid the subject of sex — an area that…

By William Rusher Polls show that, if there is one thing the American people are more concerned about than any other (save, perhaps, national security), it’s health care. And rightly so. Lots of people are willing to gamble that they will stay reasonably healthy up to 40 or thereabouts — which is why so many…