BY CHARLES W. JOHNSON Twenty-seven Warren County High School graduates are currently attending Motlow College or Tennessee Technology Center tuition free thanks to the Citizens for Progress scholarship program. In the scholarship program’s first year, 42 students applied and 27 qualified for funds. ‘It’s gone better than we expected,’ said school system director of instruction…

McMinnville resident Alfred Dyle Jr., 61, died Nov. 21 at his home. The son of the late Casto Dyle and Amy Dyle Mehrley, he was preceded in death by brother, David Lee Dyle. He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Eric and Jan Dyle of Arlington, Wis., Mark and Tabitha Dyle of Rio, Wis.; daughter,…

NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander said he will make a bid for the No. 3 post among Senate Republicans following Sen. Trent Lott’s decision to resign. Lott, of Mississippi, last year beat Alexander by one vote to become minority whip. Alexander said in a statement that he will support Sen. Jon Kyl of…

TO THE EDITOR: Thank God for the Cook ‘ Roger Cook that is. I’ve been reading the column he writes for several years and been thinking of writing this thank you note for a long while and the other day the Holy Spirit said don’t wait any longer. So thank you Roger Cook and God…

TO THE EDITOR: It’s a shame our city officials don’t seem to care about the rise of needed jobs in McMinnville. A lot of people here have to travel to other counties for work. We all have to live so why can’t we get jobs here for the residents of McMinnville? Not everyone can work…

By Kathryn Lopez Mitt Romney’s religion keeps coming up on the presidential campaign trail. He seems, at times, a little annoyed that this is the case. I am, too. Any American or admirer of the constitutional system would also be. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ…

BY DUANE SHERRILL It’s getting to be crunch time now when it comes to the existence of Santa Claus when it comes to my 10-year-old son who is starting to suspect something isn’t quite right. ‘Is Santa Claus real,’ my son up and asked me this week, reflecting a softening of his longtime staunch belief…

By William Rusher Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination presents conservative Republicans with a real conundrum. Should they support the candidate who will put up the best fight, though he (or she) disagrees with them on virtually all of the social issues? Or should they insist on a candidate who truly represents conservative…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that dairy producers and the public have until Dec. 26, 2007 to comment on a proposed rule concerning the new Dairy Disaster Assistance Program III (DDAP-III). USDA published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 26, 2007. The proposal sets forth rules governing how this program will…

BY J DALE BEATY The Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer and Vehicle Services Division is in the process of educating and registering qualified farmers, nursery operators and timber harvesters regarding upcoming changes in Tennessee’s agricultural exemptions from sales and use tax. Effective Jan. 1, 2008, those purchasing qualified farm equipment, seed and other tax-exempt farm and…