McMinnville resident Loreda Page Womack, 79, died Jan. 24. She was the daughter of the late Clara Bell and Oval Page; and was preceded in death by brother, Oval Page Jr. She is survived by her husband, Billy Womack, longtime resident of Gallatin and McMinnville; son and daughter-in-law, Al and Kathy Womack; grandchildren, Kim and…

Johnny Gene Rubley, 70, of McMinnville (Harrison Ferry community) died Friday, Jan. 25 at River Park Hospital. He was born on Oct. 27, 1937 in Grundy County, and was preceded in death by parents, Ernest and Lena Pearl Thompson Rubley, and a brother Bill Rubley. Mr. Rubley was the owner of B&A Market. Survivors include…

Rock Island resident and Smithville native Benjamin Ross Dove, 18, died Jan. 26 at River Park Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. A landscaper and a member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of Bobby and Debbie A. Fults Dove of Rock Island, and is also survived by sisters and brother-in-law,…

What readers are saying about the federal government’s economic stimulus plan that would result in rebate checks of $600 for most individuals, $1,200 for most couples, and an additional $300 for each child: ‘This is just a feel-good fix to buy votes. If anyone in the White House or Congress wants to help, then stop…

By Lisa Hobbs Members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., and other churches and groups like them, should be ashamed. Protesting at funerals is spineless, cowardly, gutless, and immoral. I can’t think of anything more disgusting than protesting someone’s funeral. A person is dead, no longer able to defend themselves, so it’s pretty cowardly…

BY Morton Kondracke As Congressional Republicans try to “rebrand” themselves for the 2008 elections, the House Suburban Caucus is back with proposals designed to protect some of the most vulnerable GOP members. The agenda includes establishment of federal “401 Kids” tax-deferred accounts for children, a requirement that school and library computers filter out Internet predators…

BY Thomas Vaughn I’m often asked where and how I get my ideas for ‘My Turn.’ The short answer is I write about what interests me, and hope it will interest others too. Fortunately, my interests are pretty wide-ranging, from international and national politics, to state and local issues and events. With 2008 being a…

BY Consumer Reports With Super Bowl XLII just around the corner, the editors of Consumer Reports have come up with some tips for optimal game viewing. Football fans who didn’t make the jump to buying an HDTV before the holidays might be considering a new set for Super Sunday. Here are some tips on buying…

NEW YORK (AP) ‘ Wall Street ended a tumultuous week with a sharp decline Friday, backtracking following two days of stunning gains as investors turned cautious and cashed in some of their winnings. The Dow Jones industrial average still managed to record its first weekly advance of 2008, even as it fell more than 170…

By Ric Edelman Q: In June, my husband’s 93-year-old mother moved into our home. She has savings, money market and checking accounts, a small pension and monthly Social Security check. Since she has lived with us, her income is used for her medicine and personal expenses. She will soon be attending a senior daycare facility…