McMinnville resident and Warren County native Darrell Winford Dodson, 76, died May 22 at Raintree Manor after an extended illness. A nursery worker, he was the son of the late George Thurman and Jessie Farless Dodson and is survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. today…

Letters to the Editor TO THE EDITOR: I can’t help but wonder what good roadblocks do when you publish them in the newspaper exactly when and where they are going to be located? This is like telling hunters that are hunting out of season to not shoot a deer because it is not a real…

Letters to the Editor TO THE EDITOR: A lady wrote a short letter to the editor about the National Day of Prayer being largely neglected. While realizing many people have day-shift jobs, I’d like to add to her idea. In our nation, our freedom of religion is under attack. There are groups out there openly…

By Bill Zechman The next time you wrap your hand around a gasoline pump nozzle and watch the dollar-ticker race faster than Big Brown, console yourself with this thought: the top princes of Saudi Arabia’s royal family are each paid some $100 million a year, just the tip of the pyramid of American payments for…

By Cokie & Steve Roberts “What really connects us is the pain,” said Rami Elhanan. A 58-year-old Israeli, Elhanan lost his 14-year-old daughter to a suicide bomber in the center of Jerusalem. An Israeli soldier killed the father of Mazen Faraj, a 32-year-old Palestinian, in Bethlehem. Elhanan and Faraj are members of Parents Circle-Families Forum,…

By Gene Lyons If Hillary Clinton had no other reason to keep running for the Democratic presidential nomination, it would be to demonstrate that Tim Russert, Keith Olbermann, Maureen Dowd, and David Broder don’t decide American elections. Last week, Barack Obama, the supposedly inevitable Democratic nominee, lost the West Virginia primary by 41 points. Democrats…

The following bills were passed during the second session of the 105th General Assembly. They have been signed or are awaiting Gov. Phil Bredesen’s signature: BUDGET. $27 billion state budget that cuts spending next year by nearly half a billion dollars. LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS. Changing rule eligibility for lottery scholarships, including measure that loosens requirements for…

LOS ANGELES (AP) ‘ For an ‘American Idol’ season so flat and lifeless, the end sure rocked: Ex-bartender David Cook virtually body-slammed teen prodigy David Archuleta in a surprising landslide Wednesday night, capping an energized finale filled with big stars and polished performances. All that, and the imperious Simon Cowell was reduced to apologizing to…

With over 80 years of history and fun, Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park is celebrating the Good Old Days on Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26. With an all day ride pass priced at the vintage price of only $13 per person, the whole family can enjoy the quality fun and entertainment that Lake Winnepesaukah…

Court officials preparing for O.J. Simpson’s armed robbery trial say lengthy questionnaires will be given to a jury pool that could number 400 or more. A Nevada judge told prosecutors and lawyers for the former football star and two co-defendants Thursday that she plans to summon prospective jurors and have them start filling out forms…