Jim Hull works diligently and daily to trace his family’s ancestry.

Southeast Regional Library will hold its first Genealogy Fair Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 9 for teens and adults.

A consultation with 69-year-old Mesa resident Delite Gaddie at the Highland Games and Clan Gathering is, for some, merely a way to connect with their past. For others, it unlocks information about their present.

A consultation with 69-year-old Mesa resident Delite Gaddie at the Highland Games and Clan Gathering is, for some, merely a way to connect with their past. For others, it unlocks information about their present.

The state is making it easier for anyone to search old records as part of genealogical research.

Dear Editor: In his diatribe denouncing Ted Peters' ("The evolution of faith," Dec. 5, AFN) "theistic evolutionism," self-named "intellectually honest Christian" Kyle Draper Dec. 12 letter to the editor) exhibits the exultant anti-science antagonism of evangelical zealots, who proudly proclaim their faith in Biblical infallibility, apparently without understanding what the Bible contains. Take, for merely one example, the hopeless New Testament contradictions between Jesus's genealogies in Matthew 1:6-16 and Luke 3:23-31. The two genealogies conflict in every respect. Matthew lists 26 generations between David and Joseph; Luke lists 41. With only two exceptions, all the names from David to Joseph (Jesus's putative stepfather) are different. (Matthew cites Jacob as Joseph's father; Luke cites Heli.) Here's the problem for believers in biblical infallibility: How can one individual have two distinctly different ancestral lines? Elementary logic decrees that either (a) Matthew's or Luke's genealogy is false or (b) both are false. Once you confront that incontrovertible fact, you must concede that the Bible is not infallible. As for Draper's warning against the "perils of evolution," I counter with a warning against the perils of deliberate, self-willed ignorance, stupidity and hypocrisy, traits blatantly represented by President Bush. He has used his primitive version of Christianity as a political weapon wielded by his personal political thug, Karl Rove, to frighten and dupe the American people. It will take a mighty effort for the next president to restore U.S. standing in the world, both politically and economically. And it can't be done by a religious nut or a panderer. C.W. Griffin

Dear Editor: In his diatribe denouncing Ted Peters' ("The evolution of faith," Dec. 5, AFN) "theistic evolutionism," self-named "intellectually honest Christian" Kyle Draper Dec. 12 letter to the editor) exhibits the exultant anti-science antagonism of evangelical zealots, who proudly proclaim their faith in Biblical infallibility, apparently without understanding what the Bible contains. Take, for merely one example, the hopeless New Testament contradictions between Jesus's genealogies in Matthew 1:6-16 and Luke 3:23-31. The two genealogies conflict in every respect. Matthew lists 26 generations between David and Joseph; Luke lists 41. With only two exceptions, all the names from David to Joseph (Jesus's putative stepfather) are different. (Matthew cites Jacob as Joseph's father; Luke cites Heli.) Here's the problem for believers in biblical infallibility: How can one individual have two distinctly different ancestral lines? Elementary logic decrees that either (a) Matthew's or Luke's genealogy is false or (b) both are false. Once you confront that incontrovertible fact, you must concede that the Bible is not infallible. As for Draper's warning against the "perils of evolution," I counter with a warning against the perils of deliberate, self-willed ignorance, stupidity and hypocrisy, traits blatantly represented by President Bush. He has used his primitive version of Christianity as a political weapon wielded by his personal political thug, Karl Rove, to frighten and dupe the American people. It will take a mighty effort for the next president to restore U.S. standing in the world, both politically and economically. And it can't be done by a religious nut or a panderer. C.W. Griffin

The Pinal County Genealogists will have their 10th annual workshop Jan. 26 at the LDS church, 1555 N. Colorado, Casa Grande.

It seems Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are more than childhood pals and Hollywood collaborators.

BOSTON - This could make for one odd family reunion: Barack Obama is a distant cousin of Brad Pitt, and Hillary Rodham Clinton is related to Pitt's girlfriend, Angelina Jolie.

MIAMI (AP) — Programs such as NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" and PBS' "Faces of America are helping fueling the trend in genealogy. But for many Hispanics, tracing the family tree hasn't been so easy.

It is perplexing to know that Mitt Romney is still out there doing enormous damage to his party. He surfaced in a video interview last week and proved again why he is not the president. At one time he took the losing teapublican approach to immigration. Next, he claimed the party has to do a better job of attracting minorities. He didn’t get it when he was running. He doesn’t get it now. With any luck, neither he nor his GOP train wreck will get it ever.

I would like to thank Mr. Lowell Popham for his response to my letter concerning Mr. Romney’s lack of military service and thank him for his service. I do not think military service is necessary to be president but I do think a person who supports both the war and the draft should be willing to put on the uniform. Mitt Romney is trying to rewrite his own history from having no intention of signing up to “I longed to be fighting in Viet Nam.” I have more respect for Bill Clinton because he opposed the war and was consistent in his belief. President Obama is of a different generation with an all volunteer military and has nothing to do with my views on Romney’s character.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church says it has changed its genealogical database to better prevent the names of Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps from being submitted for posthumous baptism by proxy.

Wells Fargo's folksy wooden stagecoach is about to go after the carriage trade, as the bank launches a newly reorganized wealth management business in Minneapolis aimed at families with $50 million or more to invest.

January 4, 2005

Mitt Romney’s foreign policy is about what you should expect from someone who evaded the Vietnam military draft by hiding out as a minister of religion — in France, no less. Like most Chickenhawks, as soon as the shooting stopped, Mitt suddenly became chest-beatingly aggressive, hoping that people might forget that he showed the white feather when it came time to stand up for his country.

It is interesting that you encourage people to consider not voting for Romney when he did not serve in the military, but went on a two half year LDS mission. I think you underestimate the desire for LDS young men to serve a mission. My son, graduated top of his class, worked hard in sports so he could attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. He received a $415,000 dollar scholarship to the AFA. He worked hard, he was on the dean’s list, was also in the 22 squad (Raptors) which finished first in the school and was able to stand behind President Obama at the graduation. He gave all this up to serve a mission in Chile. That is how important Mr. Romney also felt. He did this with the hope that there will be no major budget cuts to the AFA so that he may return there.