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God. Jesus said to love everybody as you love Him. To treat everybody with kindness, respect and love. In a nutshell, He told us to be nice to everyone. He didn’t say “everyone but the gays.”

Bristol Virginia Lodge 48 of the Fraternal Order of Police would like to thank the citizens and public officials of Bristol who turned out to pay tribute to fallen law enforcement officers at the memorial service May 16 at the Bristol Virginia Court House.

Thanks to the Virginia High School boy’s soccer team: Lincoln Rayburn, Dalton Rhinehart, Wynston Rhinehart, Reed Esposito, Kevin Wright, Sam Williams, Gray Mumpower, Cody Leonard, Joe Crum, Tristan Meadows, Devon Clayton, William Arthur, Hunter Smallwood, Zack Dean, Edis Hadziametovic, Matthew Woods, Brandon Perry and Ben Birchfield.

Here, in the Tri-Cities, we’ve had a Ronald McDonald house since 1996. Located in Johnson City, Tenn., the Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House has assisted 15,000 people, and more than half of them have been from Southwest Virginia. In fact, the most users have come from Wise County and Washington County, Va. More than 840 families from those two counties have been helped.

I have been away from Scott County for five years. It is still home for me. Mother is there.

The May 9 article on Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month contained excellent information, but I want to take exception to a statement attributed to Zach Collins of Black Wolf Harley-Davidson.

The bills were created and promoted by Northeast Tennessee lawmakers, police and prosecutors who have seen at least six deaths in our region attributed to abuse of these substances.

Every Tuesday there is a gathering of “old timers” at the Kroger Grocery Store in Bristol, Va. They sit around a group of tables, talking with each other, greeting new people like themselves.

I believe you misquoted District Attorney Barry Staubus, reporting that he was eager to “persecute” violators of the new law banning synthetic drugs. His duties are the same as pronounced on the radio show, Mr. District Attorney, that aired Wednesdays on NBC starting in 1939: “It shall be my duty as District Attorney to prosecute to the limit of the law all persons accused of crimes perpetrated in this county, but to defend with equal vigor the rights and privileges of its citizens.”

Just when you think things cannot get anymore ridiculous in Blountville, it does.

Bristol Virginia City Manager Dewey Cashwell has presented the City Council with a refined budget that is progressive and very reflective of Bristol’s needs as we move forward into another year. This budget has been reviewed extensively with all department heads and constitutional officers. Mr. Steve Allen (city clerk-controller) and Kim Orfield (accountant) have provided all data needed to craft this challenging budget. It was truly a joint venture and all departments were basically level funded from the previous year.

I would like to take the time to thank the citizens who voted for me in the election held May 1 for the city School Board.

To the benefit of the American people, there are many applications of solar energy. Using the sun can cut energy costs for homeowners and greatly reduce the outflow of U.S. dollars to foreign countries.

Kudos to the volunteers, doctors, dentists, nurses and others who provided the Remote Area Medical services at Bristol Motor Speedway. The huge number of patients who received needed medical services was shocking, as is true for the attendance at all of our local RAM events

Historically, May is a month when we celebrate our older Virginians and all they have given us and our communities over the years. Except, this year, to celebrate all our older Virginians have done, Gov. Bob McDonnell proposed to cut funding for services for them throughout Virginia.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe the Bible is the word of God? If you have answered yes to these two questions then you cannot agree with gay marriage.

We would like to thank the agents with Chilhowie Insurance Agency, Todd Doane and Jason Barnes, for their support and help.

She does not want the five men on trial to be tempted.

Obama fired off a fundraising email the day after he said he personally supports same-sex marriage.

May 1967 was Israel’s most fearful, desperate month.

One of the quotations of the Bible that stands out the most in reference to the poor is: "When I was hungry (beggar) you gave me meat.” It’s from Matthew 25:35, and is a concept of Christianity. Its principal teaching is "love thy neighbor as thyself."

As one of the recent recipients of the Mayors’ Awards of Excellence, for my part in the renovation of the former Carolyn Manufacturing Building into the Bristol Ministry Mall, I would like to say thanks to all those who were involved in the procedure.

Putting more people back to work, strengthening transportation infrastructure and boosting Virginia’s energy industry are goals Gov. Bob McDonnell said are his focus for the remainder of his term – the next 20 months.

When Catherine Brillhart won a place on Bristol Virginia’s City Council in last week’s election, fellow member Guy Odum said: “I look forward to giving Catherine a chance … .”

Good ole “Slick Willie.” The political fallout of a decision is always the most important factor to consider. Don’t worry about the price the Navy seals and their families would have to pay should they were killed or captured.

Strike two goes to the Washington County Board of Supervisors, who once again thumbed their collective noses at the people they represent. (Save, of course, for Supervisors Bill Gibson, Randy Pennington and Wayne Stevens, who appropriately opposed meeting in closed session. Thank you, Bill, Randy and Wayne.)

Three years ago, Love’s and others barely noticed that their proposal would put a large travel center within 1,000 feet of Meadowview Elementary School, where more than 600 young children spend their days. Love’s is back with the same proposal at the same location.

The press has been dutifully covering the John Edwards fraud trial in North Carolina. The public has heard bizarre facts and sordid details that have characterized Edwards as the slimy political specimen he was.

This letter is in regard to Nikki Milhorn’s letter to the editor published May 9, 2012, concerning her frustration and disappointment with shopping during the last two hours of a closing Food City store