Second tenant to open in new shopping center
A second business has decided to locate in the new shopping mall at the corner of Maple Street and Maple Valley Drive. Flooring Systems will be opening a new office there around the first of February.

Recreation Digest
BOWLING Bismarck Mandan USBC BA 78th Annual City Championships Team Event 1. K&K Flooring 3,266. 2. Tobacco Row #2 3,258. 3 Mandan Moose 3,208. Low Pay: 3,190. Scratch: Tobacoo Row #2 3,084.

Cigarette Smoke Lingers Long After Air Clears
We've all heard the term "second-hand smoke," but what about"third-hand smoke"? A new study in this month's issue of the Journal of Pediatrics looks at what researchers describe as the overlooked threat to children ? the residue from cigarettes that settles on furniture, flooring, even clothes.

Saving historic Moncton High School worth the money: Tory MLA
Moncton Crescent Conservative MLA John Betts is weighing in on the growing local controversy over renovating or replacing the 73-year-old Moncton High School.

Renovating buildings takes time and care
Like a car lover restoring an old classic, restoring a building to its historical roots is a labor of love.

Windows 7 Hits Public Beta
At the opening keynote of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Wednesday night, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, making his first appearance at the show in a slot that used to be reserved for Bill Gates, announced the widely anticipated, feature-complete beta of the company?s new Windows 7 operating system. read more

Elephants dying off in wild, but zoos may not be answer
PHILADELPHIA ? In Chad, the ivory poachers have upgraded to automatic weapons. Having bolstered the population at this "last stand for elephants" in central Africa, the Wildlife Conservation Society estimated recently that the animals' numbers had dropped again, from 3,500 to 1,000.

Waters have receded; Now museum readies a flood of memories
After flooding devastated the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, on June 10 of last year, Mike Chapman, executive director of the museum, designed a T-shirt that read, "Wrestling teaches you how to get off your back.

New gym at Westview School nears completion
Wood Dale School District 7 is expected to put the finishing touches on a new gymnasium being built at Westview School.

LOCAL SPORTS BRIEFS
Barren hoops alumni game is SaturdayPotential baseball and softball officials meeting is Jan. 14A and M-Commerce hires Morriss as head coach

Fort Bend?s old court house celebrates 100 years
As the new year often symbolizes a fresh start and a new beginning, Fort Bend County will look back during 2009 on the last 100 years as the old Court House celebrates it?s centennial.

West Longview residents wake up to flooded streets (w/video)
Clarence Madison waded through his yard, stopped where he figured his curb ended and stuck a tape measure down to the Nebraska Street pavement.

Wish A R Rahman
After flooring us with one mouth-watering soundtrack after another in 2008, A R Rahman has every reason to celebrate his 43rd birthday with pomp and style. His fans sure will.

Fire destroys Elizabeth Township business; none hurt
Justin Greenewald stood in the rain Wednesday morning and looked up at the charred remains of the Elizabeth Township building where he worked and once lived.

Do-it-yourselfer Q&A
Q. We have a shaky end post on our stairway. How do we tighten it up?

Top home-decorating trends for 2009
Remember flocked wallpaper? It's back. But it's not your mother's wallcovering. Nor is bamboo, which designers are using not just as environmentally friendly floor covering, but on walls, too.

Creating a mood for food in North East restaurants
THE design of a restaurant involves so much more than simply decorating and arranging the furniture.

Crawford Central officials get creative in shaving renovation costs
VERNON TOWNSHIP ? With the first phase of a six-elementary-school renovation project already over budget and four more schools to go, Crawford Central School District is getting downright creative at shaving expenses.

Around the bubbler: What's on tap the week of Jan. 8
Here comes the bride Whether you are newly engaged or simply enamored of bridal fashions, the 21st annual Wedding Planner & Guide Bridal Show at the Alliant Energy Center is designed to address every possible wedding need you might have. The show, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, features about 200 exhibitors, covering topics from accessories and ...

No place like home
Zelda Gallegos considers herself blessed to have reached two milestones in her life thus far: owning her own home and being mortgage-free.