News herald photo by LESTER MURRAY Maude Laird Middle School held its contest last Wednesday for the art students in Donna Mathis' Art I and Art II classes. Above, Chloe Nisbett and Dominique McGaha took first place. Nisbett is in Art I and McGaha is in Art II. Anna Grace Miller took second in Art I and Giovanna Murillo took third in Art I. Christian Davis took second in Art II and Savanah Boyd took third in Art II. All of the artwork entered for competition is on display at MLMS for parents and friends to enjoy. More...

DEAR ABBY: I work 5 1/2 days a week (46 hours) with no benefits. I can't afford to miss a day because, on the rare occasion that I must, I don't get paid. My wife, "Kelly," misses work frequently because she is "sick," "tired," etc. She is in the same boat as I am -- no work, no pay. More...

IRVING (AP) — Cowboys coach Wade Phillips doesn't gamble and doesn't make predictions. He does, however, make observations based on 31 years of working in the NFL. So as gloomy as things looked for his club's playoff chances after losing to Baltimore on Saturday night, Phillips remained relatively cheery before Sunday's games began. More...

Services for Mrs Faye Castloo Pool, 85, of Gilmer will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gilmer with Reverend Duane Turner officiating. Mrs. Pool died on Friday, Dec. 19, in Gilmer. She was born on Jan. 23, 1923, in Wood County, to Steve and Ruth Elizabeth Henson Castloo. Mrs. Pool was a journalist and a Baptist. More...