12/21/04 - EPPING - "You know what they say - never watch hot dogs or television being made," said Michael Bane, host of the Outdoor Channel television show, "The Shooting Gallery," last week.

12/21/04 - EXETER - Exeter District Court Clerk Carol Taylor-Wright said it is "impressive" that the district court is finally being moved after problems with the 150-year-old building captured the attention of the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

12/21/04 - EXETER- Exeter town offices are facing similar air quality problems as the district court building but at a lower level, according to Town Manager George Olson.

12/21/04 - EXETER - In response to high school teachers’ recent claims that they have been left out of the search for a new EHS principal, the search committee has agreed to give them an opportunity to interview finalists.

12/21/04 - EXETER - Several members of the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board, contacted this week, said they have become aware of unrest among some of the high school teachers. But according to them, there isn’t much they can do until the teachers have gone through the proper channels, including contacting their union.

12/21/04 - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has returned to its pre-vaccine-shortage guidelines for those who should receive flu shots, according to Dr. Jesse Greenblatt, state epidemiologist. He also expects a fresh supply of the vaccine in January.

12/21/04 - EXETER - Muriel Maccarone moved through the buffet line at Julia’s Cafe in the Seacoast School of Technology. "It’s the first time I’ve been here and it’s delicious," she said as she helped herself to a second bowl of cream of broccoli soup. The other soup of the day was turkey tortellini. As she eyed it speculatively, Maccarone said, "I might have the other soup for dessert."

12/21/04 - On a recent Friday night, I headed out to see Russell Fieldsend - mild-mannered dry-cleaner by day, turned male model, turned lounge entertainer at his latest gig as a piano player.

12/21/04 - Local police departments reported a few fender-benders Monday morning as the result of the snow fall, but officers agreed that as evening fell the problems were likely to increase.

12/21/04 - EXETER - The Exeter Board of Selectmen postponed a final vote on the town’s 2005 budget and the construction of a new water treatment plant on Holland Way, pending more information. The first two articles on the 2005 town warrant will be voted on in the Jan. 3 selectmen’s meeting.

12/21/04 - EXETER - The Exeter Senior Center hosted its annual Christmas celebration Wednesday. Close to 50 seniors were present, and two state representatives took advantage of the occasion to present Alice Webber with a plaque recognizing her generosity toward veterans.

12/21/04 - EXETER - Rather than spend your winter evenings cooped up in the house, treat yourself to one or more or the many courses Exeter Adult Education has to offer.

12/21/04 - STRATHAM - The Stratham Community Church’s annual Christmas pageant was rejuvenated this year thanks to the dedicated efforts of six high school students.

12/21/04 - NEWFIELDS - Fifth-grader Kyle Averill isn’t just hitting the books. He’s collecting them.

12/21/04 - STRATHAM - The lowly candle is more dangerous than it looks, and the danger can be particularly deceiving during the holiday season when people use candles for lighting more frequently than at other times of the year, according to Stratham Fire Chief Robert Law.

12/21/04 - NEWFIELDS - A fine-tuned version of the latest proposal for the 300-plus acre Mills Woods development was reviewed at Thursday’s Newfield’s Planning Board meeting.

12/21/04 - EPPING - With no leads in sight, Epping police are still investigating the disappearance of a Buxton Oil tanker stolen in mid-November.

12/21/04 - KENSINGTON - A fire Sunday night on Stumpfield Road stayed confined to one room and the family members continue to live in their home, according to Kensington Fire Chief Charlie LeBlanc.

12/21/04 - In many families there are some holiday traditions that just never go away, like Uncle Jimmy’s stupid knock-knock jokes loudly offered while dining on the Christmas goose or Cousin Suzy’s insistence on giving an imprint of her hand every year to every relative, although she’s in her late 20s.

12/21/04 - We have all heard the story about the child who received a big, expensive present and spent all his time playing with the box it came in.

12/21/04 - The following cooking tips will help you stay fit during the holiday season.

12/21/04 - No one should be expected to work in situations where health and safety are in jeopardy, and finally the state court system is doing something about conditions in the district courthouses in Hampton and Exeter .

12/21/04 - Congratulations to the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce and all of its member businesses for pitching in to make this winter a little warmer and cozier for hundreds of area children.

12/21/04 - The following people passed away recently. . .

12/21/04 - Area police made the following arrests and conducted the following business recently...

12/21/04 - EXETER - His team has played three games and prevailed in all three, so at this point in the season Exeter High School hockey coach Jim Tufts has no complaints.

12/21/04 - EXETER - The Exeter High School girls basketball team unfurled its true colors in Friday night’s 61-40 victory over Alvirne. And, judging from their red, puffy cheeks and smiles, they love to “rip it and run,” as Exeter coach Sue Rowe so aptly described it.

12/21/04 - EXETER - The perfect season came to end for the Phillips Exeter Academy ice hockey team Saturday night after a 6-2 loss to Northwood, N.Y. in the final day of the Exeter Invitational.

12/21/04 - EXETER - A 200-year-old painting from England suffering punctures from shipping rests on an easel, where it’s being prepped for surgery. Glues, solvents, putties, dental picks, knives, brushes, and whiting, are some of the operating room tools.

12/21/04 - My editor said the business profile would test my writing skills, since it was a service-oriented establishment and didn’t have a tangible product, or sensory facet. I was ready. However, my index cards of interview questions didn’t deflect the poking and prodding my patience would receive that day.

12/21/04 - NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - U.S. Coast Guard cutters and aircraft searched in freezing temperatures and high winds for five fishermen lost after their scallop boat capsized and sank about 45 miles southeast of Nantucket.

12/21/04 - HYANNIS, Mass. - Authorities investigating 15 suspicious Cape Cod fires over the past month and a half have arrested a Lakeville man in a single arson last week.

12/21/04 - BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq’s interim prime minister warned Monday that insurgents are trying to foment sectarian civil war as well as derail elections, while thousands of mourners turned out for funerals in the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala a day after car bombs killed 67 people.

12/21/04 - WASHINGTON - In a sobering assessment of the Iraq war, President Bush acknowledged Monday that Americans’ resolve has been shaken by grisly scenes of death and destruction and he pointedly criticized the performance of U.S.-trained Iraqi troops. "No question about it," he said. "The bombers are having an effect."

12/21/04 - BURLINGTON, Vt. - A Milton man who crashed a car at high speed and then wandered into a house and kissed a sleeping couple is facing a variety of charges.

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