As local school districts shake the hat in front of voters for bond money to build new facilities, the high costs of materials means districts are shaking Stetsons, not bowlers. Construction costs have gone up by around 10 percent a year for the last four, forcing districts to ask for more funds to do the same work. Tom Oehler, managing principal at SHW Architects, said that since 2003 construction costs have gone up between 7 percent and 12 percent annually.

WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS - Texans flocked in great numbers to their native shrine Saturday to pay homage at the altar where Texas Independence from Mexico was declared 172 years ago today. Tour buses queued up at the visitor´s center at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. Private vehicles parked in temporary spaces in pastures as the first cannonade from the Texas Army boomed over the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside.

A transcontinental mission to find a missing brother has revealed clues in Temple, and a trail that leads to Wichita Falls. Susan Kelly of Dublin, Ireland, is attempting to locate her younger brother, left as a toddler at the Foxy Box bar in Temple in 1976 or 1977. Following an article that ran in the Daily Telegram on Feb. 2, Ms. Kelly received responses from local residents who are aiding her in the endeavor.

Olga Ochoa Valdez has been a patient at Temple´s Community Free Clinic for 10 years. Ms. Valdez´s medical situation is similar to other area individuals who would have slipped through the health care system, if not for the free clinic.

In midflight, Temple junior Tevin Reese knew he had a memorable jump. Reese figured his leap would win the triple jump at Saturday´s annual Temple Relays at Wildcat Stadium.

BELTON - It had the feel of a championship game or a heavyweight fight. Actually, it was part of the undercard for today´s main event. Rivals Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin-Simmons went toe-to-toe for 40 minutes Saturday, when the Cowboys got off the mat once before the Crusaders put them away for good in a 60-55 semifinal victory at the American Southwest Conference Tournament.

TYLER - Staring up at the eighth-ranked team from a deep hole, Mary Hardin-Baylor almost pulled off a miraculous rescue of its season at the women´s American Southwest Conference Tournament. Down by as many as 21 points at one time and trailing 52-40 with 7 minutes left, UMHB rallied to take the lead in the final minutes but couldn´t hold it as No. 8 McMurry escaped with a 59-56 semifinal victory Saturday afternoon.

BELTON - Howard Payne tried to beat the run-and-gun Concordia Texas Tornados at their own game. It didn´t work.

GEORGETOWN - With consistent, solid pitching at a premium on Saturday, the Belton Tigers relied on their bats. The Tigers (12-1) belted out 28 total hits as they beat Cedar Park 7-5 in 10 innings and then edged Georgetown 10-8 to claim the championship of the Georgetown Invitational.

BOSSIER PARISH, La. - For the first time since it was 0-0, the Temple College baseball team is back at the .500 mark - just in time for Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference competition. After TC blasted Highland (Kan.) 8-1 early Saturday, Nick Anders´ two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Leopards to a 6-5 win over Lon Morris, pushing their record to 9-9.