| Search for Soldier's Missing Fiancee Takes Bizarre Turns
Raeford, N.C. — Authorities launched a massive search after a Fort Bragg soldier said his fiancee had crashed in Hoke County. Investigators, however, are not sure that the missing woman was ever in North Carolina – or of her true identity. Capt. John Kivett, with the Hoke County Sheriff's Office, thought he had a real emergency on his hands Tuesday: A 29-year-old woman, stunned from a car crash, wandering through the woods. "She was crying. She was screaming at some points," Kivett said. "She told me she was cold. She wanted help." Spec. Randall Dabbs, 29, believed his fiancee – a woman was identified as Jollyn Sue Silver – was driving an Enterprise rental car from her hometown of Gresham, Ore., to welcome him back from Iraq. When Silver called him in a panic, Dabbs went to the sheriff's department.
A.M. Costa Rica/José Pablo Ramírez Vindas
Michael Rivera Guillen had his head stuck out the window and was moving it back and forth, back and forth, like the pendulum on a grandfather clock. This was the 5-year-old's first time on a train.
"I wanted to share the experience with my grandchildren," said Rivera's grandmother, Xinia Durán Meza, who said it was her first time on the train as well. "It's enchanting," she said, "everything is so beautiful."
The Tren a la Tica is one of the oldest in Central America, opening to the public in 1903. It ran for the first time as an electric train in 1930 and is the second oldest of its kind in Latin America, according to train officials. At the height of the era, the train institute employed over 3,000 people. The train was shut down in 1995 under President Jose María Figures Olsen but finally reopened in 2001 with the help of a tourist organization called American Travel.
Yesterday in parliament
The party used a rare procedure to ask the Commons to allow them to call for a public vote during debate on the European Union (amendment) bill to ratify the Lisbon treaty. Europe minister Jim Murphy opposed the plan, saying MPs had already voted, by almost 400 votes, against having an in-out referendum during debate on the Queen's speech. For the Tories, William Hague said the plan was an attempt to "paper over deep divisions" within the Liberal Democrats. But the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, claimed Tories and Labour were "terrified" of a debate on the UK's EU membership. First Great WesternThe transport secretary, Ruth Kelly, threatened to strip First Great Western of its rail franchise if services did not improve. She urged managers to "get a grip" and said First Great Western was being put "on notice" to improve services which had been "unacceptable for far too long".
KRIEGER: More character, not characters, needed
Mike Shanahan has been taking his chances on sketchy characters for some time. In fact, enough of these risks have blown up in his face that it will be hard for any player to break into the top three on his flawed character hit parade: Dale Carter, Daryl Gardener and Maurice Clarett. But when you hear players talk vaguely about qualities missing from the locker room last year, about a lack of commitment, you begin to wonder if Shanahan's gambles on athletic talent over character are sabotaging his team. Take Todd Sauerbrun. Sauerbrun has a great leg and a roster of personal issues. This is no secret. When Shanahan signed him, he signed a punter with serious baggage. Normally, a punter couldn't get away with any baggage, but Sauerbrun had that leg. You could measure how far the ball traveled.
Tanner 'very disappointed' by CBA's rate rise
FEDERAL Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said it was "very disappointing" Commonwealth Bank had decided to lift its home loan interest rate by more than yesterday's central bank adjustment. He said the decision would not reflect well on the bank in the market place. The Commonwealth Bank today announced it was increasing its variable home loan rate by .30 of a percentage point to 8.97 per cent. The Reserve Bank of Australia yesterday lifted official interest rates by .25 of a percentage point. "We're very disappointed about the Commonwealth Bank's decision,'' Mr Tanner told the National Press Club in Canberra. "I don't think it will reflect well on the bank in the market place. "We are very concerned about the timing ... and I think the customers of the Commonwealth Bank are entitled to be asking questions about their choice of bank as a result.'' Mr Tanner said the Government intended to make it easier for people to shop around for home loans, "to make choices, to move from provider to provider in order to get maximum competition into the market''.
Economic toll may top $100M across state
The total economic cost of the deadly storms that ripped through the state Tuesday night won't be available for some time, but several early estimates offer a glimpse of what's to come. Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee said it expects statewide claims from the storms to reach $100 million, about the same level as when tornadoes rocked West Tennessee and Gallatin in 2006. .
Murphys Irish Day 2008
Celebrating its Celtic heritage, which dates back to the Gold Rush era, the town of Murphys each year stages one of the most popular events in the Mother Lode. This year's Murphys Irish Day will be held Saturday, March 15.The day will begin with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Congregational Church on the corner of Church and Algiers Sts.Presented by the Murphys Business Association, the Main St. festivities will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. There is no admission charge. .
Complimentary Tickets to the Edinburgh's Military Tattoo
BRAINTREE, Mass., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Experience in person the sights and sounds of one world's most spectacular shows. Edinburgh's renowned Military Tattoo is recognized for its history, musical display, fireworks, international audience, magic, mystery, and mayhem. Brian Moore International Tours (BMIT) is offering complimentary tickets to take part in Edinburgh's Military Tattoo with bookings made by November 30, 2007 of either the Scottish Spree or Scotland & Ireland Adventure escorted tour package. "It is incredibly hard to get tickets to the Military Tattoo," says Sara Stanton, President of Brian Moore International Tours. "There is no substitute to experiencing this event in person, and combining the festivities with one of our tours perfectly completes any vacation." The Scottish Spree Escorted Tour from $1169 includes escorted sightseeing by luxury motor coach, professional Scottish tour director throughout, 6-night hotels accommodations in first class hotels, full Scottish breakfast daily, four dinners, 1 evening of dinner and entertainment, welcome reception hosted by the tour director, and entrance to many attractions.
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