Donald Hallmark first walked the dark-oak halls of the Dana-Thomas House in the 1970s and was awed by the house and its architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
“I was just blown away by the fact the building was as astoundingly complete as it was,” said Hallmark, now superintendent for the downtown Springfield home. “I had never seen anything as complete as this, with all the original furniture and nearly all the art glass here.”

Lincoln Community High School alumna Jennifer Story — now a police officer — was recently awarded the Medal of Valor for her bravery in a gun battle in St. Louis.

Dave Tiderman wondered if the decimal point was in the wrong place when he opened his $35,000 company bonus. Jose Rojas saw his $10,000 check and thought, “That can’t be right.”
Valentin Dima watched co-workers breaking down in tears over their bonus checks and didn’t trust his emotions. He drove home first, then opened his envelope: $33,000.

Shoppers, who had snapped their wallets shut since September, turned out in force Friday to grab early morning deals and hard-to-find items like Elmo Live and the “Wii Fit” exercise game, but many said worries about the economy have them focusing on fewer gifts and less expensive, more practical items.
Meanwhile, the start of the shopping season proved deadly at both a Wal-Mart store in Valley Stream, N.Y., and a Toys “R’’ Us store in Palm Desert, Calif.

Abraham Shrine will host a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Lincoln Masonic Temple to honor members with 25 years or more service. Friends and relatives are invited to attend.

Christian singer and composer Bill Dolan of Lincoln will sing from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 110 Broadway. Dolan is general manager of WLLM 1370 AM radio in LIncoln.