| Bids low for Pope's VW
SAN FRANCISCO -- While Pope Benedict celebrated his 80th birthday, the latest eBay auction for his old Volkswagen Golf ended without a winner on the weekend. Although bids for the 1999 metallic grey hatchback surpassed $204,000 US, a reserve price wasn't met. EBay spokesman Catherine Fisher said she didn't know what the seller's minimum price was. A message left with the owner, Texas-based online casino GoldenPalace.com, was not returned. Benedict celebrated his 80th birthday a day early yesterday with a Mass in his honour on the flower-bedecked steps of St. Peter's Square. Benedict was born in April 16 in Marktl Am Inn, a riverside town in the Bavaria region of Germany, and sprinkled among the crowd in the square bathed in brilliant sunlight were fellow countrymen and women in traditional dress, including feather-trimmed hats.
May meeting set on bus-route bids
Facing dozens of questions about its bidding process for 29 contract bus routes, the Greater Clark County School Board voted unanimously yesterday to discuss the matter at a meeting May 1. "It was a total surprise," board Chairman Robbie Valentine said of the calls that the system has received since last week about the Jeffersonville, Charlestown and New Washington routes. They are operated by contract drivers who own their buses rather than by district employees driving system-owned vehicles. .
Horry takes bids on fire rescue study
Horry County Council agreed Tuesday to look into the cost of an efficiency study of its fire rescue services, including management of volunteers and how stations use money. National consultants will bid on the price of the efficiency study, which is expected to cost more than $100,000 and give the county pointers on how to improve its fire department. A recent barrage of complaints from County Council and fire department workers over the treatment of volunteers triggered the consideration of an efficiency study. Some on County Council including the study's sponsor, Kevin Hardee, believe it could help fire rescue save money in its $12 million budget. Others said it could be a waste if the investigation finds the department is already functioning smoothly.
Dian Page column: Seventh annual Art Spectacular set for May 3
Twenty-five artists will take part in the seventh annual Art Spectacular set from 4:30 to 9 p.m. May 3 at the Rock Garden, 1951 Bond St., Howard. Proceeds will benefit the Marti Spittell Ziegelbauer Foundation for Reproductive Cancer and the Great Lakes Run Foundation that provides free mammograms for breast-cancer screening. The Spectacular will include wooden bowls by Jerry Stepien, nature prints by KJK Photography, pottery by Jim Lange and "Women with Attitude" paintings by Doris Weed, along with clothing, metals, water colors, painted furniture and jewelry. There will also be silent and oral auctions. For information about tickets that are $25 each, call (920) 491-9097. Jill Grewe, 16, a junior at De Pere High School, recently attended a national Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
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