Supply problems and high demand for natural gas have sent wholesale gas prices skyward, with consumers seeing the increase reflected in skyrocketing gas and electric bills.The elderly and others on fixed incomes are the hardest hit, with utility bills causing some customers to choose between food, medicine and heat this winter.Several area agencies are trying to make up the difference for those who simply cannot pay their bills, but are having difficulty meeting the demand.

Officials from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) gathered Thursday at Temple College, in partnership with Nextel Corporation, to present the school with a check for $388,575 for skills development training for employees.State, city and college dignitaries, including Temple Mayor Keifer Marshall Jr., and Councilwoman Martha Tyroch, gathered in the TC Leopard Room to witness the presentation to the college.The workforce commission

GATESVILLE

The Texas State Senior Games, held in Temple for the five previous years, will be leaving town and heading to Lubbock for at least two years, Parks and Leisure Services Director Ken Cicora said Thursday.The decision, made today in Austin by the governing board of the Senior Games, came after presentations by representatives of both cities.Seniors participating in the games compete in local competition before advancing to the state finals. Temple area competitors were able to compete directly in the state games when they were held here.by Anna Foster

WASHINGTON (AP) Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan gave a major boost Thursday to President Bush

Two weeks after the fun and games of the Wildcat Winter Classic, the mood turns serious for the Temple swim teams.The Wildcats host the District 13-5A meet today and Saturday at the Hardin Swim Center. The preliminaries begin at 5 p.m. today, with the finals starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.In addition to the host Wildcats, the meet will include teams from Copperas Cove, Georgetown, Killeen and Killeen Ellison.The top eight swimmers from the preliminaries will advance to the finals, with the top six from the finals advancing to regionals. The Region II finals will be Feb. 9-10 at the University of Texas at Austin.This weekend, the Temple boys and girls teams will be facing vastly different challenges.While the boys are expected to coast to victory, something the male swimmers and Jones acknowledge, the girls will have their hands full with chief district rival Georgetown..

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)

Jeffrey Schneider spoke only for five minutes, yet his brevity spoke volumes during his "Senior Speaks" segment on Thursday night at the Temple Wildcats' annual football banquet.Schneider, a senior receiver, recalled being weaned on Temple football. His father, Russell, had been on the Wildcats' 1979 state championship team. His grandfather, Don Davis, is a longtime Wildcats assistant coach.Last year, after years of rooting for the Wildcats, serving as a ball boy and accompanying Davis to out-of-town games, Schneider finally became a real part of it."Last year a lifelong dream of mine came true," he said. "It's an experience of a lifetime

ALPINE

The Temple boys and girls basketball teams find themselves in different boats.The eighth-ranked Wildcats (22-3, 4-0 in District 13-5A) sit atop the district standings. The Tem-Cats (7-14, 2-4) are in fourth place, their slim playoff hopes hanging by a thread.Their circumstances may differ, but both teams share the same sense of urgency. A loss for either one would be costly. And both will pursue a win over Killeen tonight with equal vigor.The Wildcats host the Kangaroos (14-11, 2-2) in a 7:30 p.m. tilt at Wildcat Gym while the Tem-Cats and Lady Roos (6-21, 0-6) tip off at the same time in Killeen.Coming off a 61-52 win over Killeen Ellison on Tuesday that vaulted them into sole possession of first place, the Wildcats are definitely on a high. But according to coach Bruce Etheridge, they're anything but comfortable."We're not going to rest on our laurels," said Etheridge, whose team has won its last 23 games at Wildcat Gym and carries a seven-game winning streak overall. by Tom Day

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)