WASHINGTON (AP)U.S. companies slashed 101,000 jobs in December as retailers limped through a cheerless holiday season, leaving unemployment at an eight-year high of 6 percent at the close of a year that many workers want to forget. Last month

Sales tax payments to Temple were down 3.87 percent this month, while cities statewide got .1 percent less allocations compared to a year ago. Overall, Bell County allocations in January were down .63 percent to the total collected in January of 2002, according to figures the Texas comptroller

FORT HOOD

BELTON

As part of the Temple school district

BELTON

With only two weeks remaining before the district swim meet, Temple gave a glimpse of things to come. Anchored by senior Jeff Moltenberry, the Temple boys captured second place Saturday at the Wildcat Winter Classic, while the girls kicked their way to a sixth-place showing at the Robert W. Hardin Swim Center. The Temple squads compete at the District 13-5A meet in two weeks at College Station, and first-year coach Trey Sullivan has plenty to look forward to.

BELTON

Mary Frances Alwine and Emily Bezner scored goals as Temple capped play in its own tournament with a 2-0 win over Hewitt Midway in the Group I consolation game Saturday afternoon at the Korompai soccer complex. The Tem-Cats (3-3-1) finished the weekend 2-1, losing to Abilene 4-1 Saturday morning after defeating Nacogdoches 4-1 on Friday. Belton, which split two tournament games on Friday, finished play on Saturday with a split. The Lady Tigers (2-2-2) fell 1-0 to Cedar Park in an early game, then rallied to beat Nacogdoches 2-1 in the Group II consolation game. Abilene or The Woodlands, Leander or Cedar Park, Wichita Falls or Pflugerville Saturday. Temple

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)