They worked the system.

• Though airlines most frequently award their elite passengers upgrades, it never hurts to be the first in line at the gate counter and inquire about a bump in class. (Ask the gate representative, not the check-in agent, who does not control domestic first-class seating assignments.) Alternately, don't be the first to board; hang back in case economy seats are needed and there is extra space in first class -- you just might be offered that elite seat.

We Are Together

There, her older sisters struggle to make ends meet, and her older brother wastes away from the same disease that took her parents. But despite the shadow of sickness, the house is full of song and laughter. Tragedy has become a banal fact of life; grief coexists with normal existence. The director, Paul Taylor, has done a remarkable job in winning the confidence and trust of the children; the result is a joyfully life-affirming film.

Every School Every Thursday -- Johnston

First place, Becky Cooper, Johnston High.

Middle School Flight-Balsa wood gliders: First place, Matt Ruebbelke, Johnston Middle; second place, John Koopah, Summit Middle.

Technology Quiz Bowl-Middle School: First place, Johnston Middle, Keo Corak, Kofi Manteaw, Matt Ruebbelke;

Technology Quiz Bowl-High School: Second place, Johnston, Mike Traxel, Cody Catron and Alex Stanbrough; third place, Johnston, Kate Dickey, Trevor Haden and Rachel Stanley.

Structural Engineering-Middle School: First place, Johnston Middle, Matt Ruebbelke and Kofi Manteaw; second place, Johnston Middle, Melinda Thomas and Vicki Lee Thomas.

Structural Engineering-High School: First place, Johnston, Becky Cooper and Linda Brown.

Middle School-Dragster Challenge: First place, Jordan Hansen, Summit Middle; second place, Jarid Ingrebrand, Summit Middle; third place, Zea Zhu, Summit Middle.

Daring heist at SBI branch

In spite of a high alert sounded in the state after the Ludhiana blast, it just took less then 25 minutes for three men in their late 20s to rob the main branch of the State bank of India of Rs 46.15 lakh in broad daylight here today.

The three armed with firearms tied four employees and two customers inside the bank and made good with the cash after getting hold of the vault keys.

The three men arrived at the bank at 9.20 am and entered the premises by telling the peon that they had come from the SDMs office.

After gaining assess into the bank, the robbers trained a revolver on the template of peon Baldev Singh and held him hostage.

As security guard Prem Singh reached the bank, he was also detained by the robbers.

One of the robbers then started cleaning the veranda of the bank to avoid unwanted attention of passersby.

Shell Continues to Innovate at the Pump

HOUSTON, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Shell becomes the first gasoline retailer in the world to adopt Pay By Touch biometric payment technology at its pumps and inside convenience stores. A recognized industry innovator, Shell also is testing attendant hand-held wireless card scanners abroad. Both technologies are intended to add more convenience and security to customer transactions.

"We want Shell to be the first choice for motorists and we aim to achieve that with operational excellence," said Chris Suess, manager of Global Refueling Innovations.