The fall semester of 2010 wrapped up this past week, with students taking final exams at Barton Community College. On Thursday and Friday, the campus bookstore called in extra help as students sold back textbooks, typically pocketing $100-300 for Christmas.

But before they could collect, students presented their ID numbers so staff could check their accounts, and any money still owed on tuition went toward that. Some students who got money back said it would go to pay other bills. Brenna Stueder, toting textbooks for psychology and chemistry classes, said her parents had paid for her books and the refund — half of the original price — would go back to them.

The lines, which sometimes stretched down the hall and around the corner, moved quickly. Students who had received "free" books as part of a scholarship were in a separate line so they could return the books.

With the semester now a closed book, students began their winter break. The housing units closed Saturday. Teachers will start their break this week, after posting grades on Monday.

Friday was also the last day for the current exhibits at Barton’s Shafer Gallery, which had been showing an award-winning quilt collection and its annual holiday displays, including trees decorated by area school children. Gallery director Dave Barnes said the Shafer will reopen on Sunday, Jan. 9, with an opening reception for its next exhibit. Ceramic artists Marko Fields and Carol Long will be featured.