help: tables and images

[Reeve of shinra]

I was thinking that this might make a good news box for the front page (using vbindex) of my new site but I am not quite sure how to place this in tables correctly.

I thought I could do it this way but I think I am not going about this the right way... this is a sample of what I was playing with and the image itself is below.

I guess I am looking to keep the top and bottom static while making the middle flexible for the news content.

<table width="51%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000">
  <tr> 
    <td colspan="5"><img src="file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/John/Desktop/NYTALK/themes/box-top.jpg" width="561" height="14"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr> 
    <td width="1%" height="107">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="1%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="97%" background="file:///C|/Documents and Settings/John/Desktop/NYTALK/themes/box-middle.jpg">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="1%">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr> 
    <td height="14" colspan="5"><img src="file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/John/Desktop/NYTALK/themes/box-bottom.jpg" width="560" height="13"></td>
  </tr>
</table>

Comments and feedback would be appreciated.