Archived NewsBytes located at the bottom of the page

October 31

• Ghosts and goblins will be making their appearances tonight as part of the Halloween tradition. Some tips for trick-or-treaters: wear reflective tape or clothing to make it easier for motorists to see you; stay on sidewalks were available; have adult accompany trick-or-treater; go only to homes with the porch light on.

• The Bloomington man charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection to last week's shootout with police made his first court appearance.  47-year-old Steven Brummett was taken to the Department of Corrections in Plainfield after his initial appearance Tuesday in Monroe Circuit Court for safekeeping. A pretrial conference is set for January 7th.

• The deadline for property taxes is roughly two weeks away. The deadline is November 13th because of two reasons. November 10th (the normal deadline) is a Saturday. November 12th is Veteran's Day. Remember, if you pay by mail, it MUST be postmarked no later than November 13th.

• One more time!  This time with the U.S. Supreme Court.  The state has decided to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on whether it can display a monument of the Ten Commandments on the Statehouse grounds.  Gov. O'Bannon knows there is not a high  probability that the court will hear the case, but he believes that if they do agree to hear it, there is a good chance of a judgment in favor of  the state.  A three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction in July that barred the monument because the majority believed that the monument was an endorsement of religion, even though it also includes the preambles of the Indiana Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The state, on the other hand, contends that the monument is of historical importance and not an endorsement of religion.

October 30

• Halloween is tomorrow.  To find out what Halloween events are still happening in the area, check out Local Events..  Visit James Whitcomb Riley at the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts on October 30 at 6 p.m. for a special Halloween treat at 6:00 pm. The famous Hoosier poet, personified by local legend Don Hill, will recite rapturous tales and mesmerizing poetry. There will be delicious old-fashioned treats and lots of fun.

• Next on its agenda.  The ICLU is planning to get involved in stopping what some consider excesses in the
  domestic fight against terrorism.  They believe that although the rage over terrorism was justified, the government's anti-terrorism act was passed too quickly and without due consideration of the long-term consequences.  Lawmakers' plans for bills requiring the "Pledge of Allegiance" or moments of silence may not go unchallenged because they really have nothing to do with the fight against terrorism.

• It looks as though the number of National Guard troops stationed at four Indiana airports will be reduced.  One hundred forty-six Indiana National Guard soldiers have been adding to the security at the state's six major airports , but the Federal Aviation Administration has capped the number at 111.  Guard soldiers now man security checkpoints at airports, overseeing the work of civilian screeners who check passengers and their baggage for prohibited items such
  as knives or guns.  The biggest change will occur late at night when airports are not as busy.  Officials at Indiana airports had earlier said the number of troops should be increased to relieve overtaxed airport police and to reopen prime parking spaces near terminals.

October 29

• It's no surprise that the river is up and lots of debris is floating downstream.  To keep track of White River check http://www-dinind.er.usgs.gov/rt-cgi/gen_stn_pg?station=03371500 

• Don't throw your hot dog! A Bloomington man is learning that lesson the hard way. 23-year-old Gregory Jenson was arrested on a preliminary charge of battery after he threw a hot dog that hit a bus driver while on board a Bloomington Shuttle Service bus.  Jenson said he was throwing the hot dog at a friend who was ahead of him, but missed his target.

• A spooky read?  Mark Marimen is a ghost writer extraordinaire who loves to tell stories, and in his latest book, "Haunted Indiana 3," he tells tales that can make you wonder!  There is a story about a  haunted school near St. Joseph's Cemetery, as well as the Kaske House in Munster and the Hagebeck-Wallace Circus train disaster in Hammond among others.  The book has just been published and joins two earlier ones in the series.

October 26

• In one of the toughest regionals in the state, the Mitchell Lady Bluejackets host a Class 2A regional tomorrow with all four teams in the top 20. Mitchell (ranked #1 and 32-0) will play Evansville Mater Dei in match number two starting 25 minutes after match one between Forest Park and Brownstown is completed. The first match begins at 11 am. The championship takes place starting at 7 pm.

• Eli Lilly and Co. is reviewing its line of antibiotics to see whether any might be able to treat infections from anthrax or other potential bioterrorism agents.  It has also begun testing its cancer drug, Gemzar, to determine if it could effectively treat smallpox, the contagious virus that potentially could be used in a terrorist attack.  Lilly's announcement came as the federal government on Thursday issued specific guidelines for fighting anthrax, recommending that inhalation cases be treated with drug combinations and not just the sought-after antibiotic Cipro.  Lilly said none of its current products is indicated for treatment of anthrax, but scientific evidence indicates the disease may be susceptible to some of Lilly's existing antibiotics.  Lilly said it was prepared to increase production of its existing antibiotics, and, if requested, convert its facilities to produce antibiotics made by other companies.  Any Lilly antibiotics effective in treating anthrax or other bioterrorism agents would be provided at no profit to victims, the company said.

October 25

• Storms which moved through southern Indiana last night caused many problems yesterday evening.   Power outages, downed limbs/trees, and downed power lines have been some of the biggest headaches.  Crews are still working to restore power to some areas. Funnel clouds were reported in across the region. 

• Most of the recent health news has focused on anthrax, but a more prevalent killer on the health horizon is influenza, which annually causes about 20,000 deaths a year.  Only three people have died so far from anthrax.  There is currently no anthrax protection available, but flu vaccine will be available to the public soon to give you the most effective means of protecting against influenza.  Flu shots are 60-90%, depending on the strains of influenza circulating.  Although some agencies have experienced delays in receiving flu vaccines, health officials expect supplies to be adequate this year.

• Small business owners in Indiana are somewhat less than enthusiastic about Gov O'Bannon's tax restructuring plan because small business profits will be taxed at a higher rate and they will be subjected to a new franchise tax, while large corporations will get tax breaks.  Small businesses consider this a real threat that is masquerading as reform.   They do not believe the governor's claim that the plan would restructure business taxes in a way that promotes economic development and creates more high-tech jobs.  Under the current system, many small businesses employing  500 or less are organized as Chapter S corporations, which frees them from having to pay corporate income taxes.  The owners instead take their profits as personal income, which is subject to the state's flat 3.4 percent individual income tax rate.  The proposed O'Bannon-Kernan plan would raise the individual income tax rate to 3.9 percent on the first $90,000 of taxable income and to 4.4 percent on income above that. It also would establish a new franchise tax that every business entity would pay based on net value.  Many small business owners say they will be kicked into a higher individual income tax bracket and will be "double taxed" because of the new franchise tax, and they believe that will prevent many small businesses from growing.  Ninety percent of businesses in Indiana are considered small. 

October 24

• Another Ten Commandments marker is removed!  This time from iin front of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Crawfordsville.  The Fraternal Order of Eagles gave the monument to the county in 1958, but the ICLU filed a lawsuit on October 5th on behalf of a resident, on the grounds that the display violates the Constitution's prohibition against government establishment of religion.  Tuesday the County Commissioners voted 3-0 to have the Eagles remove the marker, choosing not to fight the lawsuit because it would be costly for taxpayers.  Other markers at public buildings around the state have been the subject of similar lawsuits, and Federal courts generally have held that the markers are unconstitutional.  How long will it be until the ACLU targets the "religious displays" in the chambers of the U.S. Supreme Court?

• The lawsuit brought by a group of 46 I.U. basketball fans who claim university officials improperly fired basketball coach Bob Knight could go to trial because of the Indiana Court of Appeals 3-1 decision not to rule directly.  The university argues that the meetings were not required to be open because fewer than half of the nine trustees attended each one.  The university had sought to move the case to the state's Court of Appeals because of privacy concerns.  The saga continues.

• Prosecutors are dropping charges against 14 environmental activists arrested in Bloomington last July. The protesters were accused of trying to block a construction project. But authorities say holding trials for the group would be a waste of resources.

October 23

• A bicyclist died over the weekend while participating in the Hilly Hundred bicycle tour in Bloomington, and the Monroe County Coroner has ruled that he suffered a probable cardiac arrhythmia.  The coroner said he did not suspect foul play but could not make an official ruling until an autopsy was performed.

• Former president of the American Red Cross and former Presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole is scheduled to speak at Indiana University  on November 16th at 4 p.m.

• Good news for the farmers.  Because of ideal weather and early planting Indiana corn yields may reach record proportions.  Indiana's farmers are expected to harvest an average of 160 bushels an acre of corn yield, which would be the most ever among Midwestern states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The current Midwest record is 156 bushels/acre set in 1994 by Illinois.  The previous Indiana record of 147 bushels/ acre was set in 1992 and 2000.  Indiana's soybean yield is also leading the nation with an expected 49 bushels/ acre for soybeans, which would be second to the U.S. record of 50.5 bushels an acre set in Iowa seven years ago.  According to a Purdue ag economist, the bountiful harvest should boost farm incomes because livestock markets are strong and producers will need additional feed, and the large harvest might also generate record crop revenues of about $3.5 billion across the state, Hurt said.

• Now your computer can get Antrax (not Anthrax) if you get careless!  It's a new low-level virus that's making  it's way around the Web. The subject line offers information about the virus and clicking on the  attachment fires the virus. Sound familiar? Be careful. DO NOT OPEN ATTACHMENTS!!!

October 22

• Better rake the leaves, mow the grass, and complete those other outdoor chores while you can!  Another nice day today, then a chance of showers the next couple of days.  Much cooler weather by Thursday. 

• A Bloomington man was injured Sunday morning after the strap on a tree stand slipped causing 35-year-old John Sexton to fall 18 feet breaking his leg. The mishap occurred about 9 a.m. Sunday while Sexton was hunting in Greene County.

• Patriotism from the Internet.  With a little expertise you can put a waving flag in your e-mail.   Or perhaps you would like to display a small American flag in the lower corner on your computer desk top,  print patriotic buttons, or download patriotic wallpaper and screensavers.

October 19

• A sunny, mild weekend is in store for the area.  It would be a good time to experience "Fort Vallonia Days" in Jackson County or attend the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival.  Both run through Sunday.

• Indiana's 21st Century Tax Plan - The O'Bannon tax overhaul plan was announced yesterday.  The governor says it is crucial that it be acted upon by the General Assembly during the short session in January 2002.  Under the plan Indiana residents would pay higher sales and individual income taxes and would shift half of school operating costs from local property tax rolls to the state, establish a permanent 15 percent homestead credit, eliminate the business inventory tax and the corporate gross income tax, and shift county welfare costs to the state.  Homeowners are expected to be hit hard under next year's statewide property tax reassessment plan, which was designed by the O'Bannon administration, but the property tax reductions in the overhaul plan announced yesterday average bills would not increase, although some homeowners could still pay substantially more.  How are we going to help pay for these cuts and the reduce reliance on property taxes?  The sales tax would increase to 6%, and the flat 3.4% individual income tax is to be replaced by a graduated income tax (3.9% on the first $90,000 and 4.4% for income above $90,000), and there will be a single corporate net income tax rate of 8.5%.

October 18

• It's official!  A federal courthouse in downtown New Albany will be named after former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, who represented southeastern Indiana for 34 years.  The effort was sponsored by all members of the Indiana congressional delegation, approved by both houses of Congress, and was signed by President Bush this week.

• A new trend in health clinics?  Tuesday a drive-through immunization clinic was held at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette.  About 1,200 people received flu shots and 150 received pneumonia shots.  The line starting forming about 7 a.m., an hour before the clinic was scheduled to start.  The waits during the day ranged from 10 to 45 minutes.  People could have walked into a building at the fairgrounds, but it was reported that most preferred the drive-through concept.  It was a "first" for the area.

• The price of gasoline is newsworthy.  It is at a two-year low!   According to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the state average on Wednesday was $1.15/gallon for regular unleaded, with the local price even lower than that.  After the terrorist attack, travel habits changed, and the falling demand created a glut in the supply.

• With the addition of the IBM SP supercomputer Indiana University is now home to the nation's largest university-owned supercomputer, which triples IU's former supercomputing capacity.  In addition to supporting areas ranging from archaeology to computational physics, it will serve as the backbone for a planned genomics research known as INGEN, a collaboration of scientists and physicians who will study the information that makes up the human genome and its function in human health.

October 17

• Teen Read Week is this week at libraries across the nation!   Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other concerned adults. The 2001 theme, "Make Reading A Hobbit," celebrates the popularity of fantasy literature.  Read and participate in the activities provided by your library!  

• In anticipation of the presentation of the Governor's tax restructuring proposal, Republicans in the General Assembly held a news conference Tuesday and they say they are willing to work with Democrats in solving the state's fiscal problems.  However, there are conditions.  . They will oppose a tax increase to shore up a deficit budget, and they believe the short session in 2002 is too soon for an overhaul of the state's tax system because of unknowns about the property tax reassessment and its effects.  O'Bannon's plan probably includes more spending cuts and a tax increase, which is not popular with Republicans, who were denied a serious role in crafting the restructuring plan.

• Hornets in Louisville?  It could happen.  Two downtown sites were being visited Wednesday by architects for the Charlotte Hornets, and the co-owner met with Mayor Dave Armstrong this week to discuss a possible move to Louisville and a new arena.  The Hornets' owners have until spring to tell the NBA board where it wants to play next season.  Of course, Louisville would need to build a downtown arena costing around $220 million.  Sites for such an arena are being evaluated.   Meanwhile, the state and the city are discussing plans concerning the financing.

October 16

• To strike or not to strike. That is the question.  Union workers at the Bloomington GE plant vote today on whether or not to strike. Ironically, it comes as GE announced they were recalling nearly 100 workers back to the side-by-side refrigerator plant. Union president Steve Norman said one of the concerns is, as they see it, the company has changed the way they handle grievances.

• How to win friends and influence people?  Gov Frank O'Bannon and Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan will announce their tax restructuring proposal on Thursday.  Kernan and a close-knit group have been working in relative secrecy, holding private talks, but they have not included  key Republicans in any of the planning.  However, with the impending announcement Thursday, the Democrats now are calling for bipartisan cooperation. 

October 15

• Making weekend plans?  The 33rd Fort Vallonia Days will be October 20–21. Vallonia, established by French
  missionaries in the 1800s, was named "Vallon", or "little valley". Vallonia residents used historical records to
  construct a replica of the fort according to the description logged there. Fort Vallonia Days features a model steam and old gas engine display, handmade articles and crafts, free entertainment, homemade food, a flea market and booths. Inside of the fort, guests can find traditional crafts and re-enactors. Activities start at 9:00 a.m. and ends around 5:30 p.m. on October 20. On October 21, there will be a Community Church service at the Vallonia Gym at 10:00 a.m. Events for the day start after the church service and the day ends at 4:30 p.m. 

• Since last April 1st, the tree sitters in Brown County have been in the news.  They believe they have been successful in their efforts because they have delayed the logging on 32 acres of Yellowwood State Forest, allowing birds to nest and calling attention to their effort to end logging in state forests.  The Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources has left the sitters alone during their protest.  The tree that has been the center of the sitting now has two adjacent 6 foot square platforms that comprise a living room/bedroom and a kitchen, and altogether twenty people who call themselves the Yellowwood Tree Huggers have taken turns in the tree.

October 12

• The Houston Fall Fest will be on October 13 from 8 am to 6 pm at the Old Houston School. There will be food
  booths and entertainment. The community of Houston holds this event every year in an effort to raise money to
  renovate the treasured historic schoolhouse. This year’s event includes a huge craft fair, raffles, games, and live
  bluegrass and gospel music.

• The wrong approach?  Civil libertarians believe an ordinance recently passed in Sheridan, IN, limiting how many unrelated people can live in one home is unconstitutional.  .The ordinance was prompted by complaints about four, five, six families living in a single-family dwelling, but it has been pointed out that there are other ways to solve the problem, such as regulating the square-footage minimum/person which has already been implemented in other cities and counties in Indiana.

• A health crisis.  That's what experts are saying about Indiana's children and their lack of physical fitness, and it turns out to be a nationwide problem.   The problem is being blamed in part on public schools because P.E. is not a priority and is actually on the decline in some states.  Data gathered recently indicate the number of overweight children and teens has nearly doubled in the past two decades.  Thirteen percent of children ages 6 to 11 were overweight, up from 11 percent in a 1994 study.  Time and money are the usual  reasons physical education and other "specialty" classes get cut from a curriculum.   The Indiana Department of Education recommendations call for at least 105 minutes of physical education each week for Grades 1-3; 75 minutes for children in fourth and fifth grades; and 100 minutes for students in sixth through eighth grades.  However, local school districts interpret those guidelines to fit their own needs. 

October11

• Ready for some fright!  Psycho Circus Haunted House will be open Friday and Saturday nights this weekend and the two weekends after.  Run by the Seymour Jaycees, it will feature a demented cast of clowns and animals, a Vortex Tunnel, Maniac Maze.  The location is Jeffersonville Ave. and St. Louis Ave.  Hours will be from 7 p.m. to midnight.

• Some said "Knight's gone. Donations will be too!". WRONG! Contributions to Indiana University from the private sector more than DOUBLED in the last fiscal year, setting an all-time record of $230.2-million . IU President Myles Brand said nearly 100,000 individuals and organizations made gifts to IU.

• There has been a recall of about 102,000 Cosco brand playpens because of  reports of rails not locking or collapsing, causing one infant death. Plastic tabs that lock the rails into the corners can break or loosen over time.  The recall is for  Cosco "Zip n Go," "Okie Dokie," and "Carters" playpens which were manufactured between May 1995 and December 1997. Only playpens with model numbers 05-361, 05-362, 05-363 and 05-364 are included in the recall.  The model numbers are located on the playpen's bottom, on the metal tubular frame near one of the corners. The label reads in part, "MANUFACTURED IN CHINA FOR COSCO INC."  The 28-inch by 40-inch playpens have four mesh sides on a folding metal frame.  The padded floorboard forms a carrying case for the playpen.  The safety commission said consumers should stop using the playpens. For a refund or replacement, consumers can call Dorel Juvenile Group toll-free at 1-800-314-9327 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.

• In an attempt to gain some control over the number of people living in one household, the Town Council in Sheridan, IN has passed a measure to limit the number of residents allowed in a single-family residence in the town.  Under the new measure violators of the new limit could be fined from $10 to $2,500 per night.  As the new ordinance specifies, a single family cannot include more than three unrelated adults, and persons 18 or older not related by birth, marriage or adoption to the owners or tenants of a single-family home are prohibited from sleeping there more than one night in 21 days.  The town's attorney has reported that the ordinance was drafted because of sanitary and health concerns over 14 adults who shared a manufactured home.

• The CineDome big-screen movie at the Children's Museum will close in the fall of 2002.  They will spend $700,000 to convert the building into a $25 million Dinosphere -- a juvenile dinosaur research center and exhibit.  It is thought that the new exhibit will be "among the top dozen dinosaur exhibits in the world" when it opens in 2004.  The exhibit will emphasize juvenile and family dinosaur fossils.  The theater's large screen and SurroundSound system will be used to re-create environmental conditions of the Cretaceous period, just before dinosaurs became extinct.  The Dinosphere will be financed by a $15 million grant from Lilly Endowment; a $3 million pledge from the Indianapolis foundation of Escient Technologies, chaired by Scott A. Jones; $4 million from the museum's Enid Goodrich Educational Initiatives Fund; museum funds; and international, national and local contributors.

October 10

• This weekend is expected to be the peak weekend for the autumn leaves, and many communities are hoping for a large tourist weekend.  Brown County always draws a large number of visitors.  The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival will start October 12th and run through the 21st.

• A Federal Aviation Administration order authorizes the military to use deadly force to defend the air space near the Newport Chemical Depot.  Air traffic controllers will warn pilots to stay away from the area.  U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh requested the restricted air space to lessen the risk of a terrorist attack on the metal building that houses 250,000 tons of the deadly nerve agent called VX.  Recently nearly 200 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division were sent from Fort Campbell, Ky., to guard the site, which has been a storage facility for VX since 1968.  VX can kill through contact with unprotected human skin or if inhaled.

October 9

• A man and woman have been arrested as suspects in the death of an 82-year-old Columbus woman. Columbus police say the man of Indianapolis is being held on a charge of forgery after trying to cash a check stolen from the victim's home. A Columbus woman is being held on a preliminary charge of aiding in a murder.

October 8

• Oktoberfest 2001 is now history, and planning will start for the three day event in 2002.  The air was crisp as the visitors filled downtown Seymour to enjoy the craft and food booths, rides, and the parade Saturday. 

• The Houston Fall Fest will be on October 13 from 8 am to 6 pm at the Old Houston School. There will be food
  booths and entertainment. The community of Houston holds this event every year in an effort to raise money to
  renovate the treasured historic schoolhouse. This year’s event includes a huge craft fair, raffles, games, and live
  bluegrass and gospel music.  It's a wonderful time of year to visit festivals, and the leaves should be at their peak by the weekend!

October 5

• Applications are now available for young men and women who are interested in attending a U.S. service academy.  Anyone interested in a nomination to West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy should the offices of their U.S. Representative, Senator Richard Lugar, or Senator Evan Bayh.   Applications are for the incoming classes of June 2002. The application deadline is November 23, 2001.  Candidates must be citizens of the United States, legal residents of Indiana's 8th District, unmarried, and have no children. Applicants must be at least 17 years of age, but not past their 23rd birthday.  Nominations will be based on merit alone, including class rank, grade point average, school records, extracurricular activities, leadership potential, motivation, and recommendations.  Persons interested in applying to the Coast Guard Academy can apply on-line at http://www.cga.edu

• Today a group of 17 parents and relatives plan to file a lawsuit to halt the planned closing of Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in Jennings County.  The state plans to close the institution by June 2003 and relocate the patients.  Although parents have been told their loved ones will live closer to them after relocation, the parents say they are not willing to put those patients through the possible trauma of the move without a better plan on the state's part.  The lawsuit will accuse the state of violating a federal requirement to protect the welfare of such Medicaid recipients.

• A recent study has found that seat belts and car seats often do not held a child during an accident.  Most children who are 4-8 years old are too big for a children's seat and too small for a seat belt, and too often they  ride with the shoulder belt pulled high on the chest or tucked behind the back.  It is estimated that 20 million children are improperly secured in the family cars and is one reason that road accidents are the leading cause of children's death in the U.S.  To address this problem, Ford Motor Company, in cooperation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Riley Children's Hospital and other organizations, has announced a "Boost America!" program which will amount to a $30 million effort to educate parents on the dangers of poorly securing their children in moving automobiles.  The campaign will provide booster seats to Indiana families and send children's educational materials to schools.  United Way will distribute 7,500 booster seats to financially eligible families, and Ford also will begin offering its customers vouchers for free booster seats beginning Nov. 1.   Eventually there will be a push for state booster-seat legislation.  

• As expected, the State Board of Education unanimously approved a new school accountability plan that will eventually rank schools based on improvement on statewide tests.  The plan was endorsed by Gov. Frank O'Bannon and Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed. as well as influential business and education groups.  The rankings give schools that do poorly a chance to move up if they show certain levels of improvement on ISTEP-Plus exams.  The state wouldn't start using test data to determine rankings for elementary and middle schools until 2003, and not until 2004 for high schools, thus giving schools time to incorporate higher academic standards already approved into their curriculum.  In the spring of 2006, the state's public schools will be placed in one of five categories based on their improvement on ISTEP exams -- exemplary progress, commendable progress, academic progress, academic watch/priority and academic probation/high priority.  The rankings will be used to determine future financial rewards and possibly sanctions if improvement is lacking. 

• Win some, lose some!  The road construction on I-64 east of Louisville was completed seven weeks ahead of schedule.  On the other hand a much larger ( $250 million to be exact) project to widen and modernize a 10 mile stretch of Interstate 65 in southern Indiana (from Sellersburg south to the Ohio River) is at least half a construction season behind and will take up to a year longer than expected.  Originally scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2003, the completion date has now been moved to the fall of 2004!  Actually started in 1999, reasons given for changing the timetable are land acquisition problems, relocating utilities, and cleaning up two former businesses in the area.  Officials also announced that the construction on the highway will continue year-round rather than stopping during the winter months.

October 4

• Oktoberfest is here as Seymour takes on a German air!  The craft and food booths downtown will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today through Saturday.

• The 7th U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals will not rehear arguments about an injunction to prevent state officials from erecting a 7-foot-high Ten Commandments limestone monument on the Statehouse lawn.  The monument also features the Bill of Rights and the preamble to the Indiana Constitution and was intended to replace one destroyed by vandals in 1991.  However, the Indiana Civil Liberties Union claimed that the display was an endorsement of religion and therefore unconstitutional.  U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker ruled in favor of the ICLU and issued the injunction.  A  three-judge 7th Circuit panel upheld that judgment.  The state is now pondering its next step, which could include seeking a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.  Meanwhile ICLU Legal Director Ken Falk said the ICLU expects to file two more lawsuits in  the next couple of weeks challenging monuments in two other unnamed communities.

• Sen. Evan Bayh has announced a $900,000 federal education grant to the Indiana Department of Education  to be used to attract more math, science and special education teachers to Indiana.  The program is designed to recruit up to 30 midcareer professionals who hold degrees in math or one of the sciences, and give them 18-24 hours of college instruction to prepare to teaching their fields.  In addition, it would provide funds to pay for courses for up to 60 recent college graduates with outstanding academic records and degrees in a field other than education and who want to become special education teachers.  Those successfully completing the program must commit to teaching for three years in city school districts in Indianapolis, Gary, Fort Wayne or South Bend.  Participants would also receive living expense assistance during their training.  Public university campuses in or near the four cities will receive the funds.

October 3

• It's a big day for high school football teams. The IHSAA will draw to determine the pairings for this year's sectional action. The draw starts at 8 a.m.

• According to an attorney involved in the open meetings lawsuit against Indiana University, Bob Knight has signed an affidavit in which he waives his confidentiality rights to his employee records at I.U.  The affidavit, which also raises questions about the allegations Knight faced before he was fired last year, as well as the authority IU President Myles Brand had to fire him, is expected to become part of the lawsuit filed by a group of alums and basketball fans who are challenging the legality of the firing.

• In an attempt to slow the brain drain from the state, a new magazine encouraging college graduates to stay in Indiana is being mailed to 100,000 college juniors and seniors across the state.  The new GRAD magazine will be published and distributed once a year and is sponsored by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, Lumina Foundation for Education, Indiana Information Technology Association, and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.  A recent study has determined that 36% of Indiana residents left the state after receiving their college degrees, and that 89% of students who came to Indiana for college degrees also left after they got those degrees.  The magazine will focus on job opportunities in the state, as well as post-graduate programs available.

October 2

• A federal grant of $180,000 will help Jackson County restore its Bell Ford Covered Bridge, which was built in 1868 and was partially destroyed by a storm in February 1999.  U.S. Senator Richard Lugar announced Friday that the U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded $807,000 in federal funds to help restore eight covered bridges in Indiana.  Two grants to Jennings County in the same program include $80,000 for James Covered Bridge and $65,000 for Scipio Covered Bridge.  Other grants went to Brown, Monroe, Montgomery, Owen, and Park counties.

• Starting in January, 2002, sales from a new specialty license plate for Indiana will promote breast cancer awareness and help some people pay for treatment.  The plate, featuring a pink ribbon in the shape of a heart on which is printed "There's Hope" with  "Breast Cancer" and "Awareness" printed below, will be available for $37 each year.  The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust will receive $25 from each sale.  .

• After being closed for the past eight weekends, the Interstate 64 road construction east of Louisville is now complete, seven weeks ahead schedule!   New lighting inside and out of the Cochran Hill tunnels, 135,000 tons of asphalt, and 30,000 feet of guardrail were included in the $20 million project.  The construction company gets a $5 million bonus for finishing ahead of schedule.

• Last Saturday "America's Most Wanted" television program featured a segment on missing bicyclist Jill Behrman, and a Bloomington Police Department detective reports that it has generated dozens of leads.  There are currently posters in dozens of store windows in Bloomington, and yellow ribbons in Behrman's memory are tied to many street posts.  There is a $100,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. People can call and leave tips at 1-812-349-3321.

October 1

• A big week for Seymour as it is transformed into a Germanic downtown.  The official start of Oktoberfest is at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, but booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There will be plenty of food booths, handmade crafts vendors, and a sense of fun and whimsy.  The Oktoberfest also features the traditional Bier Garden (for those 21 years of age and older) and a root bier garden for those who prefer a little lighter drink.  There will be a hot air balloon race and a parade with marching bands, clowns, Shriners, VFW Color Guards, American Legion Color Guards, dancers, dogs and much more.  Although not a part of Oktoberfest an outdoor concert is scheduled on October 7th at the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour, and is the climax of a three-day tribute in honor of John Mellencamp's 50th birthday.  Performers will include bands from Indiana and several other states, including some members of Mellencamp's band, although Mellencamp is not scheduled to perform.  However, some of his family members are expected to attend.  Proceeds from the event will go to raise money for Farm Aid, the Southern Indiana Center of the Arts, and the New York Red Cross disaster fund.

• Indiana is making progress toward going paperless in the future.  The state's website -- www.accessindiana.com --now contains more than 500 forms in "pdf" format (it was only 20 just three years ago!) that can be downloaded and printed, thus avoiding a trip to a location to pick up the forms.  Currently, the forms must still be physically mailed and processed, but a committee will address that issue next, eventually allowing citizens to complete the forms and submit them online.  It is expected that the savings in printing costs, filing space, and postage will be substantial.

• A real rush job!  The property tax reassessment must be completed by March 1st to determine the property tax values for taxation in 2003.  The president of the Indiana Association of County Assessors reported last week that only a few counties are expecting to meet that deadline, which has been set by state law and the Indiana Tax Court.  The association is lobbying to have the deadline extended a year.  It has already been delayed once from its original schedule.  The topic is sure to be discussed by the lawmakers when they return to the Statehouse in January, but so far they have not been able to agree on a delay.  The State Tax Board Chairman Jon Laramore said his agency probably will not ask the court or the General Assembly to grant an extension.  Property tax bills on homeowners are expected to increase an average of 13.1 percent.

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