Archived NewsBytes located at the bottom of the page

October 31

• Today is Halloween!  Area activities for the family are the Boo Bash at the Wonderlab in Bloomington,  Southern Indiana Center for the Arts "Annual Halloween Party" in Seymour, and, of course, the ever popular trick-or-treating!  Don't forget to make the little ones visible in the darkness with flashlights or reflective tape.
  
  
• Indiana's abortion law requiring women to receive in-person counseling and then wait eighteen hours before ending a pregnancy could take effect as early as next week.  The law has been held in limbo with court challenges since it was passed in 1995.  Opponents of the law say that women would have to make two trips to clinics for an abortion, placing an unfair burden on women who live in rural areas or are poor.  Currently, women receive counseling over the phone eighteen hours before having an abortion.
  
  
• Governor O'Bannon announced early retirement incentives for state employees Wednesday in an effort to reduce the state payroll.  O'Bannon wants to double the current retirement rate from 830 workers each year and to fill just half the resulting vacancies with lower paid workers.  Workers must be at least fifty years old with at least ten years of service credit in the Public Employees Retirement Fund or Teachers Retirement Fund, including at least a year of state employment.  The governor says the early retirement program will save the state twenty-three million dollars a year.
  

October 30

• Indiana regulators are investigating three southern Indiana cigarette retailers who may have failed to pay the state's higher cigarette tax.  Cigarette retailers are supposed to buy cigarettes from wholesalers who pay the Indiana tax, but it is not hard to get them illegally in Kentucky where the tax is much lower.  Individuals may bring as many as seven and a half cartons of cigarettes in to the state for personal use, not for retail sale, but the state is not stopping personal vehicles to search for the illegal cigarettes.
  
  
• After a slow start to the fall leaf changing season, officials say this week is probably the last week.  A lot of the leaves in Brown County are starting to fall, and the leaves that have not changed yet, will probably change this week.  The brilliant colors are just what store owners in Nashville have been wanting to bring tourists in.  If you cannot be a part of being in Brown County, you can do it virtually.  Brown County has a leafcam to let you enjoy the wonderful views in the county.
  
  
• A one-year-old Bartholomew County girl died Monday due from asphixiation when a window bling cord got wrapped around her neck. The dnagling part of the cord was out of reach, but the child was able to pull the cord out from the bottom of the blind.  The accident just highlights the dangers of placing playpens and cribs near window with blinds.  Newer blinds have a stabilizer to prevent this kind of accident, but many people are not aware that their older blinds can have these stabilizers attached to make them safer.  If you want more information on how to make your window blinds safer, you can visit the Window Covering Safety Council website.  Don't think this can never happen to your child.
  

October 29

• Work to relocate a portion of I-70 and to add two new interchanges in Indianapolis will be begin shortly. A portion of the interstate just west of I-465 will be moved to the south and sunk about twenty feet to allow for construction of a bridge for large jets.  One of the new interchanges will allow access to the airport, while the other one will be constructed in Hendricks County.  The impact on travelers will be lane changes and short nighttime closures.  State officials hope the project will be completed in November 2004.  The relocation is due to the airport expansion.
  
  
• The Army has decided not to seek a special permit to destroy the VX nerve agent being stored at Newport's chemical depot, according to officials.  Skipping this step will help the Army to meet its accelerated schedule of disposal, which came about after the September 11, 2001 attacks.  Environmental officials has said it is fine, because the Army will still be subject to the same requirements that a special permit would have.
  
  
• If you know someone who suffered damage from the tornados that ripped through parts of the state in September, you might want to remind them that the deadline for getting federal assistance is November 25.  Anyone with questions related to getting this aid can call  1-800-621-FEMA.  You can also get more information from FEMA's webpage for Indiana disaster victims.
  

October 28

• This week is expected to be a wet one, according to the National Weather Service.  There is a chance of rain every day, and on Friday - can it be? - SNOW!  Be still my heart.  Whether the fluffy white stuff snowmen are made of will really arrive, will have to wait to be seen.
  
  
• A group of people opposed to a direct extension of I-69 through Monroe County led a caravan of abour 150 vehicles on the proposed route on Sunday.  Their purpose was to show the beauty of the area that would be disturbed by the proposed extension.  State officials have chosen the top 5 routes for the extension, and none of them use existing highways.  Click on the I-69 link at the top of Newsbytes for the latest information on this project.
  
  
• The Indiana State Appeals Court has ruled in favor of the State's Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.  At issue was the expiration of the law banning exclusive territories for beer wholesalers.  Before the law expired, retailers were permitted to purchase from any wholesaler, but now retailers are limited to purchase from within their territory.  What it boiled down to was two small retailers tried to go up against the big bucks of Anheuser-Busch and a few others.
  
  
• The Knight-IU saga has been extended for seven to ten days.  The Friday deadline came, and both sides agreed to the extension for talks on a possible settlement of the wrongful firing of the coach.  The issue of discussion is whether the university should pay Knight for lost income, and how much that should be.  Stay tuned!
  

October 25

• A former Bloomington man who was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list will stand trial on child pornography charges. US attorney Tim Morrison says that Eric Rosser will be held in Marion County Jail until his December 16th trial. The 50 year old could face up to 70 years in prison if he’s convicted of distributing child pornography between Thailand and Bloomington. Rosser was arrested in 2000 in Thailand on charges that included lewd behavior and possessing child pornography, but he later managed to disappear. Thai police say that Rosser underwent cosmetic surgery and returned to Thailand to visit his wife and child. Rosser was arrested again last year by the FBI and Thai Police.
  
  
• The National Weather Service says we can expect a break in the gray, rainy days we have been experiencing.  Unfortunately, the break will last only for the weekend, and the gray rainy conditions are expected to return on Monday.
  
  
• Studies have shown that children's performances in school improve when a father figure is involved.  The involvement needs to be in the form of asking about homework, tests, activities liked and disliked at school, the reasons for those feelings, and school friends.  The father figure does not have to be the biological father, either.  Any male head of household will do, as long as the effort is not just a one-time effort.
  

October 24

•   Indiana University officials yesterday asked local law enforcement authorities to help investigate reports that an adult film was being shot on campus. Chancellor Sharon Stephens Brehm says that IU police were asked to follow up on a report filed on October 3rd by a dorm resident manager. The complaint says that the resident manager observed several women who were not fully clothed and also noted that camera were present. Calli Cox is a publicist and adult film actress for Shane Enterprises. She told the "Indiana Daily Student" that the film "Campus Invasion" was made at various locations on campus by adult filmmakers from Shane's World, a web site based in Van Nuys, California.  Brehm says that such filming would be inconsistent with the values of the University. A representative from Shane Enterprises was not available for additional comment yesterday.
  
  
• Authorities have made two arrests in the D.C. sniper case.  The men are John Allen Muhammad and his step son were arrested on a federal warrant for firearms violations.  Officials are releasing few details on the arrests.
  

October 23

• I.U. in Bloomington has decided to block online access to campus phone numbers and e-mail addresses for IU students, faculty, and employees due to security concerns.  The information can still be accesses from campus computers and  by users with university computer accounts.  The information currently sits on an old computer that does not have the software required to support the security upgrades that are needed.
  
  
• General Mills, Inc. has issued a recall for cans of Old Elpaso Traditional Variety Refried Beans in Indiana and four other states due to potiential contamination of Clostridium botulinum. The cans affected by the recall are labeled with UPC code 4600082121 and the production date code beginning with H2FF15.  Routine testing showed that the beans may have been underprocessed.  No illnesses have been reported at this time. The recall does not include other flavors of Old Elpaso refried beans.
  
  
• Governor O'Bannon has announced financial assistance to Hoosiers to help with heating bills this winter.  One program helps low-income residents pay their heating bills, the other weatherizes homes.  The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program will be available to Hoosiers statewide early next month. Applications for the heating assistance program will be taken beginning November 18.  If you are interested in either program, you can contact the local Community Action Agency or calling the toll-free number 1-800-622-4973.  
  
  
• The Children's Museum in Indianapolis has gone retail!  This morning, the museum opened a store on the third floor of the Circle Center Mall.  Museum officials say they see it as a holiday store for now, but will evaluate how well it does during the Christmas season to decide if it will be there seasonally.  Right now, the store is planned to remain only until the end of January.  In addition to the toys and educational items, the store will be selling museum tickets and memberships to the museum.
  

October 22

• An Indiana University plant genetics graduate student, hunting for fossils along Lake Monroe, found an unknown species of mollusk that lived about 370 million years ago, according to scientists.  Troy Wood came across an inch-long spiny shell last summer while searching for fossils in slabs of rock that had been exposed by high water.  He showed his find to an IU paleontologist and sent photos of the fossil to scientists across the country.  The fossil is very rare, in that there is nothing that exists today that is even close to the fossil.  A similar fossil was found in New York, but the one from Bloomington is more detailed and complete. Will Wood be able to name the new fossil, just as someone could name a new star?
  
  
• An IU chemistry professor has been named to the list of Top 10 "brilliant" scientists by Popular Science magazine.   David Clemmer was given the honor because of his work in the new field of proteomics, the study of arrays of proteins.  Research in this field could lead to a better understanding of cancer and new methods of treatment.
  
  
• United Airlines has announced that about 250 people will lose their jobs at the Indianapolis United Airlines Maintenance Facility.  The troubled airline is taking steps to avaoid filing for bankruptcy protection.The airline said it is losing seven million dollars a day.
  
  
• The serial sniper in the D.C. area may have struck again.  A bus driver was critically wounded when he was shot as he stood at the top of the steps of the bus at 6:00 a.m. today, before he was to begin his morning run.  Officials are releasing few details on the progress of the investigation, but have said they believe the sniper called someone.  Schools in the shooting area remained closed today for the second day in a row.
  

October 21

• Here they come again!  It's that time of year.  The flock of endangered whooping cranes are expected to pass through central Indiana this week, guided by five ultralight planes this year, on their 1,200-mile migratory flight to Florida.  This is the second year of the guided flight for the birds who have spent the summer in Wisconsin.  Last spring we followed their flight north by five birds, but sixteen birds began the flight back south on October 13th.  However, it was reported that five had already dropped out.  The flight is slow, averaging about 30 miles a day, depending on the weather, and they land at pre-selected sites when possible. It is thought that they will be in the central Indiana area Wednesday or Thursday, but you may follow the progress of the 2002 Whooping Crane Migration on the route map at http://www.bringbackthecranes.org . These five foot tall birds were near extinction in 1941, but there are now about 400 of them.

• Jim Bristoe, a 42-year-old electrician and mechanic from Ellettsville took his 30-foot-long canon designed to launch pumpkins to a contest Saturday at the Verizon Wireless Music Center north of Indy.  The first annual Pumpkin Propulsion Contest was sponsored by an Indy radio station.  All the other entries were catapults, and they were no match for Bristoe's cannon, so Bristoe let the catapults compete for the money, and he simply demonstrated his device to please the crowd.  The winning catapult shot a pumpkin about 150 feet.    Although Bristoe has not yet fired his cannon at full power, he claims the cannon can exert 11,300 pounds of firing force and propel a 10-pound pumpkin at about 900 mph and has a range of about 5 miles.  He is looking for some competition.

• The state of Indiana is concerned that the cigarette tax is not generating the revenue that was expected from the increase in the cigarette tax.  Officials wonder why.  Could it be some illegal interstate activity?  Did you know that possession of more than 7 1/2 cartons of untaxed cigarettes is a misdemeanor the first time and a felony the second time?  Or maybe people are actually giving up smoking to promote better health?  Of course, that WAS what the state was really hoping for, wasn't it?  Really?

October 18

• Good news for senior citizens!  All recipients will get a 1.4% cost of living increase in their monthly checks!  The increase will amount to an extra $13 a month for a typical retiree.  This is the smallest increase in four years.  The increase will show up in the January checks.
  
  
• The former head of Indiana’s Public Employee’s retirement fund has been indicted in US district court on charges of fraudulent conduct against former employer Cook Inc. The 24 count grand jury indictment charges Walter Kevin Scott with bank fraud, engaging in illegal monetary transactions, and misusing another person’s social security number. The investigation of 35-year-old Scott, of Bloomington, began in August.
  
  
• Indianapolis officials could sit down at the negotiating table with the Colts within 2 weeks. Mayor Bart Peterson tells the Indianapolis Star that serious talks could begin that son. Team owner Jim Irsay has said that he want to stay in Indianapolis for the long term, but so far he was not committed beyond next year. Peterson says that it could cost another $10,000,000 annually to keep the team in Indianapolis. A poll done last month showed strong opposition to using more tax money to keep the team in Indy.
  
  
• The Indiana Civil Liberties Union is back in action with a suit filed Thursday in Marion County that the online provisions added to the statewide sex offender registry violate the due process rights of those currently on the list.  ICLU Attorney Ken Falk says the offenders should be given a chance to prove that they are no longer a danger before their names and photos are posted on the Internet.
  
  
• Indiana's Fanimation Design and Manufacturing Inc, of Lebanon, IN, is recalling sixty thousand cieling fans with defective hanger brackets that could break, causing the fan to fall from the ceiling.  The recall includes the Islander series with model number FP320 and date codes 01-00 through 03-02; the Louvre series with model number FP1320 and date codes 01-00 through 03 -02; and the Tropicana series with model number FP1600 and date codes 12-01 through 04-02. Customers can call 1-888-284-8938 to receive a free backup bracket. Visit their website Fanimation Design and Manufacturing Inc for more information.
  
  
• With the beginning of this year's deer hunting season, state officials have begun taking samples from the killed deer to test them for wasting disease.  The disease is similar to "mad cow" disease and is currently spreading through the Midwest.  Officials are asking hunters to voluntarily donate the heads so the brains may be tested.  So far officials have collected more than 150 samples.  The plan calls for the testing of 1,100 samples.
  

October 17

• Do you like today's weather?  Get used to it!  The National Weather Service says the cold damp weather is expected to stay around through this weekend.
  
  
• Indiana University Trustees have said they plan to name an interim university president on November 1.  Current president Myles Brand announced last week that he is leaving his position at IU effective January 1 to take on the role of president of the NCAA.
  
  
• Congress has given a breath of fresh air to Camp Atterbury.  They have approved eight million dollars toward constructing a computerized battle simulator that could bring thousands of military and civilian trainees to the base.  The computer simulation equipment would be used to direct mock wars.  The money approved will cover construction of the building.  The hardware and software required is not included in the funding.  Similar exercises have been conducted at Camp Atterbury with equipment brought from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, but with no air conditioning in the gymnasium temporary units have to be installed to keep the equipment cool enough.  The project will take around two years to build, with construction beginning late next year.
  
  
• In other Congressional action, $161 million has been approved for the Army to accelerate its schedule to neutralize VX nerve agent at the Newport Chemical Depot.  The Army said it needed the money to finish the project three years ahead of its initial schedule.  The disposal process is scheduled to begin next year and should take around nine months, with completion in the spring of 2004.
  
  
• We are fast approaching the time when the state of Indiana will be demanding more of our money.  The state sales tax will be increasing from 5% to 6%, beginning December 1 - just in time for the Christmas shopping season.  The increase was approved in a special session of the legislature this past summer.  
  

October 16

• According to Lawrence County Sheriff Kent Hawkins, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a possible business fraud case. A female resident answered an ad in a local newspaper on August 25th for a loan. When she called the number, she was asked for a bank account number where the company could deposit the money. Instead of depositing the money into her account, the company removed just over $500, according to Sheriff Hawkins. After this occurred, the woman called Sheriff Hawkins. After doing some research on the company, called N-T Financial Link, Sheriff Hawkins found out a few things. The Sheriff says that when the number is called, it goes to Colorado and then to Toronto in Canada. The Better Business Bureau has inquired on the business before, but NT Financial Link has not responded to requests from the bureau.
  Sheriff Hawkins has compiled a list of things to keep in mind before you respond to ads in the paper that promise easy credit, regardless of your history:
      1. Legitimate lenders never “guarantee” or say that you are likely to get a loan or credit card before you apply, especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy.
      2. If you ask for a real estate loan, it is accepted and common practice for lenders to request payment for a credit report or appraisal. However, legitimate lenders will never ask you to pay for processing your application.
      3. Never give your credit card account number, bank account information, or Social Security number over the telephone or Internet unless you are familiar with the company, and you know why the information is necessary.
      4. If you don’t have the offer in hand, or confirmed in writing, and you are asked to pay, don’t. That is fraud, and it is against the law.
  
  
• The sniper shootings in the D.C. area have not hit very close to home until the latest one.  Monday night, 47-year-old Linda Franklin was born in Columbus, IN.  She was shot in the head as she and her husband were loading their vehicle with items purchased at a Home Depot.  She had attended briefings at the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001, and left the building just before the hijacked plane hit the building.
  
  
• Have you noticed the increase in the gasoline price?  The recent increase is being attributed to a few things.  First, the two bad hurricanes, Isodore and Lili, both hurt the transfer of fuel through the pipeline.  The talk of war with Iraq is affecting crude oil prices, which in turn affects the price we pay for gasoline.  Let's face it, though.  We are still better off than if the price of gasoline had increased along with the price of a candy bar.  It's better than paying three dollars per gallon!
  

October 15

• Nicholas Hampton, reported missing earlier, has been found.  He is back home in Missouri.  No explanation about his leaving was given.
  
  
• The new bridge over the Ohio River about thirty miles east of Evansville is scheduled to open on Monday.  Work on the four-lane bridge for I-64 motorists began in 1992, but was suspended for around five years to wait for funding.
  
  
• Most areas of the state have had their first hard frost, which has greatly diminished mosquito activity.  This week should be the second hard frost, marking the end of mosquito season.  With the end of the season, comes the end of the threat of West Nile virus - until next year, anyway.  Statewide, 204 cases of human cases have been reported, with six deaths being attributed to the virus.  Although officials cannot combat the virus during the winter time, they will be reviewing data from this year to prepare for next year's onslaught.
  
  
• Duct tape.  This versatile item has been shown in a scientific study to have one more use that you may not be aware of - wart removal.  Many pediatricians will be opting for this method of wart removal than the painful freezing of the warts. In the study, patients wore duct tape over their warts for six days.  Then they removed the tape, soked the area in water, and used an emery board or pumice stone to scrape the spot.  The tape was reapplied the next morning.  Although the tape method can take as long as two months, it is far less painful than having them frozen, according to the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
  

October 14

• It is Columbus Day, and you know what that means!  All federal, state, county, and city government offices are closed.  No mail delivery today.  Most banks are closed -- call before you go!  Stores are open to have Columbus Day sales, and the schools are in session.
  
  
• The Bedford Regional Medical Center, in conjunction with it’s EMS and Sleep Disorder Center Open House, will have a health fair today. The Health Fair will take place in the EMS building from 3-6 p.m. Screenings will include: Blood Pressure, Blood Typing, Bone Density, Body Fat Analysis, Peak Flow, and O-2 Saturation. All screenings will be free to the public. Refreshments will be provided during the event. Tours of the new EMS building, located behind Taco Bell on 16th street and the Sleep Disorder Center will also be given.
  
  
• A man that authorities named as a suspect in the two year old disappearance of Indiana University Student Jill Behrman has been charged in an unrelated sexual assault. A rape charge was filed Thursday in Monroe County Circuit Court against Uriah J. Clouse. The 26 year old is charged with attacking a Bloomington woman in her apartment in May 2001. Bond for the new charge has been set at $65,000. The victim told police she waited for months to report the alleged attack for fear of Clouse. Clouse was being held Friday in the Monroe County Jail. He is awaiting trial on felony charges in the attempted abduction of an Ellettsville woman in June 2000.
  
  
• Seven Bloomington City Council members are arguing against having the planned I-69 extension run through Bloomington or Monroe County. The members have sent a letter to Governor O’Bannon expressing their concerns. The council members say that building the Indianapolis-to-Evansville highway near Bloomington would damage the area’s environment while providing little economic benefit. The all-Democratic council said during a news conference on Friday that they favored a proposal to use I-70 and an upgraded US-41. The I-70/US-41 route has been favored by environmentalists as using less land and being less expensive. The State Highway Department did not include that route among it’s finalists. They say that it is not as effective as others in spurring economic growth.
  
  
• Shop owners in Brown County's Nashville are worried about the lull in tourist activity.  Normally, the red and gold colors in the trees is enough to make up for slower times the rest of the year.  This fall the trees have had more green than the cash registers.

October 11

• The cold is coming!  You had better get out and enjoy the weather on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.  Saturday is forecast to be partly sunny with a high in the 70's.  Sunday's forecast is a far cry from Saturday's, with wind, rain, and high's in the 50's.  Monday will see high's remain very cool in the lower 50's.
  
  
• The majority of Indiana's Congressional delegation supported a resolution authorizing military action against Iraq.  Both Senators Bayh and Lugar approved the war resolution.  In the House, Democrats Baron Hill and Tim Roemer, and Republicans Mark Souder, Dan Burton, Mike Pence, Brian Kerns and Steve Buyer also supported the resolution.  Representatives voting no were Democrats Julia Carson and Pete Visclosky and Republican John Hostettler.  Hostettler said he did not feel the threat from Iraq was imminent.  Carson said she questioned the expense of a potential invasion when citizens are already feeling the effect of a weakened economy.
  
  
• The NCAA has ended its search for a president.  The organization has named IU president Myles Brand to the spot.  Brand is the first university president to be named to the position.  His decision to leave comes just after he announced he was not interested in leaving his post at IU, when asked about the possibility of filling another university's president job. He will be leaving IU to begin his new duties on January 1, 2003, and his contract will run through 2007.

October 10

• October 10 is "Put the Breaks on Fatalities Day". Five hundred people are killed annually at rail-highway crossings, which is more than one per day. Some tips to keep in mind are:
      -Drive courteously and defensively
      -Don't drive while impaired, distracted or aggressively.
      -Buckle up on every trip
      -Wear appropriate protective gear when biking, skating, or riding a motorcycle.
  Remember, every 13 minutes someone dies in a traffic crash. By driving carefully, you can help lower that statistic.
  
  
• Enjoy the nice weather while you can!  The National Weather Service says high temperatures after Saturday will be in the upper 50's with lows in the upper 40's on Sunday.  Monday does not get much warmer.
  
  
• Earlier Cummins announced steps being taken to reduce the risk of job lay-offs in the Columbus, IN, plant.  Evidently, those steps were not good enough.  Cummins has announced that it will be eliminating two hundred jobs at its Columbus plant.  It will be shifting its heavy-duty engine assembly and test operations to New York.  The Columbus plant will continue to produce cylinder heads and engine blocks.  Currently, there are 5,100 people employed in Columbus and Seymour.
  
  
• Longshoremen have returned to work out on the West Coast, after a ten day lockout that cost the U.S. economy up to  two billion dollars a day. The lockout ended only after a federal judge ordered the ports to reopen.  Some workers were not overjoyed at the order to return.  The workers have returned to cargo containers piled high, with contents ranging from car parts to food.
  

October 9

• *** MISSING: NICHOLAS HAMPTON Bedford resident last seen Sunday September 29, 2002. Drives a 93 dark green Chevy Blazer with Missouri plates 076RHR. If you have seen Nick or the Blazer P-L-E-A-S-E contact me at jwajwwjd@juno.com or leave voice mail message at 812-278-4807.
  

• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  An Angel's Touch and The Nail Garden in Bedford are having a benefit on Saturday, October 26, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  90% of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  To schedule a full set or manicure, call 812-277-0777.
  
  
• According to Jphn Hostettler's office, the House passed the Pledge of Allegiance and National Motto Affirmation Act by a vote of 401-5.  The bill reaffirms the current language of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto, "In God We Trust".  The bill passed in spite of the opinion of a panel of federal judges in San Francisco.  On June 26, a three-member panel of judges ruled that a California school district's policy and practice of voluntary recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional, because use of the phrase "one nation under God" violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  Both the pledge and the motto are to remain unchanged, and the historical and statutory notes are to show that the 107th Congress has reaffirmed its support for the Pledge of Allegiance and the national motto.
  
  
• Eight thousand members of the Indiana State Medical Association have drafted a resolution to seek tougher standards for nutrition in schools.  Their goal is not the removal of vending machines, but the change of offering in them.  The group would like to see the junk food currently sold in the machines changed to nutritional items.  They would also like to see the cafeterias stop offering junk food as ala carte items to students.
  
  
• Evansville is proceeding with plans to build a six thousand seat baseball stadium.  The group spear-heading the proposed stadium has outlined steps that are necessary in order for the stadium to be open by April 2004.  At the top of the list is recruiting a class-A team.  Officials say there will be no increase in city taxes to fune the project.
  

October 8

• The frost advisory is over, and we should not have any more of the abnormally cold nights for a while, according to the national weather service.  Although the frost may have damaged some unprotected outdoor plants, it may have also decreased the number of mosquitoes.  Temperatures for the rest of the week are expected to be more seasonal as the week progresses.
  
  
• With West Nile virus in the news so much, claims of a concoction to protect against West Nile virus are surfacing.  Health officials are warning people to NOT believe these claims that colloidal silver can offer protection from the virus.  It has been proved not to help.  In fact, taking too much colloidal silver has been shown to turn the skin blue.
  
  
• The Indianapolis Colts have been getting thousands of dollars in luxuries courtesy of taxpayers.  Those luxuries include the salaries for mascots who entertain fans.  Evidently, the Colts get to bill the Capital Improvement Board, Indianapolis' city agency that owns and operates the RCA Dome, after every game for game-day expenses.  The city has been paying these expenses since 1998, when it renegotiated the team's lease.  For the 2001 football season, the city paid invoices totaling $1.15 million.  The charges ranged from security costs to catering for locker rooms, press boxes and a small number of suites.  Game day parties and other entertainment were also billed.  Evidently, the board did not scrutinize the invoices.  It just paid everything the Colts asked for.  Now the president of the board wants to start scrutinizing them, and the Colts senior executive vice president said the team is willing to re-examine charges in future bills.
  
  
• Indianapolis astronaut David Wolf was back in space on Monday on his third spaceflight.  He has gone up to connect a forty-five foot long girder to the international space station, which will be done in a series of three spacewalks.  The last time he was in space, he spent four months on Mir as a substitute for an astronaut who was too small to fit in the spacewalking suit.  He was stuck with her all vegetarian meals and lost twenty-four pounds.
  

October 7

• Spring Mill State Park's "Autumn Harvest Days" will be this weekend.  The sawmill will be in operation at times, and there will be a host of activities.  Registration is required for some events.  See Lawrence County's Local Events for details and a daily schedule.
  
  
• Bloomington's Herald-Times newspaper commissioned a telephone survey about a "new-terrain" rounte for the I-69 extension project.  The results?  Forty-nine percent of the six hundred people surveyed were in favor of a new route.  Thirty-five percent said they preferred using I-70 and U.S. 41. A final decision on the project will not be made until later.
  
  
• Campbell's Soup Company is recalling cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup.  The recall was prompted by consumer complaints that stated they found clasm chowder instead of the soup stated on the label.  The only problem is that it can be a danger to people allergic to shellfish.  The cans are labeled "Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom" and have the date code "AUG 2004 08292" and "CU B8EL" followed by numbers representing military time.  People who bought the cans should return them to the stores where they were purchased for a full refund.  If you have questions, you can call 1-800-637-7698 or visit the Campbell Soup Co. website at http://www.campbellsoup.com
  
  
• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The results of a study released last week had found that breast self-exams do not increase the likelihood that breast cancer will be found any earlier.  Breast cancer survivors are appalled to think that women might stop doing the self-exams as a result of this study.  The women in the study had no access to mammograms and did not have annual exams by a physician.  Breast cancer experts still recommend a three-pronged approach for women:  monthly self-exams, annual checks by a physician, and regular mammograms.
  
  
• Some Indiana pharmacies are starting to place Coricidin HBP Cold & Cough, a popular cold medicine, behind the counter or locked inside cabinets.  The reason?  The medicine is becoming a popular recreational drug, especially among teens.  Although no deaths have been reported in Indiana, they have been reported in other states.
  
  
• President Bush will address the country tonight, and the topic will be his proposed war with Iraq.  He is expected to make a compelling case for U.S. forces to remove the threat of Iraq's weapons. Check your local television listings for channels and time.
  

October 4

• Oktoberfest continues today amid the sprinkles.  See Local Events for the schedule for today and tomorrow!
  
  
• A skull and bone were found by a farmer Wednesday afternoon about ten miles east of Columbus.  Investigators believe the woman was a homicide victim and are trying to determine her identity. They believe that she was in her twenty's and are waiting for forensic research to determine a more precise estimate on when she died.
  
  
• If you want to vote this November 5 and are not registered yet, time is running out.  You have until the close of business on Monday to get into the clerk's office.  You can also pick up a registration form from a library , driver's license branch, or download it from a website.  Just make sure it is postmarked no later than Monday.  If you plan to vote absentee ballot, your deadline is October 28 for your application.
  
  
• The Indianapolis Colts have won again.  No, it's not a game of football.  They beat the deadline to sell out all their tickets to this weekend's game.  The game will now be televised by CBS on Sunday.
  

October 3

• A 19 year- old Indiana University student was killed in a one-vehicle motorcycle accident Wednesday night. Chad Culver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident which occured on the 45/46 bypass, just south of 17th street in Bloomington. Police say Culver was not wearing a helmet and suffered fatal head injuries. Witnesses told police that Culver was heading south on the bypass when he appeared to lose control of the motorcycle, causing him to hit a chain link fence. Culver was a sophomore at IU, majoring in elementary education.
  
  
• If you like to shop at Big Blue, you had better get all your shopping there done by December 1.  According to company officials, all eleven of their stores will be closed around that time.  The closing effects stores in Greenfield, Rushville, Shelbyville, Seymour, Madison, Lawrenceburg, Richmond, Bedford, Corydon, Washington, and Charlestown.  The only reason stated for the closings was that it was in the company's best interest to pursue other interests.
  
  
• A longtime advisor to Governor O'Bannon has temporarily taken the job of running the troubled state retirement fund until a permanent director is chosen.  The previous director says he was forced to resign after state officials learned that the fund's chief benefits officer has served jail time.
  
  
• The Indianapolis Colts are in the news again.  No, they have not left Indy... yet.  Now they are pushing tickets for this weekend's game with the Cincinnati Bengals.  If the game is not sold out, it will not be broadcast locally.  The last time the team failed to sell out a game was in December, 1998.
  

October 2

• Indiana's Amber Alert System is scheduled to be up and running today.  Governor O'Bannon had moved the start date from January 1, 2003, to October 1.  The system uses highway sign boards and media broadcasts to notify residents and motorists about child abductions.
  
  
• What is the forecast on this fall's color?  Flip a coin!  On one hand, you have a biology professor stating that drought conditions are what makes the color the most vibrant.  On the other hand, you have a Purdue horticulturist saying that the stress from drought makes the colors more dull.  I guess we will just have to wait and see!
  
  
• The founder of I.U.'s Little 500 has died at the age of 82.  Howard S. "Howdy" Wilcox's father was the 1919 winner of the Indianapolis 500 and was killed four years later at a racetrack in Pennsylvania.  Wilcox was raised by a grandmother and graduated from IU.
  
  
• A Morgan County judge has dismissed charges against Kenneth Richmond, the man accused in the 1968 Martinsville murder of Carol Jenkins.  This has brought an end to the effort by the victim's family to seek justice.  Although the judge could understand the family's emotions, he could find nothing in Indiana law that allows for the trial of a dead man.  Authorities are asking that anyone with information about the murder come forward, since they suspect there was a second man involved.