• A Columbus man who escaped from the Orange County Jail last year and was later recaptured, entered into a plea agreement in Orange County Circuit Court on Tuesday.  Larry Holden, 24, pled guilty to a total of 10 charges--3 counts of aiding armed robbery, 3 counts of aiding criminal confinement, 1 count of auto-theft, 1 count of escape, 1 count of aiding auto theft, 1 count of criminal mischief, and being an habitual offender.  The Judge says that Holden will be sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison once the sentence report is completed.  Holden, Jeffrey Hayden, and Kerry Silvers escaped from the jail in April of 2002. Holden and Hayden were captured five days later in Columbus, but Silvers is still at large.
• Tuesday afternoon an Indiana State Police aircraft spotted a plot of marijuana plans about 40 yards from a residence on Log Creek Rd southwest of Paoli.  Police went to the residence with a search warrant and discovered 15 cultivated marijuana plants that were 5 feet tall.  During the search of the residence occupied by Jeremy Brewer, police also found drug paraphernalia and a prescription drug that was not prescribed to Brewer.  Brewer is being held in the Orange County Jail on a $2000 cash bond.
• A fatal automobile accident occurred Tuesday afternoon just north of Mitchell.  A GMC truck driven by Jaffrey Arthur of Bedford was traveling southbound on SR 37, when an Oldsmobile driven by Nelson Prall pulled off of Rariden Hill Road in the path of Arthur's truck.  Arthur sustained minor injuries, but Prall died of severe internal injuries. See Obituaries  for additional information.

• Introduce your kids to some World War II history!!  On Sunday two historic WW II planes, a B-24J Liberator "Dragon and His Tail" and the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Nine O Nine", will be flying in to the Monroe County Airport for a three-day stopover as part of a "Wings of Freedom" nationwide tour to honor veterans of that war.  The scheduled arrival is 3 p.m. Sunday, and they will depart at 1 p.m. August 5.  The planes will be open for the public to tour, or if you are willing to spend $400 you can even take a 30 minute flight on one of them.  Tickets for such a flight are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution to the Collings Foundation which is sponsoring the event and may be obtained and a ride reserved by calling (978) 562-9182.  If you are just wanting to see the old bombers, the foundation is requesting donations of $8/adults and $4.  For people visiting the airport to tour the 60-year-old bombers, the foundation is requesting donations of $8 for adults and $4/children, which includes sitting in the cockpit, climbing through the bomb bay, sitting at the crew members' positions, and getting to handle the machine guns.  Tours are 3-7 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tuesday.  The Collings Foundation's mission is to keep the memory of World War II alive and to pay homage to its veterans and combat victims by preserving the bombers that played such a role in defeating Germany and Japan.  The B-24 is the only airworthy bomber of its class still left flying, and the B-17. is one of only nine surviving airworthy Flying Fortresses.

• Do you remember when it was a goal of some individuals to swim the English Channel?  Well, this is a new variation.  How about flying over the English Channel without the benefit of an aircraft?!  Recently  an Austrian mechanic did just that wearing only a specially designed suit.  Skydiver Felix Baumgartner jumped from a Skyvan aircraft at 30,000 feet over Dover and opened a parachute over Calais, France, landing about 14 minutes after he was "launched".  He reported reached speeds of 120 mph.  His special flight suit was fitted with a 6 foot long wing.  He also had special breathing apparatus and protection from the cold for the high altitude at the beginning of the flight.  And what was the name of the mission?  Icarus 2, of course.  If you recall, Icarus was the mythical figure who flew too near the sun, and the wax holding his wings together melted.   How do you avoid problems with air traffic during such an attempt?  Baumgartner got clearance from the air traffic controllers.  Baumgartner is not a novice jumper and has other daredevil jumps to his credit.
  

• Good news for Crane.  The U.S. Army supports building a new weapons center at the Crane Naval Base here in southern Indiana, according to U.S. Senator Evan Bayh.  Construction of a new "joint pyrotechnic center" at Crane will update the base's original pyrotechnic facility.  Crane is the military's leading source for production and development of pyrotechnic devices such as infrared decoy flares and "candles" used in production of mortar and artillery illumination rounds.  The military's willingness to make new investments at Crane strengthens the base's position in future budget decisions.
• An independent movie company started by Indiana natives plans to move to southern Indiana if a casino eventually opens in Orange County.  Mike the Pike Films would be housed in a former Kimball International plant a once famous Orange County resort that is now under restoration.  Although casino business and entertainment have always fit hand-in-hand, State Representative Jerry Denbo cautions that the casino is not a sure thing.  Although the General Assembly authorized a riverboat for the area earlier this year, it must still be approved by Orange County voters in a referendum this November.  Gambling opponents are fighting the proposal, which would put a casino near two historic hotels in French Lick and West Baden Springs.  Denbo hopes that the studio deal will show residents that a casino will bring economic development and create new jobs that are not directly related to gambling.  Regardless of the voters decision this fall, the studio plans to film much of an upcoming romantic comedy there.  More information on the studio company can be found at their Mike The Pike website.
• While some people driving drunk may feel they are exercising their rights by refusing to take a sobriety test, Indiana attorneys say that refusal is not a good idea.  A person arrested for drunk driving can still be convicted on the officer's testimony.  Refusal of the test results in a one-year suspension of your driver's license.  At a trial, a judge will look at a refusal as an admission of guilt.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving would like to see a thirty day jail sentence in addition to the suspension for refusal of the test.  According to the governor's council on impaired and dangerous driving, about one third of all traffic deaths are caused by alcohol even though there is an increased awareness of drunk driving.
  

• An advisory issued by the Dept. of Homeland Security is intended to get the word out that the Microsoft vulnerability originally announced on July 16th is both extremely serious and that there is the potential for attack.  The vulnerability could allow an attacker to install code of his choice, change or delete data, and create new accounts on the PC.  "The Dept. is concerned that a properly written exploit could rapidly spread on the Internet as a worm or virus in a fashion similar to Code Red or Slammer."   Although Homeland Security didn't disclose the reasons why it released the advisory, it did say that the "exploits are being developed for malicious use."   It recommended that system administrators update at-risk systems as soon as possible, and block TCP and UDP ports 135, 139, and 445 for inbound connections unless they're absolutely necessary for business.
  

• Beginning this Friday, it will become a little easier to breathe in Bloomington restaurants.  The new city smoking ordinance takes effect this Friday.  The ordinance bans smoking from all public places and places of employment.  The Bloomington City Council voted in March to extend an existing smoking ban, but gave all bars until January 1, 2005 to phase in the new rules.
• Did you know that kids can get free or reduced-cost meals during the summer, just like the school year?  If you did not, you are not alone.  Food program officials estimate that less than ten percent of the state's eligible children will participate in the free-meal programs being offered across the state this summer.  Officials feel that the major hurdle to getting more kids fed is just to get the word out.  That may be good for the cities, but still other people feel the rural areas are the problem.  It is difficult to get kids to the sites where the meals are offered, and also getting the meals prepared.
• If any of you were out traveling on the highways or listening to the radio or television yesterday, you were probably aware that there was an Amber Alert.  A Kokomo man is accused of abducting his daughter and stepdaughter before fleeing to Tennessee.  The man was stopped in Tennessee and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.  Officials are still investigating the circumstances that lead to him abducting the girls and have not yet charged him in connection with taking the girls.  In the alert, he was labeled as dangerous due in part to the items he reportedly took with him, including a hunting knife, duct tape, food, and money.   The girls were unharmed, but a little scared.  They will be returned to their mother today.
• State education officials are urging Indiana's schools to adopt a new report card that will track student performance with numbers instead of letter grades.  The report card would be more detailed, charting a student's progress on a numerical scale from 1 to 3 in different areas of each subject, with the "3" indicating mastery of the area.  Some believe the new system will make it easier to target where the student needs work. guide the instruction to meet those needs, and eventually result in higher test scores on the ISTEP.
  Rigorous new federal standards will double the number of Indiana students taking the ISTEP test this year and also cost the state $7 million more to administer.  In recent years, only third-, sixth- and eighth-graders took the exams testing their language arts and math knowledge, but this year, all students in third through ninth grade will take the exams. Fifth-graders will also take a new science exam in addition to the language arts and math tests.  The changes are necessary under the "No Child Left Behind" program, which requires schools to show they are meeting certain standards every year or lose federal aid.
• Did you ever dream of becoming a movie star?  Eighteen people evidently are.  They turned out this past weekend to read for parts in a low-budget film that is to be made in Indiana.  The film, "Belzer's Science", will star John Heard as a brilliant scientist who returns to southern Indiana to bury his mother.  The film is a project of Bloomington resident David Young, of the advertising agency Young and Laramore. and is to be shot over the next two months.  Six of the eighteen actors and many extras will be cast in Bloomington, with the rest coming from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
• Land O' Lakes Inc. issued a voluntary recall for its one-pound packages of salted stick butter on Sunday because they may contain small fragments of metal.  The butter was distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  Production codes on the packaging of the affected butter include the date and KE107P, KE108P, or KE109P. The company said anyone who bought butter with those production codes could return it to the store for a refund.  The butter was produced at a Land O' Lakes facility in Kent, Ohio.
• Brazil has taken a unique step.  On Thursday, the government banned advertising of anti-impotence drugs, citing fears they were stimulating Brazilians to excessive and inappropriate use of the medicines.  Recent studies show Viagra is a hit with Brazilian youths who use it for recreation.  Brazil is Pfizer's second-biggest market for Viagra and soccer star Pele starred in the television ads for its campaign.
  

• Finally!  It will be a beautiful day to go to the fair!  Tonight is Coupon Night for the Rides--bracelet for unlimited rides is $9 if you take your Poor Jack Coupon from the fair flyer with you.  Also featured is "Open Wheel Thunder" in the Grandstand.

• Former U.S. Rep Frank McCloskey, who represented Indiana's 8th District in Congress from 1983 to 1995, has resigned as the Monroe County Democratic chairman as he continues to fight bladder cancer.  He said it was time for him to step aside to from daily duties and concentrate on his health.  Diagnosed with cancer last September, he is currently in his second round of chemo.  McCloskey has been the Monroe County party chairman since 1999.

• Yes, but not in my back yard!  That's what some Bloomington area residents seem to indicate.  A network of trails linking parks and schools is a goal of the Bloomington city administration.  The existing Clear Creek Trail is mostly through rural, undeveloped land, but the proposed Jackson Creek Trail would run through several developed neighborhoods, namely Sycamore Knolls, and that's where the trouble lies.  Many residents have voiced their concerns of erosion, safety, traffic, property values, and privacy.  While neighbors worry about children's safety if the path connects to Child Elementary School, Bloomington's director of park's and recreation believes the trail would give children a safer way to bike or walk to school.  The Jackson Trail, which received $500,000 in grant funds last year for its first phase, will be constructed in separate phases over several years.  In the parks department's last community survey, The majority of residents who were surveyed in the park's department's last community survey, the majority wanted more trails.  Information and public comment on the project  will be presented in August.

• According to Clarian Health officials passenger service on the company's People Mover, the $40 million elevated train, should resume by next week.  The service was halted on July 15th when a device that provides electrical power to the train shorted, causing sparks and smoke.  Clarian will continue to operate its ground shuttle, linking Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital, and Riley Hospital for Children, until the train service is resumed.

• Yesterday President George W. Bush awarded Charlton Heston the Presidential Medal of Freedom in honor for a lifetime of memorable film roles and the defense of gun owners.  Heston has played roles from Moses to Michelangelo, as well as serving as leader of a labor union, a civil rights activist, and the head of the National Rifle Association, from which he resigned this spring  after being diagnosed with the symptoms of Alzheimer's.  Other Freedom Medal recipients who were honored yesterday included former Czech President Vaclav Havel, pianist Van Cliburn, and former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.

July 23

• So far it has been a rainy week for the fair, but reports indicate that attendance has been good in spite of the storms.  Today is Kiddie Day with unlimited rides from noon until 5 p.m. with an $8 bracelet.  The tractor/pickup pull is this evening, as well as the Clog Jam.  All area clogging groups and cloggers are invited to participate in the Jam.
• Seymour school board members have been informed that the new Jackson and Redding elementary schools will be ready in plenty of time for the start of school this fall.  "Beyond minor touch-up work," Meyer explained, "the schools will be operational within the next several weeks."
• There will not be a Jackson County Watermelon Festival this year!  Construction at the Jackson County Courthouse this year, along with the necessary equipment and materials, created concerns about safety and possible liability issues.  Since the Courthouse serves as the main location of the festival the committee decided to cancel the event which was scheduled for September 12-14.
• Work has begun on the main phase of construction on the Ohio River Greenway, a $42 million network of paths and recreation areas along the Ohio River in southern Indiana.  When it is complete in six or seven years, the project will link Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany with a low-speed parkway for cars and a bike path and walking trail, with playgrounds, picnic tables and other recreational features along the route, as well as scenic views through the trees across the river.  Jeffersonville's terraced lawn amphitheater, which opened in 2001, is also part of the project, and the city plans to buy a floating stage for musical and theatrical performances.  A ceremony Monday marked the start of the work on a small section of the greenway, a bridge over Mill Creek in Clarksville, which should be completed in October, in time for the community's observance of the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

July 22

• It's a good day at the fair and offers a full schedule with Older American's Fun & Games, the 4-H Fashion Review, crowning of the King & Queen, line dancing, Columbus City Band performance, and the demolition derby which starts at 8 p.m. in the grandstand.
• The American Legion Baseball Sectional will begin this Thursday.  Game 1 starts at 5 p.m. with Madison and Mitchell matched up.  Seymour will play Bedford in Game 2, which is expected to start about 7:30 p.m.
• Merv and Doreena Javins have spent 14 months wondering what happened to their son, Scott, an Indiana State University student, and they are certain that someone knows what happened to their 20-year-old son.  Fourteen months ago, early on May 24, 2002, he left the Terre Haute home of friends early May 24, 2002, supposedly headed home at 2 a.m., but he never showed up and has not been seen or heard from since.  The reward has grown to $40,000 through many events from car washes and yard sales to spaghetti dinners, and the parents hope it will attract the information that police need to find him.  It has been 14 months, and they are looking for answers.
• Louisville's Waterfront Park has a new feature -- a new five-acre adventure playground that was built near the Big Four Bridge.  Appropriately based on a river theme, it opened to the public Monday morning and includes a large water play area and sandbox.  All the playground equipment was custom-made for Louisville, with a lot of different play structures good for different ages.  Reportedly, the playground will use nearly 300,000 gallons of fresh water a day, which will then be recycled and used to water the grass.  Part of the second phase of the Waterfront Park development, the playground cost was around $2.5.
• The Pentagon is set to carry out another round of base closings in 2005, and has determined it has 25 percent more bases and missions than it needs. Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind. says that previous base closures cut into the muscle of defense infrastructure and that it was ludicrous that Congress then had to fund new military construction to rebuild what it had closed.  As the next round of base closures edges closer, U.S. congressmen are attempting to protect their bases, finding a variety of methods to do so. Among the vocal are a group of Southern Indiana business leaders who support Crane, along with Hostettler and other area lawmakers. Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., who also represents the Crane area, said military personnel are impressed with Crane's work, and it's up to the Southern Indiana Business Alliance to keep "beating that drum" about Crane's role.

July 21

• Today the Jackson County Fair activities include a spelling bee, a bubble gum blowing contest, a tomahawk throw, blue grass and gospel music, and the talent show.  Check the schedule at http://www.jacksoncountyfair.org

• Would you believe that thunderstorms are likely today--60% chance.  At 9 a.m. today the rain gauge at Seymour OnLine measures almost 1 1/2", and it continues to rain.   Thunderstorms may continue into tonight and tomorrow, with temps only in the mid 70's tomorrow!  Rest assured those cooler temps are only temporary and things will heat up again by the weekend..

• Traffic is back in downtown Indy!  By late Sunday afternoon traffic was moving in both directions of the I-65/I-70 inner loop, and that is 30 days ahead of schedule.  The Hyperfix officially ended Sunday at midnight, but traffic was flowing freely in both directions of the I-65/I-70 inner loop by late Sunday afternoon -- 30 days earlier than expected.  It was a massive project that prompted the decision to shut down the two highways and offer an incentive bonus for the construction company if the project finished ahead of schedule.  It was a project that everyone was dreading as the time to close the highways approached.  However, the road crews worked 24/7, including holidays, and got the job done.  There were no workers standing around watching other workers work.  Each one had a job to do and he did it.  It's great to see that kind of effort put forth and the resulting success of the project.  The company deserves the $3.6 million bonus which they have indeed earned!

• Jerry Jesseph, a Bloomington surgeon, wants pharmacies to stop selling cigarettes.  So far, 640 doctors, nurses, and other health care providers have signed the petition directed at in-store pharmacies in Kroger, Marsh, CVS, and Albertson's.  Last week he mailed copies of the petition to the corporate headquarter boards of directors and hand-delivered copies to the named pharmacies.  The petition says the sale of cigarettes is "contrary to any ethical practice of the medical community and asks the corporations to immediately stop selling cigarettes in Bloomington and nationwide.  Jesseph said that three family owned pharmacies in Bloomington refuse to put cigarettes on their shelves.  Managers at Bloomington's CVS, Osco, Marsh and Kroger stores deferred questions about the petition to their corporate headquarters.

• Not your usual lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  We can only hope they don't migrate north to Indiana!  Cape Coral, FL, has become a haven for Nile monitor lizards, a carnivorous lizard native to Africa, and the lizards seem to be thriving.  The monitor lizard population in Florida likely began when one or more of these creatures who were kept as "pets" were released.  It is reported that these lizards easily grow to 5 feet in length and can hunt prey on land, in the water, in trees, and even underground.  Scientists are currently studying to "learn whether monitor lizards have become a threat to native species".  Does it take a mental giant to reach a conclusion to that question?! Currently, the options being studied to deal with these lizards include relocating or killing the animals.  How about voting for the latter!!

July 18

• The Jackson County Fair will open on Sunday!  The Jackson County Fair has a reputation for being one of the best in the area.  There is plenty of free parking for all and admission to the fair is free, although special parking tickets are available.  One of the big attractions for kids is always the midway.  Family Night on the midway will be Monday and Tuesday nights with unlimited rides from from 6 p.m. to closing with a $12 bracelet.  Kiddie Days will be Wednesday and Saturday with unlimited rides from noon to 5 p.m. with an $8 bracelet.  Plan to spend the week at the fair!  Check out the information on the website at www.jacksoncountyfair.org  
• In spite of a Supreme Court ruling requiring libraries to install Internet porn filter on their computers if they want federal funding, Monroe County's Library Board of Trustee has voted, 7-0,  not to do so and stating they cannot act as a chaperone or guarantee that children will not be exposed to what is evil.  The Bloomington Library may forfeit $5,217 in federal funds as a result.  However, the software to filter Net access could also have cost thousands of dollars, might not be reliable, and might  also block valid Web sites  while missing pornographic ones.  Currently, children are educated on how to avoid unsuitable materials and are directed toward search engines that have built-in filtering options.
• Another word of warning!  Yesterday we mentioned that Microsoft had just announced three security flaws, which isn't anything new, but just shortly after that a new worm was discovered making its way into emails posing as a Microsoft patch or an antivirus update from Symantec Corp.  Do not launch that file!  The worm, which for the moment goes by multiple names, including W32.Gruel@mm and W32/Fakerr@mm, modifies a slew of system settings in Microsoft Windows machines and attempts to delete a host of crucial system files and, like most worms, propagates via e-mail by lifting addresses from the Microsoft Outlook address book.  It can also spread through the Kazaa file-sharing network. If the attached executable files are run, the worm modifies the Windows Registry, and tries to erase important system files, including all the .dll, .com, and .exe files in Windows' System32 folder.  While infection rates are currently very low and users armed with updated anti-virus software are protected, Gruel/Fakerr may get some traction because of its disguise. Two of the three variants of the worm masquerade as E-mails from Microsoft, and carry the subject heading "Microsoft Windows Critical Update."  Gruel/Fakerr isn't the first worm to propagate via both E-mail and peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa. In mid-May, the Fizzer worm also attempted to spread by copying itself to Kazaa shared folders.

• Have you been avoiding driving in Indy because of the giant Hyperfix project downtown on I-70 & I-65?  Well, today's drive around the summer's biggest highway project could be the last for metro Indy drivers.  By Sunday night -- actually 30 days ahead of schedule -- state transportation officials hope to open six shiny new lanes of highway.  Only a few jobs are left: Lanes need to be striped, some concrete must be sealed, a few rough spots need replacing.  The $34 million Hyperfix project is replacing the inner loop, a combined stretch of I-65 and I-70 east of Downtown.  State officials figured it would be faster and easier to close the road entirely, allowing work around the clock.  The project was figured to take 85 days, but if all six through lanes are open by midnight this Sunday, Walsh Construction, the general contractor for the project will earn a bonus of about $3.6 million.  The general contractor has a record of completing projects ahead of time and earning bonuses.  Since May 26, Walsh has worked 24/7 on the Hyperfix.  I-465 has drawn most of the added traffic, especially semis making their way through the city on major trucking routes I-70 and I-65, and city thoroughfares such as West, New York and Ohio streets have been more congested as drivers scurried to find shortcuts.  Although the roads will be open ahead of schedule, the commuter bus service from Fishers, Lawrence and Glendale Mall will continue through Aug. 19,  IndyGo officials said.  After Hyperfix, some work will remain in the fringe areas, including the widening of the ramp from eastbound I-70 to southbound I-65 and some repairs to the ramp-access lane near the Market Street ramp.  For southbound I-65 motorists, that means Fletcher Avenue and East Street exits will remain closed for a few more weeks.

July 17

• Calling all motorcylists!  The Boogie Abate starts today.  12,000-15,000 motorcyclists are expected in northern Lawrence County for the 4-day event this year.

• Flood water on the East Fork of White River are receding, but the Wabash River upstream of Vincennes will cause extensive backwater flooding.  If you travel or plan to camp over there you will find local river roads flooded by several feet of water.  Never attempt to cross flooded roads, and keep children away from flooded areas.

• Business leaders John Hillenbrand, Batesville, and James Baker, Columbus, have been appointed to lead the 22-member Government Efficiency Commission looking for ways to cut waste in state government.  Handpicked by legislative leaders, the commission will begin meeting when the panel is complete on August 16th.  Hillenbrand has served on many corporate boards, including Batesville-based Hillenbrand Industries, and he is also a past chairman of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.  Baker is the former chief executive of Arvin Industries, retiring in 1998, has served on many corporate boards and also as a trustee for DePauw University in Greencastle.

• The state is holding $198 million in unclaimed property, and the Indiana attorney general's office would like to see the uncashed checks, insurance claims, and other items go to the rightful owners.  Owners have 25 years to claim the property before it goes into the state's Common School Fund.  In 2002 $15.6 million was handed out.  All of the state's 800,000 claims are searchable at the attorney general's Web site: www.state.in.us/serv/ag{uscore}ucp

• Microsoft seems to be held together by patches!!  On Wednesday the company issued a critical patch for a new vulnerability, rated critical, affecting Windows that could allow an attacker to execute code on a system.  The flaw was pointed out to Microsoft by a security company in Poland.  A patch is now available on Microsoft's Web site in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026. The vulnerability affects Windows NT 4.0, NT 4.0 Terminal Services Edition, XP and 2000, as well as Windows Server 2003.  In addition to applying the patch, enterprise customers should protect themselves with a firewall that is configured to block port 135, which is standard practice, he said.  Read the complete article in InternetWeek.com  at http://www.internetweek.com/security02/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=12800747 .  Meanwhile the announcement comes that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded Microsoft a five-year, $90 million contract to provide desktop and server software for 140,000 desktops.  Does this make you feel safe?

July 16

• The risks for children are increasing daily when they strike up acquaintances through an Internet chat room.  A 15 year-old girl from Lawrence County was enticed by Thomas Cunningham, age 53, who posed as a 19 year-old high school student.  The Dayton, OH, man met her inside his semi-truck and at local motels.  He used a digital camera to produce film of his victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  On Monday, Cunningham was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison.

• Reacting to a report that Indiana students have difficulty with writing exams, a letter from Sen. Richard Lugar encourages Indiana teachers to give frequent writing assignments and to insist on good spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  Lugar says he will answer each letter he receives and will post the best letters on his website.

• At almost the half-way point of Lawrence County Fair Week, the activities today feature beef and poultry.  The entertainment for tonight is cycle races, as well as gymnastics and martial arts demos in the amphitheater area.  The free nightly attraction is "Big Cat Encounters".  Meanwhile, Jackson County is preparing for the beginning of its fair this weekend.

• Twenty people from Jennings County have sued a doctor convicted of overprescibing OxyContin, using a state law that holds drug dealers liable for civil damages.  Thirteen other states, including Illinois and Michigan, have similar laws. The laws make drug dealers liable in civil court to people such as victims injured by a driver under the influence of drugs or families who've lost a child to a drug overdose.  Randolph W. Lievertz, a former Indianapolis physician, is now serving a prison term of more than four years after pleading guilty to seven counts of unlawfully distributing the painkiller and one count of Medicaid fraud.  But the families of several former OxyContin users in Jennings County say the prison sentence and $28,000 restitution ordered by a judge in March was not punishment enough.  Lievertz prescribed more than $550,000 of OxyContin to Medicaid recipients, according to investigators. Prosecutors said Lievertz prescribed about $130,000 worth of OxyContin to a Jennings County woman who in turn sold the drug to others in the county about 75 miles southeast of Indianapolis. 

• Yesterday the "People Mover", the elevated train system that links three downtown hospitals, became stuck on the track stranding a few people on board.  The 3-car automated train, built and operated by the Clarian Health System, stopped abruptly yesterday afternoon after what appeared to be an electrical problem that caused smoke to enter the car, according to the Indianapolis Fire Dept.  The disabled train was pushed to the station by a small tractor.  One passenger was injured but not taken to a hospital.  The entire system will be shut down until the exact cause is found.  The People Mover covers a 1.5 mile route and connects Riley Hospital, Indiana University Hospital, and Methodist Hospital.  It opened on June 27th.

• So just how much will this help our state revenue problems?  Official reported yesterday that Hoosier Lottery sales reached near-record highs for fiscal 2003.  It was the second-highest annual revenue since the lottery began 14 years ago: the highest revenue year was 1999.  Indiana uses lottery profits to lower motor vehicle excise taxes, support teacher, police and firefighter pension funds and for capital improvements. Of course, money also goes into the state's general fund.  About 30 percent of the lottery revenue goes to support state government, with about 50 percent going toward prizes.

• Two caves in Monroe County, Coon and Grotto caves west of Bloomington, that are the winter hibernation habitat for endangered Indiana bats will be bought and protected under a new federal grant.  The $593,325 grant will combine with $200,000 in state and private money to buy the 293 acres of wooded land.  The grant is part of $70 million in funding announced Monday by the U.S. Interior Department, aimed at protecting endangered fish, wildlife and plant species.  These bats are called Indiana bats because they were first identified in this state.  Their numbers have declined 57 percent nationally since the 1960s, but preliminary figures from a count this year show that Indiana is the only state where the species' number has actually increased.  Other caves used by the bats are in state forests and already have protection, but these two caves are on private land without any protection. 

July 15

• Unstable weather!  The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Southern Illinois southwest Indiana    Effective this Tuesday morning and afternoon from 835 am until 200 PM CDT. Hail to 2 inches in diameter... thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph... and dangerous lightning are possible in these areas.  The Severe Thunderstorm Watch area is along and 45 statute miles either side of a line from 35 miles south southwest of Mount Vernon Illinois to 10 miles east southeast of Bloomington Indiana.  Remember... a Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.  A chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening... otherwise partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of rain 30 percent.

• The West Nile virus has been found in a dead blue jay in Monroe County.  The virus has been found in mosquitoes in Marion County and birds in Monroe, Bartholomew, Daviess, Dearborn and Lake counties.  Last year there were 293 reported human cases of West Nile virus in Indiana, resulting in 11 deaths. The virus was found in birds, mosquitoes, horses or people in all 92 Indiana counties.  Only one suspected human case of West Nile virus has been reported this year, and that case has not been confirmed, said Jennifer Dunlap, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Department of Health.

• Brad Miller is prepared to go elsewhere if the Indiana Pacers don't offer him more than the $5.3 million he made last season, according to the All-Star center's agent, who goes on to claim that his value is far greater this year and that he should be compensated fairly.  Seven-foot Miller is one of the few big men in the NBA whose whereabouts next season remain up in the air, and several other teams are interested in him, including Dallas, New York and Miami.  Could it be that athletes and their agents have a false sense of worth and and skewed priorities?  Then these athletes and the team owners hold the cities hostage to provide them with tax breaks, as well as new facilities.  And who causes this?   The bottom line is those who buy tickets to such events and support their activities and life style.

July 14

• Fair time in Indiana!  This week it is the Lawrence County 4-H Fair!  Today features the western performance horse and pony show, beef market show, perishable project check-in and judging, and the Exhibit Bldg opens to the public at 6 p.m.  The baby contest will be this evening, as well as entertainment provided by Crossroads Community Church in the Amphitheater.  Quad Races will be in the Grandstand.  The complete schedule for the week is accessed from the main page of Seymour OnLine.

• What happened to the phrase "JUST SAY "NO!"?  Should the government really have to get involved in this sort of thing?!!  Self-help for gambling addicts is not available yet, but state regulators are reviewing a proposal under which gamblers could choose one or five year or life bans to stop them from gambling at Indiana casinos!  The draft rules are expected to take six months to approve and if the gamblers choose one of the options there would be a significant obstacle if they try to get off the list.  The commission would maintain the self-exclusion list and distribute the names to all the casinos.  The boats would also be prohibited from sending coupons, advertising or other mailings to those on the list and would not be allowed to cash their checks or extend them credit.  Currently, casinos are left to establish their own rules for self-exclusion, and a customer must ask at specific riverboats to be banned. However, that information is not shared with other casinos, forcing gamblers to visit each of Indiana's 10 boats individually to be banned from all.

• The Bird's back in Indy!  Larry Bird returned to the NBA and the Indiana Pacers on Friday, as president of basketball operations, taking over day-to-day decision-making from Donnie Walsh, who led the franchise since 1986 and will stay on as its chief executive. Everyone is familiar with his record as a player in the 1980s with the Boston Celtics and as coach of the Pacers.  In 2000 he decided to take a break from basketball because of a health problem, but with the health problem now under control, he is ready to come back.  He will be responsible for picking players, picking coaches, and for scouting.  Walsh expects to stay with the Pacers for four more years and then expects that Bird will be his successor.
• We'll believe it when we see it happen!  During a House hearing Wednesday to take the pulse of efforts to push through legislation to fight spam, the battle over competing bills broke primarily along party lines.   At a hearing held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, legislators bickered over which of two competing bills was best: the Reduction in Distribution of Spam Act (RID), or the Anti-Spam Act.   RID, authored by Rep. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), is backed by the Committee's chairman, Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.). It is the one favored almost entirely by Republicans.   The Anti-Spam Act, co-authored by Reps. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) and Gene Green (D-Tx.), is backed largely by Democrats, although it did garner some bipartisan support.   Two subcommittees--Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection; and Telecommunications and the Internet--gathered Wednesday to hash out their differences and take testimony from organizations and industry leaders.   The two sides didn't waste any time taking potshots at the other's favored bill.   Backers of the Burr bill, which doesn't allow for citizens to individually sue spammers or bring them to court in class-action suits, parried with worries that the Democratic legislation would unleash a flood of lawsuits.   Rep. Burr admitted that no legislation would totally eliminate spam, a stance taken by most industry analysts, who have called for a multipronged approach involving not only laws, but enforcement, technological solutions--such as anti-spam filtering software at enterprise and ISP gateways--and education of consumers as to what is, and isn't, spam.  Chris Murray, the legislative counsel for the Consumer Union, belittled the existing bills, particularly RID, also known as H.R. 2214, saying that "H.R 2214 will fail to stem the rising tide of spam.  Murray says that instead, the House should look to the Senate for an example of better-crafted legislation. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proposed a bill that would include a "do not spam" registry, similar to the widely popular "do not call" telemarketing registry that the Federal Trade Commission recently unveiled.   By allowing users to "opt out" of entire domains--such as aol.com--rather than just individual addresses, consumers would not have to disclose their own e-mail address, which could bring down even more spam on their heads.  Some legislative members predict, however, that differences between the two sides will be overcome within the next few weeks and that an anti-spam law would move to the floor of Congress with some real action on this issue this year.

July 11

July 10

• Each night, the crowd leaving Bedford's Little Theatre after having seen the musical tribute, "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" is eager to compliment the star, Rebekah Moore on the excellence of her performance.  Jean Melvin, of Judah-Logan Road, says she couldn't believe the tickets were only nine dollars.  Jean says that show would cost $85 in Las Vegas.  "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" will run every night through Sunday.
  
• The Lawrence County 4-H Fair is schedule to begin tomorrow and will run through July 19.  Friday's kick-off event will be the 4-H Fair Queen Pageant in the Expo Hall at 7:00 p.m.  Nightly parking will cost $2, with a parking pass for July 14 - 19 available for $5 at the gate.  For the daily schedule, visit Local Events.
  
• Rivers across the state are rising to near record levels, with all the rain we have had this month!  Many records were set in 1913, and the St. Mary's River near Decatur has already passed its record.  Many of the state's rivers were expected to crest today, starting in the north.  The water all flows to the south, so the rivers in the southern part of the state will see crests tomorrow or Saturday.  While some river levels are higher than the Great Flood of 1913, improvements have been made in flood control which keep damage and deaths lower.  The 1913 flood killed 732 people in Indiana and Ohio.  It wiped out the town of Peru and flooded the west side of Indianapolis.  It was this flood which prompted then-President Woodrow Wilson to demand a nationwide plan for drainage and flood-control measures.
  
• It's time for everyone to put their money back in their wallets, and calm down about the Powerball jackpot.  The estimated $261.3 million jackpot had two tickets that mached the numbers drawn last night.  The tickets were sold in Missouri and Pennsylvania.  No information is available about the winners.  This was not the largest jackpot in Powerball history.  That honor goes to the Christmas 2002 prize of $314.9 million.  The winning numbers were 19-21-26-31-51 with a Powerball of 40. 
  
• Women who take Nortel 7/7/7 birth control pills should take a close look at the tablets.  Barr Laboratories is voluntarily recalling three lots of pills that might be improperly sequenced, which may increase the risk of pregnancy.  The package is a blister card containing four horizontal rows of seven tablets each, with each row representing one week of tablets.  The top row should contain yellow tablets.  The second row should contain blue tablets.  The third row should contain peach tablets, and the fourth row should contain white tablets.  The recall involves lot numbers 290122001, 290122002, and 290122003.  The lot numbers should appear in a window labeled "LOT:" on the upper right-hand corner of the back side of the package.  A lot number in a different location is also subject to recall.  If you have a package that is recalled, you should return the product to your pharmacist for a replacement card.  The company will replace any out-of-sequence card for free and will also cover the cost of a pregnancy test for any woman who purchased and used a recalled blister pack.  For more information, you can call Barr Laboratories Inc.'s Drug Information line at 1-800-222-0190 extension 33302.
  
• A case of too much testosterone, not enough self-discipline?  You be the judge.  Pittsburg Pirates first baseman Randall Simon is under scrutiny by the law about his perceived attack on one of Milwaukee's sausage mascots with a bat during Wednesday night's game.  A video shows Simon swinging his bat at the Italian sausage character as a group of four mascots raced past the Pirates dugout.  The woman in the costume tumbled to the ground, knocking down the hot dog mascot.  Skinned knees were the only injury.  Simon was booked for misdemeanor battery, released, and ordered to see the district attorney Thursday.
  

• Some of you readers may have noticed that I had the wrong date this week.  Did it help you feel like the week was going faster?  I have decided that it is time to put a calendar on my desk so I can double check the dates from now on.  While I am sorry about the error, that should just show that the news and classifieds are typed in by a human. 
  
• Storms that came through the state last night hammered Indianapolis, and the surrounding area.  Not only are National Guard troops working with sandbag machines in the Bluffton and Decatur areas, a tornado roared into Speedway, hitting the International Village apartment complex before jumping over to Meadowood Park.  Only minor damage has been reported with no injuries.  Indianapolis is under a flood warning, as the White River is rising from the three to six inches of rain received last night.  Governor O'Bannon has prepared a list of counties requesting federal aid in the form of grants and low-interest loans.  The counties are:  Adams, Blackford, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Delaware, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Madison, Marion, Miami, Randolph, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Wabash, Wayne, Wells, White, and Whitely.  The list could grow as inspectors from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) survey the damage.
  
• On Tuesday, Indiana became one of the few states to accept a controversial Mexican identification card issued by Mexican consulates nationwide.  The card is seen as helpful to immigrants, but critics say it is a tool for fraud.  The ID's make it possible for Mexican immigrants to open bank accounts, get a driver's license, enroll children in school, and turn on utilities.  An FBI official warns that the cards are not a reliable form of identification, however, calling them a serious criminal and terrorist threat.  The Bush administration has not yet taken a position on the cards.  Governor O'Bannon believes the cards are secure.  The group called Americans for Legal Immigration has said it will sue the state because the cards promote violations of the law.
  
• An experimental drug which was developed by Chiron Corporation to treat sepsis, has failed to live up to expectations.  The intravenous drug tifacogin did not reduce deaths from severe sepsis in a study in seventeen countries.  The drug has even been linked to an increased risk of bleeding.  A similar drug, Eli Lilly's Xigris, has won FDA approval as the first such medication.  About 700,000 Americans develop sepsis each year.  Sepsis is a life-threatening bloodstream infection which causes inflamation and blood clots that damage vital organs.
  
• Everyone receives spam, some of it appearing to come from a reputable familiar address, although it is really from spammers who have simply used someone else's  e-mail address.  Congress is concerned about the problems spam is causing and continues to hear more testimony on the cost of spam.  Meanwhile, mail filtering company SurfControl reports and warns users about a growing and  much more dangerous form of spam.  Known as "brand spoofing", conartists send out e-mail that appears to come from reputable companies seeking personal information such as account details and Social Security numbers.  Among companies that have been brand spoofed in recent months are Best Buy, UPS, Bank of American, PayPal, and First Union Bank.  Sony Electronics last week warned that it had become aware of a deceptive mass 3-mailing that was sent to consumers with the subject "Sonystyle user and email address".  The message, which claimed to come from "SonyStyle Customer Service", requested personal information, including user names and passwords.  SurfControl advises companies to take a few precautionary steps to protect their IT systems, employees, and customers.
      - Notify customers and employees that E-mails seeking personal information are suspicious and should be reported immediately. There's no legitimate reason for any Web site to ask for E-mail verification or an update of confidential information via E-mail.
      - Urge customers and employees not to open suspicious E-mails or even visit Web sites mentioned, as they pose a risk, such as the possible automatic download of a Trojan horse program, to anyone logging on to the site.
      - Monitor Internet and spam security information resources.

• The weather pattern we had over the weekend is going to stay with us for the next few days.  Temperatures will climb into the lower 90's Monday and Tuesday, with a chance of storms each day.  Wednesday through Friday will see temperatures only in the lower 80's, but there is chance of storms through Thursday.  With any luck, the weekend will be partly cloudy with highs in the mid 80's!
  
• This is what many Republicans have been waiting for.  Today, Mitch Daniels, considered to be the front-runner in the race for Republican gubernatorial nomination, starts a statewide RV tour of Indiana.  His first few stops will be Scottsburg, Versailles, and Milan today.  He says he is running for office to restore the confidence of the public in state government and give economic hope to the people of Indiana.  He plans to travel to all of Indiana's ninety-two counties over the next one hundred days.  Also seeking the Republican nomination are former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh, conservative activist Eric Miller, Petersburg mayor Randy Harris, and Indianapolis businessman Bob Parker.
  
• You have all heard about infections contracted in the hospital, some have even lived through it.  Now, hospitals throughout the country are embracing the new CDC policy governing doctors, burses, and other health care staff, and their fingernails.  Some hospitals are banning artificial fingernails and long natural nails for staff who work directly with patients.  According to the CDC, fingernails could become reservoirs for dangerous bacteria despite washing.  These bacteria can invade a patient's blood stream, making it necessary to give antibiotics through an IV, something that can be painful.  The new fingernail guideline, along with the CDC's new handwashing advisory favors alcohol-based antiseptics over soap and water.  Another way you can reduce your own chances of contracting an infection in the hospital is to never let anyone touch you unless you have witnessed them washing their hands and putting on a fresh pair of gloves.
  
• Animal rights activists are up in arms about the disposal method of thirty-thousand chickens which were quarantined because of a virus in southern California.  The owners slaughtered the chickens by throwing them into wood chippers.  State authorities have agreed with the method of disposal and have not filed animal cruelty charges.  There is a growing national push for stricter guidelines on the treatment of livestock that will take into account everything from the size of cages to the ways animals are killed.  The federal government is moving to hire more inspectors to help with the enforcement of these new guidelines.
  
• A team of U.S. military experts has arrived in Liberia to assess whether to deploy troops as part of an intervention force that would restore order to a nation which has been in civil war for a decade.  No deadline has been set on when a decision will be made.  Liberian President Charles Taylor has said he would step down and take the offer of exile in Nigeria.  Taylor has been indicted by a U.N.-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone.  Taylor has not said when he is willing to step down, but wants the U.S. military there to ensure a peaceful change-over.
  
• All you "Beverly Hillbilly" fans will be saddened to hear that Buddy Ebsen, the loose-limbed Broadway dancer who achieved stardom and riches in the television series has died.   Ebsen and his sister danced through Broadway shows and MGM musicals of the 1930's.  When she retired, Ebsen continued on his own, dancing with Shirley Temple and becoming a dramatic actor.  He had been chosen as the Tin man in the classic "The Wizard of Oz", but fell ill after just ten days of filming due to his allergy to aluminum paint. Buddy Ebsen was 95.
  

• If you're traveling I-94 in northwest Indiana, you may find major backups due to road construction.  IN-DOT says at least two lanes will be open Friday through Sunday.  By all means, avoid drinking then driving this weekend!  
  
• Community groups are taking over the operation of two Bloomington homeless shelters due to financial troubles.  Last month, Shelter, Inc. announced that it would dissolve.  Bloomington leaders say a new organization is needed to take the lead on housing and homeless issues.  In the meantime, Shelter, Inc. is working with other groups to ease the transition.
  
• Later this summer, Democrats will be conducting a straw poll for the Democrats favorite candidate for governor.  One candidate opposes this poll.  Bloomington's Vi Simpson has asked to have her name removed from the ballot for this poll. The poll is an event that allows a person to cast a "vote" for a $20 fee.  Simpson feels the fees are a "poll tax", a tool used in pre-civil rights days to block minorities from voting.  The funds raised will help the election efforts of Democratic mayor candidates.  
  
• A group that raises money for the Conner Prairie Living History Museum is suspending fund-raising activities.  They are concerned about the museum's direction after 27 board members were fired.  Debts of four-and-a-half million dollars and repeated operating deficits were the reasons 27 of the board's 31 members were fired.  
  
• State fees for birth certificates and death certificates are now higher.  To get a copy of a birth certificate, you'll have to dole out ten dollars.  The last time the fees were raised was in 1983.  The State Department of Health Conducts 58 thousand searches for birth and death certificates each year, and fills requests for 40 thousand additional copies of these certificates.
  
• Hoping that everyone has a price, the U.S. government is offering a $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Saddam Hussein or confirmation of his death, in addition to up to $15 million for information leading to his two sons.  Bounty hunters, start your engines!
  
• The U.S. military is being called upon by the United Nations, Liberia, France, and Germany.  The request is being made for the U.S. to lead a peacekeeping mission in the war-ravaged country.  The United States is viewed as the "father" of Liberia, although Liberia was never a U.S. colony.  Civil war has ravaged the country for ten years, with more intense fighting during the past three years.  The military has gotten orders to prepare for deployment to the area, in case the President gives the order.  Currently, President Bush is placing three conditions on aid:  That Charles Taylor, Liberia's warlord-president, cede power as he has promised in the past;  that he surrender on his war crimes indictment from a U.N. special court; and that the warring sides truly cease fire.  The capital of the nation is crowded with one million residents and hundreds of thousands of refugees who are trapped between the rebels and the Atlantic Ocean.
  
• Internet Security Systems Inc., which operates a cyberthreat early-warning network called the Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center, is urging Web-site administrators to review their Web-site security before they head home for the holiday weekend.  ISS's X-Force research group says they've received credible information that hacker groups are scanning Web sites to discover vulnerable systems. But X-Force doesn't expect any major activity until Sunday, when a hacker defacement contest is expected to start.  According to the information, the contest, which is supposed to last six hours,  could produce a rash of Web-site defacements worldwide, with points being awarded based on the type of operating system running the Web site. The recent increase in Web-site scanning activity indicates that hackers are probably breaking into the site before the event and will conduct the actual defacement during the contest.  It is suspected that the contest is being run by hacking groups from Brazil or Hong Kong, since they have been active in web-defacing in the past.  The New York Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination has issued an advisory about the contest and is asking Web-site administrators to take steps to improve security. Among the recommendations:  (1)  Make sure that default passwords are changed.  This should include web servers and any other servers that the web server has a trusted relationship with; (2)  Remove sample applications that aren't being used, such as CGI scripts and Active Serve Pages, from webservers; and (3) Lock down Microsoft Front Page Extensions.  By default, those extensions are installed in a manner that gives every user the ability to author web pages even through proxy servers.  This recommendation also applies to Front Page Extensions installed on Unix platforms;  (4)  Turn web serving logging on.  Logs are essential to determine how a defacement was accomplished so a recurrence can be prevented.  Use of the extended log format is recommended;  (5)  Have a current backup of your web server.  In the event of a defacement, a good backup is essential to quickly restore the server to its original look  (6)  Apply the latest security patches to your web server and underlying operating system after appropriate testing.