July 29, 2005

July 28, 2005

• The Jackson County Public Library's summer reading program Maverick Money Auction will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, August 1st in the American Legion Annex.  All Reading Stampede Mavericks who signed up at Seymour, Crothersville, and Medora libraries and on the Bookmobile and who read at least 100 minutes or more are eligible to participate in the auction.  Participants are encouraged to arrive at the auction at 5:30 p.m. to claim their Maverick Money.  Jon Claycamp is the auctioneer.  Prizes up for bid include:  signed photos from Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, John Mellencamp, George Lopez, Jennifer Lopez and Tony Hawk; signed scripts and photos for the shows Rodney, According to Jim, and Less Than Perfect; an Alias hat, t-shirt and signed photo; Professional Bull Riders signed posters; one free airplane ride provided by Pardieck Aviation; tickets to Holiday World; two cowgirl bracelets courtesy of Country Saddlery; sports equipments; CD case holders; beach towel; Indy 500 cap and t-shirt; Harry Potter DVDs; 2-way communicators; school supplies; locker supplies; a beaded curtain for 13th Floor; an hour live with a Radio 96.3 DJ; and NASCAR decorative items.

• Put this one on your calendar.  Spring Mill State Park will celebrate Pioneer Heritage Days in the village on August 6-7, 9-5 daily.  The event will feature crafts, games, and demonstrations of life in 1863.  Each visit to Spring Mill gives an atmosphere of solitude and the simple life, but life was far from simple!  The pioneers struggled to get through the long, hard winters.  They battled sickness and disease and worked daylight to dusk just to survive.  The little village was settled in 1814 and by 1817 it had a huge limestone gristmill built in the center of the village.  Quite an industrious little settlement, by the the mid 1800s the village had its own doctor, general store, and seveal other businesses surrounding the mill.  A shipyard was built on White River just north of the village for shipment of merchandise to New Orleans.  The railroads bypassed the village and during the Civil War the shipping lines were cut off by the battles fought on the Mississippi and the village began its demise.  This is all part of our heritage and we celebrate and give honor to the strong-willed pioneers who developed this country.  Pick up a brochure at the Gristmill for information on this weekend event.  A gate fee of $4/in-state licensed vehicle or $5/out-of-state licensed vehicle will be charged at the entrance to the park.  For more information contact Spring Mill State Park at 812-849-4129 or email Dwilliams@dnr.state.in.us .

• General Motors Corp. plans to end its highly successful employee-discount pricing program on Monday, a company spokeswoman said. The deal fueled a huge surge in GM sales in June and Ford and Chrysler matched it in July.   The program, which allows customers to buy GM vehicles at the employee price, has been in place since June 1. It was originally scheduled to end July 5 but the company extended it until Monday, and some analysts and dealers had suspected GM would extend the program through Labor Day.  GM spokeswoman Deborah Silverman confirmed Wednesday that the company will end the program Monday. She said the company doesn't plan to announce any other incentive deals on Monday.  The discount boosted GM's sales by 41 percent in June, and the company also is expected to report double-digit sales increases this month when it reports July sales next week. The program was so successful that Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG matched it in July. Ford spokesman Dan Bedore said Wednesday that the company doesn't plan to announce whether it is extending the discount program until Monday, when the current discount expires.

July 27, 2005

• Relief from the heat has arrived!  Today will be cloudy with a 50% chance of thunderstorms, with a high in the mid 70s.  Tonight will be partly cloudy with lows in the upper 50s.Not as warm. Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.  Enjoy it while you can!  The summer isn't over yet!

• The Jackson County Fair continues today with Kids' Day planning to bring a lot of younger ones to the fairgrounds.

• Jackson County Community Theatre's production of "Our Town", the Thornton Wilder classic, will be presented August 5th and 6th and again on August 12th and 13th at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Off-the-Square Theatre in Brownstown.  Tickets may be purchased at Family Drug in Brownstown and at Bevers Family Pharmacy in Seymour.

• A 21 year-old Bedford man is missing and is presumed drowned in Lake Monroe.  According to authorities, he had been tubing in the Lake Tuesday afternoon with three friends and apparently fell off his tube. He was not wearing a life vest.  The search for the body was called off last night because of darkness, but divers expect to resume their search today.  The victim's name has not yet been released, pending notification of family members.

• Focus on the Family Action founder and chairman James Dobson, in regards to President Bush's nomination of U. S. Circuit Court Judge John Roberts says :"President Bush is to be commended for keeping his promise to the American people by selecting such an impartial, accomplished jurist to fill this crucial seat on the high court.  Judge Roberts is an unquestionably qualified attorney and judge with impressive experience in government and the private sector.  He has demonstrated at every stop on his career path the legal acumen, judicial temperament and personal integrity necessary to be a Supreme Court justice. N-S-K Precision America says it will move its corporate headquarters from Illinois to Franklin, Indiana where it currently has a manufacturing facility.  The company says the move will allow it to create high-paying jobs and expand operations.  N-S-K provides motion control solutions for several industries including medical, biotech, food processing, automotive and aerospace

July 26, 2005

• Relief from the oppressive heat is on the way.  There is a 90% chance of rain tonight, and some thunderstorms may be severe with heavy rainfall. Lows will be in the upper 60s.  On occasion storms can cause trees to fall on power lines or other problems bring about electrical outages.  While we are experiencing extreme heat, should you lose power, people with respiratory problems ought to be moved to an area where power is available if possible.  Ice stored in a cooler can help !  Provide cold drinks to help hydrate residents with no power and drinking liquids helps everyone avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
• The U-S Department of Homeland Security has been in Indianapolis training the police trainers.  About 40 officers from across the state spent time at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, learning how to teach officers in their communities how to respond to terrorist attacks.
• Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman was featured in U-S-A Today.  The Republican from Bedford was interviewed in an article about Lieutenant Governors....and how the states' second-in-command take on new responsibilities.
• Indiana needs to pass Jessica's Law.  Our state is soft on convicted sex offenders.  A man wanted in Posey County on child molestation charges is back in Indiana after his capture last week in Daytona, Florida.  Indiana State Police say 35-year old Robert Strader of Poseyville fled the state after being accused of molesting a 12-year old girl.  He was arrested in Daytona on misdemeanor charge.
• What do YOU think?  On Monday Illinois Gov. Blagojevich signed into law a bill that would impose a fine on retailers that sold violent or sexually explicit videogames to minors.  The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, would fine violators up to $1,000 for each mature-rated videogame sold to minors under 18 years old. The bill also requires retailers to label violent and sexually explicit videogames. The Entertainment Software Association has answered the action by suing the state in federal court, claiming that the law violated the constitutional right to free speech. The Video Software Dealers Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association joined the ESA in the complaint.  The ESA, which claimed similar bills were struck down by the courts in St. Louis, Indianapolis and Washington state, said the law would have a "chilling effect on free speech."  "It will limit First Amendment rights not only for Illinois' residents, but for game developers and publishers, and for retailers who won't know what games can and cannot be sold or rented under this vague new statute," Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, said in a statement. "I'm confident the court will affirm our position."  Besides the constitutional questions, the law also substitutes the government's judgment for parental supervision and turns retailers in to surrogate parents, the ESA argued. In addition, the law would treat computer and videogames differently from other constitutionally protected works, such as films, music and books.
• Even the Feds argue about Daylight Saving Time!  If the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) is signed into law in its current form, someone will have to come up with a new mnemonic phrase to replace "spring forward, fall back." Among its various provisions, the bill changes the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST) to the first Sunday in March -- winter rather than spring -- and shifts the end of DST to the last Sunday in November. Currently, DST starts in April and ends in October.  According to the House Committee on Energy and Committee who approved it unanimously, it would provide benefits such as energy savings, less crime, fewer traffic fatalities, more recreation time and increased economic activity.   The American Nursery and Landscape Association is one trade group that supports the extension of DST as a way to increase retail sales, but the Air Transport Association claims the change will disrupt domestic and international airline schedules and give European and Asian carriers an advantage.  The ATA points out that the proposed end of DST would periodically fall on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, causing confusion on one of the busiest travel days each year.  House and Senate versions of the bill have both passed and must now be reconciled before being sent to President Bush for signature. It's possible that the final language of the DST change will be revised based on Congressional deliberations.  Does Congressional legislation ever improve the way things work?
• In the interest of improving highway safety, a proposal has been introduced in the New Jersey legislature to ban smoking while driving.  The American Automobile Association (AAA) sponsored a studya on driver distractions and found that one percent of 32,000 accidents linked to distractions were related to smoking.  Some states, including New Jersey, have considered putting the brakes on smoking while children are in the car, but none have gone for an outright ban on smoking while driving, according to Washington, D.C.-based Action on Smoking and Health, the country's oldest anti-tobacco organization.  Chances are slim for passing the New Jersey proposal.
• A better mousetrap, maybe, but who thought that there was room for improvement in something as basic as toilet paper?  People who have recreation vehicles and homes with septic tanks have been looking for better TP. A company called Potlatch thinks it may have the answer.  The Washington-state based forest products company has come up with a new toilet paper called SepticSure that's designed to dissolve quickly, preventing clogs.  A company spokesman says the paper breaks down within 30 seconds of being flushed. That's important for RVs, boats and septic systems, where the sooner it dissolves, the better.  The company says it still has the feel of higher-end toilet paper, something other dissolvable products can't match. Potlatch hopes to have it on the market within a few months and plans to sell it for under $2.60 for a four-pack..

July 25, 2005

• This is Jackson County Fair week!  Kids Day is Wednesday and that is also Smoke-free Day at Fair.  That means there is to be NO SMOKING ON THE MIDWAY that day.  Come out, have fun, and breathe the clean air!

• Try to hang in there for another couple of days!  We have hopes of cooler temperatures for Wednesday.  But meanwhile, an excessive heat warning remains has been issued for today in most area counties of Indiana.  Afternoon temperatures in the mid 90s combined with dew point temperatures in the mid to upper 70s will produce heat indices around 105 this afternoon.  Persons in the advisory area are advised to avoid prolonged work in sun, or in poorly ventilated areas. Also, keep plenty of liquids on hand and try to stay in an air conditioned environment.  Stop outdoor activities, drink lots of water or other non-alcoholic beverages, wear light colored/light weight clothes, and if possible, spend more time in air conditioned or well ventilated places.

• A news release from the office of Indiana U.S. Senator Evan Bayh urges review of China's bid for Unocal.  Before we allow the Chinese to acquire one of our domestic oil plants the potential transaction should be studied so that our national security or much needed natural resources are not threatened.

• Roger Johnson, our State Fire Marshal is overseeing a mill fire near Prospect, IN.   He says the two to three stories of stacked wood and sawdust that have accumulated for years have kept firefighters from Orange, Martin, Dubois and Lawrence counties working to control the blaze that was spotted early Saturday morning.  The very real threat of heat exhaustion from the protective gear firefighters have to wear, coupled with the blazing heat today will no doubt mean the EMS staff will probably be treating heat related problems.

• Another warning!  A new phishing attack that poses as a message from eBay Inc. is loose on the Web and fooling users with a genuine-looking message. The attack uses an E-mail that appears to come from eBay and says the company needs some information to protect the customer from Internet attacks. If users click on a link, they are taken to a form that asks for personal information, which is captured by the bad guys and could be used for identity theft and other problems.   The messages were first spotted in Israel by security vendor Fortinet Inc., which reported Friday morning that security appliances at its customer sites had recorded 46,000 hits by the phishing wave. Based on the number of attacks and the speed at which they're spreading, Fortinet said this phishing attack ranked in the top 10 of all time. Fortinet said it recorded 12,000 hits in the first two hours after the first one was detected Thursday evening.  "On a scale of 1 to 10 on creativity, this one is high up on fooling users," says Patrick Nolan, virus researcher at Fortinet. "But after the first click, it brings on text looking like any other phishing attack." He thinks the hackers are working hard to spread the attack quickly, because Fortinet usually sees only a couple of thousand phishing messages. "This far surpasses the common mass mailings we see," Nolan says. "The best attacks are the ones that look real, like this one," says Pete Lindstrom, founder and analyst at Spire Security. But the large number of phishing messages being sent out made this attack easier to spot. Lindstrom notes that eBay no longer asks customers to provide information using links within E-mails and instead uses other channels to communicate with the.  The emphasis on making the Web easy to use is helping to fuel the boom in phishing and spyware, he says. "We've decided so far to forego validating sources and building out trusted directories" in favor of easy links that people can just click on.

July 22, 2005

• Don't forget today's Freaky Friday sale hosted by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library  from 9 am to 1 pm on July 22. Weather permitting, the sale will be held outside the main entrance to the Seymour library. In case of rain, the sale will be in the library lobby.  Regular prices will apply, with the exception that every half hour a different genre will be offered at half price. Prizes will be given throughout the sale, and there will be a drawing for two of the library replicas.  Regular prices are $1 for hardcover and large paperbacks, 50 cents for pocket paperbacks, teens and children's books, $2 for videos and CDs, and 50 cents for cassettes.  Also there will be a section of free material, including magazines and old textbooks.  After the sale, the Friends' Book Nook in the lobby will be closed while the library is moving into the completed building and will reopen with the library's open house on Aug. 21.

• Jackson County Public Library customers in Crothersville and Medora can pay overdue fines by donating school supplies August 1 - August 31.  The Seymour Library will collect supplies August 15 - 31 due to the library being closed to move into the newly renovated area. Donations of packaged supplies collected in lieu of fines will be given to the public schools to distribute to students throughout the upcoming school year.  For every dollar owed in fines at the Jackson County Public Library, at least one new packaged item must be donated. For example, if a customer has a $5 fine, at least five new packaged items are needed to erase the fine.  A fine of $5.50 would need at least six new packaged items. Customers must choose from the provided “items needed” list for donations.  Items needed at the various public schools throughout the library district include:  Crayola Colored Pencils; Crayola Crayons; Crayola Markers; Kleenex Tissue; Erasers; Glue Sticks; Highlighters; Pencils; Pens; Scissors; School Glue; Spiral Notebooks; and Three-Ring Binders.  Due to the library’s use of a materials recovery agency, only customers with $14.99 or less in overdue fines will be allowed to participate in the School Supplies for Fines program. The program applies to all library materials but is not available to customers with lost materials.  Customers participating in School Supplies for Fines program will receive a receipt reflecting fines waived by their supply donations.  Donations must be given directly to the library staff at each of the circulation desks to apply.  Bookmobile customers must visit the Seymour, Crothersville or Medora libraries to participate. Individuals without library fines are also encouraged to donate new packaged school supplies at any library location. Containers for donations are located at all library circulation desks.  Anyone with questions concerning School Supplies for Fines can contact the Jackson County Public Library at 522-3412 in Seymour, 793-2927 in Crothersville, or 966-2278 in Medora.

• A bit of political controversy!  The State Democratic Party has asked the Indiana Inspector General to investigate whether Gov. Mitch Daniels violated ethical rules by taking a recreational vehicle donated for his use to a political fundraiser.  The complaint cites a July 20 article in the Evansville Courier & Press describing a political fundraiser for Republican state Rep. Troy Woodruff of Vincennes in which Daniels finished a day of events in southwestern Indiana.  According to the article, people paid $25 per family to get into a Woodruff fish fry at which some shook hands with Daniels and then got aboard RV1 for a tour. During the last legislative session, Woodruff  cast the deciding vote for Daniels' proposal to mandate statewide daylight saving time beginning next spring.  The vote could cost Woodruff in the next election, since he had pledged to constituents that he would never vote for such a proposal.  Oregon-based Monaco Coach Corp., which has plants in Indiana, donated the use of a $175,000 RV as a mobile governor's office for a year, and the Indiana Soybean Board, which promotes the industry, donated free soy biodiesel fuel to keep the RV running.  However, the Democrats claim that Daniels has strictly prohibited state employees from accepting gifts.  Daniels said the RV was not a personal gift, but a donated gift to the state, and therefore state property.  He also said that when using the RV and its free gas, he was saving taxpayer dollars.  Mike Edmondson, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said if people paid to get into the fundraiser and then were allowed to tour RV1, that was political use of state property.  "If in fact he was using state property for political fundraising, either directly or indirectly, that would make it a violation of state ethics laws," he said.  Deputy Inspector General Jeff Gill acknowledged that the office had received the complaint from state Democrats, and officials were required by law to investigate it. He could not comment beyond that.

• A committee of the Louisville Metro Council approved a plan to allow you to buy liquor along with beer and wine on Sunday, and so far there doesn't seem to be any major opposition to the change.  The Council is set to vote on the measure at its next meeting.  If this passes, how will Indiana react?
• Glad not to be swimming with this one!  Weighing in at 1,100 pounds, the tiger shark was the biggest, but it didn't win first place in the shark derby on Martha's Vineyard last weekend.  Why? It seems the boat was six minutes too late returning to the harbor with its catch!.  But the monster shark did win the admiration (and perhaps some envy) from the other fishermen.  A member of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club said it truly was a monster shark.

July 21, 2005

• The Jackson County Public Library's 2005 Reading Stampede summer reading program ends Saturday, July 30. There is no stopping date for registration, so customers ages newborn through adult may still sign up and participate in this years summer reading program.  On Saturday, July 30, the Crothersville Library is open 12:00 pm-5:00 pm. The Medora library is closed on Saturdays; therefore, prizes must be claimed at the Medora Library between 1:00 pm-5:00 pm on Friday, July 29. Due to construction, the Seymour Library will close Monday, July 25 through at least Sunday, August 14. Participants who do not claim prizes by Sunday, July 24 can claim final prizes August 15-19.  All participants must be present with their own reading record sheet to claim their prizes. For more information contact the Seymour Library at 522-3412 ext. 1 or pick up a summer reading program brochure available at
  all library locations.

• In the latest issue of the Indiana School Boards Association magazine eight companies that are staffed with architects and engineers have bought full-page-color ads. You'd never know there was a funding crisis from the hundreds of millions of dollars Indiana has spent and is spending on school buildings and facilities. Of course, the publication claims any cut to the education budget is absolutely unacceptable. Dr. Mary E. Busch is particularly concerned Indiana public schools are being challenged to improve both internally and externally by way of statutory initiatives that induce competition for public schools. Governor Mitch Daniels has lamented that public schools appear to always ask for more money: instead of reducing existing costs, in a manner similar to private industry.

• U. S. manufacturers will be busier through the rest of the year. Rising orders for planes at Boeing, demand for construction machinery spurred by the ongoing housing boom plus the improved production outlook in Detroit will give shop floors a kick. Demand is also on the upswing for chemicals, defense equipment, computers and fabricated metals.

July 20, 2005

• Friends of the Jackson County Public Library are planning a Freaky Friday sidewalk sale from 9 am to 1 pm on July 22. Weather permitting, the sale will be held outside the main entrance to the Seymour library. Should it rain, the sale will be in the library lobby.  Regular prices will apply, with the exception that every half hour a different genre will be offered at half price. Prizes will be given throughout the sale, and there will be a drawing for two of the library replicas.  Regular prices are $1 for hardcover and large paperbacks, 50 cents for pocket paperbacks, teens and childrens books, $2 for videos and CDs, and 50 cents for cassettes.  Also there will be a section of free material, including magazines and old textbooks.  After the sale, the Friends' Book Nook in the lobby will be closed while the library is moving into the completed building and will reopen with the library's open house on Aug. 21.

• U. S. Senator Evan Bayh will have a representative in Mitchell at the Mayor's office on 6th Street from nine to 10:30 the morning of Thursday , July 28th. You are invited to meet with Sandi Stewart, Bayh's Regional Coordinator for southwestern Indiana and discuss your questions with her.

• Hundreds of people applied for more than 600 positions at the new Clarian North Medical Center in Carmel. The health care giant opens its next facility in December and positions will need to be filled for various jobs from emergency room leaders to kitchen and laundry workers. Clarian officials say they are not raiding other facilities....and won't offer signing bonuses. Officials say the good response is due to Clarian's reputation. The facility will have 170 beds, and will cost $250-million

July 19, 2005

• Indianapolis Zoo officials say a pack of 6 stray dogs managed to get into the Zoo early Sunday. (How they got inside is being investigated). The dogs killed nine birds from the Australian Plains Exhibit., including three emus, two black swans, and three magpie geese. Officers shot and killed four dogs, captured one, while the sixth dog managed to escape.

• All terrain vehicles may be fast and fun, but they're also deadly when people get careless. D-N-R Sergeant Dean Shadley says A-T-V accident reports cross his desk all the time where people have been killed or seriously injured. Shadley says A-T-V's are very safe and stable if operated properly, but he says driving them slowly is not why people buy them. He says most people want the thrill of speed and excitement. Shadley says accidents on A-T-V's are preventable, and he encourages all riders to wear helmets---he says it just takes personal responsibility.

July 18, 2005

• As Robin Pfister, age 44 of Monroe County was walking to her car from a garage sale last Friday afternoon, she was struck by a hit and run driver in the 8300 block of South Old Ind. 37 between Harrodsburg and Bloomington. She died at the scene. The driver who allegedly hit her is Kevin Moore 35 of Bedford. Shortly before Robin Pfister was struck, Kevin Moore had been in a strong argument with his wife where they were camping outside the ABATE campground. Witnesses to that confrontation reported to investigators they had seen Moore leaving that camp in a Jeep. He was speeding when he hit Robin Pfister and did not stop. Shortly thereafter, he lost control of the Jeep he was driving, flipped it and abandoned the vehicle. It is believed one of his friends picked him up near Cedar Bluff Road and brought him back to Lawrence County. He admitted to them he might have hit someone. Family members were told he needed to get rid of his clothes, which they burned. the Indiana State Police, Monroe County Sheriff's Department and Lawrence County officers all joined forces that led to his arrest on a preliminary charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death in addition to the charge of battery that involved his wife. Kevin Moore was first taken to the Lawrence County Security Center. He is now being held in the Monroe County Jail.

• F-B-I agents are investigating a death threat sent from a computer at an Evansville library to a San Diego radio station. Investigators say a message sent to the station's web site with the word "kill" in it was traced back to a computer at the Willard Library. Library officials have turned over information on a patron, whose name matches an individual who threatened the San Diego station in the past.

• It makes good sense that when Governor Mitch Daniels needs trustworthy, intelligent people to take on responsibilities in his new administration he would turn to Lt. Governor
  Becky Skillman for affirmation of his choices. Bedford's Steve Adams has been chosen to join those who will help drive the state's newly formed Office of Rural Affirs. He will serve as the office's director of strategic development in Indianapolis. Bedford resident, Dan Bortner has been promoted at the Department of Natural Resources and will assume his duties as the director of Indiana's State Parks and Reservoirs. Dan will be keeping a close eye on how our natural resources are protected in the state park properties and equally important, keeping a keen eye on the fiscal management of those locations.
  A seasonal worker for a Steuben County seed company is recovering after being run over by a deer. Indiana Conservation officers say 53- year old Bonito Deleon was de-tasseling corn when several deer surrounded him and one animal struck him, sending him flying through the air and knocking him unconscious. Deleon was lifelined to a Fort Wayne hospital, where he was examined for internal injuries. He was released a few hours later.

July 15

• It's the season!  The Lawrence County 4-H Fair opens Saturday, and the Jackson County Fair is the week after Lawrence County. 

• Don't forget that Spring Mill State Park will honor Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom this Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17, as they host Grissom Days at the Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom Memorial in the park.  For more information, see July 13th NewsBytes below.

• Secret Service Agents were in Bedford Thursday after a helicopter had flown into restricted air space in Indianapolis.  President Bush was in Indianapolis and with that a 10-mile radius restricted air space zone ws in effect.  An unaware helicopter pilot flew into the area and officials called on the pilot to leave the area.  He landed at Bedford's Grissom Airport where he was questioned.  Interrogators believe the pilot was simply in the restricted area unaware of the situation.  The investigation now goes to the Federal Aviation Administration.

• Last night the Louisville Metro Council tabled discussions of a proposed smoking ban until Aug. 11.  The original proposal would prohibit smoking in restaurants and day-care centers, and a later amendment would expand the ban to include most businesses, workplaces and public buildings. Bars were the main exception.  Some councilmen thought they needed more time to study the issue, and another said he would introduce an alternative proposal next week that would give Louisville businesses the right to allow smoking if they "deem it necessary for survival.  The motion to table the ordinance for 28 days passed 13-11.  Most of the supporters left the meeting outraged.  "The community wants the smoking ban to pass," said Amy Shir. "That's what we depend on a government to do--support the public health."  Louisville would be the third city in Kentucky to pass a ban on most public indoor smoking, joining Lexington and Georgetown, two cities in the heart of Kentucky's tobacco-growing region.  Three other central Kentucky towns--Danville, Nicholasville and Lancaster--have passed smoking bans in city-owned buildings or vehicles, or both.  Louisville is the largest city in the second-leading tobacco-production state.

• Badgers, bobcats, and otters were included on Indiana's first endangered species list in 1969.  State wildlife officials are removing bobcats, badgers and river otters from a list of endangered species after years of population growth among the species. Yesterday, however, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced that the three species have been removed from the list of endangered species and .reclassified as non-game species, still protected from hunters and trappers.   State officials said badgers can now be found in 82 counties in Indiana, and the river otters can be found in 63 counties, with the population is growing.  Bobcats are living in 32 counties.  Wildlife officials are focusing their attention on preserving bald eagles, peregrine falcons and ospreys, Smith said.

• A grand jury has indicted Marina Gill, who had been president of the Seymour Heritage Foundation, on twelve counts of theft, alleging she took nearly $16,700 from the group.  Her attorney reports that she denies the accusations and will plead not guilty.  Prosecuting Attorney Pierson said the indictments returned on Wednesday did not cover all of the foundation's losses, which amount to almost $100,000, but the grand jury decided to stop with twelve indictments.

• The Crawfordsville City Council approved a smoking ban ordinance for the city Monday in a 4-3 vote, but Mayor John Zumer, who was opposed to such an ordinance, has vetoed it.  Zumer said he was against such government regulation on legal products and that people were not forced to work at or visit places that allowed smoking.  The Chamber of Commerce in the city about 40 miles northwest of Indianapolis had backed the tighter restrictions, saying health concerns outweighed arguments for personal and business owners rights.  Hal Utterback, president of the AHEAD Coalition, which pushed for the tighter restrictions said, "We're not saying it's not a personal right to smoke. We're just saying it's not a right to infringe on other people by smoking in a public forum."  Will Mayor Zumer be reelected if he runs again?

July 14

• Have you been to Holiday World yet this summer?  They expanded their facilities for this season, and today they announced plans to add the largest expansion to date to the amusement and water park. estimated to cost $13.5 million.  Part of the project will be a wooden roller coaster called the Voyage as part of its news Thanksgiving-themed section.  The roller coaster will be one of the top three fastest wooden roller coasters in the world, featuring three drops of more than 100 feet, which will give riders a feeling of weightlessness for about 24 seconds during the 1.2 mile ride, and the coaster is expected to have a top speed of 67 mph, as well as taking riders through five underground tunnels.  The new coaster is expected to be ready for riders when the park starts its 2006 season next May. The park's Thanksgiving section will also include a new tilt-a-whirl and restaurant.  Other new attractions for 2006 are to include Bahari River, an action river for the Splashin' Safari water park.  WOW!!!!  And we thought it was fun THIS year!! The park expects a 10 percent increase in attendance and the hiring of 100 seasonal employees, according to the news release.

• Hoosiers can participate in a new Web-based program to find local services and events to help them make healthy choices that improve their quality of life.  Gov. Mitch Daniels announced INShape Indiana on Wednesday at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport.  "Too many Hoosiers are losing years because they do not embrace healthy habits. And health care costs in Indiana are among the highest in the country," Daniels said.  To join INShape Indiana, go to its Web site -- www.inshape.IN .gov -- and answer a brief survey. Registration is free. Every two weeks, participants will receive an e-mail message, asking them for an update.  The Web site also is a clearinghouse for information on programs, activities and events throughout the state related to nutrition, physical activity and smoking cessation.  Those who sign up will be provided a series of incentives, including free access to the Indiana state parks and ice skating at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and discounts on produce at Marsh supermarkets.  For more information, call the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports at (317) 233-7671.

• Tonight the Louisville Metro Council is expected to vote on whether to ban smoking in certain public places. The council has a lot of variations of the ordinance to consider.  The versions on the table include bans in restaurants, day-care centers, workplaces and most public buildings. Mayor Jerry Abramson supports a ban and says he's been calling council members and urging them to approve the smoking ban. "When the medical and business community shows secondhand smoke hurts children and families, we need to make sure there are places they can go where they're being protected," Abramson said.  It will take 14 votes to pass a ban. If it passes, Louisville will be the third Kentucky city with smoking bans. Would YOU support a smoking ban in YOUR city?  There are already many laws restaurants must follow in the name of health.  This would be another way to improve health.  Seventy-five percent of you don't smoke but are subjected to second-hand smoke in many places--even at events held outside.  Think about it!

July 13

• The ABATE Boogie  kicks into gear Thursday and is packed with events thru Sunday.  Everyone should  keep in mind there will be heavy motorcycle traffic throughout the week.

• Spring Mill State Park will honor Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom this Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17, as they host Grissom Days at the Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom Memorial in the park.  Mitchell Mayor Morris "Butch" Chastain will open the ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday with a talk on "A Hometown Hero".  The Stonebelt Stargazers will be on had both days with telescopes available for "solar viewing" and will sponsor a "Taste of Space" where visitors may sample foods available to the astronauts during their flights in space.  The "Star Lab" from BNL High School will also be set up near the memorial.  Steve Grissom will present "The Grissom Story" on Sunday in the auditorium.  Don Mains, NSWC Crane, will be on hand all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon with information on how the work at Crane relates to NASA.  Grissom was one of the seven Mercury astronauts selected by NASA in April 1959.  He piloted the "Liberty Bell 7" spacecraft, a flight that lasted 15 minutes and 37 seconds, attained an altitude of 118 statute miles, and traveled 302 miles downrange from the Cape Kennedy launch pad.  On March 23, 1965, he served as command pilot on the first manned Gemini flight, a 3-orbit mission during which the crew accomplished the first orbital trajectory modifications and the first lifting re-entry of a manned spacecraft.  Subsequent to this assignment he served as backup command pilot for Gemini 6.  Grissom was named to serve as command pilot for the AS-204 mission, the first 3-man Apollo flight.  Lt. Col. Grissom died on January 27, 1967, in the Apollo spacecraft flash fire during a launch pad test at Kennedy Space Center, FL.  For more information on Grissom go to http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/grissom-vi.html  A gate fee of $4.00 per in-state license vehicle or $5.00 per out-of-state license vehicle will be charged at the entrance to the park. For more information on these events please contact Spring Mill State Park at 812-849-4129 or e-mail Dwilliams@dnr.state.in.us .

• Coming up Thursday and Friday, school board members, and superintendents of schools will attend a summer academy in Indianapolis that will educate them on Indiana's public access laws.  The Open door and Access to Public Records Laws have a major impact on the operation of school corporations.  Another topic will focus on permissible religious activities in schools.  Can the school board pray at its meetings?   Can the school board rent its facilities to a religious organization?  A review of recent cases on these and other religious activities in public schools will be presented in a session on Friday.  The agenda is packed with a number of hot topics.

• The Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce and Seymour High School will partner to create a pilot tutoring program to help incoming Freshmen strengthen their math and language arts skills.  The program called Positive Action for Scholastic Success, or PASS, has as its goal at the end of the school year for the class of 2008 to be more well prepared for the state exam required for graduation or course work.  PASS will use citizen tutors one or two hours per week to assist the students with their course work during their study hall.  Other communities have seen great increase in the student achievement through similar programs.  This program will demonstrate to these students that the community is behind them and striving to help them be successful at reaching their goals.  “The school is excited to enter into this partnership with the Chamber for the benefit of the students at Seymour high school.  We welcome the community’s help in reaching our mission to prepare all students for life after high school,” stated Mindy Clay, Assistant Principal.  The PASS project will be assisted by the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce.  “The Chamber’s mission statement says that we are to be supportive of education in our community and this is an excellent way to do that,” said Bill Bailey, Chamber President.  “Our role will be to help the high school identify citizens with the skills and interest in being tutors one or two hours a week.”  Any citizen interested in being a tutor should contact Mindy Clay at Seymour High School (522-4384) or Bill Bailey at the Chamber (522-3681).  Selected tutors will be required to attend a one-day training session and pass a criminal background check.

• Crunch time for the I.U. budgets.  In an effort to help balance their 2005-2006 budgets, Indiana University has cut 35 faculty jobs, imposed hiring freezes and reduced travel for employees.  Of the 35 faculty jobs eliminated, 23 are in the College of Arts and Sciences and 10 are in the School of Education.  Faculty hiring freezes have been imposed in the the Law School and School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a staff hiring freeze is in effect in the Kelley School of Business. Although no professors are being laid off, when some faculty retire or move to other schools their jobs will not be filled.  At the same time, however, the university is spending $22.1 this year on its "commitment-to-excellence" projects, a separate fund of tuition money directed to programs that aim to boost IU's quality and reputation.  When university trustees approved the separate fund, they said the money should not be used to offset other budget problems, but some IU officials now are questioning that decision.  The campus experienced a lower than expected freshman enrollment last year, resulting in lost tuition income, and the Indiana General Assembly cut operating funds for the university.  Tuition and fees for most students will rise 4.9% each of the next two years.

July 12

• Rain is the weather word for today and probably the rest of the week!  Keep in mind that there is an oil slick that has built up on the streets, and adjust your driving accordingly.  The rain could be heavy at times, reducing visibility.
• Planners for this weekend's Boogie ABATE at the Lawrence County Recreational Park in the Springville area expect 15,000 bikers.  Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform on the main stage, however the revelers take pride in being the main entertainment.  The campsites are the stage for nudity, heavy drinking and bizarre happenings.  Last year damaging winds ripped thru the campground and heavy downpours soaked the bikers.  Crews are working to have all their assignments complete by Thursday when the Boogie begins.
• The head of Purdue's Homeland Security Institute says with 29 million people using U-S mass transit, absolute security will be virtually impossible, but Alok Chaturvedi says more attention is needed.  He also says the war against terror is a "cat and mouse game".  He says they adapt to our advances, and we adapt to theirs.  He said they have one advantage:  They can fail numerous times, but only have to succeed once to inflict great damage.  He also says al-qaeda is now a world-wide movement, with independent cells (and he believes the London attack was done by an independent cell).
• The WBIW news room received a publication last week entitled "A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam."  Is it time the Islamic communities come forward and publicly denounce the terrorists, and separate their views clearly from those of Muslims who murder innocent people in their attacks around the world?  As President Bush stated:" the aim of the terrorists is to remake the Middle East in their own grim image of tyranny and oppression by toppling governments, by exporting terror, by forcing free nations to retreat and withdraw."
• Do you waste time at work?  Recently America Online and Salary.com interviewed 10,044 workers in an online survey and found that the average U.S. worker admits to wasting more than two hours a day at work.  The survey found that the wasted time was double what employers expect and costs U.S. companies up to $759 billion a year.  What are the top ten time-wasting activities?  How about surfing the Internet for personal use, socializing with co-workers, conducting personal business, spacing out, running errands off-premises, making personal phone calls, applying for other jobs, planning personal events, arriving lat and leaving early.  The study also found that workers over 55 years old waste an average of just 30 minutes per day.  The Top Ten time-wasting states turned out to be Missouri (3.2 hours/day), Indiana, Kentucky, and Wisconsin (tied at 2.8 hours/day), Nevada, Oklahoma, and Virginia (tied at 2.7 hours/day), Pennsylvania (2.6 hours/day), Connecticut and Idaho (tied at 2.5 hours/day).  It was point out, however, that in some cases, the wasted time might be considered 'creative waste'-- time that may well have a positive impact on the company's culture, work environment, and even business results. Personal Internet use and casual office conversations often turn into new business ideas or suggestions for gaining operating efficiencies.  So maybe the results of the study aren't as bad as they look at first!

July 11

• July entries are now being accepted for the fifth annual LAWN OF THE MONTH program, sponsored by the Beautification Committee of the Seymour Chamber of Commerce.  Judging will take place Friday, July 15 and homeowners or individuals are welcome to nominate a property.  Judging is based on the front lawn appearance and is limited to residential lawns in the city limits or within a two-mile radius of city limits. You can enter a home in the July 2005 “Lawn of the Month” by calling the Chamber office at 522-3681 by July 14 with the name, address and phone number of the home you wish to enter.

• Former hurricane Dennis has moved inland and will be affecting our weather pattern during the week.  Reports are that the storm packs a lot of water and is moving slowly.  While area farmers need rain, that could translate to heavy rain--perhaps more than we want.  As always, a storm like this also can spawn tornadoes along the way, so be prepared and stay aware.

• Should it be God's time--or does the dollar rule?  Some Hoosiers believe the time zone should reflect the path of the sun, that the sun should be almost overhead at noon.  This cannot happen unless Indiana is on Central Standard Time.  Under the state's adherence to Eastern Standard Time, which currently mirrors Central Daylight Saving Time, the sun is overhead in Indianapolis today at 12:50 p.m., according to the U.S. Naval Observatory's astronomical application department.  Under Eastern Daylight Saving Time, which is what most of Indiana will observe next summer unless the time zones are changed, the sun would be over Indianapolis today at 1:50 p.m.  If Indianapolis were on Central Standard Time, the sun would be overhead today just 10 minutes before noon.  Centers of commerce, not the position of the sun, most often determine where the federal government draws time zone lines.  According to Cameron Carter, president of TechPoint, a technology trade association representing about 400 businesses, most in Indiana, said Eastern is the only time zone that makes sense for Indiana.  There is no argument for the Central time zone if you look at economic links, community links and where people do business.  The majority of the state does business and trade with the Eastern time zone."  Will that be the case twenty years from now?  This sure is confusing for sun dials!

• Starting Monday, July 11th, all materials check out from the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour will check out for five weeks.  Due to construction, the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour will close Monday, July 25th, until probably Monday, August 15th.  The library will reopen as soon as the contractor receives a certificate of occupancy and the staff is able to operate the library without harm to the public.  While the library is closed, the staff will move materials and furniture to areas in the original building while contractors install shelving, reupholstered and new furniture, an interactive tree in the children's department, and a final finish to the lobby terrazzo.  The Bookmobile is off the road the week of July 25th to exhibit at the Jackson County Fair, and will resume its regular schedule on August 1st.  The Reading Stampede summer reading program ends July 30th at the Bookmobile and Crothersville and Medora libraries.  Seymour readers unable to claim prizes by July 25th will be able to do that August 15-19 at the Seymour Library.

• President Bush will make an appearance in Indiana this week.  The President will speak Thursday at the Indiana Black Expo"s corporate luncheon and awards presentation.  About 3200 business leaders from across Indiana are expected to attend.  This will be the eighth time the President has been to Indiana since he took office.

• Seven-Eleven's  Slurpee is 40 years old!  In celebration, the company is returning to the past by introducing retro Slurpee cups and flavors--like the "Gully Washer".  They're also going to bring back some of the radio commercials from the 60s.  There will be a free music download given away on all the standard Slurpee cups, as well as four grand prize mini Cooper convertibles, one for each decade.

July 8

• The London Terror bombings prompted Homeland Security to elevate our national mass transit alert system up a notch to level orange.   Understanding that terrorist troops have major headquarters in Canada, and knowing terrorists are being brought across our southern border to cities and rural areas, everyone needs to be cautious and calm.

• This weekend be a tourist in Jackson, Lawrence County, and Brown County.  Visit the state parks.   Save gas money by "vacationing" near home.  The state parks have much to offer, such as the Karst Adventure Tour at Spring Mill State Park on Saturday, July 9th.  If you are interested in going, meet at Spring Mill Inn at 1 p.m. for the tour to the Wesley Chapel Gulf by bus.  The tour will return at 3 p.m.  A Spring Mill Interpretive Naturalist will be on the bus to discuss the karst area.   Bring a flashlight, binoculars, camera, water, insect repellent, and a snack if you wish, and dress for hiking and the changing weather of Southern Indiana.  A gate fee of $4 per in-state licensed vehicle and $5 per out-of-state licensed vehicle will be charged to enter the park.  A minimal fee for the tour of $3/adult and $1/children ages 10-12 years old that must be accompanied by an adult, will be charged at the time of boarding.  The tour is not recommended for children under 10 years of age.  For more information contact Spring Mill State Park at 812-849-4129 or email Dwilliams@dnr.state.in.us

• It will be dry over the weekend, but there are chances of rain next week.  Before any of us complain about the weather here in Indiana, keep in mind that it is 120 degrees in Afghanistan where some of our troops are stationed!

• Scientists said they have found evidence that a three-toed dinosaur roamed through central Alaska about 70 million years ago.  Tracks from the animal were found last month in the Denali National Park.  They were spotted by a student from the University of Alaska Fairbanks who was taking a geology field course. Scientists said that from the size of the track, they estimate the dinosaur was nine to 13 feet long.  They said it's not so much the existence of the tracks that is important. It's the location that has scientists "all excited."  Researchers said this is the first evidence that puts the dinosaur in interior Alaska, far from the coastline where other tracks have been found.

July 7

• While our Eastern Gulf states are getting pounded with heavy rains, we're wilting from lack of showers.  Not a drop of rain is forecast for the next five to six days.

• When the state law was changed to raise the speed limit on some divided highways up to 70 mph drivers were puzzled.  the law was in effect, but the signage hadn't changed.  to be legal, drivers must obey the posted speed limit.  Actually, it will take months for the Indiana Department of Transportation to make the final decisions whether all or just some four-lane divided highways will allow higher speeds.   Hwy 37 will take some complex analysis in decided what the speed limit will be.  The interstates will be considered first.  Jessica Stevens, spokeswoman for the IDT believes it will be August or September before the changes are announced.

• The infertility treatments in Indiana will be under the microscope of Indiana legislators this summer.  During the first meeting of the Health Finance Commission Tuesday, the Committee heard from Eric Meslin--Director of Indiana University's Center for Bioethics.  He says there are dozens of unanswered questions, especially with regard to invitro fertilization.  One of those relates to what happens to the unused embryos.

• In Louisville the Metro Council's Community Affairs Committee on Wednesday gave its approval to a proposed smoking ban ordinance by Councilman George Melton.   While he has proposed a ban on restaurants and day care centers, there are indications that the ordinance could be amended to include all work places in the city. There has also been discussion that bars, which do not serve food, would be excluded.  The full Metro Council in Louisville will decide just what kind of smoking ban if any is needed in the city.  The smoking ban has been the subject of almost two years of debate. Recently, Greater Louisville Inc came out in favor of its passage.  The Council is set to vote on July 14th but it is still not clear if there are enough votes to get the smoking ban approved.  It will happen eventually!

July 6

• Are you fascinated by caves?  Spring Mill State Park will host a Karst Adventure Tour on July 9th.  Meet at Spring Mill Inn at 1 p.m. for the tour to the Wesley Chapel Gulf by bus.  The tour will return at 3 p.m.  A Spring Mill Interpretive Naturalist will be on the bus to discuss the karst area.  Wesley Chapel Gulf is one of the most impressive geological features along the Lost River.  As a surface feature, the gulf is entirely within the St. Genevieve limestone layer.  The Lost River chert, which is near the the base of the St. Genevieve, is exposed in places at or just above the level of the alluviated floor of the gulf.  Get more information at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/wesley_chapel.htm.  Bring a flashlight, binoculars, camera, water, insect repellent, and a snack if you wish, and dress for hiking and the changing weather of Southern Indiana.  A gate fee of $4 per in-state licensed vehicle and $5 per out-of-state licensed vehicle will be charged to enter the park.  A minimal fee for the tour of $3/adult and $1/children ages 10-12 years old that must be accompanied by an adult, will be charged at the time of boarding.  The tour is not recommended for children under 10 years of age.  For more information contact Spring Mill State Park at 812-849-4129 or email Dwilliams@dnr.state.in.us .

• Four members of the Paoli Fire Department were injured Monday night when fireworks exploded during the city's annual display.  Fire Chief Benji Farris says one of the shells exploded prematurely inside a firing tube.  Dutch Parks, Lester Mink, Brian Farris and Mark Jones were all just a few feet away when the incident occurred.  All four were Transported to the hospital for perforated ear drums.  The explosion created a crater four feet wide and 18 inches deep

• Work has begun to create a new two-mile trail at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in northwest Monroe County.  The project has been partly funded by a $50,000 grant from the Cinergy Foundation.  The trail will feature gravel pathways, boardwalks over marshy areas, observation decks, and education kiosks, enabling visitors to observe a variety of ecosystems. Work will continue through the fall and next spring, and fundraising for the project will continue.

• The first magnetic navigation surgery in Indiana was performed in Indianapolis yesterday.  The stereotaxis magnetic navigation system provides doctors with increased precision to navigate catheters and guide wires through arteries and problematic chambers of the heart.

• Ball State students can now specialize in electronic art and animation.  Furthering its reputation as a leader in the creation of digital content, Ball State University now offers a bachelor's of fine arts degree with specialties in electronic art and animation.  Jim Fillwalk, associate professor of electronic art says the new specialty area, the first of its kind in Indiana, will provide students with a comprehensive digital media arts experience.  Students will not only be able to expound upon their creativity, but they will also attain high-level digital content skills that are in great demand in ever-growing industries that use 3-D animation such as cinema, games, interactive media, television and the Internet.

• During the General Synod meeting of the United Church of Christ, in Atlanta, the denomination passed a resolution   endorsing same-sex marriage.  The UCC is the largest Christian denomination to make that move.  Once a thriving, growing church, the denomination has been experiencing dwindling numbers, and is controlled by a liberal clergy.

• It's official!  Although most thought Paris would be the top choice, the 2012 Summer Olympics are heading to London.  Madrid, New York, and Moscow were also vying to host the games.  London last hosted the games in 1948.

July 5

• Jackson County Community Theatre will present Thornton Wilder’s "Our Town," August 5, 6, 12, and 13, at 7:30 PM in the Royal Off-the-Square Theatre in Brownstown.  The play is a classic in American drama. Its simplicity and age-old themes of family and community give it relevance in every generation. It is also a JCCT classic, having been presented twice in the past. "Our Town" was first staged at Brownstown Presbyterian Church, directed by A.R. "Slim" Callis, in 1971, under the sponsorship of the fledgling community theatre group. The second production of "Our Town" was in 1976, on the stage of the Royal Off-the-Square Theatre, again directed by Callis.  The stage manager, played by Joe Persinger, introduces the audience to the town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. He takes the audience into the homes of the Gibbs and Webb families, where the mothers are calling their children to breakfast in preparation for a day at school. We meet the paper boy; the milkman; the town doctor, Dr. Gibbs; and the editor of the newspaper, Mr. Webb. >From these people we learn much about life in the community. In the second act, romance blossoms between George Gibbs and Emily Webb, played by Aaron Coomer and Kayla Gill. Their wedding brings pre-nuptial jitters to the bride and groom and happiness to their families. The third act finds us, years later, on a windy hilltop listening to the wisdom of folks "residing" in the cemetery as they and the audience witness a funeral procession. They poignantly remind us that while our lives are preoccupied with petty day-to-day worries, we cannot know true joy or happiness; that we must try to be truly aware of life each moment we are alive.  The show is directed by Joel McGill. Producer is Sarah McGill. Suzanne Jones is production assistant. Other cast members include: Kathleen Baute as Mrs. Webb; Katie Gilbert as Mrs. Gibbs; Ryan Redmon as Mr. Webb; Tim Coomer as Dr. Gibbs; Will Hughes as Joe Crowell, the paper boy; Rick James as Howie Newsome, the milkman; Sarah Onken as Rebecca Gibbs; Seth Onken as Wally Webb; Malcolm Mann as Simon Stimson, the town drunk; Linda Fike as Mrs. Soames, the town gossip; Fred Lewis as Constable Warren; Ben Coomer as Si Crowell, the next paper boy; John Lewis as Sam Craig; Jack Spurgeon as Joe Stoddard, the funeral director. Colton Wright and Clayton Fowler play George’s baseball friends. Billy Day will play the part of Professor Willard.  Other townspeople and choir members are played by Jacque James, Missy Curry, Rebecca Curry, Suzanne Jones, Lauren Townsend, Joan Hines, John McKinney, Terry Townsend, and Emily Davidson. Tony Wright is light and sound technician, assisted by Darren Curry. Sarah McGill and Missy Curry are responsible for make-up, and Rebecca Curry is in charge of the program. Dean Blackwell, a New England native, is providing help with accents.  Tickets are on sale at Family Drug in Brownstown and Bevers Family Pharmacy in Seymour. All seats are reserved.

• An Indianapolis motorcyclist died Sunday in a crash on I-65.  Thomas Briggs, 55, was headed north on his motorcycle in northeastern Jackson County. About 4:20 p.m., he tried to exit the interstate a few miles north of Rockford and lost control of his bike.  The motorcycle flipped into the air and crashed into an embankment, a witness told police.  Police said Briggs was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

• The Indiana State Police have joined an effort to bridge the gap between the Amber Alert children and those who may have just wandered off or run away.  The program, called "A Child Is Missing," gets the word out through prerecorded messages phoned to homes and businesses in communities near the child's home. To use the system, there need be no sign of abduction, nor does it require -- as does the Amber Alert -- that the child be in danger of serious injury or death.  One advantage of A Child Is Missing is that it focuses on areas where the child is most likely to be.

• Listen up, parents!!!  Heed this warning.  The results of three recent separate studies examining the impact of television on kids indicate that too much TV could reduce your chances of getting a college degree.  The results appear in this month's issue of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.  One of the studies involved about 400 children in California. It found that those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language tests than children without TVs in their rooms.  The studies took into account factors that might have influenced the outcome, such as household income.  Previous research has linked television exposure in young children with attention problems and difficulty learning to read.  Don't use your television as a babysitter--It IS hazardous to your child's development!!!
• This is an interesting bit of information.  Servicemen and women in Iraq and those that visit Iraq return to the U.S. greatly encouraged:  once they hear our media's take on what's going on over there they quickly become discouraged.  They come to the conclusion we have a dishonest press.

July 3

Iwo Jima memorial.

This memorial in Arlington, VA, is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history -- that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, during WW II.  "Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps. ... Boys won the battle of Iwo Jima. Boys.  Not old men.  (James Bradley, author of "Flags of Our Fathers", whose father was one of the six flagraisers on Iwo Jima).  Throughout our history there have been many battles fought in the air, on land, and on sea to help secure our freedom as well as to help others know freedom.

We need to remember that God created this vast and glorious world for us to live in, freely, but also at great sacrifice.  Let us never forget from the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terrorism and all the wars in-between that sacrifice was made for our freedom.   Remember to pray praises for this great country of ours and also pray for those still in murderous unrest around the world. STOP and thank God for being alive and being free at someone else's sacrifice.
REMINDER: Everyday that you can wake up free, it's going to be a great day.

God Bless.

Excerpts from an email received by Seymour On-Line

July 1

• July Fourth Weekend is upon us, and there are several activities planned in the area.  Seymour will have the annual fireworks display at the Freeman Field Sports Complex at dusk Monday evening.  Appropriately, the show will have a patriotic theme with music provided by WJAA.  Shields Park Bandstand will be the site for Music in the Park from noon till 3 p.m. on Monday.  There will also be half price admission to the Shields Park Pool on Monday.

• Other area activities are the Lawrence County Limestone Heritage Festival, which starts today with the Rotary Fish Fry at the Thornton Park Pavilion.  If you are into parades, the LHF parade will start Monday in downtown Bedford with a flyover provided by four F-16 Fighting Falcons.  Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman is the Grand Marshal of the parade this year.  The fireworks and program will be Monday evening at the Parkview track..

• Spring Mill State Park has a lot to offer!  July 1-4 from 9-5 daily the Pioneer Village will be celebrating Independence Day weekend with a variety of hands-on crafts, flag ceremonies, fun and games for the whole family.  July 2nd at 9 a.m. will be the Kids' Parade at the amphitheater in the campground.  Kids can decorate their bikes, trikes, wagons, strollers, pets, etc. in red/white/blue and join in the parade.  What kind of sports did the people of Indiana enjoy during their Fourth of July celebrations before the Civil War--a time when there was no football, basketball, or even modern baseball?  It was most likely the old English game of criket!  On July 4th, visitors will have an opportunity to actually play an informal 19th century cricket game.  Friends of the Mill and Root's RV will sponsor an American cricket player and historian, Tom Melville from Milwaukee, WI, to conduct hands-on cricket games throughout the day near the flagpole in the Pioneer Village.  The games are open to everyone and absolutely no experience is necessary.  Come and discover what "take me out to the ballgame" would have meant to the people of Indiana 150 years ago!  There is no charge for the event, although a gate fee for entrance into the part will be $4/in-state licensed vehicle or $5/out-of-state vehicle.  For more information contact the park office at 812-849-4129 or email Dwilliams@dnr.state.in.us.

• July 1st, and we have new state laws that become effective today.  However, don't jump the gun on the higher speed limits that will be allowed on rural sections of Indiana’s interstates and divided, four-lane highways.  Wait to see the sign posted or you may receive a ticket!  The new speed limits won’t be official until Indiana Department of Transportation posts signs stating the new limits, and that won’t begin until Tuesday and could last throughout the summer.  Sgt. Robert Hedger, public information officer for the Seymour district of the Indiana State Police, said the new speed limit law means "no tolerance".

• Some  key appointments to state legislative summer study committees have been made.  Bedford's State Senator Brent Steele will chair the interim study committee on motor vehicle issues.  The panel was created by the Legislative Council in response to questions raised after the Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced two dozen license branch closings.  Senator Tom Wyss will chair the interim study committee on Public Security and Regulatory matters.  This committee will study several issues including Homeland Security and Identification issues.

• The people of Connersville and Fayette County are anxiously awaiting word from their Visteon plant's contract negotiations.  The contract expired yesterday.  The Connersville plant, which makes climate control systems , employs nearly 15-hundred people.  Bill Konyha, Executive Director of the Economic Development group in Fayette County, says it's his fervent hope that if an agreement is not reached the workers will remain on the job while bargaining continues.  Konyha says the company pays nearly 19-percent of the county's property taxes.  If the plant closed he says there would either be drastic tax increases or cuts in services.