New jobless claims again on the increase

Spor

ts Vikings will move on without Favre

Page 6

Local/AreaObituaries. . . . . . . . . 3Police Notebook . . .3

OpinionAngelkeep . . . . . . . .4

Also...Sports. . . . . . . . . . 6-7Classifieds . . . . 10-11Diversions . . . . . . .12

Are

aSt

ate A success story

from St. Jude’sPage 8

Page 14

THURSDAYJuly 30, 2009

Bluffton, Indiana www.news-banner.com 50¢

News-BannerTheVol. 80 No. 228

WeatherToday: Mostly cloudy,

with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thun-derstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Today Friday Saturday

High 83 High 81 High 83

Low 62 Low 58 Low 62

Quick Takes

Inside

How to contact us: Call us: 824-0224

or 1-800-579-7476

Fax us: 824-0700email@news-banner.com

On the Web:

www.news-banner.comFollow us at:

twitter.com/newsbanner

Wells County’s Hometown ConnectionWells County’s Hometown Connection

By DAVE SCHULTZBluffton Mayor Ted Ellis has

decided to pull the plug on the truck auction.

Ellis said Wednesday that he had sent letters to the 13 individuals that have submitted sealed bids for the 1987 pickup truck the city is attempt-ing to sell, saying that next Tuesday would be the last day the city would accept bids for the truck. The high-est bid received at the start of the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety meeting next Tuesday would

win the auction.“The bidding has gone on for

weeks and only minimal increases have been received the past few weeks,” Ellis told the bidders. “The high bidder at 1 p.m. on Aug. 4 will be the winner.”

The truck is not in good shape. The first bid on the vehicle, on May 26, was a mere $100. After 10 weeks of opening bids, the high bid on the truck is $556.

The city began its vehicle auc-tion with five vehicles. The two

used police cars were the first to go, to out-of-state dealerships. A utility truck and a 1940 dump truck have also since been sold, leaving just the Dodge Dakota with a myriad of mechanical problems still to sell.

And Ellis wants it gone — even though it might cost Bluffton a spot in the record books.

“We might have been able to get in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest municipal auction,” he said Wednesday.

daves@news-banner.com

Truck auction ends Tuesday

No problemUnder the watchful eye of Bluffton Police Officer Geoff Gilbert, right, Bluffton Boot Camp participant Drew Rockwell had no problem facing down a frontal attack from Bluffton Deputy Chief Nathan Huss during “Red Man” training at the Wells County 4-H fairgrounds. The Boot Camp concludes Friday. (Photo by Jerry Battiste)

Democrats’ deal advance health care reformWASHINGTON (AP) — Con-

gressional Democrats are deter-mined to show progress on a health care overhaul by pushing President Barack Obama’s top domestic prior-ity through two critically important committees before they head home for their August break.

They’re closer, but they’re not there yet.

Democratic leaders in the House won agreement from conservatives on the Energy and Commerce Com-mittee that would allow that panel to start voting on legislation as early as Thursday. In the Senate, negotia-tors on the Finance Committee say they are nearer to a bipartisan com-promise that has eluded them for weeks.

The Finance panel and the Ener-gy and Commerce panel are seen as pivotal tests of prospects for the legislation because they reflect the broader composition of the Senate and the House. Three other com-mittees that have already passed versions of the legislation are domi-nated by Democratic liberals.

The earliest that floor votes could

occur would be in September.The House bill and the plan

under negotiation in the Senate are designed to meet Obama’s goals of spreading health coverage to mil-lions who now lack it, while trying to slow the skyrocketing growth in medical costs. As recently as two weeks ago, Obama was pressing the

Changing rules on licensingBennett wants to make it easier to be a teacher — or a superintendent

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A state licensing board put the brakes on state Superintendent Tony Bennett’s plan to revamp teacher licensing rules Wednesday after some com-plained the changes would down-play the importance of learning how to teach.

Bennett wants to eliminate some requirements for teacher licensing and says the process should ensure potential teachers have a deep understanding of the subject they will teach. He said current require-ments focus too much attention on teaching methods.

“We need folks who understand rigorous content,” Bennett said.

Under the proposed changes, elementary education majors would take no more than 30 college cred-it hours in teaching methods and would have to have a minor in a content subject area such as science, math or English. It’s unclear how the limit on credit hours would work, and members of the Professional Standards Advisory Board said they wanted to clarify that and other issues before voting on whether to move forward with the changes.

The proposed rules also would allow anyone with a bachelor’s degree to become a teacher if they pass a test from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excel-lence. Currently only seven states allow teachers to be licensed with that online program, according to the group’s Web site.

Opponents of some of the chang-es said future teachers need to under-stand teaching methods, not just be brilliant in their respective fields.

“How you teach does make a big difference,” board member George Van Horn said. “The ’how’ is criti-cal.”

Bennett also wants to allow anyone with a master’s degree to become a district superintendent if they pass a school leader’s license test and get state approval.

Bennett said school districts need the flexibility to hire people from outside traditional education chan-nels. The change would give local school boards more options, he said. If a board wanted to hire someone with a traditional educational back-ground, they could do so, but if they needed an acute business manager to handle district financial problems, they could choose someone from outside the education field.

Opponents said not anyone can become a superintendent.

Stephen McColley, the super-intendent of Wes-Del Community Schools in Delaware County, said he was a teacher before becoming a bank executive and later a superin-tendent. His experience in business helped him understand the financial side of running a school district, but that was just a small portion of his job, he said.

Nigerian violence increasesHoran: Violence hasn’t altered Extension plans

By FRANK SHANLYRecent fighting in the northeast region of Nigeria will

apparently have no impact on Bill Horan’s plans to visit the country next month.

At least, that is the current situation.Horan. the Purdue Extension educator for agriculture

in Wells County, said Thursday morning that reports from the Reuters news agency shows that fighting has been more isolated than some reports from Nigeria have indicated.

Horan will be leaving for Nige-ria soon; the mission he is involved with is scheduled for Aug. 6-21. His itinerary puts him in the central and western part of Nigeria; the fighting is in the far northeast section of the country.

Horan also noted that although members of his group will be going closer to the area of the fighting than the region to which he has been assigned, they will still be working in larger cities, rather than remote rural areas, where there is a greater danger.

“At this point, it isn’t going to affect our plans.” advised Horan.

Horan will be flying to Nigeria to help local farmers

Bill Horan

Vaccine priorities: Pregnant women, health workers, kids ATLANTA (AP) — Pregnant

women, health care workers and children six months and older should be placed at the front of the line for swine flu vaccinations this fall, a government panel recommended Wednesday.

The panel also said those first vaccinated should include parents and other caregivers of infants;

non-elderly adults who have high-risk medical conditions; and young adults ages 19 to 24.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to set vaccination priorities for those groups Wednesday during a meet-ing in Atlanta. The panel’s recom-mendations are usually adopted by federal health officials.

The recommendations are designed to address potential lim-its in vaccine availability this fall if there is heavy demand and limited supplies.

The government estimates that about 120 million swine flu vaccine doses will be available to the public by late October. Roughly 160 mil-lion people are in the priority groups

considered most vulnerable to infec-tion or most at risk for severe dis-ease.

Although the number recom-mended to get doses exceeds the projected supply, health officials don’t think everyone will run out and get vaccinated. Traditionally, less than half of the people recom-

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Soldiers in tanks and armored cars besieged the shelled compound of a radical Islamist sect and sporadic gunfire explod-ed as hundreds of innocents fled on the third day of fighting in Nigeria’s northern city of Maiduguri.

Relief official Apollus Jediel said about 1,000 people had abandoned their homes Wednesday, join-ing 3,000 displaced this week in four states caught up in the violence.

It is not known how many scores of people have been killed. Police say most of the dead are militants, from a group that wants to impose Taliban-style rule across this multi-religious country of 140 million. Dozens of people have been arrested.

Reporters on the ground say the trou-ble started with mili-tants attacking a police station in Bauchi state Sun-day. Then they attacked police in Kano, Yobe and Borno, of which Maiduguri is the capital.

But President Umaru Yar’Adua disputed that, saying troops struck first.

“The situation is under control,” Yar’Adua saidBut people around Maiduguri railway station

area, a stronghold of the sect, said they were kept up all night by running gunbattles.

APURCE: ESRI

Abuja

NIGERIA

NIGER

CAM.tlantic Ocean

BORNO

BAUCHI

KANOMaiduguri

Nigerian army attacked Islamist mosque, scores killed

200 mi

200 km

Follow-up to ‘Tea Party’ is Monday

A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Courthouse Annex building to follow up on the July 4 Tea Party held on the Court-house plaza.

Steve Huffman, who organized the July 4 event, says the meeting will be a “Call to Action” for “ all who believe the Constitution of the United States is the law of the land and should be upheld.”

The goal of the session, Huffman said, is “to create a mission statement, leader-ship roles, and actions for a local organization with the purpose of helping to assure that our constitutional rights are protected by our govern-mental officials.”

The event is bi-partisan, Huffman emphasizes. For more information, call him at 824-2333.

Drainage Board sets closed session

The Wells County Drain-age Board will meet in exec-utive session at 7:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 3.

The board will meet to discuss pending litigation.

The regular “first Monday of the month” meeting of the board will begin at 8 a.m. at the Wells County Carnegie Annex on West Washington Street.

(Continued on Page 2)

(Continued on Page 2)(Continued on Page 2)

(Continued on Page 2)

All New! All New! NEW Check out the NEW Community Calendar at the NEWWhat’s UP Wells County blog @ www.news-banner.comWhat’s UP Wells County blog @ www.news-banner.com

Submit your items at <calendar@news-banner.com>

LO CA L / A R E APage 2 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

Vaccine

Health

Horan

Licensing

RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED

824-1111229 W. Market St. • Bluffton

COUPON

SSidewalk Days SPECIALSidewalk Days SPECIALJULY 30 & AUGUST 1 • (11 am-5 pm)

$599

Tuesdays Tuesdays TuesdaysKIDS under 10 eat

FREE*(1 Free meal perpd. adult meal)

Daily

10% Off10% Off

MENU ITEMS*

*Excluding Lunch Special& Fish Fry

reg.price

FISH FRYEVERY Night

$9.99$9.99$9.99 All you

care to

Eat!

House and Senate to pass separate bills by the end of July or early August. After Republicans and moderate Democrats objected to the rush, the president said he’d settle for just progress.

Wednesday in the House, Democratic leaders gave in — at least temporarily — to numerous demands from rank-and-file rebels from the conservative wing of the party. The so-called Blue Dog Democrats had been blocking the bill’s passage in Energy and Commerce.

The House changes, which drew immediate opposition from liberal law-makers, would steer away from using Medicare as the blueprint for a proposed gov-ernment insurance option, reduce federal subsidies to help lower-income families afford coverage, and exempt additional businesses from a requirement to offer health insurance to their workers.

Bipartisan Senate nego-tiators reported progress on legislation that aims to cover 95 percent of Americans without raising federal defi-cits.

“We’re on the edge, we’re almost there,” said Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republi-can involved in the secre-tive talks, although a fellow GOP participant, Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming, dissented strongly.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, said prel iminary est imates from congressional budget experts showed the cost of the emerging Senate plan was below $900 billion and would result in an increase in employer-sponsored insurance — conclusions that may reassure critics who fear a bloated bill that prompts businesses to aban-don the coverage they cur-rently provide.

Congressional officials said Baucus was able to get the cost under $1 trillion because his bill includes only the cost of the first year of a 10-year, $245 billion program to increase doctor fees under Medicare. House Democrats used a similar sleight of hand, excluding the entire $245 billion when claiming their measure wouldn’t add to the deficit.

The White House praised the developments in the House. At appearances in North Carolina and Virginia, the president sought to mini-mize the significance of the slippage in his timetable.

“We did give them a deadline, and sort of we missed that deadline. But that’s OK,” Obama said. “We don’t want to just do it quickly, we want to do it right.”

Campaigning for the health care overhaul, Obama stressed that any legislation he signs will include numer-ous consumer protections, including a ban on insurance company denials of cover-age based on pre-existing medical conditions. A White House fact sheet left room

for insurers to continue charging higher premiums based on prior health prob-lems.

Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas, a leader of the Blue Dogs, said the changes agreed to by the leadership in the House bill would cut its cost by about $100 billion over 10 years.

The House deal was worked out over hours of talks that involved not only Democratic leaders but also White House officials eager to advance the bill. Senior congressional aides cast it as a temporary accommoda-tion, saying leaders had not committed to support it once the bill advances to the floor of the House in the fall.

As word of the agree-ment spread, liberals fired back. “We do not support this,” said Rep. Lynn Wool-sey, D-Calif., co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. “I think they have no idea how many people are against this. They can’t possibly be taking us seriously if they’re going to bring this forward.”

Plans to convene the Energy and Commerce Committee for a vote slipped until Thursday as leaders sought to allay concerns of liberals.

“We just need to get everybody on board,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., who chairs the panel’s sub-committee on health.

In the Senate, the pace of negotiations appears to have accelerated in recent days, with lawmakers all but set-tling on a tax on high-cost insurance plans to help pay for the bill, as well as a new mechanism designed to cur-tail the growth of Medicare over the next 10 years and beyond.

More problematic from the point of view of most Democrats is a tentative agreement to omit a provi-sion in which the govern-ment would sell insurance in competition with private industry. In its place, the group is expected to rec-ommend nonprofit coop-eratives that could operate at the state, regional or even national level.

Nor is any bipartisan recommendation likely to include a requirement for large businesses to offer insurance to their workers. Instead, they would have a choice between offering coverage or paying a portion of any government subsidy that noninsured employees would receive.

Like the House bill, the bipartisan proposal under discussion would expand eligibility for Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

It provides for federal subsidies for individuals and families up to 300 percent of poverty, less than the 400 percent in the House mea-sure.

Even if the negotiations succeed before the Senate’s vacation, which starts next week, it isn’t clear when the Finance Committee would vote.

(Continued from Page 1)

“Can I be a brain surgeon because I want to be a brain surgeon? No,” McColley said. “School superinten-dents must be educational leaders, not a business per-son who looks at the bottom line.”

Several board members complained they had little time to read and review the proposed changes. Some said they got the extensive proposals 4 p.m. Tuesday, and a revised copy was given to them shortly before

the meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Pat Mapes, director of the Office of Educator Licens-ing & Development, sug-gested the board meet again later to discuss the proposed changes and tweak them before voting on whether to advance them. The chang-es are subject to approval by the board, the Office of Management and Budget, the attorney general and the governor. If the proposals are approved, they would take effect next July.

(Continued from Page 1)

develop and grow crops as part of a Purdue program to help Nigerian farmers store cowpeas — the nation’s No. 1 crop. Cowpeas, however, are subject to insect infes-tation, and a system devel-oped by Purdue agricultural

researchers can help protect the crop.

Horan and three other Purdue Extension educators from Indiana will serve on a “train the trainer” basis, showing Nigerians how to use the crop storage system.

frank@news-banner.com

(Continued from Page 1)

mended to get seasonal flu shots get them. Only about 15 percent of pregnant women get seasonal flu vac-cinations.

If there is ample vaccine, vaccinations also would be recommended for all non-elderly adults, the panel also voted. And if there’s still plenty of vaccine, the swine flu shots and spray doses should be offered to people 65 and older. Fewer illnesses have been reported in the elderly, who appear to have higher levels of immunity to the virus, health experts say.

However, the elderly should be pushed to get shots against seasonal flu, which is a significant health risk to older adults.

Panel members say they hope swine flu vaccinations will be opened up quickly. “The only sin is vaccine left in the refrigerator,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Van-derbilt University flu expert, in a comment to the panel.

The panel also said if vaccine is scarce, the gov-ernment could require that a much tighter group be at the front of the vaccination line, numbering about 40 million. That would include preg-nant women and household contacts of small children, just like in the general pri-ority recommendation. But the others would be children ages 6 months through 4 years, children with chronic medical conditions and only health care and emergency services workers who have direct contact with patients.

It’s a worst-case scenario that officials aren’t expect-ing, but they wanted to have a plan for it just in case, said officials with the U.S. Cen-

ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal agen-cy that reviews the panel’s recommendations.

The range of recommen-dations reflects how hard it is to plan for swine flu, officials said. Some health officials have compared the exercise to predicting a hur-ricane. The storm — or virus — is itself unpredictable; it could grow more danger-ous or suddenly weaken. The availability of lifesaving supplies or vaccine can also affect survival.

“It’s better to prepare and have the storm fizzle than to be sitting there with no way off the island when the tsu-nami rolls in,” said Kristine Sheedy, a CDC communica-tions specialist.

Variables with the swine flu virus can range from whether it mutates into a form that is more deadly, spreads more efficiently, or is better at fighting off cur-rent antiviral medications.

Variables with the vaccine include potential production problems. Production of the vaccine will be a prodigious feat: The government has already purchased 195 mil-lion doses for the coming fall and winter, which far eclipses the 125 million or so doses generally produced for seasonal flu vaccine.

Four vaccine manufac-turers are wrapping up sea-sonal flu vaccine production and have begun production of swine flu vaccine. But

another company, Sanofi Pasteur, has been more delayed and may not finish seasonal vaccine production until September, a company spokeswoman said. Sanofi is among the largest produc-ers of flu vaccine, so those delays could have a signifi-cant ripple effect.

Packaging, distribution and other steps can take a month or more. For those reasons, the government’s best guess at the moment is 40 million doses will be available in September and 120 million by around mid-October.

Health officials are push-ing for the work to done quickly. There are also clinical trials taking place over the next few months to check the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, but it’s possible the government will begin a public vaccination campaign before that work is complete, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, who oversees the CDC’s flu vaccination pro-grams.

Why the rush? Vaccines work when given to a patient before they’re exposed to the vaccine-targeting virus, and

cases may explode not long after kids get back in school, CDC officials said.

Another reason for not waiting for testing data: Health officials are thinking of the swine flu vaccine as a variation of seasonal flu vac-cine, which comes out annu-ally and does not undergo the kind of safety and effective-ness testing that new drugs and other new vaccines do.

First identified in April, swine flu has likely infected more than 1 million Ameri-cans, the CDC believes, with many of those suffering mild cases never reported. There have been 302 deaths and nearly 44,000 laboratory-identified cases, according to CDC numbers released last week.

It’s not clear whether the virus in its current form is much worse than seasonal flu in terms of overall threat to the U.S. population, but it is causing more severe ill-ness in some younger adults and children. It has a dan-gerous genetic characteristic that allows it to infect the lower lungs, whereas sea-sonal flu tends to infect the upper respiratory tract.

(Continued from Page 1)

Macy Services Loader Work

& Grading

(260) 602-2309

ALL-YOU-CAN-EATFish or Shrimp Dinner ..........$9.95American Legion Post III

111 W. Washington Street • Bluffton • 824-3815 for carryout

Fish or Shrimp Baskets $6.95EveryEveryEveryFr idayFr idayFr iday5-8 p.m.

Includesfountain drink

Includesfountain drink

DAILY

N.Y. Strip Steaks $11.95IncludesBaked Potato

& Salad

Surfing the Web?

Make Us Your Home Page!

-Search Engines -Constant Time & Temp-Updated Local News & Information

www.news-banner.com

Internet Services Provided by

Sotomayor debate turns bitterWASHINGTON (AP) — The Sen-

ate debate over Supreme Court nomi-nee Sonia Sotomayor turned bitter Wednesday, after Democrats warned the GOP it would pay a steep price for opposing the judge who would be the first Hispanic justice, and a top Republican charged they were playing destructive racial politics.

Majority Leader Harry Reid implored Republicans Wednesday to join Democrats in voting to confirm Sotomayor next week, warning that GOP opposition would bring the same sort of public backlash that followed the party’s spirited opposition to mea-sures that would have given some ille-gal immigrants a chance to gain legal status.

“I just think that their voting against this good woman is going to treat them about the same way that they got treat-ed as a result of their votes on immi-gration,” said Reid, D-Nev.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the head of his party’s Senate campaign committee and a Sotomayor opponent, shot back that Reid and other Demo-crats were trying to exploit the nomi-nation and “giving cover to groups and individuals to nurture racial grievances for political advantage.”

“I don’t think it influences people’s votes, but what it does encourage is a very poisonous — indeed a very toxic — tone of destructive politics,” Cornyn told The Associated Press. “They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

Reid’s comments and the heated response they drew highlight the incen-diary political dynamics surrounding next week’s vote to confirm President Barack Obama’s first high court nomi-nee, the daughter of Puerto Rican par-ents who was raised in a South Bronx housing project and educated in the Ivy League before spending 17 years on the federal bench. There is little doubt that Sotomayor, 55, will be confirmed with majority Democrats backing her solidly and a handful of Republicans joining them.

But the debate over her nomination has raised tricky questions of identity politics for both parties. Republicans are torn between a desire to please their conservative base by opposing Sotomayor and a concern that doing so could bring a Hispanic backlash. The dilemma is particularly vexing for sen-ators from states like Cornyn’s where more than one third of the population is Latino.

Democrats, too, risk inviting pub-lic ire if they are seen to be using Sotomayor’s race as a cudgel against Republicans rather than promoting her based on qualifications and record — particularly in the age of Obama’s “post-racial” politics.

The decision on how to vote on her confirmation was made more dif-ficult in recent days for some Repub-licans and Democrats from conserva-tive-leaning battleground states after the National Rifle Association, which has a loyal and politically active base of members, announced that a vote to confirm Sotomayor would count against senators in the group’s annual candidate ratings. The NRA calls Soto-mayor “hostile” to the Second Amend-ment right to keep and bear arms.

Since the NRA’s threat, no Repub-lican or conservative Democrat has come out to support Sotomayor .

Three Republicans, Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, announced Wednesday that they planned to vote “no.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the Judi-ciary Committee chairman, said he was “disappointed” that more Republi-cans hadn’t sided with him in support of Obama’s nominee. His panel’s vote Tuesday to send Sotomayor’s nomina-tion to the full Senate was nearly along party lines, with just one Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Caroli-na, breaking with the party to back her.

Reid and Leahy appeared at a Capi-tol Hill news conference with a crowd of activists representing civil rights,

Hispanic and women’s groups, among others who are enthusiastically back-ing Sotomayor.

“She knows the law. She knows how to apply the law. She understands the role of a judge. She understands the role of the courts. There is no mystery about this nominee,” Leahy said. “Hers is a truly American story, and what a story, and what a model this is going to be for others in America.”

Most Republicans, though, say they don’t trust Sotomayor to keep her per-sonal prejudices and opinions out of the courtroom. Burr said in a statement that the judge has “let her personal beliefs cloud her judgment.” DeMint said she “has not inspired confidence that she will consistently base her deci-sions on our Constitution and laws,” citing in particular her stance on gun and abortion rights.

GOP leadership aides suggest there’s little political ground to be lost for their party in opposing Sotomayor, saying Obama has slipped substan-tially among Hispanic voters in recent weeks, notwithstanding his selection of the judge. They note that Democrats vehemently denied they were being anti-Hispanic during their successful efforts in 2003 to block Honduran-born Miguel Estrada, named by GOP President George W. Bush, from a seat on the federal bench.

Brent Wilkes of the League of Unit-ed Latin American Citizens said his group was targeting wavering Republi-cans with local and national campaigns designed to pressure them to vote for Sotomayor, and promised “repercus-sions” for GOP senators who vote no.

“It appears to me that they’re decid-ing to play racial politics,” Wilkes said. He singled out Cornyn and fel-low Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who’s seeking her party’s 2010 guber-natorial nomination, as Republicans who “made a big mistake” in deciding to oppose Sotomayor, adding: “They will feel the heat from our communi-ty.”

LO CA L / A R E A THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 • The News-Banner • Page 3

Police Notebook

Indiana Roundup

Betty Deam, 79Betty Deam, 79, of Bluffton,

died at noon Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at her residence.

Betty was born in Mitchell on Aug. 25, 1929, to Fred and Nellie (Chastine) Slaughter. She mar-ried Roger Eugene Deam in the First Methodist Church in Ossian on July 10, 1953, with the Rev. Edwin Green officiating; Roger preceded her in death on Dec. 25, 2008.

A graduate of Mitchell High School, Betty lived in Wells Coun-ty for more than 60 years. She retired from International Harvester in Fort Wayne after 42 years of service. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, and also Eastern Star.

Surviving relatives include many nieces and neph-ews.

Betty was also preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home in Bluff-ton and from 12 p.m. Sunday at the First United Meth-odist Church in Bluffton. An Eastern Star memorial ser-vice will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, at the church with the Rev. Cindy Osgood officiating.

Preferred memorials are to the First United Methodist Church or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Online condolences: www.thomarich.com

Cathy L. Schroeder, 62- arrangements pending

Arrangements are pending at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel for Cathy L. Schroeder, 62, who died at 12:05 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2009, at the Muncie Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Eleanor L. Durkett, 90 - arrangements pending

Arrangements are pending at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel for Eleanor L. Durkett, 90, who died at 6:15 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Bluffton Regional Medical Center.

Forrest Jay McCartney, 87 - arrangements pending

Arrangements are pending at the Thoma/Rich, Chaney and Lemler Funeral Home for Forrest Jay McCartney, 87, of Bluffton, who passed away at 12:19 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2009, at Bluffton Regional Med-ical Center.

Online condolences: www.thomarich.com

Wanda M. Warrenburg, 81 - arrangements pending

Arrangements are pending at the Thoma/Rich, Chaney and Lemler Funeral Home for Wanda M. Warrenburg, 81 of Bluffton, who passed away Thursday morning at Wesley Health Care in Auburn.

Online condolences: www.thomarich.com

Obituaries

619 North Main St.

Bluffton

824-0618

HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9:00-5:30;

Sat. 10:00-2:00

Kent and Tracy Beer, Owners

Pond Products

2275 N. Main St., Bluffton • 824-5189

SUMMERHOURS:

Mon. thru Fri.8:00-5:00

Sat. 8:00-Noon

Betty Deam

INCIDENTSCity: Wednesday, 4:49 p.m.,

juveniles skateboarding in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church and in the roadway at Johnson and Cherry streets.

Wednesday, 10:51 p.m., noise complaint received in the 100 block of East Arnold Street.

Thursday, 1:40 a.m., Bluffton Police Depart-ment received a report from a residence that an intruder had been caught on their screened porch. The intruder was identified as a raccoon, though it looked suspicious-ly like a fox.

Thursday, 6:14 a.m., report of vandalism received at 77 Sunset.

County:Wednesday, 4 p.m., Wells

County Sheriff’s Department received a report of possible

mailbox vandalism at 4626E 300N.

Wednesday, 5:16 p.m., possible trespassing reported at 1254E. Ind. 224.

ARRESTSMarcus L. Jones, 25, of

South Bend, was arrested on two charges of petition for revocation. No bond was set.

Arlene Renee Huffman, 35, of 414 Johnson Street, was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license. She was released from Wells County Jail on $1,500 bond.

Ernest E. Harris, 48, of 715 W. Wiley Avenue, was arrested on a charge of pub-lic intoxication. He was released from Wells County Jail on $1,000 bond.

David K. Kleinknight, 42, of 904 S. Jersey Street, was arrested on a charge of driv-ing with a suspended license.

He was released from Wells County Jail on $1,500 bond.

Justin Allen Waltons, 24, of 516 W. Cherry Street, was arrested on a charge of fraud. He is being held without bond at Wells County Jail.

Christopher Allen Colum-bus, 24, of 322 W. Wabash Street, was arrested on a charge of forgery. He is being without bond at the Wells County Jail.

James Brooks Studebak-er, 23, of 2928 SE Mulberry Street, was arrested on a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor and habitual offender, D-felony. He is being held at Wells County Jail in lieu of $30,000

TICKETSWednesday, 7:50 p.m.,

Robert D. Price, 18, of Lib-erty Center; failure to stop at the intersection of Morgan and Wiley avenues.

Judge expected to rule on Delphi’s bankruptcy today

NEW YORK (AP) — The judge overseeing Del-phi Corp.’s bankruptcy case is expected to rule Thursday on the auto supplier’s plan to hand control of the company to its lenders and eventually end its nearly four-year stay in Chapter 11.

After an eight-hour-long court session Wednesday in which nearly all objec-tions to Delphi’s plan were either withdrawn or dis-missed, U.S. Judge Robert Drain indicated that he will approve the plan.

“To me it seems like a valid exercise of business judgment,” he said.

The judge is expected to rule on a remaining minor dispute Thursday morning. The hearing is set to recon-vene at 10 a.m. EDT Thurs-day and include a closing presentation from Delphi’s attorneys.

If the plan is approved it would pave the way for Delphi to soon emerge from bankruptcy protection. The company has set a target date of Aug. 31 and expects to be out of Chapter 11 by Sept. 30, Delphi attorney Jack Butler said.

Hundreds of attorneys and Delphi stakehold-ers filled Drain’s Manhat-tan courtroom, along with two overflow rooms, for Wednesday’s hearing. Sev-eral high-ranking Delphi executives were also present but were not asked to testify.

Nearly 2,000 objections — including about 1,400

from Delphi workers and retirees worried about the future of their pensions — were filed against the plan, though many had been resolved before the start of the hearing.

After lengthy argu-ments from their attorneys, Drain dismissed objections from the Michigan Work-ers’ Compensation Agency, Texas tax authorities and Indiana’s Howard County, along with a trio of labor unions who represent retir-ees whose pension benefits could be reduced as a result of the plan.

Objections filed by hand-ful of Delphi’s labor unions, including the United Auto Workers and the IUE-CWA, were settled Wednesday.

Late Monday, Troy, Mich.-based Delphi said that its lenders won out over a California private-equity firm in an auction for the company’s assets. The lend-ers, led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, agreed to forgive a combined $3.45 billion in debt owed them by Delphi.

The deal is backed by General Motors Co., which has pumped billions of dol-lars into Delphi since it filed for Chapter 11 in October 2005 to ensure a stream of parts for its vehicles.

Delphi, which was Detroit-based GM’s parts division before being spun off in 1999, still produces about 10 percent of the parts used in GM’s global pro-duction and its components

go into nearly all of GM’s North American production lines.

Last month, Delphi agreed to let an affiliate of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Platinum Equity take con-trol of most of the auto sup-plier’s businesses with the help of billions from GM. But Delphi’s lenders, which have financed the compa-ny’s operations during its years under court oversight, balked at the deal, calling it a “secretly negotiated transac-tion” that violated Delphi’s obligations to maximize the value of the lenders’ invest-ment. In response, they sub-mitted their own bid, which ultimately won out over the deal with Platinum after an 18-hour auction process that ended on Monday.

Butler said after Wednes-day’s hearing that talks between the auto supplier and Platinum continue. Del-phi on Thursday plans to ask Drain to approve a $30.5 million payment to Platinum to compensate them for their expenses.

Delphi said the agree-ment with its lenders is sim-ilar in structure to the one reached with Platinum in which GM would take back some of Delphi’s business-es, including its Saginaw, Mich.-based steering busi-ness, and facilities and help finance the deal.

The exact details of the credit bid, which isn’t a pub-lic document, have not been released.

Cops: Shooter wanted to show offINDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Authorities say a gunman shot into a crowd at a wed-ding reception, wounding a 2-year-old girl in the head, because he wanted to show how tough he was.

Francisco Ponce, 21, was formally charged Wednesday with seven counts, including felony counts of aggravated battery, battery and carrying a handgun without a license. He was being held in Mari-on County Jail on $200,000 bond.

Prosecutors dropped a preliminary charge of attempted murder because they don’t believe Ponce intended to kill anyone when he fired the shots that struck Yuridia Sosa in the head and hit her mother and another woman in the legs, spokes-man Mario V. Massillamany said.

Yuridia’s condition was upgraded to fair Wednes-

day at Methodist Hospital, hospital spokesman James Wide said.

According to court docu-ments, Ponce and two of his brothers showed up unin-vited at a wedding reception Saturday night at the Law-rence Community Park in Indianapolis. Massillamany said the brothers apparently knew one of the guests.

“They were looking for a fight,” he said.

Twenty-three-year-old Jose Ponce allegedly upend-ed a table and punched one of the wedding guests in the head. Guests were trying to break up the scuffle and get him and 28-year-old Isaias Ponce to leave when Fran-cisco Ponce walked in with

a gun and fired three shots into the crowd, according to a probable cause affidavit.

“It just appeared he was trying to show how big a guy he was, how tough a guy he was,” Massillamany said.

A phone message seek-ing comment from Fran-ciso Ponce’s attorney wasn’t immediately returned. Mas-sillamany did not know whether the other two broth-ers had attorneys.

Ponce fired the shots at knee level, Massillamany said. They struck the small child in the head and hit the girl’s mother, Mariela Rodri-guez, and Miriam Leal-Vasquez in the legs, police said.

FISHBURN’SFARM MARKET

9110N 300W • 638-4788Just south of Zanesville on 300W

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

July Clearance Sale on All Flowers

See us at the

Bluffton Farmers Marketon Saturday’s 8 a.m.-Noon

Fresh Vegetables Available Now!

Home GrownTomatoes

Sweet Corn Coming Soon!

Seven stages ofAlzheimer’s to bediscussed Aug. 5

Alzheimer’s disease, in its usual course, is smooth and progressive, but it is staged according to the manifesta-tion of symptoms that mark the loved one’s deteriorating condition.

There will be a discussion about the seven stages of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia at this month’s support group meeting.

The Wells County Alzheimer’s support group will meet at the First United Methodist Church, which is located at 325 W. Washing-ton St. in Bluffton, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Aug. 5.

The group is intended for caregivers and family mem-bers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other demen-tia related diseases.

Contact Joyce Phillabaum at phone number 824-4244 for more information per-taining to the support group.

State pushing health plans for the poor

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — State health and educa-tion officials and advocates are urging Indiana parents to take advantage of govern-ment health plans for low-income children and adults.

The nonprofit group Covering Kids & Families of Indiana begins a back-to-school campaign with a news conference Thursday at the Statehouse. The group says Indiana has 131,000 uninsured children and 600,000 uninsured adults.

The Hoosier Healthwise program provides health coverage for free or for reduced rates for Indiana children and some women. The Healthy Indiana Plan is a state government-sponsored medical savings account for low-income adults.

Man admits guilt in Brown County killing

NASHVILLE, Ind. (AP) — One of two teenage broth-ers charged in the shooting death of an 84-year-old man at his rural central Indiana home has admitted to the attack.

Seventeen-year-old Ben-nie Reed pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Brown County court to charges of murder and aggravated bat-tery for the November attack that killed Richard Voland and left his 77-year-old wife Mary with gunshot and knife wounds.

Reed acknowledged that he and his 13-year-old brother Blade Reed rode bicycles to the Volands’ rural Helmsburg home intending to steal beer. Prosecutors say Bennie Reed and Voland both pulled out handguns. Voland’s gun fired during a struggle, wounding Bennie Reed, who then shot Voland in the head.

Reed’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 24.

Adult charges of murder and robbery are pending against Blade Reed.

Fish kill linked to algae growthINDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Excessive algae growth is apparently to blame for a fish kill along a section of the White River in India-napolis.

Residents in the Rocky Ripple section of the city noticed late last week that numerous bottom feeders such as suckers had been killed. The state Depart-ment of Natural Resources believes that about 500 fish were killed.

Group wants to digitize recordsFORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana Genealogical

Society is launching a project to digitize court records that contain information about some of central Indiana’s earliest settlers.

The Fort Wayne-based group will digitize and index 25 boxes of 19th century probate records from Hendricks County that haven’t previously been microfilmed or acces-sible to the public.

The boxes stored in the basement of the Hendricks County courthouse in Danville hold yellowed, fragile court records dating from between 1824 and 1899.

The genealogical society says it could use additional vol-unteers and donations for the project, which will make the digitized records available to the public free of charge.

Study says state’s beaches are dirtyMICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP) — A new report by an

environmental group says Indiana’s beaches along the Lake Michigan shoreline are among some of the most polluted in the nation.

The Natural Resources Defense Council’s report released Wednesday ranks Indiana’s beach water quality 28th among 30 states with either oceanside beaches or beaches along the Great Lakes.

The NRDC says 18 percent of water samples taken along Indiana’s beaches exceeded national standards. Its report says Louisiana’s beaches were the nation’s dirtiest, followed by Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin in the top five.

Raw sewage and other forms of pollution were the main culprits in each state.

Indiana has 30 beaches along 64 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline spanning three counties.

NW Indiana factory will closeLOWELL, Ind. (AP) — Rieter Automotive North Amer-

ica plans to close a northwestern Indiana factory by the end of the year, eliminating 130 jobs.

Rieter officials say the decision to shut down the plant in the Lake County town of Lowell was made to better align the company’s production capacity with demand from its customers.

More than 400 people worked in the mid-1980s at the plant, which produces noise control and automotive trim products for the automotive and appliance industries.

Rieter said it planned to mothball the building and equip-ment. Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Rieter is a division of The Rieter Group of Switzerland.

Two charged in infant’s deathFRANKFORT, Ind. (AP) — A Frankfort mother and her

boyfriend have been charged in the suspected beating death of the woman’s 2-year-old daughter.

Twenty-nine-year-old Patience A. Kuhlman and 30-year-old Mitchell Adam Clendenning, also of Frankfort, pleaded not guilty Wednesday after being charged with murder and neglect of a dependent.

Kuhlman’s daughter Keaton Kuhlman died last Thursday at Riley Hospital for Children.

O P I N I O NPage 4 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

THE NEWS-BANNER(USPS 059-200)

Evening News est. 1892 • Evening Banner est. 1899 • Consolidated 1929George B. Witwer, Chairman of the Board

Mark F. Miller, President, Publisher and EditorDianne Witwer, Secretary/Treasurer

Periodicals Postage Paid at Bluffton, IN. Published every afternoon except Sundays andHolidays at 125 N. Johnson Street, Bluffton, IN. 46714, Post Office Box 436.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Single Copy Price, 50¢YOU CAN SAVE UP TO 33% OFF SINGLE COPY PRICES WITH HOME DELIVERY:

By Foot Carrier Delivery:One Year $119.00 Six Months $64.00 Three Months $32.75

By Motor Route Delivery:One Year $128.00 Six Months $69.50 Three Months $36.75

By Mail (In State): One Year $162.00 Six Months $87.50 Three Months $46.50By Mail: (Out of State): One Year $189.00 Six Months $102.50 Three Months $54.50

Mail subscriptions are not accepted where carrier service is maintainedand must be paid in advance.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The News-Banner, P.O. Box 436, Bluffton, IN 46714

ATTENTION NEWS-BANNER SUBSCRIBERS HOME DELIVERYYou should receive your News-Banner by 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 8:00 a.m. Saturdays. Your paper should always be dry and in good shape. Please call us before 6:00 p.m. on weekdays

and 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays if you have any delivery problems or questions.AUTOMATIC PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Have your subscription paid by automatic transfer from your checking account or automatic charge to your credit card. Ask about our Eazy-Pay Plan - you’ll enjoy the lowest subscription

rates available. Call 260-824-0224 to sign up.

TelephoneNumber

260-824-0224

FaxNumber

260-824-0700

Today in HistoryBy The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, July 30, the 211th day of 2009. There are 154 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On July 30, 1945, dur-ing World War II, the battle cruiser USS Indianapo-lis, which had just deliv-

ered components for the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine; only 316 out of some 1,200 men survived the sinking and shark-infested waters.

On this date:In 1619, the first repre-

sentative assembly in Amer-

ica convened in Jamestown in the Virginia Colony.

In 1729, Baltimore, Md., was founded.

In 1908, the first round-the-world automobile race, which had begun in New York in February, ended in Paris with the drivers of the American car, a Thomas Flyer, declared the winners

over teams from Germany and Italy.

In 1965, President Lyn-don B. Johnson signed into law the Medicare bill, which went into effect the following year.

In 1975, former Team-sters union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in subur-ban Detroit.

Submit your Letters to the Editor via: • Fax: (260) 824-0700 • E-Mail: email@news-banner.com • Mail: PO Box 436, Bluffton IN 46714 • Drop-off: 125 N. John-son St., Bluffton

All letters must be signed and must include a phone number or address in case verification is desired. Letters are edited for brevity and clarity. Letters must be no more than 500 words.

Small battles engaged at Angelkeep

“Such peace, such peace! Who but the Creator could have got so much beauty in one place?” The words were from a book I recently devoured and written by an author who once lived in Marion. “Focus the Bright Land” takes place primarily in Indiana dur-ing the summer of 1881. Because of those facts, I could really relate to the book’s characters, having seen plenty of Hoosier beauty here at Angelkeep.

My admired beauty comes from plants and animals—and Gwen—but she’d be embarrassed if she knew I put that in the newspaper column.

Peace we have aplenty at Angelkeep as well. Most of the time. But when you are dealing with nature, the way our Creator, God, established it, there are bound to be bits and pieces of the less-than passive.

For example there is the constant battle engaged upon at Angelkeep trying to minimize poison-ivy and creep-ing Charlie. Oh yes, and thistles and a volume of weeds that I’ve never taken time to identify.

Trying to keep ahead on Angelkeep weed extraction can make one pull their hair out.

Animals as a foe—antagonistic rather than peace-ful—occasionally revert from beautiful, fuzzy, and cute to the downright destructive.

For example, when I was trying to finish my book inside, since the sun had set, the patio screen door was allowing the night breeze and sounds to reach my seat. It was a delightful background to the summer outdoor camping experience of the photographer family depicted in the Friermood story.

While June bugs head-butted the screen and frogs sent croaky emails over Angelpond (frogs natural wire-less internet), the noise from the metal hangers holding birdfeeders to a double shepherd’s hook gave evidence that a furry, masked, thief was attempting to climb the metal rod.

The patio lights caused the bandit to immediately drop to the ground and a bushy stripped tail could be seen disappearing into the darkness heading toward the woods. Raccoon have completely destroyed sunflower seed feeders, ripping through wire mesh as easily as a canvas tent.

That’s my old, true, camping story from Ouabache, many years ago. Perhaps another time it needs revealed.

This raccoon provided a laugh from his failed attack. Actually, he was simply doing his routine nightly food scavenging, doing just what God created them for.

A later encounter of battle was with chipmunks. Heaven created an army of them at Angelkeep. Watching them can be fun. They too can be delin-quently mischievous. They are wired to investigate dark places. Like coons, they enjoy sunflower seed intended for birds.

While doing editing on a laptop at the patio table, sounds of scurrying came from my right. Several con-tainers holding deer corn, bird feed, and firewood sit by the house on the patio.

Two days later the same noise (It sounded like a bird flapping inside.) was isolated to a large Rubbermaid Bruiser wheeled trash can that could hold two 25 pound bags of sunflower seed and gallon jugs of Nyjer. The rugged container had in an earlier year been attacked by a raccoon who chewed a silver dollar-size (1880 variety) hole through the lid’s handle.

Carefully the beige lid was removed. Calm. A half-empty bag of seed was removed. Calm. Not for long! A chipmunk leaped from the bin bottom onto the top of a full sunflower seed bag and on with a three-foot leap up and out. It was last seen heading for the woodpile behind the garage. It matched the speed of an Indy racer.

More shuffling-scurrying noise. The full bag was lifted out. Number two of this Chip & Dale team began jumping but couldn’t reach the top of the otherwise empty bin. The can was pushed over and another brown lighting-bolt-like streak shot to the woodpile.

They’d had plenty to eat while self-incarcerated in the bin search for a seed smorgasbord. Damage was limited to eating a hole through the vinyl material of the unopened bag.

Instinct is dominant over intelligence for a chipmunk. The next day one chipmunk was again trapped. Was it Chip or Dale of the original marauders?

The hole was repaired—for their sake. Gwen and I enjoyed a laugh at their expense. Battling nature has its positive bits. Near the end of the book was summed up peace and beauty (and fun) at Angelkeep:

“If she had learned anything at all this summer, it was that one could have a spiritual regeneration at sight of a wheat field, a woods, or a waterfall. Church was man-made; nature was God’s very own handiwork.”

Mr. Daugherty is a Wells County resident who, along with his wife Gwen, enjoy their back yard and have named it “Angelkeep.”

Angelkeep Journals

Alan Daugherty

Leaving the ‘reality-base’Barack Obama raised near-millennial expecta-

tions last year. If elected, he’d transform the dreary realities of Washington with his blazing freshness. He’d win over Republicans with his engaging post-partisanship. He’d solve long-standing national problems with his nonideological pragmatism.

None of this overpromising was ever very likely to come to fruition. But Obama has now fallen down on a much more elemental test of leadership: He can’t tell the truth about his signature initiative.

Obama’s health-care push has been the most dishonest White House advocacy in recent memory. What he says about reform bears no relation to the legislation he wants Congress to pass as soon as recalcitrant Democrats can be bludgeoned into line. According to Obama, no one will lose his private coverage; costs will be controlled; and the legislation will be paid for. Obama must know that these are all politically necessary things to say, and also that none of them describes Nancy Pelosi’s handiwork.

Obama can’t bring himself to grapple with “real-ity-based” health-care reform, because it belies too many of his most essential sound bites. In the cam-paign, Obama said, “We need to tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.” On health care, Obama knows that if he doesn’t keep telling people what they want to hear -- regardless of the facts -- all is lost.

The left branded George W. Bush a “liar” for making assertions about Iraq’s weapons that were supported by the evidence, but turned out not to be true. Obama is saying things that aren’t even sup-ported by the evidence. They are routinely debunked by the independent Congressional Budget Office, which doesn’t stop Obama from continuing to say them. It’s as if the CIA issued reports every other week in 2002 explaining that no, Iraq didn’t have a nuclear program nor any stockpiles of biological and chemical weapons, and Bush kept warning of the nonexistent WMD anyway.

Since the phantom cost-savings measures that Obama touts can’t be detected by anyone else,

including Blue Dog Democrats and the CBO, Obama’s team came up with a deus ex machina. They’d create a council to come up with recommendations for Medicare. If Obama accepted them, they’d automatically go into effect unless Congress voted to block them. CBO looked at the council and esti-mated it’d only save a minuscule $2 billion during the next 10 years, adding that “the probability is high that no savings would be realized.”

Will this stop Obama from selling health-care reform as a cost savings? Of course not. He can’t admit that he is bending the famous cost curve upward, any more than he can admit that the House plan might throw millions of people out of their private coverage or that the bill will -- despite its raft of new taxes -- add another $239 billion to the deficit over 10 years. In its latest missive, the CBO says the numbers get even worse beyond the 10-year window. So the entire budgetary rationale of ObamaCare -- improving the nation’s long-term fiscal outlook -- has been obliterated.

Obama’s plan is becoming one of the most implausible and thoroughly discredited free lunches in American history. Asked at his press conference last week what sacrifices people would have to make in the cause of reducing costs, Obama said, manful-ly, that “they’re going to have to give up paying for things that don’t make them healthier.” As if the only factor adding to costs is greedy otolaryngologists extracting kids’ tonsils unnecessarily, the strange anecdote of wasteful health spending that Obama invoked at his presser.

Surely, the public is beginning to miss Obama circa the fall of 2008. It voted for him because he seemed reasonable, different and moderate. He could recapture that appeal by pronouncing the health-care effort so far an unfortunate misfire and starting again on a truly bipartisan basis. But he prefers to risk going down fighting -- and dissembling -- on behalf of his grand, misbegotten scheme.

RichLowry

Off to camp and beyondWASHINGTON -- In the

venerable tradition of summer, my wife and I sent our two children -- a tween and a young teen -- off to camp last week. Both boys had butterflies, evidenced by their distracted silence in the car to the airport and the pained, nervous wave from beyond security. But this year there were no tears.

At camp, they gain many pointless, essential experi-ences -- of unfiltered starlight, and outdoor showers, and musty cabins, and spiders in odd corners, and the morning mist off a lake, and belligerent mosquitoes (my young-est claims to have once counted 40 bites), and sweltering evenings when sleep comes hard, and the glorious, eye-watering pleasure of watching a campfire rise and burn.

But the ultimate goal of camp is the cultivation of independence -- for a child to be away from home and face problems without the assistance of parents. Children stand on the edge of a cliff, willing themselves to jump into the water below. Or manage a canoe during a thunderstorm on an overnight trip. Or ride an impossibly high zip line into the lake. In the process, they pass from taking exter-nal direction to accepting internal challenges: I will do this, because I choose to do it -- because I want to test myself.

In a way, it is like teaching a child to float: Lie back, and somehow the water will hold you, even if I don’t. Lie back, and somehow the world will hold you.

Many parents don’t quite get this theory. Last summer in The New York Times, Tina Kelley report-ed how camp officials and counselors are besieged by nervous, high-main-tenance parents, calling about bunk placement, private lessons and special cereals and vitamins for their children. It is not uncommon, according to the article, for parents to

smuggle cell phones to their son or daughter against the rules of a camp. Clearly, some parents don’t know how to let go.

Much of this has to do with the modern mania for minimizing risk. A Girl Scout leader in California recalls how, as a child, she broke her arm on two separate occasions. Now, because parents become outraged and litigious at the crunch of bones, the Girl Scout camps where she works forbid even the climbing of trees.

Parents, however, deserve some sympathy. They are making adjust-ments of their own. At first, the absence of children at camp seems like a reminder of married life before children arrived -- a time of dates, movies and unmonitored friskiness. But soon it dawns that the absence of children is not a reminder but a pre-view -- the glimpse of a time when children no longer come home. In an empty house, it quickly becomes clear how much of a couple’s conver-sation weaves around their children -- how much of their own lives has become an investment in the lives

they produced. The yearly departure for camp

measures the progress of parental irrelevance. Four years ago, the first time my wife and I left our youngest son at sleep-away camp, there was no pretense of bravery on his part. There were only piteous tears, which returned, according to a camp coun-selor, every night for two weeks. I wanted nothing more than to run to him, to end the trauma we had inflict-ed and rescue him from indepen-dence. But I didn’t. Each summer this departure grows easier for him and my older son -- and more difficult for me, until my bravery finally fails and all the tears are mine.

So this is the independence we seek for our children -- to turn our closest relationships into acquain-tances. Of course, I knew this get-ting into parenthood. But the reality remains shocking. For a time, small hands take your own -- children look upward, and you fill their entire universe. They remain, to you, the most important things in the world. To them, over time, you become one important thing among many. And then an occasional visit or phone call. And then a memory, fond or other-wise.

The memory of my own father, gone these 17 years, is fond and blur-ry. He shrank in my mental universe from sun to star, bright and distant. With every season of camp, I dim to my sons as well. It is the appropriate humility of the generations. It is also harder than I thought. And I don’t know how to let go.

mgerson@globalengage.org

MichaelGerson

L I F E S T Y L E S THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 • The News-Banner • Page 5

Let us show you the possibilities!Call Leon, Marcia or Carol today.

260-565-3000

720 E. Dustman Rd., Bluffton, IN2260-565-3000

www.christiancarerc.org

– Independent Living • in a maintenance-free duplex: North Shore Estates or Lakeview

– Assisted Living on our main campus

Come explore our payment options.

A Beautiful Timeto Make the Move.

NOW AVAILABLE

Saturday, Aug. 1River Terrace Estates--

Mary Kizer playing piano and Fred Sprunger singing; 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 2River Terrace Estates--

Claire and Lauren Petersen playing the piano and talk-ing about their queen contest experiences; 2:30 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 3Past Noble Grand Club--

Corner Depot; 12:30 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 4

Cardinal Bird Club--Wells County Public Library; 6:30 p.m. Members will watch the second half of the Audubon Bird video. The program will be given by Carl Yoder.

Creative Quilters--Coun-try Creations; 6:30 pm. Kent Mick will do a lesson on making fabric bowls utiliz-ing cotton clothesline. Visi-tors are welcome. Bring your Show n’ Tell. Clothesline block of the month is Crazy Anne. Country Creations is half mile south of 224 at Pre-ble on county road 400W.

Club Calendar

by Meghan MazourReprinted by permission

of Meghan Mazour. ©2002 Meghan Mazour. “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Happily Ever After”

* * *It was raining sideways

and thundering so loud that the house shook. Anne sat in the middle of the hard-wood floor surrounded by sleep-ing bags, camping stove, gro-ceries and a tent. She wondered if the tent would be able to float in the ocean-size pud-dles that were forming on the leaf-covered ground.

In a few minutes Sam was supposed to arrive for their anniversary camping trip. They had hardly seen each other the last few weeks. They were both bogged down with graduate thesis and research projects. In addition to their schoolwork, Anne taught two classes a week and Sam worked full-time for his men-tor. They knew the only way they could spend some time together was to go out of town, away from phones, computers and professors asking for last-minute favors. This trip was going to be their reunion as well as their one-year anniversary celebra-tion.

“Just my luck,” Anne said out loud. “We finally have plans, and it has to rain on our camping trip. We’re cursed!”

The front door opened and there was Sam, clad in soggy hiking boots and clothes so wet they looked like they were melting.

“Who’s cursed?” he asked, plopping down on the splayed sleeping bags. “Cer-tainly not us. Two wildly in-love newlyweds about to go on the world’s most fabulous camping trip?”

Anne shook her head. “You don’t really want to go camping in this weather?”

“You bet I do!”Before Anne could answer, Sam stood

up and walked around the room. First, he unplugged the phone, then the computer. He pulled down the shades and cov-ered the television with the orange afghan they kept on the couch. Then he began

setting up the tent in the middle of the living-room floor. He brought

the George Foreman grill in from the kitchen and set it up next to the tent and lit a fire in the rarely used fireplace.

“Now,” he said smiling, “have you ever seen a more beautiful camp-site?” He opened his arms wide, and Anne rose and stood in his embrace, laughing as she surveyed their campsite.

“Never.”That night, after they roasted hot dogs

on the George Foreman grill and toasted marshmallows in the fireplace, they were tucked inside their sleeping bags. Sam circled his arms around Anne’s waist.

“Sam,” Anne said, “when we planned this night, I imag-

ined that by now we would be watching the sunset behind House Mountain and sipping on some champagne, but, somehow, this makes it all the more special. We don’t need a romantic sunset, or a fancy bottle of cham-pagne, or beautiful scenery -- we just need each other, forever. Together we can make any situation work out right.”

Anne and Sam just celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, they did the usual: They went on a roman-tic camping trip -- right in their own living room.

* * *

Visit our Web site: www.chickensoup.com.

©2009 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Distributed by King Features Syndicate

“Anywhere is para-dise; it’s up to you.” -- Author Unknown

A couple re-creates a camping trip for their anniversary.

The camping trip

Angel Food ministries Changes

ordering Requirements

Angel Food Ministries is excited to announce a new initiative and change that we believe can help more peo-ple through their resources.

Beginning with the August menu, they will allow the purchase of any item with no limits or pre-buy requirements. Simply put, you no longer need to buy a signature box, aller-gen-free or senior meal box to qualify for the produce, grill and meat box specials.

Sonl igh t Wes leyan Church is the local host site for Angel Food Ministries. For additional information on Angel Food Ministries or any of the menu items, call the church at 260-824-0068 or Margetta Stinson at 260-827-0382. (Pd. Advt.)

Wilshire flea market July 31-Aug. 2

The Wilshire Ohio Sports Club will sponsor their annual Flea Market and Swap July 31-Aug. 2 from 6 a.m. to dark each day.

Sellers may set up Thurs-day afternoon. There is a $15 fee for all three days. Camping is free. Golf carts are welcome. Camp fires are permitted in fire ring. There will be food for sale.

The event is located two miles east of Wilshire on State Road 81. For more information call Ron at 419-495-2730.

Ouabache craft workshops begin

Aug. 1Ouabache State Park will

host three craft workshops during August and Septem-ber. They are: “Origami 101," Aug.1; bead making, Aug. 15; and advanced ori-gami, Sept. 5.

During Origami 101, participants can learn the basics of origami, including how to create several basic and intermediate origami models. The bead making workshop is designed to teach participants how to create beads out of everyday materials found around their homes. After a quick review of the basics, advanced ori-gami participants should plan to dive into creating intermediate and challeng-ing models.

All three classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and are sched-uled to be held at Campview Shelter in the campground. Participants who are not camping will have to walk a short distance to get to Campview Shelter after parking near the camp-ground gate.

The Origami 101 work-shop and the bead making workshop are recommended for participants ages 7 and older. Advanced origami is recommended for ages 10 and older. All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Register for each event by calling (260) 824-0926, e-mailing OuabacheInterp@dnr.IN.gov, or filling out and mailing the form found on the special events link at http://www.IN.gov/dnr/parklake/2420.htm.

There is a $2 per person program fee per workshop. Park entrance fees of $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents and $7 per vehicle for non-residents will apply.

Dog Days of summer Aug. 1

The Bluffton Parks Department will hold a Dog Days of Summer Walk this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bring your leashed dog to Pickett’s Run Park (East Washington Street near splash pad). Many pet ven-dors will be there with draw-ings, door prizes, and infor-mation about the services they offer. Afterwards enjoy a nice stroll down the River Greenway. Free Event!

For more information call 824-6069.

Salamonie Childrens Day Camp Aug. 3-7

Children ages seven to 11 are invited to Salamonie Reservoir for a fun and excit-ing week, Aug. 3 through Aug. 7 for Day Camp from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

They will find out about important inset friends and meet some close up; learn about butterflies, bees and beekeeping, grasshoppers and crickets, ants and even dragonflies. There will be indoor and outdoor activi-ties including swimming, snacks, crafts and games.

Cost is $55 per person, with $10 of that as registra-tion fee. For more informa-tion call 260-468-2127 or log onto: www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

Fish and Chicken Tender meal Aug. 7

On Friday, Aug. 7 mem-bers of the Wells County Extension Homemakers will serve an all you can eat fish and chicken tenders meal from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Com-munity Building at the 4-H Park in Bluffton. The menu will also include: cole slaw, green beans, bread and but-ter, coffee, iced tea and lem-onade. Cost is $9 for adults, $5 for children age 10 and younger. Ed Higgins will be playing the piano from 5 to 6 p.m.

Pajama Story Time at Huntington

Aug. 4The Children's Depart-

ment at the Huntington City-Twp. Public Library will present Pajama Story Time sessions on four Tues-days in August at the Main Library, 200 W. Market St., Huntington. Children ages three through second grade welcome to attend, wearing their pajamas and bringing their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal.

Dates for this program are: Tuesday, Aug. 4, Tues-day, Aug. 11, Tuesday, Aug. 18 and Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Each Pajama Story Time evening will offer two ses-sions: 6:30 to 7 p.m. and 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. There will be a special Ice Cream Party at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, in between Pajama Story Time sessions.

Advance registration is highly encouraged. Call 260-356-0824 for more information or to register your child for Pajama Story Time. And don't forget to wear your pajamas!

Salamonie Reservoir sporting dog event

Aug. 8If you’re interested in

learning about how to hunt rabbits and squirrels with dogs, attend a workshop at

Salamonie Reservoir, Aug. 8.

Jim Heasley of Heasley’s Keystone Kennels, will host seminars on hunting rabbits with beagles and hunting squirrels with treeing curs and treeing fiest dogs.

The program will begin at 10 a.m. with an introduction to American Kennel Club (AKC) hunting beagles.

After lunch, Don Bonsett will take the stage at 12:30 p.m. to speak about hunting with squirrel dogs.

Jack Hyden of the Indiana Beaglers Alliance and the Indiana Council on Animal Welfare will help answer questions about beagling.

Long pants and closed-toe shoes are recommended for field participation. Par-ticipants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch.

Register before Aug. 5 at (260) 468-2127, or by visit-ing the Upper Wabash inter-pretive center, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, 46702. There is no fee for this program. Park entrance fees of $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents and $7 per vehicle for non-residents will apply.

Ouabache State Park meteor party Aug. 8

Spread a blanket on the ground and lay back to enjoy an exciting night of Perseids Meteor Shower gazing at Ouabache State Park, Aug 8. Listen as park naturalists explain the phenomenon of meteor showers. The event, which starts at 9:30 p.m., is open to all. Participants should park at the pool and meet on the large hill next to the pool. There is no fee for the event. Park entrance fees of $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents and $7 per vehicle for non-residents will apply.

Liberty Center Golf Outing Aug. 9

The Liberty Center Vol-unteer Fire Department will sponsor a golf outing Aug. 9 at Mount Etna Golf Course.

Tee off will be a 8 a.m. Cost is $60 per person. Meal will be included. For more information call 260-694-6114 or 260-827-8278.

Ossian Days Talent Show taking applications

Applications are due by Aug. 26, 2009 for the second annual Talent Show during the Ossian Days Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Cash prizes will be awarded by the Ossian Psi Otes. Students in grades kindergarten through 12 are encouraged to participate in front of the big tent by the NAPA building. There will be four age categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-12 and open class for mixed groups. To enter mail information to Joan Furey at 1731 Brook Ct., Ossina, IN 46777. Applications can be picked up at the Ossian Town Hall.

Interconnectivity exhibit begins

Aug. 29The University of Saint

Francis will present Inter-connectivity, an exhibition by Chris Kahler, from Aug. 29 through Oct. 7, 2009. An opening Presidential Gala will be held Saturday, Aug. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the John P. Weatherhead Gallery of the Rolland Art Center. For more information, call 260-399-7700, ext. 8001.

What’s Up!

Tara M. Belter and William D. “Bill” Kleinknight, both of Golden Valley, Minn., will exchange wedding vows during a 4 p.m. ceremony at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minn.

Parents of the couple are Don and Marcia Belter of Glencoe, Minn. and Doug and Cathy Kleinknight of Ossian.

Miss Belter is graduate of Glenco-Silver Lake High School. In 2009 she graduated from the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

She is employed as a pharmacist at Walgreens.

Her fiance is a 2000 graduate of Norwell High School. He is employed as an operating engineer at Michels Corp.

Tara Belter and

William Kleinknight to marry

Aug. 15, 2009

William Kleinknight & Tara Belter

Area Things to See and DoBLUFFTON

THE GOSPEL BARNThe Gospel Barn, 3550 St. Rd. 1 south, Bluffton. Doors

open at 6 p.m., pre-concert at 7 p.m., featured artist at 7:30 p.m., Admission $5 adults & free to those 12 and under. Concessions. 260-827-0362 or at www.gospelbarnofbluff-ton.com

OVERTONES—Saturday, Aug. 1, Ball Brothers from Chickamauga, GA.

BRYANTGOODTIMES THEATRE AT BEARCREEK FARMS

GRAND OLE OPRY ROAD SHOW—Saturday, Aug. 1, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $35, with Green, Shepard & Jackson.

RUSS MORGAN ORCHESTRA—Thursday, Aug. 6, 2 & 7:30 p.m, $30.

THE FORTUNES—Friday, Aug. 7, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $30.EMIL STUCCHIO & THE CLASSICS—Saturday,

Aug. 8, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $30.JOANN CASTLE—Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

and Thursday, Aug. 13, 2 p.m., $35.BRETT FAMILY FROM BRANSON—Friday, Aug. 14

& Saturday, Aug. 15, 2 & 7:30 p.m., $35. For more information and reservations call 260-997-

6822 or check out www.bearcreekfarms.comFORT WAYNE’S CIVIC THEATRE

The Civic Theatre’s 2009-1010 season has been announced and includes: Mel Brook’s The Producers, July 25-Aug. 9; The Piano Lesson, Sept. 12-20; Quilt American Celebration, Oct. 2-19; Fiddler on the Roof, Nov. 7-22; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, March 5-12; The Road to Mecca, April 2-18; Studs Terkel Working, May 7-16; and Playwright Contest, June 4-13. For more information call 260-422-8641 or check out www.fwcivic.org

FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS The schedule for the 2009-2010 season has been

announced.There is a wide range of ticket prices for each series and

for more information call 260-456-2224 or visit www.fort-waynephilharmonic.com Tickets at 260-481-0777.

FW’S SCIENCE CENTRAL EVENTSSUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS—Camps to run from

June 8 to Aug. 14, for those ages 3 to 15, middle school students and those with special needs. For more informa-tion call 260-424-2400 ext. 451 or at www.sciencecenttral.org

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $7 for all except free to those 3 and under. More informa-tion at 260-424-2400 or at www.sciencecentral.org Closed July 4th.

Indiana FestivalsAmish Acres Arts &

Crafts Festival—July 30-Aug. 2, Amish Acres, 350 artists, entertainment and festive food. Hours 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sat-urday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, admission charged. amishacrescom

Funfest by the River Festival—Aug. 6-8, North Manchester. A three day event with family events, concerts. cruise-in, parade, food & crafts, free. VisitIndi-ana.com

Indiana State Fair—Aug. 7-23, Indianapo-lis, hours vary, admission charged. indianastatefair.com

Mihsihkinaahkwa Pow-wow—Aug. 7-9, Morsches park at Columbia City. Tradi-tional Native American pow wow with drums, dancing, crafts and food. Storytelling, children’s area and Wood-land Indians living. Hours 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, admission charged. miamipowwow.org

Van Buren Popcorn Fes-tival—Aug. 13-15, down-town Van Buren, parade, children’s events, hours vary, free. vanburenindiana.com

Elwood Glass Festi-val—Aug. 14-16, Callaway Park at Elwood. Art glass factory tours, crafts, col-lectibles, carnival, parade, pageants, kids activities, car show, food, entertainment, contests, hours vary, free. VisitIndiana.com

Chautauqua Days—Aug. 15-16, Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site at Rome City. Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, admission charged. indianamuseum.org

By HOWARD ULMANAP Sports WriterBOSTON (AP) — The Oakland

Athletics are hitting the way the once-powerful Boston Red Sox used to.

For the second straight night, the Athletics outslugged the Red Sox, win-ning 8-6 on Wednesday a night after they pounded out 21 hits for a 9-8 win in 11 innings.

“It looked like they didn’t finish hit-ting since (Tuesday) night,” said Mike Lowell, who had five RBIs for Boston. “I guess we ran into them at the wrong time.”

July has been the right time for the Athletics. They’re batting .297 this month but still last in the AL West. The Red Sox are hitting .242 in July and fell 3 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the East.

“Other than the very beginning of the season, we hadn’t really had too many scuffles,” said Boston’s Jason Bay, who struck out three times and is in a 9 for 52 slump. “Obviously, the second half of the season isn’t where you want it to happen.”

Brett Anderson (6-8) has been a bright spot in Oakland’s young rotation, especially at Fenway Park where he won a two-hit complete game on July 6.

On Wednesday, after Adam Kennedy homered on the game’s first pitch from Brad Penny (7-5) to begin a five-run first, Anderson allowed Lowell’s three-run homer in the bottom of the inning.

Then he gave up just two hits in his remaining five innings.

“A big key to the game was holding them off after the first inning,” Ander-son said. “I was able to mix and match (pitches) early to get to two strikes to get to my slider.”

Kennedy had a career-high five hits on Tuesday, including a single that gave Oakland a 9-7 lead.

“It’s good to get the offense going a little bit and score some runs, especially in this place,” Kennedy said.

Oakland led 8-3 after six innings, but Boston scored single runs in the sev-

enth, eighth and ninth. The Red Sox had runners at first and second with two outs in the ninth, but J.D. Drew grounded out as Andrew Bailey earned his shaky 13th save in 17 chances.

The Athletics improved to 43-57 while the Red Sox dropped to 58-42.

“They just beat us right from the get-go,” Bay said. “Regardless of their record, they’re out there winning games right now. We’re not.”

Oakland had three hits on the first four pitches, led 1-0 and had the bases loaded on the first nine and finished the five-run first with Rajai Davis’ three-run double.

“Any time you get on the board early, it’s big,” Oakland manager Bob Geren said. “We’ve been swinging the bats better for a few weeks now.”

Tigers 13, Rangers 5In Arlington, Texas, Curtis Granderson

led off the game with a home run and con-nected again in the second inning, and Justin Verlander equaled a career high by striking out 13.

Miguel Cabrera had four hits and four RBIs, and Marcus Thames homered for Detroit. Andruw Jones homered twice for Texas.

Verlander (12-5) tied for the major league lead in wins. He boosted his AL-leading strikeout total to 172 while pitching seven innings.

Yankees 6, Rays 2At St. Petersburg, Fla., Joba Chamber-

lain pitched eight scoreless innings and Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano homered and drove in two runs apiece.

The Yankees won for the 11th time in 13 games since the All-Star break.

Chamberlain (7-2) limited the Rays to three singles while allowing only one run-ner to reach second base. The right-hander struck out five and walked two, both coming in the fifth inning.

Twins 3, White Sox 2At Minneapolis, light-hitting Alexi Casil-

la had two RBIs and Minnesota’s bullpen pitched four scoreless innings to help the Twins swept the three-game series.

Casilla, who entered the game hitting .161, broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring single in the sixth and the Twins beat the White Sox for the sixth time in seven games.

Joe Crede walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Casilla’s two-out single off Jose Contreras (4-10), who lost his third straight.

Orioles 7, Royals 3At Baltimore, Adam Jones homered and

drove in three runs and Nick Markakis added three RBIs for Baltimore.

Kansas City did not have an assist in the game. The last team to go a game without an assist was Tampa Bay on May 17, 2003, also in a loss — eight innings in the field — to Bal-timore, according to STATS LLC. Only five teams in big league history have done it for at least nine innings.

Kansas City starter Zach Greinke pitched six innings of five-hit ball and left with a 3-2 lead.

Matt Albers (2-4) gave up one hit in 2 1/3 innings and Jim Johnson worked two innings for his second save.

Angels 9, Indians 3At Anaheim, Calif., Howie Kendrick hom-

ered and drove in a career-high five runs hours after the Indians traded away reigning AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco were sent to Philadelphia for a package of four minor leaguers.

John Lackey (7-4) gave up a run and three hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked four.

Aaron Laffey (4-3) gave up seven runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.

Mariners 3, Blue Jays 2At Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. doubled twice

and drove in the decisive runs in the seventh inning, and Seattle tagged Roy Halladay (11-4) with a season-high 11 hits.

Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-1) carried a no-hitter into the seventh in his third start of the season, before Aaron Hill singled leading off.

By DAVE CAMPBELLAP Sports WriterMANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Once

again, Brett Favre ran away from a Minnesota rush.

Brad Childress insisted the chase is over.

The Vikings coach said Wednesday evening he’s “more than content” with a competition between Tarvaris Jack-son and Sage Rosenfels for the job the team tried so hard to give to Favre, only to find out the NFL’s all-time leading passer decided to remain retired.

“He’s gone his way, and we’ve gone our way,” Childress said after meeting with both Jackson and Rosenfels earlier in the day.

Childress described their demeanor as excited, proudly noting Jackson was the first player to report to the residence hall on the Minnesota State University campus, where the Vikings have held training camp for 43 years.

Rosenfels was grateful for some resolution, but said he wasn’t “at all” insulted by his teammates’ overt inter-est in acquiring the famously waffling quarterback.

“This is the NFL. I’m a pro. They’re pros. I think these guys are going to have the utmost confidence in me, and I have a lot of confidence in them,” Rosenfels said, as players trickled into the parking lot with pillows and lug-gage in tow. “It’s time to go to work.”

Jackson wasn’t available for com-ment, but Rosenfels offered a good word for both of them in defiance of the widespread belief the Vikings are still missing the quarterback they need for that elusive Super Bowl victory.

“Everyone has their opinion. I have my opinion. I feel like the quarterbacks are going to play really, really well this year,” Rosenfels said.

In an interview posted on Sports

Illustrated’s Web site, Favre added another subtle twist to this endlessly open-ended story: “I truly, truly believe it’s over. But if someone calls Nov. 1, who knows?”

Asked whether the Vikings would revisit the possibility should Favre change his mind again, Childress repeated his “more than content” stance about the current quarterbacks.

The coach was then pressed to definitively rule out another dalliance with Favre.

“There’s not a chance, from my standpoint. I’m going forward with the guys we have, and we’ll have a great competition,” Childress said, using a similar line to deny interest in pursuing the recently reinstated Michael Vick.

Now the Vikings are trying to revive their support for the guys who were going to fight for the job in the first place, and denying any doubts about their ability.

Left guard Steve Hutchinson and defensive end Jared Allen were among the players who checked in with Favre in recent weeks, but both of them claimed they weren’t recruiting.

“It’s just funny how one of a million texts comes out as we’re trying to lobby for him,” Hutchinson said. “It had noth-ing to do with that.”

Allen characterized the communica-tion simply as team leaders assessing the situation.

“It’s been blown up to we were try-ing to coax him in and begging him to come, and that’s not the case,” Allen said, as Childress rode by in a golf cart and teased him to cut his shaggy hair.

Allen also insisted the team didn’t need to do any damage control.

“I’ll tell them right now: We have their back. One of them’s going to be our quarterback, you know, and we’re cool with that,” Allen said.

Speaking to The Associated Press in Mississippi, Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said he believes the soon-to-be 40-year-old made the right decision. Asked about Favre’s insinuation that he could play come midseason, Cook said he hadn’t discussed that with his friend and client.

“I don’t think that he’s categorically said ... that if the world falls and they need a quarterback that I wouldn’t go, but he’s not looking for that to happen either,” Cook said.

Cook reiterated Favre’s earlier asser-tion that the health of his ankles and knees and other potential aches and pains, not the strength of his right arm, was the reason for his reluctance.

“He’s really tried and worked hard, but every day his body was telling him, ’Look, you’ve still got the arm. It’s the rest of me that’s telling you to rethink your situation,”’ Cook said. “He said, ’Look, I don’t want to go through it no more. Right now I’m just not of a mindset to go up there and go through this and that. I don’t want to get to the middle of the season and look around and wonder what I’ve gotten myself into here.”’

In an earlier interview with the AP, before Favre had made up his mind, Childress called the distraction and potential negative effect on Jackson and Rosenfels “overrated.”

He added: “We’re going to be a good football team, either way.”

On Wednesday, Childress defended the perceived risk of such a high-pro-file pursuit: “I owe it to this organiza-tion and I owe it to this football team to bring in the best possible players that I can bring in here.”

———Associated Press Writer Chris Tal-

bott in Jackson, Miss., contributed to this report.

S PO R T SPage 6 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

Jason Murray takescoaching post at Liberty University

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Liberty head baseball coach Jim Toman has announced the hiring of Jason Murray as an assis-tant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Murray replaces former Liberty coach Nick Schnabel, who accepted a similar position at East Carolina earlier this month. Murray will serve as the team’s infield coach and assist with the hitters.

“We are delighted that we were able to hire someone with Jason’s experience,” said Toman. “Not only has Jason worked with several outstanding coaches, but he has also been a head coach in the Big South Conference and was recently the recruiting coordinator at Michigan.”

“This opportunity is a true blessing for my wife, Mindy, and me,” stated Mur-ray, who graduated from Bluffton High School in 1993.

Murray, 34, is no stranger in Big South baseball circles, having served two assis-tant coaching stints at Winthrop and leading the Charleston Southern program as its head coach for four years.

Last season, Murray returned to Winthrop to serve as an assistant coach for the second time under Hudak. The Eagles posted a 35-25 overall record, while finishing in second place in the Big South standings with an 18-9 mark.

In September 2004, after coaching at Michigan, Murray returned to the Big South as head coach at Charleston South-ern. Over his four years at the helm of the Buccaneers, Mur-ray recorded the fourth-most wins by a head coach in program history and had six of his players earn all-conference honors. His 2005 Buccaneer squad set a school record by posting a 14-game win streak—the longest in school history. In 2008, three of his freshman recruits earned All-American honors.

Murray is the son of Fred and Trudy Murray of Bluffton.

SW girls’ golf team to hold first practiceGirls interested in playing for the Southern Wells Raiders

girls’ golf team should attend a meeting and practice on Fri-day, July 31, at 4 p.m. at the school. Bring clubs. For more information, call coach Charles Harris at 765-728-2769.

Raiders’ cross country to beginThe Southern Wells Raiders’ high school cross county

teams will be opening their camp at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, continuing through noon Friday, Aug. 7. Phillip Rhodes is the varsity coach and may be contacted at 260-694-6453.

Raiders’ football to open practiceSouthern Wells Raiders’ football players in grades 9-12

will begin practice on Monday, Aug. 3 from 8-11:00 a.m. Second practice of the day will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. New students in grades 9-12 or anyone wishing to play should call coach Mark Lefebvre at 260-273-2820.

Practice to begin for SW volleyballSouthern Wells girls’ high school volleyball practice

will start Monday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a break for lunch and a second session from 2-4:30. Any girl in grades 9-12 is welcome. New students in grades 9-12 or anyone wanting to play should contact coach Melissa Northrop at 260-750-5329.

Norwell girls’ cross country to startNorwell High School girls’ cross country practice will

start on Monday, Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. Physicals must be complet-ed and turned in before an athlete can practice. Knight Con-tracts and trainer cards are due at the same time. For more information, contact Bob Dahl at bdahl@onlyinternet.net

Crusaders girls’ CC conditioning slatedNorwell Middle School girls’ cross country conditioning

will be starting Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 at 8 a.m. Physicals must be completed and turned in before an athlete can begin conditioning. Any girl interested in conditioning should meet at the Norwell High School flag pole near the entrance to the high school gym. Girls should wear practice clothes, running shoes and bring a water bottle. Conditioning will end at approximately 9:30 a.m. Parents needing more infor-mation should contact Bob Dahl by e-mail at bdahl@only-internet.net or call 260-824-2766.

Norwell boys’ cross country to beginNorwell High School boys’ cross country practice will

start on Monday, Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. Physicals must be com-pleted and turned in before an athlete can practice. Knight Contracts and trainer cards are due at the same time. Any questions, contact Randy Hawkins at 341-3974 or randal.hawkins@nwcs.k12.in.us

Bluffton volleyball tryouts to be heldBluffton Tigers girls’ volleyball tryouts will be Aug. 3

and 4 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

SW Jr. High cross country start setSouthern Wells Jr. High cross country practice will start

Monday, Aug. 10 from 6-7 p.m. Runners should meet in front of the high school gym. All runners in grades 6-8 must have a completed physical turned in before they can prac-tice.

Sports Roundupsports@news-banner.com

Vikings move ahead without Favre

American League Roundup

Athletics hammer the ball and Red Sox

National League Roundup

Petit helps Diamondbacks shut out Phillies 4-0 By ANDREW BAGNATO

AP Sports WriterPHOENIX (AP) — A jolt went

through the Philadelphia Phil-lies clubhouse when the club announced it had traded for Cliff Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner.

Lee couldn’t help the Phils in a 4-0 loss to the Arizona Diamond-backs on Wednesday night.

Yusmeiro Petit (1-5) matched a career high with eight strikeouts and won for the first time since Aug. 23, 2008, a span of 11 starts.

“Bottom line was, we just didn’t hit him,” Phils manager Charlie Manuel said.

Still, the NL East leaders were smiling as they left for San Francis-co after winning two of three in the desert. Lee’s acquisition bolsters the Phillies as they try to defend their world championship.

“My first thought? Happy we got another pitcher,” Manuel said. “He’s a good pitcher. He’ll help us.”

Justin Upton homered and drove in three runs and Chris Snyder

added a solo shot for Arizona.Lee’s arrival may cost Phila-

delphia rookie J.A. Happ (7-2) his spot in the starting rotation. But Happ was relieved to remain with the Phillies after being rumored to be trade bait in recent weeks.

“I’m glad I’m here, that’s for sure,” Happ said.

With the acquisition of Lee from the Cleveland Indians, Man-uel said he would ponder changes to his rotation. Happ made his case to stay, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out five.

“Things happen for a reason,” Happ said. “I’ve been hearing that from a lot of people when all this stuff’s been going down. You know, I’m here and trying to do what I can do, so hopefully that means something.”

The Phillies lost for only the sixth time in 25 games this month and their NL East lead dropped to six games over Florida.

The Phillies beat All-Star Dan Haren on Tuesday night, but they seemed baffled by Petit, who

appeared on his way of the rotation — and possibly the big leagues — as recently as a week ago.

In three of Petit’s July starts, the Diamondbacks’ opponents had put up football-like scores of seven, 14 and 10 runs. He entered with a 7.68 ERA.

Facing the potent Phillies line-up, Petit gave up a leadoff single to Jimmy Rollins, then cruised. He allowed a single to Raul Ibanez leading off the second before retiring 15 of the next 16 batters, including 13 straight at one point.

Petit allowed four hits in six innings, walking one and striking out eight.

“It feels good, especially against that team,” Petit said through an interpreter. “It’s a strong and pretty good-hitting club. It makes you feel good about yourself.”

Cardinals 3, Dodgers 215 inningsAt St. Louis, Albert Pujols lined

an RBI single over the head of center fielder Matt Kemp with two outs in the 15th inning, and St. Louis handed Los Angeles its first four-game losing streak of the season.

Blake Hawksworth (1-0) allowed two hits and struck out three in three innings for his first career victory.

Jeff Weaver (5-4) worked two per-fect innings before running into trouble in the 15th.

Padres 7, Reds 1At Cincinnati, Rookie Mat Latos

and two relievers combined on a one-hitter and San Diego won consecutive games for the first time in a month.

Latos (2-1) earned his second straight victory by allowing only Jerry Hairston Jr.’s homer in the fourth inning. Greg Burke and Mike Ekstrom both pitched one inning to complete the Padres’ second one-hitter of the sea-son.

Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Blanks homered off struggling Aaron Harang (5-12). Harang hasn’t won since May 25, going 0-8 in 12 starts.

Marlins 6, Braves 3At Miami, Josh Johnson (10-2) hit

a three-run homer in another solid start to lift Florida.

Johnson’s shot with two outs in the fourth off Kenshin Kawakami (5-8) was the second home run of his career.

Casey Kotchman’s home run lead-ing off the fifth, and Garret Anderson’s two-run homer in the sixth.

Giants 1, Pirates 010 inningsAt San Francisco, Randy Winn

lined an RBI single down the first-base line with two outs in the 10th inning to give San Francisco a three-game sweep.

Matt Cain allowed three hits over nine innings for the Giants and Brian Wilson (3-4) worked the 10th for the victory.

Eugenio Velez led off the 10th against Matt Capps (2-6) with a single. He was sacrificed to second and scored on Winn’s lone hit in five at-bats.

Cubs 12, Astros 0At Chicago, Randy Wells (7-4)

pitched eight innings and Alfonso Sori-ano hit a three-run homer during Chi-cago’s six-run first inning.

Aramis Ramirez homered and drove in two runs for the Cubs, who battered Mike Hampton and improved to 10-3 since the All-Star break.

Hampton (6-8) allowed nine runs in four innings for Houston, which has lost four of five.

Brewers 7, Nationals 5At Milwaukee, Casey McGehee

hit a go-ahead, pinch-hit homer in the sixth inning.

McGehee’s homer — the Brew-ers’ first from a pinch-hitter this season — came with two outs off reliever Tyler Clippard (1-1) and gave Milwaukee a 6-5 lead.

Trevor Hoffman allowed one hit in the ninth to earn his 23rd save.

Jason Murray

American League’s Top TenThe Associated Press

G AB R H Pct.I. Suzuki Sea 93 408 56 150 .368Mauer Min 77 291 57 103 .354Bartlett TB 81 289 50 97 .336Mi. Cabrera Det 98 372 58 124 .333Jeter NYY 95 396 66 128 .323M. Young Tex 96 389 54 125 .321Rolen Tor 88 338 52 108 .320E. Aybar LAA 80 289 40 92 .318B. Abreu LAA 94 350 59 111 .317Crawford TB 101 399 67 125 .313

Home RunsMorneau, Minnesota, 26; Teixeira, New York,

26; CPena, Tampa Bay, 25; Branyan, Seattle, 24; NCruz, Texas, 24; AHill, Toronto, 24; Dye, Chicago, 23; Kinsler, Texas, 23.

Runs Batted InMorneau, Minnesota, 83; Longoria, Tampa

Bay, 78; Bay, Boston, 74; Teixeira, New York, 74; Markakis, Baltimore, 69; BAbreu, Los Ange-les, 68; AHill, Toronto, 68; Konerko, Chicago, 68.

By PAUL NEWBERRYAP National WriterROME (AP) — Michael Phelps has a

whole day off. In Rome, no less.Will he tour the Vatican? Check out the

Trevi Fountain? Visit the Colosseum?“I’ve got to try to get as much rest as pos-

sible,” Phelps said.Guess his mother is here for the sightsee-

ing. Phelps is all business, even when he’s swimming a reduced schedule that actually provided him a break on Thursday.

“I’ve got most of the workload over with now,” Phelps said, sounding a bit relieved after a tiring, stressful year.

He’s also got another world record, and this one was particularly satisfying. One night after he was soundly beaten by Germany’s Paul Biedermann in the 200-meter freestyle, Phelps broke his own record in the 200 but-terfly Wednesday for his first individual title at these world swimming championships.

For good measure, he surpassed another of Mark Spitz’s accomplishments with the 34th world record of his career, one more than Spitz had during his brilliant run in the pool.

The 200 fly was an appropriate salve on Phelps’ wound. That event produced his first trip to the Olympics in 2000 where he fin-

ished fifth as a 15-year-old. That event pro-duced the first of all those world records in 2001.

“I’ve always done well in it,” said Phelps, who’s earned two golds and one silver in Rome. “I guess you can call it my bread and butter event.”

He went out strong, fought off the pain over the last lap and touched in 1 minute, 51.51 seconds, more than a half-second lower than his gold medal-winning time of 1:52.03 at the Beijing Olympics.

Phelps was a lot more relaxed for this race than he was getting ready to face Bieder-mann.

It showed.“I actually had a really good night sleep

for the first time this whole trip, so I was pretty happy about that,” Phelps said. “I actu-ally woke up this morning after my alarm went off. I hit snooze a couple times before I actually got up.”

He’ll have more time to sleep in. Back-ing off his eight-event program at the last two Olympics and the 2007 world champi-onships, Phelps is competing in six races at Rome, three of them relays. The reduced scheduled provides a most welcome break right in the middle and sets him up for his final three events: the 100 fly, 800 free relay

and 400 medley relay.His coach, Bob Bowman, said the buildup

to the 200 free “was more intense, like really intense.”

“It was probably too intense,” he acknowl-edged. “I mean, he was like ready for a death match, which it was. (For the 200 fly) he was more relaxed.”

The U.S. will be favored in the relays, which leaves the 100 fly as the most intrigu-ing event left on Phelps’ platter. That was the race he won by a thousandth of a second in Beijing, a margin so close that runner-up Milorad Cavic of Serbia still believes he touched first.

“I’m ready for that event,” Phelps said. “There’s a bunch of guys that are going to be right there.”

For the 200 fly, he had planned to wear a Speedo bodysuit, only to discover during warmups that the one he brought to the Foro Italico was too tight in the shoulders. So he went back to the legsuit, which he prefers in the fly anyway.

Phelps went out much faster than he nor-mally does in the fly, and paid for it on the final push to the wall. His arms were burn-ing. His legs, too. But there was no way he

was losing again.He surged to the wall a body length ahead

of silver medalist Pawel Korzeniokski of Poland, with Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda set-tling for bronze. Phelps whipped around quickly to see his time and held up his right index finger when the “WR” was posted.

“I wanted to step on it in the first 100 to get out there in the clean water, and that’s pretty much what happened,” Phelps said.

On Tuesday, he was the one in stormy waters. Germany’s Paul Biedermann swam away from Phelps in the 200 free and snatched away his world record, too.

Most of the talk afterward was about what they were wearing — and there wasn’t a red carpet in sight. Biedermann was in a polyure-thane Arena X-Glide suit, which everyone concedes produces much faster times than Phelps’ year-old Speedo LZR Racer.

Bowman threatened to pull his star from all future international events unless FINA speeds up its timetable for banning bodysuits. The governing body had mandated that male swimmers go back to wearing waist-to-knee “jammers” made from textile materials, but says the new rules may not be fully imple-mented until May 2010.

NEWS-BANNER SCOREBOARD

S PO R T S THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 • The News-Banner • Page 7

BASEBALLMAJOR LEAGUEAll Times EDTAMERICAN LEAGUE W L Pct GBNew York 62 39 .614 — Boston 58 42 .580 3 1/2Tampa Bay 55 47 .539 7 1/2Toronto 49 53 .480 13 1/2Baltimore 43 57 .430 18 1/2Central Division W L Pct GBDetroit 53 47 .530 — Minnesota 52 50 .510 2 Chicago 51 51 .500 3 Cleveland 42 60 .412 12 Kansas City 40 60 .400 13 West Division W L Pct GBLos Angeles 60 40 .600 — Texas 56 43 .566 3 1/2Seattle 53 48 .525 7 1/2Oakland 43 57 .430 17 Tuesday’s GamesKansas City 4, Baltimore 3, 11 inningsTampa Bay 6, N.Y. Yankees 2Oakland 9, Boston 8, 11 inningsTexas 7, Detroit 3Minnesota 5, Chicago White Sox 3L.A. Angels 7, Cleveland 6Seattle 4, Toronto 3Wednesday’s GamesL.A. Angels 9, Cleveland 3Seattle 3, Toronto 2Baltimore 7, Kansas City 3N.Y. Yankees 6, Tampa Bay 2Oakland 8, Boston 6Detroit 13, Texas 5Minnesota 3, Chicago White Sox 2Thursday’s GamesKansas City (Hochevar 6-3) at Baltimore (Bergesen 6-5), 12:35 p.m.Oakland (G.Gonzalez 2-2) at Boston (Lester 9-7), 1:35 p.m.Seattle (Olson 3-4) at Texas (Holland 3-6), 8:05 p.m.N.Y. Yankees (Pettitte 8-6) at Chicago White Sox (G.Floyd 8-6), 8:11 p.m.Friday’s GamesBoston at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.Detroit at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 7:38 p.m.Seattle at Texas, 8:05 p.m.L.A. Angels at Minnesota, 8:10 p.m.N.Y. Yankees at Chicago White Sox, 8:11 p.m.Toronto at Oakland, 10:05 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUEAll Times EDTEast Division W L Pct GBPhiladelphia 58 41 .586 — Florida 53 48 .525 6 Atlanta 51 50 .505 8 New York 48 51 .485 10 Washington 32 69 .317 27 Central Division W L Pct GBSt. Louis 56 48 .538 — Chicago 53 46 .535 1/2Houston 51 50 .505 3 1/2Milwaukee 50 51 .495 4 1/2Cincinnati 45 55 .450 9 Pittsburgh 43 58 .426 11 1/2West Division W L Pct GBLos Angeles 62 39 .614 — San Francisco 55 46 .545 7 Colorado 54 46 .540 7 1/2Arizona 44 58 .431 18 1/2San Diego 40 62 .392 22 1/2Tuesday’s GamesFlorida 4, Atlanta 3N.Y. Mets 4, Colorado 0San Diego 3, Cincinnati 2Houston 11, Chicago Cubs 6Washington 8, Milwaukee 3St. Louis 10, L.A. Dodgers 0Philadelphia 4, Arizona 3San Francisco 3, Pittsburgh 2Wednesday’s GamesChicago Cubs 12, Houston 0San Francisco 1, Pittsburgh 0, 10 inningsFlorida 6, Atlanta 3San Diego 7, Cincinnati 1Colorado at New York, ppd., rainMilwaukee 7, Washington 5St. Louis 3, L.A. Dodgers 2, 15 inningsArizona 4, Philadelphia 0Thursday’s GamesColorado (Hammel 5-5) at N.Y. Mets (J.Santana 11-8), 12:10 p.m., 1st gameSan Diego (Stauffer 0-2) at Cincinnati (Cueto 8-7), 12:35 p.m.Washington (J.Martin 0-1) at Milwaukee (Gallardo 9-7), 2:05 p.m.Houston (R.Ortiz 3-5) at Chicago Cubs (K.Hart 2-1), 2:20 p.m.Atlanta (J.Vazquez 8-7) at Florida (Van-denHurk 1-0), 7:10 p.m.Colorado (De La Rosa 8-7) at N.Y. Mets (Niese 1-0), 7:10 p.m., 2nd gameL.A. Dodgers (Kuroda 3-5) at St. Louis (Lohse 4-6), 8:15 p.m.Philadelphia (R.Lopez 3-0) at San Fran-cisco (J.Sanchez 3-9), 10:15 p.m.Friday’s GamesWashington at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.Arizona at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.Chicago Cubs at Florida, 7:10 p.m.Colorado at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Atlanta, 7:35 p.m.Houston at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.Milwaukee at San Diego, 10:05 p.m.Philadelphia at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

MINOR LEAGUESOUTHERN LEAGUE (AA)All Times EDTSecond HalfNorth Division W L Pct. GBChattanooga (Dodgers) 17 16 .515 —West Tenn (Mariners) 17 16 .515 —Tennessee (Cubs) 16 17 .485 1Carolina (Reds) 14 19 .424 3x-Huntsville (Brewers) 14 19 .424 3South Division W L Pct. GBJacksonville (Marlins) 23 10 .697 —x-Birmingham (White Sox) 19 14 .576 4Mississippi (Braves) 16 17 .485 7Mobile (Diamondbacks) 15 18 .455 8Montgomery (Rays) 14 19 .424 9x-clinched first halfWednesday’s GamesJacksonville 9, Birmingham 3Tennessee 12, Mobile 2, 1st gameMontgomery 5, Huntsville 1, 1st gameWest Tenn 8, Mississippi 7, 10 inningsCarolina 2, Chattanooga 1Tennessee 8, Mobile 1, 2nd gameMontgomery 10, Huntsville 0, 2nd gameThursday’s GamesBirmingham at Jacksonville, 7:05 p.m.West Tenn at Mississippi, 8:05 p.m.Tennessee at Mobile, 8:05 p.m.Huntsville at Montgomery, 8:05 p.m.Chattanooga at Carolina, 7:15 p.m.Friday’s GamesBirmingham at Jacksonville, 7:05 p.m.Huntsville at Montgomery, 8:05 p.m.West Tenn at Mississippi, 8:05 p.m.Tennessee at Mobile, 8:05 p.m.Chattanooga at Carolina, 7:15 p.m.

MIDWEST LEAGUE (A)All Times EDTSecond HalfEastern Division W L Pct. GBx-Fort Wayne (Padres) 26 6 .813 — West Michigan (Tigers) 19 13 .594 7 S.Bend (Diamondbacks) 16 15 .516 9 1/2Great Lakes (Dodgers) 16 16 .500 10 Dayton (Reds) 14 18 .438 12 Lansing (Blue Jays) 13 18 .419 12 1/2Western Division W L Pct. GBCedar Rapids (Angels) 18 13 .581 — Peoria (Cubs) 17 15 .531 1 1/2x-Kane County (A’s) 15 17 .469 3 1/2Burlington (Royals) 14 17 .452 4 Clinton (Mariners) 14 17 .452 4 Quad Cities (Cardinals) 14 17 .452 4 Wisconsin (Brewers) 13 18 .419 5 Beloit (Twins) 11 20 .355 7 x-clinched first halfWednesday’s GamesFort Wayne 4, Wisconsin 3Clinton 7, Lansing 5South Bend 6, Quad Cities 4, comp. of susp. gameCedar Rapids 4, Kane County 0Peoria 13, Dayton 7South Bend 6, Quad Cities 0, 7 inningsBurlington 3, West Michigan 1Great Lakes 4, Beloit 2Thursday’s GamesKane County at Cedar Rapids, 7:35 p.m.Burlington at West Michigan, 7 p.m.Peoria at Dayton, 7 p.m.Quad Cities at South Bend, 7 p.m.Clinton at Lansing, 7:05 p.m.Beloit at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m.Wisconsin at Fort Wayne, 7:05 p.m.Friday’s GamesCedar Rapids at West Michigan, 7 p.m.Beloit at Fort Wayne, 7:05 p.m.Clinton at Great Lakes, 7:05 p.m.Kane County at Lansing, 7:05 p.m.Quad Cities at Wisconsin, 8:05 p.m.Peoria at South Bend, 7:30 p.m.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCERAll Times EDTEASTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GAColumbus 7 3 9 30 28 24Chicago 7 3 8 29 25 20D.C. 6 3 10 28 31 28Toronto FC 7 7 5 26 27 30New England 6 5 5 23 18 21Kansas City 5 6 6 21 20 19New York 2 15 4 10 16 37WESTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GAHouston 9 5 5 32 23 14Seattle 7 3 8 29 26 16Los Angeles 6 3 10 28 23 20Colorado 7 5 6 27 28 23Chivas USA 8 6 3 27 19 15Real Salt Lake 6 7 5 23 28 23FC Dallas 4 9 5 17 22 30San Jose 3 10 5 14 21 35NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.Wednesday’s GameEverton 1, MLS All-Stars 1, tie, Everton wins 4-3 on penalty kicksSaturday, Aug. 1Toronto FC at New England, 7:30 p.m.

Real Salt Lake at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.D.C. United at Houston, 8:30 p.m.Kansas City at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.Columbus at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.Sunday, Aug. 2Seattle FC at San Jose, 3 p.m.

SPORTS TRANSACTIONSWednesdayBASEBALLMLB—Suspended Detroit Tigers RHP Carlos Alvarado and RHP Frank Penal-ver 50 games each after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.American LeagueBALTIMORE ORIOLES—Placed LHP Rich Hill on the 15-day DL. Purchased the contract of RHP Chris Tillman from Norfolk (IL).CHICAGO WHITE SOX—Optioned INF Josh Fields to Charlotte (IL). Placed RHP Bartolo Colon on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 25. Purchased the contract of LHP Randy Williams from Charlotte.NEW YORK YANKEES—Acquired RHP Jason Hirsh from Colorado for a player to be named. Released RHP Brett Tomko.TEXAS RANGERS—Recalled INF Joa-quin Arias from Oklahoma City (PCL). Optioned RHP Doug Mathis to Okla-homa City.National LeagueCHICAGO CUBS—Recalled RHP Mitch Atkins from Iowa (PCL). Optioned RHP Jeff Stevens to Iowa.CINCINNATI REDS—Acquired OF Wladimir Balentien from Seattle for RHP Robert Manuel.HOUSTON ASTROS—Purchased the contract of RHP Bud Norris from Round Rock (PCL). Activated RHP Doug Bro-cail from the 15-day DL.PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES—Acquired LHP Cliff Lee and OF Ben Francisco from Cleveland for RHP Carlos Carras-co, INF Jason Donald, C Lou Marson and RHP Jason Knapp.PITTSBURGH PIRATES—Traded SS Jack Wilson and RHP Ian Snell to Seattle for SS Ronny Cedeno, C Jeff Clement, RHP Nathan Adcock, RHP Brett Lorin and RHP Aaron Pribanic. Acquired RHP Tim Alderson from San Francisco for 2B Freddy Sanchez.SAN DIEGO PADRES—Agreed to terms with RHP James Needy.BASKETBALLNational Basketball AssociationCLEVELAND CAVALIERS—Waived G Tarence Kinsey.FOOTBALLNational Football LeagueBUFFALO BILLS—Signed WR Shaine Smith, G Eric Wood and S Jairus Byrd. Placed Byrd on the active/non-football-injury list.CINCINNATI BENGALS—Signed LB Rey Maualuga.MINNESOTA VIKINGS—Signed OT Phil Loadholt.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—Signed LS Jake Ingram. Waived DB Jamar Love.PITTSBURGH STEELERS—Agreed to terms with TE Heath Miller on a six-year contract.ST. LOUIS RAMS—Signed DT Hollis Thomas. Waived DL Kirston Pittman, DL Willie Williams, WR Travis Brown and WR Horace Gant.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS—Placed CB Walt Harris on injured reserve and DL Ricky Jean-Francois on the non-football illness list.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS—Placed DE Brandon Miller from the waived/non-football injury list. Signed DE Derek Walker.TENNESSEE TITANS—Agreed to terms with DT Sen’Derrick Marks. Waived OL Ryan Schmidt and DT Derrick Jones.HOCKEYNational Hockey LeagueEDMONTON OILERS—Agreed to terms with F Liam Reddox and F Ryan Potulny.MINNESOTA WILD—Re-signed G Josh Harding to a one-year contract.OTTAWA SENATORS—Signed D Derek Smith and F Jeremy Yablonski to one-year contracts.PHOENIX COYOTES—Re-signed LW Scottie Upshall and G Josh Tordjman to one-year contracts.ST. LOUIS BLUES—Signed D Bryce Lampman.TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING—Named Rick Wilson associate coach and agreed to terms with him on a multiyear contract.COLLEGEBIG SOUTH CONFERENCE—Named Mary Gover compliance/administration assistant, Daniel Cooke public relations assistant and Janette Lavery marketing assistant.OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE—Named Elizabeth “Beth” DeBauche commissioner.ROCKY MOUNTAIN—Announced the resignation of David Reeves, football coach. Named offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong interim head coach.

Servicewith a Smile!

633 North Main St., Bluffton • 824-0900

Service for the long run.Not the run around.

HIDAY MOTORS

Barry Scott Service Manager

Doug Hoag Service Consultant

TThe Doctor is in: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CLOSED Sat. & Sun.

1150 N. Main, Bluffton, IN

824-5344

Specializing in Your Automotive Needs

Family, Farm and Fleet Vehicle Repair FLEET ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE

0520 S. Decker Dr.Bluffton

“The Quality Service You Deserve!”

260-824-9149

PRECISIONSERVICE

FREEEstimates

Check out our complete inventory at

wwww.hidaymotors.comwww.hidaymotors.com

HIDAYChrysler Dodge Jeep1791 N. Main St. - Bluffton

260-824-19311-888-824-0901

BBLUFFTONBLUFFTONBBODY & BODY & PPAINTPAINT

AAUTO DETAIL CENTERAUTO DETAIL CENTERWe Take Pride In Your Ride!

804 W. Wabash • 824-8623Kevin Johnson, Owner

Honda of Van Wert

US Hwy. 127 S.Van Wert, OH419.238.1776

Motorcycles, ATV’s & Scooters

Tu, Th, F 8-6; W 8-8; Sat 8-3Closed Sun. & Mon.

www.hondaofvanwert.com

260-724-22761421 Manchester St., Decatur

Off U.S. 27NBehind Decatur Gardens Restaurant

www.innovativeconceptsav.com

- - we bring technology to you.

42”Plasma HDTV

LG42PQ30

$79999

•600 Hz for flicker-free and blurr-free viewing with no eye stress•Dual XD engine•USB 2.0 connectivity•1,000,000 hours life span

RACING NEWSRACING NEWSRACING NEWS

Deck’sSuper Service

Since 1934 More than Just Tires

•STRUTS •BRAKES•ALIGNMENTS •EXHAUST

126 N. Main St., Bluffton

824-2324

Bluffton Tire Inc. Bluffton Tire Inc.11308 S. Main St.1308 S. Main St.

BlufftonBluffton

10% OFF10% OFF 10% OFF Discontinued Closeout Tires

1-260-824-0418

By The Associated PressAll Times EDTNASCARSPRINT CUPPennsylvania 500Site: Long Pond, Pa.Schedule: Friday, practice (Speed, noon-1:30 p.m.), qualify-

ing (ESPN2, 3:30-6 p.m.); Saturday, practice (ESPN2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.); Sunday, race, 2 p.m. (ESPN, 1-6:30 p.m.).

Track: Pocono Raceway (triangle, 2.5 miles).Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.Fast facts: Tony Stewart, the June winner at Pocono, has a

series-high 3,054 points with six races to go before the 12-driver Chase for the championship. Jeff Gordon (2,847) is second, Kurt Busch (2,608) fourth and Edwards (2,556) fifth. Matt Kenseth (2,429) is 12th, followed by David Reutimann (2,361) and Kyle Busch (2,347). ... Mark Martin, the series victory leader with four, is winless in 44 starts at Pocono.

Next race: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen, Aug. 9, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

On the Net: http://www.nascar.com———NATIONWIDEU.S. Cellular 250Site: Newton, Iowa.Schedule: Friday, practice; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 1-3

p.m.), race, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, 4-7:30 p.m.).Track: Iowa Speedway (oval, 0.875 miles).Race distance: 218.75 miles, 250 laps.Fast facts: Former NASCAR star Rusty Wallace designed the

track. ... Kyle Busch, a six-time winner this year, leads the sea-son standings with 3,296 points, followed by Edwards (3,104), Brad Keselowski (2,904), Jason Leffler (2,790) and Joey Loga-no (2,395). ... Busch, Edwards and Kevin Harvick will commute from the Sprint Cup event in Pennsylvania. ... Germain Racing’s Michael Annett is from Des Moines.

Next race: Zippo 200, Aug. 8, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

On the Net: http://www.nascar.com———CAMPING WORLD TRUCKSToyota Tundra 200Site: Gladeville, Tenn.Schedule: Friday, practice; Saturday, qualifying, race, 8 p.m.

(Speed, 7:30-10:30 p.m.).Track: Nashville Superspeedway (oval, 1.333 miles).Race distance: 200 miles, 150 laps.Fast facts: Ron Hornaday Jr., winless at Nashville Super-

speedway, tops the season standings with 2,098 points, followed by Mike Skinner (1,924), Matt Crafton (1,922), Todd Bodine (1,803) and David Starr (1,758). ... Johnny Benson lost his ride when Red Horse Racing failed to find sponsorship, then was injured June 13 in a Supermodified event in Michigan.

Next race: O’Reilly 200, Aug. 19, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.

On the Net: http://www.nascar.com———INDYCARMeijer Indy 300Site: Sparta, Ky.Schedule: Friday, practice, qualifying (Versus, 6-7 p.m.); Sat-

urday, race, 8:45 p.m. (Versus, 8-11 p.m.).Track: Kentucky Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles).Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps.Fast facts: Scott Dixon, a three-time winner this year, tops the

season standings with 380 points. Dario Franchitti is second with 377, followed by Ryan Briscoe (366), Helio Castroneves (309) and Danica Patrick (285). ... Tony Kanaan has been cleared to race this weekend. ... Dixon won the last oval race, in Richmond, Va., on June 27.

Next race: Honda Indy 200, Sunday, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio.

On the Net: http://www.indycar.com———FORMULA ONEHungarian Grand PrixNext race: Grand Prix of Europe, Aug. 23, Streets of Valencia,

Valencia, Spain.Last week: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian

Grand Prix, the defending series champion’s first victory of the year. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was seriously injured in qualifying when he was hit in the helmet by debris and crashed into a tire barrier at 120 mph. He’s recuperating from surgery for multiple skull fractures, and doctors say he could be released as early as next week.

On the Net: http://www.formula1.com———NHRA FULL THROTTLENext race: Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 13-16, Brainerd

International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.Last week: Antron Brown swept the NHRA’s Western swing,

beating Cory McClenathan in the Top Fuel final at Infineon Race-way. Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won.

On the Net: http://www.nhra.com———OTHER RACESARCA RE/MAX SERIES: Pennsylvania ARCA 200, Saturday

(Speed, 1-3 p.m.), Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa. On the Net: http://www.arcaracing.com

FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS: Kentucky 100, Saturday (Versus, Monday, 4-5 p.m.), Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky. On the Net: http://www.indycar.com

WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Sprint Car: Saturday, K-C Raceway, Chilicothe. On the Net: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com

U.S. AUTO RACING CLUB: Silver Crown and Sprint Car: Sat-urday, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa. On the Net: http://www.usacracing.com

Staying on TrackBy DAVID GRANTAssociated Press WriterG R A N D B L A N C

TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Two-time champion Tiger Woods will be making his ninth appearance in the Buick Open. In the face of Buick’s plans to pull its tour-nament sponsorship after this year, he hopes it won’t be his last.

“Obviously this area’s been struggling a bit,” Woods said. “I think the atmosphere, all the players have really enjoyed playing in front of the fans here. It is very inti-

mate.”General Motors Co. will

end its half-century run as sponsor of the Buick Open, a person briefed on the deci-sion told The Associated Press this week. The person spoke only on the condition of anonymity because the announcement will not be made until the tournament ends.

Whatever the status of sponsoring agreements, sev-eral PGA Tour pros expressed their affinity for the Warwick Hills course’s tree-lined fair-ways, short layout and dis-

tinctly human feel.It’s the small-town atmo-

sphere that makes the Buick unlike many PGA Tour stops.

“That kind of support, that kind of commitment from the fans to come out and see us play, yeah,” 2003 cham-pion Jim Furyk said. “That’s what makes a golf tourna-ment special and what the guys enjoy.”

Fifty miles north of Detroit, Grand Blanc has big-city ties without the need to compete with other major sports.

Phelps actually has day off at world championships

Pros express regard for troubled Buick Open

M O D E R N L I V I N GPage 8 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

'Whale' of a mix-up leads to laughterG l e n a n d

Julie were eating Sunday lunch with their sons, Nathanael, 5, and Jacob, 7, Sunday when Julie brief-ly choked on a piece of food. Glen asked Julie, “Did something go down the wrong way?” Nathanael (who had recently watched a DVD about whales), commented, “No, Daddy, Mommy just has something stuck in her blow hole!” — Glen and Julie Werling of Ossian

Darrel and Tina had taken their grandson Eli, 4, camping over the 4th of July when a friend’s older granddaughter asked his name. He only said, “Eli.” She asked his last name. He wasn’t sure what to answer so Tina asked him, “What does Mommy call you when she’s mad?” Eli promptly pointed his finger at his grandmother and said, “Go to your room!” — Dar-rel and Tina Rensberger of Warsaw

Barbara was in the gro-cery store with her grandson Dylan, 7, and his family. Dylan tried to climb under the top of the shopping cart onto its bottom shelf. He snagged the fingernail of his pinky finger, tearing the nail back. After leaving the store, the family approached the gas station in their car. Dylan

a s k e d , “Can we pa rk in the handi-c a p p e d s p a c e now?” — B a r b a r a Briles of Cutler

K e n d -all, 7, and her family were trav-eling from C h i c a g o t o N e w Jersey. As they passed t h r o u g h Indiana’s industrial

zone, Kendall saw a huge white pile near a construc-tion area. When she asked what it was, her mother answered that it was a pile of salt. Ten minutes later Ken-dall wanted to know when they would pass the pile of pepper. — Rebecca Hayes (grandmother of Kendall) of Newtown Square, Pennsyl-vania

When I was talking with Charles Hanneman of Avilla at the Noble County 4-H Fair he told me about his granddaughter Rachael Ann. When she was 10 she observed the computer he was using and said, "Gee, Grandpa, even your com-puter is an antique!"

Thank you to everyone

who contributes stories. It’s especially good to hear from area residents.If you have a story to share please don’t put it off… call today or e-mail me. The number is 347-0738; e-mail is graceh@

kpcnews.net. Or send it to 816 Mott St., Kendallville, IN 46755.

Thank you in advance!

Funny Things

Kids Say...

GraceHousholder

There are times in every writer’s life when, chal-lenged to meet a deadline, the great surge of inspira-tion, which needs to be stirred up, just lies there leaving the writer staring at a blank piece of paper, pen hanging limply in the hand.

I know not what other writers do to get the literary juices flowing again, but as for me, I go and clean out a closet or dresser drawer to jump start my mind.

So it was this last week-end, though I’m almost afraid to say it, my cat hasn’t brought in any critters this summer to speak of, just a small mouse deposited by the TV set one morning and one outside on the porch. Neither one could move anymore.

I like to save articles which give me a chuckle when I read them, and so, last weekend while dresser drudging, I came across some things that made me laugh, as well as the book

“Clinic in a Cornfield” writ-ten by Dr. Harold Caylor in 1982. I started browsing through the book finding it to be very interesting. It was interesting to me because I knew Dr. Harold as I had worked at Caylor-Nickel during the years that, though he was retired, he still kept an office in the building and visited patients in the hospi-tal every day just to see how they were getting along. Caylor-Nickel was so much a part of his life and I think his love for it, and the peo-ple it served, were returned in many ways.

I first became acquainted with Dr. Harold not long after I came to Bluffton to teach school when he sepa-rated me from my gallblad-der. I don’t know what is done today, but after my sur-gery, during that time, I was presented with a little bottle full of all the gallstones I had just lost. Though to some that might seem kind of gross, to me, it was like a badge of courage.

It didn’t take long for me to find out a little history of Caylor-Nickel Clinic when I arrived in Bluffton in 1948. I learned that the clinic,

patterned after the Mayo Clinic, was first opened in Pennville and was moved to Bluffton around 1918 pri-marily because of railroad routes. As Dr. Harold report-ed in his book, his father, Dr. Charles Caylor, had three choices to make about the move, to Portland, Hartford City and Bluffton.

Of course, “Clinic in a Cornfield” was written from the perspective of Dr. Har-old. I would like to augment some of those incidents with personal observations from people who used to work at Caylor-Nickel or had occasion to doctor there in the early days. If anyone is interested in sharing some of those experiences I would certainly appreciate them contacting me.

Now to the “funny” part of what I turned up when rummaging through what most people would call a big mess. At least, they are funny to me. If any of you are a fan of Jay Leno, Conan

O’Brien or David Letter-man, you might as well not read any further. It’s not that kind of humor.

Remember Yogi Berra? Remember the year America was introduced to streaking? Running through a crowd of people bar naked? Well, reportedly when Yogi was asked after seeing a streaker if it was a male or female, he replied, ”I don’t know. They were wearing a paper bag over their head.”

This one from a major general about a specific airplane. “The Air Force is pleased with the perfor-mance of the C-5A cargo plane although having the wings fall off at 8,000 hours is a problem.”

How about this correc-tion by a paper in the U.K. “We apologize for the error in last week’s paper in which we stated that Mr. Arnold Dogbody was defec-tive in the police force. This was a typographical error. We meant, of course, that

Mr. Dogbody is a detective in the police farce.”

And here’s what the Board of Councilmen in Canton, Miss., decreed in the mid 1800s for the build-ing of a jail.

“Resolved by this coun-cil, that we build a new jail.

“Resolved: that the new jail be built out of the mate-rials of the old jail.

“Resolved: that the old jail be used until the new jail is finished.”

And if you’re interested in record, a man by the name of Randy Ober from Arkan-sas spit a wad of tobacco 47 feet, 7 inches.

Michel Lotito’s record of eating metal and glass, which he started in 1959, has really never been chal-lenged. Since 1966 he has eaten 10 bicycles, a super-market food cart, seven televisions, six chandeliers, a coffin and a Cessna air-plane.

The Guiness Book of World Records say it’s so.

A Chat with Bratt

Layla is a two and a half year old, domestic short hair, spayed, female. She’s a very sweet gal!

Five year old Buster is a male, Pug, who is house-broken. Buster is not good with cats!

Bratt’s Cat Tips: Fleas can be brought in from outside. To help prevent this, some flea repelling plants are marigolds, pennyroyal, painted daisies and chrysanthe-mums. If you are trying to rid your cat of fleas, be sure to treat the environment as well. Fleas do not actually live on cats; they just feed on them. They live in the car-pet, furniture and other household stuff.

“Bratt” the Cat

A success story from St. Jude’s

By JUNE GROVENext Monday, Jason Humbarger will be

37 years old. That’s a really amazing event because when he was three, he was diag-nosed with a disease from which, at that time, less than 10 percent of its victims sur-vived.

Jason was born in Fort Wayne on Aug. 3, 1972, the middle son of the three boys of L.D. and Karen Humbarger. When he was two, the family moved to Markle.

As Jason approached his third birthday, the once lively little boy developed a sick-ness which left him pale and weak. Con-cerned, his parents took him to a doctor in Fort Wayne, but after the initial examination, he found nothing out of the ordinary. That was before the blood work had been ana-lyzed. So, the Humbargers returned home.

Then, the phone call came. Jason had a cancer called acute lymphocytic leukemia, a disease of which little was known in 1975.

No one around the area knew how to treat the condition, so the Humbargers were referred to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis Tennessee, a hospital long envisioned by actor/comedian Danny Thomas.

For two months, the little boy was kept in isolation, his mom close by his side. Since very little was known about the disease at that time, Jason became a kind of “guinea pig” for a variety of treatments. He was put on a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation. Then, he was allowed to go home. But for a long time he and his mom had to keep going back to St. Jude’s every week for check-ups. Jason remembered that every Tuesday they’d get on a plane bound for Memphis where, after tests, they could return home

the same day “or the next morning if test results hadn’t come in,” said Jason.

By the time he was 13, Jason’s visits had dwindled to once a year. That was also the year he met Danny Thomas and his daugh-ter Marlo.

As for the treatments, he had to take through the years, they made me a little bit sick.” He added, however, that the younger the patient, the better the tolerance level.

Jason has only good thoughts about St. Jude’s.

“Kids who are admitted to the hospital are considered family first and patient sec-ond,” he said. This is no better illustrated by the no charge for the little patients. “We didn’t pay anything,” said Jason. And that included living quarters for family, food, and airplane fare from Fort Wayne to Mem-phis all those years.

A large hotel, where families stay, has been built on the St. Jude’s complex, com-pliments of the Memphis Grizzlies basket-ball team.

“Everybody in the area gives to the hos-pital,” Jason added. And the lights of the spire at the Danny Thomas Center are never turned off, a continuing beacon to those who need help.

As Jason’s treatments continued at St. Jude’s, his health improved so much so that he was able to start to school at Union Ele-mentary in rural Huntington County when he was six. During his two years at Salamo-nie Junior High, Jason played basketball and at Huntington North High School, where he graduated in 1991, Jason went out for base-ball.

Jason’s most recent visit to St. Jude’s was

last February. “They always keep updated on how you’re doing,” he said. He knows effects of the disease, he had, can return in the form of a recurrence of the cancer or heart or lung problems.

Though Jason was told he would never be able to have children, he surprised every-one by having three, two sons and a daugh-ter, who have only “a slim chance” of con-tracting their dad’s cancer.

Jason now lives in Bluffton, where he moved in 1999, and he can often be spotted at parks where his kids play ball.

Raising money for St. Jude’s has become a kind of family affair through the years. Jason’s grandparents put on a bike-a-thon in Markle for many years which netted about a million dollars for St. Jude’s ,according to Jason. “It takes $1.4 million a day to operate St. Jude,s,” he added.

Besides his grandparents, Jason’s brother Jarred, who works at a radio station in War-

saw, has instigated all kinds of fund raisers for the hospital.

“I lead a pretty normal life today,” said Jason. Though he’s been in remission for many years, there’s always that little bit of fear in the back of his mind that the cancer could return.

When Jason first went to St. Jude’s, sur-vival rates were in the single digits. Today, it has risen to 94 percent and the patient count has jumped from 4,375 to over 30,000. Much of the advancement in the treatment of lymphocytic leukemia has been due to what was learned from taking care of Jason back in the 1970s, a fact which helps him make sense of his ordeal. “If I would have had a choice, I would have chosen not to get the cancer,” he said. “But if I did have to get it, I am glad that what they learned from me at St. Judes has helped cure others.”

And then he added, “Everything happens for a reason.”

Jason Humbarger survives childhood leukemia

Jason Humbarger and his son Cordell

Dr. Harold Caylor; and some oddball humor

Be sure and get your copy of the Wells County 2009

4-H Scrapbook

Packed full of 4-H Memories!

Inserted in the

The News-BannerFriday, August 7th

Follow us at...twitter.com/newsbanner

Library ladies show off their tattoosAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — So much for the stereotype.

Texas librarians are baring their skin and revealing their tat-toos — all to raise disaster relief money to help damaged libraries.

Photos of the librarians and their body art appear in a new calendar sold by the Texas Library Association. Librarian Shawne Miksa says it’s a way to get people to notice library issues. As the model for November 2010, she shows off Chi-nese characters on her lower back that mean “wisdom” and “desire.”

The “Tattooed Ladies of TLA” 18-month calendar is a follow-up to the successful “Men of Texas Libraries” calen-dar, which raised $9,000 to help libraries damaged by hur-ricanes Katrina and Rita.

A R E A / S TAT E THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 • The News-Banner • Page 9

CComp l e t e T ran smi s s i on S e r v i c e & Ma in t enanceComp l e t e T ran smi s s i on S e r v i c e & Ma in t enanceComp l e t e T ran smi s s i on S e r v i c e & Ma in t enancewww.experttrans .comwww.experttrans .com

EXPERT TRANSMISSION2883 E. St. Rd. 124, Bluffton • 824-4929 - 1811 West Monroe, Decatur • 724-2434

REGISTRATION9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

U.S. Hwy. 27 South, Decatur724-8525

NOTICE TO BIDDERSNotice is hereby given that the

Town Council of Ossian of Ossian, Indiana, will receive sealed propos-als at the office of the Clerk Treasur-er, 507 N. Jefferson, Ossian, Indi-ana, 46777, until 7:00 p.m., on Mon-day, August 10, 2009, at which time said bids will be publicly opened and read aloud, for the furnishing of all equipment and labor necessary to collect and dispose of garbage, rub-bish and recyclables within the Town of Ossian, Indiana, for the three (3) year period beginning October 1, 2009, and ending September 30, 2012, all in strict accordance with detailed Specifications now on file in the office of the Clerk Treasurer of said Town, where they may be examined during her regular busi-ness hours by prospective bidders.

Proposals shall be properly and completely executed on a standard bid form obtainable from the Clerk Treasurer together with a non-collu-sion affidavit required by the statutes of the State of Indiana. Copies of the complete “Instructions to Bidders” and ‘General Specifications’ are available from the Clerk Treasurer’s office upon request.

Dated July 20, 2009By: Mary ShaferClerk Treasurer

nb oj 7/23, 30

VOUCHERS TO BE PRESENTED TO COMMISSIONERS ON

08/03/09Hinkle, Racster & Lopez

1,367.00; Cummins-Allison Corp. 154.11; The Print Shop 418.26; Mock, Larry E. 272.00; Antrim, Andrew W. 25.00; Johnson, Roy R. 25.00.

nb oj 7/30

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALEBy virtue of a certified copy

of a decree to me directed from the Clerk of the Superior Court of Wells County, Indiana, in Cause No. 90D01-0902-MF-0003, where-in OneWest Bank, FSB was Plain-tiff, and Brian D. Bradburn, was a Defendant, requiring me to make the sum as provided for in said Decree with interest and costs, I will expose at public sale to the highest bidder, on the 2 day of Sep-tember, 2009, at 1 P.M. of said day, at the 1615 W. Western Avenue, Bluffton, IN 46714, the fee simple of the whole body of Real Estate in Wells County, Indiana:

Part of the Southwest Quar-ter of Section 32, Township 27 North, Range 11 East, Rock Creek Township, Wells County, Indiana, described as follows: Starting at the Southwest corner of said Southwest Quarter found per record witness; thence North-erly 862.10 feet along the West line of said Southwest Quarter, to a PK nail set, which shall be the place of beginning; thence con-tinuing Northerly, 315.0 feet along said West line to a P.K. nail set; thence easterly, deflecting right 90 degrees 00 minutes, 230.0 feet to a 5/8” rebar stake set; thence South-erly, deflecting right 90 degrees 00 minutes, 315.0 feet parallel with the West line of said Southwest Quarter to a 5/8” rebar stake set, thence Westerly, deflecting right 90 degrees 00 minutes, 230.0 feet to the place of beginning. Containing 1.66 acres.

and commonly known as: 211 North 500 West, Bluffton, IN 46714.

Subject to all easements and restrictions of record, and subject to all real estate taxes, and assess-ments currently due, delinquent or which are to become a lien.

Said sale will be made without relief from valuation or appraise-ment laws. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, or the Mortgagee’s Attorney.James L. Shoemaker (19562-49)S. Brent Potter (10900-49)Christina M. Bruno (27334-49)Rayanna Alexander Binder (24776-49)DOYLE LEGAL CORPORATION, P.C.41 E Washington St., Suite 400Indianapolis, IN 46204Telephone (317) 264-5000Facsimile (317) 264-5400

Robert E. Frantz Wells County Sheriff Rockcreek Township 211 North 500 West, Bluffton, IN 46714 Street Address

SHERIFF PLEASE SERVE:Brian D. Bradburn211 North 500 WestBluffton, IN 46714

MANNER OF SERVICE: Sheriff

nb 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

WELLS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

TO THE OWNERS OF THE WITH-IN DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE AND ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Sheriff’s File Number:Date of Sale: September 2,

2009Sale Location: 1525 Corning

Road, Bluffton, IN 46714Publisher’s Name/County:

Bluffton News-Banner - Wells County

Judgment to be Satisfied: $194,093.99

By virtue of a certified copy of a decree to me directed from the Clerk of Superior Court of Wells County, Indiana, in Cause No. 90D01-0903-MF-0011

Plaintiff: Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP

Defendant: Cari Ann Mader and Michael R. Mader, et al.

Required me to make the sum as provided for in said Decree with interest and cost, I will expose at public sale to the highest bidder, at the hour of 1 pm of said day as listed above, at, fee simple of the whole body of Real Estate in Wells County, Indiana:

Exhibit” A”Legal Description

LOT NUMBER 3 IN ROSE ANN HEIGHTS FIFTH ADDITION TO THE TOWN OF OSSIAN, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 4, PAGE 23, IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. SUBJECT TO ALL LIENS, ENCUMBRANCES AND EASEMENTS OF RECORD. PARCEL NUMBER: 90-02-16-516-003.000-009

Commonly Known as: 208 Bittersweet Ln., Ossian, IN 46777

Together with rents, issues, income and profits thereof, said sale will be made without relief from valuation or appraisement laws. This Notice shall also repre-sent service of Notice of Sale of the above-described real estate upon the owners, pursuant to require-ments of IC 32-29-7-3.Dennis V Ferguson (8474-49)Christina M. Delis (26016-10)AttorneyReisenfeld & Associates, LPA LLCAttorney’s Law Firm(513) 322-7000Contact Telephone Number

Robert E. Frantz Sheriff of Wells County Township 208 Bittersweet Ln., Ossian, IN 46777 Street AddressThe Sheriff’s Department

does not warrant the accuracy of the street address published herein.And PLEASE SERVE: (see attached) Cari Ann Mader208 Bittersweet LaneOssian, IN 46777

Michael R. Mader208 Bittersweet LaneOssian, IN 46777

nb 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALEBy virtue of a certified copy

of a decree to me directed from the Clerk of the Superior Court of Wells County, Indiana, in Cause No. 90D01-0903-MF-0008, where-in Bank of America, National Asso-ciation as successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Associa-tion, as Trustee for First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2006-FF18 was Plain-tiff, and Larry E. Miller, Mary Ann Miller, Occupant(s) of 10030 S 200 W, Keystone, IN 46759-4800 and Wells County EMS, were the Defendants, requiring me to make the sum as provided for in said Decree with interest and costs, I will expose at public sale to the highest bidder, on the 2 day of Sep-tember, 2009, at 1 P.M. of said day, at the 1615 W. Western Avenue, Bluffton, IN 46714, the fee simple of the whole body of Real Estate in Wells County, Indiana:

Commencing One Hundred Forty-four (144) feet South of the Northeast corner of Section Twenty seven (27), Township Twenty-five (25) North, Range Eleven (11) East; thence West One Hundred Sixty five (165) feet; thence South Eighty six (86) feet; thence East One Hundred Sixty five (165) feet; thence North Eighty six (86) feet to the place of beginning.

and commonly known as: 10030 S 200 W, Keystone, IN 46759-4800.

Subject to all easements and restrictions of record, and subject to all real estate taxes, and assess-ments currently due, delinquent or which are to become a lien.

Said sale will be made without relief from valuation or appraise-ment laws. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, or the Mortgagee’s Attorney.James L. Shoemaker (19562-49)S. Brent Potter (10900-49)Christina M. Bruno (27334-49)Rayanna Alexander Binder (24776-49)DOYLE LEGAL CORPORATION, P.C.41 E Washington St., Suite 400Indianapolis, IN 46204Telephone (317) 264-5000Facsimile (317) 264-5400

Robert E. Frantz Wells County Sheriff Chester Township 10030 S 200 W, Keystone, IN 46759-4800 Street Address

SHERIFF PLEASE SERVE:Larry E. Miller520 East Highland AvenueMarion, IN 46952

MANNER OF SERVICE: Certified

Mary Ann Miller520 East Highland AvenueMarion, IN 46952

MANNER OF SERVICE: Certified

nb 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

By JAY REEVESAssociated Press Writer

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Engineers designing NASA’s next moon rocket denied Wednesday that the human space flight program dubbed “Constellation” is too expensive, too risky and would unnecessarily delay man’s return to space.

The engineers defended their work to a commit-tee appointed by President Barack Obama to review what’s planned once the current shuttle program is retired.

The head of the office that has spent four years design-ing the next U.S. rocket, called Ares, told members of NASA’s Human Space Flight Plans Committee that the current design was the safest, fastest way to get Americans back to space.

“We have done what we said we would do and we are well on the way to our first test flight,” said Steve Cook, head of the Ares proj-ect office at NASA’s Mar-shall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Speaking during a pub-lic hearing, Cook dismissed suggestions by some that the space agency was on a

flawed path with Ares.“We are not drinking our

own bath water,” he said. “There have been several

outside reviews since we began.”

Other managers told the panel they were working

through technical challenges with Ares, including a slim possibility that powerful energy waves created during a launch could injure astro-nauts or make it impossible for them to perform basic tasks, like looking at moni-tors.

The chairman of the review committee, long-time aerospace executive Norman Augustine, said members would offer broad options to Obama. Those could range from continu-ing to fly the space shuttle to moving forward with Constellation without any changes, he said.

“We will not be in the tweaking business,” Augus-tine said during a news con-ference.

Under a $35 billion plan put in place under former President George W. Bush, NASA is working to retire the shuttle fleet by the end of 2010 and return to human flight no sooner than 2015 aboard Ares.

Obama appointed the Augustine committee in May to seek information from NASA, outside scien-tists, the aerospace industry and Congress on the best way to send astronauts into

space. It will submit a final report on Aug. 31, Augus-tine said.

Engineers are still work-ing on the Constellation pro-gram during the review, and NASA plans to launch a test version of the human-carry-ing Ares I rocket by Oct. 31.

Work isn’t as far along on a larger rocket called Ares V, which would lift heavy equipment into orbit for a moon mission and an even-tual trip to Mars.

Former NASA Adminis-trator Michael Griffin met with the panel privately before the public hearing. In a letter to members, Griffin said the Constellation pro-gram was being subjected to “broad but shallow criti-cism” when NASA needs continuity in its planning.

“Do not allow the paro-chial voices of the small-minded, the self-interested, and the uninformed to pre-vail,” wrote Griffin, who now teaches at the Universi-ty of Alabama in Huntsville. “Choose the future.”

Arguing that Augustine’s committee wouldn’t even exist without budget con-cerns, Griffin said U.S. spaceflight shouldn’t be done “on the cheap.”

NASA: New space program is worth it

Panel chairman Norman Augustine and Executive Director Philip McAlister listen to public comments at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Wednesday afternoon in Huntsville, Ala. (AP Photo/The Huntsville Times, Bob Gathany)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Space shuttle Endeavour’s astronauts inspected their ship Wednes-day to make sure it’s safe for landing in two more days.

The survey of the wings and nose, which took almost all morning, is standard before a shuttle returns to Earth. Endeavour is due back Friday, following its successful construction mission at the international space station.

NASA wants to make sure Endeavour’s heat shield was not pierced by microme-teorites or space junk during its two weeks in orbit. Engi-neers will spend the next day analyzing all the images that were beamed down.

The astronauts used a laser-tipped boom to check for damage. It’s the same tool used to check for launch damage early in the flight; nothing serious was detected back then despite an unusual loss of insulating foam from the fuel tank.

NASA added all these extra safety checks when shuttle flights resumed two years after the 2003 Columbia disaster. A hole in Columbia’s left wing, caused by flying foam, led to its destruction during re-entry.

We d n e s d a y ’s j o b wrapped up work, once and for all, with the shuttle’s robot arm, which held the inspection boom and all the

laser and camera sensors.“It’s been a long one,”

shuttle commander Mark Polansky said, referring to the 16-day mission. “I think we’re happy to be done.”

Endeavour and its crew of seven left the space sta-tion Tuesday after delivering and installing fresh batteries, big spare parts and a porch for Japan’s science lab to hold outdoor experiments.

Astronauts check out shuttle in preparation for landing

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF BUDGET ESTIMATES AND TAX LEVIES

In the matter of determining the tax rates for certain purposes by the Library Board of Wells County Public Library, Wells County, Indiana. Notice is hereby given to taxpayers of Wells County Public Library, that the proper officers of said Library will conduct a public hearing at 200 W. Washington Street on the 2010 budget at 6:30 p.m. on August 11, 2009. Following this meeting, any ten or more taxpayers, or one (1) tax-payer that owns property that represents at least ten (10%) of the taxable assessed valuation in the political subdivision, may object to a budget, tax rate or tax levy by filing an objecting petition with the proper officers of the political subdivision, within seven days after the hearing. The object-ing petition must identify the provisions of the budget, tax rate or tax levy that taxpayers object to. If a petition is filed, the political subdivision shall adopt with its budget a finding concerning the objections filed and tes-timony presented. Following this aforementioned hearing, the Library Board will meet at 200 W. Washington Street on September 8, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. to adopt the following budget: Net Assessed Valuation: 990,599,632

Fund Budget Max. Est. Excessive CurrentName Estimate Fund to Levy Tax be raised Appeals LevyLibrary Operating 2,015,100 960,295 0 846,089Library ImprovementReserve 323,800 0 0 0Bond & InterestRedem. 333,271 336,634 0 313,496TOTALS 2,672,171 1,296,929 0 1,159,585

The 2010 estimated maximum levy limitation for this unit is 960,295. The Property Tax Replacement Credit used to reduce the rate for this unit is 50,000. Taxpayers appearing at the hearing shall have an opportunity to be heard.

Kim PacePresident, Library Board

Graig StettnerSecretary of Library Board

Edward J. ShestakTreasurer of Library Board

Dated July 14, 2009nb oj 7/23, 30

WELLS COUNTYSHERIFF’S OFFICE

TO THE OWNERS OF THE WITHIN DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE AND ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALESheriff’s File Number:Date of Sale: September 2,

2009Sale location: 1525 Corning

Road, Bluffton, IN 46714Publisher’s Name/County:

Bluffton News-Banner - Wells County

Judgment to be Satisfied: $57,978.33

By virtue of a certified copy of a decree to me directed from the Clerk of Superior Court of Wells County, Indiana, in Cause No. 90D010903MF0009

Plaintiff: Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P.

Defendant: Betty J Renbarger and Harry L, Jr. Renbarger, et al.

Required me to make the sum as provided for in said Decree with interest and cost, I will expose at public sale to the highest bidder, at the hour of 1 pm of said day as listed above, at, fee simple of the whole body of Real Estate in Wells County, Indiana:

Exhibit “A”Legal Description

INLOT NUMBER TWO (2) AS KNOWN AND DESIGNATED ON THE RECORDED PLAT OF THE TOWN OF NEWVILLE, NOW VERA CRUZ. SUBJECT TO ALL LIENS, ENCUMBRANCES AND EASEMENTS OF RECORD.

PARCEL NUMBER: 90-07-17-502-015.000-006

Commonly Known as: 2820 South East Mulberry St, Bluffton, IN 46714

Together with rents, issues, income and profits thereof, said sale will be made without relief from valuation or appraisement laws. This Notice shall also repre-sent service of Notice of Sale of the above-described real estate upon the owners, pursuant to require-ments of IC 32-29-7-3.Dennis V Ferguson (8474-49)Christina M. Delis (26016-10)AttorneyReisenfeld & Associates, LPA LLCAttorney’s Law Firm(513) 322-7000Contact Telephone Number

Robert E. Frantz Sheriff of Wells County Township

2820 South East Mulberry St. Bluffton, IN 46714 Street AddressThe Sheriff’s Department

does not warrant the accuracy of the street address published herein.And PLEASE SERVE: (see attached)Allen Collections, Inc.6710 Old Trail RoadFort Wayne, IN 46809

AAA Acceptance Corporation3501 S. Harrison St.Fort Wayne, IN 46807

K&R Gas Services, LLC d/b/a Apache Propane4208 East State Route 124Bluffton, IN 46714

Bluffton Regional Medical Center4000 Merifian BoulevardFranklin, TN 37067

Betty J Renbarger2820 Southeast Mulberry StreetBluffton, IN 46714

Harry L, Jr. Renbarger2820 Southeast Mulberry StreetBluffton, IN 46714

nb 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

This image shows the space shuttle Endeavour back-dropped by Earth, taken by a crew member onboard the International Space Station. (AP photo/NASA)

VehiclesAuto/Trucks

2000 S-10 ZR2 V6 4x4, 3rd door extended cab, pewter, one owner, clean, 121 K, $5000 OBO 260.622.7726 1996 EXPLORER CONVER-SION VAN excellent condition with 125,000 miles. All options. New tires, transmission, water pump, fuel pump, computer 260.824.4113

Auto/Trucks2003 BONNEVILLE SLE— Loaded, 73,000 miles: $7,500. 1996 GMC Jimmy, 148,000 miles: $2,750. Call 260-228-0847.CASH— for Junk Cars and Trucks. Call 260-402-6181. (A) 1999 SEBRING JXI CON-VERTIBLE— with boot, gold, V6, automatic. Great condition, loaded. Tan leather. 98,000 miles. $4,300. 260-694-6676.

Auto/Trucks1994 CUSTOM CHEVY— short bed, extended cab, loaded. Runs good. Good condition. $4,500 OBO. 260-466-7996. 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE— blown motor, custom interior, black w/white strip. $890 OBO. 260-273-0893 call or text. 2001 BLACK FORD F250— Super Duty Crew Cab XLT 4x4. 96,000 miles. Power Every-thing. 3” Lift. Spray-in bedliner. $10,000. 260-543-2006. 2003 YUKON DENALI— fully loaded. 98,000K. White. Gray leather interior. Sun roof. 6-disc CD changer. All power. $14,500. 260-413-2981. TIME FOR A CONVERTABLE 2006 Red Mini Cooper Con-vertible. Auto, Air, and 30 MPG Call for details. 260.402.8193 or 260.622.0147 2001 HONDA ACCORD LX - 52,000 miles, automatic,1 own-er, $4500, ellc10322@gmail.com 317.634.4010 1996 CHEVY 1500 2WD— 82,000K, $4,000 OBO. 2004 Ford Taurus SES, 47,000K, $9,000. 5’6” Oak Bench Seats, $125/each. 1-260-273-9467,

Auto/Trucks1994 GRAND AM— 4-door SE. Automatic. $1,895 OBO. 260-402-2984.

BoatsTRACKER PRO DEEP V-17’— 1999 w/50hp Mercury, elect. trolling motor, cover, trailer, fish finder, 2-live wells, many extras, excellent condition. $5,800. 260-824-2545.

Motorcycles2006 HONDA CBR600F4I 6,500 Miles, Yellow, New Back tire and two brothers exhaust. Great bike. $5500. Call Nathan 260-273-1926.

FUN FUN 2005 Buell Blast, lightweight, easy to ride, 492cc, Blue, 2,300 Miles, Adult ridden, $2,500 obo 260.824.3255 or 513.218.1285

ServicesAdoptions

ADOPT— A home full of love & financial security. Caring elementary teacher, extended family await precious 1st baby. Expenses paid. 1-888-812-1230, Maureen. (A)

Child CareIN-HOME DAYCARE— has (2) full-time openings for ages 1 and up. Small group in a safe, clean environment. Nutritious meals and fun learning activities. Call Lisa Peeper at 260-824-4427.

ServicesAIRLINE MECHANIC - Train for high paying Aviation Career. FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified - Job placement assis-tance. CALL (866) 464-6186. (I) BANKRUPTCY— Free consul-tation. $25 to start. Payment plans available. 260-424-0954. Saturday and evening appoint-ments available. Debt relief un-der Bankruptcy Code. JR CONSTRUCTION— Amish Crew do roofi ng, siding, win-dows, room additions, garages, interior/exterior remodeling, ce-ment work, Tuck pointing. 260-824-1145. Leave message.

ServicesBANKRUPTCY— Payment plans and senior discounts. Senior in home, evening and telephone appointments. Matt-son Law Offi ce: 765-348-1556.SMITH’S ON-SITE WELDING — We come to you! No job too small. Call for quote. Robert: 260-494-0170 or Sandy: 260-760-0055.

WHEN YOUR GRASS STARTS GROWING

Call Eric for your Mowing! 260-849-2951. Please leave mes-sage.

EmploymentHelp Wanted

ESTABLISHED TRUCKING— company seeking full time OTR driver, based in Ft Wayne, IN. All miles paid, Averaging 3,000 miles per week, Medical Ben-efits available, Home every week. Applicant must possess a Valid Passport, Clean MVR and minimum 3 yrs. CDL class “A” driving experience. Refrigerated trailer experience a plus, Visit our website: www.kandel.com to print an application to mail in, or call 1-800-321-3460 ext. 227 to have an application mailed to you. (A)

ClassifiedsClassifiedsThePlace Your Ad 24/7: GO TO www.news-banner.com AND CLICK ON “Local Classifieds”

OR CALL 824-0224 MON-FRI 8-5 • TOLL FREE 800-579-7476 • FAX 824-0700 WE ACCEPT

JOBS

Job listings, business opportunities, the beginning of your new career and much more!

STUFF

Merchandise, Garage Sales, Announcements,Service Directory, Pets and much more!

HOMES

Find a house, apartment, rental home, auctions and much more!

WHEELS

Cars, trucks, ... anything in the fast lane! Can’t find it here? Go to www.etopautos.com

Looking for a new home? Check out the ON-LINE TOURS of area homes at www.news-banner.com

TopJobs.com™TopJobs.com™Serving Northeast Indiana & Northwest Ohio

Page 10 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

Shop Local . . . Shop Smart!

Log on to www.news-banner.com

Click onLocal Market Place!Local Market Place!Local Market Place!

See what your local merchants have to offer!

FOOT CARRIERSNEEDED!

Earn extra cash for just a few hours each

day delivering the News-Banner.

Must be able to deliver early afternoons.

Delivering the NEWS-BANNERNEWS-BANNERNEWS-BANNER

Call Circulation Dept. • 824-0224 Ask for Ann or Mary

• Ossian Town

Delivering the Sunriser in

Ossian Town Ossian Town Ossian Town DeliveredOnly 1 Day

Earn extra cash for just a few hours each daydelivering the News-Banner and Echo.

Early weekday afternoons & Saturday mornings

Call 824-0224 Ask for Mary or Ann

Immediate Opening for

MOTORMOTORMOTORROUTEROUTEROUTEDRIVERDRIVERDRIVER

Southwest Wells Co.

Daily

YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEWS-BANNER EVERY DAY!For as little as ...

97 ¢ PER ISSUE ... you can keep your name in the public eye! Increase your business with regular advertising!

Call

824-0224 or

622-4108

Plus The Ossian Journal, The Echo & Sunriser News Every Week!

August deadline is Tues., July 28

Rich Beaver Crop Insurance, Farm, Auto, Home, LifeToll Free: 877-385-1792 Cell: 260-227-0091

email: rbeaver@harrellfin.com2826 Theater Ave., Huntington, IN 46750

Adults $400 • Children $250

CALL 1-888-751-7238For Movies and Times

PORTLAND 1-888-751-7238

726-7489

824-1846

www.a1-ustor.com

After hours & SaturdaysCall 273-0253 or 824-4782

Office at 1180 N. Main, Bluffton

•Safety Lighting •Clean Units •24 Hr. Access

•Video Cameras

In Monroe at corner ofU.S. 27 and S.R. 124

Bluffton Plumbing,Heating & Electric

Licensed & Insured2095 Commerce Dr., (Behind Lowe’s)(260) 565-4300 (888) 824-3332Better Business Bureau Accredited Business

Licensed Plumbers PC88800252

Over 50 Years in Business

FREE ESTIMATES

24 HOUREMERGENCY SERVICE

*Drain, Sewer & Water Lines *Inspections w/Sewer Camera *Water Pumps & Wells *Basement Pumping & Sump Pumps *Pipe Thawing & Heat Tape *Water Heaters *Garbage Disposals *Bathroom Remodeling *Gas Lines *Water Treatment Systems *Furnace Installations

*Air Conditioning *Hot Water Boilers *Whole House Humidifiers *Furnace Conversions *Seasonal Checkups *Service & Repair All Makes *Electrical Service Upgrades *220V Lines *Circuit Installations *Outdoor Lighting *Security Lights *Bucket Truck (40 ft. reach)

You’ll Love OurMaytag Washers

Lancasterat Oak

PLASTERING & STUCCO •Plaster Restoration (Smooth & Textured Finish) •Repair Patches & Cracks

Over 20 Years Experience FREE ESTIMATES - INSURED

Ron Banter - 260-820-0137

206 W. Market St.• Bluffton, IN

824-2720Hours: Closed Monday

Tuesday-Friday 8-5; Saturday 8-Noon

BARBER SHOPJIM’S

MEDICARE INFORMATION • EDUCATION QUESTIONSOn all the options available for you

We clear up the confusion – Call 260-824-1618 JERRY FLACKIn the same building ... same location ... for 36 years

MAIN & MARKET • BLUFFTON, INDIANA

A Safe Money Specialist - Call for Safe Money Ideas

KEVIN J. DEAKYNE, D.D.S., P.C.470 Bennett Dr., Suite A

P.O. Box 307 - Warren, IN 46792

1-800-236-0891Metlife & Delta Dental Provider

Joe Weterick260-414-7780

COMPLETE APPRAISAL & AUCTION SERVICES *Farms *Estates *Personal Property *Real Estate

222 N. Wayne St., Warren, IN 1-800-895-7035

www.warrenpharmacy.comIndependent F amily O wned

(260)375-2135

824-4887S T O R A G E

260-760-5431

POLE BUILDINGSAny Size Available

30’x40’x12’1 - 16’x11’, Slide Door, 1 - 3/0

Walk-In, Rafters 4’ O.C.$9,600 Erected

40’x64’x14’1 - 20’x14’, Slide Door, 1 - 3/0

Walk-In, Rafters 4’ O.C.$16,240 Erected

48’x80’x14’1 - 20’x12’, Slide Door, 1 - 20’x14’

Slide Door, Rafters 4’ O.C.$23,040 Erected

60’x80’14’2 - 24’x14’, Slide Door, 1 - 3/0

Walk-In, Rafters 4’ O.C.$28,800 Erected

29 gauge metal Cut to your specifications.

Forest Ridge Tree Service

•Tree Removal• Aerial Service• Stump Grinding• Tree Installation• Tree Trimming

FULLY INSURED

Home: 565-3781Cell: 820-0863

Joe Isch, owner

LAWN CAREby Kent Gerber

•Lawn Spraying •Lawn Fertilizing •Round-Up on Stone Drives •Tree Moving

(260) 565-3128Gerber Lawn Service

2466 N. Oak Drive, Bluffton, IN Cell: (260) 273-2261

Home: (260) 824-9555

GoldenrodProducts & Design

Screen Printing&

PromotionalProducts

Markle, IN260-638-4808866-738-4808goldenrodproductdesigns.com

OSCAR’SRepair & Rentals

Repairs: Lawn Equipment, Chainsaws,Compressors, Snowblowers

Renting: Construction Equipment •Homeowners Tools • Trailers • Tow DollyAND MUCH, MUCH MORE

4438 E. 100 N., Bluffton, 565-3350

TROUBLE WITH YOUR GARAGE DOOR?Sales & Service Call

STINSON DOOR SERVICE824-1123

Sure-Flo5” & 6” Continuous Gutters

Leaf Protection SystemsLarge Color Selection - FREE Estimates

Stan Worthman

260-622-4372www.seamlessgutter.net

Seamless Gutters

•Lawn Applications •Patio

Pavers •Retaining Walls •Landscape Design & Installation

Minnich’s Lawn ServiceScott Minnich

Cell: 260-760-4404www.minnichlawncare.com

PublicSale Calendar

AUGUST 18 - 7 p.m. - William A. (Stretch) Lewis Farms. Auction location: Dogwood Glenn Golf Club House, 1 mile so. of Warren on SR 5 to CR 900S, thence west. Property: 2255 E. 600 So., Warren. 222.35 acres +/- offered in 8 tracts, Salamonie Twp., Sections 4, 5, 6: Farm land, woods, building site. Open house: Aug. 1 & 2 from 1-3 p.m. Phillip L. Gauntt & Associates, Real Estate & Auctioneering, Inc., 1-800-662-4643, www.gaunttauctions.net.AUGUST 22 - 9 a.m. - Jacob & Staci Harber, owners. 9495N 700E, Ossian. Remodeled home on 4.16 acres w/buildings. Replacement win-dows, vinyl siding (1998), 40 yr. roof, remodeled kitchen w/oak cabinets, & more. Real estate sells at noon. Antique tractors & gas engines, horse drawn equipment, farm equipment, trucks, trailers, advertising items, collectibles. Wiegmann Auctioneers, www.wiegmannauctioneers.com, 260-447-4311.AUGUST 29 - 9 a.m. - Theresa M. Hanni Estate. 205 West Line Street, Geneva. Well maintained 2-bedroom home with 1,227 sq. ft. living space. Antique & modern furniture, collect-ibles, china, glassware. Ellenberger Bros., Inc. Auctioneers, 1-800-373-6363, www.EllenbergerBros.com.

PART TIMEFRONT DESK

Indiana Physical Therapy

Northeast Indiana’s premier physical therapy provider seeks a part-time afternoon/early evening

employee for office support duties in our

Bluffton Clinic.

Applicants should email or send a resume with

references to:

Indiana Physical Therapy Human Resources

7309 W. Jefferson Blvd. Ft. Wayne, IN 46804 hr@indianapt.com

Help WantedNOW AVAILABLE!— 2009 Post Offi ce jobs. $18-$20/HR. No experience. Paid training, Fed Benefi ts, Vacations. Call 1-800-910-9941 Today! Ref #IND. (I) ROCK LEASING INC.— Local and regional freight lanes. No touch freight. Class A license required. Late model equip-ment, health insurance and paid vacations. 1-800-543-4650, ext. 21. (A) SEEKING AN ENERGETIC— hardworking, and friendly indi-vidual with effective communi-cation skills and can-do attitude to be responsible for providing essential customer service and offi ce management. Must have the ability to multi-task in busy environment, prioritize, estab-lish and meet deadlines, be well organized, accurate and fl exible. Must have the ability to work in growing, service based manufacturing industry located in Bluffton. Technical skills will include profi ciency with MS Word, Outlook, Excel, a 2 yr minimum with QuickBooks. Previous customer service and administrative experiences a plus. Full time. Email resume directly to resumes@adam-swells.com or (260) 417-6512 for more information.

Business Opportunities

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: Installers of Paint Protection Film needed immediately for moti-vated people who want to make money. Work for established clientle, paid training period pro-vided, excellent profit potential. 574-354-0275. (A)

For SaleMiscellaneous

(2) 990,000 BTU INDUSTRIAL — Lochinvar Boilers. New in 2000 (8 years old). $5,000 each or OBO. Call 260-273-6365. HOME GROWN BEEF— Grain fed, Angus, Holstein. No hor-mones or steroids. 1/4, 1/2 or whole. Lambert Farms: 260-824-1837 or 260-437-7675.

Lawn & GardenNEW CUB CADET

TRACTORSSuper Lawn Tractor SLT1550,

25hp Kohler, 50” Cut, Reg $2899 Now $2099, FMZ50 Zero Turn Riding Mowers, Reg $5399 Now $2999,

Small Engine Warehouse 800.321.6725 or 765.768.6725

PetsPARTY POMERANIANS— wormed, deflead, shots, papers and adorable. $200-$225/each. Call 260-824-5818.

Sporting GoodsGUN SHOW!! Richmond, August 1st, 2nd Wayne County Fair-grounds, Kuhlman Center 861 Salisbury Road Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-3 For information call 765-914-0051 Buy! Sell! Trade!

Home Furnishings$125 QUEEN PILLOWTOP— Mattress Set. New in Plastic. Can Deliver. 260-493-0805. NEW QUEEN PLUSH— TOP MATTRESS. NEW, never used, still sealed in original wrapper $75.00. (260) 220-1596. (A)

Rentals

Apartments for Rent1BR UPSTAIRS APART-MENT— $350/ deposit. Appli-ances furnished. Air conditioned. Washer & Dryer. Service pets only. Call after 6p.m. 260-824-5620. NEWER 2BR DUPLEX APARTMENT— Includes: Wa-ter/Sewer/Trash, all applianc-es. Low heat bills. $532/month. Deposit/References required. Also available: new larger 2BR duplex with attached garage for $600/month. 260-824-4841. 2BR APARTMENT— Bluff-ton. Washer/ Dryer hookup, attached garage, CA. $375/month plus partial utilities. 77 Sunset Drive. 260-273-0386. 2BR DELUX DUPLEX— Elec-tric heat, AC, Garage w/remote opener. Service animals only. Lease/Deposit required. $475/month. 260-622-7288. ALL UTILTIIES PAID— 2BR, $118/week. $200/Deposit. 117 S. Main St. Also 1BR, $85/week. Service pets only. 260-565-3227.

Apartments for Rent1BR UPSTAIRS— Utilities in-cluded. Service pets only. De-posit required. 260-760-3117 or 260-543-2509. CARDINAL CREEK CROSS-ING— now leasing for new lux-urious single story 2BR apart-ment homes in Bluffton. These premium apartments offer at-tached garages, cathedral ceil-ings, spacious walk-in closets and much more! Model open Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. 205 Au-tumn Ct. Call today at 260-824-5280 or 260-622-6429. CRAIGVILLE— 2BR, 1BA apartments. All appliances. Norwell Schools. No smoking. Service animals only. Call 260-565-4176. DOWNTOWN APARTMENT FOR RENT 2-3 Bedroom, 1 Bath; Central Air Cond.; Appli-ances (including washer/dryer/dishwasher); well-maintained/modern; back porch; 2 parking spaces; convenient downtown location; Call 260.341.3632 HAMPSHIRE COURT APARTMENTS— $300 off 1st month’s rent. All apartments ground level! $250/Deposit. Monday-Friday, 9a-5p. Satur-day and Sunday by appt. Call 260-824-1097. LARGE 1 BEDROOM APT. South end of Bluffton. Water/Sewage included. Washer/Dryer hookup. Deposit & ref-erences required. Ideal for single adult. $275/month. 260.403.0822 LARGE 1BR OR 2BR APART-MENT— with appliances and washer and dryer. $300/month. Call 260-422-6211. MARKLE AREA— 2BR apart-ment. $425/deposit. Applianc-es furnished. Air conditioned. Washer & Dryer area. Tenant pays electric. Service pets only. Call after 6 p.m.: 260-824-5620. SPRING WAYNE APART-MENTS— 2 bedroom lower unit $410.00 per month. available. Call for more infor-mation Neff realty 1800-572-1193.

House RentalsNICE LITTLE 1BR HOUSE— Southern Wells District. Refer-ences required. 260-565-4355.

House Rentals**BANK OWNED HOMES** 5bd 4ba $222/mo or $26,900! More Local Homes Available! 5% dn, 20 yrs @ 8%! For Listings Call 800-579-7991 x T146. (I) 2 BDRM HOUSE. Norwell School District $400 Security Deposit & References Required. 260-824-8611. CLEAN 3BR HOUSE— fenced in backyard, central air. South-ern Wells District. References required. 260-565-4355. COUNTRY LIVING— In South-ern Wells area. 3-4 bedroom home with 1-2 acres and sev-eral outbuildings. Inquire at: 765-348-5353. NICE 2BR HOUSE— A/C, insu-lated very well. New windows. 909 S. Marion. $480/month. 260-824-5089. SMALL 2BR- 119 N Oak. Fully insulated, $365/month plus deposit. Must have own credit bureau report. 260-824-2324 between 8a-5p. 260-824-2324.

Mobile Home Rental2BR & 3BR— Mobile Homes for rent in quiet, clean park. Norwell School District. Weekly, Bi-Week-ly, Monthly Rates available. $300 Security Deposit & References Required. 260-824-8611.

Real EstateHomes For Sale

4 BEDROOM HOME FOR SALE

1 1/4 Acres, Inground Swim-ming Pool, Partial Basement. Bluffton School District. Ex-cellent Location. $135,000. 260.820.1431- 260.824.0160 14.19 ACRES WITH FARM HOUSE— pole barn and barn. 5BR. Selling 1 or 2 tracts. Open House Aug. 1st, 1p-5p. 1.5 miles west of Southern Wells High School on 900S. 1/2 mile north on 450W. 260-820-3601.

Land For SaleACREAGE FOR SALE— Vari-ous plots (1.5-12 acres). Ideal for farming or building. South Adams area. 304-253-1917 or 304-712-1142.

SUDOKU ANSWER

Lottery NumbersHOOSIER LOTTERYINDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Here are the winning numbers selected Wednes-day in the Hoosier Lottery:

Daily Three-Midday — 2-1-9

Daily Three-Evening — 2-5-0

Daily Four-Midday — 7-8-0-3

Daily Four-Evening — 4-1-4-0

Lucky 5-Midday — 1-4-10-12-36

Lucky 5-Evening — 5-10-13-23-26

Hoosier Lotto — 6-7-17-20-44-47. Estimated Hoosier Lotto Jackpot: $3 million

POWERBALLORLANDO, Fla. (AP)

— None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Wednesday night matched all six numbers drawn, which were 2-5-38-43-59/Powerball 8/Power Play 2. Estimated Powerball Jackpot: $102 million

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 • The News-Banner • Page 11

S U D O K UComplete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALEBy virtue of a certified copy

of a decree directed to me from the Clerk of the Superior Court of Wells County, Indiana, in Cause No. 90D01-0903-MF-0007, where-in JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association was the Plaintiff, and Stuart J. McClain, and the United States of America, Department of Treasury - Internal Revenue Ser-vice were the Defendants, requiring me to make the sum as provided for in said Decree with interest and costs, I will expose at public sale to the highest bidder, on Septem-ber 2, 2009, at the hour of 1 p.m. of said day, at 1615 West Western Avenue, Bluffton, Indiana 46714, the fee simple of the whole body of Real Estate in Wells County, Indi-ana:

Lot Numbered One Hundred Eighty-Eight (188) as known and designated on the recorded Plat of Sandalwood South Section B Addition to the Town of Ossian, reference being had to Plat Book 4, Page 37, in the Wells County, Indiana records.

Commonly known as 404 Beechwood Drive, Ossian, Indiana 46777

Together with rents, issues, income and profits thereof, said sale will be made without relief from valuation or appraisement laws. This is an attempt by a debt collector to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Robert E. Frantz Sheriff of Wells County Township 404 Beechwood Drive Ossian, Indiana 46777

Lawrence J. KemperNELSON & FRANKENBERGER3105 East 98th Street, Suite 170Indianapolis, IN 46280Attorney for Plaintiff

The Sheriff’s Department does not warrant the accuracy of the street address published herein.Sheriff Sale NumberServed by Sheriff:Stuart J. McClain404 Beechwood DriveOssian, Indiana 46777This communication is from a debt collector and is an attempt to collect a debt; any informa-tion obtained will be used for that purpose.

nb 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

WFA/Pettit, Donald D. & R. Jane2275-4631.

TO THE OWNERS OF THE WITHIN DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE AND ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALEBy virtue of a certified copy

of a decree to me directed from the Clerk of Circuit Court of Wells County, Indiana, in Cause No. 90C01-0712-MF-00135 wherein Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., succes-sor by merger to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. was Plain-tiff, and Donald D. Pettit, was Defendant, requiring me to make the sum as provided for in said Decree with interest and cost, I will expose at public sale to the highest bidder, on the 2 day of September, 2009, at the hour of 1 p.m., or as soon thereafter as is possible, at the Wells County Sheriff’s Depart-ment, 1615 W. Western Ave., Bluff-ton, IN 46714, the fee simple of the whole body of Real Estate in, Wells County, Indiana.

Lot Numbered One Hundred Ninety-seven (197) as known and designated on the recorded plat of Oak Park Addition to the City of Bluffton, Indiana.

More commonly known as 627 West Horton Street, Bluffton, IN 46714

Parcel No. 90-08-04-503-147.000-010

Together with rents, issues, income and profits thereof, said sale will be made without relief from valuation or appraisement laws.LESLIE W. SCHICKEL, Plaintiff AttorneyATTORNEY NO. 27327-49FEIWELL & HANNOY, P.C.251 N. Illinois St., Suite 1700Indianapolis, IN 46204(317)237-2727

Robert E. FrantzSHERIFF FILE NO.

627 West Horton Street, Bluffton, IN 46714 Street Address TownshipThe Sheriff’s Department does

not warrant the accuracy of the street addressed published herein.SERVICE DIRECTED TO:Donald D. Pettit627 W. Horton St.Bluffton, IN 46714

Service Type: SheriffNOTICE

FEIWELL & HANNOY, P.C. IS A DEBT COLLECTOR.

nb 7/30, 8/6, 8/13

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF BUDGET ESTIMATES AND TAX LEVIES

Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of Poneto Town of Poneto, Indi-ana, that the Common/Town Council or Board of Poneto at Poneto Town Hall on August 10, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. will conduct a public hearing on the budget. Following this meeting, any ten or more taxpayers may object to a budget, tax rate, or levy by filing an objecting petition with the proper officers of the political subdivision within seven days after the hearing. The objecting petition must identify the provisions of the budget, tax rate or tax levy that taxpayers object to. If a petition is filed, the political subdi-vision shall adopt with its budget a finding concerning the objections filed and testimony presented. Following the aforementioned meeting, the fis-cal body will meet at Poneto Town Hall on September 14, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. to adopt the following budget.

BUDGET ESTIMATEComplete details of budget estimates by fund and/or department may

be seen at the Clerk Treasurer’s Office.Net Assessed Valuation $27,418,797

Fund Budget Max. Est. Excessive CurrentName Estimate Fund to Levy Tax be raised Appeals LevyGeneral 58,878 27,196 0 26,200MVH 10,881 0 0 0LR & S 1,350 0 0 0CCI 6,500 0 0 0CEDIT 8,000 0 0 0Rainy Day 20,000 0 0 0TOTAL 105,609 27,196 0 26,200The 2010 estimated maximum levy limitation for this unit is 27,196.

The Property Tax Replacement Credit used to reduce the rate for this unit is 1,316.

Taxpayers appearing at the hearing shall have an opportunity to be heard. Pursuant to IC 6-1.1-17-13, after the tax levies have been deter-mined, fixed by the appropriate governing body, and the tax rates pub-lished by the County Auditor, ten (10) or more taxpayers or more taxpay-ers or one (1) taxpayer that owns property that represents at least 10 per-cent (10%) of the taxable assessed valuation in the political subdivision may initiate an appeal from the county board of tax adjustment’s action on a political subdivision’s budget by filing a statement of their objections with the County Auditor. The statement must be filed not later than ten (10) days after the publication of the notice. The statement shall specifi-cally identify the provisions of the budget and tax levy to which the tax-payers object. The County Auditor shall forward the statement, with the budget, to the Department of Local Government Finance.

Roy D. SchoeffClerk-Treasurer

nb 7/30, 8/6

This Week’s

Garage SalesClip & Save

CRAFTSMAN RIDING MOW-ER— and accessories, hand tools, housewares, womens clothes, knick-knacks. Friday, Noon-4p. Saturday, 8a-5p. 1327 Clark Ave. RUMMAGE SALE— 859 Creek Drive. Friday, 8:30a-5p. Saturday, 8a-1p. Name brand childrens-adult clothing, car-seats, highchairs, household items. Christmas items, tools, bedding and lots of misc. 124 E. SOUTH— Friday/Sat-urday, 8a-? Children-adult clothes, household items, pedestal bathroom sink, cast iron kitchen sink and much more! 1306 W. WASHINGTON— July 31st & Aug. 1st. 9a-5p. Clothes: Womens (M-4x), Mens jeans (32W-42W), kids clothes, toys, books, DVDs, cassettes, misc. BIG SALE— Iron bed, sofa fl oral only 3 years-old, his/hers chairs, upholstered rock-ing chair, pair of blue wing back chairs, antique wash-stand, other furniture. Royal manual typewriter, dishes, knick-knacks, antiques, bird cage, old wooden straight yokes, vintage lamps, Home Interiors, (2) kitchen tables w/chairs. More! 1.5 miles west of Southern Wells, then 1/2 mile North. Friday & Satur-day, 9a-4p. 5-FAMILY— 627 E. Spring. Friday & Saturday, 8a-5p. Baby clothes, boat motors, tools, furniture. Little bit of ev-erything! 950 & 954 EASTMOOR DRIVE— 4-Families. Fri-day, 9a-4p. Saturday, 8a-2p. Girls (4-6), Boys (3-10), Adult (XL-2X). Shoes, toys, kids books, VHS tapes, movie or CD wood cabinet, computer desk, boat tube, anchors, some household and lots of miscellaneous! 3020E., 300S, BLUFFTON— Friday, 8:30a-5p. Saturday, 8a-noon. 5-family. Clothes (Infant-Adult), furniture, small appliances, dishes, house-hold items. Lots more! 8916 S. CHERRY— Petro-leum. Friday, 8a-6p. Saturday, 8a-4p. Baby items: car seats, strollers, clothes: (Newborn to 12/14 kids), Womens (2XL-4XL) 26W pants, jeans, shorts, capris, 1000 watt car amp, candles knick-knacks. GARAGE SALE 3155 S St Rd 1, Bluffton- women’s, boys 0-18mo, good men’s suits, Harley merchandise, Disney movies, lots of misc MUST SEE! Friday 8-4 Saturday 8-12 HUGE SALE 9300 S. ME-RIDIAN RD Three Miles south of Poneto. Infant to Adult Clothing. Playskool and Fisher Price toys, baby items, Wooden Toddler bed. Turtle Sandbox. Creative Memories scrapbook items, Oval patio table, bathroom fi xtures, lots of household items. Fri 8-4 and Sat 8-1. MULTI FAMILY— Price to sell! Tons of scrapbook sup-plies, craft supplies, candles, Christmas decorations, por-table air conditioner, micro-wave, VCR, artwork, books, linens, Weider Exercise Ma-chine and weights, queen bed, Recumbent Exercise bike, bags & purses, luggage, golf cart and Practice net, brand name clothing (Women 6-14), shoes (Womens 8). Much more! July 31-Aug. 1, 8a-3p. 332 Homestead Ct., Bluffton. NAME BRAND CLOTHES... Garage Sale.... Fri. 7/31 and Sat. 8/1 8am - 2pm. Nike, Hollister, Am. Eagle, Aber-crombie, Etc. 1419 W Wash-ington St, Bluffton

HUGE BACK TO SCHOOL— Baby Sale!! 1036 Highland Park Circle (Riverview). Sat-urday, Aug. 1st, 9a-3p. Girls (10-12/12 Slim Jrs. XS/S) Jus-tice, LTD Too Abercrombie, Aero. Jr. Guys (S/M, 32x30) Hollister, American Eagle, Aero. Adorable high quality baby boy 0-24M, Gymboree, Gap, TCP. Most clothes in excellent to like new condi-tion!! Stroller/Car Seat, baby swing, bouncy car, infant, toddler toys, Build-a-bear Clothes, animals. Misses (S/M), Christmas items. Misc. Please, no early sales. 717 RIVERVIEW— Friday, 9a-1p. Saturday, 9a-noon. Boys (6-10), Girls (Jr-Misses), namebrand: American Eagle, Aeropostle, Polo and Tommy Hilfi ger, household items. 413 GOLDENROD CT.— (Be-hind Lowe’s). Friday, 8a-4p. Saturday, 8a-2p. Girls bike, new shower bench, electric scooter, TV, oval rug, clothes. HUGE! 0181E., 200S.— First crossroad south of town. Turn west 2.5 miles. July 31st-Aug. 1st. Friday, 8a-5p. Sat-urday, 8a-noon. Glassware, dolls, baby clothes, books, antiques, collectibles, old bottles, sewing stuff, kitchen items, 12” DeWalt Radial Arm Saw. Much more! SATURDAY, 7A-2P— Half price Mary Kay, like new Vera Bradley bags, lots of new-born-12 Month boy clothes, air hockey table & misc. 4657E., SR 124. 3436 N. MERIDIAN ROAD— Friday, 8a-5p. Saturday, 8a-1p. Entertainment center, ping pong table, head boards (twin), bedding, chandeliers, exercise bike, misses clothes (10-12), bathroom sinks, area rug, misc. GARAGE SALE! 211 E. Spring St. Lots of boy clothes (12m-5T), TONS of gently used toys, including 3 train sets, lots of Junior clothes (S-L), adult clothing, household items, and much more! All priced to sell! Th 9-?, Fri 8-?, Sat. 8-? 280E., 100S., BLUFFTON— Corning Road, 1/4 mile west of Peyton’s. Like new girls (3T-4T), Misses (4-10), Ju-niors (5-11), Levi jeans, shorts, tops, womens, mens, wedding dresses and acces-sories. Lots of new items! July 31st, 8a-4p. Aug. 1st: 8a-1p. 2209E., 200S— Thursday, Noon-5p. Friday, 8a-5p. Wheel horse tractor, antique wrenches and others. (2) mi-crowaves. No clothes or toys. Lots of misc. MOVING SALE boat, mo-torcycle, plant pots, stroller, outdoor climber/slide, crib, household, lots!! 3849 S 700 E (south of V Cruz off of 116) Fri 4-7, Sat 9-1 419 E. CHERRY STREET Saturday, 08/01, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Multi Family Garage Sale. Lawn Furniture, CDs, Housewares, Childrens cloth-ing, Much More! 1320 OLD CREEK AVE.— Fri July 31st 8-3 & Sat Aug 1st 8-1 Patio sets, cushions, yard bench, hutchs, furniture, bak-ers rack, dishes, gas lawn edger,27” Mens Schwin bike, Womens Schwin bike, utility trailer, toys, vintage toys, fi sh-er price, nintendo & games, speakers, old computer, or-gan, microwave, home de-cor, christmas decor, name brand mens clothes, womens clothes & much much more! MOVING SALE— Corner of 224 & 300W. July 30-31 & Aug. 1, 9a-5p. Collectibles, dolls, lamps, furniture, golf cart, fi shing equipment, tools, misc.

HUGE SALE!— 436 Gold-enrod (behind Lowe’s). Fri-day/Saturday, 7a-4p. Go-cart, mower, trimmer, blower, elec-tronics, games, brandname clothes, Vera Bradley, bikes, strollers and much more! 4-FAMILY GARAGE SALE— Don’t do your school shop-ping until you see this sale! Tons of clothes and shoes, perfect condition, lots with tags! All brand named: Gym-boree, Limited Too, GAP, Children’s Place, Polo, Tom-my, Old Navy and more. Boys (sizes 5 to 8), Girls (sizes 14 to 20), Womens (sizes 10 to 16), Abercrombie, American Eagle, Hollister and more! Electronics never been out of box: Printer, keyboards, speakers, camera equipment, Fax/Copier machine. Manual golf cart. Furniture. Lots of home decor perfect condition. Baby equipment. Precious Moments Collectibles in box. Oak bar stools. Dishes. Slide Bed. Friday, 8a-6p. Saturday, 8a-noon. 320 W. Wiley (In back.) “GREAT STUFF FOR SALE” —SALE 3682W., 200S., Lib-erty Center, IN. Friday, 8a-4p. Saturday, 8a-2p. Dining table w/6 chairs, dishes, kitchen appliances, king size comfort-er, radial arm saw, misc. hand tools, ladder, pots & pans, etc. 2 miles south of St. Rd. 124 West on 300W, to 200S. Turn west, 3/4 mile on left. 1439 STOGDILL ROAD— Thursday thru Saturday, 7am. Tools. Lots of misc. and col-lectibles, golf clubs. BACK TO SCHOOL SALE— Saturday, August 1st, 8a-2p. only. Come to 0119E., 300N. (Bluffton) for nice clothes: Mens (S-XL), Ladies (S-L), shoes, accessories, school supplies, videos, home decor & much more! HUGE FAMILY GARAGE SALE Saturday, August 1 from 8am-1pm only. 1811 South 300 East Bluffton (be-hind Scott’s grocery store) Find nice name brand back to school clothes and coats for boys and girls (all sizes), dec-orating home items, sheets, toys, (like new Disney Ariel vanity, little tikes laundry cen-ter), ESPN sports center and much more. 419 E. CHERRY STREET Saturday, 08/01, 8 a.m- 2 p.m. Multi Family Garage Sale. Lawn Furniture, CDs, Housewares, Childrens cloth-ing, Much More! GARAGE SALE IN NOR-THOAK Friday 7/31 & Sat-urday 8/1. Open 8:00am-? Baby items, Children and adult clothing, household items and much more. 2718 E Center Dr. Bluffton. GARAGE SALE 1540 W. Western Ave. (old Corning rd.) Fri July 31 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-noon. Womans XL, Mens 2X, Junior Girls sm-xl, lot of misc items. 3-FAMILY GARAGE SALE— Thursday, July 30, 3p-8p and Friday, July 31, 9a-2p. Sports equipment, furniture, clothes, baby items, household goods and lots more! 121 Berkshire Dr., Decatur (across from Bell-mont H. S. Watch for signs!) 2-FAMILY YARD SALE— 1419 W. Washington. 8a-6p. July 31st & Aug. 1st. Little bit of everything! GARAGE SALE Fri July 31-Sat Aug 1, 8 am-4 pm, 1035N 400E, Huntington, IN, 1 mi. N of 224, 2 mi. W. of Markle. Furniture, IBM Computer & accessories, VCR, Antique Linens, Adult Clothing, Baby Accessories, Luggage, Pic-tures/ Frames, Books, Toys. 260.758.2105

Buy it, sell it, tell it in theNews-Banner Classifieds

If you fail to get your copy of the News-Banner and can’t contact your carrier, please phone:

824-0224Between 5:00 & 6:30 p.m.

———————SATURDAYS

before 9:30 a.m.

Daughter should be spared pain of knowing she was unwanted

DEAR ABBY: I just had to respond to “Daddy Who Cares” (June 2), whose wife is threatening to tell their teenaged daughter, “Gina,” she was not wanted. For me a person’s most defining trait is not gender, age or race. It’s whether or not he or she was wanted. The other traits are things that nature or society put on you. Once you know you were not wanted by the people who put you here, it can easily define you, and it brings pain that will never go away.

It doesn’t matter how much you achieve or how much your parents say they love you. A piece of your life just doesn’t fit. Those of us who carry this knowledge understand the sadness very well. It is something that can’t be taken back.

So please inform “Daddy Who Cares’” wife that what she felt so many years ago is nothing compared to the sadness that “Gina” will bear and examine throughout her life. There is no unhappiness more lasting than knowing you were not welcomed into this world. -- WOUNDED HEART IN NEW YORK

DEAR WOUNDED: Thank you for your heartfelt letter. Readers were extremely vocal on this subject and agree that telling “Gina” would be devastating and only cause her undeserved and unnecessary pain. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: Kudos on your advice to “Daddy Who Cares.” When I was a teenager I overheard my mother tell a friend of hers that I was an unplanned pregnancy. To the best of my knowledge, my parents never considered abortion, but nonetheless, it destroyed my self-esteem.

In the case of “Daddy,” where abortion was considered and planned, I suspect the emotional damage would be far worse. It’s a good thing “Daddy” has custody because the mother seems willing to disregard her child’s welfare in order to get vengeance on her husband. You’re right, Abby -- absolutely no good can come from the disclosure of that information. -- ONE WHO KNOWS IN CHICAGO

DEAR ABBY: I was a child who was both unplanned and unwanted. When I was 13, my mother, in a fit of anger, told me she

wished she had the abortion she planned to have before I was born. It was then that I realized that the “gut” feeling I’d had all my life to that point and beyond was correct -- my mother never wanted me. Neither of my parents ever told me the whole truth nor did they ever say how glad they were not to have gone through with the plan.

I have always had difficulty trusting my parents, and I have always known I wasn’t wanted. Years of therapy have healed the deep wounds. “Daddy” should tell his daughter the story and also tell her how much he loves her and wants her in his life, and that he is glad they never went through with the original plan. If he does, she will be able to trust him and know she was not a “mistake.” -- DEEPLY WOUNDED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

DEAR ABBY: Ever since I can remember, my mother has told me her “funny story” about how she was “horrified” when she learned she was pregnant with me and asked the doctor for an abortion. And as a result, I have struggled with low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness my entire life.

As an adult and mother, I can pinpoint this “amusing anecdote” as the root cause of many of these issues. I pray that the young girl in that letter never finds out that her parents considered abortion. No matter how many times her dad say he “thanks God everyday that she is here,” the damage to her psyche will be forever. -- WISH I NEVER KNEW

**Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van

Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby -- Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)

BLONDIE

GARFIELD

ZITS

CRANKSHAFT

SEEK GOD WHERE HE CAN BE FOUND - IN

CHRISTQ: I’d like to believe in

God, but I just can’t. No matter how hard I try, God just doesn’t seem real to me. What would you say to someone like me? - J.McN.

A: The first thing I would say to you is not to give up, but to keep on searching for God. The reason is because God has promised to come to us when we sincerely come to Him. The Bible’s promise is for you: “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (2

Chronicles 15:2).But where will you

seek Him? Where will He be found? Will He be found by walking in the woods on a beautiful day, or looking at an awe-inspiring sunset? These may give you a hint

of His presence - but by themselves they won’t bring you into a close relationship with Him. Or will you find Him by emptying your mind and hoping somehow that He’ll fill it with a sense of His presence? No, that won’t end your search either - because how will you know that it’s really God you feel?

Seek Him instead where He will be found - in Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t just another religious leader or great moral teacher; He was God in human flesh! And He came into the world so we could know God in a

personal way. He did this by erasing the barrier that separates us from God - the barrier of our sins. Do you want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus Christ as He is found in the Gospels, because “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).

Then commit your life to Christ and begin to walk with Him every day. God loves you, and life’s greatest joy comes from surrendering to Him and knowing He will be with us forever.

(Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.)

MyAnswer

By Dr. BillyGraham

CROSSWORD By Eugene ShefferCROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer

D I V E R S I O N SPage 12 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

BUY ITSELL ITRENT ITFIND ITFILL ITGET IT DO IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS!

!Place Your Ad 24/7/365!www.news-banner.com

07/30 M C D1 D2 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30CW

WWTTV��5 4 My Wife

and Kids Malcolm in the Middle

Everybody Loves Ray

Friends Two and a Half Men

Two and a Half Men

Smallville "Requiem" SSupernatural "Family Remains"

Everybody Loves Ray

Seinfeld The Bob & Tom Show Friends Sex and the City

CBSWANE

��2 17 15 15 NC15 First At 5

Inside Edition

News Evening News

Wheel of Fortune

Jeopardy Big Brother CSI: Crime Scene "No Way Out"

The Mentalist "Flame Red"

News (:35) The Late Show With David Letterman

(:35) Late,Late Show

ABCWPTA

��4 6 21 21 INC News at 5:00

Entertainm-ent Tonight

News ABC World News

Everybody Loves Ray

Everybody Loves Ray

Grey's Anatomy"Sympathy for the Devil"

Grey's Anatomy"Stairway to Heaven"

Private Practice"Homeward Bound"

News (:35) NewsNightline

(:05) Jimmy Kimmel Live

NBCWISE

��8 3 33 33 M*A*S*H INC News at 5:30

Seinfeld NBC Nightly News

Dr. Phil 30 Rock"Fireworks"

Parks and Recreation

The Office 30 Rock Law & Order News (:35) The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien

(:35) LateNight

PBSWFWA

��13 9 39 39 Martha Speaks

Curious George

News Nightly Business

NewsHour Jim Lehrer

PBS Previews

This Old House

Ask This Old House

Antiques Roadshow"Fame and Fortune"

Okie Noodling II Sound. "Josh Groban: An Evening in New York City"

Charlie Rose (N)

PBSWIPB

��3 2 Fetch! Reading Rainbow

America'sHeartland

NightlyBusiness

The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer

This Old House

Ask This Old House

All About Prints Sound. "Josh Groban: An Evening in New York City"

Charlie Rose Tavis Smiley

BBC World News

FOXWFFT

��6 11 55 55 The Insider TMZ Malcolm in the Middle

Accordingto Jim

Family Guy Two and a Half Men

Bones "The Doctor in the Den"

So You Think You Can Dance "2 of 6 Voted Off"

Fox News (:35) 2 1/2 Men

(:05) FamilyGuy

(:35) King of the Hill

(:05) Wife & Kids

(:35) Extra

TCTWINM

�11 63 Rejoice! Hope For Your Health

Fathers of Faith

Walking By Faith

CBN Newswatch

TCT Today Hour of Restoration

This Is Your Day

Life Today J.Robison

Today With John Hagee

Know Your Bible

Gospel Truth

Faith in History

In Touch With Dr. Charles Stanley

AD SPACE 0.5” CA B L E CH A N N E L S M – ME D I A C O M C – CO M C A S T D1 – D I S H D2 - D I R E C TV

WGN 9 22 239 307 (:15) 10th Inn Scrubs Becker Becker Funniest Home Videos WWE Superstars American Gladiators WGN News WWE Superstars Scrubs Scrubs

WHME 10 Green Acres HoganHero Rifleman Crosswords Nurse TV News Israel Sumrall Studio B The Harvest Show Holy Land Enjoy Life Prophecy Gaither The Place for Miracles

FAM 14 44 180 311 Gilmore Girls Wife & Kids Wife & Kids '70s Show � Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire Harry becomes a competitor in a competition between three wizard schools. TThe 700 Club Line? Line?

ESPN 15 26 140 206 Horn Interruption Sportscenter (L) HHomecoming X Center (L) XX Games (L) SSportscenter (L) BBaseball T. NFL Live

ESPN 2 16 27 144 209 Sportsnation (L) NNASCAR Interruption NFL Live NFLGreat "2002 AFC Divisional Playoff" BBaseball Tonight (L) AATP Tennis L.A. Open Round of 16 NNASCAR

FOXSP 17 53 Golden Age Inside Golf Reloaded Spotlight WNBA Basketball Connecticut vs Indiana (L) NNCAA Football Classic Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma GGolden Age Final Score Best Damn Top 50

TBS 22 41 230 247 Raymond Raymond Raymond Friends Seinfeld Seinfeld Friends Friends 1/2 FFriends 2/2 FFriends ���� Dumb and Dumber (‘94, Com) Jim Carrey. ((:15) SexCity (:45) SexCity

FX 24 54 137 248 '70s Show ��� Dark Blue (‘02, Act) Scott Speedman, Kurt Russell. ��� Transporter 2 (‘05, Act) Jason Statham. ��� Transporter 2 (‘05, Act) Jason Statham. ''70s Show '70s Show

TVL 25 58 106 301 Bonanza Hillbillies A. Griffith A. Griffith A. Griffith Roseanne Roseanne She's Got the Look She's Got the Look Roseanne Roseanne She's Got the Look

E! 26 49 114 236 Beyoncé Revealed E! News (N) DDaily 10 Fatal Beauty: 15 Most Notorious Women Kardashians Kardashians C. Lately E! News C. Lately True Story

SPIKE 30 57 168 325 CSI: NY CSI: NY CSI "The Strip Strangler" UUFC Unleashed TNA iMPACT! Dead Man "Desert Hare" MMANswers Game TV

DISC 35 28 182 278 Cash Cab Cash Cab Cash Cab Cash Cab Survivorman "Kalahari" SSurv.Man "Deep Woods" MMoments of Impact Dead C. "Shipwrecked" SSurv.Man "Deep Woods" MMoments of Impact

TLC 36 47 183 280 Jon & Kate Plus Eight What Not to Wear "Joy" RRestorer Real Pros Lottery Changed L.A. Ink "Kat Bares It All" LL.A. Ink L.A. Ink "Kat Bares It All" LL.A. Ink

HIST 38 40 120 269 Jurassic Fight Club J. Fight "Armageddon" MMarvels "Super Human" GGangland Gangland "Breed" PPawn Stars Pawn Stars Superhuman Gangland

A&E 39 39 118 265 Cold Case Files CSI "One Night Stand" CCSI: Miami "Identity" TThe First 48 "Gone" TThe First 48 "Cold as Ice" CCrime 360 "Rochester" CCrime "Blunt Force Killer" TThe First 48 "Gone"

HALL 40 67 185 312 M*A*S*H M*A*S*H M*A*S*H M*A*S*H M*A*S*H M*A*S*H Touched By An Angel �� Wedding Daze (‘04, Com) Karen Valentine, John Larroquette. GG. Girls G. Girls G. Girls

SCIFI 41 62 122 244 Stargate "Hot Zone" SStargate: SG-1 �� Bottom Feeder (‘06, Hor) Tom Sizemore. ��� See No Evil (‘06, Hor) Glen Jacobs. ��� Cabin Fever (‘02, Hor) Jordan Ladd.

USA 42 24 105 243 NCIS "Leap of Faith" NNCIS "Chimera" NNCIS "Minimum Security" NNCIS "Eye Spy" BBurn "Friends Like These" RRoyal Pains Sight "Let's Get It Ahn" BBurn "Friends Like These"

LIFE 43 29 108 252 Wife Swap Reba Reba Reba Reba Reba Reba ��� Vacancy (‘07, Hor) Kate Beckinsale. WW&Grace W&Grace Frasier Frasier

TNT 44 42 138 245 Bones Bones CSI: NY "YoungBlood" CCSI: NY CSI: NY "Bad Beat" ��� Sahara (‘05, Act) Penélope Cruz, Matthew McConaughey. � Sahara

AMC 45 43 130 254 Movie ���� Training Day (‘01, Thril) Denzel Washington. ���� True Lies (‘94, Act) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis. ���� The Whole Nine Yards Bruce Willis.

SPEED 46 56 150 607 Monster Jam "Atlanta" UUnique Whips Pimp Pass Time Pinks! All Out "Texas" JJacked Jacked Wrecked Wrecked Pimp Pass Time Pinks! All Out "Texas"

COM 47 50 107 249 (4:30) ��� Wieners TTosh. O Scrubs Scrubs Daily Show Colbert Jackass Jackass Tosh. O (N) TThings Daily Show Colbert Tosh. O Futurama

NICK 51 37 170 299 SpongeBob SpongeBob Jackson Drake iCarly Jackson Malcolm Malcolm G. Lopez G. Lopez Fresh Prince Fresh Prince The Nanny The Nanny Malcolm Malcolm

DISN 52 38 172 290 Suite Life Suite Life Phineas Suite Life Wizards H. Montana ���� Minutemen Luke Benward. ((:40) Bell Wizards H. Montana Suite Life So Raven Life Derek Cory House

WE 57 128 260 G. Girls G. Girls G. Girls G. Girls G. Girls G. Girls Bridezillas Most Popular Most Popular Most Popular Most Popular

FOOD 59 46 110 231 Basics Down Home Home Cook 30 Mins Challenge Iron Chef America Star "VIP Party in Miami" AAceCake AceCake Good Eats Unwrapped Star "VIP Party in Miami"

BRAVO 60 55 129 273 Housewives Atlanta Atlanta "Out of Tune" HHousewives Atlanta Atlanta "Best of Enemies" AAtlanta "Reunion" HHousewives Atlanta Housewives Atlanta WatchWhat Atlanta

HBO 301 700 300 501 (4:00) � Sydney White PProm Night in Mississippi ��� Mamma Mia! (‘08, Mus) Meryl Streep. HHung Entourage Entourage Showgirls: Glitz (:20) Funny Movie

MAX 325 730 310 512 (4:30) � Shoot 'Em Up ��� Don't Say a Word Michael Douglas. ���� Wanted (‘08, Act) James McAvoy. ����� Apollo 13 (‘95, Doc/Dra) Tom Hanks. ((:20) � I Am Legend

SHOW 351 750 318 71 (4:45) ���� Steel City �� Delta Farce (‘07, Act) Bill Engvall. ��� Beowulf (‘07, Act) Robin Wright. PPenn Teller Penn Teller Weeds Nurse J. Nude Movie

TMC 375 785 327 544 (4:55) ��� Exposed Nastassja Kinski. ((:35) ���� Last Stop for Paul ��� War (‘07, Act) Jason Statham, Jet Li. ���� 3:10 to Yuma (‘07, West) Russell Crowe. ((:05) ���� Exit Speed

Expert Trans.LOCAL SPORTS C heck The News-Banner sports pages for news on your favorite team!

A R E A / S TAT E THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 • The News-Banner • Page 13

We’ll S T R E T C Hyour advertising dollar when you ask for the

AALL-4-ONEALL-4-ONEALL-4-ONE One Rate - 4 Publications

Targets your audience where they live, work & spend.

Call Your Advertising Representative Today for Details!

News-Banner News You Can Use Ads Readers Trust(260)824-0224 (260)622-4108

EchoEchoH

T

E

Wells Court DocketWells Superior Court

Civil CasesComplaint for payment

in the amount of $12,029.58 filed by Somerhill Capital LLC against Mark A. Beck of Lagrange.

Complaint for payment in the amount of $3,557.91 filed by Capital One Bank against Francis E. Gaier of Bluffton.

Complaint for reposses-sion of personal property of a 2006 Exiss Model ES404 Horse Trailer filed by Sys-tems and Services Technolo-gies Inc. against Johnny R. Wells of Bluffton.

Decree of dissolution filed terminating the mar-riage of Michelle M. Russell and Andrew W. Russell.

Agreed judgments in var-ious amounts filed in favor of Snow and Sauerteig against Justin P. Bertrand of Ossian ($1,724.88); Mae M. West of Markle ($1,480.04); and Paula E. Thieman of Keystone ($2,035.40)

Default judgments in various amounts filed in favor of Snow and Sauer-teig against Aaron D. and Shannon K. Hartman of Warren ($3,198.23); Gay-lord L. Howe of Bluff-ton ($1,062.27); Mary A. Latham of Warren ($607.62); Joni K. Peterman of Bluff-ton ($1,190.83); Andrew P. and Summer D. Schmidt of Montpelier ($2,675.30); and Caleb B. Sain of Geneva ($980).

Default judgment in the amount of $240 filed in favor of Christine O. Shestak against Elly Evick of Bluff-ton.

Judgment in the amount of $3,678.78 filed in favor of Shaw Real Estate against Jackie Blew of Fort Wayne. Damages hearing set for Aug. 27.

Release of judgment filed in favor of Chad M. Cole of Ossian who has settled his account with Ossian State Bank.

Release of judgment filed in favor of Randy D. and Brenda F. Parteko of Ossian who have settled their account with Snow and Sauerteig.

Release of judgment filed in favor of Kristen Gaskill of Bluffton who has settled her account with Centennial Wireless.

Release of judgment filed in favor of Nathan E. York of Decatur who has settled his account with Indiana Physical Therapy.

Satisfaction of judgment filed in favor of Donald W. Langel of Bluffton who has settled his account with Capital One Bank.

Wells Circuit Court Criminal Cases

Stewart J. Smith, 21, of Ossian, sentenced to 12 years in jail with two years suspended and two years of probation following release from jail for child molest-ing. Smith was charged after Wells County Sheriff’s Department officers investi-gated a report that he had sex with a 13-year-old juvenile during the period of Febru-ary to April 2008.

David A. Black, 31, of Fort Wayne, sentenced to a total of eight years in jail for causing bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol count of .08 or more and neglect of a dependant. Black was charged after an IDNR Conservation Officer inves-tigated an ATV accident at 4081N-100E on March 27 in which Black’s two-year-old son was injured. Credit given for 124 days served in jail awaiting disposition.

Shara Sain, 20, of Bluff-ton, entered a plea of guilty to one count of forgery. Sain was charged after Wells County Sheriff’s Depart-ment officers investigated a report by the Community Corrections Department that Sain had signed another per-son’s name on a Community Service Work Card, indicat-ing that she had completed assigned work when in fact she had not. Sentencing set for Nov. 30 at 8:15 a.m. Bond remains in effect at $10,000.

Kyle R. Vanemon, 24, of Berne, sentenced to two years in jail with one year suspended and six months of probation for theft. Accord-ing to the terms of his proba-tion, Vanemon must not use alcohol; he must not enter any establishment that sells alcohol except supermar-kets or drugstores for the purpose of purchasing non-alcoholic items: he must not possess or use any firearm, destructive device or other

dangerous weapon; he must not associate with anyone having a criminal record or questionable reputation; he must not visit any correc-tional institution for any pur-pose or to carry or convey any messages to relatives or friends of an institutional inmate; he must pay a fine of $50, court costs of $164, and probation fees of $200 plus an additional $30 per month. Vanemon was charged after a check he used to purchase a vehicle from Hiday Motors in Bluffton was subsequently not honored.

Initial hearing of charg-es filed against Stephanie M. Myers, 22, of Bluffton. Myers was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of posses-sion of marijuana, posses-sion of paraphernalia, oper-ating a motor vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance in her body and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated endanger-ing a person after Bluffton Police Department officers responded to a report of an accident at Short Stop, 1009 N. Main St., Bluffton on Feb. 25. Plea date set at Oct. 9. Trial date set at Feb. 11, 2010. Bail continued at $15,000. Andrew Antrim appointed as public defend-er.

Petition for revocation of suspended sentence and pro-bation filed against Corey P. Bright, 19, of Bluffton, orig-inally convicted of burglary; Gabriel I. Baumgartner, 287 of Bluffton, originally con-victed of domestic battery; Bradley M. Cottier, 24, of Bluffton, originally con-victed of theft; and Russell Houdyshell 38, of Bluffton, originally convicted of deal-ing in marijuana.

Civil CasesDecree of Dissolution

filed terminating the mar-riage between Tamara Lea Schambers and Gregory Allan Schambers.

Complaint on note in the amount of $187,091.53 and to foreclose on mortgage filed by Nationstar Mort-gage LLC against Michael W. Connett of Craigville and Debra K. Connett of Craigville. The property is located at 2660N-450E, Craigville.

Walking west through Bluffton

Matt Charros and his dog Onyx stayed in Bluffton a

couple of days earlier this month as he made his way west in a walk dedicated to

raising funds to fight mul-tiple sclerosis. Charros is

walking from Quoddy Point, Main, to Bodago Bay, Calif.

— the point furthest east to the point furthest west

in the continental U.S. He was hoping to complete the trip by September. Charros and Onyx are shown here

on Ind. 124 west of Bluffton. (Photo by Dave Schultz)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Congress and the White House in Democratic hands, Republican Party leaders meeting in San Diego hope to map plans for a rebound that will repair the party’s tarnished brand, lure back big-dollar contributors and increase voter registration from coast to coast.

The Republican National Committee is gathering for several days of talks after a dif-ficult stretch for the party. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, once seen as rising stars, have been damaged by extramarital affairs; Democrat Al Franken ousted Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in Minnesota; and moderate Penn-sylvania Sen. Arlen Specter became a Dem-ocrat, tightening the rival party’s hold on power in the Senate.

Republicans eager to leave behind the George W. Bush era see promise in the rocky reception for President Barack Obama’s health care plan and his slipping poll numbers, and they like their chances in governor’s races in New Jersey and Virgin-ia, which will be seen as early referenda on Obama’s leadership.

The party also wants to expand its num-bers in state legislatures, which will redraw political district boundaries after the 2010 census.

Divisions between moderates and conser-vatives remain. But fundraising has picked up in “the worst of the worst climate,” said RNC member Shawn Steel of California.

“You have a glamorous, Hollywood, good looking president initially, not so much now,” Steel said.

There will be notable absences at the meeting. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the best-known Republicans in the nation, isn’t dropping in despite the fact the meeting is in his home state. Potential future presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney aren’t on the agenda.

Instead, the committee’s 168 members will hear from Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlen-ty, a Republican viewed as a possible 2012 contender though he is largely unknown to many in the party.

California in many ways reflects the challenges Republicans face nationally. GOP registration has been slipping in the nation’s most populous state, and deep divi-sions remain over issues like immigration and abortion.

Party members are also expected to dis-cuss reordering presidential primaries in 2012, and consider candidates for key lead-ership posts.

Republicans meet, consider plans for their party’s future

By BRIAN BAKSTAssociated Press Writer

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is a man on the move. Next stop, the Repub-lican National Commit-tee meeting in California. Future stop? Maybe the White House.

The two-term fiscal and social conservative is tak-ing necessary steps toward a possible presidential bid — headlining GOP fund-raisers, taking an influential job at the Republican Gov-ernors Association, mull-ing his own political action committee.

But Pawlenty says he’s focused on the party, not 2012.

“Anybody who is out focusing on (2012) instead of working toward getting the party moving forward or back in a better position in 2010 is really doing us a dis-service,” Pawlenty told The Associated Press.

However, his track record of GOP building in Minnesota is less than stel-lar. Republicans have lost ground in every election since he became governor in 2003. He is the sole state-wide GOP officeholder and his party controls its fewest legislative seats since 1992. Pawlenty himself narrowly survived a three-way elec-tion contest to win his sec-ond term. But the governor said that’s not his fault.

Minnesota is “probably one of the most liberal states in the country,” he said. “When the pendulum swung back to the left, we were at a tenuous point to begin with.”

At age 48, with almost two decades of state govern-ment service under his belt, Pawlenty denies looking very far down the national road. But he’s getting the early exposure he’ll need if he formally joins a GOP field that could include bet-

ter-known former governors like Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee.

H e h a s assumed the No. 2 post at the Repub-lican Governors Association, a perch that will involve steering assistance to GOP candidates in close races. And he’s jumped into the national health care debate, criticizing President Barack Obama’s plan in a way also seen as a veiled swipe at potential rival Romney. (He labeled a Massachu-setts overhaul enacted under Romney an “experiment” with a swelling price tag.)

Pawlenty also told the AP he’s considering forming a political action committee — a staple that gives poten-tial presidential candidates a way to raise money and organize travel to election battlegrounds.

Pawlenty’s recent travel has taken him to Washing-ton, Arkansas and Colorado. But he hasn’t yet ventured to presidential proving grounds Iowa or New Hampshire and wouldn’t say when he would. He visited both while campaigning for 2008 nomi-nee John McCain — who considered him for the run-ning mate slot Palin got — but still has plenty of work to do.

R e p u b l i c a n J o h n Finnegan, 50, of Concord,

said Wednes-day he had heard Pawlenty’s name but not much else.

“I don’t know anything about the guy,” he said.

In Iowa, Sioux City businessman and former state GOP chairman

Ray Hoffman rated Pawlenty as merely a pos-sibility. “Would I put him at the top of the list? At this point, no,” Hoffman said.

At least one Iowa conser-vative group, the American Future Fund, has invited him to speak. Organizer Tim Albrecht said Iowa Republi-cans are eager to hear from their neighboring governor firsthand, but understand why he hasn’t come yet.

“The biggest risk in com-ing to Iowa too early is it can seem overeager or ambitious to talk about 2012,” Albre-cht said. “It is a delicate bal-ance, a tightrope they need to walk in order to be suc-cessful.”

But Republican strategist Terry Nelson, who managed McCain’s early campaign efforts, said potential candi-dates’ groundwork must be laid to move quickly after the 2010 election.

“Really, candidates have to decide that in the next 18 months because it’s not the kind of thing anymore you can decide in June or July of 2011,” Nelson said.

Republican national com-

Feeling Tense? Stressed? Knotted Up?

Get a Massage from Brandie!!!15, 30, 60 & 90 Minute Massages

Now Offering Dead Sea Mud WrapsCALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE

YOUR APPOINTMENT!!!

Body Solutions Fitness & Tanning, Inc. 627 N. Main St., Bluffton 260-824-0862

Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty’s on the move for the GOP

Tim Pawlenty

Serial killer gets a life sentence

PHOENIX (AP) — A jury spared a man convicted in a series of random nighttime shootings from the death penalty and sentenced him to life in prison on Wednesday.

Samuel Dieteman, who pleaded guilty to two of six mur-ders in the metropolitan Phoenix Serial Shooter case of 2005 and 2006, appeared stoic as the jury’s decision was announced.

“I’m truly sorry for the pain that I’ve caused to many, many people,” Dieteman, 33, said after his sentence was read. He then thanked the court for treating him like a human being.

His lawyer and family members cried as the verdict was read.

Authorities say Dieteman and his former roommate, 36-year-old Samuel Hausner, preyed on pedestrians, bicyclists and animals in attacks that ended in August 2006 when both men were arrested at the apartment they shared in Mesa. Dieteman and Hausner met in April 2006 — about nine months after the Serial Shooter attacks began, and Dieteman’s defense attorneys painted him as being Haus-ner’s follower.

Paul Patrick, a victim of the shooting spree who nearly died when he was shot while walking down a street in June 2006, was in the court for the verdict and said he agreed with it.

“It’s not a cause to celebrate; a mother just lost a son, and children lost their father,” he said of Dieteman’s family.

N AT I O N / W O R L DPage 14 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

* * REAL ESTATE * *AT

* * PUBLIC AUCTION * *William A. (Stretch) Lewis Farms

2255 E. 600 So.Warren, In. 46752

222.35 Acres +/- offered in 8 tracts in Salamonie Twp.,

Sections 4, 5 and 6: Farm Land, Woods, Bldg. SiteLOCATED: North of Warren, In. on State Rd. #5

approximately 4 mile to State Rd. #124, (Frontage ground

along State Rd. #5 and State Rd. #124 of 88 Acres +/-),

THENCE East on State Rd. #124 (I#69 Overpass), first

Farm Stead on South side of State Rd #124 of 134.35

Acres +/-. WATCH FOR GAUNTT SITE SIGNS ON:

TUES., AUG. 18, 2009 @ 7:00 P.M.(AUCTION TO BE HELD AT DOGWOOD GLENN GOLF CLUB HOUSE – 1 MILE No. of Warren, In. on State Rd. #5 to Co. Rd.#900 So., thence West)TRACT # 1: Prime Farm Land of 37 Acres +/-. Nearly all

tillable. Frontage on St. Rd. #124.

TRACT # 2: Prime Farm Land of 37 Acres +/-. Nearly all

tillable. Frontage on Rd. #124.

TRACT # 3: Prime Farm Land of 35 Acres +/-. Nearly all

tillable w/frontage on St. Rd. #124 & Co. Rd. #200E.

TRACT # 4: Potential Building Site Of 10 Acres +/-;

Wooded area w/frontage On Co. Rd. #200E.

TRACT # 5: Potential Bldg. Site of 15.35 Acres +/-; Nearly

all tillable w/frontage on Co. Rd. #200E.

TRACT # 6: Prime Farm Land of 37 Acres +/-; Nearly all

tillable. Frontage on State Rd. # 5 and St. Rd. #124.

TRACT # 7: Prime Farm Land of 37 Acres +/-; Nearly all

tillable w/frontage on State Rd. #124.

TRACT # 8: Potential Bldg. Site of 14 Acres +/-. All

wooded area w/frontage on State Rd. #124. (Paul Lewis

reserves joint Hunting Rights w/New Owner)

* * OPEN HOUSE INSPECTION AT NORTH END OF TRACT #6 & #7 ALONG State Rd. #124

on SAT., AUG. 01 AND SUNDAY, AUG. 02 FROM 1-3:00.

* * BUY 1 TRACT OR ANY COMBINATION OR ALL

PROCEDURE: This real estate will be offered in 8

individual tracts, Combination and Total. There will be

open bidding on all Tracts and combinations during the

Auction as determined by the Auctioneer. All bids are

subject to the Sellers’s Approval.

DOWN PAYMENT: 10% down payment on the day of the

auction, with the balance in cash at closing.

POSSESSION: All Tracts shall be tenants right and new

Buyer will have possession of ground as soon as 2009

Crop is harvested.

WILLIAM A. LEWIS ESTATE OWNERPaul Lewis, Executor

Joe Wiley – Attorney for Estate

AUCTIONEERS: PHILLIP L. GAUNTT & ASSOCIATES,

REAL ESTATE & AUCTIONEERING, INC.LaFontaine, In.

Phil Gauntt License #:AUO1012349 Jim Wright License #: AUO1029718

PHONE: 1-800-662-4643 FAX: (765) 981-2789WEB: http://www.gaunttauctions.net

New jobless claims rises againWASHINGTON (AP) — The num-

ber of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits rose last week, the government said, though the increase was mostly due to seasonal distortions.

The number of people remaining on the jobless benefit rolls, meanwhile, fell to 6.2 million from 6.25 million, the lowest level since mid-April.

The Labor Department said new claims for unemployment aid increased by 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 584,000. That’s above analysts’ esti-mates of 570,000.

A department analyst said the increase comes after claims were arti-ficially depressed earlier this month by the timing of temporary auto fac-tory shutdowns, which happened ear-lier this year than in most years. Still, this week’s total is below the 617,000 initial claims reported in late June before the seasonal distortions began. It reflects a trend that economists say indicates a slowing pace of layoffs.

The four-week average of claims,

which smooths out fluctuations, fell to 559,000, its lowest level since January.

But jobs remain scarce and the unemployment rate, which hit 9.5 per-cent for June, is expected to surpass 10 percent by year’s end.

And weekly claims remain far above the 300,000 to 350,000 that ana-lysts say is consistent with a healthy economy. New claims last fell below 300,000 in early 2007. The lowest level this year was 488,000 for the week ended Jan. 3.

The seasonal distortions are due to the fact that the auto companies shut their plants earlier than usual this year. Car makers normally close their facto-ries in early July and temporarily lay off thousands of workers as they retool plants to build new car models.

Those shutdowns happened in May and June this year as General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC closed plants after filing for bankruptcy protection. That shift in timing caused new claims to fall sharply in the first two weeks of July. Claims are now rebounding from

that artificial decline.The recession, which started in

December 2007 and is the longest since World War II, has eliminated a net total of 6.5 million jobs. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 9.7 percent when the July figure is reported next week.

More job cuts were announced this week. Verizon Communications Inc. said Monday that it would cut more than 8,000 employee and contractor jobs before the end of the year.

Among the states, California had the biggest increase in claims, with 4,290, which it attributed to increased layoffs in the construction and trade industries. Michigan, Florida, Connecticut and Indiana had the next-largest increases. State data lags behind initial claims data by one week.

New York had the largest drop in claims, with 22,052, which it said was due to fewer layoffs in the service and transportation industries. Wisconsin, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio had the next largest declines.

The World in BriefObama, Gates, Crowley:

Is the nation able to learn anything more about race?

By The Associated PressYou can’t solve a problem if you don’t

discuss it. That’s why some say that despite all the accusations and emotions hindering the resolution of the Henry Louis Gates Jr. imbroglio, there is opportunity for racial progress in President Barack Obama’s “teachable moment” sitdown with Gates and Sgt. James Crowley.

“If nothing else, it’s an important nation-al symbol of a discussion that needs to be held,” said Clarence B. Jones, once a confi-dant of Martin Luther King Jr. and author of “What Would Martin Say?”

“If it’s just regarded as the president bringing two guys together to clear the air, then it’s meaningless,” said Jones. “But if it’s really intended to say in effect to the country, ’Look, the difficulties that occurred here are really emblematic of deeper issues,’ it can work.”

Beyond the symbolic, the meeting is an opportunity for the white cop, the black Harvard scholar and the biracial president “to say that they’re wrong when they are wrong, to learn from one another’s per-spective as opposed to defending their own perspective,” said Tali Hairston, director of the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training and Community Devel-opment at Seattle Pacific University.

Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, an attorney for Gates, said they hoped to settle the dispute and “create a springboard for a larger discussion about how law enforcement interacts with minor-ity communities and how we can figure out a way to both enforce the law but also pro-tect civil liberties and civil rights.”

———

Young Gitmo detainee will return to Afghanistan or have criminal trial in U.S.WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge who

has grown impatient with the Obama admin-istration’s handling of a young Guantanamo Bay detainee is preparing to decide whether he’ll go home to Afghanistan or to the Unit-ed States for prosecution.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle was scheduled to hear arguments Thursday in the case of Mohammed Jawad. He has been held for 6 1/2 years at the U.S. detention facility in Cuba for allegedly wounding two U.S. soldiers and their interpreter by throw-ing a grenade at their jeep in Afghanistan.

Government attorneys said in court fil-ings Wednesday that they were prepared to release Jawad, but they didn’t specify where he would go next. Prosecutors are trying to build a criminal case against Jawad, but in the meantime they also are preparing for the possibility they cannot get a grand jury indictment or that Huvelle compels them to release him.

In the last hearing earlier this month, Huvelle criticized the government’s case as an “outrage” that’s “full of holes.” She encouraged Jawad’s release and declined to put off the case even though the government lawyer said she had vacation plans.

“This guy has been there seven years,” she said at the hearing July 16. “Seven years. He might have been taken there at the age of maybe 12, 13, 14, 15 years old. I don’t know what he is doing there.”

———

Baby girl is found after she was cut from slain mother’s womb; woman is arrested

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A baby girl cut from her mother’s womb was found and a woman arrested after acquaintances became suspicious of her claims that she was the baby’s mother, police said.

The body of the girl’s mother was found Monday in a closet at her Worcester apart-ment. It was not until an autopsy that author-ities discovered the fetus was missing.

The girl appeared to be in “fairly good health” at a New Hampshire hospital Wednesday, Worcester Police Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst said.

Julie Corey, 35, of Worcester, Mass., and a male companion were arrested in Plym-outh, N.H., where police found them with the child. Corey was charged as a fugitive from justice and is to be arraigned in district court in Concord, N.H., on Thursday. She was in custody and could not be reached for comment late Wednesday, and Worcester police did not know whether she had a law-yer. Police in New Hampshire said the man was released.

Police said Corey had reportedly gone to New Hampshire to relocate. A newspaper report said she arrived at a Plymouth home-less shelter Tuesday night. She told workers there that the girl was 6 days old and identi-fied herself as the mother but had no infor-mation on the child, according to the Union Leader in New Hampshire.

———

Congress, before summer break, keeps several key federal programs afloatWASHINGTON (AP) — Emergency

legislation is moving through Congress to make sure vital federal aid for unemploy-ment benefits and other programs doesn’t

dry up while lawmakers are out of town in August.

The House passed a bill Wednesday, 363-68, that includes the transfer of more than $14 billion from the general treasury fund to endangered federal trust funds for unem-ployment benefits and highway projects. It also keeps low-interest housing loans avail-able.

Senators were expected to vote on high-way funding bills Thursday and to deal with the other measures before they begin their recess at the end of next week.

“If we fail to act today, our people, our states and our economy will be harmed,” said Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. The vote came as the House planned to break this week for its summer recess.

The House bill has three parts: bolstering the federal unemployment insurance trust fund and the highway trust fund and increas-ing lending authority for the Federal Hous-ing Administration, a major source of low-interest housing loans. All three programs could run out of money in August without congressional action.

———

Third ‘Twilight’ film will have a new Victoria, to

almost everyone’s surpriseLOS ANGELES (AP) — Bryce Dal-

las Howard is taking over as the villainous vampire Victoria in the third “Twilight” movie, and the actress who’s played the part in the first two films says she was “stunned” and “hurt deeply” by the switch.

Rachelle Lefevre says she was unaware that Summit Entertainment, which is releas-ing the vampire saga, had chosen someone else to play her part in “Eclipse.” Summit announced Howard as her replacement late Tuesday, saying Lefevre had scheduling conflicts that would make her unable to par-ticipate in the production.

But Lefevre said Wednesday that she was “fully committed” to returning as Vic-toria. She says her involvement in the drama “Barney’s Version,” starring Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman, would only last 10 days.

“I turned down several other film oppor-tunities and, in accordance with my contrac-tual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules,” she said in a lengthy statement.

“Although the production schedule for ‘Eclipse’ is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those 10 days and would not accommodate me. Given the length of filming for ‘Eclipse,’ never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10-day overlap.”

Summit says Lefevre didn’t inform the studio she would be shooting “Barney’s Version” — which will require her to be in Europe during rehearsal and at least 10 days of principal photography on “Eclipse” — until July 20, even though she report-edly signed onto the project in early June. The studio says it made her representa-tives aware several days ago that taking part in “Barney’s Version” could place her “Eclipse” job status in jeopardy.

Semi tractor-trailer load in Illinois had a stowaway — a runaway dog from Indiana

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Employ-ees at an East Moline metal finishing plant found more than steel casings when they started to unload a the trailer of a semi from Rockport, Ind., earlier this week.

Part of the morning delivery Tuesday turned out to be an elderly, but friendly — and very thirsty — mixed-breed dog.

Mike Osborn, who drives a truck for KVF-Quad Corp., said the dog just drank water for two minutes straight after she climbed out of the trailer.

A telephone check with the warehouse in Indiana revealed that the dog was named Jughead, and that she had apparently climbed into the trailer 28 hours earlier.

Jughead’s owners, who work at the ware-house, were en route to Illinois pick her up Wednesday.

———

‘Rev. Ike,’ minister who preached prosperity gospel,

dies at age of 74LOS ANGELES (AP) — The minister

known as Reverend Ike, who preached the gospel of material prosperity to millions nationwide, died Tues-day. He was 74.

Family spokesman Bishop E. Bernard Jordan told The New York Times that The Rev. Frederick J. Eik-erenkoetter II, who suffered a stroke in 2007 and never fully recovered, died in Los Angeles. He moved to the city two years ago, Jordan said.

R e v e r e n d I k e preached the power of what he called “posi-tive self-image psychology” to his 5,000 parishioners at the United Church Science of Living Institute. The church was housed in a former movie theater in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

In the 1970s, Reverend Ike was one of the first evangelists to reach an audience of millions through television.

“This is the do-it-yourself church,” he proclaimed. “The only savior in this philos-ophy is God in you.”

Reverend Ike stretched Christian tenets, relocating the idea of God to the interior of the self, with the power to bring the believ-er anything he or she desired in the way of health, wealth and peace of mind.

The philosophy did not sit well with tra-ditional Christian ministers and civil rights leaders who felt black churches should focus on social reform rather than self-fulfillment.

His critics said he preyed on the poor and conned the faithful into giving him donations that he spent on cars, clothes and homes for himself. The IRS and the Postal Service investigated his businesses.

Others defended his philosophy of mind over matter, which appealed to middle-class believers who felt their hard work should be rewarded in this life.

This undated photo released by a family member shows Darlene Haynes, 23, who was found dead in her Worcester, Mass., apartment Monday with her fetus cut from her womb. (AP Photo/Family photo via Bos-ton Herald)

Rev. Ike(1977 photo)

U.S. wants everyone in on the terrorism fightNEW YORK (AP) — The U.S.

government needs to do more to edu-cate and engage the public, so that everyday Americans can be part of a multi-layered strategy to prevent ter-rorism, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.

“For too long, we’ve treated the public as a liability to be protected rather than asset in our nation’s collec-tive security,” Napolitano said Wednes-day during a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations. “This approach, unfortunately, has allowed confusion, anxiety and fear to linger.”

Napolitano said the country’s coun-ter-terrorism efforts should include the public, that “you are the ones who know if something is not right in your communities, such as a suspicious package, or unusual activities.”

She said the government also need-ed to work with the private sector, to make sure critical infrastructure in that

sector, like commercial facilities and chemical plants are secure.

Local law enforcement is another layer of the strategy, as is the federal government, and international allies, Napolitano said.

“The challenge is not just using fed-eral power to protect the country, but also enlisting a much broader societal response to the threat that terrorism poses,” she said.

She said the goal was to “get to a point where we are in a constant state of preparedness, not a constant state of fear.”

Napolitano emphasized the need to share information between differ-ent federal agencies, and between fed-eral and local law enforcement; to pay attention to threats in places like the cyber world as well as biological or chemical attacks, and to secure bor-ders as well as monitor home-grown threats.

Some of her department’s policies on securing borders and combating illegal immigration have come under criticism from immigration reform advocates, who say what’s needed is overall immigration reform.

A group of protesters gathered across the street from the site of Napol-itano’s speech to speak out against a federal program that allows local and state law enforcement officials to arrest and deport immigrants. They also have other concerns, such as immigration raids and investigations into whether employers have hired illegal immi-grants.

“We definitely can not accept mass enforcement and mass deportation actions that are more of the same, that revive and expand the Bush-era tactics that are the very core of the problem that we need to solve,” said Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.