Area trooper gets Seeking the Grand NASCAR considers new K-9 partner Army of the Republic Mayfield a threat Area State Page 8 Page 3 Sports Page 7 The News-BannerWells County’s Hometown Connection Bluffton, Indiana www.news-banner.com Vol. 80 No. 210 50¢ THURSDAY State boosts July 9, 2009 ID rules for new driver’s Quick Takes Leader academy licenses applications INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Motor- ists who renew their Indiana driver’s due July 31 licenses or obtain new ones will The deadline for applica- have to present documents to prove tions to be submitted for the their identities beginning next year. Level 1 (first year) of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Com- Wells County Leadership missioner Andy Miller said Wednes- Academy is July 31. day the one-time requirement is part The academy will begin of an effort to stem identity theft by its second class in mid-Sep- complying with the 9/11 commis- tember. sion’s recommendations and federal “We got so much positive law. feedback from both partici- Anyone who gets a new license pants and their employers,” or state ID or renews one after Jan. 1 noted academy coordinator will have to prove his or her identity, Tim Hartigan. “We’re cer- Social Security number, citizenship tainly hoping to keep that or immigration status and state resi- momentum going.” dency. Documents that can be used Application forms are include birth certificates or pass- available at the Wells Coun- ports, Social Security cards or W2 ty Chamber of Commerce, forms, and bank statements or utility Wells County Foundation bills issued within 60 days. office and the United Way of Motorists will be required to Wells County. Applications may also be downloaded Bill Horan, the Purdue Extension educator for agriculture in Wells County, will join three other Indiana Extension bring those documents in as their educators next month for a trip to Nigeria. (Photo by Jerry Battiste) current licenses expire, so the pro- from the county foundation’s cess should be complete by 2016, Web site (www.wellcounty- officials said. Indiana driver’s licens- found.org) and clicking on es are valid for six years. the Wells County Leadership The new driver’s licenses will Academy logo in the upper Saving the cowpeas be mailed to motorists to give offi- left corner. cials time to verify their ID against Further information or a national database, Miller said. questions should be directed Horan, others from Indiana are heading to Nigeria to improve agriculture Motorists will be issued an interim to Suzanne Huffman, 824- By DAVE SCHULTZ Horan and three other Purdue the crop has not been stored prop- 14-day license that cannot be used 0510, Tammy Slater, 824- Bill Horan’s about to get an edu- Extension educators will be making erly, farmers can’t get those higher for identification. Interim state IDs, 8620 or Pamela Beckford, cation, even as he teaches others. the trip Aug. 6-21. They'll arrive in prices. however, will only be issued within 824-5589. Horan is the educator for agri- Nigeria Aug. 6; Horan and two Afri- The Purdue team — Maria 30 days of an election to allow recip- culture with the Purdue Extension cans with him will visit five states. Restrepo of Pike County, Adri- ients to vote. office in Wells County. He will “Cowpeas are the major protein enne Held of Warrick County, Jer- Licenses will be mailed in non- be going to Nigeria next month to source for Nigeria, which is the emy Weber of Franklin County, and descript envelopes and motorists teach members of that nation's agri- most populous country in Africa,” Horan — will be participating at will be provided a tracking number. Inside culture ministry how to better store he said. “The issue is, they harvest what is being billed as a “train the While the document requirement is Local/Area cowpeas. the crop in the fall, and it gets infest- trainer” series of seminars. They’ll one-time, the change to mail deliv- That sounds rather mundane. ed by weevils. They can lose half of go to a location and work with ery is permanent, said BMV spokes- Obituaries. 3 It’s only when you realize what the the harvest.” members of the Nigerian agriculture man Dennis Rosebrough. Police Notebook . 3 crop — also called field beans in the Prices are lowest for the crop at ministry. They’ll teach them so they Miller said the changes were United States — means to Africa's the time of harvest. In the spring- can teach farmers how to save their prompted in part by rising identity theft and the prevalent use of driv- Opinion food supply that you realize how time, prices are much higher — as crops. Angelkeep . 4 important the task is. much as three times higher — but if er’s licenses as a primary form of (Continued on Page 2) (Continued on Page 2) Also... Sports. 6-7 Classifieds . 10-11 Steele tells Hoosier GOP: Fight back Diversions 9 By MIKE SMITH to stand up, and encouraged them AP Political Writer to get more involved at all levels of INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — GOP government. National Committee chairman “This is not your mother’s or Michael Steele rallied Indiana your daddy’s party anymore, it is Today: Partly sunny. Republicans on Wednesday night, your party,” he said. “Step up and Scattered sprinkles in the saying it was time for the party to step in.” morning. Highs in the 80s. stand up to Democrats and stop Steele’s visit comes less than Tonight: Partly cloudy. complaining about being out of three weeks after former President Lows in the lower 60s. power in Washington. Bill Clinton spoke at a fundraiser Friday: Partly sunny. A “Lift your heads,” Steele told dinner for Indiana Democrats in 20 percent chance of show- about 800 people at the Indiana State which he vigorously defended Pres- ers and thunderstorms in Republican dinner at the downtown ident Barack Obama, saying Obama the afternoon. Highs in the Marriott Hotel. “I’m so sick and has done what was needed to spark upper 80s. tired of Republicans whining and the economy. Friday Night: Becom- moaning and complaining. You lost, Steele said Wednesday that $787 ing mostly cloudy. Scattered get over it. billion in stimulus money and bank showers and thunderstorms. “Wake up and pay attention and bailouts has done little to improve Lows in the upper 60s. focus on the fact that our country is the economy and that Obama’s Chance of rain 40 percent. being taken apart bit by bit.” honeymoon is over. He encouraged Saturday: Mostly cloudy The former lieutenant governor Republicans to get back to what he with a 40 percent chance of from Maryland, who became RNC called the principles the party stands showers and thunderstorms. chairman in January, also said the for — faith, freedom, responsibil- Highs in the mid 80s. party needs to reach out more to ity and a commitment to economic Saturday Night: Partly young people. growth. cloudy. A 30 percent chance “We will not move forward The state party had no imme- of showers and thunder- unless we move to their rhythm,” diate estimate on how much was Republican national committee chairman Michael Steele speaks at the storms in the evening. Lows Steele said. He asked all teenagers raised, but said the dinner cost $175 annual Indiana GOP state dinner in Indianapolis Wednesday. (AP Photo/ in the lower 60s. and other young people in the crowd (Continued on Page 2) Tom Strickland) Sunday Through Tues- day: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Lows in the BSU’s tuition will lower 60s. Tuesday Night...Partly go up 4.2% for cloudy. Lows in the mid next school year 60s. Today Friday Saturday MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Ball State University is High 85 High 87 High 85 proposing a tuition and fees Low 63 Low 67 Low 62 increase of about 4.2 percent for the coming school year, How to contact us: a slightly smaller hike than those planned at other public Call us: 824-0224 universities in Indiana. or 1-800-579-7476 Under Ball State’s pro- posal, in-state undergraduate Fax us: 824-0700 students would pay an extra [email protected] $329 for 2009-10, or a total On the Web: of about $7,830 for the aca- www.news-banner.com demic year. The school’s trustees are Follow us at: scheduled to set the new twitter.com/newsbanner Getting ready rates at their July 24 meeting. The grounds for the antique tractor pull at the Wells County 4-H Park were being levelled early Thursday morning in A school spokesman says anticipation of next week’s Wells County 4-H Fair. The antique tractor pull is scheduled for 5 p.m., July 17. (Photo by the tuition portion of stu- Jerry Battiste) dents’ bill would go up 3.26 (Continued on Page 2) Page 2 • The News-Banner • THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2009 LOCAL/AREA ID (Continued from Page 1) Checking motorists’ IDs ID. “We’re using it all the against databases requires time,” he said. massive computer time and Not a good look According to informa- would be too costly and In this picture provided by tion provided by the BMV, time-consuming to do while the environmental group the agency receives an aver- customers wait at the license Greenpeace, climbers rap- age of about six cases of branch, Miller said. Check- pel down the face of Mount suspected fraud each day. ing them overnight while Rushmore National Memo- Miller said about 11 percent branches are closed, how- rial in Keystone, S.D.