Two loose dogs near Ball State University on Friday proved the community's animal control woes are far from solved.

Police from Ball State University and the Delaware County sheriff's department responded to a report of two loose dogs in the area of Bethel and Tillotson avenues Friday morning.

"It appeared to be somebody dumped them," Ball State University Police officer Brad Clark said. "They were on our property and almost froze."

According to Clark, the university's police dispatcher contacted city animal control to request they come pick up the dogs and take them to the city's animal shelter.

"They just told us they don't work on Fridays and unless the dog is vicious, they can't come out," Clark said. "It's a little frustrating that we can't get hold of somebody."

According to Clark, the dogs appeared to be labs or retrievers and were not vicious. They were, however, nearly frozen to death.

The dogs and police caused a scene and prompted some passersby to stop and help. Some even brought dog food.

Clark convinced someone with a barn to take the dogs for the weekend until the animal shelter opened Monday.

Source: The Star Press

The Muncie Fire Department on Saturday had its first ever "wetdown ceremony" for two brand new fire trucks known as Quints, multi-purpose apparatus serving both engine and ladder functions.

To get the rest of the story, buy a copy of Wednesday's edition of The Star Press.

Story at: PRINT EXCLUSIVE: The Star Press

Ball State University is curbing trends in crime on and off campus, a recent study suggests.

However, school survey administrator David Fried said there was one negative category that stood out in his mind in the 2009 annual security report and 2008 crime statistics, which were released Thursday.

Fried said two highlights he noticed are that burglary is down and drug violation is up.

"Officers are making more traffic stops, which accounts for the increase in drug violations," Fried said. "Most of the violations deal with marijuana, and with traffic stops officers are more likely to confront people who are carrying it."

As the director of Student Rights and Community Standards, Fried is responsible for compiling information for the report. The Student Rights and Community Standards office addresses university policies and procedures for students, staff and the community.

According to the Ball State Web site, the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 requires all post-secondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs to disclose campus security policy and certain crime statistics.

This annual report offers information from 2008 and compares it to statistics from the past two years.

Highlights indicate that overall security on campus has improved. There are lower levels of burglary on campus and in the residence halls compared to 2006 and 2007. Arrests for liquor law violations on campus are down 15 from 2007, but liquor law violations in the residence halls have increased by 11 the last two years. Drug law violation disciplinary action referrals are down seven from last year and liquor law violations on public property are down nearly 200 since last year. Drug violation arrests on public property have risen 15 since 2007.

No security violations have been reported in many areas of the survey.

For a complete breakdown of the information about 2008 crime statistics, go to http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/StudentRights/ReportsandStatistics/CampusCrime.aspx

Sarah Boswell

Originally published: 10/8/09 at 10:23 PM EST

Source: Ball State Daily News

The population has declined about 15 percent since 1980, from 76,000 to 65,000. The fall accompanied an exodus of heavy industry and a sharp drop in the city's tax base. Now, as a community, we face the consequences: the inability to pay for the current level of services.

We have two options: raise taxes or shrink the size of the government.

There are two problems with raising taxes. First, a higher tax will cause some people to leave the community. In fact, the people the most able to pay a tax are also the most able to leave. One study estimated that among the wealthy, a 1 percent local tax increase caused a 6-percent decline in population.

Second, and more importantly, Muncie is in the midst of a long-term decline. Any recovery to former glory will take many years and many new industries settling in the city. As a consequence, the city's government must resign itself to a decline in size.

Muncie is shrinking. Raising local taxes can only be a stop gap measure, and will only hasten -- not delay -- the day when the city will be unable to pay its bills. The only solution is letting the city's government shrink with the city itself.

Source: The Star Press - NEAL COLEMAN • Muncie • October 9, 2009

by: Amanda Junk

Originally published: 9/23/09 at 12:24 AM EST

Ball State Daily News

The Hiatt Farm pumpkin patch and corn maze, dubbed "Mazed and Cornfused", officially opened Saturday to customers looking to fill their fix of fall fun.

For more than three years owner Keith Hiatt and his family have been selling pumpkins on the side of Highway 67 near their Muncie home.

The roadside stand has since made its way onto their property with pumpkins overflowing on a table and varying in size and color.

Despite the location change, each year he is intrigued by people who visit the farm.

"We take the open space for granted. So many people are not associated with the farm or rural anymore," he said. "They're just really tickled to be able to come out and walk through the corn field and the grass."

From start to finish, upkeeping the farm is always a family effort and bonding experience.

Hiatt and his son manage the family's 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat while wife Linda is in charge of running the maze and its business.

Hiatt's daughters-in-law designed the maze and painted welcome signs while Linda's other son orders pumpkins and chooses what varieties they want to grow.

"It's really a family affair here," Linda said.

To be ready for the fall picking season, a new batch of pumpkin seeds are ordered in February and March and are planted in May and June, Linda said.

Pumpkins on the family's farm range in size from decorative miniature gourds weighing 2 to 5 pounds to standard 15-pound pumpkins best used for carving and pies, she said.

The gourds also vary in color. For the first time this year, the Hiatt patch includes white pumpkins, per the request of a visiting couple to the farm last year.

Linda also has a few pumpkin preservation tips for visitors looking for the perfect gourd.

To preserve its freshness, Linda recommends creating a solution composed of one gallon of water and a tablespoon of bleach and dipping the pumpkin into it.

Drying seeds for eating can then be baked until crunchy.

Even though growing pumpkins is part of the family's fall business, Keith personally doesn't like pumpkins all that much, he said.

"I like to look at them but not eat them," he said.

While the pumpkin patch has spanned 2.5 acres of the family's farm for multiple years, sometimes the yield seems to be much larger, Linda said.

"I always think we're not going to have enough, and we've picked and it looks like we haven't picked at all," she said. "But we always get rid of all of them."

Not too many people stopped by for a tour at this year's opening, Linda said. But she expects business to pick up in October when the weather gets cooler and people get into the spirit of fall, hay rides and mazes.

More people visited the farm compared to previous years, she said.

"Repeat customers knew they had a good time and wanted to come back," she said.

Since opening Mazed and Cornfused, the Hiatts have sold out of pumpkins and have continued to attract a steady crowd of pickers looking for an afternoon agricultural escape. Last season drew in 2,200 customers and grossed around $4,500, both totals higher than the previous year, Linda said.

Keith attributes these numbers to an increased interest in local agritourism, highly consumer-focused types of agriculture.

While agriculture has drifted away from its more traditional roots, a trip to the farm is still a one-on-one way for people to connect with nature, he said.

"Even though it's a commercial enterprise, it's still kind of folksy," he said. "This is kind of a luxury, the pumpkins and coming through here, but people want to do some entertainment for an evening or an afternoon."

Navigating your way

Mazed and Cornfused

Hours:
5-9 p.m. Thursday
5-10 p.m. Friday
noon-10 p.m. Saturday
noon-6 p.m. Sunday

Special Fall Break Hours
Open at 2 a.m. Oct. 15-16, 22-23, 29-30

Admission:
Adults (12 and up): $7
Children 6-12: $5
Ages 5 and under: free

Bean maze for children and other games are free.

Hayrides

Mazed and Cornfused will be offering hayrides during regular business hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Hayrides cost $3 per person. Rides last approximately 30 minutes. Haunted hayrides will be announced later this month.

For more information visit mazedandcornfused.com

For an interactive graphic about types of pumpkins and where to buy them, and more photos from Mazed and Cornfused, go to ballbearingsonline.com