THE 2008 VOLKSFEST IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY AT GERMANIA MAENNERCHOR, ON EVANSVILLE'S FULTON AVENUE. THE GERMAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL KICKED OFF WITH OPENING CEREMONIES THURSDAY NIGHT, AND RUNS FROM 11:00 AM UNTIL MIDNIGHT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE EVENT FEATURES GERMAN FOOD, MUSIC, DANCE, BEER, CONTESTS AND MORE. THERE'S EVEN A CHILDREN'S CARNIVAL SATURDAY FROM 11:00 TILL 2:00.

THE LATEST OPERATION PULL OVER CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY, AND CONTINUES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1ST. POLICE AGENCIES WILL STEP UP ENFORCEMENT, LOOKING FOR DRUNK AND IMPAIRED DRIVERS, AS WELL AS AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS. THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ADDS LOCAL AGENCIES WILL ALSO MONITOR MOTORCYCLES CLOSELY FOLLOWING A RASH OF RECENT MOTORCYCLE WRECKS.

HALL OF FAME BASEBALL GREATS OZZIE SMITH AND FRANK ROBINSON ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SEVENTH ANNUAL STRIKING OUT PROSTATE CANCER EVENT, SPONSORED BY THE EVANSVILLE CANCER CENTER. THEY'LL SPEAK AT 2:00 PM SATURDAY, AT THE EVANSVILLE MARRIOTT ON HIGHWAY 41. TICKETS ARE $20 DOLLARS, AND WHEN YOU BUY ONE, YOU GET A SECOND HALF OFF. AUTOGRAPHING TICKETS FOR AFTER THE PROGRAM COST $40. CALL 473-8797 FOR TICKETS.

A REGULATION LIMITING SMOKING IN A HOPKINS COUNTY COUNTY WILL GO INTO AFFECT IN TWO MONTHS. THE HOPKINS COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH APPROVED THE REGULATION WEDNESDAY. THE BOARD MEMBERS HAD BEEN EXAMINING THE ISSUE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

ABORTION OPPONENTS WANT INDIANA COUNTIES TO REQUIRE DOCTORS WHO PERFORM THE PROCEDURE TO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASSED SUCH AN ORDINANCE LAST WEEK. INDIANA HAS NINE ABORTION CLINICS THAT PROVIDED MORE THAN 10,000 ABORTIONS IN 2005, THE LAST YEAR FOR WHICH STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE.