CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) - Dozens of Gary high school students who
voted during school hours in Indiana's last two primaries were treated to lunches at Lake County restaurants.

The Times of Munster newspaper found that the meals cost taxpayers more than $1,000.

About two dozen Roosevelt High School students ate out April 21 during a field trip to vote at the Lake County Government Center.

Another 54 students from Lew Wallace High School took similar field trips to vote in April 2007 and ate out in Crown Point.

Gary School Board member Jesse Morris says he believes the lunches were an appropriate use of school district money.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott has said this year's trip appeared to be a get-out-the-vote effort by supporters of Sen. Barack Obama.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)