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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1976)
The weather Partly cloudy and warm through Thursday. 20 per cent chance of rain and thunder showers. Winds easterly and northeasterly at 5-10 mph. High jday and Thursday low to mid 3s. Low tonight near 70. Che Battalion Vol. 136 College Station, Texas Wednesday, August 18, 1976 C ^T'ENt*^' ce duncil passes 39 per cent hike; one Star Gas not satisfied By JERRY NEEDHAM Battalion Editor he College Station City Council last irsday passed an ordinance granting e Star Gas Co. a rate increase which to average College Station consumer will n a 39 per cent increase in his monthly ral gas hill. he ordinance gives Lone Star an in- Sase in total revenues in the College tation-Bryan area of 2.5 per cent or B,000 a year. I Lone Star last February had asked for an I ^ }.36per cent or $178,000 increase in yearly ^ ,enues generated locally. fflie figures proposed in the new ordi- t lancearereally not acceptable to us,” A. L. ' Bartley, local manager of Lone Star Gas, Said yesterday. “We haven’t made a deci- ■afoti yet as to what we will do,” he said, w It is expected the company will appeal ^^Hcase to the Texas Railroad Commission, ^^■ch has jurisdiction over such matters, ^^■artley said the average natural gas con- ffitier in College Station uses 6,800 cubic Ht of gas a month. This average consumer now pays $8.48 per month for his gas and under the new rate will pay $11.78. Lone Star was last granted a rate increase by the College Station City Council in May, 1972. The increase at that time was five per cent. The rate structure included in the ordi nance is a six-step progression, identical to the one recently passed by the Bryan City Council. The prices under the rate structure vary from $2.44 for the first 1,000 cubic feet of gas in the first step to $1.13 per 1,000 cubic feet for those who use more than 100,000 cubic feet of gas a month. Bartley said the company proposed a two-step rate structure to the cities be cause it would take the burden off the small user and encourage conservation in the big users. Bartley pointed out to the council that consumers in the last two steps of the rate structure will pay less for gas than Lone Star pays for it. College Station Mayor Lorence Bravenec said the rate structure was re- &M coed takes iss Texas Universe Kim Tomes dealt a severe blow to the ale image of Texas A&M University years ago. aturday, she completely wrecked the a. he physical education senior from mston was chosen Miss Texas Universe the pageant at El Paso. It sends Kim to igara, N.Y., next May to compete at the tional level of the Miss Universe contest. A blonde with a winsome smile. Miss j^Tomes was crowned Miss Texas World in ^ 1974. She went on to capture the first run- nerup spot in the Miss USA World ^ plgeant. 7 ’"’“Wit was a first for a College Station coed in heauty pageant competition. ||The El Paso win includes a $1,000 scho larship, a wardrobe and flight to Acapulco j in October. During a week at the Mexican psort, Kim will emcee a program. le A&M senior was sponsored at El /aso by the Southwest Houston A&M Club. Club president is Henry Goodwin, 1966 A&M graduate. iim has 41 appearances to make next iring as Miss Texas Universe. Texas Ag gies will be cheering for additional success and more responsibilities for her in New York next May. The A&M coed, member of the Diamond Darlings among other activities, will be in El Paso until Friday when she goes home to Houston for her twenty-first birthday party. Two days later she returns to El Paso. Her mother said she plans another two days at home later before starting her senior year at Aggieland. Her sister, Pat ricia, will be a sophomore in medical technology. The El Paso triumph will cause Kim to miss spring semester classes. Providing plans aren’t changed at Niagara, she in tends to return to complete studies in the fall of 1977. We’re very excited about it,” com mented Mrs. Tomes. As aprevious winner, Kim was ineligible to compete in future Miss World competitions. How did Kim spend her summer getting ready for El Paso? She taught swim lessons mornings, worked as a lifequard afternoons and waited tables at the Cellar Door evenings,” Mrs. Tomes said. evelopment council ^approves CS request The Brazos Valley Development Coun- 1 (BVDC) executive committee Thursday proved College Station’s request for $1.2 illion in funding from the Economic De- elopment Administration (EDA) for its unicipal water supply program. The committee approved a motion to end the request to the EDA with the Stipulation that all written input from pyan regarding the grant be included. Bryan Mayor Lloyd Joyce, executive rmittee member, said the city did not ink that the College Station application Eis “in the best interests of Bryan and the 7DC.” i‘We were routinely asked by the BVDC our comments on this matter and we ye them,” Joyce said. “This is not just my Irsonal view, but that of the city planning Jiff and the city councilmen. I think that the press blew this whole thing out of prop- lion.” Jlenn Cook, BVDC director, em- Sasized that the executive committee’s approval or disapproval of any funding was ( not the final word. ijjust because College Station or anyone else has had their requests reviewed and I ^approved here does not mean they will get ^that money,” Cook said. “Federal and state agencies up the line must give official input jjon each request.” In other action, the council gave its ap proval to erosion control programs for both the Burton and Caldwell Independent School Districts. The $200,000 project will be funded through the Soil Conservation Services. The City of Navasota applied to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for parks and recreational facilities. Bill Yeager, city manager, said “We plan to match funds with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to develop our parks.” The local match from Community Development Funds is $38,000. The council also approved a Law En forcement Training Contract to be drawn between BVDC and the Texas A&M En gineering Extension Service. The contract will provide for the training of peace offic ers by the Law Enforcement and Security Training Division. The council also approved a pre-plan to study the feasibility of a multi-county jail. The regional “Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Plan 1977” provides for the consideration of a multi-county jail in con nection with the planning for Brazos County. The study will be funded com pletely through a grant so that there will be no cost to participating local governments. The study will also look into Brazos County jails and determine what irm provements must be made to bring them into compliance with conditions set by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. ^Inflation, credibility 'concern voters, says Bentsen ^Inflation and credibility in government ^are the main things on the minds of Texas voters, said Senator Lloyd Bentsen, (D- ^|Tex.) Monday during a quick campaign , swing through Bryan-College Station. |P' “People are concerned about making ^ their budgets meet. Senior citizens, re tired people in particular, are having a I '' tough time. Young people just getting started are finding a difficult time,” he said, f Bentsen said he has worked to keep tax incentives in the system so America will have equity capital so businesses can grow -^and can hire people and create jobs. ^ Bentsen said that charges by Represen- itive Alan Steelman of Dallas, his Repub- an challenger in the November general election, that he is a special-interest nator are desperate charges by a man o is losing a race. Steelman is making a serious mistake by running a totally negative campaign, Bentsen said. “I think what we should do is talk about the issues and what is right for this great country of ours,” he said. Tax reform is possible, Bentsen said, but it has to have total committment of a new president early in his term, and it must be a complete tax reform. He added that any tax reform must leave some incentives within the system to accomplish economic objec tives for the country. Bentsen criticized the Humphrey- Hawkins Full Employment Bill now before Congress saying it does not pay enough attention to the problems of inflation. “It (the Humphrey-Hawkins Bill) does not bear down on inflation the way it should. I think that we ought to put the impetus on the private enterprise system — creating jobs that have continuity and permanence,” he said. Bentsen favors giving an employment tax credit to a business each year that it hires above the level of the preceding year. On the upcoming presidential election, Bentsen said he thinks Carter will be elected. “The only one who can beat Carter is Carter himself,” he said. commended by a citizens’ utility rate ad visory committee. He said the reasoning for the six-step rate structure was twofold; Bryan was doing it and if College Station didn’t, it would put College Station businesses at a disadvantage and also it would reflect Lone Star’s cost of servicing more than a two-step structure. “A tiered rate structure is preferable, but not as much difference between the small and big users as we have here,” Bravenec said. Councilman Larry Ringer made a mo tion to adopt the ordinance saying, “I feel embarrassed that we sat on this since Feb ruary.” Councilman Gary Halter seconded the motion though he said he was reluctant because of the 40 per cent increase to con sumers. The motion passed with Councilmen Jim Gardner and Lane Stephenson voting against it. Gardner said he didn’t like the rate schedule. Stephenson said he didn’t like the 40 per cent increase and didn’t feel College Station should pass the ordinance just because Bryan did. Councilman Jim Dozier entered the meeting just before the vote and did not cast his vote. Halter pointed out that Lone Star Gas is delinquent in its tax payments to the city of College Station. He said Lone Star’s non payment of its taxes for 1975 and 1976 re sulted in a higher rate of interest on bonds which are being sold by the city. Lone Star’s share of the city’s tax accounts is seven per cent of the city’s total. Lone Star has not paid the taxes because the company disagrees with the valuation assessed on its property in College Station. City officials contend that Lone Star’s de linquent taxes amount to slightly over $5,000. Halter also pointed out that Lone Star hired and paid an appraiser to determine the value of its College Station property and paid him more than what they owe the city in taxes. The case was to have been heard in court last week but the city and Lone Star agreed to try to settle the matter out-of-court. The Graduate Battalion photo by Kevin Venner Anticipation? Reflection? Boredom? Only one man, this graduated senior, knows. He is one of a summer record 1,034 students who graduated Friday. Aggie cook does it A “chili” day at A&M By KEVIN VENNER Battalion Staff The rains cooled things off.Monday, but Albert S. Agnor made it one of the chiliest days of the summer for about 1200 persons attending a dinner in Duncan Dining Hall. Agnor, champion chili cook from Mar shall, Texas, cooked 500 pounds ofhis “sec ret” recipe for the American Society of Animal Science, which is sponsoring a con ference on the Texas A&M campus this week. The Aggie, class of’47, says that he sells life insurance in Marshall, but added, “I cook chili all the time, too.” Agnor said that he was a student under Dr. O.D. Butler, professor and head of A&M’s Animal Sci ence Department. The enthusiastic cook is a veteran of the World Championship Chili Cookoff, which is held each year in Terlingua, Texas, and claims to be the best, even though the last award was given “to some bare-breasted woman.” Agnor said, “It’s hard to cook against a woman whose got nothing but an apron on!” He said that it was hard for the other cooks, the judges and the spectators. Agnor’s son, Stuart, who is a senior in Ag ricultural Economics at A&M, said that many of the spectators, including himself, enjoyed watching the competition. Agnor seems to be very proud of his cooking. When he was asked if he knew Senator Lloyd Bentsen was attending the dinner, he responded, “I didn’t know he was coming, but he’s a fool if he missed it.” The pot that Agnor used to cook the 500 pounds of chili weighs 250 pounds and he said that it takes him about four hours to cook a batch this size. He said the most chili that he has cooked at one time was 750 pounds and that he had five pots going at the same time. Agnor also claims to be the world’s largest shipper of farkleberries. He said that he once sent 300 farkleberry sprigs to a psychiatrists’ convention at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. The sprigs were used for place-setting decoration, he said. For those of you who do not know, a farkleberry is not just the name of a fruit that owns a local pool and domino parlor, but is a black berry with hard stony seeds that, according to Agnor, makes “pretty good wine.” The cook from Marshall also claims to be responsible for adding a key ingredient to the pool and domino establishment. This was verified by Don Canter and D.E. Anz, owners of Farkleberry’s Pool and Domino Parlor. Canter said that he and his partner were attending a chili cookoff in Terlingua and spotted the name on the side of Agnor’s cook wagon, “farkleberry chili.” Canter says that he and Anz like the name “Farkleberry’s” because it’s a happy sounding name. Battalion photo by Kevin Venner Champion Chili Cook, Albert S. Agnor from Marshall, Texas, sells life insurance when he isn’t cooking. Agnor, class of ’47, is displaying his stirring technique. Sorry, kids. Back to school The A&M Consolidated schools will open tomorrow. Following is a list of items that elementary students will need. KINDERGARTEN 1 box Jumbo Crayons, 8 Can troll GRADE ONE 1 cigar box or other box for small supplies 1 large box facial tissues 1 plastic jar of paste 1 box Jumbo Crayons, 8 in box 1 Elmer’s glue, 8 oz. bottle 2 primary pencils, (Eberhard Faber No. 6381 or No. 6301) 1 pencil eraser 1 spiral composition book, 10” x 8 GRADE TWO 1 cigar box or other box for small supplies 1 large box facial tissues 1 box crayons, medium 1 Elmer’s glue, 4 oz. bottle 2 No. 2 pencils 1 pencil eraser 1 five-inch rounded point scissors 2 spiral composition books, 10” x 8 1 writing tablet, 8 1/2” x 7 GRADE THREE 1 cigar box or other box for small supplies 1 large box facial tissues 1 box crayons, medium 1 Elmer’s glue, 4 oz. bottle 2 No. 2 pencils 2 erasers 1 five-inch rounded point scissors 1 spiral composition book, 10” x 8 1 looseleaf notebook/side openings/slim spine/po zipper 1 pkg. notebook paper 1 plastic zippered bag with holes to fit notebook 5 report folders with brads 1 red checking pencil GRADE FOUR 1 cigar box or other box for small supplies 1 large box facial tissues 1 box crayons, medium 1 Elmer’s glue, 4 oz. bottle 2 No. 2 pencils 1 eraser 1 five-inch rounded point scissors 1 spiral composition book, 10” x 8 1 12” wooden ruler, inch and centimeter timeter 1 box or set of map crayons 2 red checking pencils 1 looseleaf notebook/side openings/slim spine/no zipper 1 pkg. notebook paper GRADE FIVE 1 cigar box or other box for small supplies 1 large box facial tissues 1 box crayons, 48 colors 2 No. 2 pencils 1 pencil eraser 1 Elmer’s glue, 4 oz. bottle 1 looseleaf notebook/side openings/slim spine/no zipper 1 pkg. notebook paper 1 plastic zipper pocket for looseleaf notebook 1 12” wooden ruler, inch and centimeter 1 spiral composition book, stenographer 6” x 9 1 box or set of map pencils 1 red checking pencil 3 folders with brads 1 five-inch rounded point scissors Cherry emphasizes need for work ethic The record 1,034 Texas A&M University summer graduates were told Friday that they could cure some of the problems created by the previous generation if they could recreate the work ethic, solve infla tion and reform big government. Tom D. Cherry, A&M’s retiring vice president for business affairs, also advised the graduating students to put their know ledge to work. “Education is barren without action based on it,” he said. Cherry cited advancements in com munications, education, medicine and transportation, which were made during his lifetime, but added, “I am not here to boast about the achievements of my gener ation: rather, let us focus on our failures, for therein lie your opportunities for achieve ment.” The reestablishment of the will-to-work ethic was emphasized by Cherry and he said that his generation must accept the blame for the degeneration of this credo. “Too many are willing to accept welfare,” he said. Cherry informed those graduating that unless they solved the problems of infla tion, today’s dollar will be worth only six cents when they retire. “Inflation is a cancer, gradually, but surely, consuming our democratic form of government,” he said. “Inflation destroys the incentive to save; it makes a mockery of thrift and de pletes our investment in our form of gov ernment.” Deficit spending on the part of the fed eral, state and local governments was cited by Cherry as the primary cause of inflation. He added that although his generation is leaving an inflation-ridden economy for the current generation, it also is leaving the educational tools to set it right. Problems created by federal controls were also discussed by Cherry. He refer red to our government as being paternalis tic, one which “makes the decisions, im poses the regulations for our everyday lives, then sends us a bill for services re ndered. ” He urged the graduates to reform the government, which Cherry said is cor rupt, has no well-defined foreign policy, is shaped by pressure groups and is control led by bureaucrats. Cherry said the growth of the goven- ment is out of control, citing figures that one out of five persons employed in the U.S. is on the government payroll. “Big government is bad government,” he said. The vice president closed his com mencement address by reminding the graduates to continually exercise their im agination and fire their ambitions with in itiative. “You will do better than we,” he said. Williams’ status fair and stable Texas A&M president Jack K. Williams was reported this morning by Methodist Hospital officials to be continuing his gradual increase in activities. Williams, who was readmitted to Methodist Hospital following a cardiac ar rest early last month, is now described as being in “fair and stable” condition. Hos pital officials say that Williams has been sitting up and would soon start walking. He was moved from the intensive care unit to a private room in a special care unit in the hospital. Williams’ condition had been described as “critical” for most of the period that he has been in the hospital. He was first ad mitted to Methodist May 31 for a series of tests. During his stay in the hospital, he suffered heart-related problems. He was later released, but was readmitted July 9 after suffering cardiac arrest while recuperating at his home in College Station. Ward boundaries studied A preliminary proposal outlining ward boundaries was approved by the College Station City Council yesterday. The proposal chosen by the council was one of five drawn up by city administrative assistant Mark Snider, a Texas A&M stu dent. The council also chose an alternate proposal from among the five. The Texas Election Code says precinct or ward changes such as the one College Station is trying to implement must be submitted to the local county commission ers court by September 1 in order to have time to institute the changes needed. Councilmen asked Snider to try to come up with more proposals before the final ward boundaries are submitted to the commissioners court. They asked Snider to use the following criteria in drawing up the proposals: a) as equal in population as possible; b) approx imately same amount of voters; c) geo graphic compactness. Snider is using Texas Highway Depart ment (THD) figures for determining the number of people in each section of the city and updating these figures with in formation on building permits issued since the THD figures were compiled. Councilmen considered trying to leave the precinct lines as they are now drawn, but to do so would leave them in violation of federal voting rights standards because of the differences in the number of people in each precinct. This left the councilmen the alternative of drawing ward boundaries irrespective of the current precinct lines. The councilmen ran into problems with the Texas Election Code which says that ward lines cannot split judicial precincts or county commissioners precincts. The councilmen decided the federal guidelines take precedence over the state guidelines. Most of the proposals favored by the council divide the campus into more than one ward. I think the present councilmen were strongly supported and we have an obliga tion to tiy to keep these councilmen in separate districts without gerrymander ing,” said Mayor Larry Bravenec. * The problem is College Station is too small for a ward system, ” said Councilman Gary Halter. “You can’t have a ward sys tem that is not drawn to somebody’s polit- ' ical advantage or disadvantage,” he said. If the county commissioners court will not accept the boundaries proposed by the city council. Halter said the city will have to maintain separate ward voting rolls at its own expense. Under the plan tentatively decided on, each councilman is in a separate ward ex cept for Anne Hazen and Lane Stephen- f son. The status of the election in which the | ward system was passed in April is still in doubt. A challenge to the election isp scheduled to be heard in the 85th District Court on September 8.