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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1978)
The Battalion ien(' f Vol. 71 No. 92 1 8 Pages Tuesday, February 7, 1978 College Station, Texas News Dept. 845-2611 Business Dept. 845-2611 Inside Tuesday: Bert Lance and his TV comeback, p. 2. Sorghum: breakfast of champions? p. 3. A quiz for pro football fans, p. 8. I'Tv-l^SpiSSSII Inow buries NY, I moves into Texas United Press International NEW YORK — The worst snowstorm to belt New York City in nearly a third of century stranded thousands of people in trains, cars, airports and office buildings londay and early today. The National Weather Service said the nation’s largest city was buried under 17.5 inches of snow by 3 a.m. today and some areas were still getting more. Overall, a spokesman for the weather service said, it was the fifth worst snowfall :o hit New York since they began keeping records in 1869 and the worst storm in 31 years. The storm packed winds of over 40 mph and piled up six-foot drifts in some ireas. Early today, thunder and lightning mixed with the falling snow for a reakish winter show. The 17.5 inches on the ground marked the heaviest snowfall to sock the city ince Dec. 26, 1947 when the all-time high was reached — 26.4 inches. The storm shut down the area’s three major airports, slowed rail traffic and nade highways “virtually impassable.” Police said about 4,000 Long Island notorists were stalled in huge snowdrifts. Blowing, wet snow and freezing drizzle fell from the Panhandle to East Texas today, causing schools and businesses to close and contributing to hazardous driving. Rain fell throughout Central and South Texas where warmer temperatures prevented the moisture from freezing. Rain which began felling in North Central Texas Monday night turned to snow early today and covered an area from Dallas-Fort Worth to the Red River, east to Tyler and west beyond Wichita Falls into the Panhandle. Snow accumulations of more than two inches were common in North Texas, but the National Weather Service said warming temperatures might result in more rain and less snow for that region. Fog which settled on the Panhandle and South Plains, limiting visibility to near zero, was to dissipate throughout the day. ISC Council elects Daniels as president By GREG PROPPS he Memorial Student Center Council ise its leader for 1978-79 during the ncil’s Monday night meeting, lay Daniels, a junior biochemistry stu- tfrom Brookeville, Md., was selected r three other candidates: Ronald A. essner, director of operations; Lynn mpp, director of projects; and Paul J. ensly, Political Forum. Other officers I be chosen on Feb. 20, and chairmen of 20 MSC committees will be named on rch 26. Daniels, currently serving as chairman own Hall and a Directorate repre- itative to the council, said that as sident he intends to increase student areness of the individual MSC commit- s. Daniels said he will focus on public ations, effectiveness of advertising, and the programs in general. College jrotest Acting president Lynn Gibson said the nomination was a “tough decision ”, but that the ’selection was the best that could be made.” Sharon Taulman, chairman of the nomi nation committee, said that “leadership ability, and past experience” were impor tant factors in the decision. In other action last night, the council approved proposals for speakers to be pres ented by Great Issues and the MSC Politi cal Forum, and approved the budget for the upcoming MSC All Night Fair. The Council also approved a proposal to request that “the MSC Food Services provide the northwest portion of the MSC Cafeteria for reservation purposes,” mainly for small, private groups. Also approved was a propo sal providing for a clarification and restruc turing of the MSC Awards System. Consol Board won’t join TET By MICHELLE BURROWES The A&M Consolidated School Board Monday decided not to join an organiza tion working to lower property taxes. A group of citizens had offered to donate $700 to pay for the membership fees if the board joined Texans for Equitable Taxation (TET), a state-wide organization representing school districts and taxpayers. Other citizens have attended board meetings to voice their opposition to the funding of membership fees and another lawsuit they say is too closely related to TET. Michael Moeller, a representative of TET, told the board that TET works toward raising school revenue from broad-based sources, particularly income taxes. “Local revenues should be raised to meet local needs,” Moeller said. Citizens at the meeting Monday expressed concern about the funding of the membership fees. “The funding is a red herring,” one citizen commented. “The school system should not be a member of any other organization except the Texas Association for School Boards,” said Don Hellriegel, Chairman of Par ents in Partnership with Education. “We re concerned about the precedent-setting implications,” Hellriegel said, adding that a ’host of other organizations” exist to better the quality of education, and the board may be asked to join these also. Board members William D. Fitch withdrew his motion to accept the $700 donation after Jack Woods, school attorney, warned that the wording of the mo tion might be in violation of Texas law. He made a new motion to join TET, but the motion was not seconded. Firm to study effects of crowds at lake Battalion photo by Larry Chandler Library frames building A new library addition may increase efficiency, but from this angle it decreases the view of Texas A&M University’s Oceanography Building. Station businessmen bond issue proposal By JEANNE LOPEZ Four College Station businessmen spoke protest Monday to a bond issue proposal at would prohibit southbound traffic from ruing left onto Dominik Street from xas Avenue. The proposal, issued at the pital improvments committee meeting, ts meant to solve the congested traffic oblem in that area. The main concern of eproprietors was losses they would suffer traffic would not be allowed easy access to eir commercial establishments from :xas Avenue. The businesses on Dominik Quid be accessible only to eastbound traf- on Dominik. “This is our entrance, we have made sub- [antial investments and it would be cata- ■ophic to our businesses,” said Ken Mar- owner of Pepe’s Mexican Food Re- [aurant. Jim Duckett, owner of Whataburger, p'eed with Martin saying. It would be a saster.” “Preventing traffic from that direction ’fluid cut out business from 50 percent to percent and that could practically put us W of business,” said Duckett. |“We don’t want to put you out of busi- less, ” said City Engineer Elrey Ash. “We ’ lire ready to change it (the proposed route) fiyway we can. Solving the traffic problem 1 1 make that corner a safe maneuver is our priority.” J Henry Miller, owner of Danvers Re- Maurant, which is currently under con- Iruction on Dominik, proposed a traffic fight at the Dominik and Texas intersection p control the congestion at the left turn me. He suggested that the light be in se- Uence with the lights at the Kyle and exas intersection and the Highway 30 and exas intersection. “If I had known that this was planned, I , »uld have never built on that street, ” Mil- fir said. I Ash remarked that in the proposed plan a 1 Pedian would extend from the Kyle and exas intersection to the Highway intersec- i ion with gaps for turns to the Holiday Inn ifld Culpepper Plaza shopping center. It lould not allow left turns to the vacant lot On the corner of Dominik, which is the fiiture site of the First State Bank of learne. Ash said that the bank’s architect was lotilied that such a move was planned hen the land was being consideered. Jim Jcamardo, president of the Hearne Bank, Ash, T did not hear anything about it efore we bought that land.” 11 Ash said a letter sent to the architect was T/ ’ n file. Miller asked if a traffic count on the Dominik and Texas intersection could be taken. “I did some research and found that a traffic count taken last April showed that 39,721 cars turned onto Dominik,” said Miller. “I doubt that all 39,000 cars were going to the businesses, ” commented Committee chairman Gary Halter. Ash said that Culpepper Properties would expand the Culpepper Plaza shop ping center to Dominik Street. A boulevard would be put in as the entrance from Texas Avenue where the Culpepper Plaza sign stands. In compliance with the city landscape ordinance, which concerns commercial parking lots, Culpepper Properties is re quired to run a thoroughfare through the parking lot to connect Highway 30 with Dominik and give access to all businesses concerned. The businessmen repeatedly told the committee they were not satisfied with the current proposal and wished to see alterna tives. The committee also discussed a plan to widen Kyle Drive and re-route it to Dominik near the Foster and Kyle interse ction. A section of Puryear Drive between Foster and Dominik would be closed. Only two houses would need to be bought by the city. The estimated cost of improving these intersections is $200,000. Alternative plans for Kyle Drive were reviewed and found to cost $70,000 more than the other plan. One called for four houses to be bought and other called for six houses to be removed. Fire Chief Doug Landua asked commit tee members to consider a purchase of a $275,000 ladder truck. College Station fire fighters presently use a 35 foot extension ladder which allows a maximum reach of three stories. The new ladder would enable Firemen to rescue fire victims from the multi-story Texas A&M University campus buildings as well as hotels. The ladder truck is also equipped with a rescue basket that wovdd be used for rescu ing victims and controlling fires from a high angle. The city does not have the manpower or storage space for the truck, Landua said, but he added he was sure that by the time the truck was ordered and delivered (in four-five years) that College Station would be able to house and power the ladder truck. He also presented the committee with information on a rescue-pumper truck that would store rescue equipment and have water and pumping capabilities. “It would be able to run wrecks along with an ambulance,” said Landua. Ash explained the street rebuilding proposal. The initial funding would start at $300,000 with $150,000 allotted by the city each year into this fund. “The rebuilding program will consist of rating the residential streets according to conditions. The city would then take the worst each year and rebuild them, ” he said. Those streets that would need rebuilding would be contracted out because College Station does not have the manpower or the equipment to rebuild. However the city woidd be seal-coating the streets. Seal-coating consists of spray ing the street with emulsified asphalt and covering it with rock chips. The street re novating program was estimated at $300,000. The capital improvements committee will study each of the proposed im provements next Monday and decide which proposals will be included in the April 1 bond election. By BILL WILSON An estimated 2.7 million people visited Lake Somerville last year and now the Brazos Valley Development Council (BVDC) has hired a firm to study the effects this has had on the lake environment. The consulting firm of Frank W. Suggitt and Associates has signed a $9,000 contract with the BVDC to begin the first com prehensive inventory of the problems of Lake Somerville. Suggit said Friday that the Army Corps of Engineers cannot repair damage that is already done. Suggitt and his firm, which is composed of Texas A&M University undergraduates and graduate students, will determine how future damage can be prevented. According to Tom Darga, a graduate stu dent working on his doctorate in Environmental Design, the 18-member team will determine the failings of the sys tem and suggest a remedy. The study will involve researching weather during visita tion periods, economic trends, ecology and visitor migration. Suggitt is hoping for public involvement, especially from area land owners and busi nessmen. Their involvement will help de termine how to proceed with future de velopment, he said. The firm is “student oriented,” said Sug gitt, and provides income for students while they learn in a business atmosphere. Frank Suggitt and Associates recently completed two contracts with the Lower Colorado River Authority. One project in volved a study of the Colorado River through 10 counties stretching from San Saba to Matagorda. The other project was a study of recrea tion resources at a power plant cooling reservoir near La Grange in Fayette County. Suggitt’s firm is using student volunteers from different departments such as eco nomics and marketing in order to get ex perienced people at all positions, he said. Funding for the project came from sev eral sources. The BVDC received $6,000 from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and offered the money to the three counties surrounding the lake: Burle son, Lee and Washington. The funds were granted on a two-thirds to one-third match ing appropriations deal. The report will be used to aid local busi nessmen in planning for future growth, but it has another purpose. It will bring Lake Somerville to the at tention of the Corps of Engineers as they decide which of 420 water resource de velopment projects should be designated Recreation Research and Demonstration Areas. The waterways selected, as well as the amount of funding to be provided, will be announced in April. Results of the study will be sent to Sens. Lloyd Bentsen and John Tower, U.S. Rep. jack Pickle and Corps of Engineers offices in Dallas and Fort Worth. Officials at the Waterways Experimental Station in Vicksburg Miss., who select the Recreation Research and Demonstration Areas, will be “kept posted all the way through,” said Guy Hopson, reservoir manager for the Corps of Engineers. The Corps started buildnig reservoirs to control flooding, but later reservoirs be came important sources of water for cities. The Corps has now begun planning for the recreational needs of people who use the lakes. Police continue search for armed masked robber College Station police are still searching for the armed masked man who took $96 from the E-Z Travel Motor Hotel, 2007 Texas Ave., at 12:30 Sunday morning. Edith Broughton, manager of E-Z Travel, said that an armed man wearing a brown paper sack with eyeholes entered the office and demanded that the night clerk give him the contents of the cash drawer. “The guy had a gun, but my night clerk didn’t ask any questions or give him any trouble,” said Broughton. Another person entered the office, wear ing a ski cap pulled over his or her face. E-Z Travel has a close-circuit camera connected to a video screen in the man ager’s office, but Broughton said that the camera was turned off at the time of the robbery. According to Bryan Police Department reports, the same man attempted to rob Holiday Plaza Motel, 1720Texas Ave., just 15 minutes before the E-Z Travel robbery. But the night clerk saw him with the gun and quickly shut and locked the door. Bryan Police said they have no clues as to the identity of the masked man. Spring cleaning at AirM CD CD a Sandblasting seems like the only way to get some things really clean, especially the rocks in front of the H.C. Heldenfels building. The cleaning was done Monday to reveal the concrete. rocks underneath the iittalion photo by Ken Herrera