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