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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1980)
s THE BATTALION THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1980 Page 7 Conflict sparks races it for RR Commission By LAURA CORTEZ “‘'N' ; City Staff lie l The Railroad Commission race has Siiiel | become one of the hottest races in 'Mtlmi; Texas this election year. The three-member commission, fell*! originally created to regulate rail roads, is responsible for regulating oil and gas production, pipelines and distribution of natural gas. It also continues to regulate the transporta tion industry including railroads, mtipy "trucking and bus lines. I lie *: ; Texas voters will elect two com- fee I? y. missioners this year — one to fill a Mli ifull six-year term and one to serve Naiasot’ the remaining two years of an unex- ntbiwi . pired term. , The big rivalries lie in the Demo cratic race, in which Railroad Com mission Chairman John Poemer is being challenged by Rep. Buddy Temple of Diboll for the foil term. Incumbent James E. “Jim” Nu gent, appointed by Gov. Dolph Bris- in 1977 to serve out Jon Newton’s unexpired term, is running against former Texas Observer editor Jim Hightower for the remainder of the nexpired term. Poerner said he plans to continue with his duties as a “sound conserva- ipus wist five state administrator, and as an inthepi advocate of a strong Texas eco- :said,M nomy.” leofth Agricli he'd He has said at various press con ferences around the state that he feels Texas needs to make more agressive efforts in developing all forms of energy, including gasohol, synthetic fuel, lignite, coal, and solar and nuclear energy. Poerner has ordered a study of high speed “bullet trains” to connect Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. He said the Japanese have had success with this system, which moves passengers at a rate of 130 miles per hour, for the past 15 years. Bullet trains will help eliminate traffic congestion and will save on high fuel costs, he said. But his opponent has lashed out against the bullet train idea, calling it a “folly.” Temple said Poemer has failed to provide much information about how the electic-powered, 750-mile rail system would be financed, and added that there is no reason for the commissioner to make the proposal unless he plans to propose some type of government fonding for it. Temple also said Poerner claims it will cost $6 million for the bullet trains, and added that this figure is “way too low.” One of the more controversial dI a ms' ’ ?ineeriii Icoholism program scheduled for Friday By NANCY ANDERSEN City Staff ™|f| The Brazos Valley Development 11 Council will sponsor an all-day prog- 1 ram titled, “Alcoholism: What Can ommunities Do?” at the Brazos lenter Friday. In its fourth year, the program will iture guest speakers from across Bexas in six one-hour workshops on getting up community alcohol insti tutes. Registration is from 8-8:30 im. The public is invited. ■IT versity will discuss the process of putting together a health program, and Dr. George Bates of the Texas A&M biochemistry department will discuss how the body metabolizes alcohol — what it does and how long it takes to work itself out of the body. Other workshops, “Employee Assistance Programs” and “Inter vention: Hope for the Suffering Family,” will be held at 4 p.m., by Robbie Scott of the Texas Commis sion on Alcohol and Pat and John O’Neil of Shoal Creek Hospital. The workshop will charge a $5 reg istration fee. The 8:45 a.m. keynote address, “Councils on Alcoholism,” will be given by Fain Williams, former ex- i ecutive director of the East Texas Jfcouncil on Alcoholism and Drug ®buse. Her address on outlines for getting up a council will be further Retailed in a workshop at 10 a.m. B Theother 10a.m. workshop, “And Now A Word From Our Sponsors,” |yill allow the co-sponsors of the ■vent to discuss their alcohol treat ment programs. These are Contem porary Health Management, Inc. of Austin, Starlite Village Hospital of penter Point, Texas Commission on Icoholism of Austin and Villa De- tejas Treatment Center of San Antonio. Workshops on the health planning process and the metabolism of alco hol are scheduled for 1 p.m. Dr. Donald Sweeney of Texas A&M Uni- m ;IAL iteak vy sand :hei id a IAI JlNt if# ind an? AN ENGAGEMENT DIAMOND IS FOREVER... AT DIAMOND BROKERS INTERNATIONAL YOU WILL FIND AN UNBELIEVABLE SELECTION OF LOOSE STONES IN ALL SIZES, CUTS AND QUALITIES. OUR SETTING COLLECTION INCLUDES SWISS CUT STYLES AND TRADI TIONAL BANDS, ALL IN SOLID 14 KT. GOLD. OUR PRICES ARE COMPETITIVE WITH ANYONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO SHOP AND COMPARE, THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHY HUNDREDS OF AGGIES HAVE ALREADY PUR CHASED AN ENGAGEMENT STONE FROM DIAMOND BROKERS INTERNATIONAL. diamond brokers international, ine. 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A spokesman for Hightower said there have been fund raisers in New York and Washington, but they have been given rtiostly by “Texas expatri ates.” He added that only about 17 percent of Hightower’s funding has come from out of state. The Republicans whose names will appear on the ballot in the May 3 primary are, for the full term, John Thomas Henderson, Austin, Henry C. Grover, Houston, and E.E. “Bil ly” Kidd, Weatherford. Running for the unexpired term is H.J. “Doc” Blanchard, Austin. United Press International GALVESTON — Four men have been convicted by a federal court jury of various roles in the smuggling of100,000 pounds of marijuana into a Surfside marina. Barry Phinous Stockton, 52, of Pearl, Miss.; Danny Sherman, 22, of Richland, Miss.; Edward Becton, 31, of St. Louis, and Jeffey Sara- gosey, 30, of New York, were con victed Monday. Stockton was con victed of a conspiracy to smuggle charge. Becton, Saragosey and Sher man were convicted of possession and of conspiracy. 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