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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1983)
Thursday, November 17, 1983/The Battalion/Page 11 u 5 > Heirs to Padre Island demand state royalties United Press Internationa] EL PASO — Members of the Balli family, heirs of the original owners of South Padre Island, announced Wednesday their plans to conduct a sit-in on the steps of the Texas land commis sioner’s office in Austin Nov. 26 to demand royalties on the land. Jose Balli of El Paso said Balli family members from through out the United States will gather to claim royalties on the island, a tourist mecca at the southern tip of Texas with condominiums priced at $190,000 and up. “The land is ours, but no royalties have been paid to us because they tell us the state of Texas is broke,” said Balli. “I don’t believe that.” Johnny Balli, of Corpus Christi, said relatives from Texas have been fighting the state since 1941, to no avail. “The state of Texas is sitting on more than $485 million in royalty fees from oil and natural gas developers,” said Johnny Balli. “That money belongs to the Balli family because we are the original heirs to Padre Nico las Balli, the man who first own ed that property.” The Balhs are now challeng ing the state of Texas as well as the federal government to prove that part of the island does not belong to the family. Garry Mauro, Texas land commissioner, said he knows of no money sitting in escrow. “In 1941, the heirs of South Padre Island sued the state and got title to significant portions of Padre Island,” Mauro said. “The Ballis originally owned 50,000 acres, but the Texas Supreme Court granted them an addi tional 30,000 acres.” Mauro said South Padre Is land is owned by private de velopers who bought the prop erty from other members of the Balli family. South Padre Island is about 110 miles long and more than three miles wide. Its beaches draw tourists from all over the southern United States. “I don’t think there’s any question that the land belongs to us,” said Johnny Balli. “But the question is, why haven’t we re ceived any money from the de velopers who have made mil lions off our island?” In 1800, Padre Balli applied for and was granted part of what is now Padre Island by King Car los of Spain. The priest then started the first settlement on the island. Rancho Santa Cruz, where he set out to convert the Karankawa Indians to Christ ianity. In 1941, the state of Texas tried to claim the island as its own, but the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the island be longed to the Balli heirs because of a deed issued in 1836. Johnny Balli said developers on Padre Island are still not issued “clear title” to purchased property because the state does not own the land. “The state sells the land with an insurance policy attached,” he said. Wrecked plane loaded with pot United Press International CHILDRESS — The pilot of a single-engine plane loaded with marijuana told airport control he was having problems shortly before the plane crashed through a power line Monday, officials said Wednesday. gine was running badly and he planned an emergency landing, Women Student Organization Reception for ad interested students, Thursday; November 17 7:00 - 7:45 pm 410 Rudder G He said the only reason the plane didn’t explode was that it was out of fuel. i Ginny Stover, Battalion photo Bill Hoffman of Independ ence, Mo., was pronounced dead at the scene, Childress County sheriffs deputy lack Hill said. When the plane struck the power line four miles southwest of Childress, power to the 5,800 residents of the city was tempor arily disrupted. Department of Food Services Supports the Bonfire By Offering Raised Donuts 100 Each Supporting Aggie Bonfire n Susan Tulinski, a sophomore from Conroe, and Jana Hellier, a junior from Arlington, help Tony George, a sophomore, decide what size T-shirt to buy. Texas Aggie Bonfire ’83 t-shirts will be on sale in front of Sbisa and the Memorial Student Center until Nov. 23. A second passenger, who has not been identified, is in critical condition at Childress Hospital. He has been placed under arrest on a drug charge. Officials estimated the plane, which is registered in Missouri, had between 175 and 300 pounds of marijuana aboard. Hill said he believed the cargo came from Mexico. Before the Cessna 210 crashed, the pilot informed the Childress Airport control tower that he was out of fuel, his en- The crash site has been res tricted by the National Trans portation Safety Board. in the Following Locations: Commons Snack Bar MSC Snack Bar The Underground at Sbisa Now Through Bonfire Night The Best Food - The Lowest Price’ prison officer fired; attorney redicts reform United Press International HUNTSVILLE — The firing nday of an officer who hand- inmates’ brutality complaints ws the Texas Department of sections board is making an [ort to improve conditions, a oners’ attorney says. Paul Haymes, 56, was hired n September 1982 to oversee compliance with prison reform orders issued by U.S. District Hudge William Wayne Justice of Tyler. Haymes was abruptly fired by interim TDC Director Dan McKaskle at the request of the TDC board. making an effort in that direc tion,” Turner said. In a recent report to Justice, court monitor Paul Belazis said Haymes and McKaskle refused to cooperate with investigators. Belazis said he looked into and confirmed 14 cases of brut ality in the past two years and concluded that physical abuse of prisoners by guards “continues unabated.” William Bennett Turner, an attorney for prisoners in a re form lawsuit pending before ustice, said it appeared the ipard was making a real effort to stop brutality since a court moni tor issued a report critical of Haymes and McKaskle. Though prison officials re fused comment on the firing, a TDC board member said Haymes was fired because the board was “not satisfied with the performance of that office.” “The board members realize that TDC has not been policing itself and it looks like they are Haymes, a retired FBI agent and Rice University graduate who holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Sam Hous ton State University in Huntsvil le, was paid $34,000 a year in the job. He was not available for comment about his firing. m □ □ □ u> They Are Dog-Gone Mad At ANIMAL WORLD ' TOO! Prices Have Been Chewed Down! ’ ji O, Friday, Saturday, Sunday v ' November 18,19 & 20 EVERYTHING IN STORE REDUCED 10% - 40% Whisper 600 Reg. $19.99 Tetra 1.82 oz. Fish Food Reg. $4.99 Aqua Clear Power Filter Reg. $25.99 Large Brass Parrot Cage Reg. $89.99 All Dog & Cat Flea Products Much, Much More. And Don’t Forget Professional Dog Grooming By Lori & Reg Culpepper Plaza Only Open Every Sunday 1:00-5:00 693-5381 SALE $ 14.99 SALE *2.99 SALE *19.99 SALE *64.99 40% OFF NEXT DAY BIKE REPAIR BICYCLES • ACCESSORIES • CLOTHING • PARTS 846-2453 MSC Cafeteria Now Better Than Ever. You Will Be Pleased With These Carefully Prepared and Taste Tempting Foods. Each Daily Special Only $2.39 Plus Tax. “Open Daily” Dining: 11 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. — 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M 403 UNIVERSITY DR. (NORTHGATE) COLLEGE STATION ^ V MONDAY EVENING SPECIAL Order your Thanksgiving Pies Now!! Pumpkin Pie Pecan Pie $2.39 $3.99 Order at: the Underground Deli in the Basement of Sbisa Salisoury Steak with Mushroom Gravy Whipped Potatoes Your Choice of One Vegetable Roll or. Corn Bread and Butter Coffee or Tea TUESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Mexican Fiesta Dinner Two Cheese and Onion Enchiladas w chili Mexican Rice Patio Style Pinto Beans Tostadas Coffee or Tea One Corn Bread and Butter WEDNESDAY EVENING SPECIAL Chicken Fried Steak w cream Gravy Whipped Potatoes and Choice of one other Vegetable Roll or Corn Bread and Butter Coffee or Tea THURSDAY EVENING SPECIAL T, ,.0 Italian Candle Light Spaghetti Dinner SERVED WITH SPICED MEAT BALLS AND SAUCE Parmesan Cheese - Tossed Green Salad Choice of Salad Dressing — Hot Garlic Bread Tea or Coffee FOR YOUR PROTECTION OUR PERSONNEL HAVE HEALTH CARDS. FRIDAY EVENING SPECIAL FRIED CATFISH FILET w TARTAR SAUCE Cole Slaw Hush Puppies Choice of one vegetable SATURDAY NOON and EVENING SPECIAL Yankee Pot Roast Texas Style (Tossed Salad) Roll or Corn Bread & Butter Tea or Coffee Mashed Potato w gravy Roll or Corn Bread & Butter Tea or Coffee “Quality First’ SUNDAY SPECIAL NOON and EVENING ROAST TURKEY DINNERl Served with Cranberry Sauce Cornbread Dressing Roil or "Corn Bread - Butter - Coffee or Tea Giblet Gravy And your choice of any One vegetable