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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1985)
Tuesday, September 17, 1985/The Battalion/Page 3 State and Local IDC officials say lockdown halted potential clashes Associated Press ROSHARON — One week of tight security and severe restrictions on Texas prison inmates probably halted brewing gang warfare and ; saved dozens of inmates on gang (“death lists,”officials say. “We had inmate gang members (coming up to us and saying, ‘Thank you, if you hadn’t done something we would have been pulled into it,’” [said Capt. Steve Holloman of the flexas Department of Corrections’ |Ramsey 1 Unit in Brazoria County. I On Sunday, James Parsons, TDC Iboard secretary, conducted the first Ipublic tour of three of the 13 prisons Iwhere many inmates have been blocked in their cells around the clock. Wardens, TDC investigators and guards said that the wholesale con fining of one-half of the TDC’s 38,000 inmates has short-circuited a bloody gang turf battle that has left eight prisoners dead this month. However, prison employee in volvement in drug trafficking and inmate rackets is a growing problem |hat may eclipse the gang fighting, officials said. Ramsey I Assistant Warden Bruce Thaler said, “Right now, the inmate delations are not all that bad. Our biggest problem is with employees Running these narcotics to the in- nates. It’s scary.” Parsons inspected the Ramsey I knd Ramsey Ill units and the maxi mum-security Darrington Unit near Rosharon. T hree homicides took ilaceat Darrington last week. A&M student still receiving praise for rescue By TAMMY KIRK Staff Writer If chivalrous acts for damsels in distress seem to have disap peared with the Middle Ages, then Texas A&M Cadet Joe Mer- curio would seem to be a coura geous knight misplaced in time. “Oh my God! Someone help me! Oh God! Please help me!” were the screams that urged Mer- curio, 19, to aid a woman whose life was being threatened in Lin denhurst, N.Y. June 11. Mercurio described the events leading up to the rescue as a day of shopping with his mother and his grandmother in a local shop ping center. After shopping, Mercurio went to get the car. On his way back to the shop ping center, he stopped at a 4- way stop within the mall area and that’s when he heard the screams coming from his left and saw a woman running from a car. Long Island Newsday later re- Joe Mercurip f iorted that the woman was running rom a man who had thrust a screwdriver into her face and forced his way into the driver’s seat of her car, saying, “Move over! I’m not gonna hurt you. I’m only gonna rob you.” Police said the man had ordered the woman to fasten her seatbelt, presumably to discourage escape. Mercurio said the woman was in her car when he first heard the screams, but that he later figured out her escape came when the man tried to drive the car away. “He couldn’t drive holding onto the steering wheel and the stick (shift) while also holding a screwdriver in the lady’s face,” Mer curio said. But without knowing at the time the reason for the woman’s screams and without hesitation, Mercurio E ut his foot to the gas and made a eeline for the other car, managing to cut it off. The 185-pound man left the woman’s car and started running down an alleyway. Mercurio, 140 pounds and a former track star for St. John the Baptist High School, took off after him. “I know it sounds surprising to you,” Mercurio said, “but I didn’t even think about what kind of dan ger I might be in and I wasn’t even scared.” Mercurio said that the man turned and punched him square in the nose, but he said he was not se riously hurt. Mercurio said he pushed the man against a wall and then threw him off balance. “I held him in an old wrestling move called a half-nelson when he hit the ground and I kept his face pushed against the ground so the guy couldn’t move,” Mercurio said. Two men helped Mercurio hold the man down until the police got there about three or four minutes later. Police charged the man with first- degree robbery, second-degree as sault (for punching Mercurio) and unlawful imprisonment. He was also charged with burglary in an unre lated investigation, and previously had been convicted for assault, bur glary and robbery. A letter sent to inform the Univer sity of Mercurio’s deed was written by a neighbor, Rosanne Bonanno, and said: “What the article (written in the Long Island Newsday) didn’t state was that this man had an arse nal of weapons in his possession. Jo seph could have been seriously hurt and we, his neighbors and friends, are very proud of him.” Although this happened while Mercurio was home for the sum mer, he is still receiving letters of commendation for his actions since his return as a sophomore to the University. Mercurio is an aerospace engineering major in Squadron 11 of the Corps of Ca dets. Some excerpts from the letters of commendation are: • “All of us at Texas A&M are proud of you, for you risked your life for a stranger while others merely stood by.” Written by Frank E. Vandiver, president of Texas A&M, on July 16. • “Your efforts are an out standing example of your devo tion to duty and reflect very fa vorably on you, Squadron 11, the Corps of Cadets, and Texas A&M University.” Written by Col. Don ald L. Burton, commandant of the Corps, on Sept. 3. Members of the Texas Syndicate and the Mexican Mafia are pressur ing inmate recruits to attack other convicts as an initiation rite, officials said. TDC Capt. Jim Anderson said new inmate search procedures used at Darrington probably would have preventeo the killings. TDC has ordered a temporary ban on mail among inmates and is starting to restrict the movement of convicts involved in the gangs. British bagpipers to play Aggie War Hymn at Sesquicentennial Associated Press AUSTIN — To mark the Texas Sesquicentennial, Joe Lane is ar ranging to lly 80 British infantry bagpipers to Texas in February and is asking them to learn a couple of songs — “The Yellow Rose of Texas” and “The Aggie War Hymn.” “We thought if we got two or three spirited songs that Texans, even Longhorns, like, then we might be able to raise some money,” said Lane, 58, an investment banker. He said Randy Matson, executive director of the Texas A&M Associa tion of Former Students, sent him a tape, which he sent to the bagpipers, so they could practice. Scotland to the Alamo Inc., a ses quicentennial committee, plans to have three bands travel through Central Texas for two weeks, play ing the tunes to fundraise. Lane said. If all goes well, the bands would arrive Feb. 28. Lane said about 10 percent of the estimated $40,000 needed has been raised. The celebration also will be a per sonal way to commemorate his great-great-uncle, Richard Ballan- tine, who died at the Alamo. Lane lutomata ificationofJ enemy m to one i /, technoli p to 85 mtj|| the first bT nger, had til ce of 20,1 PUBLIC NOTICE BRIEF EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 5. 1985 PROPOSITION NO. 1 oriv ON THE BALLOT an ’ l ' I Sections 1 and 2 of House Joint iemy S ho® Resolution 6 propose a constitution- al amendment that would authorize __ thp atiilf I 16 Texas Water Development c 1 Board to issue an additional $980 tuclear attaifjiDiiiiQjj 0 f Texas Water Develop- y eliminatit| ment bonds. ate. f The additional bonds to be issued . , [will be dedicated for deposit in the Lty ate yy a t er Development Fund, md still re® ^rjth $190 million of those bond pro of inflictiii leeds to be used for water supply loans and facilities acquisition and e enemy. With $400 million of those bond pro- » to 16 political t ference Board tor a- Editor je Editor 'itor ews Editors Editor f z, Jerry Oslin □n,Jan Pern ndependeni ceeds to be used for state participa te. Currei tion in the acquisition and develop- llistic missK 1,16111 °T facilities for storage, |transmission, transportation, and ; treatment of water and wastewater. Of the remaining bonds authorized, $190 million will be dedicated for use in water quality enhancement and a AfJ projects, and $200 million will be ledicated exclusively for flood con trol projects. The amendment would also allow the legislature to provide for the creation, administration, and imple mentation of a bond insurance pro gram to which the state pledges up to $250 million of its general credit to insure payment of the principal of and interest on bonds or other obligations issued by political sub- livisions of the state for water con servation, water development, water quality enhancement, flood control, rainage, recharge, chloride control or desalinization. Unless authorized to continue by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature, the bond insurance pro- Tam will expire on the sixth anni versary of the date on which this section becomes a part of the con stitution. Bond insurance issued be fore expiration of the program will not be affected by such expiration, i The amendment would authorize the legislature to create and appro priate money to special funds in the state treasury to make grants, loans, and other financial assistance avail able to governmental entities for certain enumerated water planning ittrposes. Also, the legislature would _* permitted to extend the benefits of constitutionally approved water projects to nonprofit water supply corporations. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the issuance of an addi tional $980 million of Texas Wa ter Development Bonds, to create special water funds for water conservation, water development, water quality enhancement, flood control, drainage, subsidence con trol, recharge, chloride control, agricultural soil and water con servation, and desalinization, to authorize a bond insurance pro gram, and to clarify the purposes for which Texas Water Develop ment Bonds may be issued.” •can Williams Walter Smilli syne Grabeir roecca Adair, . Sarah Oates .Ed Cassavov Tamara Bell, Ed Cassavov, Doug Hall, ndyjonnson [ens Koepke, McWhorter, Yicia Parker, n Rae Povec, Gigi Shamsy, Lenneth Sury ..Mike Lane, twin Thomas mille Brown, irl Pallmeyer Greg Bailey, Frank Hada, had Sanchez rting newspaper >xas A&M and are chose of lk c necessarily rep- listrators, facuitp -y newspaper m tography classes is. through Frida) crept torholidar ■Jons are (16.15 nd $35 per full -st. ieed McDonald ege Station, TX JJ 845-3316. Ad- tion, TX17643. s to The Banal- »n, Texas 71643 PROPOSITION NO. 2 ON THE BALLOT Section 3 of House Joint Resolu tion 6 proposes a constitutional unendment that would allow the Texas Water Development Board to i and sell Texas agricultural *ater conservation bonds in an amount not to exceed $200 million, if authorized to do so by a two- thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature. The Texas agricultural water conservation bonds would be general obligations of the State of Texas, and would be paid from the first money coming into the state treasury in each fiscal year. The amendment would allow Texas agricultural water conserva tion bonds to be issued and sold only for four years after the date on which this Act becomes a part of the constitution. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance and sale of $200 million of Texas agricul tural water conservation bonds.” PROPOSITION NO. 3 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 54 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would permit the legislature to authorize a city or town to spend public funds and levy assessments, for the relocation or replacement of water laterals on private property if such relocation or replacement is done in conjunction with or immedi ately following the relocation or re placement of water mains serving the property. Any legislative enact ment permitting the expenditure of funds for such purposes would au thorize the city or town to fix a lien on the property, with the owners’ consent, for the cost of relocating or replacing the water laterals, and would provide that such cost shall be assessed against the property, with repayment by the property owner to be amortized over a period not to exceed five years at the rate of interest set by law. Such liens could not be enforced until after five years from the date the liens were affixed. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to enact laws permitting a city or town to spend public funds and levy as sessments for the relocation or replacement of water laterals on private property.” PROPOSITION NO. 4 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 21 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would authorize the use of the proceeds from the sale of perma nent school fund land to acquire other land for the permanent school fund. Currently, the constitution re quires that proceeds from the sale of such land be invested in certain bonds and other securities. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing proceeds from the sale of land dedicated to the per manent school fund to be used to acquire other land for that fund.” PROPOSITION NO. 5 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 89 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would enable the legislature to regulate the provision of health care by hospital districts by determining the services the district must pro vide, by setting requirements a resident must meet in order to quali fy for sezvices, and by determining any other relevant provisions nec essary for providing health care to residents. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to regu late the provision of health care by hospital districts.” PROPOSITION NO. 6 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 6 pro poses a constitutional amendment that,would enable the State of Tex as to enter into an agreement with another state to confine inmates from the state of Texas in penal or correctional facilities of the other state. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to permit state prisoners to be placed in penal facilities of another state pursuant to an interstate agree ment.” PROPOSITION NO. 7 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 27 pro poses a constitutional , amendment that would authorize the commis sioners court of Chambers County to divide Chambers County into not less than two and not more than six justice precincts. Under current con stitutional law, Chambers County may be divided into not less than two and not more than five justice precincts. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing Chambers County to be divided into two to six pre cincts.” PROPOSITION NO. 8 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 9 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would grant an additional $500 million in bonding authority to the Veterans’ Land Board for the vet erans’ housing assistance program. Under the current constitution, the Veterans’ Land Board is authorized by Article III, Section 49-b-l to issue and sell not more than $800 million in bonds, $500 million of which may be used for the Veterans’ Housing Assistance Fund. This amendment would increase that au thorization to permit the issuance and sale of up to $1.3 billion in bonds, $1 billion of which would be used for the Veterans’ Housing Assistance Fund. In addition, the amendment would remove the cur rent definition of “veteran” from the constitution and permit the leg islature to redefine “veteran” as the changing times and circumstances require. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing $500 million in addi tional bonding authority for the veterans’ housing assistance pro gram and changing the definition of those veterans eligible to par ticipate in the veterans’ land pro gram and the veterans’ housing program by authorizing the legis lature by law to define an eligible veteran for the purposes of those programs.” PROPOSITION NO. 9 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 72 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would permit the legislature either to enact a statute or to at tach a rider to the General Ap propriations Act to require prior approval of the expenditure or emergency transfer of any funds appropriated by the legislature to state governmental agencies. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to protect public funds by author izing prior approval of expendi ture or emergency transfer of state appropriations.” PROPOSITION NO. 10 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 19 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would authorize the legislature to provide for the issuance of gen eral obligation bonds, the proceeds of which would be deposited in a fund to be known as the farm and ranch finance program fund. The fund would be administered by the Veterans’ Land Board and would be used to make loans and provide oth er financial assistance for the pur chase of farm and ranch land. The amount of bonds outstanding at any one time would be limited to $500 million. The principal and interest that becomes due on such bonds in each fiscal year would be paid from amounts remaining in the interest and sinking fund at the close of the prior fiscal year, with the balance due to be appropriated from trea sury revenues in the fiscal year when such amounts become due. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of gen eral obligation bonds to provide financing assistance for the pur chase of farm and ranch land.” PROPOSITION NO. 11 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 16 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would define indictments and informations as instruments charg ing a person with the commission of an offense, and would delete cer tain technical requirements as to the form of writs and processes. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment relating to the manner in which a person is charged with a criminal offense and to certain require ments applicable to state writs and processes.” PROPOSITION NO. 12 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 10 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would grant the Texas Su preme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals jurisdiction to answer questions of state law cer tified from federal appellate courts. In addition, the two courts would promulgate rules of procedure re lating to the review of those ques tions. , The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment granting the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas jurisdiction to answer questions of state law certified from a federal appellate court.” PROPOSITION NO. 13 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 14 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would create a board with responsibility for the reapportion ment of judicial districts, subject to legislative approval. The amendment would provide for the continued power of the legislature to provide for judicial reapportionment, and would provide that reapportionment said his name was misspelled on brass plaques on die walls of the Akimo and on a monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol. Lane has offered organizations in several area communities a perfor mance in exchange for contributions to pay the costs. The bands have requested a $20,850 fee for the performances. will be the responsibility of the Leg islative Redistricting Board if the Judicial Districts Board fails to make a timely reapportionment. The amendment would provide for the creation of judicial districts smaller than a county in counties where the creation of such districts has been approved by the voters at a general election. The amendment would provide for more than one judge for a judicial district. The amendment would rename supreme judicial districts as courts of ap peals districts. The amendment would provide that the jurisdiction and terms of court of district and county courts may be as provided by law. The amendment would provide for the jurisdiction of justice courts, which may have additional jurisdic tion as provided by law. The amend ment would provide for rules of judicial administration and civil procedure to be promulgated by the Supreme Court, and would provide that the legislature may delegate additional rule making power to the Supreme Court or to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The amendment would provide that courts and judges in existence at the time of its adop tion remain in existence until other wise provided by law. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the reapportionment of the judicial districts of thr state by the Judicial Districts Board or by the Legislative Re districting Board, and providing for the administration and juris diction of constitutional courts.” PROPOSTION NO. 14 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 27 pro poses a constitutional amendment that would abolish the office of County Treasurer in Andrews County and transfer the powers and duties of that office to the County Auditor. The amendment would also abolish the office of County Trea surer in El Paso County if, at the statewide election at which this amendment is submitted to the vot ers, a majority of the voters who vote in El Paso County favor the amendment. The functions of the office of El Paso County Treasurer will be performed by a person em ployed or designated by the El Paso County Commissioners Court. The amendment alsq provides for the abolition of the office of County Surveyor in Denton, Randall, Col lin, Dallas, El Paso, and Henderson Counties upon approval of such abolition by a majority of the voters who vote on the question at an elec tion called by the commissioners court of the county. If the office of County Surveyor is abolished in any county, the commissioners court may employ or contract with any quali fied person to perform the duties of the office. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to provide for: (1) the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Andrews County and El Paso County; (2) the abolition of the office of county surveyor in Collin, Dal las, Denton, El Paso, Henderson, and Randall Counties.” Estoa son los informes explcma- torios sobre las enmiendas propu- estas a la constitucion que apara- cerdn en la boleta el dia 5 de noviembre de 1985. Si us ted no ha recibido una copia de los in formes en espanol, podrd obtener una gratis por llamar al 1 /800/3152/9602 o por escribir al Secretario de Estado, P.O. Box 12887, Austin, Texas 78711. Sarah Watts Pianist, Teacher Degree, Piano, 2 Years’ Piano Faculty, Baylor University “Serious Students of all Ages” 822-6856 TENSION HEADACHES? If eligible, get $20 for taking one easy dose of safe OTC medication and keeping di ary. Reputable investigators. G & S Studies, Inc. 846-5933 HEY AGS It’s a TAMU Tradition to Shop Tri-State Sports Center for • Better Selection • Better Prices • Name Brands ROGUE •Aerodynamic thin-pro- file frame quickens re sponse time •Teardrop head shape widens "sweatspot" •polyurethane foam handle reduces vibration Reg. $34.95 SALE $29.95 CONVERSE FASHION LEATHER ALL STARS Reg $30.00 SALE $24.00 The original Hi-Top in Three fun and fla shy colors. The more original you are, the more you need All Stars. Nike Pegasus GX A classic performance shoe featuring an Air-Wedge for cushioning. Men s and Women's Reg$45.87 SALE $37.00 new balance* 670 Reg $59.87 SALE $45.00 Prices good thru Sat Sept 31 One table shoes odds n ends V2 price Open Thurs til 8 pm Sfyorts Gteafev 2023 Texas, Townshlre Center 779-8776