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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1989)
Monday, February 13,1989 The Battalion Page? illionaire’s family buys mused Fort Worth land 'erot hopes to develop land near new airport lilts : FORT WORTH (AP) — Dallas billionaire Ross Per- it’s family has become the largest owner of undevel- iped land in Tarrant and Denton counties, most of it ed to plans for development around Fort Worth’s Alli- nce Airport. The Perot Group donated 380 acres for the $31 mil- ion airport, which Fort Worth officials hope will trans- brm the rolling pastures between the city and Denton nto a planned mix of industry, offices, shopping cen- ersand homes. Records show the Perot family owns 16,331 acres in i two counties, easily surpassing the holdings of es- ablished ranchers, developers and wealthy investors, e Dallas Morning News said. Appraisal district officials in Denton and Tarrant ounties have valued the Perots’ holdings at $121 mil- ion, but Ross Perot Jr. told the Morning News that fig- ire is low. “We paid more than that,” he said, but he wouldn’t ay how much. “Fd just say more.” In Denton County, The Perot Group owns 9,638 cres with a market value of $33.7 million. In Tarrant lounty, the Perots’ 6,693 acres are valued at $87.3 mil- on. ntary School« Playground. «y Murder suspect caught after scape through ceiling of cell >wned) can bem, rcu instances,' >ol the regulator! ederal Home Lot ely a criminalvii 1 the books and it- ing about sell riner chairman n Take Jackson at! ( was after I left, em got together led also said thesi ng with evasion Wylie said hedii ting discussing!: meting said, “Asa stockholders anc: iced a great deal s of late, mostofi regulators.’’ I The airport area investment is risky, but could reap big dividends if Alliance becomes a major transporta tion hub for manufacturers and distributors. “Driving through a Las Colinas or an Irvine Ranch in California is a lot like what it’ll look like,” says Ross Perot Jr., managing partner of The Perot Group. “It’ll have a very comfortable, clean feel.” He said the family hopes its $100 million-plus invest ment will be a good hedge against inflation if it pays off. The Perots’ position as the largest identifiable land owner in Tarrant County was determined by analyzing a computer report, commissioned by the Dallas Morn ing News, from the Tarrant Appraisal District. The report, listing some 10,000 individual owners of undeveloped land in Tarrant County, shows that the Perot family has amassed more land than any other sin gle individual, family or business. For the development to succeed, the Perots must lure industry to relocate in the industrial park they’re build ing adjacent to Alliance. The family is negotiating with several companies. ARLINGTON (AP) — An es- aped murder suspect was recap- ured after he disappeared from his ell by prying up a ceiling panel. On Friday, William Kevin Birkett, !1, went through the hole, crawled [to a plumbing shaft, descended and iscaped, police said. Police recpatured Birkett on Sat- day after a phone caller tipped hem to his whereabouts. Tactical of- icers converged on a vacant second- floor apartment after tossing a stun grenade through a window and ar rested Birkett without injury. Birkett was being held without bail on a Ruston, La., murder war rant, said Arlington police spokes man James Hawthorne. The suspect also was charged with an Arlington robbery, unlawfully carrying a weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and parole vi olation. In Advance A&M Focus on Performing Arts this week By Fiona Soites STAFF WRITER The performing arts will come to center stage this week during the second annual [Texas A&M Focus on the Performing Arts Week. Eric W. Trekell, program ad viser to MSC OPAS, said this year’s FOPA week contains many smaller events planned around larger happenings. “We don’t have a certain set week every year,” Trekell said. “This just seemed to be a good week, with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra perform ing, the annual Run for the Arts, and the performance of ‘My One and Only.’ ” Trekell said some of the smaller events are different than last year, but the idea behind the week has remained the same. “The week helps let the stu dents and faculty know what OPAS does,” Trekell said. “We want to provide exposure to the performing arts.” The events will begin at noon Monday with a Century Singers open rehearsal in the MSC lounge, followed by After Class, a men’s quartet, at 1 p.m. at Rud der Fountain. A symposium on Musical Opportunities at A&M will be at 7 p.m. in 402 Academic Building. Tuesday’s events start with the Miss TAMU Pageant talent pre sentations in the MSC Lounge, followed by a performance of the Reveliers at 2:30 p.m. That eve ning, the Brazos Valley Sym phony Orchestra will present “First Chair Encores” in Rudder Auditorium at 8 p.m., in which four principal players — flute, oboe, trumpet and harp — will play solo pieces with orchestral accompaniment. As usual, there will be the weekly Brown Bag Lunch Special at noon Wednesday in 402 Aca demic Building. At 8:30 p.m., the A&M Consolidated High School drama department will perform in 228-9 MSC. Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stark Series will present a group of performing ensembles in the MSC Lounge. Immediately following at Rudder Fountain, MSC OPAS will celebrate Hand el’s birthday. On Friday there will be a Gershwin Surprise at noon in the MSC Lounge and an MSC OPAS presentation of “My One and On ly” at 8 p.m. in Rudder Audito rium. The week of events will be completed with the eighth annual Run for the Arts Saturday. Spon sored by MSC OPAS and TAMU Roadrunners, the one mile race begins at 9 a.m. and the 5K race begins at 9:30 a.m., both from G. Rollie White Coliseum. Musical groups will perform at various points along the run to encourage the participants. Greek Week proceeds to benefit United Way “Paint the World Greek” is the theme for Greek Week, Feb. IS IS. Texas A&M fraternities and sororities will get together to par ticipate in various activities sched uled during the week. Proceeds from T-shirt sales, can collections, cover charge at Zephyr’s and a percentage of drink sales at The Edge will go to United Way. Scheduled events are as fol lows: Monday, Feb. 13 - Banners dis played on fraternity and sorority houses will be judged. Tuesday, Feb. 14 - Fraternity members will serenade sorority members on sorority row at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 - There will be a presentation on Greek life at A&M in 212 MSC at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 - Greek’s night out at Zephyr’s. Friday, Feb. 17 - Greek mem bers and children from the local Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs will meet at Post Oak Mall at 5:30 p.m. They will be grouped together and the Greek members will treat the chil dren to dinner and games. The groups will then get together and watch cartoons. Then it’s Greek’s night out at The Edge. Saturday, Feb. 18 - Fraternity and sorority members will partici pate in athletic games at South- wood Valley Park at 11 a.m. A torch run will precede the events. An awards ceremony will proceed at 5 p.m. Awards will be given for athletic events, academic achieve ment and Who’s who in Greek or ganizations. Professor dispels myths about Nicaragua MSC Political Forum will pre sent “Nicaragua: Myth or Reality”. at 8:30 tonight in 206 MSC. Dr. Albert L. Michaels, profes sor of history at the State Univer sity of New York at Buffalo, will speak about U.S. foreign policy and how it has been influenced by myths about Nicaragua. Michaels, whose trip was spon sored through the Office of the Provost, is an expert on U.S. for eign policy, Latin America, and mass media and foreign policy. in Mexico, Bolivia, Peru and Costa Rica. Michaels is an honor graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history in 1959, mas ter’s degree in history in 1962 and doctorate in history in 1966. He is the author of several books and articles on Latin America and Mexico. A question-and-answer period will follow the speech. The event will be concluded with a reception Arlington police had received a CrimeStopper’s tip that Birkett had robbed a pizza deliveryman and dur ing that investigation found that Ruston police had issued an arrest warrant for the man, Hawthorne said. Birkett is charged with capital murder in connection with the Dec. 30 stabbing death of a 55-year-old man in Ruston, 65 miles east of Shreveport, Ruston Police Chief Don Hamman said. House sets hearing for worker’s bill AUSTIN (AP) — A bill to over haul the Texas workers’ compen sation system — a system de scribed as “broken” by the House speaker — is set for hearing in a House committee Monday. House Bill Ts primary spon sors are Bryan Republican Rich ard Smith and Rick Perry, D-Has- kell. House Speaker Gib Lewis is among more than 50 members who signed on as co-authors soon after the bill was introduced. “The problem with the current system is that rates are too high and benefits are low,” Rep. Steve Wolens, chairman of the House Business and Commerce Com mittee said. “Our objective is to make sure that rates become low and bene fits become high, and that there is a fair procedure for claimants and for employers,” Wolens, D- Dallas, said. The committee will look at whether House Bill 1 would ac complish those goals in the sys tem, which pays employees in jured in work-related accidents, Wolens said. He said he expects the panel to hear this week from experts on workers’ compensation; from the five professional groups — doc tors, lawyers, insurance, business and labor — with a particular in terest in the issue; and from the public. Among other changes, the bill would increase benefits for in jured workers from a maximum of $238 a week to the statewide average weekly wage, currently $416; revamp the system’s gov erning board; address workplace safety; and prohibit lump sum settlements until an employee has returned to work for six months and has not received medical treatment for three months. In addition, instead of a work ers’ compensation case getting a completely new trial at the district court level, the district court ac tion would be treated as an ap peal of the agency action. The measure comes after a one-and-a-half-year study of the workers’ compensation system. Premiums for workers’ compen sation have increased more than 100 percent since 1985, and an other 19 percent increase took ef fect Jan. 1. Also Monday, a subcommittee of the Senate State Affairs Com mittee is scheduled to continue a probe into the State Board of In surance. The board has been at the cen ter of controversy recently after investigative reports uncovered management flaws in the regula tion of the insurance industry. Criticism was triggered by the collapse of National County Mu tual Fire Insurance Co., a Dallas- based firm with 125,000 poli cyholders. An investigation indi cated the insurance agency failed to act promptly in trying to save the company, despite repeated warnings. 2 Liter COKE $1.00 with $5 dry cleaning SOUTHWOOD DRY-CLEANERS “Dry Cleaning With A Personal Touch' 1333 FM 2818 College Station 693-4426 2Liter COKE FREE with $10 dry cleaning “All Your Laundry And Dry Cleaning Needs” MSC VARIETY SHOW PRESENTS “Catch A RISING STAR’ Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the show. Audition Applications are due Feb. 14,1989. Bring Applications to the Variety Show cubicle in Room 216 (Student Programs Office) of the MSC. 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