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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1989)
13,4 Wednesday, December 13,1989 The Battalion whij memy of( al ai nidi! %! ninatJ f isif COjJ 0 sfc| rt irt-ter iriciCI [Oil IB] - b: mb: i lll{S ara ii ill nan cali‘[ misei also epiK mfi to the [I lybefi hep ileal' raft- led’ f ed* Page? Rep. Finnell investigated Lawmaker denies mishandling funds AUSTIN (AP) — Travis County investigators are looking into allega tions that a Texas lawmaker, Rep. Charles Finnell, collected state money for car trips he didn’t take and conducted personal and politi cal business at state expense, a news paper reported Tuesday. Two former aides to Rep. Charles Finnell, D-Holliday, said they have been contacted by authorities and asked to cooperate in the investiga tion, the Austin American-States- man reported. Earlier, the two raised questions about the use of state funds by Fin nell, who has adamantly denied any wrongdoing. House Speaker Gib Le wis also has defended Finnell. Another former aide has been contacted by investigators, her hus band told the newspaper. Program educates teachers A program to strengthen edu cation in the Bryan and College Station school districts is under way in Brazos County. The Brazos Elementary Sci ence Improvement Project offers hands-on experience to princi pals and teachers in both districts in hopes of bettering teaching. Dinah Chancellor, BESIP coor dinator for the Bryan Indepen dent School District, said experi encing science seems to be the key to developing a future in science. “We’re not producing the kind of adults who want to be life-long learners,” Chancellor said. “Our Ultimately, BESIP will make a better- educated set of adults who will walk wisely into the 21st century.” —- Dinah Chancellor, BESIP coordinator principals are our forefronts, and change doesn’t happen unless the forefront is a leader.” She said attitudes and teaching habits need to be changed. BE- SIP’s purpose is to change these attitudes and prepare youth for the future, she said. “Ultimately, BESIP will make a better-educated set of adults who will walk wisely into the 21st cen tury,” said Chancellor. The first workshop for princi- E als was Dec. 5, and the next will ejan. 11 in Rudder Tower. Workshops for elementary tea chers and in-service workshops will be every Saturday beginning in June and ending in February. These teachers will receive six hours of advanced academic training for college credit. A two-week summer institute for 60 elementary teachers from both districts will be in June. The workshops will provide teachers with ideas they can take back to their classrooms and teach. Last year, BESIP was success ful as a rural project. This is the first time it has been tried in Bra zos County. BESIP is supported by Texas A&M University, the Bryan and College Station independent school districts and a grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Finnell said the allegations come from “disgruntled former employ ees” and are untrue. “If the district attorney’s office is interested in this matter, they haven’t told me or contacted me in any way,” he said. “However, if they feel that it is necessary to make some inquiries, I would be happy to coop erate fully with that office.” Travis County District Attorney Ronald Earle and Mike Lynch, head of Earle’s Public Integrity Unit, did not immediately return a telephone call from the Associated PreSs. The American-Statesman quotes sources familiar with the investiga tion as saying the probe focuses on allegations about Finnell that were disclosed in a Nov. 14 story by the newspaper. In the story, former aide Lisa Fa- LUBBOCK (AP) — County com missioners reinstated Bill Ross as jus tice of the peace after Ross acciden tally quit. But just barely. Ross announced at a news confer ence last Thursday that he was run ning for the Republican nomination for county judge. He renounced his candidacy a few hours later, after he learned of a clause in the Texas Constitution that says a county official with more than a year left on his term cannot an nounce for another public office without forfeiting his current job. Trees (Continued from page 1) sists of the mover digging around the tree and then using some kind of material to hold the soil around the tree. Some horticulturists believe the ball-and-burlap method reduces shock to the tree. Dr. Fred Davies, associate profes sor of horticulture at A&M, said, “Anytime you dig up a tree, you’ve lost 95 percent of its root system. That’s very traumatic for the tree.” The box method “involves dig ging a large trench around the tree and then coming up underneath it with a box,” Hodge said. “We feel it has a higher likelihood of success.” sano said Finnell had instructed her to fill out state travel forms to be re imbursed for driving on legislative business, when she said he actually flew free with friends or family. She said Finnell also conducted personal business on state long-dis tance lines and that she typed enve lopes and handled correspondence for Finnell’s real estate business on state time. Fasano, who now works in New York, referred questions to her at torney, Charles Johanson of Austin. He confirmed that investigators con tacted her within the past week. Charles Waters, Finnell’s former administrative assistant, said he was contacted tvyice. He earlier echoed Fasano’s allegations about the falsi fied travel claims. A third former employee, Doro thy Green, also has been contacted, Ross’ current term expires at the end of 1990. He has held the job since 1982. But.despite his longevity, commis sioners reinstated him by only a 3-2 vote. The two commissioners who voted against him said they wanted to accept applications for the job be fore choosing the best-qualified can didate. Before the vote, County Judge Rod Shaw, the head commissioner, asked Ross if he was still a candidate for county judge. “Well, judge, that’s kind of a Dr. Benton Story, professor of horticulture at A&M, said, “I don’t believe anyone could transfer those “1 I sure wish they would have put on their jackets and come down off the 8th floor so they could see proof that my method works.” — John Hoelzel, tree mover big trees. But, if anyone could do it, (Hoelzel) could.” Hoelzel said he believes both methods are adequate, but the box- the American-Statesman reported. She refused to comment but her husband, Tim Green, said she de clined to cooperate. Finnell is a 20-year House veteran who heads the House Rules and Res olutions Committee. The American-Statesman in Octo ber reported that Finnell, as chair man of the House General Investi gating Committee during 1987 and 1988, spent the panel’s entire $40,000 budget, although the com mittee met only once. Finnell said he did nothing wrong. He said he personally investi gated hundreds of tips, then de stroyed the records. Speaker Lewis defended Finnell as “a dedicated and committed pub lic servant who has made great sacri fices to serve the people of this state.” tough question right now,” Ross an swered. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m not.” Shaw, who is retiring at the end of this term, broke a 2-2 tie by voting to reappoint Ross. “Bill, you squeaked by,” Shaw told Ross after the vote. The vote followed several days of squabbling over whether Ross had officially announced his candidacy. Some suggested the announce ment wasn’t official until Ross had paid his filing fee or hired a cam paign treasurer. and-burlap method would save the University money. He also said that by using his method trees can be moved long dis tances and can live up to three years without being planted. “I brought a 60,000 pound tree with a 14-foot rootball diameter that has been alive for three years this way all the way from Dallas,” he said. “The Rudder oaks are only going to be moved 60 to 75 feet.” Hoelzel said he was upset to find out that the methods he learned at A&M are “not adequate.” “I have the best interest of A&M at heart and I sincerely believe I could move all 12 trees successfully. “The project is scheduled to begin Dec. 18,” Hoelzel said. “I hope the trees survive.” Ivie envisions master’s program for SCOM, Theater Arts majors The new head of Texas A&M’s Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts said he plans to help establish a master’s program in the department. Robert Ivie, who received a doctorate in rhetoric and communicaton from Washington State University, be gins duties as department head Jan. 15. He takes the “Q wince the department was founded, growth has been phenomenal.” — Robert Ivie, department head position previously held by Dr. Kurt Ritter, who leaves in January to participate in a research project. Ivie said the first item on his agenda is establishing a master’s program. He said the program has been ap proved by the Board of Regents and is being consid ered by the Texas State Coordinating Board for Higher Education. “I will continue to strengthen the undergraduate program and the faculty to eventually have a strong enough department to offer a doctoral degree,” he said. The speech communication and theater arts depart ment was formed in September 1985, and was only one year old when Ivie joined the A&M faculty. “Since the department was founded, growth has been phenomenal,” Ivie said. He said 200 students were majoring in speech com munication when he arrived, and now enrollment of speech communication majors has climbed to 650. Ivie said that to meet demands of growth in the de partment, it is time to expand the programs offered. The need for people with good communication skills is growing. Students receiving degrees in speech com municaton and theater arts are finding themselves mar ketable, Ivie said. ‘Bill, you squeaked by’ Commisioners reinstate Ross SAVE YOUR MONEY NOW! Going home for Holidays? Leave your cable TV connected while you’re gone and save at least $25.00 on reconnection charges when you return, it’s very simple! Pay for your cable services through January 31, 1990 and we’ll keep your account active while you are away. That way you won’t miss out on any of your favorite programs or have the hassel of another in stallation when you get back. Just stop by our convenient MSC location today or come by the MSC Dec. 6-8 or December 11-13, 9 AM to 5 PM. CALL NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION! "Offer good to Dorm students only. Payment for services thru 1/31/90 must be rdcived by 12/15/89 to avoid disconnection of service. Students, if you are not taking advantage of the above offer please return your equipment to avoid an unreturned equipment charge. 846-2229 CABLE TV 3609 Texas Avennue Call Now For an Appointment! ROUTINE $0000 CLEANING, WW X-RAYS and EXAM (Reg. $59 less $20 pretreatment cash discount) CarePlusvtai Dental Centers Bryan Jim Arents, DDS Karen Arents, DDS 1103 E. Villa Maria 268-1407 College Station Dan Lawson, DDS 1712 S.W Parkway 696-9578 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ $ $ We Buy All Books! Bring your out-of-date books with your new books & we’ll make you an offer on all your books (including pa perbacks). Cold Hard Cash DPI FD Ekm University Bookstores THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS NORTHfiATE CULPEPPER ' VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER 409 University Drive Texas Avenue & Hwy. 30 University Drive 409/846-4232 403/693-9388 across from the Hilton 409/846-4818 Open Late through Finals $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ HOURS: 11 am - Midnight Daily 1704 Kyle (Behind Safeway) 764-2975 FOR THE FUN OF IT Free Food Bar Wide variety of munchies Every Night 9 pm - Midnight (w/$2.95 purchase) 34 oz. Giant Marg Reg. $6.25 Happy Hour $4.95 Happy Hour Specials LATE NIGHT 9 pm - Midnight AFTERNOON 2 pm -7 pm Drafts 1.25 Wells 1.50 Margs 1.75 Frozen Specials Daily FROZEN BAR SPECIALS $2.00 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 I1SS Cold Study I1S2 $100 Come study with us for finals and earn $12.50 per hour (8 hour $100 $100 study for those chosen to participate). Individuals 18 yrs. and $100 $100 ° ,c| er with active cold symptoms to participate in a cold study with c-i nn $100 an over ' the ‘ counter co 'd medication. No blood drawn. 2^ qq $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $300 $300 $3Q0 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STUDY Individuals with high blood pressure, either on or off blood pres sure medication daily to participate in a high blood pressure study. $300 incentive for those chosen to participate. $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 FEVER STUDY |1“ $100 Short at home study to evaluate individuals 17 years and $100 $100 older who have a temperature over 100° f. $50. incentive for $100 $100 those chosen to participate. Nights and weekends call 361- $100 $100 1500. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 PAINFUL MUSCULAR INJURIES Individual with recent lower back or neck pain, sprain, strains, muscle spasms, or painful muscular sport injury to participate in a one week research study. $100 incentive for those chosen to participate. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 CEDAR ALLERGY STUDY Individuals (18 yrs. & older) with Mountain Cedar Allergies to participate in a short research study. Free skin testing to determine eligibility. Known cedar ailegeric individuals welcome. $100 incentive for those chosen to participate. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $J0Q Hacky Cough-Bronchitis-Pneumonia $100 We are looking for these symptoms in individuals to partici-1 100 $100 pate in a short study to monitor and treat your illness. Free $100 chest x-ray, EKG and $100 incentive for those chosen to I] IS $ 100 participate. 51 uu $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 CALL PAULL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 776-0400