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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1990)
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Martin’s companion that night, Detroit bar owner William Reedy, is on trial in Town of Fenton Court for driving while intoxicated, but he has maintained that Martin was behind the wheel. Martin, 61, died of head and neck injuries. Martin was a member of five World Series championship teams with the Yankees during an 11-year playing career. He managed 16 years in the major leagues, including stints in Texas, Minnesota, Detroit and Oakland. William Fischer, a private investi gator from Endicott, N.Y., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said his examina tion of the truck on the morning af ter the accident showed several signs that Martin, and not Reedy, was driving. Fischer said the fabric on the left Billy Martin knee of the pants Reedy was wearing when the crash occurred was im printed on the dashboard of the pickup truck just to the right of the steering wheel. That indicated that Reedy slid across from the passenger side of the vehicle on impact, Fischer said. In addition, the private detective said a footprint in the foot well on the passenger side of the truck matched a shoe Reedy had on and that an imprint on Reedy’s jacket that night appeared to have been made by the radio panel of the truck. “Alfred Billy Martin was the driver of that vehicle,” Fischer said. Fischer also said that the seat of the truck was adjusted close to the steering wheel and foot pedals of the vehicle, indicating that Martin, and probably not the bigger Reedy, was the driver, Fischer said. Fischer also said the truck was going just over 27 mph when it smashed into the culvert. His testimony was part of a continuing attempt by Reedy’s de fense lawyer, John Blechman, to convince the six-member jury that Reedy wasn’t driving when Martin was killed. Reedy, 53, testified to that effect last week. He maintains that he told authorities immediately after the crash that he was driving to protect Martin, who had a history of alcohol- related problems. Reedy said he made those statements before he knew that Martin had been killed in the crash near the entrance to Mar tin’s upstate New York farm. Several witnesses who arrived on the scene minutes after the crash have testified that they found Reedy piled on top of Martin on the pas senger side of the pickup truck, which was lying driver-side up in a ditch at the driveway entrance to Martin’s farm. If convicted, Reedy faces a man datory fine of between $350 and $500, revocation of his driver’s li cense for at least six months and a possible jail sentence of up to a year. Reedy and his wife were celebrat ing Christmas at Martin’s 150-acre farm eight miles north of Bingham ton. Reedy and Martin were return ing home after running errands and stopping for drinks when the acci dent happened. Martin’s widow, Jilluann, who has been attending the trial, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the town and Reedy. o o O o © <0 « O O SCUBA o ° _ o G- °o G oO Diving not as O hard, dangerous ° as it’s made out O O O C O Q O o o © o o o CLUTE (AP) — Imagine feeding a group of stingrays, swimming with a friendly school of fish or taking a piggyback ride on a manta ray around a colorful coral garden. Or exploring the quiet world beneath a gulf rig or the solemn wreck of a sunken World War II 0 ship. O q For some these watery dreams q are a reality because they have taken the plunge interscuba tJ diving. ° Many landlubbers wish they 0 could float weightlessly and breathe underwater, but it’s not ® as hard as it sounds and © © definitely not dangerous, said Billy Neel, an avid scuba diver. In fact, most certified divers were at one point apprehensive of going unaerwater. “It’sjust fear of the unknown, experiencing something you’ve never done before,” he said. “It’s very typical and quite normal.” Neel teaches scuba diving at his business, Gulf Safari Scuba and Fitness. It is an adventurous hobby where the focus is safety, but it is one hobby full of many rewards. It doesn’t take long to be a cer tified scuba diver, Neel said. Gulf Safari classes range from a com pact four days to 2 weeks. The minimum age is 12 on up as long as you’re in good health and have the ability to swim. “One of the prerequisites is you have to be comfortable in the wa ter,” he said. Gulf Safari, as well as Neel and his instructors, is certified by the Professional Association of Div ing Instructors, or PAD1, the largest training agency in the world. The first level in scuba diving is ojpen water diving. The class tea ches fundamentals, techniques and the basic science involved in diving as well as an awareness of the environment. It only requires a minimum of 25 to 30 hours of training. “It does not give them experi ence,” he said. “T hat’s where the other continuing education O ’O courses come into play.” Those other courses include night diving, wreck diving, deep sea diving, cavern diving, under water hunter, search and rescue, and several others. Every level requires on-site training and three to four open water training dives with an in structor in a certain area. Some levels require classroom involve ment, hut once certified in the be ginner’s class you’re certified for fife. “However, if you’ve been away from diving for a little while we recommend having a refresher (course),” Neel said. “That might include an academic session and a pool session. “Open water diving contains the most academics and poolside training,” Neel said, with time split evenly between the class room and tne pool. “That's the neat thing about diving,” Neel said, “is sharing the experience. You always dive with ■ ■■■■I a buddy for several reasons. It's more fun, also in case of need of any type of assistance from en tanglement or adjustment in equipment that might be made.” The buddy system is what makes diving safer than similar sports because there are more op tions for a diver, Neel said. “The neat thing about scuba diving is you’re self-contained. You have your breathing appara tus right there with you at all times, you have the freedom to move around, to interact with the environment and get a closer look.” There are so many diving par adises around the world that Neel hasn’t visited most of them, he said. His personal favorite is the varying reefs in the Cayman Is lands, but “it’s hard to compare,” he said. “It comes down to the individual and what he likes." Qy For those who want to dive 0 Q closer to home, there is good ^ offshore diving 15 to 20 miles O off the coast along the rigs. 0 “That’s our specialty out here. O /"l** To me ng diving is just as v v v# enjoyable as anywhere you’ll 0 ever be because it has the same _ diversity a reef has as far as fish O and plant life and soft and hard © coral. Evert scuba inventor Jacques ^ Cousteau visited Freeport about 15 years ago to do some rig diving, Neel said. Cousteau 0 reported that the rigs had the y - * most fish per area per capita ‘ '‘t> than any other ocean he had Q seen. Q “There is a whole ecosystem down there,” Neel said. “Rig diving allows you to have a ® reference, so it is very safe. But it 0° • takes special skills and 0 knowledge.” There also are a few wrecks Neel dives about 32 miles out of Freeport, including a 600-foot tanker that sunk in 1972 and two World War II Liberty Ships. “Certain times of the year that’s great diving,” he said. Also, there are the Flower Gardens about 110 miles out, which is sup posedly the most northern reef in this hemisphere. “That’s very attractive this time of year. We go every week this time of year, July through mid- September. Other months it’s more spontaneous, when weather conditions are right.” Sharks are not a problem be cause they are so rare, Neel said. “We never see them. Most peo ple are curious about them, but we never see them. When we do we observe them, take pictures and see if we learn anything by them. Then we leave them alone.” Neel also mentioned playing tug-of-war with an octopus, swim ming with dolphins and riding manta rays at the Flower Gar dens, where the rays pick you up like a taxi and give you a nice free ride. “Fish recognize you if you’ve been diving in that certain area,” Neel said. ’’They build a trust with you.” Many of trie students recently taking classes at Gulf Safari were excited about diving, mostly for the recreation and for the fun. Bryan Soccer Club Coaches needed for youth ages 6-10 For information contact Robin Donnelly 589-2379 Time for a check-up. We would like to invite all Nissan owners to our FREE Car Care Clinic Protect your automotive investment by letting us perform a professional diagnostic check-up on your car or truck At no obligation, we will provide you with a concise report on the condition of your vehicle. Call us for an appointment! Car Care Clinic Thursday, Sept. 20th, Friday, Sept. 21st, 6:00pm-8:00pm. Saturday, Sept. 22nd, 8:00am-1:00pm. DOUGLASS NISSAN 775-1500 1214 Texas Ave. Bryan/C.S. (M M Built for the Finnan Race: Register to Win a Color TV Compliments of Colortyme. \AGCI^\ S /^faNEMA/ \ACCI^\ S /^faNEMA/ \AGCI^\ S /^fclNEMV TflE I AST EMPEROR Tuesday, Sept. 18~7:30PM Rudder Auditorium Admission $2.50 Tickets are now available at the MSC Box Office The next Aggie Cinema General Meeting will be held on Mon., Sept. 24 at 7:00PM in Rudder 510. The Aggie Cinema Information Hotline is 847-8478. $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 iaSS ASTHMA STUDY !Z $800 lndividuals O 2 and older) who have asthma to participate |qqq $800 in a research study. $800 incentive for those who cgoo $800 enro11 and complete study. £ 8 qq $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $800 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 goo high BLOOD PRESSURE STUDY USo $300 Individuals with high blood pressure, either on or off blood pressure $300 $300 medication to participate in a high blood pressure research study. $300 $300 $ 300 incentive. BONUS: $100 RAPID ENROLLMENT BONUS for $300 $300 completing study. 5300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 FALL WEED ALLERGY STUDY !!!£ Individuals (12 and older) to participate in a Fall $100 Weed Allergy Study. $100 incentive for those cho sen to participate. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 CALL PAULL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL® 776-0400 Congratulations Sigma Chi Pledges Row 1 R. Greg Parker (Rush Chainnan), Tommy Mareottc, Scott Cooley,Blake Bingham (Pledge Trainer),Mark Rainwater, Mark Conrad ( Rush Chairman) Row 2 Brian Becker, Russell Smith, Bobby Thons, Stephen Boutros, Rob Howell, Jeffrey Kovacs, Steve Pfcffcr, Lance Luma. Row 3 Chohn Hickman, John Nilson, Kirk Gibson, B. J. Myers, Jorge Estrada, John Wrag.Reg Martin, Justin Matthias, Greg Rively. Row 4 Jay Reaves, Scott Joyce, Chis Madely, Austin Chester, Courtney McLaughlin, Chis Heffcrman, Calc Kruse. Photo by Steve Smith FALL 1990 Pledge Class at Bid House Hey Freshmen. GO TEX E S A& TUDENT RNMENT UNIVERSITY ELECTIONS '90 POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Class of *94 Council President Vice-President Social Secretary Treasurer Historian Student Senate NINE (9) OPEN SEATS FILING WEEK: Freshmen can file for the positions September 17 ■* 21 in 214 PAVILION from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 5.00 FEE FOR EACH POSITION A CANDIDATE WANTS TO RUN FOR. WE DO ACCEPT CHECKS