Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1991)
V The Battalion Wednesday, August 28, 1991 Page 3 ep. Russell held accountable ADD upset over blocked bill AUSTIN (AP) - A national 1ADD official said people are ap palled by a state representative ho they said blocked a bill that ould allow confiscation of sus- ected drunken drivers' licenses. A confrontation between Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Rep. Sam Russell, D-Mount Pleasant, has been brewing over his action as chairman of the louse Criminal Jurisprudence ommittee. The license revocation bill assed the House during the regu- ir legislative session and the Sen te during this year's special ses- ions. Russell's committee approved he bill, but it died after he did not end it to the full House for debate efore the most recent special ses- ion ended Sunday. "It's a travesty to the citizens f Texas that such a lifesaving easure which passed the Senate wice and the House once is still ot law," said Milo Kirk of Dallas, ADD's national vice president. "Administrative license revo cation has proven to be the most effective countermeasure in sav ing lives and deterring drunk drivers, reducing injuries, and also reducing DWI recidivism," Kirk said. Russell was blasted Sunday in a letter to ,the editor of his home town newspaper by Cheryl Walk er, secretary of the Texas chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driv ing. Walker accused Russell of car ing more about pleasing lawyers who defend drunken drivers than his constituents. Russell received a standing ovation Sunday in the House fol lowing a speech in which he said the letter "did not provide any im petus" for him to get the bill be fore the legislative body. Ms. Kirk and Bill Lewis of the state MADD chapter said Russell used the letter as an excuse to not sign the bill. "I don't think Mr. Russell in tended to sign the bill, whether that letter had been published or not," said Lewis. However, Russell denied the allegation. He said he believed time effectively had run out on the proposal, since lawmakers intend ed to end the session by adjourn ing "sine die" Sunday night. "It became pretty obvious to me that once again this bill was just caught at the end of the ses sion," Russell said. "It does look like I killed this bill," he said. "But I can promise you, had we not been adjourning 'sine die' that evening, you would've seen that bill on the floor of the House." Russell said he questioned the constitutionality of the bill, and said it did nothing to encourage DWI education and treatment. Under the bill, people arrested for driving while intoxicated who failed or refused a blood or breath alcohol test would lose their li cense for 90 days for a first of fense, or one year for subsequent offenses. Official vows to reduce juvenile crime after petition sent to Austin he Battaloi The two eir dorm. LA PRYOR (AP) — Vowing to "take no prison- lers," Zavala County District Attorney Robert Serna I has promised angry citizens to stem what they say is Ian unchecked tide of juvenile crime. Serna met with about a dozen La Pryor residents [after receiving petitions containing more than 400 [signatures complaining about the crime wave. The | petition, sent last week to Gov. Ann Richards, legisla- | tors and law enforcement agencies, seeks "relief from the vandalism, burglary, thievery and general misbe- | havior by juveniles in this community." "We have the right for equal protection under the [ law," said resident Max Rapp. "We should not have [ to sit up at night with a shotgun across our laps." Residents say juveniles have taunted burglary [ victims, strutting before the community to show their [ age leaves them untouchable. Serna, whose comments were reported in Tues- [ day's editions of the San Antonio Light, said a hear- [ ing is scheduled Sept. 14 to have three La Pryor | youths committed to the Texas Youth Commission | on burglary charges. "We're making the juvenile problem our top pri ority in Zavala County," said Serna, adding his poli cy is "to take no prisoners and send them up to TYC." Some residents asked if unruly juveniles could be placed in state custody or made to perform commu nity service for their alleged crimes. "Don't you think something on the local level could be done to humiliate them the way they've hu miliated us by coming into our home and robbing us?" Dwight McHazlett asked. The citizens called on Serna; his father. Sheriff Jose Serna; and the district's chief probation officer, Marcial Reyes Jr., to act immediately against known juvenile suspects. Reyes told the group the justice system applies different standards to juveniles, making enforcement and jailing youths a lengthy and difficult process. "We're doing the best that we can, but it's not good enough for you right now," Reyes said, adding that his office is understaffed and has only one officer to cover Dimmit and Zavala counties. The district attorney said he was using money from two other counties in his district to help prose- LBJ holiday draws harsh criticism from Republicans AUSTIN (AP) - Republican lawmakers ripped a state employ ee holiday celebrating former President Lyndon B. Johnson's birthday. But State employees, already fuming over a lost 3 percent pay raise, blasted the GOP group. The House Republican Caucus issued a statement saying that while most Texas employees went to work Tuesday, "state employ ees had the option of enjoying a taxpayer-paid holiday." "Today's holiday will give state employees a chance to rest up for the Labor Day weekend," said Milton Rister, director of the caucus. "This just shows that the Re publican Caucus is insensitive to the work of public employees," Eduardo Diaz, organization coor dinator for the Texas State Em ployees Union, said. Diaz said state government was still operating Tuesday, de spite the holiday. State agencies staff minimal crews on Johnson's birthday, and those working are allowed to take another day off during the year. Diaz said state employees will have little to celebrate Labor Day because their pay raise, which was contingent on money being avail able in the recently passed budget, did not come through. "The only thing we will be cel ebrating is the fact that the Repub lican lawmakers are not in session doing more harm to state employ ees and public services," he said. But Rister said that state em ployees get too many holidays — 15 per year in addition to vacation. A Republican Caucus proposal to cutback the number of state hol idays to 10 was defeated in the House, he said. tan ibducted, ■ithdraw from his an auto- ^covered Mecftu 'Gentleman Bandit' surrenders Believed to be responsible HOUSTON (AP> r A tall, ca sually dressed, middle-aged man surrendered to police Tuesday and identified himself as the man nerly "Gentleman Bandit" be lieved responsible for robbing nearly 100 businessmen in Texas and Louisiana. Lon Perry, 49, of Houston, flanked by attorneys Alien Isbell and Rick Brass, waded through a group of reporters, walked up the steps of police headquarters and stood quietly at the front desk while he waited for detectives to take him away. "We're not going to make any statement at this time," said Isbell, who identified Perry. Perry, his gray hair combed neatly, wore a blue and red plaid for nearly 100 robberies shirt, gray beltless slacks and black tasseled shoes. He appeared somewhat nervous, his hands shaking slightly as he wiped his face several times. Isbell identified Perry as a longtime Houston resident who lost his oil industry-related job a couple of years ago during the en ergy bust. Isbell said Perry became depressed because he could not find a job, so he turned to crime. "We're going to have a lot of preliminaries to take care of," Sgt. D.J. McWilliams of the Houston Police Robbery Division said. "The game plan is to take him to the robbery office, make a formal confession and then we'll file charges. I won't get into any de tails of the case." Authorities said the interviews likely would take several hours since Perry was believed responsi ble for so many robberies during the last two years. Perry appeared briefly before a city magistrate, who set bail at $20,000. Attorneys said Perry would agree to plead guilty to two aggra vated robbery charges for a rec ommended 35-year prison sen tence. The agreement would clear some 90 robberies from the books in 17 counties in Texas and Louisiana. "It's going to take some time talking with robbery investiga tors," police spokesman Rick Hartley said. "Our intent is to clear as many of these cases as possible." Victims, primarily business men who stayed at plush hotels in Texas and western Louisiana, had described him as soft-spoken and polite as he pulled a gun and robbed them. Authorities say the bandit once called an ambulance for a victim who suffered a heart attack during the robbery and later Buy used Books AND SAVE! ’tfLoupor Upper Level Courses... The OtIier Eclips Welcomes Teresa Herlocker, fomierh of the V arsity Shop, invites all her clients to her new location. Originally from the Houston area, Teresa has attended a Special Academy in l>o\erl\ Hills, California and has se\ era I years of quality experience. She specializes in perms, creative and corrective color. f ? 1 jfeA ‘5! Brenda Morales Brenda Morales is our newest addition to our nail department. She offers sculptured nails, tip overlays, and for in between services, buff and polish. Consultation available. TERESA ONLY Teresa Herlocker BRENDA ONLY $1Q00 Cut & Blowdry I Tip Overlays Expires 9-28-91 Must Present Coupon I Expires 9-28-91 Must Present Coupon Require Top Level Calculators From Hewlett Packard We feature a complete line of Hewlett-Packard Calcualtors recommended for Science, Engineering and Business classes. We also carry all the accessories needed to maximize the power of your new HP. Professional Computing 505 Chnrcli St. College Station 146-5332 2551 Texas Ave. So. 696-8700 College Station Business Mon-Fri 8:00-5:30 Hours Sat 10:00-3:00 nnW HEWLETT "CM PACKARD Authorized Dealer, $OQOO £mm Reg. Reg. $39.00 High Fashion Portraits Session Includes: • Make-over & Hairstyling by our experienced stylists • Variety of wardrobes & accessory changes • 12-15 High Fashion Poses Ideal gift for someone you love.. .or yourself. Just call for an appointment and let us do the rest! Call today for appointment. UJinXiL xno ~?aa -»om POST OAK MALL If matrix 409-764-3800 (Next to Foley's) H&R Block Income Tax Course Can Provide Daytime Employment Thousands of people learn how to prepare Ineome tax returns from H&R Block and then earn money as Ineome tax preparers. H&R Block, the world's largest Ineome tax preparation service, offers Its Income Tax Course starting September 5. Morning and evening classes are available and will be held In Culpepper Plaza In College Station. Experienced instructors teach tax law, theory and application. Classroom discussion and practice problems provide students with a thorough understanding of each tax topic Included In the course. Students learn how to handle Increasingly complex income tax situations as the course progresses. Ideal for people who want to Increase their tax knowledge, the course teaches students how to save money on their taxes and also prepares them for rewarding career. The affordable fee Includes textbooks and supplies. Graduates receive Certificates of Achievement and continuing education units (CEE's). Qualified graduates of the course may be offered Job Interviews with 1I&K Block but are under no obligation to accept employment. H Those interested In more information about the H&R Block Income Tax Course may contact the H&R Block Income Tax School at 10700 Staneliff Road., Houston, Texas 77000 or call H&R Block's toll free line at 1-800-527-7346. Walk-In Registration Available at Class Tarnation Does Your Housing Search Continue? Let the Off Campus Center help you find a place to live In addition to our summer office hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, the center will also be open on these dates: Saturday, August 31,10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, September 1, Noon to 3 p.m. CONTACT LENSES ONLY QUALITY NAME BRANDS (Bausch & Lomb, Ciba, Barnes-Hinds-Hydrocurve) 38°° total cost I ...INCLUDES EYE EXAM, FREE CARE KIT, STD. DAILY WEAR, EXTENDED WEAR OR TINTED LENSES. YOUR CHOICE of Std. Daily Wear, Extended Wear or Tinted Soft Lenses SAME DAY DELIVERY ON MOST LENSES. Offer ends'August 30, 1991 Extended thru September 30, 1991 Call 696-3754 for appointment Charles C. Schroeppel, O.D., P.C. DOCTOR OF OPOMETRY 707 S. Texas Ave.-Suite 101D 1 Blk. South of Texas Ave. & University Or. Intersection College Station, Texas 77840