State & Local
Wednesday,.
Page 2
The Battalion
Wednesday, July 21,1993
Studies show fleas carry Lyme disease
By MICHELE BRINKMANN
The Battalion
Researchers at Texas A&M University's
College of Veterinary Medicine say laboratory
experiments suggest common cat fleas carry
the bacterium that causes Lyme disease and
that cats can develop the disease after being
injected with the organism.
New questions are being raised about how
Lyme disease is transmitted from animal to
animal and perhaps to humans, Texas A&M
microbiologist and associate professor of Vet
erinary Medicine Dr. Colin R. Young said.
But he said he is not sure ticks are the only
culprit.
"It's something that needs to be looked at in
some kind of detail, because there are people
who develop Lyme disease who say they've
never been bitten by a tick," Young said.
Working with researchers at the Texas De
partment of Health, a team of A&M scientists
has shown in laboratory experiments that cats
can develop Lyme disease.
There is no evidence yet that humans are in
danger of getting Lyme disease from fleas that
feed on infected cats.
Young said the Texas Department of Health
has no plans as of yet to issue a warning to the
public about the chance of getting the disease
from cats.
"The chance of a flea being able to transmit
a sufficient number of spirochetes to cause
Lyme disease in these cats would seem to be
unlikely," Young said.
The research does show, however, that there
is a lot that still is not understood, he said.
The Texas A&M researchers used bacteria
taken from both fleas and ticks to artificially
produce Lyme disease in laboratory cats.
They found evidence of the Lyme disease in
fection and signs that the bacterium had dam
aged the cat's heart, lungs, spleens and joints.
These symptoms are similar to the disease's ef
fects on humans.
"All of these facts, taken together, indicate
that cats indeed, can develop Lyme disease in
an experimental situation," Young said.
Lyme disease is named for the town of
Lyme, Conn., where the first case of the dis
ease was identified.
Early symptoms in humans include: a rash,
fever, headache and nausea.
If untreated the symptoms can range from
arthritis-like joint pain to neurological, heart
and liver complications. The disease is easily
and effectively treated with antibiotics.
Lyme disease has been reported in 49
states, including Texas. Texas reported 113
cases in 1992, according to the Texas Depart
ment of Health.
Lottery jackpot winner
receives first installment
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — A 40-year-old woman was presented Tuesday
with the first installment of a $4.5 million lottery jackpot, becom
ing the fourth winner from Corpus Christi this month, the state
comptroller said.
Gloria Flores, who matched all six numbers in Saturday's draw
ing, said she plans to open a second bakery with the money and
continue working.
State Comptroller John Sharp presented Ms. Flores with a check
for about $200,000, one of 20 annual payments.
"Something must be in the water in Corpus Christi," Sharp said.
"In the last two weeks about $27 million have been won (there)."
Other winners from Corpus Christi in July were: Janie Elizalde,
who shared a $50 million jackpot with two others; Gloria Soto, who
won $1 million in the lottery's monthly grand prize drawing; and
an unidentified winner who will share $10 million from the July 14
lotto drawing.
New insurance rule
protects minorities
Law provides for anti-discrimination
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — State insurance officials Tuesday gave preliminary ap
proval to an anti-discrimination rule after hearing a report that showed
low-income and minority consumers pay higher rates for insurance
even if they are a lower risk.
The State Board of Insurance voted 2-0 for the anti-discrimination
measure, and scheduled an Aug. 30 final vote on the matter.
Under the rule, insurers would be prohibited from discrimination
based on race, color, religion, national origin, geographic location, sex
or disability. The rule would apply to an insurer's decision of whether
to insure or continue to insure an applicant and at what rate.
"I believe Texans are entitled to fair treatment in insurance mat
ters," Insurance Board member Allene Evans said.
Jerry Johns, an insurance industry spokesman, said the rule is un
necessary because it, in part, duplicates federal law. He also disputed
the report's findings of inequities in insurance premiums between
wealthy and minority and low-income customers.
According to preliminary findings of the report, low-income and mi
nority policyholders pay higher rates for property and car insurance.
The study shows that policyholders with homes worth $50,000 or
less pay on the average up to 10 percent more than the benchmark rate
for property insurance. The Insurance Board sets the benchmark and
the range that companies can charge above or below it.
Policyholders with homes worth between $50,000 to $150,000 usual
ly pay below the benchmark, while those with homes worth $150,000
or more pay 15 percent below the benchmark, the study said.
"There is some evidence there of inequities," said Mark Crawshaw,
a consultant hired by the Texas Department of Insurance.
In medium and high minority zip codes, homeowners' rates were
also higher for comparably valued homes in zip codes where few mi
norities lived, the report said.
Kyle ranch to be sold in
auction this November
By CARRIE MIURA
The Battalion
The Sid M. Kyle ranch, of
which Texas A&M University
owns over 16,000 of the 49,000
acres of land, will be sold at a
sealed bid auction Nov. 1.
The ranch, which is located
near Pecos, Texas., was a gift do
nated by Mr. and Mrs. Sid M. Kyle
to Texas A&M University.
Tom Goen, senior real estate
analyst in charge of the Kyle pro
ject, said, the ranch is being sold
because there is no specific use for
the ranch at this time, and because
it is not under lease.
"Rather than having the ranch
just sit there, we'll sell it," he said.
The other portion of the prop
erty is primarily leased to Texas
A&M from the Texas Pacific Land
Trust.
"The University is going to
keep all of the mineral rights to
the land and will also keep a small
part of the surface rights," Goen
said.
The surface rights that are to be
sold by A&M are valued approxi
mately between $500,000 to
$1,000,000.
There is a substantial amount
of producing oil wells on the land,
Goen said.
"The ranch has had very limit
ed grazing in the past two years
and has had time to grow and
looks in good condition," he said.
Edward A. Hiler, vice chancel
lor and dean of the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences at
A&M, said, "Proceeds from the
sale will fund research and educa
tional programs in arid and semi-
arid land studies and support
graduate student research and
workshops on ranch and livestock
issues in West Texas."
Mr. Sid M. Kyle, Class of '26,
decided to donate the ranch to
A&M in memory of his parents
to demonstrate the family's re
spect and admiration for the Uni
versity.
Kyle also was the nephew of
E.J. Kyle, Texas A&M's first dean
of agriculture, for whom Kyle
Field is named.
Bill passed to extend college aid to veterans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — State officials are scrambling to
find a way to keep thousands of Texas veter
ans from losing up to $2 million in college tu
ition and fee exemptions this fall.
Lawmakers have pleaded with Gov. Ann
Richards to help, and they want an attorney
general's opinion on the law that threatens the
veterans' benefits.
Richards and others have asked the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board to find
a way around the measure.
"We are very aware of the concerns that
have been expressed by veterans as well as a
number of legislators and we are looking into
some options that might be available," said
Measure requires proof
of need for exemptions
Jan Friese, spokeswoman for the Coordinating
Board.
It's quite a brouhaha over a measure that
passed the Legislature unanimously and was
signed into law by the governor. It takes effect
Sept. 1.
The bill by Rep. Wilhelmina Delco, D-
Austin, was intended to expand a veterans'
college financial aid program to cover chil
dren whose parents were missing in action or
died as a direct result of military service, in
cluding deaths due to chemical defoliant
Agent Orange.
It covers more conflicts than the previous
ly existing program, which applied to chil
dren of veterans killed in action during
World War I, World War II, the Korean War
and the Cold War.
But Rep. Warren Chisum, D-Pampa, added
an amendment. Chisum says he thought his
acfdition would require veterans' children to
prove financial need before they could qualify
for tuition or fee exemptions.
However, the amendment actually re
quires all veterans who receive aid to prove
financial need.
Coordinating Board officials estimate that
as many as 3,500 of the 9,784 veterans who re
ceived aid last year would be unable to qualify
again this year.
Police Beat
The following incidents were
reported to University Police De
partment between July 9-16.
Places Weapons Prohibited /
Public Intoxication
Parking Area 37- A College
Station Police Department radio
broadcast led to the arrest and
apprehension of two individuals
who were involved in a fight that
ended with gunshots being fired
at a local eating establishment on
Texas Avenue. The vehicle was
stopped and a Smith & Wesson,
.357 Magnum was recovered
from the floorboard.
Credit Card Abuse
Neeley Hall- The victim's
MasterCard was used without
authorization to place several
long distance calls. The individ
ual using the card was identified
and charges will be filed.
Driving While Intoxicated /
Public Intoxication
Wellborn Road- An intoxicat
ed motorist and passenger were
arrested and incarcerated.
Assault
Houston Street- A Parking
Services Officer was twice
shoved aside by an individual
who refused to comply with the
officer's instructions. Criminal
charges are pending.
Minor in Possession of
Alcoholic Beverage
Joe Routt Boulevard- Three in
dividuals were issued citations.
Criminal Mischief
State Headquarters Building-
An exterior wall of a storage
building was damaged by some
one who spray-painted graffiti
on the north side of the structure.
Burglary of Motor Vehicle
Parking Area 27- A Physio-
Control Life Pak-5 (Monitor/De
fibrillator) was stolen from an
outer compartment of an ambu
lance.
Misdemeanor Theft
Doherty Building- A dark
blue 18-speed Trek 820 bicycle
was stolen.
Engineering Physics and
Blocker Building- An orange
Murray 10-speed bicycle was
stolen.
Wells Hall- A gray Savannah
10-speed bicycle was stolen.
Memorial Student Center-
While parked in the bicycle rack,
someone removed the seat from
the victim's Trek 930 bicycle.
Three days later the handlebars
were stolen and the front fcrk
dented and scratched.
Engineering Physics Building-
The front tire was stolen from the
victim's bicycle.
Harassment by Phone
Gainer Hall- The victim has
received annoying phone calls
consisting of hang ups, animal
sounds, and derogatory com
ments.
Wanted: desperately seeking
wives for four white males
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Four Houston men have tried bars and churches in
their hunt for wives. Now they're serious.
The four have plopped down $2,500 to plaster their plea on a 48-foot
billboard along one of the city's busiest freeways: "4 Middle Class
White Males, 32-39, Seek Wives, Kids OK."
A Houston post office box number is provided for commuting
women to communicate their interest.
"This is really not a joke," said 39-year-old Bill, one of the four single
men. They asked that their last names not be used. "We really are seri
ous. It would be an expensive joke if it was."
Bill and the others — John, 32; Mike, 35; and Ed, 36 — have rented
the billboard along the Southwest Freeway just outside downtown
Houston for a month.
Bill, a divorcee who was married 10 years, said he came up with the
idea a year ago, and the four recently gave up on conventional ways of
meeting women.
"The bar scene got very old," said Bill. "And at the church there's
nothing but old ladies."
The four drew straws to see who would get to answer the first 15 re
sponses, the next 15 and so forth.
SCOTT & WHITE
CLINIC, COLLEGE STATION
Announcing
Weekend Clinic Hours
for Urgent Care
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Scott & White Clinic, College Station, is now offering
weekend Clinic hours for urgent care by appointment
only! The Weekend Clinic is conducted from 8:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. in the Clinic Annex building located across
the street (Glenhaven Dr.) from the main clinic.
By Appointment Only
(409) 268-3663
▲
Scott & White
Annex
S&W
Clinic
UNIVERSITY DRIVE EAST
Scott & White Clinic, College Station 1600 University Drive East
The TAG Heuer 6000 Series.
18-karat gold and fine
brushed steel. Water-resistant
to 200 meters (660 feet).
TAGHeuer
SWISS MADE SINCE 1860
LIU mark/
Jguuder/
3841 BellaireBlvd * Houston. Texas 77025-713 668-5000
An authorized TAG Heuer dealer
The Battalion
JASON LOUGHMAN, Editor in chief
MARK EVANS, Managing editor
DAVE THOMAS, Night News editor
MACK HARRISON, Opinion editor
BILLY MORAN, Photo editor
STEPHANIE PATTILLO, City editor
ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggielife editor
KYLE BURNETT, Sports editor
SUSAN OWEN, Sports editor
Staff Members
City desk - Jennifer Smith, James Bernsen, Reagan Clamon, Michele Brinkmann, Jason Cox, Lisa Elliott, J. Frank
Hernandez, Janet Holder, Carrie Miura, and Geneen Pipher
News desk — Lisa Borrego, Joe Holan, Lance Holmes and Denise Wick
Photographers — Mary Macmanus, Nicole Rohrman, and Stacy Ryan
Aggielife — Jacqueline Ayotte, John Bayless, Margaret Claughton and Jennifer Sake
Sports writers — Roy Clay, Matt Rush and Mark Smith
Opinion desk - Matt Dickerson, Tracey Jones, Frank Stanford and Robert Vosquez
Cartoonists - Boomer Cardinale, George Nasr, Joe Reyes, Sergio Rosas and Paul Stroud
Graphic Artist - Angel Kan
Clerks- Grant Austgen, Alishia Holtam and Lisa White
The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday durina the fall and spring semesters and
Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holiaays and exam periods), at Texas
A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843.
News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student
Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building.
Newsroom phone number is 845-3313. Fax: 845-2647.
Advertising: For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call
845-0569. Advertising offices are in 015 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Fax: 845-5408.
Subscriptions: Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. To charge by
VISA or MasterCard, call 845-2611.
Dog
not t
excil
: You knov
sometimes 1
|bored down
here at the B
waiting on
prospective
terviewees h
call, or my e
! tor to give rr
another stor
do. Today 1
started looki
through an c
sports almar
to see some <
the names fr
the past. I s;
some big on
Pistol Pete
Marovich, R
Abdul-Jabba
me of the gn
As I look<
'of facts and
pressed by t
'included. D
and even crc
j lew of these
j out of place,
i a sport is crc
But one c
rest in the "v
inhere" dep
squeeze me?
shows? Wh,
together? O
ed Press. "V
the Associate
what they're
That solu
ter for me. 1
deep down i
that or the P
Dog shovs
haunting me
to do with sp
It takes no a I
show a dog.
shoulder str;
the dog. Or
lor possible ;
cut the dog's
hedge-shape
og activity 1
four pompo
ieez, the trai
eight must ti
How do)
that? I wou
dirty. It woi
with the pig
to sign.
i The same
h'ou need a :
H quote a 1:
American ci
is more trus
than the mu
the prize do
around $20,i
h'ou can get
for a lot less
The A me
open up a u
shows- the I
Jogs that ar
adorable" 1
ribbon withi