State & Local Dru esday, N' Page 2 The Battalion Tuesday, November30,11 Still burning... TU Electric fights to recover losse Rebound expected despite back-to-back major accidenl The Associated Press DALLAS — Reeling from back- to-back major accidents involving its facilities, TU Electric still expects to recoup its losses without passing on costs to the ratepayers, a spokesman said Monday. "As far as accidents go, it certain ly has not been a good year," TU spokesman Jim Lawrence said. On Oct. 28, a ruptured gas line in Arlington sparked an explosion and raging fire, toppling 17 of the compa ny's electric transmission towers and temporarily cutting off power to more than 40,000 homes and businesses. Authorities said the blaze appar ently was triggered when a con struction vehicle hit a line that car ries natural gas to a TU Electric plant in Grand Prairie. TU Electric's equipment sustained $2.5 million to $3 million in damages, officials said. Two and a half weeks later, a 600- foot concrete emissions stack col lapsed onto a TU Electric power plant at Mount Pleasant, about 120 miles east of Dallas. One person was trapped and killed in the Nov. 14 ac cident; four others were injured. Dave Fiorelli, a spokesman at the Monticello Plant in Mount Pleasant, had estimated the damages at sever al million dollars. "As far as accidents go, it certainly has not been a good year." -Jim Lawrence, TU spokesman Lawrence said: "We regret that there was a fatality and there were injuries at the Mount Pleasant site. In addition to that, of course, there is some expense involved. There is a matter of operating without one of our major lignite-fueled units until it can be restored. "All those things combined have not made it an especially good year," he said. Lawrence said the company insured for damages at the Mo; Pleasant plant. It still was collec bills associated with the Arlinji fire, but expected to turn them® to Pate Brothers Construction h; Kennedale, the contractor TU siv responsible for the accident. "We're operating on theth# that we're going to recoup ourlt es," Lawrence said. Kevin Pate, president off; Brothers, did not immediatek turn a telephone call to The Ass ated Press. Because TU Electric expects repaid, it does not anticipate!: electric rates will rise as a resui: the two incidents, he said. Guillermo Garcia, spokesma.1 the state Public Utility Coirunk said TU Electric could decide tofe losses from the accidents as a ret for seeking a rate hike. The com sion staff would then decide whe: the expenses are reasonable andc a recommendation to a judge. Fishing trip leads to wild raccoon rescue missior The Associated Press Tim Moog/Tm Battalion (from left) Juniors Leach Schneler, Schwinn Monday afternoon. The fire, which was lit Mesecke and Brian Tully climb atop Bonfire Wednesday night, is still burning. CORPUS CHRISTI - David Neal and his son Jason set out to catch a fish or two not far from home on Padre Island. But the sight of a raccoon, cling ing tenaciously to a barge, led them on a 31/2-hour rescue mission all the way to Aransas Pass. And despite catching no fish, Jason declared the Saturday trip a success. "We caught a raccoon instead," the 14-year-old said. Jason said he first noticed the rac coon, on the back of a barge near a support strut for the rudder, as he and his father steered their 18-foot motorboat on the jetties at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. "I had to think about it for a minute, to figure out what I saw, then I told my dad we had to go back," Jason said. The Neals followed the barge from underneath the John F. Kennedy Causeway to Aransas Pass, nearly 20 miles away. On the way, they watched as the half-drowned raccoon clung to the struts, fighting for its life. When the barge finally stopped outside Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass, the Neals fished the ring-tailed mammal from the water with a net and a canvas bag. It recovered Saturday at their home in the pen that normally holds the family Doberman. They released the raccoon Sun day into an undeveloped canal. "That leads to the National Seashore," David Neal said. "There are plenty of things for him to eat and I know there are some other rac coons there, so that might be a good place for him." Neal, a lieutenant commands: the Coast Guard and a helicopte: lot, said the raccoon's determina: and stamina surprised him. "The guy on the barge said he:, been there for the last 50 miles, s sunup," Neal said. "A coupleoffc he just disappeared under there but he managed to hang on." To no avail, the man aboard: barge had tried to toss firstaro then a pole in hopes the aniir: would climb up onto the deck. The raccoon, nicknamed! cal," didn't put up muchofai when the Neals rescued him. "He tried to submerge him and get away, but we still fishedtr out," Neal said. "He growledal bit, but he was pretty docile h been real quiet. I think he' pretty tough day." >; , \ ili liilii Fish Camp ‘94 Counselor and Fish Crew Applications Available January 24, 1994 Requirements: Must have 2.0 GPR and must be in the B-CS area during Fall 1994. Fish Camp 90, 91, 92, 93 T-Shirts for sale in MSC Hallway this week. Challenge Yourself for the Class of ‘98!! DANCE ARTS SOCIETY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESENTS FALL SHOW '93 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1, 1993 7:30 P.M. RUDDER THEATRE ADMISSION $3.00 TICKETS ON SALE AT MSC BOX OFFICE Now, you can get a head start on the MCAT! 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