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IWednesday, April 6, 1994
The Battalion
Page 7
Singing birds breed a big, bothersome brood
The Associated Press
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FORT WORTH — As far as Betty Simmons
knows, Charlie could be dead by now, gone from
her life as mysteriously as the litde green parakeet
appeared five years ago.
Yet Simmons’ sorrow is not without some so
lace: at least 30 of Charlie’s offspring remain in
die trees near her home in south Fort Worth.
Recendy, she talked about how Charlie joined
her family and the noise that forced her husband
to finally set Charlie and her mate free, only to
have them breed more noise.
Charlie is a breed of parakeet called quaker or
monk. It is a native of Argentina, where the cli
mate is similar to that of Texas, said Chris Brown,
curator of birds for the Fort Worth Zoo.
The birds, which usually sell for less than
$100, started showing up in the Metroplex about
four years ago, when one was sighted in Arling
ton, he said.
“They’re pretty common as pet birds,” Brown
said. “The main reason that there are probably so
many of them is that people found out that they
are so noisy and obnoxious and were purposely
released.”
The way Simmons tells the story, Charlie, a fe
male, literally stumbled upon Simmons’ husband
Before long, Simmons said,
the parakeets took up resi
dence in some nearby trees
and began multiplying.
while he was working at Rosemont Middle
School. When no one else at the school wanted
the sick, starving bird, Simmons said, her husband
put Charlie in a box and took her home.
“I didn’t have anything to feed her that night
but crackers and water,” Simmons said. “I crum
bled them up and by morning she had eaten every
bit of it.”
For the next two years, Simmons said, Charlie
was a welcome companion, a kind of child-pet, to
a house long empty of children.
Then one summer, heeding the shrill calls that
are common to the small birds, Pete showed up.
Simmons said the two birds became constant
companions, but the noise they made became so
overwhelming, “I told my husband either they go
or I go.”
Much to her surprise, Simmons said, her
husband released the birds. Two days later,
they were back.
Before long, Simmons said, the parakeets took
up residence in some nearby trees and began mul
tiplying.
Simmons, whose back fence is lined with ap-
E les and plastic containers of wild bird feed, sun-
ower seeds and water, said that she buys food
every other day for the birds. Sometimes, she said,
neighbors or passersby donate money or buy food
for tier wards.
“Sometimes I say I’m going to quit feeding
them, but you’d be surprised how much people
want to help out,” Simmons said.
Brown warned that it is illegal to release die
birds into the wild because they are an exotic
species, and they compete with native Texas birds
for food and nesting space.
Brown said that the birds are widespread in die
United States, and they have been known to live in
climates as cold as those of Chicago and New
York.
Charlie and Pete could even be there, but Sim
mons said that she hopes they’re still close to
home.
"I still look for the bands that were on their
legs,’’ she said. “I think we’ll always wonder
whether they’re still alive or not. They’re part
of the family.”
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512-472-4931
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Individuals with genital herpes
infections are being recruited for a
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A current herpes outbreak is not
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complete this study.
For more information, call:
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(409) 776-1417
TONIGHT
| Worn an liable for spending
AIDS patient’s inheritance
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The Associated Press
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HOUSTON — Harris County ju
rors have sent a $ 1 75,000 message to
the caregiver of AIDS patients, found
liable for spending a 41-year-old
AIDS patient s inheritance.
“We wanted to set an example to
others in that kind of trust position,”
said Mary Beth Melvyn, a juror for the
civil suit filed by Lawrence White.
Clortis “C.C.” Roberts, president
of the Foundation for Women and
Children with AIDS, never denied
spending White’s money. She
claimed White gave it to her as a gift
while under her care.
But White and his attorneys said
he had wanted the money reserved
for his future medical expenses.
Evidence from the civil trial could
trigger criminal investigations into
Roberts’ activities.
jurors deliberated for about an
hour Monday before finding that
Roberts broke the fiduciary trust
between them and fraudulently
spent more than $50,000 of
White’s money.
In addition to awarding him an
amount equal to what Roberts had
misspent, jurors awarded him
$ 1 25,000 in punitive damages.
In testimony at the trial, Roberts
never denied spending the money,
which records show went for a va
riety of personal expenses, includ
ing getting her jewelry out of
hock, buying clothing and repair
ing her car.
Roberts’ attorney, Bill Bussey told
the jury that White “wanted C.C. to
have that money and make her life
better.”
White left Roberts’ home desti
tute, and now relies on charities for
housing, according to testimony in
the lawsuit.
White may not live to receive any
money from Roberts because she has
said she is broke.
White left his hospital bed Mon
day to tell reporters that he hopes the
verdict ensures that Roberts never de
frauds others.
‘‘Sometimes you have to put
your trust in someone, and that’s
what I caught myself doing,” said
White, who sat in a wheelchair and
spoke hesitatingly but cogently.
Ordinance restricts public smoking
The Associated Press
AUSTIN — Restaurant goers can
enjoy a smokeless breakfast and
lunch under a new city ordinance.
‘‘We’re recognizing a national
trend in Austin,” said Council
Member Brigid Shea. ‘‘People can
make adjustments.”
Under the ordinance, no smok
ing is allowed in any restaurant or
bar dining room between 6 a.m.
and 2 p.m.
After 2 p.m., smoking is allowed
in enclosed areas with separate ven
tilation systems in new buildings.
Older buildings have until March
1996 to comply with the rule or
become non-smoking.
After 10 p.m., smoking is al
lowed in restaurants and bars in
certain areas.
A violation is punishable by a
fine of up to $500.
The ordinance represented a
compromise between restaurateurs,
club owners, and tavern keepers
who objected to a total smoking
ban that was proposed by Mayor
Bruce Todd and Council Member
Gus Garcia.
The first business day of the or
dinance received mixed reviews.
“Non-smoking sections haven’t
really worked in the past,” Greg
Tingle, a computer programmer
who ate at a downtown restaurant,
said Monday. “One little no smok
ing sign doesn’t keep smoke from
drifting over and bothering those of
us who don’t smoke.”
But a customer in a South Austin
restaurant said the new ordinance
was idiotic.
‘ ‘A private business has a right to
decide what they will allow in their
business,” said Barry Stambaugh.
‘‘This is just another example of
government intrusion.”
Under other provisions of the
ordinance, smoking is banned in all
city buildings, and within 1 5 feet of
an entrance to a public facility.
Smoking is allowed in outdoor
areas of restaurants, bars, taverns
and lounges if at least 25 percent of
the outdoor seating is reserved for
non-smokers.
The new ordinance has appar
ently caught on at some dance halls.
Under the new policy, at least
25 percent of the performances at
live music venues must be non
smoking.
Dr. Love
and Tex-Mex Tony
I
• Happy Hour Pitchers
ALL NIGHT!
H 21-1 Tecate & Tecate Light
• All Longnecks*! 00 until 10 pm
• Cover Charge
$4 for men / $1 for women
See our ad in Thursday's Battalion for band line-ups this weekend!
823-2368 201 W. 26th St v Downtown Bryan
Off Campus Aggies
General Meeting
Wednesday, April 6
301 Rudder 8:30 pm
It’s crazy boxer night!
Last awesome prizes of the semester!
For more info., please call 845-0688.
ittL
MSC Variety Show
Presents...
99
ion.
Parents’ Weekend
April 15,1994,7:30 PM Rudder Theatre
Tickets are available at the MSC Box Office for $7.
Persons with disabilities please call us at 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request three (3) working
days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our ability.
The 12th Man Student Foundation
Announces:
0
❖
University Lecture Series
and the CoUege of Science
April 6, 1994
4:00 p.m.
Scientific Literacy for AH Americans:
An Achievable Goal
Prof. Kenneth Wilson, Ohio State University
1982 Nobel Laureate in Physics
“Scientific literacy for all Americans requires a relentless
focus on the problems, in and out of school, that block learning
by disadvantaged or lagging students.”
Engineering
Physics
Room 202
Engineering - Physics Building
Cyclotron
Spence Street
o §
n] 5)
Q
.&•
McDonald’s
6}
<Sv
2
G
SPRING SEMESTER
7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 6th
MSC Room 292b
DIRECTORS NEEDED FOR FALL SEMESTER
Applications will be available at the meeting