vymi =rj a i j i w x ficials add Grimes to disaster list ftropical Storm Allison cut a hey wi conducted I ~1 percent o| hey favored i! ■ ads on »-ose people v m at anytirl should be c night, iund that w: cspondentso els onTV.o* through Texas in recent sr advertising.Aks, but central Texas and h indicates: ie 3razos Valley were largely ms at somenfB ar,r,a 9 ec ^ • impact oft* oW< r ver ' the extensive be outdiJ’ 1 sustained by irir les County resulted in its r H l jiiLBndy being added to the list et 1 u nlwmmunities eligible for fed- telephone A^jjsaster assistance. 22. 1 hemareB ec j era | emergency man- cent. Hment agency officials say frimes County was added to . i'I Hist based on their review of ■r^-|-|'||Hrmation on the damage / 3 Uliatf e rec * by federal disaster re- |m r y officials. _~l ■i9 5301. ohner investigator ulicted for theft Hie Texas coastline is erod- Bt an astounding rate, but ere is hope that a solution to Haroblem will be found in Hear future, according to a Hs A&M researcher. Tom Ravens, a researcher at xas A&M-Galveston is study- Hthe results of dredging )n< rollover hay near the bo ar xeninsula. Sbme Texas beaches are ading at the rate of 1 0 feet ryear, ravens says, which has en led to the destruction of alh front property. Ra vens is studying the effect He dredging, and trying to d out if depositing sand on aches can create a more ef- ient barrier to erosion. • Teachers leave families home to earn doctorates In education [Opinion m •> Sex and the ? rural college town: Is casual sex too casual a ttalion News Radio: :57 p.m. KAMU 90.9 / ww.thebatt.com Cooking class JP BEATO/The Battalion Chef Mike Chonyak, chef at the Faculty Club, instructs at-risks youths from the Academy Rehabilitation Motivation for Youth (A.R.M.Y.) boot camp. Chef Mike has been running the program for four years every summer. Police suspect woman of drowning her five children HOUSTON (AP) — A woman who was said to be on medication for depression was arrested Wednesday on suspi cion of drowning her five chil dren, ages 6 months to 7 years, in the bathtub. The 36-year-old woman, whose name was not immedi ately released, had called po lice to her home and was wet when she answered the door, police said. “When our responding offi cer arrived, he was met at the door by the woman, who was breathing heavily, and you could tell she was disturbed,” police spokesman John Cannon said. “At that time she said to the of ficer, T killed my children.”’ Cannon said the officer asked where the children were and was led on a grisly tour. Found under a sheet on a bed were Mary Yates, 6 months, and three of her brothers, Luke, 2; Paul, 3; and John, 5. The fifth child, Noah, 7, was in the bathtub. “It is just rather unimagin able,” Cannon said. “It’s difficult to deal with when you are talking about five little kids who were killed, probably systematically.” Authorities believe the chil dren died from being drowned one by one, though the cause of death would not formally be known until after autopsies were conducted. Police gave no motive for the slayings, but the woman’s hus band told police she had been on medication to treat postpar tum depression for the past two years, since the birth of their fourth child, Luke. Judy Hay, a spokeswoman for Children’s Protective Ser vices, said records indicate the woman attempted suicide two years ago, on June 18, 1999. Five days later, CPS was called See Drowning on Page 2. Energy is not a concern in Texas Officials say state can meet demand AUSTIN (AP) — With de- mand for electricity rising like the temperature in the hot sum mer months, Texas should have plenty of energy to cool off, state officials said Wednesday. Rising electric bills, however, could make residents a little hot under the collar. With summer’s official start on Thursday, Public Utility Commission officials said Texas should have plenty of electrici ty to meet the demand for air conditioning. The summer peak demand is expected to hit about 67,000 megawatts, well below the statewide capacity of 83,000 megawatts. Public Utility Commissioner Brett Perlman pointed to the 50 new plants built or under con struction since 1995 as a major factor in meeting demand. “We’re in good shape be cause we have plenty of sup ply,” Perlman said. Texans will likely pay higher electric bills this summer, how ever. Electricity bills are expected to increase because of the higher cost of natural gas, which makes up 45 percent of the fuel used to generate electricity in Texas. State law allows utilities to pass along higher fuel costs to cus tomers as long as the utility does not make an additional profit. Utilities surveyed by the PUC predict a typical household elec tric bill will increase by about 18 See Energy on Page 2. Mother of 8-year-old gives up her rights DALLAS (AP) — The mother of an 8- year-old girl locked in a closet and starved near death has agreed to relinquish her parental rights so that the girl can placed with the East Texas couple that tried to adopt her at birth. Barbara Atkinson’s attorney issued a statement Wednesday that Atkinson would voluntarily give up her parental rights for daughter Lauren in favor of Bill and Sabri na Kavanaugh of Canton, if approved by Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon and Child Pro tective Services. Authorities said the girl was imprisoned in a urine- and feces-contaminated closet for at least four months in Atkinson’s home, located south of Dallas in Hutchins. Police also are investigating evidence that the girl — who weighed only 2 5 pounds — was sex ually abused. The Kavanaughs had custody of the girl but had lost a chance to adopt her after Atkinson changed her mind and wanted the baby back after birth. They have planned to attend Tues day’s hearing and ask for custody of the girl. Barbara Atkinson and tire girl’s stepfather, Kenneth Ray Atkinson, were arrested last week on charges of injury to a child, a felony that carries a prison term from five to 99 years. The Kavanaughs could not be reached for comment Wednesday but their attorney said they were “ecstatic.” “It’s the right move,” David Cole told Dal- las-Fort Worth television station KDFW. “I’m hopeful that she (Atkinson) has had the time for reflection.” Cole said the Kavanaughs can provide the See Closet on Page 2. ‘Aggie Angels' reach out Elizabeth Raines The Battalion Minnie Olivarez is a night shift cus todian in the Langford Architecture Building, where she cleans the hall ways and the bathrooms for Aggies who usually come and go without tak ing much notice of her. But one night that changed when a student she calls her “Aggie Angel” chose to care. “I have had a very strenuous and troubling last three years and I was working at the Langford Architecture Building when Amy Schepens, a stu dent here at A&M, could tell I need ed someone to talk to,” Olivarez said. “She talked to me, said a prayer with me and gave me a very sincere hug and her phone number. It was just what I needed to get me through the night, and every time I saw her after that we would hug and say a prayer together.” Olivarez, a single mother with four children, began to rely on her meet ings with Schepens, a junior interdis ciplinary major, to help her through tough days. “One night after my car broke down and I had no where else to turn, I called Amy for someone to talk to,” Schepens said. “She asked me where I lived and showed up at my house an hour later with a bag of groceries and a Bible with an envelope in the back with a $100.” Olivarez said that $100 Amy and her roommate gave her fixed her car and gave her hope. “I read the Bible they gave me everyday and I tell people my car is held together by a prayer-aid,” Oli varez said. “They were very sincere ladies and they gave me a light when it was very dark.” Olivarez, who is in a Twin Cities Night custodian gets help, faith from students Mission program, said she was thank ful for the support the two girls gave her and could not believe how much they helped her even though they had not known for very long. Olivarez’s “Aggie Angels” are not the only Aggies who support the Twin Cities Mission. In fact, Ron Crozier, director of community relations for Twin Cities Mission, said the Mission would not survive without help from A&M students and faculty. “The biggest eye opener I have had since I have been here is the amount of support we get from the Aggies,” Crozier said. “ Most of the students who volunteer for us live out of town — yet while they are here, they make a difference in lives of the people that live here.” Crozier said Twin Cities Missions See Angels on Page 2. To angels with wings: 5*^ " c TrA'** ts Late one night, I was all alone, lost spirituttllg But get in the auditorium I cleaned;- There was a bright light that came to me from the Lord, Guided, from the Lord’s guided hand. ; _ She sat, she listened, she praged. And soon there was another bright light ThaJffhudeft f i . Two Aggies with mg ford, mg God Leading them to hold mg hand And brighten the path. To rekindle mg faith, and restrengthen nig strength. ; " , < •-1 In the short time I have knhwn these twgf~J£f Thcg have been there for me and mg four- children. So with a lot a love, from all mg heart, Anig and Summer, mg two angels with - fwibgs; .T >~-I rjw- : T- fz. : A -God bless gou and keep gou. Just a small prager for gou, dag to dag. Lord hear our pragers. ~ , Love mg Aggies with wings, “TiTTl IT' "t*'l|VllMll|filltIII)l(>lfll|llIII)K **