Acting Afraid
Still Undefeated Mean Green sweeps Sun Belt competition Sports | Page 5
UNT theatre performs domestic drama Arts & Life | Page 4
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
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Volume 98 | Issue 23
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The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Residents voice concerns over power line routes A LEX M ACON
Senior Staff Writer Homeowners and concerned residents met with Denton Municipal Electric officials at the Civic Center Monday night in the latest attempt to hash out a compromise over the planned restructuring of an electric transmission line that will impact several neighborhoods in northeast Denton. About 75 people were at the meeting to ask questions of the DME staff on the restructuring and newest preferred route for
the transmission line. The so-called “purple route” is the cheapest proposed yet at about $20.2 million, and would directly impact the fewest homes, DME general manager Phil Williams said. “It turned out to be the cheapest because of the easement cost,” Williams said. New easements, or strips of land purchased by the city to allow for the construction of utility lines, were a point of contention with some residents, who asked about ease-
ment appraisals and the height of new transmission poles. The city requires wider easements to allow the reconstruction of the line. Williams said to account for “access and safety” and to meet new guidelines set by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, metal transmission poles along the new route would have to be constructed or existing ones upgraded to stand at about 95 feet tall. The newest proposed route is a response to resident input
rejecting the DME’s original plan, which would have required the destruction of six houses. Rebecca Brown, a representative of Brown Development Ltd., which owns several properties close to a proposed new electric substation on Kings Row, said she was still not happy with the newest plan and had attended three previous neighborhood meetings with the DME. “We just figure the farthest [the substation] could be from the neighborhood is the best,” Brown said.
PHIL WILLIAMS
DALTON GREGORY
Although the newest route would directly affect fewer homes, the potential noise pollution, loss of propert y value and use of land would a ll still be affected by t he
rest r uctured t ra nsmission line, Brown said. “It’s still going to impact those homes,” she said. Other residents addressed DME sta f f w it h concer ns about obtaining permits for the line to cross over state and railroad property, respectively. DME would need a permit from the Texas Department of Transportation to go through with the current plan.
See DENTON on Page 2
UNT Health Center prepares for flu season SARAH BETTIS Intern
PHOTO COURTESY OF LARA SOLT/DALLAS MORNING NEWS/MCT
Giant plumes of smoke rise from the Magnablend chemical processing plant in Waxahachie, Texas on Monday. The plant went up in flames in a massive industrial fire that unleashed a noxious plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles.
Chemical plant fire leads to evacuations WAXAHACHIE, Texas (AP) — A fire sparked as workers mixed chemicals at a plant south of Dallas shot massive plumes of black smoke and bright orange flames into the sky Monday, forcing schoolchildren and residents to evacuate or take cover indoors to avoid possible exposure to dangerous gases. Flames engulfed a large complex at a Magnablend Inc. facility in Waxahachie. The fast-moving blaze overwhelmed a sprinkler system and consumed a fire truck, but no injuries were reported
from the fire or resulting smoke. Wa xahachie Fire Chief David Hudgins said it wasn’t immediately clea r what chemicals were involved in sparking the fire. About 1,000 residents who had been evacuated were allowed to return to their homes early Monday evening, said Waxahachie Fire Department spokeswoman Amy Holly wood. Waxahachie, 30 miles south of Dallas, has about 25,000 residents. The blaze was 95 percent
u nder cont rol by ea rly Monday evening, Hollywood said. In a statement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has monitored air quality both on the ground and through a specially equipped airplane that made several passes through the smoke plume caused by the blaze and officials have not found elevated levels of toxic chemicals. The EPA said it “will continue to conduct ground level air monitoring.” Magnablend spokesman
Donald Golden told WFAA-TV that 25 to 30 employees who were inside the plant’s 100,000-square-foot warehouse evacuated safely when the fire broke out before 11 a.m. Golden said the company manufactures about 200 products, including some that are hazardous when ignited. Authorities had ordered residents closest to the plant to evacuate, while others were advised to stay inside with doors and windows shut.
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Mean Green falls to Golden Hurricane PAUL BOTTONI
Senior Staff Writer For the fourth time this season, the UNT football team allowed an opponent to score more than 40 points – and for the fourth time this season, the Mean Green lost. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-3) won its first home game of the season Saturday night, defeating UNT 41-24. After the loss, the Mean Green (1-4) ranks sixth out of nine teams in the Sun Belt Conference. “We lost to an outstanding Tulsa team,” UNT head coach Dan McCarney said. “We made their job easier tonight with some
of the mistakes we’ve made.” The Mean Green was without sophomore starting quarterback Derek Thompson, who was sidelined with a foot injury he suffered in Week 4 against Indiana. He is day to day, McCarney said. Freshman Andrew McNulty started in Thompson’s place. “We knew early in the week it was going to either be [sophomore Brent Osborn] or Andy McNulty,” McCarney said. “We graded and evaluated them and made the decision on Thursday that Andy was the most consistent guy in practice and deserved to start.” McNulty went through highs
and lows in his first collegiate start. The freshman threw two interceptions, which were returned for touchdowns, but settled down as the game progressed. Osborn replaced McNulty in the fourth quarter. The Mean Green dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 40 minutes, 53 seconds. UNT took the ball into Tulsa territory numerous times only to have the drives stall. UNT senior running back Lance Dunbar built off his breakout game against Indiana, rushing for 140 yards against Tulsa and scoring two touchdowns late in the game. But despite Dunbar’s
Between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population develops influenza each year, leading to more than 200,000 hospitalizations from related complications, including anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 flu-related deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This month marks the beginning of the flu season, and although the season most often peaks in February, UNT’s Student Health & Wellness Center is offering the flu vaccine now. “We actually haven’t had any confirmed flu diagnoses,” said June Brownlee, administrative director for the center. “The wave just hasn’t hit us yet. This is the second year we’re offering free flu vaccinations to students and discounted shots for faculty and staff. We want our students to remain healthy throughout the upcoming flu season.” To help prevent the flu, it is recommended that people get the vaccine yearly. People at high risk for this virus include young children, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions like asthma and diabetes. “I’ve had asthma since I was about three years old,” said Trey Pemberton, a pre-biology freshman. “My roommate
efforts, the outcome of the game was already sealed. “That’s the difference between a team that knows how to win, make plays and execute, and a team that’s still in the process of learning how to win,” McCarney said. “There’s nobody around here accepting it.” UNT lost sophomore kicker Zach Olen and senior wide receiver Michael Outlaw to injuries during the game, but McCarney said he is optimistic both will play next week. Players were unavailable for comments.
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recently got sick. I’m worried because I have a weak immune system that I might get sick too, so I’ve been washing my hands and cleaning our room with disinfectants a lot.” Common signs and symptoms of the flu include fever over 100 F, aching muscles, chills, sweats, headache, dry cough, fatigue and nasal congestion, according to the CDC’s website. “Last semester I got hit with the worst virus,” said Anaisa Garza, a pre-psychology sophomore. “For the first couple days I had a runny nose, a cough and really weak muscles. The third night, I got violently ill. It was the worst experience of my life. This semester, I’m trying to eat healthier, wash my hands, and drink more water to keep from getting the flu again.” A quick recovery from the flu is dependent on what is done in advance to stay healthy and active. This prepares the immune system to battle inf luenza, according to the CDC’s website. Antiviral drugs from the doctor reduce time spent sick with the flu if taken between 24 and 48 hours of when symptoms first appear. While most people recover from influenza, it can be fatal. Difficulty breathing is a key sign that your former flu has turned into bronchitis or pneumonia.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH SUGG/KANSAS CITY STAR/MCT
Delane Kempf, the flu shot program manager for the American Red Cross in Kansas City, Missouri, holds a bottle of the flu vaccine on Aug. 30, 2010.
What’s Inside NEWS:
Experts say Texas drought will continue into 2012
ARTS & LIFE: SPORTS: VIEWS:
Association rewards professor’s research
UNT volleyball team beaten in the Bayou A new advising system would help raise graduation rates
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