thebattalion
news for you texas State beaches improve from 2009 An annual report on the state of the nation’s beaches said Texas beaches are slightly cleaner than most. The Natural Resources Defense Council said Wednesday that in 2009, beach closings and advisories in Texas were at the sixth highest level in the 20 years they have been tracked, but the incidents dropped by 27 percent last year.
● thursday,
conroe
A
july 29, 2010
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2010 student media
happy medium
Husband declares exorcism attempt Jan David Clark, the husband of a Texas woman who suffocated and died while he claimed he was doing an exorcism on her, says he shouldn’t have tried it alone. Clark said in a jailhouse interview that he regrets attempting the 2008 exorcism without help and that a group exorcism would have been more appropriate.
Downtown Conroe features a mural which displays the Lone Star Flag. Montgomery County was officially recognized by the Texas House of Representatives in 1997 as the birthplace of the state flag.
Vernon’s Kuntry Barbecue serves hearty meals such as brisket and tamales, but is also known for its welcoming, friendly atmosphere.
The renovated Crighton Theatre, built in the early 1930s, showcases community productions several times each year.
lowest gas price
$2.55 Exxon at 1721 Texas Ave. S. and Harvey Road.
Graphic by Evan Andrews, photos by Rebecca Bennett — THE BATTALION
www.texasgasprices.com
nation &world Judge partially blocks Ariz. law A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the most controversial parts of Arizona’s immigration law from taking effect. The overall law will still take effect Thursday, but without the provisions that angered opponents, including sections that required officers to check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws.
BP becomes less British Its chairman is Swedish, a growing chunk of its revenue comes from Russia and its incoming chief executive speaks with an American accent. So goes the Britishness in the company once known as British Petroleum. BP PLC’s appointment of Managing Director Robert Dudley to replace Briton Tony Hayward as CEO has drawn a muted reaction in Britain. Staff and wire reports
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Conroe offers comforts of country and city
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t first glance, Conroe might seem like any mid-size city flanking the outskirts of Houston, but a closer inspection will show that it is no cookie-cutter fragment of suburbia. It has a history to tell and preserve, and a community that takes pride in its simplicity and typical Texan hospitality. If nothing else, strolling the quiet streets of the charming downtown makes one appreciate the humble beginnings of what is now a bustling commercial area.
160 miles Tank of gas ◗ This story is part
Rebecca Bennett | The Battalion
see story on page 2
of a series “There and back on a tank of gas.” A staff member will travel to a different city each week and document the trip.
b-cs community
charity
Concern over floods cancels reservoir plan
T-shirts support coach’s son
Opponents of a proposed reservoir that would flood thousands of acres of land around the Navasota River are victorious after two water planning groups voted to remove it from the list of long-term plans. Brazos G Water Planning Group voted July 14 to table plans for the building of the Millican Reservoir, canceling the project for the time being. The group’s decision came after the Region H Water Planning Group, which handles water planning for Houston area, voted unanimously to take the reservoir off the plans. City governments and development firms also offered support. “This vote is a major step in the right direction to permanently protect the river and surrounding areas,” said Barry Denton, director of the South Texas Division for Bluegreen Communities. “Area homebuyers can celebrate the preservation of this beautiful land for generations to come.”
The Brazos County Commissioners Court approved a resolution against the building of the project in late April and joined the courts of Madison and Grimes counties, as well as the College Station City Council, in voicing opposition to the project. Plans for the Millican Reservoir called for the flooding of 71,000 acres of land across five counties, an area larger than Bryan and College Station combined. Construction would cost about $1.2 billion and take between 12 to 15 years to complete. The construction of a reservoir in the Brazos area could still happen, but for now, the people who spent months fighting the Millican Reservoir plan are celebrating. “We’re very happy that they saw the light of our argument,” said Robert Averyt, spokesman for the Guardians of the Navasota River. “It’s nice when common sense prevails.” Alec Goetz, staff writer
Logan Schaefer, son of Vic Schaefer, women’s associate head basketball coach and class of 1984, was hospitalized July 12 for head injuries from a wakeboarding accident. C.C. Creations released a “Lift Logan Up” T-shirt to support Logan and is donating proceeds to two medical centers where Schaefer was treated. “Everyone’s thoughts and prayers have been assisting in Logan’s recovery as well as supporting the Schaefer family during these challenging weeks,” said Lina Lawson, co-owner of C.C. Creations. Once Schaefer has made a full recovery he will present checks to the East Texas Medical Center Trauma Intensive Care Unit in Tyler, Texas, and the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research at See Logan on page 2
Courtesy photo
T-shirt sales benefit the medical centers where Logan Schaefer was treated for injuries after a wakeboarding accident.
community
Museum to feature exhibit on tribe Museum sightseers can encounter a new exhibit starting mid-August at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History. Writer and photographer Diana Molina will present a display called “Raramuri: Runners of the Sierra Madre,” which highlights more than 10 years of research through text, artifacts and photographs.
Molina said she aimed to give visitors an accurate portrayal of the Raramuri peoples, a reclusive tribe residing in the canyons of Chihuahua’s Sierra Madre. Executive director of the museum, Deborah Cowman, said the timing of Molina’s display was fitting. See Museum on page 2
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