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sports Adams off to hot start Former Aggie women’s basketball star Danielle Adams is averaging 16 points, 4.5 rebounds and 50 percent from the field in her first four starts for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars. Adams is the 10th leading scorer in the WNBA with a 32-point outburst June 11 against Atlanta.
● tuesday,
june 21, 2011
Wind whips flames in nearby counties
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texas a&m since 1893
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Hundreds evacuate as smoke, inferno nears
Firestorm ravages homes, acreage
Fires force evacuations O’Dell Harmon
Jared Baxter, staff writer
lowest gas price
$3.51 1900 Texas Ave. S. and Holleman Drive www.texasgasprices.com
texas District map changes The Republicancontrolled Texas Senate approved a new congressional district map for the state Monday and sent it to Gov. Rick Perry for his approval. The map was drawn to reflect population changes and increases during the past 10 years as measured by last year’s Census, but also with the goal of protecting and possibly expanding the GOP’s 23-9 majority in Texas’ delegation in Washington. The new map adds four seats to reflect population growth. More than 87 percent of the state’s growth has been among minorities, and activists have called for more representation for those groups.
nation &world Portland flushes water Call it the big flush. Because a 21-year-old man was caught on a security camera urinating into a city reservoir, Oregon’s biggest city is sending 8 million gallons of treated drinking water down the drain. Portland officials defended the decision Monday, saying they didn’t want to send city residents water laced, however infinitesimally, with urine. Some people in the city, in the suburbs and around the world called the flush an overreaction, especially since animals such as ducks contribute waste routinely and, sometimes, die in the water. Associated Press
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Photos by Associated Press
Above: A Bryan firefighter watches a plume of smoke rise over the City of Bryan mobile command post on Highway 105 Monday in Plantersville, Texas. Right: Anderson Volunteer firefighter Stephen Kimich extinguishes flames South of Texas Highway 105 in Grimes County Monday outside Plantersville, Texas.
The Battalion Texas wildfires spread across Brazos and Grimes counties starting Sunday. Approximately 1,800 homes in Grimes County have been evacuated with Navasota high school serving as a shelter. The America Red Cross shelter in Navasota will be accepting all forms of donations from water to toys Jessica Debalski, Assistant Director of the American Red Cross Greater Houston chapter, said. The shelter is expecting more than a 1,000 evacuees and will be looking for people willing to volunteer. The Bryan/College Station area has had record-breaking temperatures this summer and now faces the threat of wildfires. Texas Forest Service spokesman Justice Jones says a Grimes County judge ordered residents to leave late Monday afternoon as the ongoing fire jumped a containment area, as reported by the Associated Press. At least 30 homes have been destroyed so far in the path of the 3,600-acre fire. Helicopters have been dropping retardant to help control the flame. More than 20 fire departments have been working to help quell the flame. “Out of the 254 counties in the state 211 have issued burn bans.” Bart Humphreys, Public Information Officer for Fire department, said. “There have been no local area firefighters injured, but there have been 2 firefighter fatalities in the state this year associated with wild land fires.” College Station is currently under a burn ban. “The burn ban is actually issued by the county commissioner court. It has been in effect for several months.” Humphreys said. “Whenever they issue a burn ban it’s always for 90 days or until the comSee Fires on page 3
Grimes County
Walker County
What can you do
◗ More than 5,000 acreas burned and 30 homes destroyed. Residents were ordered to leave by a county judge Monday afternoon after the fires began to cross containment lines.
◗ More than 2,500 acres burned and 40 homes evacuated, as Walker County firefighters worked tirelessly with the help of Blackhawk helicopters to contain raging fires.
◗ Donate to evacuees by contacting The Red Cross shelter located at the Navasota high school. Address: 9238 Highway 90 S Navasota, TX Phone Number: (936) 825-4250
sports
bryan/college station
Austin Meek: Cardiac kids always come back
Students find places to volunteer
T
What’s next
he journey started May 21 in Austin, when the Aggies bounced back from two straight losses to beat the Longhorns 3-0 and claim a share of the Big 12 regular season title. A week later, they botched their first opportunity to close out Arizona in the College Station regional, forcing a final game in which they eventually beat the Wildcats by another 3-0 tally. Then, in the following week’s Super Regional in Tallahassee, they recovered from a 23-9 massacre (henceforth known as “Bloody Sunday”) to pound the Florida State Seminoles 11-2 in Monday’s reprise to punch their ticket to Omaha for the first time since 1999. I realize those are a bunch of numbers to most of you, so let me clarify my point: this is a team that rebounds. After the Longhorn loss on May 20, junior pitcher Ross
Texas A&M vs. California at 1 p.m. today at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Neb.
On TV: ESPN
Stripling tossed an absolute gem, holding the Orange offense to four hits while lasting the entire ballgame. In the must-win against Arizona, head coach Rob Childress turned to this other ace, sophomore Michael Wacha. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches, “The Texas Giant” responded to the call, shutting down the torrid WildSee Baseball on page 2
Natalee Blanchat The Battalion Students who are looking to take a break from classes this summer but want to keep building their resume during the summer months can always turn to volunteering as a way to great way to stay productive and help out the community. There are a variety of diverse organizations in the Brazos county area that cater to every type of individuals or group interests such as the Brazos County Animal Shelter, the Brazos County Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and the Family Promise of Bryan-College Station to name a few. Jay Socol, the Director of Public Communications for the City of College Station, recommends citizens who are interested in volunteering to apply to city boards, committees and commissions in order to help serve the community. “All of these volunteer programs help the city move forward,” Socol said. “The boards, committees, and commissions make recommendations to the city council so that they can make the right decisions, and make sure College Station is moving in the right direction.” Socol said individuals with a more
How to volunteer ◗ To find more infomartion on volunteering at the Brazos Valley Food Bank visit www. bvfb.org, or the City of College Station at www.cstx.org.
See Volunteering on page 3
6/20/11 10:55 PM