The Battalion: April 15, 2106

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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2016 STUDENT MEDIA | @THEBATTONLINE

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THE BATTALION | THEBATT.COM

“I started with Chilifest when David Allan Coe was singing on a flatbed 18-wheeler trailer behind the Starlight — this was when [Chilifest] was little bitty...” Sherri Hooper, Chilifest volunteer

Brian Okosun — THE BATTALION

Sherri Hooper became known as the “Mom of Chilifest” in the early 2000s.

Meet the ‘Mom of Chilifest’ behind the Starlight — this was when [Chilifest] was little bitty, and it fit between the pavilion and the arena,” Hooper said. Hooper first earned the name “Mom of Chilifest” over 10 years ago. The festival has experienced expansive growth since she began working it, and Chilifest is now a common name in the Bryan-College Station community. “In the early 2000s I was blessed and chosen to be the ‘Chilifest Mom,’” Hooper said.

By Josh McCormack

Festival leaders, volunteers look to Sherri Hooper for support

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enerations of Aggie students have taken the short drive every year to Snook, Texas, for a little chili and a lot of beer. But while the bands have changed and the venue expanded, one part of Chilifest has remained mostly constant — Sherri Hooper, known affectionately as “Mom of Chilifest.” “I started with Chilifest when David Allan Coe was singing on a flatbed 18-wheeler trailer

VET SCHOOL

BUSH SCHOOL

“We have had so much fun through the years. I’ve watched so many of them grow up and mature.” Hooper said she balances multiple responsibilities as Chilifest Mom. “I have people everywhere making sure every aspect of the event is running smooth,” Hooper said. ”I’ll go from hanging chains and locks on a gate in the farthest pasture or going down every row Friday evening handing out CHILIFEST MOM ON PG. 3

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FILE

The Texas A&M Vet School Open House will take place Saturday.

Animals large and small on display at Vet open house By Connor Smith What a passerby may normally pass off as your run-of-the mill campus building will be converted into something that resembles a zoo more than anything else during the Texas A&M Vet School Open House Saturday. Roxanna Jeffreys, second year veterinary student and publicity chair for the open house, said the event will host a variety of activities for all members of the public. “Open house is an event that is fun for all ages, including adults. We will have a lot of activities going on like the hospital tours, live spay and neuter, exotics room, a vet student panel, a lot of animals and so much more,” Jeffreys said. The Texas A&M Vet School Open House is completely run by students who hope to help educate the public as to why a veterinary school and veterinarians are so important, said Jeffreys. “Some of the more popular areas include teddy bear surgery and the rumen fluid donors. I really enjoy the art contest, but my favorite part of open house is seeing all of the students come together to make the event happen,” Jeffreys said. The Texas A&M Vet School Open House is open to the public and is free of charge. The event will take place all day at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Saturday.

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Valerie Gunchick — THE BATTALION

Senior catcher Michael Barash runs to first base against Abilene Christian April 5.

Valerie Gunchick — THE BATTALION

Former President George H.W. Bush received a plaque commemorating his introduction to the Bass Pro Shop Hall of Fame at the George Bush Presidential Library Thursday. More at thebatt.com

With just hours leading up to this weekend’s Chilifest festivities in neighboring Snook, Texas, law enforcement and A&M campus organizations are preparing to combat an influx of impaired driving by forming a DWI task force. The task force is a partnership among police departments in the surrounding area as well as local hospitals and magistrates.

By Heath Clary

Lt. Steve Brock with the College Station Police Department said while drunk driving is something the department always looks out for, officers will be on high alert because of the festival’s nature. “CSPD will have officers dedicated to traffic enforcement, specifically impaired and intoxicated drivers,” Brock said. “Since College Station has [Texas A&M] within its city limits, our officers are always mindful of impaired drivers. In the past, there was a conscious effort to focus on DWI enforcement and prevention during special event weekends.” The annual Chilifest weekend DWI TASK FORCE ON PG. 3

BASEBALL ON PG. 3

Police departments partner up to target Chilifest DWIs By James Palacios

Win necessary to reset road record The last time the Aggies went on the road and faced an elite SEC team, they were outplayed in every way. Their pitching struggled, and they couldn’t get timely hits, which resulted in then-No. 1 Florida sweeping the Aggies in lopsided fashion. No. 5 Texas A&M has since rebounded and is riding a four-game winning streak — including a sweep of Georgia — as it travels to the Magnolia State to play a three-game series against Mississippi State, whom the Aggies trail by one game in the SEC West standings. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 2 in the country in the latest D1Baseball rankings, are playing good baseball. Last weekend they took twoof-three from Florida in Gainseville and then whipped Memphis 11-1 Wednesday. “I feel like we are as ready as we can be heading to Starkville,” A&M head coach Rob Childress said. “They’re certainly hot, playing well coming off a series win at Florida, and for us to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish, we’ve got to go take care of business on the road.” The Aggies looked like two different teams the past two weeks. They lost four straight games — three to Florida and one to Rice —

CSPD

CSPD: Plan transportation to and from Chilifest in advance

Mississippi next in A&M’s sights

4/14/16 10:50 PM


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