EARLY PRIMARY VOTING SCHEDULE
Main Early Voting Location
HAYS COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE, 401-C BROADWAY SAN MARCOS, TX 78666 TUESDAY, FEB. 21 THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 3: 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SATURDAY, FEB. 25: 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
Temporary Voting Branch
LBJ STUDENT CENTER TUESDAY, FEB. 28: 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1: 8 A.M. TO 5
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
www.UniversityStar.com
FEBRUARY 21, 2006
County Judge Jim Powers addresses ASG senate, takes student questions By Clayton Medford The University Star Associated Student Government Vice President Cassie Holman notified ASG of the removal of three senators and one adviser in a memorandum presented at the meeting on Monday. Holman cited poor attendance as — Hays County Judge the reason for the removal of transfer Jim Powers adviser Sarah King and Sens. Hillary Rabuse, Bryan Zulko and Brandon Djie. Pre-mass communication freshman Sean Robles, political science sophomore Eileen Galvez, and finance sophomore Aaron Andres immediately filled the vacant seats. “I came in, and I sat through some sessions last semester,” Andres said. “I wanted to get involved, and I felt ASG would be a good fit.” Hays County Judge Jim Powers addressed the senate and entertained several questions from senators. Powers described the importance of leadership in his role as county judge. “One of the things that’s important about being county judge is being a leader. Leadership is being close to the issues,” Powers said. “It’s like having a big bull’s-eye on the wall — the closer you are to the target the easier it is to hit.” Powers claims that during his eight-year tenure, the county tax rate has been lowered and the county now operates with a large surplus. Another accomplishment he listed was bringing in the Cabela’s store in Buda, creating hundreds of jobs. “We’ve been able to manage the growth as well as manage the tax dollars. I think we are continuing to accomplish tremendous things,” Powers said. Senate Clerk Kyle Morris read a resolution that would place a referendum on the ASG election ballot in April asking students to approve a $26 increase in the student transportation fee. The fee increase is part of the renewal of the contract between the school and Cognisa Transportation, the current provider of the student bus service. The fee would cover the purchase of 23 new buses, as well as increases to fuel costs that occur during the seven-year contract. Additionally, 10 of the old buses will be kept in reserve to fill gaps on routes when the new buses undergo routine maintenance. If the referendum passes, the contract with Cognisa will be renewed in August 2007 when the current contract expires.
“O
ne of the things that’s important about being county judge is being a leader.”
WRANGLING
SMPD urges residents to take care of tickets before March 4 warrant roundup By Ashley Richards The University Star
Multiple law enforcement agencies across Central Texas, including the San Marcos Police Department, will participate in a yearly warrant roundup beginning March 4 in an effort to bring in people with warrants for misdemeanor violations. The majority of warrants targeted in the roundup are those that have been issued for traffic and city ordinance violations, SMPD Chief Howard Williams said, because felony warrants are dealt with on a more regular basis. A press conference in Austin on Friday included representatives from the 35 agencies participating in the roundup. SMPD Cmdr. Mark Minnick said the purpose was to get word out so people with warrants can voluntarily go to their respective courts and see a judge before being taken in by officers. “Even if you don’t have the money, go in and talk to the judge, and work out a payment plan or something. Because we would just rather do it that way,” Minnick said. Minnick and Williams hope people will opt for dealing with tickets on their own instead of waiting to be arrested. “Get everything taken care of before we come looking for you, because when we come looking for you, it’s going to be very, very inconvenient,” Williams said. When a misdemeanor citation is issued, the violator signs
A.M. Drizzle 71˚/56˚
Precipitation: 20% Humidity: 73% UV: 4 Moderate Wind: SE 11 mph
the ticket, agreeing to appear before the judge or pay the fine by a given date. If the violator fails to appear on the scheduled date, a warrant is issued for his or her arrest. During the roundup, SMPD officers plan to locate people with warrants and bring them before Judge Ross Allegro at the municipal court so they may work out a deal for payment. If some sort of deal cannot be made with the judge, violators will be arrested, Williams said. Last year was the first time San Marcos participated in the area-wide warrant roundup,
Evangelist brings the pulpit to The
Erin Powell, co-owner of G & P Electric, said the businesswoman she admires most is Madam C.J. Walker. “She wasn’t only the first black millionaire, but the first female black millionaire, and she came from a family of slaves,” Powell said. Powell was one of many women who owned or jointly owned their own business in Hays County for at least three years honored on Sunday at the eighth annual Salute to Hays County Women Entrepreneurs ceremony. “We can’t always wait for the Stephanie Gage/Star photo world to change. Sometimes we MAKING A CHANGE: Texas must change the world,” said State President Denise Trauth Johnnie Armstead, president and reads an article for the Calafounder of the Calaboose Afriboose History Museum’s tribute can-American History Museum to women entrepreneurs disand ceremony coordinator. cussing the guidelines for hiring The ceremony began at 3 p.m. See COUNTY, page 3
A.D. Brown/Star feature photo and Williams said they brought a large number of people before the judge; but only about 12 were unable to make a deal with the court and were subsequently arrested. The failure-to-appear fine that is tagged onto the original violation can cost up to $500. However, Williams said, in many cases, if people with warrants and failure-to-appear fines on their record appear before the judge without being brought in during the roundup, the additional fine can be reSee WARRANT, page 3
Students help Habitat for Humanity put ‘Another Brick in The Quad’ By Robert Best The University Star Texas State students are teaming up with Habitat for Humanity this week to help build homes in the San Marcos community. The three-day event, named “Just Another Brick in the Quad,” will be hosted on campus today through Thursday. For a $5 donation, students personalize a brick to be used in the construction of a Habitat home. They can also sign up in The Quad to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Students who attend the event can eat free food and enter a drawing for prizes provided by local businesses. The personalized bricks will first be arranged in The Quad as doll-sized homes, symbolizing Habitat for Humanity’s goal to build better lives for San Marcos residents. When a building site is determined, the bricks will be used in the design of a Habitat home on that site. The event, organized by the Public Relations Student Society of America, is part of a national contest called the Bateman Competition. The five-member San Marcos team hopes to create an effective public relations campaign that will later be reviewed by public relations professionals. “Volunteers will have a relatively easy work schedule and something to put on their résumé,” said Danielle SchulzBehrend, a mass communication senior participating in the Bateman Competition. “For only a few hours a week, a student can make huge difference in the community.” A survey conducted by students in the public relations sequence revealed that 85 percent of Texas State students are willing to participate to give back to San Marcos. The survey found that a majority of students don’t volunteer because they don’t have enough time. Students claim that extra time is hard to find along with studying, student organizations and part-time jobs. According to a press release, “Just Another Brick in the Quad” is working to change that by making the volunteer information available on campus. “Students will realize that helping out the community is a great feeling,” said Lucy Gamez, San Marcos Habitat for Humanity president. “It’s really a fulfilling experience that can be worked into any student’s schedule.”
Rain doesn’t quench Brother Jed’s fiery sermon
By Magen Gray The University Star
Today’s Weather
VOLUME 95, ISSUE 55
WARRANT
Businesswomen recognized for strengthening their community
women into the male-dominated workplace on Sunday.
TUESDAY
Quad, students By Clayton Medford The University Star
George Edward Smock brought his unique style of evangelism to the free speech area of The Quad on Monday. Students, faculty and staff huddled around the Fighting Stallions throughout the frigid, damp day to listen to “Brother Jed” and challenge his attacks on their lifestyles. Smock said students at Texas State are no different in their reaction to his preaching than students at any of his other appearances at campuses around the country. “What do I learn from them? Nothing,” Smock said. “If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it 1,000 times.” Through the dreary weather, Smock maintained an audience
of close to 30 people. Smock said he was happy to have a steadfast group of listeners. “It’s a cold day, a damp day, and hundreds of people have stopped by,” Smock said. “I’m encouraged it upsets them so. They are going to go back to the relative calm and quiet of their dorm rooms and ask themselves why that preacher upset them so. Their own conscience will confirm they ought not live the way they do.” Smock took breaks to speak personally with onlookers and to allow Christopher New, a preacher from San Antonio, to address the crowd. Business graduate student Cherif Gacis said the duo’s talents come from their experience speaking at colleges. “These guys are really good at public speaking; anytime you disagree with them, they know how to divert attention and look smart,” Gacis said. “They learn from all these campuses how to manipulate the crowd and get the point across.”
Two-day Forecast Wednesday Few Showers Temp: 75°/ 53° Precipitation: 30%
Thursday Scattered T-Storms Temp: 70°/ 51° Precipitation: 50%
Monty Marion/Star Photo GOSPEL OF CONTROVERSY: George Edward Smock of Campus Ministry USA preaches to a large crowd of mostly angered and irritated students Monday afternoon in The Quad. Smock, also known as “Brother Jed,” has been traveling for the past 32 years speaking at college campuses both domestically and abroad, often to the disdain of those who stop to listen.
Smock said he would continue his perpetual evangelism tour until “I draw my last breath.” “I am on a mission; I’ve been
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on one for 32 years,” Smock said. “As long as man needs salvation I will preach the love of Jesus. Plus, I know I’m right.”
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