NUTHIN’ BUT A G8 THANG
BIG WILLIE STYLE
The Group of Eight talks a good game, but can they back up the hype?
The Red-Headed Stranger knows how to throw a picnic
SEE OPINIONS PAGE 7
SEE TRENDS PAGE 11
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
www.UNIVERSITYSTAR.com
JULY 13, 2005
WEDNESDAY
VOLUME 94, ISSUE 84
Arrest at falls sparks safety debate Charges dropped against Spring Lake Dam rescuer By Kelly Merks News Reporter When San Marcos resident Dave Newman pulled Abed Duamni, 35, of Houston, from the churning waters at Spring Lake Dam on July 3, the last thing he expected was to be arrested the instant he stepped foot
on solid ground. Duamni, who said he didn’t notice any warnings of the dangerous current, was swept into an air pocket underneath Joe’s Crab Shack that once held a turbine for a mill that now houses the restaurant. He jumped in the river a number of times before being pulled down by the undertow. According to commentary Newman published in the Austin American-Statesman on Friday, Duamni had been trapped beneath the building for more than 10 minutes. He believed that by that point,
hat (Newman) did was heroic “W because he could have lost his own life too.”
— Emily McKeever Interdisciplinary studies senior
Duamni had “more than likely drowned.” On Newman’s last attempt to rescue the drowning man, against police orders, he returned with Duamni, alive and well. The University Police Depart-
ment cited Newman as being “defiant” and “arrogant,” and charged him with a Class B misdemeanor for interfering with public duty and refusing a lawful order. The See FALLS, page 6
CONCHO COMMONS COMETH
Courtney Addison/Star photo Joe Farr, of Kyle, and his dog enjoy leaping into the river next to Joe’s Crab Shack. “I’ve dove in this area many times. I know where the bottom is,” Farr said.
Hays commissioners issue tax resolution after heated debate By Sean Wardwell News Reporter Sparks flew at Tuesday’s Hays County Commissioners Court meeting as commissioners debated whether or not to send a resolution to the Texas Legislature asking for property tax relief. County Judge Jim Powers and Commissioner Suzie Carter, 2nd Precinct, put forth a resolution stating, “The Hays County Commissioners Court does hereby support a united effort to provide Texans with property tax relief and calls upon the Texas Legislature to work together with the aim of arriving at this goal.” Commissioner Russ Molenaar, 4th Precinct, had a problem with the resolution, saying that there are more important things to worry about. “Why don’t we go to the Legislature and ask them to fix what’s broke,” Molenaar said, referring to school finance. “Why don’t we ask the state to fix what they broke?” A major point of contention was the issue of “appraisal creep,” in which the appraised value of a property goes up while the tax rate remains the same. Part of the resolution accused state legislators of hiding behind appraisal creep. “I don’t think legislators hide behind appraisal creep,” Molenaar said. “I heard a story from a state senator about a constituent who came in asking for better roads and better schools, and after he was done with this list, he then told the senator he didn’t want his taxes raised to do it.” “This is the way our govern-
Courtney Addison/Star photo ABOVE: A coming addition to the San Marcos area, Concho Commons will be a three-story office and shopping complex where Colloquium Books and Suzie’s Vegetarian Restaurant now stand on North LBJ Drive. BELOW: An artist’s rendering of the proposed complex.
“T
his will be a mixeduse development combining highquality office space and retail and restaurant space.”
By Sean Wardwell News Reporter Texas State is about to get a new neighbor. Concho Commons, a planned threestory office building and shopping center, is scheduled for completion in September 2006. The new building will be constructed on the 400 block of North LBJ Drive, where Colloquium Books and a small strip mall are cur-
— Kimberley Edwards Assistant to the project developer
rently located. “This will be a mixed-use development combining high-quality office space and retail and restaurant space,” said Kimberley Edwards, assistant to
Today’s Weather
Isolated T-Storms
96˚/73˚
Precipitation: 30% Humidity: 58% UV: 10+ Extreme Wind: S 6 mph
Darren Casey, the developer of the project. The building is slated to have 42,000 square feet dedicated to retail shopping and restaurants with another 25,000 square feet for office space. Also included in the plans are outdoor patios and structured parking. “I think it will be a great thing. You can meet friends and study. We need something like that near campus,” said Taylor Spencer, political science senior. Joe Dukes, mass communication junior, had mixed feelings about the project. “It’s always good to bring new business to town,” Dukes said. “I think it’s
Thursday PM T-Storms Temp: 95°/72° Precipitation: 40%
Friday Isolated T-Storms Temp: 92°/72° Precipitation: 30%
By Jake Roussel News Reporter A San Marcos resident found 47-year-old Eddie Gene Cater dead, floating face down in the swimming pool of Palm Square Apartments at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Monday. Melissa Millecam, communications manager for the City of San Marcos, said a resident came across Cater’s body and quickly called the police. Millecam said the cause of death is unknown, and no one is sure how long Cater had been dead before being discovered. “So far, we have no clue as to
See CONCHO, page 5
Two-day forecast
Inside
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
Classifieds Comic Crossword News
See DEBATE, page 3
Local man found dead in Palm Square pool
Image courtesy of Darren Casey
Retail, office center planned close to Texas State campus
ment works,” he said. “I don’t like paying taxes, but we need them.” Carter defended the resolution. “We need to start somewhere,” Carter said. “County spending has increased past the rate on inflation. All government has room for improvement. All government has waste to cut. How can people pay their taxes when their income is less than the tax?” “The resolution could use a little more work before it’s sent off,” said Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, 1st Precinct. Ingalsbe then proposed that the line accusing legislators of hiding behind appraisal creep be removed from the resolution. Molenaar still had serious reservations. “Let’s bring something worthwhile to the Legislature rather than something that isn’t worthwhile,” he said. Powers attempted to keep the debate focused on the resolution. “The real problem in Texas is full disclosure on property,” Powers said. “There is a disconnect between how much property is appraised at versus it’s real value.” Commissioner Will Conley, 3rd Precinct, offered his opinion about some of the problems with public education in Texas. “Both parties have dropped the ball on truth in taxation. Education is broken in this state, but nobody has called the educational institutions on their efficiency,” Conley said. “It’s just ‘give me more money.’” “Something needs to be done
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Opinions Sports Trends
what caused Cater to drown,” Millecam said. “We don’t know if it’s alcohol-related, if he had any sort of condition or anything like that at this point.” Millecam said police had determined that there were no signs of trauma to Cater’s body. “There were no traces of foul play whatsoever,” Millecam said. Millecam said an autopsy has been ordered to help the San Marcos Police Department in its investigation into the cause of Cater’s death. Cater was a resident of the apartment complex.
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