The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 6

A6 Tuesday October 13,1998 FEEDBACK: Call City Editor Midxiel A. Smith at l-SOO-561-3611, Ext. 312 Officials to discuss Bolivar's water supply CRYSTAL BEACH Water authority officials today will discuss ways to bring the peninsula's water supply back into compliance with state guidelines. The Bolivar Peninsula Water Supply Corporation is facing a state mandate to lower the levels of tri- halomethanes, orTTHMs, a byproduct of a disinfection process. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

at 1840 state Highway 87. UTMB to have hearing on viral-research facility GALVESTON The University of Texas Medical Branch wants public input on a proposed facility in which viruses that cause diseases will be tested. Bearing the highest security designation set down by the federal Centers for Disease Control "biosafety Level 4" the laboratory would be one of only a handful of such facilities in the world. The session will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 207, Fine Arts Building, Gaiveston College, 4015 Ave.

Q. Dickinson council to mull naming school zone DICKINSON The city council will have its regular meeting today in council chambers. The agenda includes for them to decide whether FM 517 will be designated a school zone for the Pine Drive Christian School. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 2716 Main St.

Council to consider concession contract LEAGUE CITY The city council have its regular city council meeting today. The council will vote on several items, including the payment of E.G. Productions, the firm used to help market the city, and awarding a bid for an official city newspaper and the possibility of an emergency broadcast system for citywide coverage in the city of League City. The council also will decide whether to terminate the concession contract at the League City Sportspiex. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

at 200 Walker St. University association slated to meet Monday GALVESTON University Area Association will meet from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday in the community room at William Temple Episcopal Center, 427 Market St. The guest will be Adrian Perachio, associate vice president for basic research at University of Texas Medical Branch.

He will discuss the proposed biosafety Level 4 facility at the university. The meeting is free and open to the general public. For information, call (409) Today 11 a.m.: South Shore Harbour MUD No. 3, 3027 FM 2094 Suite 200, League City. Noon: South Shore Harbour MUD No.

2, 3027 FM 2094 Suite 200, League City. 7 p.m.: Dickinson City Council meeting, 2716 Main St. 7 p.m.: Hitchcock Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting, 8004 N. Railroad. 7 p.m.: League City City Council regular meeting, 200 W.

Walker. 7 p.m.: Fresh Water District No. 6, 747 Tiki Drive, Tiki Island. 7:30 p.m.: Texas City Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting, 14019th Ave. N.

7:30 p.m.: Clear Creek Drainage District, 1301 FM 528, Friendswood. Commissioners court changes early voting hours, sites GALVESTON The practice of early voting, which begins next week, is regarded in political circles as an increasingly important factor in elections. By MARTY SCHLADEN The Daily News GALVESTON The commissioners court on Monday extended the hours at some locations for early voting, pending the approval of the county clerk. Early voting, which will begin next week, is regarded in political circles as an increasingly important factor hi elections. "They estimate that a fourth of the people who vote in the election vote in the first week," said Commissioner Wayne Johnson, who is not up for re-election Nov.

3. The commissioners court was notified Monday that the Wal- Mart stores in Texas City and Gaiveston did not want to be sites of early voting. So Johnson proposed that some of the 34 hours commissioners had budgeted for the two stores be used to extend early voting at Oleander Homes in Gaiveston from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Monday.

That way, Johnson said, people with jobs could vote early. He also proposed that voting at Palm Terrace run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 20 and that voting at Magnolia Homes run from 7 a.m.

to 7 p.m. Oct. 22. Ken Clark, a candidate for the Precinct 4 commissioners seat, proposed that voting at the TiM Island Public Safety Building also run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 and that voting at the Sanders Center in Texas City run for the same hours on Oct. 26. The commissioners adopted all the changes assuming County Clerk Patricia Ritchie could work out the details. As more voters seek the convenience of an early ballot, the dynamics of electioneering are changing, Johnson said.

In previous elections, candidates tried to time direct-mail blitzes and radio spots so their names would be in voters' minds as they went to the polls. Now if they wait that long to expend their resources, Johnson said, many who see and hear their message already have placed their ballots in the box. What's in store A Arlan's Market employee Lawson Peters stocks cereal Monday in the new Allan's store on 25th Street in Gaiveston. The former Resta store will open today as Arlan's. (Photo by Kevin Bartram) Arlan's opens its third store on the island GALVESTON Arlan's first grocery store was opened in the Clear Lake area in 1991.

In the past year, Arlan's Market opened up shop on 69th and Market Streets. Arlan's also has a store in Dickinson. By CARTER THOMPSON The Daily News GALVESTON Ames Arlan on Monday stood in the middle of his new grocery store, directing an army of employees and contractors to get it ready for business. Shelves were being cleaned, displays changed and contractors replaced the Fiesta sign with an Arlan's Market banner. Amid the hubbub, Arlan was confident the store on 25th Street would open today.

"It's going to be a long night," Arlan laughed. He said his new store, like Fiesta, will stock harder-to-find Mexican food products. But there will be changes more selection, lower prices in a cleaner store, Arlan said. In coming weeks, the supermarket will get a new sign and new equipment for the bakery and deli, he said. "Well be adding more variety to the store," Arlan said.

"I think the customers will be pleased with what they see. "We're excited about being here hi Gaiveston and hope to stay around hi a long time." Arlan's first grocery store opened in the Clear Lake area in 1991, and its owner's name has become familiar to Galvf stonians in the last year. Arlan's Market opened up shop at the former Gerland's on 69th Street, plus a location on Market Street. The past year also saw the addition of an Arlan's in Dickinson. Park board urges letter campaign By CARTER THOMPSON The Daily News GALVESTON Fearing a dip in its own budget, the park board solicited the aid of the tourism industry to lobby city council not to use hotel-occupancy-tax revenue for expenses at Mardi Gras and Beach Party Weekend.

Lou Muller, park board executive director, provided industry representatives with a sample opposition letter to send to members of council. Muller said the hotel industry at a recent retreat set as a goal convincing council not to use proceeds of the 9-percent tax on hotel occupancy for the expenses associated with police, traffic control and portable bathrooms. Park board and industry representatives contend those expenses should be paid out of the general revenue. They also argued such use of the hotel tax might be illegal, a contention contradicted by the city's legal department. Mayor Roger "Bo" Quiroga said he had received only a few of the letters, as have other council members.

But council members have opposed dipping into the city's general fund for the expenses, which could reach $250,000 for both events, instead proposing taking a portion of the hotel occupancy tax earmarked for advertising. But city leaders have allowed the industry to look for alternatives while they wrestle with the budget. "What we are trying to say is 'OK hotel-motel association, we've got a big expense out there. Can you help us defray Quiroga said. "Hopefully they can come up with ways to take the burden off.

We want to do other things with the city budget." GALVESTON Lou Muller, park board executive director, provided tourist industry representatives with a sample opposition letter to send to members of the city council to protest the use of hbtel- occupancy-tax revenue for expenses at Mardi Gras and Beach Party Weekend. Paik board and Industry representatives contend those expenses are more fittingly paid out of the general revenue. They also argued such use of the hotel tax might be Illegal, a contention contradicted by the city's legal department. See A7 Man COUNTY Police detained the man and 93 others after raiding a party two weeks ago. at after-hours party faces dru By STEVE MAYO The Daily News GALVESTON Police charged a 23-year-old Gaiveston man Monday with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in connection with a raid two weeks ago in which 94 people were detained.

Brandon A. Cruz was held Monday in the city jail. Police raided a house in the 2100 block of Saladia two weeks ago after complaints from neighbors about after-hours parties over the past couple of months. During the raid, 94 people were detained and five were charged. Police reported finding Cruz behind a washing machine.

He was taken to a University of Texas Medical Branch hospital, and police charged him after he was released. His bond was set at $100,000. He also was charged with possession of marijuana and two traffic warrants. His bond for those charges was set at $5,661, $330.50 for each of the traffic warrants. Teen faces drug charge LA MARQUE A 17-year-old La Marque boy was being held See A7 DISD board votes to proceed with renovations of girls softball field DICKINSON A resident said the field needs lights, a security fence, scoreboard, restrooms and a press box.

By ANGELA JACKSON-HUDSON The Daily News DICKINSON The progress of Dickinson High School's girls softball field was the concern of several parents who attended the Dickinson school board meeting Monday night. Resident Mark Simbarger addressed the board about the much needed upgrade of the girls softball field. He said the field needed lights, a security fence, Scoreboard, restrooms and a press box. Simbarger read the provisions of Title IX, an act that provides for gender equal support within the school system when it comes to things like athletic facilities and girls participating in athletic programs. "We could go on with business as usual and listen to meaningless rhetoric about what will be done someday," Simbarger said.

"But I would like somehow to work with the school board to rectify the inequality of the gender-specific complaints I have. "Give a specific timetable not when the project will begin, but when the project will be com- pleted." Several problems contribute to the district's inability to give specific timetables, said superintendent Leland Williams. Over the past several months, the board has had at least three studies done to show the effects of an under- See A7.