Kerrville Times (Newspaper) - July 28, 2003, Kerrville, Texas World Cuba celebrates Cuban president Castro marks SOth anniversary of beginning of revolution PAGE 2A Sports Lance does it again Lance Armstrong wins fifth straight Tour de France PAGE IB Monday July 28 2003 Fifty Cents K E R R V I L L E DAILY TIMES Weather Forecast Low 71 Partly cloudy See more on Nation Rising prison populations hit states By Curt Anderson Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON Americas prison population grew again in 2002 despite a declining crime rate costing the federal government and states an estimated billion a year at a time of rampant budget shortfalls The inmate population in 2002 of more than million represented a percent 1 in every 143 residents in custody at end of 2002 increase over 2001 according to a report released Sunday by the Bureau of Justice Statistics Preliminary FBI statistics showed a percent drop in overall crime during the same span Experts say mandatory sentences especially for nonviolent drug offenders are a major reason inmate populations have risen for 30 years About one of every 143 residents was in the fed eral state or local custody at years end The nation needs to break the chains of our addiction to prison and find less costly and more effective policies like said Will Harrell executive director of the Texas American Civil Lib erties Union We need to break the Others say tough sentencing laws such as the three strikes laws that can put repeat offenders behind bars for life are a chief reason for the drop in crime The Justice Department for example this year ordered Bureau of Prisons officials to stop sending so many whitecollar and nonviolent criminals to halfway hous es The prospect of prison more than any other sanction is feared by whitecol lar criminals and has a powerful deterrent Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson said in a memo announcing the change See PRISON page Kerr County NO HORSING AROUND Local horse owners should take precautions against West Nile virus Times Staff Editor Iff Photo by John Schmid Times Chief Photographer Last summer Kerr County had three confirmed cases of equine West Nile virus This year Dr Cuatro Patterson of Town Country Animal Hospital in Kerrville said the county has one suspect case in a horse as veterinarians owner and health officials await the blood test results Patterson said he wouldnt be surprised if a few more cases are discovered in the area in late summer Last year we discovered the cases around late July or early August so as the summer progresses we might have more he said Like humans many animals are susceptible to the virus but Patterson said most people should limit their animal concerns to horses There have been few cases T m Cuatro Patterson DVM from Town and Country Animal Hospital draws blood from Polly Plants horse Icle Cue while Plant holds the bridle to help calm the animal The blood will be sent to Texas Diagnostic Clinic for testing of dogs ever catching West Patterson said The Texas Department of Healths Web site says that household pets such as dogs and cats are not immune to the virus but few actually develop the illness Patterson said horses will exhibit neurological problems if infected with the disease These problems include signs of lameness weakness refusal to eat stumbling and difficulty holding up their head If a horse owner believes their horse is infected the owner should call a veterinarian first before contacting health officials The health officials wont do anything until after testing by a Patterson said The veterinarian will take a blood sample from the suspected horse and send it to a diagnostic lab for confirmation of infection Pattersons clinic sends their samples to the Texas Diagnostic Clinic Concerned horse owners can take some precautions for protecting their animals Patterson said he absolutely recommends horses receive a West Nile virus vaccination Tests are showing that with two doses the vaccine is 85 to 90 percent he said Patterson said that during the summer he routinely vaccinates horses but he recommended See WEST NILE page Kerr County rules top county agenda From staff reports Kerr County commission ers will discuss proposed on site sewage facilities rules and revisions to a contract between the county and vol fire departments at a regular meeting today Commissioners will consid er and discuss the proposed rules which a joint com made up of commis and Upper Guadalupe River Authority board mem bers has recommended The court may vote to set a public hearing on the rules at Mondays meeting Recommendations include abolishing Section 10 which requires inspection of septic systems when property is sold Commissioners discussed revisions to the countys con with volunteer fire departments at a recent meet ing but did not take action on the matter because of con cerns over potential cost to reimburse departments for cer tain expenses incurred when fighting fires outside their pri mary response areas The meeting will begin at 9 in commissioners courtroom at the Kerr County Courthouse Museum honors volunteer on his birthday Note The following is the 10th in a weekly feature series that shares stories of people living in and working in the Kerrville area the neighbors we may see but never have the chance to meet In Your Neighborhood takes a look at a persons life thoughts hopes and dreams to help us alt become better acquainted By Ryan Gonche Times Staff Writer Howie Stallsmith turned 90 July 18 But anybody watching him could never guess age hasnt slowed him down a bit works at the Museum of Western Art as a volunteer leading tours and answer ing queens posed by visitors In his two three year stints at the museum Stallsmith has logged more than 2 hours of volunteer work But he doesnt see his work as a gift to the museum He said he gets plenty in return This museum is more like a family than Ive ever said in Neighborhood same way about him when they gathered on TUesday July 22 to throw Stallsmith a surprise birthday party response Words fail me and you know ifs something when words fail he joked Stallsmith was born and raised in Chicago He worked in the sales and distribution depart ment of Bell and Howell in Chicago but was transferred to Dallas in 1955 to open the compa nys regional sales office Stallsmith would make Texas his home moving to Kerrville in 1984 Volunteer work is a passion of his and an activity hes been involved with bis entire life work is what you want to he said fa the past hes volunteered with the Heart of the Hills Hospice and at the Dallas Historical Society AJ the Museum of Art works two or three days a week doing decent work and assisting with the museums public relations He said the atmosphere of the museum is important as it defines how the community sees the museum and what the museum can do for the community Stallsmith took that idea to heart and when asked to deliver museum brochures locally decid ed to travel as far away as San Antonio to spread the word about the museum Museum directors said that initiative earned Stallsmith a place on the museums board of public relations first as a and then as the chairman Stallsmith said other than helping the com munity his work gives him an opportunity to meet people and get to know more about them You meet people of all walks of life here both those visiting and working here And theyre just he said Stallsmith credits his longevity to some luck and avoiding major calamities I always say you dont have to be good if youre But he said it doesnt hurt to live by the Gold en Rule Just treat other people like you like to be photo by INDEX CLASSIFIEDS COMICS LOTTERY OBITUARIES ML OPINION IA SPORTS STATE TV M WEATHER 48 VOL 95 No 100 KERRVILLE DAILY TIMES 429 JEFFERSON ST TEXAS 78028
