By STEVE KUHLMANNsteve.kuhlmann@

theeagle.com

Dried plums — the fruit formerly known as prunes — aren’t just your grand-mother’s go-to snack any-more.

As Texas A&M Univer-sity professor Nancy Tur ner ex-plained, there may be some g o o d n ews for fans of the fruit. Turner was among a t e a m o f researchers w h o f o u n d i n a r e c e n t study that the inclusion of dried plums in a balanced diet helped prevent colon cancer.

The positive eff ect, Turn-er said, is being attributed to the plum’s ability to pro-mote the health of microbi-ota in the colon. Although the study was conducted on rats, Turner explained that this particular research model has done a “good job of replicating a lot of the

changes that occur in the human intes-tine as colon cancer

develops.” For those won-

dering how long prunes have b e e n c a l l e d dried plums, it

has actually been longer than most

might think. Don Zea, executive di-

rector of the California

By TOMMY WITHERSPOON

Waco Tribune-Herald

The judge presiding over the West fertilizer plant explosion cases denied a motion Friday to postpone the upcom-ing trial despite defense assertions that federal investigators recently shared evidence with them that could prove im-portant to the litigation.

While Dallas attorney Carlos Balido said the information from the Bu-reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shared Thursday with the defense is a “significant break in the case,” 170th State District Judge Jim Meyer was not persuaded to postpone the fi rst trial, set to begin Oct. 12.

“I can see this dragging on for a year,” Meyer said in denying the motion for continuance.

Meyer has already de-layed the trial twice from its initial trial setting. Friday’s request was the third time since January that defense attorneys have sought a delay.

Balido, who represents CF Industries, was seek-ing a delay until Febru-

ary so defense attorneys could review evidence from the ATF investiga-tion, given to them after defense attorneys sued in federal court for access to the materials and U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith Jr. helped mediate the release of a portion of the agency’s fi ndings.

“I can’t say with cer-tainty that this will change the outcome of the case, but I think this is significant because the ATF broke the wall they had put up,” Balido said. “This is a signifi cant break in the case. . . . The plaintiff s want to push so hard to go to trial because if the information from the ATF contradicts their experts’ analysis, that will put them in a bind. We have not sat back just waiting and hoping we would get this informa-tion. We have fought for this information.”

Balido argued that while he and his col-leagues have not been able to review the information from the ATF, he told the judge that the material re-leased so far “is just the tip of the iceberg,” saying

By REBECCA FIEDLERrebecca.fi edler@theeagle.com

The Texas Department of Transportation expects to make a decision about where exactly an exten-sion of Texas 249 through Grimes County will run within the next several months.

“The preferred route crosses F.M. 1774 south of Plantersville and con-nects to SH 105, west of Navasota,” said TxDOT spokesman Bobby Colwell in an email to The Eagle. “TxDOT continues to con-sider refinements to the route to reduce any im-pacts to property owners.”

Colwell said the final decision of TxDOT will rely most heavily on input from stakeholders.

“The alignment will

be finalized in the com-ing months with a pub-lic hearing anticipated in early 2016,” Colwell said. “Although no spe-cific start date is set at this time, construction could begin as early as 2017 in some parts of the corridor.”

TxDOT has been plan-ning this construction for several years, said Grimes County judge Ben Leman, and has been collecting in-formation and opinions from landowners and residents who may lose land because of TxDOT’s eminent domain through the project.

“My message to TxDOT has been to please mini-mize the impact on home-owners and homesteads as much as possible,” Le-man said.

Leman said he does not feel it was his place to try and advise TxDOT on where exactly to con-struct the toll road, but said earlier this year he successfully rallied for the inclusion of access ramps and frontage roads. Le-man said he is glad that, so far, plans from TxDOT do not include the removal of actual homes or buildings.

“TxDOT has worked re-ally hard to minimize this impact,” Leman said.

TxDOT takes the opin-ions of locals and local government very seri-ously into account, Leman said, but ultimate author-ity is outside the reach of anyone in Grimes County, as TxDOT has power from the state to make the fi nal

By AUBREY BLOOMaubrey.bloom@theeagle.com

Sitting on the side-walk beside Cowboy Way a few hours be-

fore kickoff between A&M and Arkansas, Mike and Audrey Burton’s Long-horn- and Aggie-themed cornhole boards look more than out of place, they look anachronistic.  

A&M seniors, many of which got their Ag-gie Rings on Friday have only known the Aggies as part of the Southeastern Conference. Texas A&M students like the Burton’s daughter Brooke, class of ’17, haven’t seen a game between A&M and Texas. They have seen games with Arkansas though, and while the rivalry with Texas is collecting dust, the one with Arkansas is blossoming.  

“The whole Arkansas and A&M game kind of replaces the A&M and UT game for me,” said Audrey, A&M class of ’86. “It doesn’t quite have that same hate feel to it, but I am married to a t-sip so we don’t have much hate anyway.”

The cornhole boards were a gift from Audrey to Mike, a Texas graduate, for their 26th anniversary and their colors represent a rivalry that Mike said he

misses. “It’s very disappoint-

ing,” he said. “Just the ca-maraderie that you had in that game was just fantas-tic. Both schools are great schools, no question. When they play, it’s such a big event and really brings everyone together. It’s really disappointing that it doesn’t happen.”

But the Burtons are

tailgating a rivalry that also has its roots in the Southwest Conference. Saturday’s game was the 72nd meeting between Arkansas and A&M since the teams fi rst played in 1906. The two had also scheduled a long-term nonconference series be-fore A&M even joined the SEC.

Brad Rodgers, an Ar-

kansas graduate who works in Frisco, said A&M’s entry into the SEC only made that rivalry from the past grow stron-ger.

“This goes way back,” said Rodgers. “I grew up watching Arkansas and the Aggies play. This goes back to the Southwest Conference in the ’70s. We know plenty of good Ag-

gie jokes and we happen to live down here now so, hell yeah, we like coming here for the game every year. We love it.”

In fact, when it comes to Arkansas’ views as their big rival, Rodgers said A&M tops the list.

“I think this is right up at the very top, it’s got

Region A9Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Eagle

INSIDE• Opinions Page: Did

Americans really listen to what the pope had to say? A10

• Obituaries: A11, A12

IN BRIEFCS man on most wanted list arrested

A man on the College Station Police Department’s most wanted list was ar-rested Saturday afternoon on numerous charges.

James Ernest Loftis, 28, of College Station, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; four counts of evading arrest; pos-session of a controlled substance; possession of marijuana; failure to pay child support; failure to ap-pear in court and two counts of driving with an invalid license.

According to College Sta-tion police, officers received a call around 3:30 p.m. Saturday from a passer-by at Bee Creek park in Col-lege Station, who recognized Loftis from a Crime Stop-pers photo. Police formed a perimeter around Loftis, who police say began to run. Officers were able to catch him and Loftis was arrested without incident, officials said.

Loftis is being held at the Brazos County Detention Center on $254,639 bond. If convicted of all the offens-es, he faces up to 50 years in prison and up to $60,000 in fines.

Silk Stocking worker charged with assault

A man police say was a bouncer at the Silk Stocking Lounge faces charges after he allegedly beat a man and threatened him at gunpoint.

Andrew Dyonne Lindsey, 25, of the 100 block of Ridgecrest in College Sta-tion, is charged with aggra-vated assault causing bodily injury and aggravated as-sault with a deadly weapon. Lindsey was arrested Friday.

According to College Sta-tion police, officers received a call from a man around 2 a.m. July 19 who told police his brother-in-law had been attacked and beaten in the parking lot of the club, where the two were patrons. Lindsey and three other bouncers are accused of beating the man until he was unconscious after the man had not paid for a lap dance, police say. When the man who made the report took his injured brother-in-law to his car, Lindsey al-legedly pointed a gun in his direction and threatened to kill him if he called the po-lice, officials said.

It is unclear if the other bouncers have been ar-rested or charged. The Silk Stocking Lounge could not be reached to determine if Lindsey was still an em-ployee.

Lindsey was released on $29,000 bail. If convicted of either charge, Lindsey could face up to 40 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines.

Fire department to honor fallen heroes

The College Station Fire Department is inviting the public to help them honor fallen firefighters in Texas from 2014.

The department will be hosting a memorial ceremony at noon Monday at Station 6 at University Drive and Tar-row Street, where firefighters and emergency service work-ers will remember their fallen brothers and sisters.

The department is host-ing this event, which is open to the public, in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week.

— Eagle staff reports

Tracing a rivalry’s rootsCompetitiveness stems from players and fans alike

Eagle photo by Sam CraftTexas A&M’s Otaro Alaka stretches his legs during pre-game warmups of the Arkansas vs. Texas A&M Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday. The Aggies defeated Arkansas 28-21 in overtime.

Judge refuses to delay West plant explosion trial

TxDot nears decision

Dried plums keep colon cancer away

Agency to announce road extension location

An estimated 8,000 vol-unteers have removed trash from more than 20 Texas beaches in a cleanup effort scaled back due to the algae bloom called red tide.

The 29th annual Texas adopt-a-beach fall cleanup happened Saturday morn-ing from Beaumont to Cor-pus Christi.

Texas General Land Of� ce spokeswoman Renne Tuggle says some beaches, south-ward to the Rio Grande Val-ley, were excluded due to red tide and safety concerns. Tuggle says the cleanup usually draws about 10,000 volunteers, but the numbers were lower this year due to nine fewer sites than usual.

— Wire report

Thousands volunteer to clean up beaches

AP fi le photoA home burnt to the ground as a result of the West fertilizer plant explosion is shown in a West neighborhood.

See ROAD, Page A12

See A&M, Page A12

sity professor Nancy Tur ner ex-

g o o d n ews for fans of the fruit. Turner was among

researchers w h o f o u n d i n a r e c e n t

changes that occur in the human intes-tine as colon cancer

develops.”

dering how long prunes have b e e n c a l l e d dried plums, it

has actually been longer than most

might think.

See PLUMS, Page A12 See TRIAL, Page A12

LOFTIS

LINDSEY

By MATT WIXON The Dallas Morning News

Corey Dooley smiles as he talks, revealing a set of shiny braces

and the personality that makes him so popular on the South Grand Prairie campus.

“I’m a people person,” Corey told The Dallas Morning News, and that’s obvious when you talk with him.

He’ll tell you how much football means to him. He’ll share with you how he loves to be a leader and wants to help his com-munity. And he’ll show you, without prompting, where the four bullets tore through his body two years ago, leaving him with a 30 percent chance of survival when he arrived at the hospital.

Corey says he’ll never be the fastest guy on the field. But the 6-2, 165-pound senior has always had good hands, and after playing a backup role last season, he’s now a starting re-ceiver for one of the area’s top teams. He made a criti-cal catch for South Grand Prairie last week when he snagged a third-down pass on the Warriors’ winning touchdown drive against Arlington Martin.

“It all came together on that play,” Corey told his coaches.

That seems appropriate, considering how Corey pulls people together. He wants to study political science in college, hopes to one day be a politician, and likes superhero movies — his favorite series is Iron Man — because of “the battle of good vs. evil.”

Anything he can do to make a positive change, he says, he’ll do it.

“He’s the guy who friends go to, or ask to come over, if they need comfort or advice,” says Nicole Rishard, Corey’s mom.

Corey is a natural leader, South Grand Prairie coach Brent Whitson says. Gifted public speaker, great lis-tener, friend to everyone.

On the evening of Oct. 16, 2013, Nicole Rishard pulled into the garage at her mother’s house in DeSoto. Corey, then 15, was in the front passenger’s seat, and his brother Cody, then 14, was in the back seat. Cody had just played a football game for Truman Middle School, and they were talking football as the closing garage door jerked to a stop.

The door then reversed direction. Corey remem-bers his brother turning to look behind him and gasping when he saw his stepfather.

Richard Richard, who then went by the name of Richard Rishard, had been married to Nicole Rishard for nearly five years. But Nicole wanted to end the marriage and had moved in with her mother several months earlier.

“We were aware that Richard was coming around, and like stalking us,” Corey remembers. “He tried to send stuff and would try to be in our lives and show up at our games.”

Richard pointed a gun at the car, Corey says, and began screaming.

“He was swearing and cussing and said, ‘Get out of the car! Get out of the car! I’m not playin’, I’m go-ing to shoot.’” Corey says. “Before you know it, he starts firing.”

Corey was hit twice on the right side of his back, and his mom was shot in the arm. She leaned toward Corey, trying to cover him, as Corey leaned toward his mom, trying to cover her. Shattered glass fell on them as the shooter walked around the car. Corey was hit two more times, in his upper left leg and hip, be-fore his mom could get the car started and pull out of the garage.

Rishard couldn’t find her phone but was able to use the car’s OnStar service to call for help as she drove to a Walgreen’s parking lot. Richard Richard was found at the house, police

said, and was on his knees with his hands in the air. He is charged with aggra-vated assault with a deadly weapon, and his jury trial is set for November.

Lying in the Walgreen’s parking lot, bleeding from four bullet wounds, Corey wasn’t thinking about dying. His life didn’t pass before his eyes, he says. He looked down at his Nike jacket, a gift that he had just received.

“It was just covered in blood,” he says, “and I was thinking, ‘I’ll never get to wear this jacket again.’”

Corey went to the hos-pital in one ambulance and his mother in another. Cody, who was uninjured, traveled in the ambulance with his brother, who slipped in and out of con-sciousness.

Corey was bleeding from two major arteries, one near his heart and one in his left leg. Doctors later said that Corey had lost nearly two-thirds of his blood. When he arrived at the hospital, they estimat-ed his chances of survival at 30 percent.

Corey remembers lying in the operating room, feel-ing like it was a movie, see-

ing the bright white lights above and the doctors in scrubs talking and passing tools around.

He tried to talk, but couldn’t.

“I could feel myself dy-ing,” Corey says. “I was losing my voice. My vision was getting blurry, and I was just praying. I felt myself leaving my body. It’s an indescribable feel-ing. It’s like literally losing yourself.”

The next thing Corey re-members is waking up four days later, surrounded by family and friends. Corey was on the road to recov-ery, but doctors warned

that there might be com-plications. With so much blood loss, his brain might have been deprived of oxygen, and there could be speech problems or other cognitive impairments.

Those fears were eased by a week after the shoot-ing, when Corey talked with reporters from his hospital bed at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Just two weeks after he felt like he was dying, he was released from Methodist Dallas and taken to Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas, where hospital personnel were waiting with a wheelchair.

OBITUARIES

Robert Paul Welch Jr.,44, of Lyons, Texas wastaken from us September18, 2015. A celebration ofPaul’s life is being plannedfor and will be announcedat a later date.

Paul was born October18, 1970 in Bryan, Texas,and graduated fromSomerville High School

class of 1989. Paul was a light of many peoples lifebut especially of hismother Veronica. His kindness,thoughtfulness, wonderful sense of humor andfrequent playing of the jokester were all a part of hisunique charm. Paul was an outdoorsman enjoyingcamping, hunting and fishing as well as playingdominoes with his elderly friends and was knownfor his Karaoke skills. He enjoyed food and lovedsharing his barbequing skills with friends. Paulworked at St. Joseph Regional Hospital in PatientRegistration Services.

Paul was preceded in death by his father, BobbyWelch; grandparents, Raymond and FrancesSchoppe and, Albert and Lola Welch.

Survivors include his mother, Veronica Fick;daughter,MadieWelch of College Station; brothers,Preston Welch, Corey Welch and wife Dana; uncle,Larry Schoppe of Dayton Ohio; aunts, Mary HelenSchoppe of Austin, Judi Schoppe-Hargrove andhusband Tony of Seguin, Nelda Keese and husbandCharles of Brenham.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made tothe Snook Volunteer Fire Department where hewas a member or to a charity of your choice.

Robert Paul Welch Jr.October 18, 1970 - September 18, 2015

Gary Edwin Anderson,74, was called home to bewith the Lord peacefullyon Friday, September 18,2015, in Austin, Texas.He was born on April18, 1941, to Robert FayAnderson and FlorenceIsmay Robison Andersonin his grandmother’s housein South Owego, New York

and raised on his family’s dairy farm. He remaineda farm boy at heart all of his life.

Gary graduated high school at Owego FreeAcademy in Owego, New York in 1959. He attendedBaptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, New York1959-1960, and was a licensed X-ray technicianin the state of New York and worked at WilsonMemorial hospital 1960-1964. He worked part timefor the Johnson City Police Department 1962-1964.

Gary went to work for IBM in Endicott, New Yorkin 1964, as amachinist and retired at IBM inAustin,Texas after 30 years where he had worked his wayup in management. After IBM, Gary worked atXetel, Xplore and Spec Technologies in Austin. Hisforte was engineering management, mentoring andeducation skills in the workforce.

He served as a Chaplain in the Civil Air Patroland received a PhD from the University of Americaand published his dissertation in a book titled“Shouldn’t You Own Your Future Today?”

In retirement, he became a gentleman rancher,lovingly tending to cattle and the land in Wellborn,Texas. He also worked part-time at Lowe’s wherehe enjoyed talking about people management withfellow employees.

Garywas preceded in death by his parents.Hewillbe sadly missed by his loving wife of 21 years, AnneElizabeth Pruitt Anderson; his beloved son, GaryEdwin Anderson II; first wife, Sharon Elaine TaylorAnderson, and mother of Gary II; sister SharrelMcNeill and husband, Mervyn; brothers, LeslieAnderson and Eric Anderson and wife, Bernice;numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; Anne’sson, Christopher Alan Pruitt; grandchildren, KaylaPruitt and Coleman Pruitt; brother-in-law, JayPruitt and wife, Leslie; niece, Karyn Pruitt Fairrisand husband, Scott and children, Austin Fairrisand Amanda Fairris; and host of friends.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather,brother, uncle, cousin, friend and mentor and willbe missed by many.

There will be A Celebration of Life for Gary heldin October.

The family would like contributions to bemade inGary’s memory to the American Heart Association,http://www.heart.org or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the care of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 W. WilliamCannon Dr. Austin, Texas 78749 (512) 892-1172.

Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com.

Gary Edwin AndersonApril 18, 2015 - September 18, 1941

OBITUARIES

Robert Paul Welch Jr.,44, of Lyons, Texas wastaken from us September18, 2015. A celebration ofPaul’s life is being plannedfor and will be announcedat a later date.

Paul was born October18, 1970 in Bryan, Texas,and graduated fromSomerville High School

class of 1989. Paul was a light of many peoples lifebut especially of hismother Veronica. His kindness,thoughtfulness, wonderful sense of humor andfrequent playing of the jokester were all a part of hisunique charm. Paul was an outdoorsman enjoyingcamping, hunting and fishing as well as playingdominoes with his elderly friends and was knownfor his Karaoke skills. He enjoyed food and lovedsharing his barbequing skills with friends. Paulworked at St. Joseph Regional Hospital in PatientRegistration Services.

Paul was preceded in death by his father, BobbyWelch; grandparents, Raymond and FrancesSchoppe and, Albert and Lola Welch.

Survivors include his mother, Veronica Fick;daughter,MadieWelch of College Station; brothers,Preston Welch, Corey Welch and wife Dana; uncle,Larry Schoppe of Dayton Ohio; aunts, Mary HelenSchoppe of Austin, Judi Schoppe-Hargrove andhusband Tony of Seguin, Nelda Keese and husbandCharles of Brenham.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made tothe Snook Volunteer Fire Department where hewas a member or to a charity of your choice.

Robert Paul Welch Jr.October 18, 1970 - September 18, 2015

Gary Edwin Anderson,74, was called home to bewith the Lord peacefullyon Friday, September 18,2015, in Austin, Texas.He was born on April18, 1941, to Robert FayAnderson and FlorenceIsmay Robison Andersonin his grandmother’s housein South Owego, New York

and raised on his family’s dairy farm. He remaineda farm boy at heart all of his life.

Gary graduated high school at Owego FreeAcademy in Owego, New York in 1959. He attendedBaptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, New York1959-1960, and was a licensed X-ray technicianin the state of New York and worked at WilsonMemorial hospital 1960-1964. He worked part timefor the Johnson City Police Department 1962-1964.

Gary went to work for IBM in Endicott, New Yorkin 1964, as amachinist and retired at IBM inAustin,Texas after 30 years where he had worked his wayup in management. After IBM, Gary worked atXetel, Xplore and Spec Technologies in Austin. Hisforte was engineering management, mentoring andeducation skills in the workforce.

He served as a Chaplain in the Civil Air Patroland received a PhD from the University of Americaand published his dissertation in a book titled“Shouldn’t You Own Your Future Today?”

In retirement, he became a gentleman rancher,lovingly tending to cattle and the land in Wellborn,Texas. He also worked part-time at Lowe’s wherehe enjoyed talking about people management withfellow employees.

Garywas preceded in death by his parents.Hewillbe sadly missed by his loving wife of 21 years, AnneElizabeth Pruitt Anderson; his beloved son, GaryEdwin Anderson II; first wife, Sharon Elaine TaylorAnderson, and mother of Gary II; sister SharrelMcNeill and husband, Mervyn; brothers, LeslieAnderson and Eric Anderson and wife, Bernice;numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; Anne’sson, Christopher Alan Pruitt; grandchildren, KaylaPruitt and Coleman Pruitt; brother-in-law, JayPruitt and wife, Leslie; niece, Karyn Pruitt Fairrisand husband, Scott and children, Austin Fairrisand Amanda Fairris; and host of friends.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather,brother, uncle, cousin, friend and mentor and willbe missed by many.

There will be A Celebration of Life for Gary heldin October.

The family would like contributions to bemade inGary’s memory to the American Heart Association,http://www.heart.org or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the care of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 W. WilliamCannon Dr. Austin, Texas 78749 (512) 892-1172.

Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com.

Gary Edwin AndersonApril 18, 2015 - September 18, 1941

High school player goes on despite near deathSouth Grand Prairie wide receiver Corey Dooley, 17, holds a football signed by his teammates and coaches in his Texas home.

AP photo

they expect much more to come later.Waco attorney Steve Harrison, who

represents a number of plaintiffs in the lawsuits, argued against the delay on behalf of the plaintiffs. He said if the ATF is conducting an ongoing in-vestigation, the release of more infor-mation will come in trickles, if at all.

“Mr. Balido says he can’t tell the court if there is anything in the ATF evidence that will make a difference,” Harrison said. “That is the key.”

Dallas attorney Sandy McCorquo-dale, whose clients are not among the first trial group, argued that two of his clients, Elenora Muehlstein, 96,

and Freddie Gerik, 53, died in August and that he has other elderly clients who might not live to see their day in court if the first trial is delayed indefinitely.

The judge has divided the plaintiffs into three trial groups. Plaintiffs in the first trial are the families of Kevin Sanders, 33; William “Buck” Uptmor Jr., 45; and Kenneth Luckey Harris Jr., 52. The three were killed in the blast.

More than 200 plaintiffs, includ-ing the city of West, West Rest Ha-ven nursing home and West Terrace Apartments, have filed lawsuits in the wake of the April 17, 2013, explosion that killed 15 — mostly first respond-

ers — injured scores of others and destroyed a large section of town.

Defendants in the lawsuits include Adair Grain Co., the local owners of the plant that exploded; El Dorado Chemical Co.; CF Industries; Ther-maclime Inc.; and International Chemical Co. The defendants either manufactured or sold fertilizer to West Fertilizer Co.

Adair Grain has filed a counter-claim against the four fertilizer pro-ducers and sellers.

Meyer has summoned 400 prospec-tive jurors to come to court Oct. 9 to fill out questionnaires, which will as-sist attorneys during jury selection, which begins Oct. 12.

TRIAL: Jury selection to begin on October 12Continued from A9

decision. Leman said he sees

the construction of the toll road through Grimes County as a posit ive change in the area.

“This road will change the face of economic op-portunity for Grimes County forever, for the better,” he said.

Leman said commutes from smaller towns in the county to larger cities, including Houston, often take longer than they need to because of no major highway.

“We don’t have a lot of access to industry or bet-ter-paying jobs,” he said.

Now that the toll road will also include access

roads, more businesses can be constructed along this new road, and cities and towns in the region can compete economi-cally with other counties, Leman said.

Not everyone is excited about the new toll road.

As construction plans have prog ressed, The Eagle has reported on the grievances of locals. Some in Grimes County say they wished the road would not be built at all, according to an Eagle article from April, while Leman said disagreements from resi-dents as to which pieces of land in the county the road will run through have arisen.

TxDOT states on its web-site that multiple alterna-

tives had been presented to the construction of the road in 2014, and so far Tx-DOT has acted with con-sideration to public input on these options.

Some members of the community were dis-pleased enough that a Facebook page titled “Stop Grimes 249” was created, currently boasting 306 “likes.”

“The position of the Stop Grimes 249 committee is: Choose the ‘No Build’ op-tion,” states the page’s de-scription. “TxDOT needs to utilize surplus Texas funds  to improve SH105 and SH1774. Grimes Coun-ty Commissioners need to rescind their support of the resolution that en-dorses this project.”

Dried Plum Board said in 2001 prunes were officially renamed dried plums with the U.S. Department of Agri-culture as an attempt to give the fruit a broader appeal to consumers. Zea said prunes had become so connected with digestive health, it was “too successful.”

“I think all of us have that image from when we were a kid, we were usually given either the prune juice or the dried prunes because we weren’t feeling well,” Turn-er said. “It was almost like a punishment.”

While she acknowledged that many have a negative perception of the dried fruit’s taste, Turner said that, in her experience, adults and older children who give them an-other chance generally end up surprised at “how good they actually are.”

“It’s just a dried fruit, just like a dried apricot or ba-nana,” Turner said. “If you think of it from that perspec-tive and just give it a chance, there is probably a good like-lihood that you would find that you actually enjoy the flavor of the dried plums.”

The name change, Zea added, also had the added

benefit that dried plums “de-scribe more literally what it actually is” than the name prunes.

The actual benefits deliv-ered by the dried fruit are a combination of few factors, Turner said. She explained that while the dietary fiber of the plums is a vital factor in maintaining good diges-tive health, it is a combina-tion of the fiber and other compounds inherent in the fruit that work in tandem to provide the benefits.

“We constantly tell people that they need to eat more dietary fiber, but it isn’t just the math of dietary fiber that

you’re getting,” Turner said. “It’s about the things that come along with the dietary fiber in the food that you’re eating.”

Turner said that it is these additional compounds and dietary fibers — found in many fruits, vegetables and whole grains — that “seem to be better at providing a beneficial microbial popula-tion and ability to suppress the disease.”

The research was conduct-ed in partnership between Texas A&M and the Univer-sity of North Carolina, with funding from the California Dried Plum Board.

PLUMS: Provide a good source of dietary fiberContinued from A9

ROAD: Criticized by some localsContinued from A9

old-school roots. It’s great that we started doing this before they came in the SEC, and it’s great now that they’re in the SEC. ” said Burton. 

He paused for a second and then added, “That and the fact that they kicked our butt last year at the last minute.” 

A&M and Arkansas fans can at least battle for brag-ging rights on the field. For now, the Burtons will have to settle for corn-hole. 

A&M: Will continue new rivalryContinued from A9

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Region/Obituaries A12 Sunday, September 27, 2015