WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a recording provided by the city of Bryan of the February 9, 2024 Bryan fire department red helmet ceremony recognizing the promotion of two firefighters to lieutenant.

As Bryan's fire chief finishes his third year, Richard Giusti added to the recent promotion of two firefighters to lieutenant, the presentation of red fire helmets. 

The chief told those attending the February 9th ceremony, recorded by the city of Bryan, that in addition to family members pinning badges, the chief giving the helmets "is something that is important" and "for a fire chief to give a person their helmet I think is a pretty special thing."

Last year's BFD firefighter of the year, Landon Bissett, and the firefighter of the year two years ago, Rickey Mantey, were presented their helmets as part of their promotion.

The chief's review of the accomplishments of both firefighters were applauded.

Mantey is now a training officer, following severe burns he sustained in the February 2013 Knights of Columbus building fire that claimed the lives of two colleagues and injuries to a third firefighter.

Gary Miller, BTU's General Manager, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about this year's mild winter, service statistics, long term planning, activity at RELLIS, rate structure, operations at Lake Bryan, progress at BTU's new office building, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about recruiting a new businesses to town, Bryan's improved bond rating, Legends Event Center, Texas Triangle Park, RELLIS, the façade grant that went to the owners of Shipwreck Grill, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

United Way of the Brazos Valley President Peggi Goss and Max Gerall, founder of The REACH Project, visit with WTAW's Chelsea Reber.

Travis Rollins, Public Information Officer, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the decision to discontinue hosting the July 4th Fireworks Show in Kurten.

Councilman Dennis Maloney visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the death of former mayor Ben White, upcoming council discussions, development in the Northgate district, his vision for Wolf Pen Creek, his desire for a future convention center, solid waste and electric generation, collaborating with Bryan, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with College Station police officer David Simmons and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The College Station police department has issued a traffic advisory for Friday's (March 8) funeral procession of former mayor and CSPD volunteer Ben White.

Officer David Simmons says the procession will be longer than usual. And there will be more traffic because the procession will happen during the middle of the day when many people are leaving town for the start of spring break.

Simmons says the procession will start Friday morning between 11 and 11:15 from Christ Church in College Station.

The procession will head north from the church on the freeway service road to Harvey Mitchell Parkway, then go west to Dartmouth, then north past the police department to Krenek Tap, then west to Texas, then north to University, then west to the Aggie Field of Honor.

Simmons says the procession will stop momentarily in front of College Station city hall, where White served as a councilman and mayor from 2005-2010.

White's death on March 3rd was eight days after celebrating his 10th anniversary as a CSPD volunteer.

Lacey Lively, Communications and Marketing Director, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about Friday's Sock Hop dance, the Blue Bunny Easter event, this Saturday's free microchip and rabies vaccination event, the grand opening of the sand volleyball courts at Legends, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the recent Houthi attack in the Red Sea, what he expects from other NATO countries, voter turnout, his opinion on Donald Trump, tonight's State of the Union address, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the February 20, 2022 Blinn College trustees meeting.

February's Blinn College trustees meeting included another discussion about declining enrollment at the Bryan campus.

Spring headcount at Blinn-Bryan has dropped from 12,071 in 2015 to 4,717 so far this spring. The final spring 2024 number will come after enrollment finishes for the final eight week session and two more four week sessions.

Trustees Dennis Crowson and Charles Moser brought up the enrollment decline as construction continues on a $31 million dollar administration and student services building at Villa Maria and Nash.

Chancellor Mary Hensley and vice chancellor Becky McBride repeated from past discussions, the enrollment drop in Bryan is in part due to Texas A&M increasing the size of its freshman class.

Trustees were also told there is no correlations to the enrollment drop in Bryan with the opening of Blinn's RELLIS campus, which so far this semester has 3,152 students.

While headcount continues to go down on the Bryan campus, Blinn's spring headcount district wide is at 15,720 with enrollment continuing. That is up from 15,685 for all of the spring 2024 semester.