WTAW - Interviews

City Manager Bryan Woods visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the inaugural College Station Christmas Parade, the city's holiday campaign, mail delivery to some apartment complexes, public use of City Hall and 1207, items on the next council meeting's agenda, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from Tracy Tate, recorded December 7, 2023, following the death of his father, Marvin Tate.

WTAW News has learned of the death of Marvin Tate, a member of Texas A&M's "Junction Boys" football teams who would later be A&M's athletic director before going into private business and serve as mayor of Bryan.

Tate's son Tracy notified WTAW News that his father passed away early Thursday morning.

Tracy said "most importantly, Dad had 36 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren."

According to Texas A&M's athletics website, Marvin Tate played for the Aggies from 1951-1954 and graduated in 1955. Tate returned as associate athletic director in 1967 and served as AD from 1978 until 1981.

Tracy Tate says his father, who played high school football in Abilene, was given a full scholarship after he was recruited by Bear Bryant.

Tracy Tate says his father was working in Houston when another member of the "Junction Boys", Gene Stallings, was responsible for hiring Marvin Tate as associate athletic director.

Tracy Tate also says his father was athletic director when the third deck was added to Kyle Field.

After entering the private sector, Marvin Tate served as Bryan mayor from 1985-1995.

Tracy Tate said his father was instrumental in the city acquiring the former church building at Texas and 29th that is still the city's municipal building.

Through an open records request to the city of Bryan, WTAW News learned that Marvin Tate is the only individual to hold the title of Mayor Emeritus. And he was Bryan's second longest serving mayor at ten years and one month.

Before becoming mayor, Tate served as a Bryan councilman from 1983-1985. Then he ran unopposed for mayor in 1985 and was re-elected as mayor in 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1993.

Tracy Tate says his father also served for decades on the board of the Brazos Transit District. BTD's headquarters building in north Bryan is named for Marvin Tate.

Tracy Tate said his father "was in pretty bad physical distress the last couple of weeks, and this morning (December 7) at 12:45 a.m. he went to be with Jesus."

Funeral arrangements are still being made. Tracy Tate says "at the funeral I expect to hear some fun things about my father."

The photo associated with this podcast is courtesy of Tracy Tate, showing Marvin Tate before the December 2014 implosion of the west side of Kyle Field.

This podcast is a visit with Captain Luis Villanueva of the Bryan/College Station Salvation Army and WTAW's Sean Burnett on The Infomaniacs December 7, 2023.

The Bryan/College Station Salvation Army extends the Angel Tree deadline to Monday (December 11).

Captain Luis Villanueva says as of Thursday morning, 600 children have not been adopted. And those who have adopted 1,200 children have not turned in their gifts.

Angel Tree tags can be picked up at any of the three Blue Baker restaurants in College Station.

You can CLICK HERE to select an angel online.

If you want to let the Salvation Army do the shopping, donate any amount by texting the word DONATE to WTAW at 979-695-1620. You will receive a link to make an online contribution.

Those who have adopted from an Angel Tree can drop off their gifts at the Salvation Army's Santa Warehouse location, which is in Bryan at the former Gold's Gym in the Tejas Center at Texas and Villa Maria. Santa Warehouse hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.

Bea Saba, Director of the Bryan + College Station Public Library System, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about two new programs in coordination with the Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley, holiday hours and events, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about what the council needs to accomplish before the end of the year, an upcoming public meeting on storm sewer improvements, holiday events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the December 4, 2023 Fort Bend ISD school board meeting.

Former Bryan ISD superintendent Christie Whitbeck, who left in 2021 to take the superintendent’s job at Fort Bend ISD in Sugar Land (FBISD), is leaving following an unidentified conflict.

Whitbeck said she was “blindsided” by the undisclosed issue, which she said occurred 19 hours after the November election where a VATRE…a voter approved tax ratification election…was adopted.

During Monday’s (December 4) FBISD board meeting, member Kristen Malone was blocked by board president Judy Dae from providing details about the issues that led to a vote to approve what was described as a “voluntary retirement agreement” that includes paying Whitbeck $491,000 dollars.

Malone said the issue “boils down to personality conflicts between our president, our secretary, and perhaps another” board member.

Whitbeck said in her 38 year career in public education, she has never done anything illegal, immoral, or improper. She added that any insinuation that she did anything illegal, immoral or improper amounts to slander and defamation of character.

Dae, who witnessed Whitbeck receive a standing ovation from four board members and most of the audience in attendance, said “you don’t have to agree or you don’t have to believe” and “a lot of time on the surface is not the same as the truth.”

Malone listed Whitbeck’s accomplishments the last two years in FBISD, which included growing enrollment from the worst to the best in the district’s history, passing a $1.2 billion dollar bond issue in May 2023, and eliminating a $47 million dollar budget deficit.

Malone also brought up the FBISD board last July extending Whitbeck’s contract, which was originally scheduled to end in October of 2024, through the end of 2026.

Whitbeck returned to FBISD in October 2021. She was a FBISD assistant superintendent before going to Bryan ISD in April 2017.

Whitbeck said at Monday’s FBISD board meeting that she “gave up a great job with a wonderful board and great kids” (in Bryan) because she “love these kids (and) I love this (FBISD) community”.

A FBISD spokeswoman told WTAW News that the retirement agreement was not available because it “may not have been officially executed by the board of trustees attorney yet”.

The December 4, 2023 United Way of the Brazos Valley (UWBV) update with WTAW's Bill Oliver begins with vice president Kat Gammon providing an update on UWBV literacy programs. That is followed by president Peggi Goss providing an update on this year's state employee charitable campaign that is administered by UWBV and an update on UWBV's community campaign.

This podcast is a visit with assistant Brazos County district attorneys Jessica Escue and Jennifer Ebert and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Criminal trials in Brazos and Grimes counties are on hold against the man charged with murder, attempted capital murder, and aggravated assault from two shootings in April of 2021.

Larry Bollin of Iola has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial at this time.

Click HERE to read the document titled "ORDER OF INCOMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL: INITIAL RESTORATION COMMITMENT", provided to WTAW News from the Brazos County district attorney's office.

Assistant Brazos County district attorney Jessica Escue says Bollin will be transported from the Brazos County jail to a maximum security state hospital.

Escue says doctors will work with Bollin in order to regain his ability to become competent to stand trial.

If competency can not be restored, Escue says a recommendation can be made to the judge whether Bollin should be committed to a mental health hospital.

Bollin is charged in Brazos County with murdering one co-worker at Kent Moore Cabinets in Bryan and injuring other co-workers. In Grimes County, he is charged with attempted capital murder of a DPS trooper and firing at other officers during his apprehension.

This podcast contains comments from Destination Bryan special events coordinator Caden Jones during a visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver, and comments from College Station mayor John Nichols during a visit on WTAW's The Infomaniacs with Chelsea Reber.

October was a record month for revenue generated by hotels in both Bryan and College Station.

The Destination Bryan tourism office reported it was the first time the monthly total exceeded $4 million dollars. That represents a 13 percent increase over the previous best month of November 2022, and the highest since records began in February 2010. Destination Bryan special events coordinator Caden Jones brought up the team effort that led to the record.

College Station mayor John Nichols noted during his visit on WTAW's The Infomaniacs that the October revenue reflected a 90 percent occupancy rate on the two weekends when there was not a Texas A&M home football game.

And Nichols says the city's tourism staff continues to look for opportunities to fill hotel rooms on weeknights and weekends when there are not Aggie home games.

News release from the Destination Bryan tourism office:

The hotel market in Bryan, Texas is stronger than ever with October 2023 bringing record breaking hotel revenue to Bryan, recording the community's first ever month of more than $4 million in hotel revenues. This represents a 13% increase over the previous best month of November 2022, and the highest since records began in February 2010.

2023 has already seen 5 months exceeding $3 million in hotel revenue with November and December still left to be reported, while 2022 saw just 3 months with hotel revenues exceeding $3 million. Prior to Destination Bryan's creation in 2020 Bryan hotels had only twice recorded more than $3 million in revenue in a single month.

This record breaking month is a continuation of consistent positive growth trends. YTD hotel revenue is up 21% over the same period in pre-COVID 2019 and up 13.2% YTD over the same period in 2022. Increased visitation and visitor spending in Bryan results in increased sales tax collections for the city, allowing for quality of life improvements including, but not limited to, funding for parks, public safety, economic development, libraries, etc.

"Destination Bryan's goal has always been to improve the quality of life for our residents. Breaking these records shows that Bryan is becoming a destination of its own and we can expect to see continued growth in the tourism industry along with greater positive impact on the community from these outside revenues," said Destination Bryan Executive Director John Friebele.

The past few years have seen an upward trend in hotel revenue and visitor spend due to the variety of events hosted by Legends Event Center, The Brazos County Expo, Texas A&M University, Destination Bryan, and other community partners.

While weekend events such as home football games and the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo factored into this record breaking month, weekday events, such as the 101st Annual SWEMA Texas Meter School, Australian Shepherd Club of America National Specialty Show, and others, resulted in an 8.5% increase in weekday demand YOY.

“Bryan is significantly outperforming a strong statewide recovery in the hospitality sector,” said Destination Bryan’s Chairman, Spencer Clements, whose company also owns The Stella Hotel in Bryan. “John and his team at Destination Bryan are doing a great job in highlighting our city’s appeal, from our Historic Downtown to RELLIS to the new Legends Event Center at Midtown Park. October was very strong at The Stella, and not just because of home football games. It’s exciting to see multiple demand generators across the entire week, including a strong corporate traveler segment that is enjoying our region’s dining and entertainment options."

Abbreviations:
YOY - Year Over Year
YTD - Year To Date

Casey Barone, Events Coordinator, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the Christmas in College Station campaign, upcoming holiday events, earning reward points, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.