WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the October 10, 2023 Bryan city council meeting.

In May 2024, more than 2,000 people are expected to be at Midtown Park for a two day music festival called the "Big Barn Dance".

A preview of the event was given during Tuesday's (October 10, 2023) Bryan city council meeting.

On Wednesday and Thursday, festival organizers were in town to conduct a site visit.

The director of the Destination Bryan tourism office, John Friebele, says this will be the spring version of a festival that's been in Taos, New Mexico for more than 20 years...where the average age of spectators is the 60's.

Friebele told the council to be expecting requests for the city to provide in-kind services, ranging from fire and police services to electricity and solid waste.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the October 10, 2023 Bryan city council meeting.

This podcast is with Jacob DeLeon of Texas A&M's Big Event committee and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Organizers of the nation's largest university based student service project...Texas A&M's Big Event...have started taking requests for helping homeowners next year who want to receive a helping hand from Aggies.

Click HERE to be directed to the Big Event website's registration page.The date of the 2024 Big Event is March 23rd.

Sophomore Jacob DeLeon of Fort Worth, who is a recruitment executive, says the variety of projects is mostly anything that does not involve a power tool.

The Big Event website states "many residents normally request (but is not limited to) raking leaves, weeding, planting flowers, trenching, mulching, trimming trees,/ hedges, cleaning gutters, painting (both inside and outside), stripping paint, dusting, sweeping/ mopping, window washing, and general spring cleaning.

DeLeon says they are looking for more projects and student volunteers following a downturn during the pandemic.

The Big Event website says in 2023, 14,983 students worked on 1,932 projects. Before the pandemic, DeLeon said the average was 22,000 students working on 2,500 projects.

C-STEP Program Coordinator, Marivel Sanchez, visits with WTAW's Mikaylee Supak about the Texas Cancer Screening, Training, Education, and Prevention free services regarding breast, cervical, lung, liver, and colorectal cancer that are offered to low-income, uninsured, and/or underinsured community members of the Brazos Valley Region

Ross Brady, Assistant to the City Manager, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about College Station's 85th anniversary celebration, a new history wall at city hall, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Brad Stafford, Bryan's new Parks and Recreation Director, visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about his background, his initial thoughts on the department, progress at the Philips Event Center, his short term and long term goals, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the October 10, 2023 Bryan city council meeting.

The Bryan city council decides to hire the same company that was in charge of building the Legends Events Center and the same company that manages Legends for the city to design, build, and manage an indoor tennis center at Midtown Park.

The $17 million dollar facility will be paid for by the Texas A&M system.

That follows the council and A&M entering an interlocal agreement (ILA) allowing use by the university's tennis teams.

The ILA also requires completion of the building by August of 2025.

The council voted 6-1 to proceed with the design and construction. Ray Arrington voted no.

The council voted unanimously to amend the contract with the management company, which will be in charge of running both the Legends and tennis facilities.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the October 10, 2023 Bryan city council meeting regarding the design and construction of the indoor tennis building.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the design and construction of the indoor tennis building.

Click HERE to read and download background information about the management of the indoor tennis building.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the new floodplain management plan, the interlocal agreement with the county for EMS service, the capital improvement plan, approving a contract to design and build the new indoor tennis center at Midtown Park, a new event coming to Midtown Park, BlueForge, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County sheriff Wayne Dicky and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Brazos County sheriff's office has started a notification service for residents 65 and older who live outside the city limits and are living alone.

Sheriff Wayne Dicky says "R-U-OK" allows residents to receive up to three calls per week from volunteers.

Those who sign up can also receive emergency weather information and other automated calls from Brazos County's "Code Red" service.

Dicky estimates that there are as many as 8,000 residents who qualify.

Volunteers are also being recruited to place the calls.

More information to sign up and/or to volunteer can send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 979-775-RUOK (7865).

This podcast is a visit with Bob Colwell of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) office in Bryan and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Texas department of transportation (TxDOT) expects it will take seven years to develop where Interstate 14 will be built from south of Belton to Huntsville, and where to locate the I-214 loop connecting I-14 to Bryan/College Station.

You have the opportunity to tell TxDOT where you want the new highways to be built.Public meetings will be held in six cities to collect public opinions.

Bob Colwell at the TxDOT office in Bryan they want to be ready when funding becomes available.

Click HERE to be directed to the TxDOT webpage that contains more information about the I-14 central Texas corridor study.

Here is the schedule of the public meetings:

Wednesday, October 18, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Madisonville High School

Thursday, October 19, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Walker County Fairgrounds in Huntsville

Tuesday, October 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Grimes County Fairgrounds in Navasota

Wednesday, October 25, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Legends Event Center in Bryan

Wednesday, November 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hearne Elementary School

Thursday, November 2, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Yards of Cameron in Cameron

Colwell says anyone with general questions or concerns can contact the I-14 central Texas corridor study team at 979-484-7358 or e-mail [email protected] must be received or postmarked by Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, to be included in the official record of the open house.

Danny Morrison of Epicures Catering visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the 40th Annual Thanksgiving in the Brazos Valley.