WTAW - Interviews

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the RELLIS campus, development in Downtown Bryan, progress at Phillips Event Center, upcoming holiday events, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with the president of the Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention, Doug Vance, and WTAW's Mikaylee Supak.

You are invited to a first ever town hall discussion about suicide prevention and mental health in the Brazos Valley.

The Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention (BVCOSP) is hosting the gathering Thursday (September 28) from 6 until 8 p.m. in College Station at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (1001 Woodcreek Drive).

Coalition president Doug Vance says panelists have some sort of association with those who have taken their own life. Panelists represent survivors, family members and friends, schools, law enforcement, the faith based community, veterans, and mental health professionals.

Vance also says input from the town hall is hoped to lead to forming a workgroup to develop a plan to address suicide and mental health in the Brazos Valley.

News release from the Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention:

The Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention is hosting the first Town Hall Discussion: Suicide Prevention & Mental Health in the Brazos Valley on Thursday, September 28th from 6-8pm at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (1001 Woodcreek Dr, College Station, TX).

This event looks to focus on the community-wide need for prevention initiatives, as well as intervention and response plans to break down the barriers throughout the Brazos Valley.

Through panel member discussion and audience dialogue, BVCOSP hopes to generate important community input as we continue growing together in support of healthy initiatives.

Everyone plays a pivotal role in our community's pillars, as we help identify the needs of this community as they relate to suicide prevention and mental wellness.

Panel Members include: Family Members & Friends, Survivors, School/Education Representatives, Law Enforcement, Media Specialists, Faith-Based, Veterans, Mental Health Professionals, BVCOSP, Students, College/University Specialists, and more.

Join us at the forefront of developing further action plans and strategic goals for community-based response systems.

This event is free and open to the public, which will give members of the community the opportunity to address some key concerns, while sharing their insight to breaking down those identified barriers even further.

Panel members will be given the opportunity to share the work they do, how it relates to the program topic & community, and aid in responding to community initiatives presented throughout the evening.

As this is a community-wide event, we look to help those in attendance understand more about the response to these critical issues our community faces on a daily basis.

To register for this event, please visit https://sptownhall23.eventbrite.com. If you or someone you know is having suicidal ideation or thoughts, please call 988 or our local line at (979) 450-1752.

For more information about getting involved with BVCOSP, visit www.bvcosp.com or email [email protected].

This podcast is a visit recorded September 25, 2023 with Peggi Goss of United Way of the Brazos Valley, Kim Schams of UWBV partner agency Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Susan Ballabina, Senior Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer at Texas A&M University, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about providing feedback on "The Path Forward", a quick look assessment by interim President Welsh, the timeline of The Aplin Center, Ring Day, recent rankings of the university, OPAS, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with the director of the RELLIS academic alliance, James Nelson, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The Bryan city council holds special meetings the last two Tuesdays in September on topics associated with the Texas A&M system's RELLIS campus.

Tuesday, September 26, the agenda calls for the council to tour the following facilities on the RELLIS campus...the Bush Combat Development Complex, the Proving Grounds, the Reveille Commercial Driver Training School, and the Agriculture and Workforce Education Complex.

The special meeting begins and ends at the RELLIS Academic Complex, where the council will receive presentations from A&M system and agency representatives.

A special council meeting was held on September 19 to approve a resolution to enter a partnership with the RELLIS academic alliance and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

The director of the academic alliance, James Nelson, told WTAW News the partnership is applying for a federal grant to fund workforce training agreement.

Nelson says the first phase is to develop a plan to attract 25 to 54 year olds who are willing to learn a trade that is needed in the Brazos Valley and Coastal Bend regions of Texas.

Click HERE to read and download the resolution that was adopted by the Bryan city council on September 19, 2023.

Jennifer Nations, Water Resources Coordinator, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about water usage, water restrictions, moisture meters, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County precinct one constable Jeff Reeves, precinct one justice of the peace Kenny Elliott, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

At least ten years in the making, the Brazos County precinct one constable and justice of the peace are in a county-owned building.

Constable Jeff Reeves and J.P. Kenny Elliott recently moved into a nearly $2 million dollar building in College Station at Fitch and Barron Cut Off Road, which Reeves believes is the last county office to move from leased space.

There is an open house on Friday (September 22) from three until six p.m., with a chamber of commerce ribbon cutting at 4:30.

Both were involved in the design of the joint offices, which they say gives them increased security, more parking, and a jury its own room for deliberations.

Joey Dunn, Deputy City Manager, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about single family permits, hotel occupancy tax, new development projects, the plan of a multiuse development north of Northgate, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the first College Station Christmas parade, this Saturday's SEC tailgate, middle housing, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the Childhood Cancer Summit, the prisoner swap with Iran, the possibility of a government shutdown, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.