WTAW - Interviews

United Way of the Brazos Valley vice president of community impact Kat Gammon and Big Brothers Big Sisters Brazos Valley marketing and communications manager Maggie Lind visit with WTAW's Bill Oliver on September 18, 2023.

This podcast contains comments from the September 14, 2023 College Station city council meeting.

The College Station city council learns during their September 14th meeting that their parks board discussed earlier in the week about the future of the former site of the Texas Independence Ballpark.

That's after the council stopped construction due to soil quality issues.

Assistant city manager Jennifer Prochazka says the parks board was given a list of options for the property that is now called Southeast Park. Prochaska said staff will seek more input from the parks board and the public.

Prochazka's update came after former mayor Karl Mooney asked the council to consider the property on Rock Prairie Road west of Fitch for a recreation center that can be managed by the YMCA of Central Texas.

Mooney says an architect told him that a recreation center, possibly with a pool, would be more than sufficient to offset concerns of spending $10 to $16 million dollars to improve soil conditions that stopped the city's construction of four ballfields.

The council was not allowed by state law to respond to Mooney's comments because he spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.

As for the loss of four baseball fields at the former Independence complex, Prochazka said staff is collecting information from "the baseball community" and the final decision will ultimately be up to the council.

Councilman Dennis Maloney visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the future of Southeast Park, purchasing a new fire engine, rehabilitation of Marion Pugh, a budget amendment, approving a ROO in the Greater Southwood Valley subdivision, amending parking and access standards for Middle Housing, College Station's first Christmas parade, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Chris Lamb, Bryan Fire Department Paramedic, and EMS Chief D.J. Capener, visit with WTAW'S Chelsea Reber about the Mobile Health Unit, 911 dispatchers, mutual aid, how traffic calming devices can impact response time, and more during their appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the September 12, 2023 Bryan city council meeting.

The Bryan city council shows off plans for redeveloping about eight blocks north of the Northgate district into a mixed use area of housing and commercial uses that includes a boutique hotel and office space.

Acting as the city's commerce and development board, the council's private developer and Dallas based architect unveiled the transformation of 30 acres.

The area is generally bordered on the east by South College, to the south by the College Station city limits, to the west by Nagle Street, and to the north the Oak Terrace homeowners association.

Presentation materials showed more than 1,200 apartments, an undisclosed number of townhomes, a boutique hotel, and undisclosed retail and office space.

There is no timeline to start any construction.

The commerce and development board owns according to appraisal district records, around 30 lots. There is private ownership of more than 40 lots.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the September 12, 2023 Bryan city council meeting.

News release from the city of Bryan:

At the Sept. 12 Bryan Commerce and Development, Inc. meeting, the City of Bryan’s partners unveiled a redevelopment vision for a mixed-use destination featuring top-tier commercial and residential real estate that will also serve as a gateway to Texas A&M University and Historic Downtown Bryan.

The proposed redevelopment is located on South College Avenue across from Hensel Park, within walking distance of Century Square, and behind the Northgate Entertainment District. It is 2,200 feet from Texas A&M’s campus and less than 4 miles from Historic Downtown Bryan and Travis Bryan Midtown Park.

The City of Bryan has partnered with Lero & Associates, Inc. to acquire property, utilities and entitlements, and plan the development in order to secure a master developer to assist in creating a high-density, mixed-use community.

To visualize the redevelopment, the city has partnered with OMNIPLAN, a highly qualified architecture firm.

The project will utilize one of Bryan’s most viable redevelopment opportunities, align with future growth of the community, and continue to incorporate strategic partnerships to create a captivating and prosperous master-planned development.

Developments of this magnitude can take years to have a shovel-ready site with all preliminaries completed.

Further details will unfold as the project progresses.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW's Chelsea Reber about the EMS and Mobile Integrated Health program update, a recent water, wastewater and solid waste rate study, the floodplain management plan, extending Thornberry Drive, a new mixed-use development north of Northgate, and more during his appearance on the Infomaniacs.

The Sexual Assault Resource Center Director of Communications and Outreach, Kayla Duncan, visits with WTAW's Mikaylee Supak about a three week advocate training they are hosting starting September 26th

This podcast is a visit with Bryan/College Station Christmas parade spokeswoman Penny Zent and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

There will not be a 93rd Bryan/College Station Christmas parade.

Spokeswoman Penny Zent says there is not a replacement route since the center median was built on Texas Avenue.

Zent said the route had five requirements...streets in both cities had to be wide enough, there had to be a place to set up, a place to disband, a place where spectators could park and watch, and the ability for first responders to get to emergencies.

This podcast is a visit with United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss, the director of UWBV partner agency B/CS Prenatal Clinic Lynn Yeager, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

News release from the B/CS Prenatal Clinic:

The You’re the Tops Event Planning Committee is thrilled to announce a significant change of date for our much-anticipated event, the "You're The Tops" gala. Typically held in the springtime, we have made the exciting decision to move the luncheon event to an evening banquet event, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, to mark a very special occasion—the 30th anniversary of the "You're The Tops" event and the beginning of the 40th anniversary of The Prenatal Clinic.

Considering these momentous milestones, we are declaring November 2024 through December 2025 as the "Year of Celebration." This year-long celebration will honor the incredible journey and impact of The Prenatal Clinic while bringing renewed energy and excitement to the "30th Annual You're The Tops" gala.

The decision to shift the event date to November 19, 2024, has been made after careful consideration and with the intent of creating a grander and more memorable celebration for our attendees, sponsors, and partners. This change will allow us to ensure that the event exceeds all expectations and leaves a lasting impression on our community.

The "Year of Celebration" will feature a series of special events and initiatives beginning in mid-2024, with our 30th year of "You're The Tops" gala on November 19th and culminating with the 40th Anniversary Celebration in December 2025. These events will highlight the Clinic's achievements, the impact it has had on the community, and the incredible individuals who have supported us throughout our 40-year journey.

We believe that this change of date and the extended celebration will provide us with the opportunity to make this milestone year even more special and meaningful. We look forward to celebrating with all of you, our valued supporters, as we honor the past and embrace the future.

Stay tuned for more details about the "Year of Celebration" and the "You're The Tops" gala in the coming months.

The call for Honoree Nominations is planned for February 2024. Visit www.bcsprenatal.org for updates.

This podcast is a recording of the 75th anniversary program of the College Station city cemetery that was held September 8, 2023.

The program ended with the unveiling of a state historical marker.

The podcast begins with patriotic music from the Texas A&M Singing Cadets.

That is followed by the welcome, invocation, presentation of colors, singing the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags, and recognitions.

At 19 minutes, is a proclamation read by Brazos County judge Duane Peters and College Station mayor John Nichols.

At 22:11, is the reading of what is written on the state historical marker by the chairman of the College Station Historic Preservation Committee, Gerald Burgner.

At 26:26, is the biographies of eight names on the state historical marker from Sherry Frisk, who is a member of the College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the Brazos County Historical Commission.

At 45:55, is College Station mayor John Nichols accepting a U.S. flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol. Presenting the flag was Destiny Vargas, who is a district director for congressman Michael McCaul.

The emcee for the program is another member of the College Station Historic Preservation Committee, Tom Turbiville.