WTAW - Interviews

This podcast is a recording of Texas A&M interim president Mark Welsh's address to employees on August 15, 2023. Joining Welsh are the speaker of the A&M faculty senate Tracy Hammond and the chairwoman of the university staff council Sarah Franke.

This podcast is a visit with United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss, the city of College Station's community services director Debbie Eller, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Tickets are still available for United Way of the Brazos Valley's campaign kickoff event.

Go to uwbv.org for more information and buy tickets.

Previewing the event are United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss and city of College Station community services director Debbie Eller, who is the recipient of UWBV's first Johnny Burns impact award.

This podcast contains comments from the August 8, 2023 Bryan city council meeting.

The August regular meeting of the Bryan city council votes included purchasing two vehicles for the fire department.

Fire chief Richard Giusti says a SUV is replacing a model with 90,000 miles that was used to start the department's new community paramedic program.

That led into an update on the paramedic program, which responds to non-emergency medical calls instead of sending an ambulance and a fire engine.

Giusti said the current community paramedic vehicle is making more runs than the ambulance at BFD's station five.

And more than half of the $102,000 dollar cost is to comply with requirements on how to equip the vehicle.

Giusti also said the SUV and a new pickup truck will be equipped for other fire department functions.

Most of the cost of the pickup truck, which is also $102,000 dollars, will be picked up by a federal grant. It will be used, according to background information from the city, by BFD's training division, rescue response, and wildland fire response.

Click HERE to read and download background information about BFD's new community paramedic vehicle.

Click HERE to read and download background information about BFD's new pickup truck.

This podcast is a visit with state representative John Raney and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

State representative John Raney announces that he is not running for re-election next year.

Raney, who joined the legislature in 2011 to fill an unexpired term in the district that now covers most of Brazos County, says he will finish his sixth full term.

Raney, who expects to return to Austin for a third special session this fall, says he supports raises for public school teachers and he opposes school vouchers.

The day after Raney's news release, came announcements from candidates seeking the Republican nomination for house district 14 in the primary next March. They are retired Brazos County sheriff Chris Kirk and local businessman Larry Hodges.

Former representative Fred Brown, whose position was taken by Raney when Brown moved outside the district, initially announced he would file. Two days later, Brown posted on his Facebook page that he was dropping out and supporting Hodges.

The secretary of state's office says the first day to file for the March primary is this November 11th.

News release from the Raney for Texas campaign:

State Representative John Raney announced he will not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives. Rep. Raney has served House District 14, which comprises most of Bryan-College Station for seven terms.

“After much consideration, I have decided to not seek re-election in 2024 so that I may spend more time at home and on the road with my beautiful wife, Elizabeth, our daughters, their spouses, and our eight precious grandchildren. I am immensely proud and eternally grateful for the trust voters placed in me to serve the constituents of House District 14 and to represent them in the Texas Legislature in Austin. I cherish the experience, knowledge, and life-long friendships that developed along the way,” said Rep. Raney. “I will continue to be of service through the remainder of my current term.”

Rep. Raney’s legislative accomplishments include securing general and dedicated funding for Texas A&M University throughout each legislative session, mobile STEM lab funding, veteran job transition and student veteran protections, advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities, ensuring the safety and quality of child care, the creation of embryo donation for adoption, community college reporting transparency, collaborative health care for patients, energy efficiency savings for state buildings, Brazos County Court efficiency, the removal of barriers to access workforce development, and a Good Samaritan protection which created a defense to prosecution for anyone who calls 911 to aid an individual who appears to have experienced a drug overdose.

He is also proud of his work to pass historic property tax relief, provide additional funding and troops at the border, secure our elections, and increase funding for public education.

A sixth-generation Texan, Rep. Raney was sworn in during the 82nd Legislature in 2011. He is a Speaker-appointed member of the Energy Council and serves on numerous legislative caucuses. His committee assignments include six terms on the House Committee on Higher Education, four terms on Appropriations, two terms on Transportation where he currently serves as Vice Chair, three terms on House Administration, Land and Resource Management, and International Relations and Economic Development.

City Manager Bryan Woods visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about water conservation, property taxes, community paramedicine programs, issues at the Texas Independence Ballpark, enforcing rental occupancy, large city projects, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Sam Vernon, Assistant City Engineer, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the flood mitigation plan, preparing for floods, upcoming public meeting, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the August 7, 2023 Bryan ISD school board meeting.

Bryan ISD school board members approve more security measures in part to comply with a new state law.

Action during the August 7, 2023 meeting included negotiating with a private company whose website states they provide a "premier guard force". Board member Mark McCall says non-commissioned officers will be employed. How many will be employed and where they will be located was not disclosed.

The BISD board also agreed to buy what the agenda described as "nightlock door barricade devices". Assistant superintendent Kevin Beesaw said these devices would be used if there is a lockdown. Board member Mark McCall said "this is a device that applies to all classrooms, kindergarten all the way up through high school."

The BISD board also approved buying what the agenda described as "collaborative response graphics". Beesaw said they were detailed maps required by state law to show first responders the layout of each school building and the surrounding neighborhood.

The total cost of the door barricades and the maps were not disclosed, other than each will cost more than $50,000 dollars.

Beesaw said a grant from the Don and Donna Adam foundation will cover the cost of the barricade devices. The detailed maps will be paid by a combination of foundation and state money.
WTAW News has asked Bryan ISD for documents related to the purchase of the barricade devices and maps, and information about the company that administrators will negotiate a contract for the non-commissioned security personnel.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about a public hearing on the tax rate, legislation affecting city authority, overnight truck parking, a city-initiated rezoning, Texas Independence Ballpark, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a visit with the city of College Station's water resources coordinator Jennifer Nations and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

The city of College Station warns water customers that mandatory restrictions will be imposed because they can not keep up with demand.

Water resources coordinator Jennifer Nations says the city can keep with a demand of 22 million gallons per day. But consumption has increased to 25 million per day. And that's without most college students in town yet.

Nations says that doesn't leave College Station any room for to deal with calamities such as a major water leak or a fire or a well going off line.

If College Station implements stage one restrictions, that will limit customers to outdoor watering on two assigned days per week.

College Station already has a year round ban on outdoor watering between ten a.m. and six p.m.

This podcast is a visit with United Way of the Brazos Valley president Peggi Goss, development manager Kate Clair, and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

United Way of the Brazos Valley (UWBV) has started workplace visits as part of their 2023-24 community campaign.

Development manager Kate Clair says the organization has reached 30 percent of their $1.6 million dollar goal to benefit 28 agencies.

On August 18, UWBV hosts its campaign kickoff tailgate event at the Texas A&M hotel and conference center.

During that event, UWBV president Peggi Goss says there will be the presentation of the first UWBV Johnny Burns impact award. The first recipient is former UWBV board member Debbie Eller, who is the city of College Station's community services director.

Goss also reminded employees of state agencies that the state employees charitable campaign, which is administered in this region by UWBV, begins September 1.

UWBV news release about the first Johnny Burns impact award:

The United Way of the Brazos Valley will present the first annual Johnny Burns Impact Award at their Campaign Kickoff Tailgate event on August 18 at the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. This award honors the late Johnny Burns, former member of the United Way Board of Directors, and recognizes a public servant whose devotion has changed the future of the Brazos Valley.
Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr, Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas A&M University, will present this honor.

“Johnny Burns exemplified all that’s best about the Brazos Valley,” said Ramirez. “He generously gave of himself and his time to help improve the lives of those who live in the Brazos Valley through a life of service in city government and through his volunteer commitment to nonprofit organizations. His only desire was to make things better for all citizens of the Brazos Valley, and he lived a life of service that helped achieve that in numerous ways. He truly was a selfless servant in all that he did, and his efforts helped benefit others in ways that cannot be measured. He is the role model that all should strive to emulate – especially when it comes to giving of one’s self for their fellow man.”

The recipient of the 2023 Johnny Burns Impact Award is Debbie Stevens Eller, Director of Community Services at City of College Station. Eller has worked in Community Development for the City of College Station since 1999 and has over 20 years of experience volunteering with local service organizations and nonprofits, including 12 years on the United Way Board of Directors. She currently serves on United Way of the Brazos Valley’s Campaign Cabinet.

“There are no words to describe the impact Debbie has had on United Way of the Brazos Valley and our local nonprofits,” said Peggi Goss, President and CEO of United Way of the Brazos Valley. “For anyone who knows Debbie, they know she puts the needs of others at the forefront. She not only gives her time, but she also advocates for our neighbors in need.”

The 2023 Campaign Kickoff Tailgate will be held at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center on August 18 at 7:00 p.m. and feature dinner, live music and an auction to support the United Way of the Brazos Valley. For tickets and more information visit uwbv.org/kickoff.

The 2023 Campaign Kickoff Tailgate would not be possible without the support of local sponsors. United Way would like to thank Truist Bank, Atmos Energy, Element Retirement & Investment Consultants, Stylecraft Builders, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Texas A&M University Office of the President, The Texas A&M University System Office of the Chancellor, ABC Home and Commercial Services, American Momentum Bank, City of Bryan, Debbie Eller, Frost Bank, HEB, Prosperity Bank, Tito’s Vodka, and Razen Thomas, Realtor with Phyllis Browning Company.

For more information about sponsorship, contact Kate Clair at 979-696-4483 x. 118 or [email protected].