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Featured – KWHI.com

KWHI 1280 Brenham, Texas

A judge is questioning Blue Bell’s defense in a shareholder lawsuit connected to the deadly 2015 listeria outbreak.

According to a report from Bloomberg Law, during a hearing for the case Discover Property & Casualty Insurance et al versus Blue Bell Creameries USA Inc., a judge in the Delaware Chancery Court challenged arguments by Blue Bell that there was not a connection between high levels of coliform bacteria found in its facilities and listeria contamination. The presence of coliform bacteria is usually harmless, but can be an indicator of sanitation problems.

Per the report, Blue Bell began testing for pathogens after the U.S. Army, an important customer for the company, repeatedly flagged high coliform levels as a concern. Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook said the testing implemented by Blue Bell “seems to be extraordinarily difficult to reconcile with the assertion that management believed there was zero connection between the coliform and the presence of pathogens,” adding, “That’s extraordinary tension in the evidence.

Shareholder attorneys claimed managers for Blue Bell did not inform the board about the food safety risks that led to the listeria outbreak, and they argued the managers had too much authority to decide what was important to share about company operations. However, current and former officials from Blue Bell previously testified that they met more often than most boards, and that important food safety information was available before the outbreak.

The original plaintiff, Jack Marchand, died in 2022. His estate, which is now leading the lawsuit, estimates Blue Bell suffered $346 million in damages stemming from the outbreak. Should the court determine that Blue Bell’s management failed in its oversight, directors and officers at the time could be found personally liable for damages.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a fatal rear-end collision involving an 18-wheeler this (Monday) afternoon on Highway 36 in Washington County.

The crash was reported just before 12:45 p.m. at the highway’s intersection with FM 390.

DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz said preliminary information indicates a 2007 Peterbilt and a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe were traveling northbound on Highway 36. Ruiz said as the Peterbilt slowed to make a right-hand turn onto FM 390, the Chevrolet failed to control its speed and struck the rear of the 18-wheeler. The SUV caught fire after the impact.

The driver of the Chevrolet, identified as 84-year-old Thomas Jarrell of Brenham, was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Brenham, where he succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Peterbilt was also taken to Baylor Scott & White in Brenham with injuries believed to be minor.

A trial date is set for a Washington man accused in a fatal shooting in Brenham in 2023, and who was recently booked back into jail after reportedly violating the conditions of his bond.

Jotore Jamichael Eulee Moore
(Washington Co. Jail)According to Washington County District Attorney Derek Estep, jury selection is slated to begin on October 19th for 19-year-old Jotore Jamichael Eulee Moore, who is charged with Murder in the death of 17-year-old Marquis Williams after a shooting outside the VFW Hall on April 1, 2023. A pre-trial hearing is planned on August 27th.

Moore, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, was originally detained in May 2023. He was certified in June 2024 to be tried as an adult and was indicted in September 2024.

Per Estep, Moore posted $100,000 bail on January 16, 2025. Moore was rebooked into jail this past Thursday, August 6th after Estep said the court was made aware that Moore had violated the conditions of his in-house arrest, leading to the issuance of a warrant.

Moore is in custody for the Murder charge and a misdemeanor charge of Evading Arrest/Detention, which the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said is from a separate incident that took place last month.

According to Estep, no bail is to be set prior to Moore’s appearance before the court.

The Brenham Fire Department thanks the community for showing its support at the 57th Annual Fireman’s Fiesta.

(KTEX-106)While final totals are still being determined, Brenham Fire Department Volunteer Assistant Chief Stephen Draehn said this past weekend’s event had great turnout and called it a “solid, solid fundraiser.”

According to Draehn, Saturday’s pitch tournament had 34 teams signed up, while on Sunday, the department sold approximately 1,526 drive-thru and dine-in meal tickets and 613 books of drawing tickets. Preliminary figures show the auction raised around $42,000, and a poker chip drawing raised about $2,500.

Draehn said the department cannot express enough gratitude for all of the donations and support.

Among the contributors to the event was the Brenham H-E-B, who donated $5,000 towards the purchase of the meat served.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to fund the purchase of rescue tools and equipment for the department’s new ladder truck, which is expected to arrive in February 2027.

(courtesy David, KTEX-106)

Multiple Washington County volunteer fire departments battled a mobile home fire in the early morning hours on Sunday between Brenham and Burton.

The Berlin Volunteer Fire Department says just after midnight, it responded to a reported structure fire in the 2600 block of Helm Road. Units from the Burton, Rocky Creek and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched as mutual aid.

When firefighters arrived, they found a single-wide mobile home with heavy fire on the back porch and the inside of the structure. The departments attacked the interior in order to stop the spread of the flames.

The home sustained major damage, but there were no injuries to any civilians or firefighters. A pet was rescued from the structure and returned to the resident to receive veterinary care. The American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to those impacted by the fire.

Other agencies assisting on scene were Washington County EMS, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County CERT Team.

Washington County Commissioners will vote on Tuesday on the issuance of certificates of obligation (COs) pertaining to the proposed judicial center project.

The judicial center, which would carry the issuance of up to $45 million in COs, would be a roughly 70,000-square-foot facility that houses two district courtrooms, a county court at law courtroom, and a community space that can serve as an extra courtroom. It would also include a detention area for inmates that connects to the jail via a secure inmate corridor.

Another project that was originally considered for COs, a $16 million covered rodeo arena at the Washington County Expo, is now expected to go for a bond election this fall after commissioners opted to only put the judicial center on the CO issuance.

County officials have cited the likelihood of increased costs down the line, whether with potential interest rate hikes or inflation with construction and infrastructure expenses, as large reasons for wanting to pursue the COs, since funding from them would come in more quickly than a bond election. Some residents, though, have started a petition process with the goal of having both proposals appear on the ballot, arguing that the public should be able to vote on the projects given their estimated cost.

The estimated tax rate increase for both projects would be $0.0395, while the rate would go up $0.0260 for just the judicial center. The county says many qualifying homeowners age 65 and older would see little or no increases to their homestead taxes, because of the senior homestead exemption and tax ceiling.

Later, commissioners will look to approve an order for the November 3rd general election as recommended by the Texas Secretary of State. The deadline for the county to order an election, whether for the general election or a special election, is Monday, August 17th.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners will:

Consider the Washington County Fair Trail Ride right-of-way permit application.
Vote on a resolution and contract amendment to commit up to $21,535 towards the cost of an archeological study in support of a Community Development Block Grant Mitigation contract through the execution of an amendment to the grant administration services between the county and GrantWorks, Inc.
Act on an order of public interest and the plat revision for the Bluebonnet Ridge subdivision.
Accept a $300 donation from Burton Friends and Neighbors for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Consider the official bond for sheriff’s office reserve deputy, Erik Marmol.
Act on the appointment and the official bond for David Blakey as reserve deputy constable with the Washington County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office.
Read a proclamation recognizing August 11th as 811 Day in Washington County and encouraging safe digging practices.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Tuesday's meeting.

The Burton City Council on Tuesday will potentially adopt subdivision regulations and propose a higher property tax rate.

A public hearing will be held to receive comments on the proposed subdivision ordinance before taking a vote on whether to approve the ordinance, which has been the subject of long-running discussion between councilmembers and the public.

A subdivision ordinance committee was created last summer to review regulations of similar-size towns and provide recommendations on the types of land use regulations that would best fit Burton.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, councilmembers will look to propose a property tax rate of $0.4200 per $100 valuation, made up of $0.0900 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.3300 for interest and sinking (I&S). The rate would be over 8 cents more than the existing tax rate of $0.3363, which consists of $0.43823 for M&O and $0.292477 for I&S.

A public hearing for the proposed rate is expected to be held on Tuesday, September 8th at 5:30 p.m.

Other action items will include the possible replacement of the wastewater treatment plant pump, a contract through the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Utilities Technical Assistance Program, the 2025-26 Fiscal Year audit presented by Medack & Oltmann LLP, and closing a segment of the state highway system in the downtown area for the Trick or Treat Trail on October 24th.

The council will meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Burton City Hall.

The Burton School Board will gather on Monday for its last meeting before the new school year begins.

The board will consider the proposed tax rate to be published and will set the public meeting date to discuss the rate and the proposed budget.

At their meeting last month, trustees received information on a potential budget with general fund expenditures of $11,520,000, up from the current adopted general fund budget of $11,401,555.

Other business will include action on the 2026-27 districtwide, elementary and secondary campus improvement plans, as well as meal prices and the student code of conduct. The board will also take up an annual item designating Washington County extension agents as adjunct staff members.

Additionally, trustees will hear a bond construction update and review the student, staff, organizational and student activity handbooks.

The board will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the Burton ISD Cafeteria. The meeting will be held after the Meet the Teacher event from 4 to 6 p.m. and the Meet the Panthers rally at 6 p.m.

Youth in Washington County 4-H were honored for their accomplishments Friday night at the annual 4-H Family Night and Awards Banquet at the Washington County Expo.

The theme was Rooted in America – Growing in 4-H, a patriotic theme in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, with a presentation of colors by the Brenham High School MCJROTC and recognition of veterans.

4-Hers were commended for their participation in project areas and received scholarships and special awards, while volunteer leaders were recognized for their contributions, senior 4-Hers gave retiring remarks, and new officers were installed.

Awards presented on Friday include:

Friend of 4-H Award: KWHI
4-H Family of the Year Award: the Merten Family
4-H Alumni of the Year Award: Megan Fridye
Rookie of the Year Award: Cassidy Bilski
Bronze Star Award: Blaine Winkelmann, Dallas Fuchs, Clara Fehrle
Silver Star Award: Gretchen Merten, Khloe Leasure, Lonna Wunderlich
Gold Star Award: Calvin Wunderlich, Matthew Philips
Rising Star Award: Knowles Koehler, Colt Niemeyer, Madison Fridye
Workhorse Award: Brooke Mulder, Ali Tiemann, Teagan Courade
I Dare You Award: Colton Bilski, Kinleigh Guidry, Mallory Winkelmann

Scholarship recipients include:

4-H Opportunity Scholarship: Calvin Wunderlich, Colin Schomburg, McKenzie Tiemann, Taylor Groce
Bluebonnet Master Gardener Scholarship: Paige Fritsch
Washington Extension Education Association Scholarship: McKenzie Tiemann, Calvin Wunderlich
LaNell Seeker Memorial Scholarship: McKenzie Tiemann
Washington County 4-H Scholarship: Colin Schomburg, Taylor Groce, McKenzie Tiemann, Calvin Wunderlich, Teagan Thompson, Kylie Chalmers, Hagen Frank, Paige Fritsch, Kinley Kroll, Caleb Landry, Haileigh Lange, Paige Marth, Caleb Mauer, Matthew Philips, Carter Poehlmann, Cooper Swor

The 2025-26 Washington County Council Officers were recognized for their service: Mallory Winkelmann, McKenzie Tiemann, Hailey Rudloff, Dawson Moran, Kinleigh Guidry, Bailee Wilson, Ali Tiemann, Calvin Wunderlich, Matthew Philips and Colton Bilski.

The newly installed 2026-27 county council officers are: Colton Bilski, Ali Tiemann, Hailey Rudloff, Mallory Winkelmann, Brooke Mulder, Lane Damron, Bailee Wilson, Kinleigh Guidry, Dawson Moran and Barrett Merten.

All photos courtesy Christy Moran:

Family of the Year: The Merten FamilyFriend of 4-H: KWHIRookie of the Year: Cassidy Bilski4-H Bronze Star: Blaine Winkelmann, Clara Fehrle (not pictured is Dallas Fuchs)4-H Silver Star: Khloe Leasure, Gretchen Merten, Lonna Wunderlich4-H Gold Star: Matthew Philips4-H Gold Star: Calvin Wunderlich4-H Rising Star: Knowles Koehler, Colt Niemeyer (not pictured is Madison Fridye)4-H Workhorse: Teagan Courade, Brooke Mulder, Ali Tiemann4-H I Dare You: Mallory Winkelmann, Colton Bilski, Kinleigh Guidry4-H Opportunity Scholarships: Calvin Wunderlich, Taylor Groce, McKenzie Tiemann, Colin SchomburgLaNell Seeker Memorial Scholarship: McKenzie TiemannWashington County 4-H Scholarships: Colin Schomburg, Taylor Groce, McKenzie Tiemann, Calvin Wunderlich, Teagan Thompson
(not pictured are Kylie Chalmers, Hagen Frank, Paige Fritsch, Kinley Kroll, Caleb Landry, Haileigh Lange, Paige Marth, Caleb Mauer, Matthew Philips, Carter Poehlmann and Cooper Swor)Newly installed 2026-27 Washington County Council Officers with 4-H Agent Kailyn Capps (left)

Brenham ISD Child Nutrition Director Kasandra Davis was presented on Thursday with the honor of 2026 No Kid Hungry Summer Hunger Hero.

Kasandra Davis is presented the Summer Hunger Hero
Award by the national anti-hunger nonprofit No Kid
Hungry during a ceremony on Thursday at the Brenham
ISD tax office. Davis is pictured along with Brenham
ISD child nutrition team members and administrators.No Kid Hungry, a national anti-hunger nonprofit organization, recognized Davis for her work in launching a free, non-congregate summer meal program, providing meals to go for students to ensure they received nutritious meals during their time away from school.

Davis credited the child nutrition team and the community for the award, saying the summer meal program would not have been possible without them.

According to Davis, 98,792 meals were served throughout the months of June and July. That total is more than eight times the number of meals served last summer, and it generated an additional $343,143 in federal reimbursement to support the child nutrition program. Davis also said they served five times the number of children initially expected.

As part of the recognition ceremony on Thursday, Davis was presented a resolution from State Representative Trey Wharton and a congratulatory letter from State Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine said Davis and her team have been very successful and that Brenham ISD is very fortunate to have her, adding that this is just one example of what she and this program are able to accomplish.

The Brenham Cub Band is ready for another season of performances, and it kicked off its year today (Friday) with the annual March-a-Thon.

Each year, the band travels through town to mark the beginning of fall sports and marching activities.

Community members and supporters cheered the band on as it played marching tunes and other songs.

The tradition also serves as a way to fundraise for the band program. Anyone interested in donating can reach out to Band Director Eric Rettig at erettig@brenhamk-12.net.

Click here to watch a video of the March-a-Thon.

Seven people pleaded guilty and were sentenced this week in 21st and 335th District Court, before Judge Reva Towslee Corbett.

35-year-old Bracken Bailey Bowen of Brenham, sentenced to 8 years in prison for Burglary of a Habitation, a second degree felony.

40-year-old Todd Christian Johnson of San Marcos, probation revoked and sentenced to 4 years in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, 4-200 Grams, a second degree felony.

41-year-old Justin James Rogers of Somerville, sentenced to 3 years in prison for Evading Arrest/Detention with Previous Conviction, a second degree felony.

33-year-old Garrett Sunderhuse of Brenham, sentenced to 8 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle, a third degree felony. Sunderhuse was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and a $50 crime stoppers fee, and he must perform 200 hours of community service.

32-year-old Carolyn Howard of Brenham, sentenced to 6 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a second degree felony. Howard must pay a $500 fine and $50 crime stoppers fee, in addition to performing 100 hours of community service. Howard was also sentenced to 5 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Injury to a Child, a third degree felony. For that offense, she must pay a $50 crime stoppers fee and complete a batterers intervention program.

23-year-old Miguel Angel Aguayo of Brenham, sentenced to 3 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Assault of a Family Member Impeding Breath, a third degree felony. Aguayo must also pay a $2,000 fine, a $100 family violence fee and a $50 crime stoppers fee. Additionally, he must complete a batterers intervention program and maintain no contact with the victim in the case. The court affirmed a family violence finding.

22-year-old Serena Marie Blevins of Burton, sentenced to 1 year of deferred adjudication probation for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, a Class A misdemeanor. Blevins will also have to perform 40 hours of community service.

Members of the Brenham High School MCJROTC were honored on Thursday, receiving their national championship rings.

Both the Unarmed and Armed Divisions earned top honors at the Marine Corps National Drill Championship in April.

Brenham ISD says the rings “represent countless hours of hard work, discipline, teamwork, dedication, and an unforgettable year for the MCJROTC program.”

The championship rings were sponsored by various businesses and individuals in the community. Brenham ISD thanks all of the community supporters who made it possible for the cadets to receive the rings.

(photos courtesy Brenham ISD)

Next Tuesday, Washington County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on whether to issue $45 million in certificates of obligation to build a new Judicial Center next to the County Jail. An additional $16 million for a covered rodeo arena at the Washington County Expo has been removed from what was originally $61 million in certificates of obligation. Voters will decide the fate of that project during a bond election in November. However, a petition drive has been underway to force the Commissioners to put the Judicial Center up for a bond election, decided by the voters.

The new Judicial Center has been in the planning for over a decade. A building that probably would have cost maybe $15 million back then is now proposed for $45 million. While the Judicial Center is badly needed, I’m disappointed that the County chose to bypass the voters. Unfortunately, they tried to lump the covered rodeo arena into the CO’s by declaring the Expo grounds a park. While totally legal, that didn’t sit well with county residents who would rather see more money spent on roads. Since the Judicial Center will be primarily for criminal cases, I’ve heard grumbling from voters that say they’ll never see a benefit from that $45 million building because they’ll never have to walk through its doors. On the flip side, with the new building you’ll hopefully never have to conduct business in a courthouse with criminals waiting in the hallways. I’ve also heard the argument that $45 million should not be spent for a Taj Mahal building for criminals….that it should be a plain metal building that serves its purpose.

Here’s my take. Yes, the Judicial Center is badly needed. I would hope the building is kept as modest as possible, but you know how politicians like to see their name on fancy buildings. The County Commissioners should have moved on this project a decade ago. This supposed rush to get it approved before interest rates rise could have been avoided even with a bond election, had they started earlier. This is the largest project, by far, that Washington County has ever proposed. It should have been on the ballot as a bond election long ago. Now, the number of signatures on petitions will determine who gets to make the decision, the Commissioners or the voters. And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.

Washington County Commissioners will vote Tuesday on instituting a burn ban, amid continued dry conditions.

A copy of the burn ban order that will be
considered by Washington County
Commissioners at Tuesday's meeting.If approved, the burn ban order will go into effect on Thursday, October 16th at 11:59 p.m. and last for 90 days, or until the restrictions are ended. The order prohibits outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of the county, with violations punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Several area counties are currently under burn ban, including Burleson, Colorado, Fayette and Lee counties.

Other items that commissioners will consider include an amendment to the county’s professional engineering services contract with Strand Associates, a property access agreement with Charlie P. Bryan for a drainage project along Old Bryan Road in Precinct 3, declaring several fleet items as surplus property and agreeing to sell them through Mark Switzer Land & Auction, and the purchase of perpetual licensing for the security information and event management logging software called ManageEngine Log360.

In other business, the court will:

Act on a final plat for the Oak Hill Reserve subdivision, consisting of eight lots located along Brown College Lane in Precinct 1.
Consider an oil and gas development permit for Magnolia Oil and Gas Operating, LLC on FM 1697 in Precinct 4.
Hear a formal presentation of a preliminary plat for the Windmill Ridge subdivision, consisting of 41 lots located along FM 2193 in Precinct 1.
Hear a formal presentation of a preliminary plat for the Maplewood subdivision, consisting of 12 lots along FM 2935 in Precinct 3.
Discuss a formal notice from Magnolia Oil and Gas Operating, LLC for a temporary lay-flat water line along the county right-of-way of Sandstone Road in Precinct 4.
Read a proclamation recognizing the month of October as Paint the Town Pink in Washington County.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

Brenham police released information on Friday about a fatal rollover crash this past Saturday that led to the death of a Brenham man.

(submitted photo)Shortly after 4 p.m., Brenham police officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Highway 290 West in reference to an accident.

According to police, their preliminary investigation revealed that a 2003 GMC Sierra was traveling westbound when the driver lost control of the vehicle after the wheels left the roadway, causing the vehicle to flip and land on its roof.

The driver, identified as 28-year-old Adam Glenn Rodgers, was reportedly ejected from the vehicle. Police said he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Police say their investigation is ongoing and that no further details are available at this time.

According to a GoFundMe created by family members to assist with memorial expenses, Rodgers was traveling with his two children when the accident occurred. They both survived the crash and were treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

Washington County officials say air quality issues at the county’s 911 dispatch center have been resolved.

The 911 Communications Facility at 301 North
Baylor Street in Brenham.Following issues first reported on Wednesday, the county said in an update today (Friday) that air quality testing conducted at the dispatch center at 301 North Baylor Street in Brenham “showed results within safe, normal, and acceptable parameters.” The update included an assessment from K3 Consulting that the facility is safe to occupy.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said, “Our dispatchers are dedicated to keeping our community safe, and we are equally committed to ensuring they have a healthy and safe workplace.”

The county also said that the City of Brenham, which leases the dispatch facility to Washington County, has scheduled a comprehensive cleaning of the building’s air ducts next week. The county thanked the city for its “prompt attention and proactive efforts in addressing this matter.”

Camp For All’s annual fall gala on Thursday brought the community together for a record-breaking night in support of the nonprofit’s mission of providing an accessible, barrier-free camp experience.

Camp For All raised over $500,000, including
approximately $34,500 from eight live auction
items, at its annual gala on Thursday at the
Fireman's Training Center in Brenham.Nearly 400 people filled the Fireman’s Training Center in Brenham for a catered dinner, live and silent auctions and a drawing to raise more than $500,000 in funding for Camp For All’s programs and operations. They also got a glimpse into how the organization impacts thousands of lives every year and honored individuals who make its work possible.

Camp For All President and CEO Pat Prior Sorrells said the nonprofit has served nearly 200,000 campers since first opening in 1998, helping campers of all ages with special needs or challenges to discover life.

Robert and Marita Mikeska (in center) were honored
for their contributions to Camp For All at the
organization's annual gala on Thursday. Also
pictured are Camp For All President and CEO Pat
Prior Sorrells (left) and Camp Friends Board Chair
Jack Maddox (right).The theme for the evening was “Bubbles and Brews – A Toast For All!” Special guests Marita and Robert Mikeska were recognized for their many years of contributions. Former camper Kenzie Kelley spoke on how Camp For All allowed her to turn her “can’ts” into “cans”.

Camp Friends Board Chair Jack Maddox said Camp For All covers the fees for many of its campers to participate, with the rest covered by supporting nonprofits. He said events like these do a great deal for raising awareness for what the nonprofit seeks to accomplish, and he is grateful for the strong support it continues to receive.

Kenzie Kelley, former camper at Camp For All,
shares experiences from her time at the camp
during the organization's annual gala on Thursday. Proceeds from the gala’s live auction alone raised $34,500 from eight donated items, including $8,000 from an art piece by Alli Stark crafted using stems and leaves collected from the Camp For All grounds. Additionally, tens of thousands of dollars were pledged during the “Send a Camper to Camp” portion of the evening, allowing supporters to donate toward facility upgrades, supplies and other operational improvements.

The town of Chappell Hill will greet thousands of visitors this weekend for the 48th – and what appears to be the final – Scarecrow Festival.

(Eilish, KTEX-106)Hosted by the Chappell Hill Historical Society, the fall festival happening tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday will have two full days of shopping, food and entertainment in downtown. The festival is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Historical Society President Steve Trevino, speaking during Tuesday’s Community Corner on KWHI, said the costs associated with hosting the festival and the number of volunteers drove the decision to make this festival the last one. However, discussions are underway to potentially bring it back in a different way in the future.

Trevino invites everyone to enjoy browsing through over 250 vendors selling a variety of items, food and drinks at the food court and biergarten, and games and a pumpkin patch in the kids’ court in the Poplar Lot.

Admission to the festival is free, and parking is $10. Money raised will help the Historical Society preserve local historic buildings.

To learn more, visit https://chappellhillhistoricalsociety.com or the Chappell Hill Scarecrow Festival Facebook page.

KTEX-106’s David and Cowboy Dave will have live reports from the festival tomorrow morning on KWHI and KTEX-106.

Four people pleaded guilty and were sentenced this week in 21st and 335th District Court before Judge Carson Campbell.

20-year-old Cado Sakai Traylor of Brenham, sentenced to 10 years in prison for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a second degree felony.

25-year-old Harold Jaquay Howard of Brenham, probation adjudicated and sentenced to 3 years in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, 4-200 Grams, a second degree felony.

43-year-old Earl Alexander Daniels of Brenham, sentenced to 801 days in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, 1-4 Grams, a third degree felony.

27-year-old Caleb Oliver Teas of La Grange, sentenced to 6 years’ probation for Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a second degree felony. Teas was also ordered to pay $100 to the EMS Trauma Fund, perform 200 hours of community service, and complete DWI and drug offender education programs.

Today (Friday) is the day for the youth livestock auction at the 98th Annual Austin County Fair.

(courtesy Austin Co. Fair Association)The sale gets underway at 10 a.m. in the Expo building at the fairgrounds in Bellville, with hundreds of sale lots to be featured.

Today’s activities at the fair will also include the country store, carnival and rodeo. This evening’s entertainment will have a comedy rodeo-style variety show with Gizmo McCracken at 5 and 7 p.m., David Lewis at 8 p.m. and Braxton Keith at 10 p.m.

It is also Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day, where the Austin County Fair Association will donate $1 to the American Cancer Society for every pink ribbon given out at the gate to someone wearing pink.

KTEX-106’s David and Cowboy Dave will be at the fair for live reports in the KTEX Country Cruiser. David will also introduce tonight’s bands.

More information is available at www.austincountyfair.com.

Brenham ISD officials and community supporters held another town hall on Thursday to offer information about the district’s two propositions coming up on the November ballot.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Clay
Gillentine speaks to those in attendance
at a town hall on Thursday at the
Washington County Expo. The town hall
provided details about the district's voter
approval tax rate election and $39 million
bond proposal in November. The meeting was organized by Citizens Uniting for Brenham Schools (CUBS) and was held at the Washington County Expo Event Center.

Representatives from the district and members of its strategic planning committee provided an overview of the voter approval tax rate election (VATRE) and $39 million bond measure that will be considered by voters this fall.

The VATRE would use an increased property tax rate to add $2.45 million in maintenance and operations (M&O) funding, going toward teacher and staff pay raises and operational needs. Proceeds from the $39 million bond, which avoids raising the tax rate because of the district’s early debt payments, would tackle high-priority capital projects like HVAC, roofing and plumbing across several campuses.

KWHI broadcasted the town hall and livestreamed it on our Facebook page. A link to watch the livestream can be found here.

CUBS will also host a staff forum on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at Citizens State Bank and is scheduling meetings with community organizations. Any groups who would like to set up a meeting, or anyone who has questions about the elections, can email cubs4brenham@gmail.com.

Election Day is November 4th. Early voting will take place October 20-31.

Additional information about the election proposals can be seen at https://brenhamisd.net.

Two oak trees on the south side of the Washington County Courthouse lawn will soon be coming down.

Two Shumard Oak trees facing Alamo Street on the
south side of the Washington County Courthouse
will be coming down on Sunday, after an arborist
found them to have major decay and root damage.Washington County officials announced via social media that two Shumard Oaks facing Alamo Street, one next to the gazebo on the southwest corner of the square and another near the southeast corner, will be removed on Sunday.

According to the county, the two trees have been declining in health and were determined by an arborist to have “significant decay and root damage.” The county said removing the trees is “necessary for everyone’s safety”, but as part of its courthouse restoration project, replacement trees will be considered.

Crews will begin their work on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and expect to wrap up within 4 hours.

Travelers should prepare for possible street closures on Alamo and South Park Streets while the removal is occurring. Detour signage will be posted if necessary.

A graphic showing which trees on the courthouse lawn will be coming down.
(courtesy Washington County)

A Chappell Hill business owner and former United States Air Force officer is running for Washington County Commissioner of Precinct 2.

Jim Chisolm
(courtesy photo)Jim Chisolm has announced his intent to seek the Republican nomination for the commissioner seat held by Candice Bullock, who will not be vying for another term in office.

Jim and his wife, Susan, own and operate Texas Star Winery. Over his career, he has been a CEO of several healthcare organizations, including his own that he formed in 2000, Peregrine Healthcare LLC, which he has since sold to his partners.

Chisolm served as a consultant for numerous healthcare companies across Texas and the nation, providing guidance on operational and financial management, strategic planning and contracting. He has been involved in the process of several multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions, and he has extensive experience in hospital operations, health plan management, insurance, physician practice management, marketing, revenue cycle, and staff development.

Chisolm thanks Commissioner Bullock for her service and says he wants to use his business experience and problem-solving skills to plan for the future. He says his focus will be on adopting a fiscally conservative budget and tax rate to reflect the values of the community, maintaining open and transparent communication with residents, and ensuring that every county department operates efficiently. He says he plans to hold listening sessions with voters in the coming weeks, adding, “We must plan strategically to preserve our resources, strengthen our economy, and maintain the quality of life that makes this community so special.”

Chisolm earned his Doctor of Business Administration with honors from Northcentral University in 2022, an MBA from the University of Dallas in 1984, and a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in 1981. He served in the United States Air Force from 2001 to 2012 as a Major in the Medical Services Corps, 433rd Medical Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and the 944th Medical Squadron, Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona as the Squadron Executive Officer. His honors include the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass. He holds the rank of Colonel - Commemorative Air Force, life member.

Chisolm is a Master Mason with Hebert Lodge #67 in Chappell Hill and a past board member of the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a former board member of the Washington County Boys and Girls Club and now is on their Advisory Committee. In addition, he served on the Hotel Occupancy Tax Grant Board for the county.

Avery Maurer and her family (Cubette Softball)As the countdown is on to the start of their Senior season, three members of the Brenham Cubette Softball Team held their Signing Day Ceremonies this (Wednesday) morning at Brenham High School.

In front of family, friends, and fans, SS Avery Maurer committed to Sam Houston State University, OF Sarah Mabie committed to Angelina College, and RHP Heidi Busker committed to Gettysburg College.

Sarah Mabie and her family (Cubette Softball)Maurer is a four year starter on Varsity, and is a second generation Cubette. Last season as a junior, she had a .356 batting average, a .454 on-base precentage, and a .545 slugging percentage. Maurer also added three homers, 17 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.

Mabie, who is also a four year starter on Varsity, hit .417 last season, with a .738 slugging percentage, a .450 batting average, nine doubles, three triples, six homers, and 34 RBIs.

Heidi Busker and her family (Cubette Softball)Both Maurer and Mabie were First Team All District Selections.

Busker, who transferred to Brenham for her sophomore season, will be in her third season with the Cubettes. Last season, she went 5-7 with a 2.63 ERA and two saves.

TAFE Participants (Brenham ISD)Brenham High School students got the chance to showcase their talents and commitment to education at the Area 5 Texas Association of Future Educators Leadership Conference and Competition.

The conference was held this past Monday at Sam Houston State University. Several Brenham students qualified for State, which is being held in February in Galveston. Qualifiers include:

Breakout Session: Magali Silva, Liliana Gonzales, Natalie Montes, Brianna Cooper, Kaylin Bogan, and Isabella Clover

Children’s Literature K-3: Lily Norton

Children’s Literature K-3 Spanish: Magali Silva

Children’s Literature Pre-K: Kaylin Bogan and Isabella Clover

Educators Rising Moment Speech: Lilly Baker, Lillie Lehrmann, and Victoria Dippel

Exploring Non-Core Subject Teaching Careers: Brazos Supak

Impromptu Speaking: Alaija Johnson

Interactive Bulletin Board – Middle/High School: Brigett Orellana Martel and Magali Silva

Interactive Bulletin Board – Elementary: Rosa Jimenez and Brianna Cooper

Job Interview: Leondro Hernandez

Professional Development: Lily Norton and Catie-Lynn Kuebler

Public Speaking: Nancy Montes

Teacher Created Materials: Kyan Wright, Alinna Ellis, and Aliaja Johnson

Educational Leadership Fundamentals Test: Leondro Hernandez and Elizabeth McGonagill

The Washington County Commissioners Court is getting the ball rolling on renovating the grounds at the Washington County Courthouse.

Commissioners approved an agreement with Terralab Landscape Architects at their meeting on Tuesday for professional design services and consultation.

The agreement is for $92,690.

The estimated budget for the project is $1.02 million, with the general contractor's estimated scope of work coming out to $966,125, and the remainder being performed by county maintenance and the Engineering and Development Services Department.

Among the items on the scope of work were:

Demolition and Salvaging for monuments, historical signage, and existing “red” pavers

Demolition of existing pedestrian pavements throughout the site, as well as, landscape, and sick/dying trees

Grading and Drainage improvements

New pedestrian pavements, retaining/seat walls, a “Heroes and Hstory” plaza, and making it Americans With Disabilities Act compliance

Site lighting improvements

Synthetic turf and gravel areas for public use

Landscape and irrigation overhaul.

In other business:

The Commissioners unanimously approved allowing retiring Sheriff Otto Hanak to purchase his service weapon for the cost of $1. Hanak has served Washington County for the last 27 years as a Texas Ranger, D.A. Investigator, and has been Sheriff since 2013. Due to state law, the County cannot gift him the firearm, so they let him purchase it for the same price as Sheriff J.W. Jankowski when he retired.

Commissioners also accepted a donation from Joyce Moore, who donated four ledger books from Wiede and Son Store. Wiede and Son was located on FM 2621 in the Sandy Hill community. The books are dated between 1906-1913. Moore donated them to the county to help preserve history.

The Commissioners also approved the County Engineering and Development Department going out for bids for contracts for Right of Way Mowing, Road Materials, Contract Hauling, and Emergency Debri Removal.

The contracts are for one year from January 1 to December 31 of 2025. Bids will be due on December 5 at 10am, and awarded at the Commissioners meeting on December 17.

Brenham attorney and city councilmember Clint Kolby is taking on a new role, as he is joining Bluebonnet Abstract & Title.

Clint Kolby
(courtesy photo)Kolby, who worked for seven years at the law firm Betts, Walters & Mutscher, P.C., now serves as General Counsel at Bluebonnet, where he will assist with any real estate transaction legal matters. In addition, he is partnering with Bluebonnet’s president and founder, Shane Nelson, to form a new law firm named Kolby Nelson, LLP, which will focus on real estate, estate planning, business law and intellectual property.

Kolby says he is looking forward to this new venture and to serving the community in a new way.

Kolby graduated from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University and served seven years as the project manager with the Brenham Economic Development Foundation. He went on to graduate from the South Texas College of Law in Houston and became an attorney with Betts, Walters & Mutscher, P.C. He has served on the Brenham City Council since 2018.

Lois Kolkhorst (Craig Montana)Members of the Washington County Veterans Association gathered earlier today (Monday) for the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Brenham American Legion Post 48.

James F. Dillon VFW Post 7104 Commander Ben Seeker served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst was one of the many guest speakers on the program. Kolkhorst talked about one of the most difficult things she has to do as a Senator.

Other speakers included Washington County Judge John Durrenberger, Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura, and Burton Mayor Karen Buck.

Newly elected State Representative Trey Wharton was unable to attend, but sent a prepared statement thanked the Veterans for their service.

Captain Jeffrey Bayse (Craig Montana)The Keynote Speaker was Captain Jeffrey Bayse, who serves as the Senior Marine Instructor for the Brenham High School for the Junior ROTC program.

Bayse discussed his upbringing, running with the wrong crowd, and how the Marine Corp turned his life around.

In his presentation, Bayse talked about wanting kids to see that there is more to life than taking the easy way out.

The event closed with the local veterans and auxiliary members being recognized with the ringing of the bell and playing of “Taps.”

Kellen Dorotik (Joe Alberico)Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The sixth-ranked Blinn College volleyball team didn't just win the Region XIV Tournament on Sunday.

It gained certainty.

Already favorites to qualify for the upcoming NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship, the Buccaneers left no doubt with a 25-21, 25-18, 16-25, 25-21 victory over 13th-ranked Navarro College in the region tournament championship at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

With the win, Blinn (38-2) secured an automatic berth at the 16-team national tournament, which begins Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Winfield Dunn Center on the campus of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. The Bucs' appearance at nationals will be their fifth in as many seasons.

"We were pretty focused coming into today, and I think we were determined," seventh-year Blinn head coach Terry Gamble said. "I think we're one of the best teams in the country, and our girls deserve to be where they are right now. To win the conference and win the region, it's a testament to our girls, and it's icing on the cake to get to go to the national tournament."

Navarro did its best to stand in Blinn's way, but the Bucs — winners of 31 consecutive matches — prevailed just as they had time and again this season.

In the opening set, Blinn never trailed but did find itself deadlocked with the Bulldogs four times, including an 18-all stalemate late. The Bucs pulled away for good with a 7-3 match-ending run that concluded with a perfect set from freshman setter Leah Hoss to sophomore right-side hitter Kellen Dorotik, who spiked a kill to Navarro's end line.

MaKenna Loo (Joe Alberico)"Everything just seemed to be clicking for us," Dorotik said. "Our hitters were on their game, our defense played an insanely good match, and I think what you saw today was just a result of us ticking up the intensity in practice and being prepared."

Blinn was again in control from the outset in set two, responding to a 1-0 deficit with a 10-2 push. The Bucs never trailed again and thwarted the Bulldogs' attempts to pull even. Leading 23-18, Blinn tallied the final two points of the set on a kill from freshman outside hitter MaKenna Loo and a Navarro hitting error.

"Everybody did their part today," Loo said. "Navarro is a great team and playing them three times this season has been a lot of fun. Whenever you have two teams going against each other, you have to have great plays and great energy, and I think that's kind of what fueled us throughout the match."

Navarro managed to stall Blinn temporarily in the third set as the Bucs had trouble with its serve receive and hitting errors. One game was all Blinn would yield, however, as it got right back to work in the fourth.

After the Bulldogs built a quick 5-3 cushion, an 8-0 run handed the Bucs a lead they would not relinquish. Navarro made it a game in the latter stages of the set and were within 22-19 and 24-21 before Blinn finished it out.

Back-to-back errors by the Bulldogs put the Bucs on the brink, and after two straight points from Navarro, Loo tallied a kill to earn match point.

"MaKenna has done everything we've asked of her this season," Gamble explained. "We asked her to be one of our best in serve receive; one of our best defenders; one of our best hitters; and she's answered the call every time."

Loo led Blinn's offense with 14 kills, Dorotik had 13, and freshman outside hitter Greta Rakow followed with 12. Hoss and freshman setter/blocker Bromli Watson helped the Bucs' hitters to the tune of 22 and 19 set assists, respectively. Loo and sophomore libero Cierra Pesak had three and two service aces.

Gamble said Blinn's defense was another big factor in Sunday's victory, made evident by a robust 77 digs, 10 block assists and three solo blocks.

Pesak anchored the Bucs' floor defense with a team-high 19 digs, while Loo and Hoss added 13 apiece to go with nine from Rakow. At the net, Dorotik had four block assists and freshman middle blockers Jana Cetkovic and Karolina Karabasz tacked on three and two, respectively. Dorotik, Cetkovic, and Karabasz each had a solo block.

Cierra Pesak (Joe Alberico)"Everybody knew that today was a big game and that we were going to have to work and push ourselves as hard as we could to get the job done," said Pesak. "We watched Navarro sweep Trinity Valley (Community College) on Saturday and knew the type of game we were coming into. We had faced them twice already and had an idea of what to expect and a plan to counter it, and we executed."

Dorotik and Pesak were named to the all-tournament team, while Loo was named the tournament MVP.

With its spot in the national tournament cemented, Blinn will now await its seeding. The field of 16 teams will be revealed during a tournament selection show this week. A date and time have yet to be announced by the NJCAA, but the show will be broadcast by the NJCAA Network at www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index.

A Bellville High School graduate was recently honored by the Houston Police Department for coming to the aid of an officer during an encounter with a suspect.

Kevin Shuff (right) is presented
a Public Service Award by the
Houston Police Department for
assisting an officer during an
encounter with an armed
suspect.
(courtesy Houston Planning &
Development Department
Facebook)Kevin Shuff, who graduated in 1998 from Bellville High School and works in the City of Houston’s Planning and Development Department, was presented a Public Service Award for intervening when the suspect began to attack the officer. The award is in recognition of Shuff’s “extraordinary commitment and unselfish service rendered.”

The award reads that on February 23rd, Shuff witnessed an officer chasing a suspect outside Houston City Hall. As the officer pursued the suspect, he lost his footing and fell, at which point the suspect jumped on top of the officer and began throwing punches.

Shuff feared that the suspect may try to take the officer’s gun, so he stepped in by holding the suspect down until backup units arrived. They were able to safely place the suspect in handcuffs and found a folding knife in his pants pocket.

The award states, “Thanks to Mr. Shuff’s heroic and swift actions and knowing the suspect may or may not be armed, he brought an incident under control to prevent further injuries to the officer, bystanders, or the suspect.”

Washington County Commissioners will vote Tuesday on an agreement for renovation of the courthouse grounds.

Commissioners will look to enter into an agreement with Terralab Landscape Architects for professional design services and consultation. The county is proceeding with a project to renovate the exterior of the courthouse, including hardscape, monumentation, landscape, grading/drainage, planting, and accessibility improvements.

The estimated project budget for the proposal is $1,021,125, with the general contractor’s estimated scope of work coming out to $966,125 and the remaining $55,000 being performed by county maintenance and the Engineering and Development Services Department.

Also on Tuesday, the court will hear a request from the sheriff’s office to allow retiring Sheriff Otto Hanak to purchase his duty weapon as a reward for his contributions and service to citizens. Hanak has served in law enforcement in Washington County for the past 27 years as a Texas Ranger, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s investigator, and as sheriff since 2013.

The county cannot gift the firearm to Hanak, as state law does not allow government entities to gift items of value to individuals. However, the sheriff’s office is asking the court to permit Hanak to purchase his duty weapon for a cost of $1, the same cost that Sheriff J.W. Jankowski paid for his weapon upon retirement in 2012.

The court will then act upon a deed of gift to the county from Joyce Moore for four ledger books from Wiede and Son Store dated from the early 1900s. Moore wishes to gift the ledgers to the county clerk’s office so that they can be preserved and viewed by the public.

A workshop will follow the court’s regular session. Topics to be covered include the jail kitchen, file storage, EMS Lake Somerville station, courthouse landscaping and strategic planning projects.

In other business, commissioners will:

Act on a policy establishing guidelines for the recognition of Washington County retirees.
Consider authorization for the Engineering and Development Services Department to seek bids for 2025 annual bid items: contract mowing, culverts, drive bridge piling, fuel, oil/asphalt/emulsion, road construction materials, tires, steel products, contract hauling, and emergency debris and tree/limb removal. Bids will be due to the county December 5th at 10 a.m. and will be reviewed by the court on December 17th at 9 a.m.
Discuss a formal notice from Industry Telephone Company for fiber installation along the county right-of-way of Koether Road in Precinct 4.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The Burton School Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday.

First up on the agenda is a public hearing for Burton ISD’s School FIRST financial accountability rating. The rating system is designed to encourage public schools in Texas to better manage their financial resources.

Next will be a series of reports, including monthly updates from the superintendent and from Weaver and Jacobs Constructors on the bond project. Trustees will also recognize the achievements of students in band and cross country.

Once in regular session, the board will take up talks on the district’s Guardian safety program. Superintendent Vikki Curry said the board will consider making some adjustments to the program, though depending on the discussion, there may be details that need to be addressed in executive session.

Trustees will also consider approval of an English as a Second Language (ESL) waiver and a resolution to retain legal counsel regarding the construction project.

The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in the Burton ISD cafeteria.

Six people pleaded guilty and were sentenced this week in 21st District Court before Judge Reva Towslee Corbett.

19-year-old Jaxson Ryan Herring of Brenham, sentenced to three years in prison for Burglary of a Habitation, a second-degree felony.

53-year-old Troy Edward Seeker of Brenham, sentenced to three years in prison for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More, a third-degree felony.

44-year-old Michelle Ennette Garcia of Brenham, sentenced to 20 months in state jail for Theft from a Person and Burglary of a Building, both state jail felonies.

26-year-old Derek Aurel Dow of Houston, sentenced to 8 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a second-degree felony. Dow was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and complete 100 hours of community service.

19-year-old Eduardo Tolentino of Dale, sentenced to 5 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a second-degree felony. Tolentino was also fined $500 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

36-year-old Lateasha Allen of Houston, sentenced to 2 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, a Class A misdemeanor. Allen must also pay a $500 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

The Brenham City Council authorized several purchases at its meeting today (Thursday).

Stephen Draehn (left), City of Brenham Maintenance
Supervisor and Assistant Fire Chief for the volunteer
side of the Brenham Fire Department, and Brenham
Fire Chief Mark Donovan present the city council on
Thursday with details about a purchase proposal for
two new fire trucks.The first purchase was for two new Pierce ladder trucks for the Brenham Fire Department to replace the current ladder trucks that are from 2007. The total price is $3.95 million.

Maintenance Supervisor Stephen Draehn, who is also Assistant Chief for the volunteer side of the Brenham Fire Department, said making the purchase now saves the city some money, as a 7 percent price increase goes into effect on November 1st. There is a lead time of 42 to 43 months on the build process for the trucks.

Fire Chief Mark Donovan said once the new trucks arrive, the goal is to sell the existing ones on the open market, as the department feels it will be able to get a better return that way than if it opted to trade them in.

Donovan said many fire department fleets strive to have their vehicles in frontline service for 10 to 12 years, followed by another 8 to 10 years in reserve status. As the trucks get older, they are more prone to break down, while the parts to make repairs are harder to come by. He said the current ladder trucks have already experienced some time out of service while waiting on parts.

Public Works Director Dane Rau meets with the
Brenham City Council about a bid for drainage and
flood projects in connection to Hurricane Harvey.Councilmembers also accepted a bid from Solid Bridge Construction for drainage and flood projects stemming from Hurricane Harvey. The cost is $5.42 million, but most will be covered by a grant received from the General Land Office; the initial grant was for $5.01 million, but the city was left with $4.03 million after engineering, grant management and environmental services costs.

Public Works Director Dane Rau said this work will take several problem areas and make much-needed upgrades.

The sites that will be addressed are the Burleson Street low water crossing, Higgins Branch Creek at Henderson Park, Hogg Branch Creek from Key Street to Day Street, and drainage improvements on Jefferson Street, Baylor Street, East Commerce Street, Dark Street, Seelhorst Street, Clinton Street and Tom Dee Street.

For both the fire trucks and the city’s remaining balance due for the drainage projects, the council approved resolutions expressing official intent to reimburse certain costs from the future issuance of certificates of obligation. It also gave approval for an interfund loan from the electric fund to the drainage fund to cover the city portion of the drainage projects, up to a maximum of $1.52 million.

In other business, the council:

Purchased new outdoor holiday LED lighting along the rooflines of businesses and buildings in downtown Brenham for $57,590. Main Street Manager Leigh Linden said this is the first phase and will focus on the immediate downtown area.
Approved the purchase and installation of a new irrigation pump station at Hohlt Park from Greenscapes Six for $141,536.
Purchased a new shade structure for the Blue Bell Aquatic Center from Adventure Playground Systems, valued at $51,721.
Approved the Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) grant agreement with TxDOT for the 2025 Fiscal Year. The maximum annual reimbursement from the state for the grant is $100,000, with a 10 percent match from the city at $11,111 for a total grant of $111,111 for the fiscal year.
Approved a variance request concerning 6.64 acres at 1733 Burleson Street. The property owners, Garrett Salmans and Ronda Kilburn, wish to develop the vacant property with a single-family home. However, the subject property does not meet the minimum access requirements, as the city’s subdivision ordinance requires that lots be provided with adequate access to an existing or proposed public street by frontage on such street. The variance is to remove the requirement to have property frontage on a public right-of-way. The item was previously recommended for approval on September 23rd by the Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Seth Klehm (right) receives recognition for 15 years of service with the Brenham Police Department. Klehm will be taking on the role of Washington County Precinct 2 Constable in January. Sierra Randle (right) is commended for 10 years of service with the Brenham Police Department. Mason Patranella (right) is recognized for 10 years of service in City of Brenham Public Utilities.Lynette Sheffield is presented a proclamation read by Mayor Atwood Kenjura, designating October 3, 2024 as Lynette Sheffield Planning Excellence Recognition Day. Sheffield was the visionary behind the Oak Alley subdivision, the city's first Planned Development District.Fire Chief Mark Donovan (center) holds a proclamation read by the Brenham City Council on Thursday declaring October 6-12 as Fire Prevention Week. Along with Donovan are Fire Marshal Steven Loving (far right) and mascot "Sparky".The Brenham City Council on Thursday read a proclamation observing October 24th as Paint the Town Pink Day for breast cancer awareness. Pictured are members of Baylor Scott and White and the Bosom Buddies breast cancer support group.

The driver of a propane delivery truck was killed in an accident on Monday near Cat Spring.

(courtesy Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Dept.)Austin County Judge and Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Lapham said first responders were called out around 1:15 p.m. to FM 2187, roughly two miles southeast of Cat Spring.

Units made location and found a bobtail propane delivery truck laid over onto its side and on fire.

According to Lapham, bystanders were able to get the driver out of the truck before it caught fire and attempted to perform CPR, but the victim was already deceased after succumbing to injuries from the wreck, not the fire.

The driver was identified by the Fayette County Record as 61-year-old Bruce Kubena of Ellinger.

Lapham said the propane tank’s pressure relief valve successfully vented gas from the tank. He called it “a scary scene” but said all equipment functioned as it was designed to, keeping the danger isolated to the immediate area.

Responding agencies included the Cat Spring, Sealy, Bellville and Bernardo Fire Departments, along with Austin County EMS, Austin County Sheriff’s Office and DPS.

The Brenham Heritage Museum has been named as a finalist in the Texas Downtown 2024 People’s Choice Awards.

(courtesy Texas Downtown)The award is for Best Renovation/Rehabilitation/Restoration in cities with less than 50,000 people.

The museum is going up against two other finalists: the Found Fine Art Building in Bastrop and the Old Wettermark Bank Building in Nacogdoches.

The public can vote through 5 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) by going to the Texas Downtown Facebook page and “liking” or “loving” the photo of their preferred finalist.

Finalists from around the area in other award categories include:

Best Downtown Business, Over 50,000 Population – Ronin Restaurant in Bryan
Best Downtown Partner, Over 50,000 Population – Palace Theater in Bryan
Best Economic Game Changer, Under 50,000 Population – Cars and Coffee in Giddings
Best Economic Game Changer, Over 50,000 Population – First Friday in Bryan

Click here to view a full list of award finalists.

The winners will be honored at an awards gala on Tuesday, October 29th during the 2024 Downtown Conference in Abilene.

Activities kick off tomorrow (Friday) at the 97th Annual Austin County Fair.

The fair runs through Sunday, October 13th at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. This year’s theme is “Rock Around the Stock”.

The schedule of events begins tomorrow with the start of the barbecue cook-off and the champion drive livestock show at 10 a.m. Saturday will have the Little Mister and Miss contest at 9 a.m., immediately followed by the Junior Mister and Miss and Junior Fair Queen contests. The Fair Queen will be crowned at 5:30 p.m.

The Fair Queen candidates are Carly Allen, Lylah Durrett, Taylor Eckelberg, Ally Estep, Ainsley Hancock, Kayleigh Kendrick, Kaitlyn Kloss, Eryn Kruzel, Alana Lindsay, Rylea Roecker and Samantha Weems.

Performing on Saturday will be The Delta Boyz and Augie Meyers at 8 p.m. Flaco Jiménez, who was also scheduled, will not be able to play due to unforeseen circumstances, so filling in at 10 p.m. will be an unannounced special guest described by the fair as a “Texas native entertainer”.

Livestock judging will open on Sunday and continue through Thursday, October 10th. Thursday will also feature the parade through downtown Bellville at 10 a.m. The grand marshal for the parade will be Alfred Hall Sr., a lifelong resident of San Felipe, fair supporter and community advocate.

The youth livestock auction will be held on Friday, October 11th at 10 a.m., with the youth supreme and country fair auction on Saturday, October 12th at 1 p.m.

Next week’s entertainment will include Little Texas at 8 p.m. and Aaron Watson at 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th; Austin Snell at 8 p.m. and Corey Kent at 10 p.m. on Friday, October 11th; and Walker Montgomery at 9 p.m. and the Randy Rogers Band at 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 12th.

Along with the music, the fair will have a carnival, rodeo events, comedy shows, a petting zoo and pet show, a country store, and a wine show.

For more information on the fair, including tickets and a full schedule, go to www.austincountyfair.com.

KTEX-106 will have live reports throughout the fair.

Downtown Brenham’s next Farmer and Artisan Market is set for tomorrow (Friday), with a change in hours.

The market around the downtown square will shift to its winter hours of 3 to 6 p.m.

Dozens of vendors will be selling fresh produce, pantry items, handmade crafts, bath and body products, and sweet treats.

The market is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit.

To learn more, go to www.cityofbrenham.org or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

The property of defunct St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange has a brand-new owner.

The new owner is Mark Young Sr., who is a real estate broker and ordained minister from Atlanta, Georgia.

Young purchased the property at an auction after making the highest bid, which was just over $806,000.

St. Mark’s was forced to close its doors back in October 2023 after defaulting on its mortgage debt.

HUD took over ownership, and put it up for auction.

According to the Fayette County Record, the actual loan amount owed by St. Mark’s was over $12.1 million, so Young’s bid ended up only covering 6.6% of the loan.

The transaction occurred as part of a 10-loan sale back on August 21. St. Mark’s was the only Texas property in the auction, and the only property purchased by Young.

Young has worked in real estate brokerage and land development since 1978. He is currently the president and managing broker of Argent Solutions LLC, where he oversees default administration and brokerage activities, including property management.

The Record furthered stated that in his career, Young has been directly involved in the purchase, sale, and/or brokerage of well over 15,000 acres, with a market value in excess of $200 million.

First responders and community members gathered Tuesday night for the annual celebration of National Night Out.

Several locations in Brenham and Washington County hosted block parties and get-togethers, bringing members of the local police and fire departments, sheriff’s office, EMS and emergency dispatch together with the public for food, games and fellowship.

Brenham Police Chief Lloyd Powell said the event provides an opportunity for public safety officials to meet citizens, and for neighbors to get to know each other.

This year’s theme for National Night Out was Oktoberfest. KWHI and KTEX-106 traveled to parties throughout the evening.

The National Night Out campaign was established in 1984 as a crime prevention program to help strengthen relationships between local communities and authorities.

The Brenham City Council will act Thursday on the purchase of two fire trucks and a bid for drainage and flood projects.

The city is looking to order two Pierce ladder trucks through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program to replace the Brenham Fire Department’s current ladder trucks from 2007.

The total price for both trucks if ordered before November 1st is $3.95 million. The purchase request is being made now due to a 7 percent price increase that will take place after November 1st, as well as an estimated lead time of 42 to 43 months for the trucks.

The council will also accept a bid for a drainage project through the General Land Office stemming from Hurricane Harvey. The city received a $5.01 million grant to help areas prone to flooding, but it was left with $4.03 million after engineering, grant management and environmental services costs. The low bid being considered is for $5.42 million.

Both the fire trucks and the leftover amount for the drainage project will come with accompanying items for the council to express official intent to reimburse certain costs from the future issuance of certificates of obligation. There will also be consideration of an interfund loan from the city’s electric fund to the drainage fund to cover the city portion of the drainage projects.

Also on Thursday, the council will consider:

The purchase of a new irrigation pump station at Hohlt Park.
Purchasing a new shade structure at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.
Approval of the Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) grant agreement with TxDOT for the 2025 Fiscal Year.
The purchase of new outdoor lighting in downtown Brenham.
A variance request that was recommended for approval by the Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission on September 23rd, concerning 6.64 acres at 1733 Burleson Street. The property owners, Garrett Salmans and Ronda Kilburn, wish to develop the vacant property with a single-family home. However, the subject property does not meet the minimum access requirements, as the city’s subdivision ordinance requires that lots be provided with adequate access to an existing or proposed public street by frontage on such street. The variance is to remove the requirement to have property frontage on a public right-of-way.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Washington County Commissioners approved a set of purchases today (Tuesday) for the Engineering and Development Services (EDS) Department and 911 Communications.

Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday
read a proclamation declaring October 24th as Paint
the Town Pink Day for breast cancer awareness.
Pictured with commissioners are members of Baylor
Scott & White Health and the Bosom Buddies
breast cancer support organization.Commissioners agreed to purchase 12 fleet vehicles, nine for road and bridge and three for environmental, for a total of $448,022. County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the vehicles came in under the county’s original budget estimates of $559,114.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the vehicles will be bought using money from fund balance. Stolz said the department, which is making these purchases in order to move away from leasing vehicles and toward owning them, also expects to receive some money back when it returns the vehicles it had been leasing from Enterprise.

Eleven of the vehicles are coming from LaRoche Chevrolet Buick GMC in Brenham, with the last one from Oviedo Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram of La Grange.

The other purchase approved was from Computer Information Systems for a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) records information system and jail management system. The cost is $225,000 initially, divided between the county, the City of Brenham and Blinn College on a 45-45-10 percent split, respectively. The next five years will have a cost of $185,000, with the same percentage split between the three entities.

The new system is replacing the county’s existing provider in CentralSquare, formerly known as Zuercher. Hanath said one of the key notes in making this switch was the hope of obtaining better customer service, and 911 Director Robyn Hood and Information Technology Director T.J. Harris said all indications thus far are that the new provider will be able to achieve that.

Hanath said this touches every public safety department in the county and all of them were involved in the discussion leading up to this decision, with a majority being in favor of going this route. County Judge John Durrenberger said this was “a thoroughly done process.”

Also today, the court:

Approved a right-of-way permit application for Texas Renegade Outriders LLC for a trail ride on Saturday, November 9th beginning on Wiesepape Road and traveling to North Meyersville Road.
Heard the Office of Emergency Management’s quarterly report.
Approved the 2025 sheriff’s and constable’s fees. Durrenberger said there is no change from the previous fees.
Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Gerland Wagner Road, consisting of 34.38 acres in Precinct 4.
Accepted Independence Trail (0.205 miles), located in the Independence Trail subdivision in Precinct 3, into the county road system.
Discussed a formal notice from Corix Texas Utilities for a water line bore along the county right of way of Conner Road in Precinct 1. No action was necessary.
Discussed a formal notice from Industry Telephone Company for an underground fiber cable line along the county right of way of Homeyer Mountain Road and Willie Hinze Road in Precinct 4. No action was needed.

First responders and community members will gather tonight (Tuesday) to celebrate National Night Out.

Block parties will be taking place around the region from 6 to 8:30 p.m., providing an opportunity for residents to meet their local law enforcement and public safety officials. This year’s theme is “Oktoberfest”, so everyone is invited to wear their lederhosen and bring out their favorite German foods.

Some of the organized gatherings happening in the area include at the Blinn-Brenham Campus Lot W, Calvary Baptist Church, Salem Lutheran Church, the Oliver Whitener – Roy Winkler Pavilion in Burton, the Chappell Hill Visitors Center and Chamber Office, and at the Prairie Hill, Latium, Meyersville, Berlin and Rocky Creek Volunteer Fire Departments.

KWHI and KTEX-106 will travel to parties throughout the evening. If you would like us to stop by, call our office at 979-836-3655.

Fall has arrived in downtown Brenham, as colorful scarecrows are now scattered across town for Main Street Brenham’s 21st Annual Scarecrow Extravaganza.

Twenty entries are available for the public to view and vote on starting today (Tuesday). The top scarecrows will win a share of over $1,400 in cash prizes.

Categories include:

Best Overall for $300, sponsored by Hermann Furniture.
Most Votes for $200, sponsored by Christy Schlottmann Farmers Insurance.
Judges Choice for $200, sponsored by KTEX/KWHI.
Best Fall Theme for $125, sponsored by The Pomegranate.
Most Creative for $125, sponsored by The Laundry Event Hall.
Most Educational for $125, sponsored by Kay Robbins Remax.
Silliest for $125, sponsored by Jet Set Chocolates.
Cutest for $125, sponsored by Old 300 Title Brenham.
Honorable Mention for $100, sponsored by Ant Street Inn.

Ballots can be found at sponsoring locations or the Visitor Center. Voting continues through October 24th, and the winners will be announced on October 29th.

"Happy Fall Y'all" by Bountiful Blessings Day Program, LLC"Sheila the Sculptor" by BHS Sculpture Club"Scare Crow, P.E." by Strand Associates, Inc."On To a New Chapter" by BHS AVID"Bring On THE Closers!" by South Land Title"Fowl Play" by Mornings with Eilish and Cowboy Dave on KTEX-106

(Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106)Young people from around the area enjoyed a relaxed time of fishing at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center on Saturday.

The 18th Annual Kids Gone Fishin’ dumped hundreds of pounds of catfish into the Aquatic Center’s outdoor leisure pool, letting anglers of all ages try their hand at fishing while also teaching them about the outdoors.

Saturday’s winners include:

(Results provided by the City of Brenham)

1st Catch – Hazel Garcia
Outstanding Angler – Ernest Travino
BBAC choice – Rylie Chovanec

Age 6 & Under:

Biggest Catch – Riley Chovanec – 26 inches
Silver Catch – Blakely Hopkins – 21.5 inches
Bronze Catch – Hazel Garcia – 19 inches

Ages 7 – 11:

Biggest Catch – Cason Conway – 26.5 inches
Silver Catch – Sawyerr O’Donovan – 25.5 inches
Bronze Catch – Benson Salido – 22 inches

Ages 12 – 17:

Biggest Catch – Bradley Nowicki – 32.5 inches
Silver Catch – Nareach Nov – 22 inches
Bronze Catch – Bentley Steele – 21 inches

Rylan Wooten (Joe Alberico)Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

With his team trailing by 23 points at halftime, Blinn College quarterback Rylan Wooten pulled his team outside of the locker room for an offensive meeting.

"I told our guys, 'we need to do this for us,'" Wooten recalled of his message. "I told them we are better than what we showed in that first half."

Wooten was right.

The Buccaneers not only erased their deficit, they stormed all the way back behind a wild fourth-quarter rally capped by Wooten's QB keeper with :28 seconds remaining as Blinn stunned No. 9 Navarro College 44-43 on Saturday at Cub Stadium in Brenham, Texas.

The victory was made possible by a handful of big scoring plays, as well as a see-it-to-believe it on-side kick that set up the Bucs' go-ahead touchdown drive.

"I'm very proud of these kids because this was the definition of a team win," Blinn head coach Ryan Mahon said. "We always talk about dealing with adversity, and tonight they handled it, they didn't give up on each other, and they knew if they started making plays good things would happen, and that's exactly what happened."

Blinn (2-1, 1-1 SWJCFC) got on the board at the 13:35 mark of the second quarter when sophomore halfback Jalen Washington crossed the goal line from 8 yards out, but the Bucs went into halftime trailing 30-7. Blinn wouldn't score again until sophomore kicker Max Nowak drilled a 21-yard field goal with 9:35 to go in the third quarter.

Wooten made it a 37-17 ballgame when he scored on a 7-yard run with just over 5 minutes to play in the third.

Navarro (2-2, 1-2) maintained its 20-point advantage until the Bucs began chipping away with chunk plays in the fourth.

Ending a series that started in the third quarter and bled into the fourth, Wooten fired a deep ball to sophomore wide receiver Nathan Lewis, who hauled in the pass over his shoulder and evaded a diving defender as he raced into the end zone for a 51-yard score with 14:30 left in the game.

The Bulldogs booted a 47-yard field goal at the 12:38 mark, but Blinn got right back to work on its subsequent drive.

Starting from their own 25, Wooten and the Bucs moved to the 39 before the quarterback rifled a short pass to freshman running back Justin Howard. A Navarro defender dove to tip the pass but missed as Howard got his hands on it and galloped 61 yards untouched for a TD.

"We just started spreading their defense out with our speed," Wooten said. "We knew we were going to have to score quickly if we were going to have a chance at the win, and our speed allowed us to do that."

Blinn's 2-point conversion attempt was no good as the Bulldogs remained ahead 40-30 with 11:30 to go.

After a scoring drought for both teams which lasted nearly 8 1/2 minutes, Navarro padded its lead with a 50-yard field goal with just 2:51 remaining.

From there, the Bucs' chances hinged on a quick score, an onside kick, and another quick score, and miraculously, they achieved all three.

Once again starting from its own 25, Blinn advanced to its own 42 on a quick pass to freshman receiver Tracy James Jr. Following the 2-minute warning, Wooten threw on the run and linked up with wide-open freshman wideout Austin Abram III for a 28-yard gain. Wooten then scampered to the Navarro 20 and completed the drive with a pass-catch-and-run connection with Abram III.

Nowak's PAT made it 43-37 with 1:13 left.

Nowak then returned to the field alongside freshman kicker Cameron Noto, as the Bucs deployed some trickery and misdirection on their onside-kick attempt. Nowak ultimately lofted a kick near the Blinn sideline, and as the ball descended toward a group of Bulldogs, Bucs sophomore defensive end Justin Garza bulldozed a blocker who was attempting to protect a would-be recoverer, effectively disrupting Navarro's retrieval as James Jr. scooped the ball up off a bounce.

"It was a matter of do-or-die, and I had to give everything I had left for that play," Garza said. "Once we got the ball back, our offense knew exactly what they had to do and they handled their business."

With 1:12 showing on the clock, Blinn began its final possession without any timeouts. Starting from the Bulldog 48-yard line, the Bucs got going on a 14-yard strike from Wooten to Lewis. Wooten then hit Abram III for 20 more yards as Blinn entered the red zone. Wooten kept it on the ground for 10 yards, setting up first and goal at the Navarro 4. Wooten then capped the rally with a run up the middle and into the end zone.

Max Nowak (Joe Alberico)Nowak's PAT put the Bucs on top to stay.

A deep pass got the Bulldogs into Bucs territory at the 45-yard line with 4 seconds to go, but Blinn's pass rush came up big on the final snap of the game.

Navarro sophomore quarterback Mason Shorb was flushed out of the pocket and chased toward the sideline by four Buccaneer defenders, and freshman defensive end Cooper Kohan met him with a thunderous sack to end it.

"Everything that transpired tonight reiterates what we as a coaching staff have been preaching to our players since day one," Mahon said, "and that's hard work, dedication, teamwork, execution, staying together as a team, and loving one another, and all of that manifested itself on the football field tonight."

Blinn continues its season with another tough conference matchup as the Bucs face No. 10 Trinity Valley Community College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Athens, Texas.

The Barnhill Center at Historic Simon Theatre in downtown Brenham has announced its 2025 season of performances, which will mark a century since the historic venue first opened.

(courtesy Sharon Brass)The 100th anniversary year will kick off with a birthday celebration on January 25th. The event will include “A Century of Simon” history exhibit; a Model A car display; a showing of “The Merry Widow”, the first movie ever shown at the Simon; a vintage photo booth with costume accessories; birthday cake; and a vaudeville show in the Hasskarl Auditorium.

The show will feature acts like the Savoy Rose Jazz Band, world champion juggler David DiMuzio, Dance Force Productions and the Hall and Brass Comedy Team. Patrons are invited to wear Roaring 20’s attire.

As for the rest of next year’s lineup, the season will include music from the Roaring 20’s and the Big Band Era, along with a traditional assortment of music from multiple genres. City of Brenham Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermann says, “Reminiscent of its vaudeville beginnings, the Simon is once again bringing back to Brenham a variety of touring artists that are worthy of the historic stage.”

The remaining 2025 show schedule includes:

Friday, February 14 – Sweet Dreams: Mandy Barnett Sings Patsy Cline
Saturday, March 15 – Riders In The Sky
Saturday, March 29 – Aggieland Orchestra Big Band Era
Saturday, April 12 – The Isaacs
Saturday, May 10 – 7 Bridges, The Ultimate Eagles Experience
Saturday, June 7 – The Highwaymen Show: The Great American Outlaws
Saturday, June 28 – The Swing Dolls
Friday, July 18 – The Great Dubois, Masters of Variety
Saturday, August 16 – Bee Gees Gold
Saturday, September 13 – Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Saturday, October 4 – A Neil Diamond Tribute by Keith Allyn
Saturday, October 25 – Gunhild Carling, Queen of Swing
Saturday, November 15 – The Sixties Show
Saturday, December 20 – Top of the World, A Carpenters Christmas

Sales for current season ticket holders will start on Monday, October 7th at 10 a.m. New season ticket sales for the public will begin on Monday, October 14th. Tickets for all shows will go on sale to the public on Monday, November 21st.

To learn more, visit https://thebarnhillcenter.com.

Baylor Scott & White Health and BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBS) announced today (Friday) that they have reached a long-term agreement.

(courtesy photo)The new agreement, which brings several months of contract negotiations between the two entities to a close, ensures that Baylor Scott & White providers and facilities stay in-network for BCBS.

A statement provided by Baylor Scott & White and a message on the BCBS website state that as related documents are finalized, members will continue receiving uninterrupted, in-network care from Baylor Scott & White.

The original agreement was set to expire on July 1st, but the two reached a temporary extension to push the deadline to October 1st.

Further details on the new agreement were not released.

Full statement from Baylor Scott & White Health:

We’re pleased to share that Baylor Scott & White (BSWH) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) have reached agreement that will keep BSWH in network. As related documents are finalized, BCBS members will continue receiving uninterrupted, in-network care from BSWH. We share a commitment to our communities and are proud to preserve their choice of high-quality, in-network providers.

Fayette County EMS has been named by the Texas EMS Alliance as the EMS Agency of the Year.

(from left) Texas EMS Alliance President Butch
Oberhoff; Fayette County EMS Director Josh
Vandever; and Texas EMS Alliance President-Elect
Michael Furrh
(courtesy Fayette Co. EMS)Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever was presented the award last week during the Texas EMS Alliance’s annual education conference.

The award goes to agencies that focus on innovative solutions and demonstrate how teamwork, innovation and a commitment to pursuing excellence has improved the delivery of EMS to the jurisdictions they serve. Fayette County EMS was chosen for its leadership in mental health, collaboration with partnering EMS agencies, and continuous professional development.

Vandever said the agency is “deeply honored” to receive this award and he is “very proud” of their team. He said, “It is great to see that the things that the amazing team members within our department are doing are being noticed by other leaders in our profession.”

The Texas EMS Alliance was founded in 2015 to serve as the united voice of Texas EMS agencies.

A former member of the Bellville City Council has been charged amid allegations of theft from the Bellville Little League.

Ashley Hoffman Slater
(Austin Co. Jail)The Austin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ashley Hoffman Slater today (Thursday) after she was indicted by an Austin County Grand Jury on Wednesday for Theft of Property $2,500 - $30,000.

The sheriff’s office says it investigated claims of someone stealing money from concession stand receipts from the 2023-24 Little League baseball season. In coordination with the Austin County District Attorney’s Office, investigators discovered through bank records and Little League records that over $10,000 was stolen from the league.

Slater was arrested by members of the Austin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division in relation to the case and was booked in at the Austin County Jail without incident.

Slater resigned from her seat on the Bellville City Council in August. She was originally elected in May 2020, winning a contested race for re-election in May 2022 and running unopposed this past May. City Administrator Shawn Jackson said the mayor and council are considering making a temporary appointment in October or November.

Three suspects have been taken into custody on murder charges in Austin County, stemming from a fatality last week that occurred during the theft of a tractor.

The Austin County Sheriff’s Office responded on September 16th to the 15000 block of FM 1094, near Cat Spring, for a report of a 20-year-old male who was unconscious and not breathing. Authorities arrived and found the subject receiving CPR from a relative, but upon taking over CPR, it was determined he was already deceased.

In a release today (Thursday), the sheriff’s office identified the man as Chase Dorman. It also says Dorman was allegedly attempting to steal a tractor when he was run over by the same tractor. According to witnesses, immediately after the tractor was stolen, it was stopped to adjust the gears/transmission, at which time the tractor ran over Dorman.

During the investigation, several suspects were identified as participating in the tractor theft and the death of Dorman. They were identified as 18-year-old Michael Frank Ford and 17-year-old William Bradley LaRoche of the Magnolia area, as well as 25-year-old Curtis Earl Mosley Jr. of Austin County.

Arrest warrants were issued for the three suspects on Tuesday for first degree felony murder. With the assistance of the Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office, Ford and LaRoche were arrested early Wednesday morning and will be transferred to Austin County to appear in court. Meanwhile, Mosley was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force.

The investigation was led by the Austin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division with help from the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office, Austin County District Attorney’s Office and U.S. Marshal’s Service Violent Offender Task Force.

Curtis Earl Mosley Jr.
(Austin Co. Jail)William Bradley LaRoche
(Montgomery Co. Jail)Michael Frank Ford
(Montgomery Co. Jail)

Voters in Round Top-Carmine ISD will be able to participate in a tax ratification election.

In August, the Round Top-Carmine School Board approved an order for an election on November 5th to ratify the district’s maintenance and operations (M&O) property tax rate at $0.6969 per $100 valuation. According to Superintendent Brandon Schovajsa, the maximum M&O rate that could be adopted without an election is $0.6769.

The increased rate would generate an additional $178,366, or 2.8 percent, in M&O revenue compared to the previous year. The extra revenue would not be subject to the state’s recapture program, so the funding would stay in the district.

According to Schovajsa, Round Top-Carmine ISD sent just shy of $2.5 million back to the state through recapture this past year. The district’s 2023-24 approved budget was $5.8 million.

Schovajsa said district projects and goals include replacing several aging air conditioning units, increasing the septic system capacity at the elementary campus, and providing additional teacher and staff compensation.

The last day to register to vote in the November election is October 7th.

A Brenham man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child.

Michael Earl Bee
(Washington Co. Jail)41-year-old Michael Earl Bee was previously found guilty of the offense by a jury in July. He was indicted in July 2019 after a series of outcries were made during an investigation by the Brenham Police Department. Through the forensic interview process by a local child advocacy center, officials determined a timeline for the abuse and presented the case to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child is a specially categorized felony. It allows the State to charge a person for committing two or more sex acts against a child under 14 during a period of more than 30 days in duration. The punishment range is 25-99 years, or life, in prison, and up to a $10,000 fine, without the possibility of parole.

No witnesses testified at the punishment hearing for either side.

The District Attorney’s Office said in a release that the State, through District Attorney Julie Renken, requested a life sentence after the Defense requested a sentence in the “lower end of the range”. Renken, per the release, pointed to the “heinous” nature of the offense and said there was not only testimony of sexual abuse, but physical as well.

Following the sentence, Renken commented, “60 years without chance of parole sends a message that our community will not tolerate criminals like him.”

Brenham police are investigating an act of vandalism at a local church.

(courtesy Amy Banik)First Christian Church of Brenham, 306 Cottonwood Street, reports that over 15 antique stained-glass windows were shattered by rocks and bricks. The church believes the incident occurred late Monday or early Tuesday.

In a release, the church said Pastor Charles “Chuck” Topping and members are “heartbroken” by the damage but “remain steadfast in their mission to share the love of Christ with the community.”

The congregation had recently completed repairs of the stained-glass windows as part of the restoration of the church building, which celebrated its 125th anniversary earlier this year.

Amy Banik, a member of the First Christian Church congregation, called the act “a shock”. She said she does not believe anyone made entry into the building.

(courtesy Amy Banik)Banik thanked the Brenham Pregnancy Center and everyone who came out to help clean up and secure the church and to provide support. She said she is grateful for the “awesome community” that has already begun to rally around them.

Church services and activities will continue as normal.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at Brenham National Bank, directing their contributions to the account for First Christian Church Brenham. Donations can also be sent to the church’s mailing address: First Christian Church, 401 Sycamore Street, Brenham, TX 77833.

Anyone with information about the act of vandalism is encouraged to contact the Brenham Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Burleson County crowned its 2024 Fair Queen and Little Miss Tuesday night.

Burleson County Fair Queen Hadleigh
Novosad and Little Miss Avery Freeman
(courtesy Burleson Co. Fair Association)This year’s Fair Queen is Hadleigh Novosad. The Runner-up is Macelynn Smith.

Novosad set a new individual ticket sales record at 1,895 tickets, breaking the mark set two years ago by Alexis Macik at 1,610. Between Novosad and Smith, they sold 2,184 fair memberships totaling $65,520.

The winner of the Little Miss contest is Avery Freeman. First Runner-up is Raelea McManus, with Harlow Ray finishing as Second Runner-up and Kopelyn Fisher coming in as Third Runner-up.

Livestock judging begins today (Wednesday), and it is the first day of the Pride of Texas Shows Carnival. The youth livestock sale will be Saturday, starting at 5 p.m.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Cody Joe Hodges tomorrow (Thursday), Texas Unlimited Band and Roger Creager on Friday, and the Crossroads Band and Tracy Byrd to conclude on Saturday.

A full schedule of events can be seen at www.burlesoncountyfair.com.

Washington County Commissioners approved the county clerk’s records archive plan for the 2025 Fiscal Year at their meeting today (Tuesday).

The county is required each year to approve the plan, which collects fees from the filing of documents with the county, like deeds or contracts. County Clerk Beth Rothermel estimates her office will receive $70,000 in revenue next fiscal year to put toward the preservation and restoration of archived records.

No one from the public spoke during a public hearing for the item.

Rothermel said she continues work on preserving birth records and plans to start on death records next year. She told the court that her office recently discovered the original certificates and the surveyor’s abstract for the county’s school land in Tom Green County, going back to the 1800s. She said the certificates will go into a protective frame for public view.

Rothermel said the Tom Green County land was given to every county by the state for their own use. According to Rothermel, Washington County received the land in 1852, and the certificates recently found are from the 1870s.

Washington County is one of five counties that have elected to retain their land instead of selling it. The earnings from managing the land go to local school districts each year based on their average daily attendance.

County Judge John Durrenberger said management of the Tom Green County land can be time-consuming, but it is well worth the effort to be able to put that money back toward local schools.

After approval, Rothermel thanked the court for supporting the county clerk’s office’s archival projects, to which Durrenberger replied that it is “very important to do. It’s our history.”

The vote on the plan was one of only two items commissioners had that were not routine business or monthly reports from county offices.

The court approved a contract for a TimeClock Plus software subscription. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the software will be utilized to streamline payroll processing for all county employees. The contract includes $15,945 in one-time implementation costs and $7,221 in recurring costs for licensing and support.

Commissioners will gather again tomorrow (Wednesday) for a workshop session at 10:30 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse. The meeting is for commissioners to consult with a financial advisor.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst has been appointed to a newly-formed joint committee to study the effects of media on minors.

Lois Kolkhorst
(R-Brenham)The committee, which was formed in accordance with House Bill 18 from the 88th Legislature, is tasked with examining the health and developmental effects of media on minors and the effects of exposure by a minor to various forms of media, including social media platforms, websites, artificial intelligence, video games and other media formats.

Kolkhorst said she is “deeply honored” to serve on the committee and recognizes the “critical importance of studying the effects of social media on minors.” She said, “Many experts in medicine and education are sounding the alarm that our children's mental health, social skills, and ability to communicate on a personal level are at stake. With the introduction of artificial intelligence, even more concerns arise about capturing our children’s likenesses, which can be used in nefarious and harmful ways.”

House Bill 18, known as the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, is meant to give parents more control over their children’s content. Parental consent is required when children create new online accounts. The bill compels content providers to prevent children from being exposed to harmful content, such as content that promotes suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, grooming, trafficking, and sexual exploitation.

The committee will undertake a comprehensive study to understand the influence of media on minors and its potential effects on their well-being and development. Their findings and recommendations are expected to contribute to future policy decisions aimed at safeguarding the welfare of minors in the digital age.

Joint Committee Chairs will be Senator Bryan Hughes and Representative Jared Patterson. Additional members on the Committee include Senator Angela Paxton, Senator Tan Parker, and Senator Jose Menendez, with State Representative Lacey Hull, State Representative Ann Johnson, State Representative Eddie Morales, and State Representative Shelby Slawson.

The Brenham High School Football Hall of Honor will induct three former outstanding athletes as its newest members this fall.

Jeffrey Fillmore II, Jeremy Hall, and Brandon Collins will be enshrined during the 25th annual luncheon, while the Hall of Honor committee will also honor the 2009 Cubs football team, which reached the Class 4A state finals.

Fillmore, an all-star wide receiver; Hall, an all-state free safety; and Collins, one of the most prolific receivers in BHS history, will be honored at a luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, in the Janis Sneed Banquet Room located inside the Blinn College Student Center in Brenham, Texas.

Tickets are $35 and are available at Brenham National Bank, Bank of Brenham, and the Brenham ISD administration and athletic offices. Hall of Honor committee members also have tickets.

Hall of Honor committee members are Michael Groves, Jarvis Van Dyke, Tommie Sullivan, Melvin Ehlert Jr., Jerry Newman, Randy Weidemann, Derek Hall, DeWayne Burnett, Robert Stark, Michael Watts, and Brenham High School head football coach Danny Youngs.

This year’s honorees will also be recognized during the Cubs football game that evening against Rudder High School at Cub Stadium.

Jeffrey Fillmore (Derek Hall)Jeffrey Fillmore II

Fillmore, a two-year varsity starter, was a part of a one-two punch at wide receiver that helped lead the 2002 Cubs to the state semifinal against Denton Ryan during his senior year.

His seven touchdowns and 705 yards receiving earned Fillmore a spot with fellow Cub wideout Limas Sweed on Team Texas in the 2003 Annual Maskat Shrine Oil Bowl All-Star Game against Team Oklahoma.

Fillmore finished his Cub career with 58 catches for 945 yards and nine touchdowns.

He also ran track his junior and senior years, and advanced to the regional meet twice.

Fillmore signed a letter of intent to the University of Houston. After one year with the Cougars, he transferred to Kilgore College and played for the Rangers as a wide receiver. In 2004, his team won the conference championship.

Fillmore and his wife, Mandy, live in Brenham, where they are raising their three girls, Addilyn (12), Myla Jane (7), and Hannah (2).

He works for HT Trucking and relocates cattle across Texas. In his free time, Fillmore enjoys spending time with his girls, being outside, and hanging out with friends and family.

Jeremy Hall (Derek Hall)Jeremy Hall

Hall was a mainstay in the Cubs’ secondary from 2007-09.

A three-year varsity starter at free safety, Hall led the Cubs’ defensive backfield his junior and senior year with four and seven interceptions, respectively.

Hall shined the most during the playoffs his senior season. All four of his interceptions during the playoffs came during the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, including one against Kerrville Tivy in the Cubs' 31-21 state semifinal victory.

He was honored with a spot on the 2009 Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state first team as a defensive back.

After helping lead the Brenham Cubs to the Class 4A Division II state football finals in 2009, Hall turned his attention to basketball. Once basketball season ended in the regional semifinals, he grabbed his glove and headed out to the baseball diamond, Where Hall was a first-team all-district selection for the 2010 state champion Cub baseball team.

Hall signed a scholarship with the University of Texas-San Antonio, where he played football and baseball.

Brandon Collins (Derek Hall)Brandon Collins

Collins, a 2007 graduate of Brenham High School, grew up with basketball coaches as parents, initially dreaming of a professional basketball career. After giving football a try, he shifted his focus and became a standout athlete.

He was a three-year letterman in football, track, and basketball, earning first-team all-district honors in football during his sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Following his senior year, Collins was named all-state, an all-American, and played in the East/West Under Armour All-American Game, recording six catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.

Collins set records at Brenham, including 99 career receptions for 1,893 yards and 29 touchdowns, becoming the school's all-time leading receiver. He also posted 14 interceptions on defense, returning four for touchdowns.

He was the first receiver in school history to surpass 1,000 yards in a season, with 1,081 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2006. One of his most memorable moments came during his junior year when he became the first player in Brenham history to score three different ways in a single game.

Collins received more than 25 Division I offers and chose to play at the University of Texas, where he appeared in seven games as a freshman and contributed to the team’s victory in the Holiday Bowl. As a sophomore, he played in 12 games, caught 38 passes for 430 yards, and helped his team win the Fiesta Bowl with seven catches for 60 yards. Afterward, he transferred to Southeastern Louisiana University, where he had standout seasons, including 61 catches for 746 yards and five touchdowns in 2011.

He went on to play for the New York Giants, and in the Canadian Football and Arena Football leagues, winning the Arena Bowl championship in his final season.

Collins has been instrumental in giving back to the community where he was raised by running, along with other Cubs, a free football camp in Brenham in the summer. He also coaches a non-profit 7-7 team called, The 979 with players from all over the Brazos Valley. Collins is a mortgage broker and lives in Navasota, with his girlfriend and his two children.

2009 Brenham Cubs

The 2009 Cubs, led by head coach Glen West, went 13-3 on the season and shared the district championship with Huntsville after going 6-1 in league play.

A 15-14 loss to Waller in the regular-season finale was just the jump-start the team needed on its way to the state title game.

Brenham went on to beat Manor, Port Neches-Groves, Angleton, and Dayton to claim the regional title before defeating Johnny Manziel and the Kerrville Tivy Antlers to send the Cubs to the state finals for just the second time in program history. Brenham fell to Aledo 35-21 in the Class 4A Division II state championship.

Michael Walker was named the District 18-4A defensive MVP and West was named the district’s coach of the year as 18 different Cubs earned 19 spots on the all-district list.

Walker and fellow defensive leader Jeremy Hall were honored with spots on the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state team. Hall was a first-team defensive back while Walker was a third-team linebacker.

Washington County Fair Queen Paige Marth rides in
the fair parade through downtown
Brenham on Saturday, September 14th.Another Washington County Fair has come and gone.

Early data from the Washington County Fair Association says overall attendance and combined sale totals at this year’s event are up from last year.

Fair President Michael Bentke says the 156th edition of the oldest county fair in Texas is one that will not soon be forgotten.

According to Bentke, the rough sum of Friday’s junior livestock auction and Saturday’s commercial steer, commercial heifer, colt and country creations auctions comes out to just over $3.3 million without add-ons. The 2023 total was around $2.9 million, with Bentke pointing to the junior livestock auction and the heifer sale as most of that $400,000 increase.

Moving into attendance numbers, Bentke says that while season pass sales saw a decline from last year, at 6,426 tickets compared to 10,840, overall turnout was still higher at this fair.

The total between all four paid days at the fair was 52,934 guests, up from 47,253 a year ago. Those numbers include both season passes and day passes purchased at the gate, but they do not count the opening weekend and Tuesday of the fair, as those days have free entry.

Daily attendance, per Bentke, was calculated at 11,438 for Wednesday, 9,882 for Thursday, 14,508 for Friday and 17,106 for Saturday.

Bentke says fair officials have not had the chance yet to look into the details of how attendance grew despite a reduction in season passes, but he believes the entertainment played a major role. He says over 6,000 day passes were sold after 6 p.m. for Saturday night alone.

Bentke is grateful for the continued generosity from the public, whether it be those buying tickets, bidding in the auctions or helping organize the event itself.

Bentke says organizers will take some time to rest and absorb everything from this year’s fair before beginning to make plans for the 2025 fair.

KWHI and KTEX-106 thank everyone who stopped by the fair booth and spun the Wagon Wheel of Prizes. Approximately $1,100 was raised and will benefit Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, which was destroyed in a fire in July.

Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Brenham will be closing its doors.

In a social media announcement late this (Tuesday) morning, the restaurant and arcade said its last day of business will be on Sunday, September 8th.

The closure, according to Mr. Gatti’s, is due to TxDOT’s Highway 290 expansion project. The restaurant said as a result of the expansion, “the state will be taking over our parking lot, leaving no parking options for our customers.”

TxDOT is planning to build a new interchange at the intersection of Highway 290 and Highway 36, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2027. According to information presented during a TxDOT public hearing in January, the project would require approximately 75 acres of right of way and potentially displace 11 residences and 20 non-residential structures.

The business said this decision was made exclusively because of the property situation at this location and does not reflect the success of the store or the support received from the community.

In a separate statement to KWHI, Mr. Gatti’s said, “We want to thank the people of Brenham and Washington County for all their support. We want to thank all of our employees, ‘our Gatti’s family’, who have all worked so hard since we opened in 2022. We think the world of them. We are all sad to see it end.”

Washington County Commissioners moved today (Tuesday) to pitch in needed funding for the Salem Volunteer Fire Department to repair a fire truck.

Commissioners approved $25,000 in reimbursement to the department to fix oil leaks and the A/C and take care of miscellaneous maintenance issues.

The fire department originally requested reimbursement for the purchase of replacement self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) kits, since their existing air packs are at the age where they can no longer be serviced. However, the court felt that putting money toward vehicle repairs instead would help cut down on the department’s ongoing maintenance costs.

Salem Volunteer Fire Captain Matt Martin said the SCBAs costed $58,182, which took a large chunk out of the department’s reserves and did not leave enough for the truck repairs or several other items that are piling up.

Martin estimated repair costs on the truck will run in the high $20,000’s to low $30,000’s. He said the department will be on a “spending hold” for some time, since having roughly $6,000 in reserves does not allow for much.

Commissioner Candice Bullock said the low reserves are a “concern” and asked if that amount will be enough to cover the department’s operating expenses for the rest of the year. Rocky Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Tim Hamff, who said he was helping out the Salem department with coverage today (Tuesday), stated that it ultimately depends on how many calls the department makes.

Also today, the court agreed to enter into a contract for county-wide debris cleanup stemming from Hurricane Beryl.

The contract is with J. Mendoza Tree Services, the same company that the county worked with for cleanup from the May 17th declared disaster.

County Engineer Wesley Stolz said cleanup from the May storm is now complete and involved about 75 roadways. The list to address during the Beryl cleanup has approximately 98 roads.

The contract is for $39,200 and is for 14 days of service. Stolz clarified the timeline is 14 business days, because the Collection/Transfer Station in Brenham is only open half a day on Saturdays and closed on Sundays, and the county must take debris there in order to qualify for project reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In other business, commissioners:

Accepted a termination letter to end the interlocal agreement between the county and the City of Brenham for emergency management coordinator (EMC) services. The city and county approved the agreement in January to allow the county’s EMC, Bryan Ruemke, to temporarily serve as the city’s EMC and share expenses between the two entities. This came after the retirement of the Brenham Fire Department’s former Assistant Chief and city EMC, Brian Scheffer, and the resignation of Fire Chief Roger Williams. The city is now able resume its own EMC services with the hiring of new Fire Chief Mark Donovan, so the interlocal agreement will end effective September 30th.
Authorized the Engineering and Development Services (EDS) Department to seek bids for 12 fleet vehicle purchases. Bids will be due to the county on September 25th at 10 a.m. and will be considered by the court on October 1st at 9 a.m.
Heard quarterly reports from EDS and the Washington County Expo.

City of Brenham utility crews are onsite repairing a gas main break that occurred this (Tuesday) morning.

City of Brenham Communications and Public Relations Manager Melinda Gordon says the break happened at Blue Bell Road and Highway 36 North, after a construction crew moving dirt at a new gas station hit a four-inch gas line. The notice was issued at approximately 10:30 a.m.

The Brenham Fire and Police Departments are on location as crews work to turn off the gas to the break. The city says there are no immediate threats to the public, and there are no evacuations, traffic delays or detours expected.

The leak was isolated as of 11 a.m. Gordon said that as of 11:30 a.m., the work was estimated to take approximately 6 hours to complete.

The Brenham City Council will take public comments on Thursday prior to taking the first vote on adopting the budget and levying the property tax rate for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.

The proposed budget authorizes $107.6 million in expenditures and is estimated to raise an additional $959,022, or 9.42 percent, in property tax revenue compared to the current budget. Of that amount, $364,048 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll.

The city is looking to keep the tax rate the same at $0.4584 per $100, though the makeup of the new rate will be slightly different from the existing one. The city plans to slightly increase the maintenance and operations (M&O) side from $0.3102 to $0.3164. Meanwhile, the interest and sinking (I&S) portion would fall from $0.1482 to $0.1420.

With this tax rate, combined with higher property values, the tax on the average homestead is projected to increase by $148.43, or 13.51 percent.

A memo included in the agenda packet for Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting shows the expected change in taxes from the current fiscal year to next year, based on increased homestead values. The council will vote on the new tax rate on Thursday.
(courtesy City of Brenham)A map showing property along Burleson Street
near the intersection of West Blue Bell Road
that is proposed for rezoning from R-1 single
family residential to R-2 mixed residential. The
Brenham City Council will consider the
rezoning request on Thursday.
(City of Brenham)Following the public hearings on the budget and tax rate, another public hearing will be held before possible action on a rezoning request. Councilmembers will consider whether to allow the rezoning of approximately 6.09 acres of vacant property at 1320 Burleson Street, going from R-1 single-family residential to R-2 mixed residential.

The request, from Ernest James Nunn and Jake Carlile, is for the purpose of developing the property with higher-density residential uses including townhomes and possibly duplexes. Brenham Planning and Zoning Commissioners met on August 26th and unanimously recommended approval of the item, but two citizens spoke during a public hearing against the request, and city staff have received two letters in opposition.

Later, the council will perform the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s thoroughfare map, comprehensive plan and future land use map. The amendments, which were discussed during a public hearing at the council’s meeting on August 15th, set the framework for the adoption of the Brenham Family Park Special Area Plan and the extension of South Blue Bell Road to Highway 36 South.

In other business, the council will consider:

Renewal with the Texas Municipal League (TML) Intergovernmental Risk Pool for the city’s general liability, law enforcement liability, public official liability, public official liability, mobile equipment, airport liability, property, auto liability, physical damage, crime, theft and worker’s compensation coverage for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
An interlocal agreement between the city and TML Intergovernmental Risk Pook for cyber liability and data breach response coverage.
An amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with Strand Associates related to various wastewater projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
An amendment to the professional services agreement with Strand Associates for on-call engineering services for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year and a new services agreement with Strand Associates for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

A Lee County woman accused of murdering her roommate has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Jennifer Redden Kramer
(Lee Co. Jail)The verdict for 44-year-old Jennifer Redden Kramer, charged in the March 2021 stabbing death of 34-year-old Christopher Michael Gonzales, means she will be committed to the state mental health system for up to life.

Investigators with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers say Kramer, who had lived with Gonzales at a residence on County Road 314, confessed to stabbing him multiple times in the chest. His body was found dumped in a ditch about 10 miles away from where they lived.

Initially after her arrest, Kramer was deemed incompetent to stand trial, but she was later determined competent to stand trial after being committed for treatment at a state hospital. She has remained in custody since her arrest.

At trial last month in 21st District Court, presided over by Judge Carson Campbell, Kramer’s attorney raised the insanity defense after testimony from her expert witness who, along with two independent forensic psychiatrists, concluded that Kramer was insane at the time she committed the act. They found that her actions in conjunction with her mental state met the statutory definition of insanity.

Lee County Attorney Martin Placke said while he does not believe justice was served for the victim or his family, the State of Texas recognizes the insanity defense, and that Judge Campbell had no choice but to find that Kramer was not guilty by reason of insanity.

Kramer’s commitment requires a yearly review regarding her continued placement in the criminal mental health system.

A Lee County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle caught fire Saturday afternoon.

(courtesy Lee Co. Sheriff's Office)The sheriff’s office says around 1 p.m., a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Highway 21, near County Road 114.

After noticing the smell of smoke, the deputy found flames coming from the hood of his 2023 Ford Explorer patrol SUV.

The deputy told the driver of the vehicle involved in the traffic stop to drive away to safety. He reported the fire to Lee County dispatch and removed the ammunition from the SUV while additional units and the Lincoln Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene to put out the fire.

Lee County Sheriff Garrett Durrenberger said the sheriff’s office is grateful that no one was injured.

Bellville police responded to a head-on collision near downtown Friday evening.

Around 7 p.m., officers were called to a two-vehicle rollover crash in front of San Bernard Electric Cooperative, 309 West Main Street.

According to Bellville Police Chief Jason Smalley, one of the vehicles was traveling northbound in the center turn lane when it collided head-on with the other vehicle that was headed southbound.

Smalley said the impact sent the first vehicle into a utility pole and caused it to overturn. Its driver was transported to MidCoast Medical Center in Bellville with unknown injuries. The other driver was treated at the scene.

(courtesy Bellville Police Dept.)(courtesy Bellville Police Dept.)

Brenham police have given the all-clear after a bomb threat this (Friday) afternoon at Whataburger.

Chief Lloyd Powell says officers were on scene around 2:30 p.m. after the department received a call from Whataburger reporting the threat, which came in by phone.

The restaurant was evacuated as the department surveyed the property with a robot and drone. At around 3 p.m., the scene was cleared.

Powell said investigation is still being conducted into who called in the false threat.

Assisting at the scene were the Brenham Fire Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County EMS and the Washington County Precinct 1 Constable's Office.

(courtesy photo)(courtesy photo)(courtesy photo)

Update @5:45 a.m. Saturday: The Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley reports that Lillie Mata Barfield was safely located in Ellis County.

Original Story @ 2:15 p.m. Friday: The Grimes County Sheriff’s Office is searching for an “endangered missing” woman.

The Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley says 76-year-old Lillie Mata Barfield was last seen at around 10 a.m. Thursday in the 7900 block of County Road 166, south of Iola.

Barfield is believed to be in a silver-colored 2020 Nissan Rogue with Texas license plate 918DV53, and could be in the Houston/Harris County area.

Barfield is believed to be in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Anyone who knows where Barfield may be located is asked to contact the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office at 936-873-2151.

The 97th Annual Fayette County Fair kicked off on Thursday with the crowning of the new royalty court.

Emireth Cerda
(courtesy Fayette Co. Fair
Association)Emireth Cerda was named the 2024 Fayette County Fair Queen, representing the Francisco “Paco” Orona Scholarship. Cerda sold $32,410 in season passes.

First Runner Up was Kaylee Soto, representing Kyla Faith Memorial, with $25,575 in season pass sales. She was also awarded Most Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and Miss Beauty and Poise.

Emma Haynie, representing the La Grange Optimist Club, rounded out the three candidates. Haynie sold $12,740 in season passes and earned Second Runner Up.

Presley Lange
(courtesy Fayette Co. Fair
Association)Presley Lange was crowned the 2024 Fayette County Junior Miss, selling a record of $38,780 in carnival passes and winning Junior Miss Congeniality. First Runner Up and Junior Miss Photogenic was A’Niah White.

Crowned 2024 Little Miss Fayette County was Hunter Denham, followed by Collyns Schatte as First Runner Up and Little Miss Photogenic. Little Miss Personality was awarded to Kodi Calvert.

The 2024 Little Mister Fayette County is Carson Kovar, who also earned Little Mister Photogenic and Little Mister Personality. Witten Graeter was chosen as First Runner Up.

Combined season pass and carnival ticket sales came in at $121,055.

KTEX-106’s Courtney Cartwright will be broadcasting live from the parade tomorrow (Saturday) morning, while Ryan Stone will broadcast live from the fair tomorrow night.

The Fayette County Fair Royalty Court(courtesy Moments of Grace Photography)

The Burton School Board on Wednesday adopted a balanced budget and set the tax rate for the new school year.

The budget comes out to $14,905,972, a reduction of 2.42 percent from the 2023-24 actual budget of $15,276,098. The new budget consists of $11,684,832 in general fund appropriations, $421,200 in food service and $2,799,940 in debt service.

The tax rate is $0.9455 per $100 valuation, made up of $0.7355 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.2100 for interest and sinking (I&S) to make debt payments on bonds. The tax rate is higher than the previous $0.9380 per $100; while the new M&O rate is lower than last year’s $0.7380, the I&S portion is more than the $0.2000 used last year.

Adoption of the budget and tax rate followed a public hearing that had no comments from citizens.

Click here to view the adopted budget.

Click here to view a hearing notice detailing the new tax rate.

In other business, trustees agreed to give a $500 insurance supplement to all Burton ISD employees. Superintendent Vikki Curry said only teachers are receiving a step increase this year, so many employees would go home with less money if the district did not provide some form of increase to them.

The supplement will be provided to employees regardless of if they take the district’s insurance or not. Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal said this decision was made because whatever form of insurance an employee takes, they are most likely seeing an increase.

Also on Wednesday, the board approved a resolution authorizing the superintendent to not pay invoices to DSA Inc., the former construction-manager agent for the bond project.

The resolution reads that the district has received invoices from DSA that the company claims are past due, but there is a dispute between the two parties about the goods delivered or services performed. Curry said she was advised by an attorney not to pay the invoices, since the district feels the firm is asking to be paid for work that was not completed.

The board also approved budget amendments to close out the 2023-24 year. In addition, it approved 26 contract bids for the bond construction project. A representative with Burton ISD’s current construction manager-agent, Weaver & Jacobs, said the firm found upon starting that there were several project scopes not properly contracted out, so it had to republish and readvertise for bids.

Bellville ISD Superintendent Dr. Nicole Poenitzsch is one of five state finalists for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Superintendent of the Year Award.

(courtesy Texas Association of School
Boards)Dr. Poenitzsch was chosen as a finalist by a TASB committee of school board members who interviewed 18 regional nominees put forward by education service centers (ESCs) across the state. The committee cited her leadership, high expectations for students and her community involvement in naming her a finalist.

Dr. Poenitzsch, who has served as Bellville ISD’s superintendent since 2019, was named earlier this year as the Region 6 Superintendent of the Year by the Region 6 ESC.

Other state finalists are:

Gonzalo Salazar, Los Fresnos CISD, Region 1
Brad Owen, Burkburnett ISD, Region 9
Kimberley Cantu, Mansfield ISD, Region 11
Darryl Henson, Marlin ISD, Region 12

The superintendents will advance to the next stage of the Superintendent of the Year competition, which will take place in September at txEDCON24 in San Antonio. The winner will be announced on Saturday, September 28th.

The Brenham School Board opted on Monday to remain a member of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) following a split vote and discussion that occasionally turned heated.

The 5-2 vote to stay with TASB and not join the alternative group, Texans for Excellence in Education (TEE), matches that of when this same item appeared before trustees last September. Trustees Kyle Hafner and Archer Archer were in support of joining TEE.

Four members of the public spoke at the beginning of the meeting, all in favor of dropping TASB and choosing a different group such as TEE.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine told trustees before dedicated discussion on the topic began that this item concerns whether the school board would continue to receive legal policy updates through TASB or switch to another provider. He said he is open to competition if the district is able to get good services for a fair price.

Trustee Kyle Hafner said the number one question he gets from the public is when will the district leave TASB. He does not support TASB’s stance promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), as he believes it works to separate rather than bring together. He also feels the organization has not done its job of advocating for the public school system, leading to the present situation of school districts struggling to make ends meet.

Trustee Archer Archer said he cannot support an organization whose values do not reflect those of the Brenham community, but also because of the district’s current budgetary considerations. According to Archer, the district has spent $21,679 over the past two years for its TASB membership, but the cost for TEE over two years would be $5,500, with the first year free.

Board Secretary Kelvin Raven said he wanted to go into this with an open mind, but he never got word back from TEE after attempting to call and email them. He said he has only heard of two school districts who have joined TEE and did not feel comfortable with “rolling the dice” with them, adding, “Everything free is not good for you.”

Hafner said he has been able to get in touch with TEE and actually requested that the group come back to give a follow-up presentation to the board. However, he stated that the representative he spoke with did not want to send anyone down, claiming that people from the community had made “threatening phone calls” to them. When Raven asked to confirm that the calls came from Brenham, Hafner answered yes.

Board Vice President Jared Krenek and Trustee Tommie Sullivan both said they have not received the comments that Hafner has in support of dropping TASB, with Sullivan mentioning that he has been very pleased with TASB. Krenek said TEE is not established enough to show what they can offer, and that they were not able to do so despite having a full year since the board’s original discussion. Trustee Bonnie Brinkmeyer said TASB has been there for Brenham ISD and feels they are in it to help all school districts. She also said that while TEE may be a great option down the road, right now they are not ready.

Sullivan expressed disappointment about how this issue has divided the members of the board.

Board President Natalie Lange agreed with Sullivan, saying the board agrees on many more matters than it disagrees with, but this has taken the focus over the most important thing, which she said was the “defunding of public education.” She said the terms Diversity, Equity and Inclusion do not mean the same politically as they do in education, and without them, a good education is not possible.

The board first took a vote on a membership with TEE. The motion was made by Hafner and seconded by Archer, but the two were the only trustees who voted in favor, so the motion failed.

The board then acted on renewing its TASB membership. Raven made the motion and was seconded by Krenek, and the item passed 5-2 with Hafner and Archer voting no.

Board members from Run for the Youth of
Washington County present Brenham ISD trustees
on Monday with a donation for $95,750. Each year,
the organization holds the Blue Bell Fun Run to raise
funding for Brenham ISD's junior high and high
school athletic programs. Brenham ISD’s junior high and high school athletic programs received a major contribution by way of proceeds from the Blue Bell Fun Run.

Brenham ISD trustees received a donation on Monday from board members representing Run for the Youth of Washington County, the organization that puts on the Fun Run each spring. This year’s donation comes out to $95,750.

Joe Robertson, Board President for Run for the Youth of Washington County, recognized the board members and volunteers who are involved with organizing the event, which continues to grow every year.

Brenham School Board President Natalie Lange called the contribution “phenomenal”, saying that the organization’s commitment to the community is “unprecedented”.

The next Blue Bell Fun Run is scheduled for March 22, 2025.

The Brenham School Board on Monday unanimously adopted a balanced budget and set the tax rate for the 2024-25 school year.

The budget comes out to $56,658,379 in expenditures, a reduction of $4,234,869 from the current year. The tax rate is $0.7469 per $100 valuation, consisting of $0.6669 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.08 for interest and sinking (I&S). The tax rate is lower than the previous rate of $0.7693 per $100, which had the same I&S rate but a higher M&O portion at $0.6893.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine said this budget was very challenging to finalize, and while Brenham ISD was able to avoid having to adopt a deficit budget, the same cannot be said for many other districts around the state.

A presentation from Chief Financial Officer Darryl St. Clair and Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Brooke Trahan illustrated to trustees and the public the difficulties in crafting this budget. The presentation noted continued price increases for supplies, insurance, utilities and other school operating expenses, all while the state’s allotment per student has remained the same since 2019.

Trahan also stated that when property tax revenue increases due to rising local property values, the state does not increase per-student funding, instead lowering its percentage of total school funding.

The district is budgeting for enrollment of 4,773 students and an average daily attendance (ADA) of 4,500 students. ADA is what drives state funding, so a higher ADA leads to more state aid.

Of the $4.23 million in budget cuts, approximately $2.49 million of that comes from full-time equivalent position reductions. Trahan said roughly 45 positions are impacted, including 25 teachers, 10 administrators, five paraprofessionals and five maintenance/custodial positions.

Board Vice President Jared Krenek asked if this current path is sustainable, should the state not contribute more funding. Gillentine replied that this budget leaves very little wiggle room, so if major equipment goes out or an emergency occurs, the district may have to dip into its fund balance.

Board President Natalie Lange acknowledged that teachers in the current environment are “completely drowning” and that everyone is “overworked” from all of the district’s position absorptions. She said it is “not fair” for them to have to work as hard as they do without a raise for two years, and that it “makes no sense” that Texas has one of the best economies in the world but is among the lowest of any state in funding for students.

Trustee Tommie Sullivan said campus leaders and administrators deserve recognition for keeping teachers motivated. He said the district has to do something for the teachers whenever the chance comes, because “we can’t keep going this way.”

Trustee Bonnie Brinkmeyer said it hurts to know that students do not have the same space or quality time with their instructors due to the larger class sizes. She said she hopes relief will come soon, but encouraged the public to contact lawmakers and remind them that there are teachers and families who are affected negatively by all of this.

The public hearing prior to adoption of the budget and tax rate had no comments, but during the public comment period at the start of the regular meeting, several citizens commended the administration and staff for their work on the budget.

Click here to view the budget presentation from Monday's meeting.

Former Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker has died.

Former Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker, pictured
during a Brenham City Council meeting on August
4, 2022. Parker passed away on Sunday at the age
of 65.Parker, whose four years as chief of the Brenham Police Department closed out a 40-year career in law enforcement, passed away on Sunday at the age of 65.

Parker joined the La Porte Police Department in 1984 and was appointed as chief in October 2018. He came to Brenham in March 2020, serving as head of the Brenham police force until health complications led him to retire this past March.

In a statement, the City of Brenham said it extends its heartfelt condolences, saying, “His unwavering dedication to both the police force and to Brenham is something we will always cherish. Chief Parker was not just a valued employee but also a dear friend.”

According to his obituary, Parker was affiliated with numerous organizations like the National Domestic Preparedness Coalition, Texas Police Chief's Association, and International Police Chief's Association. He contributed to the field through publications with the Texas State Historical Society and held the title of Leadership Fellow with the Texas Municipal League's Inaugural Leadership Academy. He was also an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Sam Houston State University.

Ron Parker (right) receives a plaque from Mayor
Atwood Kenjura on March 7th in appreciation of his
service as Brenham's police chief.City Manager Carolyn Miller said, “Chief Parker's commitment to our community went above and beyond. He was a guiding light in our city, and his legacy of service and friendship will continue to inspire us all.”

The Brenham City Council held a ceremony in March to thank Parker for his service and wish him the best in retirement.

Lloyd Powell, who was promoted to Brenham Police Chief in July, wrote on social media that Parker was “a great mentor and friend” and “one of the best Chiefs I’ve had the privilege to work with.”

Parker is survived by his wife, Debbie, two children and six grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Parker will be held on Wednesday, September 4th at 10:30 a.m. at Cowboy Church of Brenham.

With classes underway in Brenham and Burton ISDs, early student enrollment numbers are up from the start of school last year.

(Mark Whitehead)Data provided by Brenham ISD shows that on August 13th, the first day of the 2024-25 school year, enrollment totaled 4,598 across its seven campuses, up from 4,556 at the beginning of the 2023-24 year.

For Burton ISD, enrollment at its two campuses for the first day of school on August 14th was 622, up from 581 the same time a year ago.

Looking at individual Brenham ISD campuses on opening day, the largest number of students is at Brenham High School, with 1,487 students. Brenham Junior High School is next at 723 students, then Brenham Middle School at 674. Krause Elementary School leads the three elementary campuses with 612 students, followed by Brenham Elementary School at 491 and Alton Elementary School at 450. The Early Childhood Learning Center tallied 161 students.

Burton ISD schools on the first day reported enrollment of 383 students in grades Pre-K through 6th grade at Burton Elementary School and 239 students in grades 7-12 at Burton High School.

Enrollment totals are expected to climb as the fall semester progresses. In Brenham ISD’s case, enrollment as of Tuesday, August 20th, had already grown to 4,755.

A call of shots fired early this (Tuesday) morning near the Washington-Austin County line led to the arrest of three Brenham men.

According to Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak, deputies responded just before 2:45 a.m. to the vicinity of Dierking Road and Sander Road in reference to a reported shooting. The reporting party indicated they observed a vehicle parked on Dierking Road, which could be associated with the shots they heard.

Deputies located the vehicle and three individuals, later identified as 22-year-old Lonnie Ray Brown Jr., 22-year-old Arvin Tamarr Green, and 22-year-old Jaylen O’Brien Robinson.

According to Hanak, all three were standing outside the vehicle with weapons in plain sight of deputies. Located around the vehicle were empty shell casings consistent with the caliber of firearms located in plain view. Each of the suspects admitted to shooting the firearms.

At the reporting party’s home, deputies found bullet holes embedded in the walls of the residence. The sheriff’s office did not report any injuries.

Brown, Green and Robinson were placed into custody for Deadly Conduct – Discharge of a Firearm and booked at the Washington County Jail. Bond for all three was set at $25,000, and they each remain in custody as of this morning.

Lonnie Ray Brown Jr.
(Washington Co. Jail)Arvin Tamarr Green
(Washington Co. Jail)Jaylen O'Brien Robinson
(Washington Co. Jail)

The Washington County EMS medical helicopter made an unanticipated landing last week, but the agency says the landing was “precautionary.”

(courtesy Washington County EMS)KPRC of Houston reported that the helicopter was taking a burn patient to a Memorial Hermann hospital Thursday night when it had to land at the Dan Jones Airport in Cypress. The landing, according to Washington County EMS Director Kevin Deramus, was made shortly after 9:30 p.m.

Deramus says the decision by Metro Aviation, who operates the Air 1 helicopter, to land “was made with their routine operating guidelines to evaluate a possible maintenance issue.” He says all crew members were “safe and unharmed.”

Deramus says the helicopter was returned to service the following morning after a full evaluation did not discover anything of concern.

According to Deramus, the patient was being transported from Baylor Scott & White in College Station to Memorial Hermann when the helicopter had to make the landing. The patient was transferred to a Hermann Life Flight helicopter. No further information on the patient could be provided.

A Giddings man wanted on charges out of Washington County was taken into Lee County custody last week after leading local authorities on a chase.

According to a release on Monday from the Brenham Police Department, members of the Brenham Police Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) located a wanted fugitive around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 14th, in the 400 block of South Polk Street in Giddings.

33-year-old Kesean Tyrell Graves had two active arrest warrants out of Washington County for Evading Arrest or Detention with Previous Convictions, a state jail felony, and for Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 – 400 or More Grams, a first degree felony.

The Brenham Police CRU followed Graves and notified the Giddings Police Department and Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly afterward, Giddings police initiated a traffic stop on Graves’ vehicle. However, according to the release, Graves evaded arrest and led law enforcement on a lengthy pursuit throughout Lee County. The pursuit ended near a residence on FM 3403, north of Giddings, when Graves left the vehicle and fled on foot.

After a brief foot pursuit, Graves was taken into custody by Giddings police. The release states a multitude of illegal narcotics were found in his possession, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, promethazine with codeine syrup, alprazolam, and marijuana.

Graves was transported to the Lee County Jail, where he was booked on four counts of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana between 4 ounces and 5 pounds, Evading Arrest or Detention with previous convictions, and the two warrants from Washington County.

Other assisting agencies were the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Precinct 2 and 3 Constables, and DPS.

Brenham Animal Services helped find a new home for 30 animals during this weekend’s MEGA Adoption Event, hosted by Petco Love in Houston.

(courtesy Brenham Animal Services)Brenham Animal Services Manager Megan Gray says 22 of its cats and 8 of its dogs were adopted. Those include the shelter’s two longest-stay dogs, Lala and Bruno, who had been at the shelter for 401 days.

A total of 1,133 animals were adopted at the two-day event, which brought in shelters and animal rescue organizations from across Texas.

Brenham Animal Services thanks the staff and volunteers who contributed their time and efforts. It also thanks Petco Love for organizing the event.

A Brenham man who was the subject of a Silver Alert has been found safe.

The alert for 68-year-old Wesley Lee Everett went out Friday night after he was believed to be in danger.

The Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley now says that he was located safely Saturday morning in the greater Houston area.

No further information was released.

A Silver Alert has been issued for a Brenham man that has been missing since Friday afternoon.

Brenham Police are searching for 68-year-old Wesley Lee Everett, who was last seen Friday a little after 3pm in the 1900 Block of West Main Street.

He was driving a 2015 Silver Buick LaCrosse with the license plate S-Y-B-4-0-4-6. It is believed he is either going to Houston or Oklahoma.

Authorities believe that Everett is in danger of death or serious bodily injury.

Everett is described as black male, standing 5’11”, weighing 169 pounds, is bald, and has brown eyes.

Anyone that has seen him, or may have information about his whereabouts is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency, or the Brenham Police Department at 979-337-7337.

The Blinn College District has recognized four instructors with its 2024 Teaching Excellence Award for their exceptional accomplishments, passion for learning, and the impact they have made on their students.

This year’s recipients are:

Stan Kubicek, Mathematics Professor, Part-time award recipient
Nina Leverkuhn, Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Professor, Technical award recipient
Dawn Marshall, Anthropology Professor, Bryan/RELLIS Campus recipient
Dillon Phipps, Parallel Studies Professor, Brenham Campus recipient

Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District, presented each honoree with their award plaque during the College’s Faculty Convocation on Thursday, Aug. 15.

Stan Kubicek (center) receives a 2024 Teaching
Excellence Award from Dr. Joyce Langenegger, Dean
of Academic Support Services (left), and Dr. Mary
Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District.
(courtesy photo)Stan Kubicek

Kubicek is a Blinn alumnus who has been teaching at the College since 1989. He served as a full-time professor in Blinn’s Mathematics Program until his retirement in December 2021, when he became a part-time faculty member.

He holds an Associate of Arts from Blinn, Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University, an Associate of Applied Science from Austin Community College, and a Master of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin.

Outside of the classroom, Kubicek served on numerous committees within the Division of Business and Mathematics, including the textbook selection and syllabus development committees. He also served as a representative on the Faculty Senate in multiple roles, including parliamentarian from 2010-17.

“I teach to change the way students think, but more importantly, I teach to change the way students look at life,” said Kubicek. “I continually emphasize that we are doing more than mathematics exercises. Ultimately, I hope to produce thinkers that will make the world a better place.”

Nina Leverkuhn (center) is presented a 2024
Teaching of Excellence Award from Dr. Joyce
Langenegger, Dean of Academic Support Services
(left), and Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn
College District.
(courtesy photo)Nina Leverkuhn

Leverkuhn has been with Blinn since 2016. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Houston Baptist University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University.

In addition to her instructional responsibilities, Leverkuhn serves on the ADN Program’s Faculty and Curriculum Committees. She also was a member of the Blinn Navigators Taskforce, a student-centered program of volunteer faculty and support staff dedicated to helping students achieve their educational goals. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Texas Community College Teachers Association, National League for Nursing, and the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.

“I am addicted to the ‘lightbulb’ moments. Those glimpses into my students’ minds when I know they ‘get it,’” said Leverkuhn. “I truly feel that teaching nursing is my way of passing the torch to a younger generation. The profession of nursing is ever-changing and it is my goal to prepare future nurses to provide care compassionately, think critically, continue to build our profession, and never stop learning.”

Dawn Marshall (center) is honored with a 2024
Teaching Excellence Award from Dr. Joyce
Langenegger, Dean of Academic Support Services
(left), and Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn
College District.
(courtesy photo)Dawn Marshall

Marshall has been with Blinn since 2010. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts and doctorate from Texas A&M University.

Marshall serves as the faculty advisor for Blinn’s Anthropology Club and is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Association of Anthropologists, the Society for Archaeology, and the American Association of University Professors.

“I believe that education is the great leveler in society, and everyone deserves a chance to learn,” Marshall said. “The concepts found in anthropology, I believe, are integral to the college experience. I teach with energy to demonstrate how much anthropology touches our lives. I truly care about my students and enjoy helping them on that journey.”

Dillon Phipps (center) receives a 2024 Teaching
Excellence Award from Dr. Joyce Langenegger, Dean
of Academic Support Services (left), and Dr. Mary
Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District.
(courtesy photo)Dillon Phipps

Phipps is a Blinn alumnus who has been teaching at the College since 2011. He holds an Associate of Arts in Humanities from Blinn, a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a Master of Arts in English from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

In addition to his classroom instruction, Phipps has served as a faculty advisor for the Beta Alpha Chapter of the Phi Thea Kappa (PTK) Honor Society since 2014. PTK is recognized by the Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year colleges. In 2018 and 2023, Phipps was recognized with PTK’s Horizon Award for the Texas region. This award recognizes advisors who have reached new levels of participation in the region. Phipps also serves as a mentor for the Blinn Navigators Program.

“I believe education is a powerful force for good and the best way to make change is one person at a time,” said Phipps. “The only way to effect change is by changing people, and I prefer to do that by instilling confidence, inviting everyone to join the conversation, and by celebrating their achievements whenever possible. Blinn really has provided me with a place I feel I can make a difference, where I belong, and where I feel home.”

(Story courtesy Blinn Information)

Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the placement of a drop box for chronic wasting disease (CWD) samples during the next hunting season.

The drop box will be on the east side of the Washington County Constables Office, 1405 East Blue Bell Road in Brenham. Setup will begin the week of September 23rd, after the county fair, and the box will be taken down the week of March 3, 2025.

CWD is a degenerative prion disease that affects the deer population. It erodes the victim’s neurological function, causing symptoms like weight loss, stumbling, salivating and an overall appearance of “wasting” away. It is ultimately fatal, and there is no treatment or vaccine.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Natural Resource Specialist Stephanie Damron said approximately 252 samples were collected in total during the past hunting season in Washington County.

Of those 252, there were 17 taken from the 2-mile surveillance zone established around the area of the first positive case confirmed in March 2023, located just north of Brenham with the airport being close to the center. Nine of the samples from the zone were hunter harvest, seven were roadkill, and one showed clinical signs, but none came back CWD-positive, so the only confirmed case remains the original one from March 2023.

When commissioners asked how long the testing would continue, TPWD Wildlife Health Specialist Bobby Allcorn said since CWD can be slow-moving, it will take multiple years of no positives before testing is no longer needed.

A famous speech from Sam Houston will be commemorated at the Washington County Courthouse.

Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday gave the Washington County Historical Commission (WCHC) permission to place a permanent Texas Historical Marker on the courthouse lawn.

WCHC Chair Tom Stevens said the marker will call back to March 31, 1861, when Sam Houston spoke at the courthouse following Texas’ secession from the Union. Houston had recently been deposed by the legislature because he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the new Confederate government, and he was requested to speak to explain the reasons for his refusal.

Stevens said the WCHC’s application to the Texas Historical Commission was approved, but authority was needed from the county as the property owner. The marker will go up once renovations on the courthouse square are completed next year.

Arrangements are underway for the speech to be a part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street exhibits that are coming to Brenham this winter. Stevens said City of Brenham Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermann wants the Historical Commission to put together a historical reenactment of the speech that will play at the Simon Theatre in January.

Commissioners thanked Stevens and the WCHC for their work on this project. Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the freedom of speech is one of the pinnacles of the U.S. Constitution and appreciates the WCHC recognizing this. Commissioner Candice Bullock said this not only acknowledges the importance of the First Amendment, but “a huge moment” in the history of both Washington County and the State of Texas.

The Burton School Board on Monday voted to formally propose a slight increase in the school district’s property tax rate.

The property tax notice included with the agenda
materials for Monday's Burton School Board
meeting. The district is proposing a tax rate of
$0.9455 per $100 valuation for the upcoming fiscal
year.
(courtesy Burton ISD)The rate of $0.9455 per $100 valuation consists of $0.7355 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.2100 for interest and sinking (I&S)., landing above the previously adopted tax rate of $0.9380. The new M&O rate is lower than the existing $0.7380, but the new I&S rate, which is used to make the district’s debt payments on its bonds, is higher than the current $0.2000.

The no-new-revenue rate, which would give the district the same tax collections as the previous year based on new property values, is $0.984377. However, the voter-approval rate, based on the maximum compressed rate provided by the Texas Education Agency, is $0.947525.

Burton ISD Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal said the certified values provided by the Washington County Appraisal District show an increase in the average home’s taxable value in the district of $23,164, but also a decrease of $52,898,668 in overall taxable values, which include commercial and oil and gas. With the proposed rate, the average residential taxes owed would increase by $14.

Currently, the district projects a balanced budget of $14,905,972 for the next school year. The budget is comprised of $11,684,832 for general fund expenses, $421,200 for food service and $2,799,940 for debt service.

When asked by Trustee Dean Fuchs how many school districts around the state are anticipating adopting deficit budgets, Blakey-Staal answered “close to 50 percent”.

A public hearing for the tax rate and budget is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28th at 6 p.m.

Click here to view a breakdown of the proposed budget presented at Monday's meeting.

In other business, trustees approved procedures concerning change orders related to the bond construction project. In June, the board set the limit at $25,000 for what the superintendent could sign off on for a change order without requiring board approval. Monday’s action allows a board subcommittee of Jeff Harmel, Dean Fuchs and Mike Clyde to allow change orders of up to $100,000, with anything above that amount requiring full board approval.

Action on the district and campus improvement plans was tabled to allow trustees more time for review.

Burton ISD embarks on another school year today (Wednesday).

(Mark Whitehead)The school district heads into the new year with new leadership at the helm. Superintendent Vikki Curry, who came to Burton ISD in June after previously working in Galveston ISD, says it has been nothing but smiles and warm welcomes for her since she arrived, and that she is eager to continue the work started over the summer.

With many school districts around the state adopting deficit budgets, Curry says much time has been spent meeting with leaders across Burton ISD to set out what the needs are versus wants or wishes, while also reiterating to them that students will not see a negative impact.

Bond construction continues around the district, and Curry says the continued flexibility from staff and the public is appreciated. She says the current areas being worked on will not impact students, but a plan is in place for once construction gets closer to the schools.

Curry says there are things in the past that will not change, but she and her team are working hard to turn the tide. She is confident that this time next year, the district will be able to look back on these past three years as “a distant memory.”

As school gets underway, Curry asks families to be patient with morning arrivals and afternoon dismissals during these first few weeks. She also asks those who are coming to drop off or pick up their students to not block driveways in order to be courteous to the district’s neighbors.

(photos via Mark Whitehead)

(Chappell Hill VFD)One person was hospitalized after a pickup truck struck a pole in Chappell Hill Tuesday afternoon.

According to Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department Captain Dustin Brown, it is believed that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed near the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 1155, when the truck struck a pole, and caught fire.

Emergency crews were dispatched just before 12:30pm.

Brown said that one patient taken by helicopter to the hospital for further medical treatment.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, but the truck was a total loss.

As of 5:15pm Tuesday, the traffic light was still not in operation. Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through that area.

The cause of the crash is under a further investigation.

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) proposed to keep the overall property tax rate the same.

The proposed rate of $0.3840 per $100 valuation will look different in terms of how it is made up, in comparison to the current adopted rate.

The county is seeking to increase the maintenance and operations portion from $0.2940 to $0.2975, while lowering the road and bridge portion from $0.0823 to $0.0790 and the interest and sinking side from $0.0077 to $0.0075.

With this proposed rate, the tax on the average homestead would go up $109.73. Certified property values from the Washington County Appraisal District show that the average taxable value of a home in Washington County increased by $28,574, or 10.2 percent.

County Auditor Shawna Hollis said property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $770,850.

A public hearing for the tax rate has not officially been scheduled, but is expected to be next month.

The Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department says they and the Meyersville Volunteer Fire Department will look forward, after today’s (Tuesday) public hearing to consider a petition and possibly call an election this fall for an emergency services district (ESD) had to be cancelled.

The proposed boundaries of the
emergency services district for the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.
The area of the ESD would align with the service
area of the two departments, not including the City
of Brenham's extraterritorial jurisdiction. A public
hearing for the ESD was cancelled on Tuesday due
to not enough notice being provided. Chappell Hill VFD Captain Dustin Brown spoke to Washington County Commissioners about the hearing, which was cancelled due to insufficient notice provided for the hearing itself. The county announced on Monday that the notice must be published two straight weeks in the local newspaper at least 21 days prior to the hearing, but the notice was only published once in the Brenham Banner Press.

County Attorney Renee Mueller said Monday, August 19th is the cutoff to submit items to the state for inclusion on the November ballot. As such, the measure will have to be considered later for possible inclusion on the May 2025 ballot.

Brown said the fire departments will not be discouraged and that they will continue to do their best to serve their communities.

The ESD would levy an ad valorem tax of no more than $0.10 per $100 valuation on residents within the service territories of the Chappell Hill and Meyersville VFDs, not counting the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The ESD was intended to become the primary source of funding for the two fire departments.

Brown thanked County Clerk Beth Rothermel for her correspondence with the Banner Press, as well as the commissioners court for working with the departments throughout this process. He additionally thanked Commissioner Dustin Majewski for calling the fire departments Monday night to check on them after they received word that the hearing had to be cancelled.

Mueller explained that once a petition is filed, state law requires the county clerk to give notice of a public hearing to the newspaper. That notice must be published in the paper no later than the 21st day before the hearing and for two consecutive weeks. Following today’s public hearing, the court would have voted on whether to put the measure on the ballot for the election in November.

The departments needed a minimum of 100 signatures to bring the petition before commissioners and secured 186. After review of the signatures, County Elections Administrator Carol Jackson said 172 of them were fully verified as residents who are registered to vote within the boundaries of the proposed ESD. Some of that difference includes residents who have property inside the ESD but are not registered to vote there.

Today (Tuesday) marks the beginning of another school year for Brenham ISD.

(Mark Whitehead)Superintendent Clay Gillentine says the school district is going into this year with a very positive attitude.

Despite the overarching uncertainty surrounding public education, with many school districts in Texas facing financial struggles, Gillentine feels confident about the direction Brenham ISD is headed. He says the district’s reorganization of staff, from principals to directors to the superintendent’s cabinet, has put “the right people in the right places.”

Gillentine says Brenham ISD is a reflection of the larger community that it serves, and one avenue that the district plans to put out more information on soon is an ambassador program, described by Gillentine as similar to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce’s “Leadership Washington County”. The goal is to partner with leaders in the community to give a “look behind the curtain” of the various departments and functions that go into operating a school district.

Gillentine says Brenham ISD’s message this year is, “One team, one goal”, acknowledging that while teams are filled with people from different backgrounds and with different beliefs, their purpose is all the same.

Many area school districts begin classes this week. Navasota and Fayetteville ISDs started on Monday, while Brenham is joined today by Bellville, Caldwell and Bryan ISDs.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the first day for school districts in Burton, Somerville, Round Top-Carmine, Giddings, Sealy, Waller, Columbus, College Station, Lexington and Anderson-Shiro. Thursday is the first day back for students in Snook and La Grange ISDs. Hempstead ISD students still have until August 26th before they start class.

(photos via Mark Whitehead)

Below is a press release from the Office of the Washington County Judge:

The Public Hearing scheduled to be held on August 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for the Washington County Commissioners Court to hear comments, discuss and vote upon the creation of an Emergency Services District and for its placement on the November 2024 ballot has been cancelled. Texas Health & Safety Code section 775.015 requires that the notice of public hearing be published in a newspaper of general circulation for two consecutive weeks. The Washington County Clerk's Office made the request in writing to the Brenham Banner Press to run the notice in the July 23, 2024 and July 30, 2024 issues. The Brenham Banner Press only ran the notice in the July 23, 2024 issue. The law firm of Coveler & Peeler, P.C. has admitted that the notice is defective and the measure will have to be taken up at a later date for possible inclusion on the May 2025 ballot.

A big party this weekend raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Brenham Fire Department.

Saturday's cornhole tournament was one of several
activities over the weekend at the Brenham Fire
Department's Fireman's Fiesta.
(Ryan Stone, KTEX-106)The department’s 55th Annual Fireman’s Fiesta at the Fireman’s Training Center served up lots of barbecue and had plenty of games and auctions to support its services to the community.

Stephen Draehn, Assistant Chief for the volunteer side of the Brenham Fire Department, says they sold about 1,700 barbecue plates on Sunday. There were also 29 teams that participated on Saturday in the pitch tournament and 36 entries in the cornhole tournament.

Money raised at the Fireman’s Fiesta goes toward new equipment for firefighters and fire trucks, as well as operating and maintenance expenses at the Fireman’s Training Center.

Draehn says the department is grateful for the public’s continued backing of first responders.

The fire department’s next fundraiser will be at the end of the year with its New Year’s Eve Dance.

A Washington woman was killed in an accident early Saturday morning near Chappell Hill.

The crash occurred shortly after 4:45 a.m. on FM 1155 at Valley Drive.

DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz reports a 2006 Honda Civic headed northbound on FM 1155 was traveling downhill on a left-hand curve at a speed deemed unsafe. According to Sgt. Ruiz, the vehicle drove off the road, struck a road sign and vaulted over a creek before striking an embankment and falling backwards into the water.

The driver, 23-year-old Kirsten Hudson, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hudson was the lone occupant, and no other vehicles were involved.

Responding to the scene were the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Swiftwater Technician Captain Matt Martin, who were assisted with recovery by the Brenham Fire Department and Washington County EMS. Also on scene were the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, DPS and Washington County Citizens on Patrol.

The Burton City Council has a busy agenda slated for its meeting on Tuesday.

Among the action items is setting the proposed no-new-revenue property tax rate for 2024 at $0.297267 per $100 valuation. The rate is made up of $0.045349 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.251918 for interest and sinking (I&S).

The tax rate is actually higher than the existing rate of $0.289790 per $100, but certified property values from the Washington County Appraisal District show that this year’s average home market value in the city decreased from last year.

A public hearing for the tax rate will be set for Tuesday, September 10th at 5:30 p.m.

Following that, councilmembers will take possible action on contracting with BEFCO Engineering and/or Strand Associates for on-demand or as-needed engineering services.

The council will then consider an ordinance regarding the use and rules for Laas-Weeren Park, the purchase of a new security camera system for city hall, authorizing road closures for the Trick or Treat Trail on October 26th from 5 to 8 p.m., and removing a declining tree on North Brazos Street.

There will also be several discussion-only items and updates. Councilmembers will discuss the city’s water well and water line projects, as well as the city’s applications through the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Community Development Block Grant program. In addition, they will discuss a ball park use agreement with Burton Friends and Neighbors, what should be on a survey gathering information on the opinions of City of Burton residents about the city’s economy and future development opportunities, and a simplified subdivision or land division ordinance and other possible options available.

The council will meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Burton City Hall.

The Burton School Board will propose a property tax rate for adoption at its meeting on Monday.

The property tax notice included with the agenda
materials for Monday's Burton School Board
meeting. The notice shows the district is seeking to
propose a tax rate of $0.9455 per $100 valuation for
the upcoming fiscal year.
(courtesy Burton ISD)The proposed tax rate is $0.9455 per $100 valuation, slightly higher than the existing rate of $0.9380 per $100.

The new rate would reduce the maintenance and operations (M&O) portion from $0.7380 to $0.7355, but it would increase the interest and sinking (I&S) side from $0.2000 to $0.2100.

Trustees will schedule a public meeting date to move forward with the proposed tax rate and budget.

In other business, the board will consider approval of procedures concerning change orders related to the bond construction project. Later, it will act on possible changes to the supplemental pay schedule.

The board will also vote on the 2024-25 districtwide improvement plan and the elementary and secondary campus improvement plans.

An executive session will possibly be held to consult with an attorney and discuss personnel, security and real property. Any action will occur in open session.

The board will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Burton High School auditorium.

Washington County Commissioners will hold a public hearing and take a vote on Tuesday for the petition submitted to create an Emergency Services District (ESD) for the Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.

The proposed boundaries of the
emergency services district for the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.
The area of the ESD would align with the service
area of the two departments, not including the City
of Brenham's extraterritorial jurisdiction.Members of the fire departments collected signatures on a petition to bring before commissioners to call an election for the ESD in November. The departments needed a minimum of 100 signatures and, as of the July 5th deadline, secured 186 signatures.

The ESD would become the primary source of funding for the fire departments by levying an ad valorem tax of no more than $0.10 per $100 valuation on residents within their service territories, not counting the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners will act on proposing a new property tax rate. The current adopted tax rate is $0.3840 per $100, consisting of $0.2940 for maintenance and operations, $0.0823 cents for road and bridge, and $0.0077 for interest and sinking.

Commissioners will also hear a request from the Washington County Historical Commission to place a permanent Texas Historical Marker at an appropriate location on the courthouse lawn after work is completed at the facility next year. According to the agenda packet, the marker is planned to commemorate the site of a speech given by Sam Houston in the courthouse on March 31, 1861, after Texas had seceded from the Union and Houston had been deposed by the legislature because he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the new Confederate government.

The court will later consider placing a drop box for chronic wasting disease samples on the east side of the Washington County Constable’s Office at 1405 East Blue Bell Road. The drop box will open on September 30th and close on February 29, 2025.

There will also be discussion on a formal notice from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC for a natural gas line across the county right-of-way of Bredthauer Road in Precinct 4. No action is needed.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

Drivers in Chappell Hill may be noticing slowdowns as part of an ongoing TxDOT construction project at the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 1155.

Traffic barrels line the side of Highway 290 at its
intersection with FM 1155. TxDOT is in the middle
of a construction project meant to provide safety
improvements at the intersection.
(Mark Whitehead)TxDOT – Bryan District Public Information Officer Bob Colwell says the work at the intersection is part of a safety project to extend the turn lanes at FM 1155 and FM 1371, upgrade signal elements and place a new asphalt surface course. The project is also removing the crossovers between FM 1155 and FM 1371 that allow for unsignalized left and U-turn movements.

The work is contracted to Knife River Corporation – South, with a total project cost of $6.57 million.

According to Colwell, TxDOT estimates completion in early summer of 2025.

As for the project’s effects on drivers, Colwell says TxDOT will discuss the traffic backups with the contractor and look for opportunities to reduce impacts to the traveling public.

TxDOT has researched both short-term and long-term project concepts at the intersection to address long-standing safety concerns. One of those concepts was a Restricted Crossing U-Turn intersection that would have redirected traffic to turn or make U-turns at offset locations along Highway 290, instead of crossing through the intersection itself. However, TxDOT pivoted away from that proposed redesign following feedback from local stakeholders who expressed opposition.

A divided Washington County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday against a merit pay increase for the county jail administrator.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to deny the added pay for Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley. Commissioners Candice Bullock and Dustin Majewski voted in favor of the increase, with those in opposition being County Judge John Durrenberger and Commissioners Kirk Hanath and Don Koester.

The reason for the request to improve Hensley’s pay by 6 percent, which was recommended as part of an evaluation performed by Sheriff Otto Hanak, is due to extra responsibility taken on by Hensley as part of the jail’s transition to MedHealth as its new medical provider. Hensley and Hanak, the latter of whom was not at Tuesday’s meeting but spoke with KWHI this (Wednesday) morning, said the raise would line Hensley's salary up with the sheriff’s office’s other chief deputy, Jay Petrash.

That added responsibility, however, was one of the reasons that some members of the court did not feel comfortable in approving the pay increase, at least not at the moment. Hanath said this would constitute a change in job description, and that the added pay needed to be considered during dedicated budget discussions, rather than regular commissioners court.

Durrenberger agreed that now was not the right time. He pointed out that Hensley received a 5 percent merit increase at the beginning of the year, saying that this increase of another 6 percent would be substantial for a single salary year. Bullock said the original 5 percent bump was more of a compression adjustment, with Hensley adding that it was to bridge the gap between lieutenants and other command staff, as previously there were lieutenants making less than some senior sergeants.

According to the county’s employee handbook, an employee’s appropriate pay rate is determined upon their hire or change of position by the overseeing elected official, appointed official or department head in collaboration with the Human Resources Department. The pay rate must fall within the designated pay grade, not to exceed 6 percent over minimum of the range, and within the current year’s budgeted amount. If an employee’s qualifications necessitate pay in excess of 6 percent over minimum of the range, commissioners must approve it by majority vote.

Bullock said she “really struggled with this”, stating that the intent was not to allow directors and elected officials to provide more than a 5 percent increase, especially since there were a lot of pay adjustments made for other employees moving into this year. She acknowledged, though, that the sheriff supervises Hensley, alluding that the sheriff requested the increase because he considered it appropriate. Majewski said the sheriff’s office budget allows for the increase.

Hanath said if the commissioners court sets this precedent by approving the merit increase now, it needs to do it for everyone. He agreed with Hensley that his role has changed, but said it needs to be addressed in the job description first, the same as with any other employee who gets added duties. He said if the court provides this merit increase now and then changes the job description later, even more money could be added to the position.

Sheriff Hanak told KWHI that, “My staff members are worth fighting for – each and every one of them – and I’ll continue doing that.”

In other business, commissioners:

Agreed to purchase ClearGov budgeting software for the county auditor. County Auditor Shawna Hollis said the software allows for more public transparency and interactivity in viewing county budgets online, while also offering more detail for users at the county level. Commissioner Kirk Hanath called it a “win-win” for the county and for the community, providing for better and easier access to the information constituents want. The cost is $29,835 annually, with a one-time setup fee of $7,020.
Approved the county’s social media policy. Information Technology Director T.J. Harris said the policy is meant to provide a consistent social media presence for the county by outlining how it manages its social media accounts and platforms, official county communication and crisis communication, records retention, and the expectations of county employees when using their personal accounts.
Approved the extension of a lease agreement between the county and City of Brenham for the 911 Communications building at 301 North Baylor Street. The lease expires on December 31, 2025. The Brenham City Council approved the city’s end of the agreement last month.
Agreed to seek requests for qualifications (RFQs) for professional architectural services at the county’s recently purchased property at 2509 Highway 105, the former location of ATS Irrigation. The county is seeking to use the property for additional office space, records storage and a centrally located network server room. RFQs will be due by Thursday, September 5th at 10 a.m. and accepted on Tuesday, September 10th at 9 a.m.
Reappointed Mayor Atwood Kenjura to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors. The new term is for three years, beginning October 1st and ending September 30, 2027.
Received the Washington County 911 and Human Resources Department’s quarterly reports.

Brenham ISD trustees are proposing a reduction of just under 2 cents in the school district’s property tax rate in the coming fiscal year.

The board voted today (Tuesday) to formally propose a tax rate of $0.75 per $100 valuation, made up of $0.67 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.08 in interest and sinking (I&S). The current tax rate is $0.7693 per $100; the newly proposed rate cuts the M&O side of the existing rate by $0.0193 and keeps the I&S portion the same.

Chief Financial Officer Darrell St. Clair said school districts are required by law to adopt M&O tax rates that align with state compression guidelines and are linked to a district’s property value growth. Since property values locally are climbing faster than the state’s expected rate of growth, that means the district’s tax rate has to come down.

Based on calculations from the Texas Education Agency through a local property value survey, Brenham ISD’s maximum M&O rate that can be adopted is $0.6669 per $100. However, St. Clair suggested setting the proposed rate at $0.67 per $100 in case of any possible fluctuations in calculations, as once a rate is formally proposed, the district cannot go higher, but it can go lower. He admitted, though, that he does not expect any changes between now and when the rate is finally adopted.

A public hearing for the tax rate and the proposed budget will be held during the board’s next regular meeting on Monday, August 26th at 6 p.m. at Brenham High School.

The impact of artificial intelligence was a point of discussion during today’s (Tuesday) Washington County Commissioners meeting.

Brenham | Washington County
Economic Development Director
Teresa Rosales talks with county
commissioners on Tuesday about
artificial intelligence and how
economic development is changing
through its use.Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Developer Teresa Rosales shared her department’s quarterly report with commissioners, in which she discussed what was presented during the Southern Economic Development Council’s annual conference this past week in Savannah, Georgia.

Rosales said the conference highlighted the growing uses of AI and its implications, specifically for businesses and economic development entities, as well as the rising need for data centers to help offset the time needed for AI inquiries. She said a vast majority of the attendees at the conference, not including herself, stated that they actively incorporate AI into their operations in some way.

According to Rosales, some of the primary uses of AI involved content development and site selection, pertaining to what influences the decision to put a business at a specific location.

Rosales encouraged commissioners to look into adopting an AI policy for the county. Information Technology Director T.J. Harris replied that one is already in the works, though it primarily focuses on the tasks that AI should not be used for.

County Judge John Durrenberger said it is important to be cautious when using AI. He noted what he learned from a recent conference that showed how AI’s results for legal advice were often not accurate with the cases they quoted and were not pertinent to what the person seeking information wanted.

Other topics of note at the conference that Rosales mentioned were sustainable energy solutions and conservation efforts and how they can drive site selection.

Also during her report, Rosales spoke on the progress being made on an agreement with Project Color Guard, described by former Economic Development Director Susan Cates as a “data center project”. She said final signatures will come “probably within a week”, and more details will be coming on the project itself soon.

The project would be located on 17 acres in Brenham’s Southwest Industrial Park. Cates said during a commissioners meeting in March 2023 that the project’s water consumption would be “extraordinary”; Rosales told commissioners in May that economic development staff was crafting language in the agreement for a restrictive covenant relating to water.

The 156th edition of the Washington County Fair formally gets underway in just over a month, but Saturday night was the unofficial kick-off with the fair’s Volunteer Appreciation Night.

The 2024 Washington County Fair Queen
candidates are (from left) Makenzie Wehmeyer,
Avila Colanter, Paige Marth and Kinley Antkowiak.The evening recognized fair volunteers and contributors for the work they put in to organize the event every year. It also introduced the public to the 2024 fair queen court and announced the suite of musical entertainers coming to the fair this year.

The four fair queen candidates are Makenzie Wehmeyer, Avila Colanter, Paige Marth and Kinley Antkowiak.

Wehmeyer is a senior and is homeschooled, representing Washington County 4-H. Her parents are Brandon and Brandie Wehmeyer. She says the fair means a significant deal to Washington County and that she is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

Colanter is a senior at Grace Lutheran High School who is representing Grace Lutheran High School Athletics. Her parents are Eddie and Britt Colanter. While she has only been involved with the fair for a few years, she has already come to love it and views it as a great way to connect with the community.

Marth is a junior at Brenham High School who is representing Washington County 4-H. Her parents are Brandon and Kristie Marth. She says from her days showing her cat in the pet show to moving into the ring with her chickens, she is always amazed at the way the community comes together at the fair.

Antkowiak is a senior at Brenham High School who is representing Brenham Athletics. Her parents are James and Kelly Antkowiak. She says her favorite event of the fair is the livestock sale, getting to see firsthand the outpouring of support that exhibitors receive with their projects.

The fair queen will be crowned on Saturday, September 14th at 6 p.m. at the Washington County Expo Entertainment Pavilion. The music lineup will open that night with the Texas Unlimited Band.

Tejano Night on Wednesday, September 18th will host De Parranda.

Thursday, September 19th will feature Jeff Woolsey and the Dancehall Kings.

On Friday, September 20th, Tanner Usrey will lead for Pecos & The Rooftops.

To close out the fair on Saturday, September 21st, Tyler Reese Tritt will open for her father, Travis Tritt.

Season tickets for the fair are now on sale. They can be purchased from the fair queen candidates or at www.washingtoncofair.com.

The Brenham School Board will be discussing the budget and tax rate at their next meeting this coming Tuesday.

The board has scheduled a 12-noon meeting at the Brenham ISD Administration Office.

Agenda items include setting the 2024 proposed tax rate for Maintenance and Operations, and the 2024 proposed tax rate for Interest and Sinking.

They are also expected to set the date and time for public meeting to hear comments from the public on the 2024-2025 proposed school district budget, and the 2024 proposed tax rate.

Other items on the agenda include approval of the district’s compensation plan, a discussion of about the district’s employee handbook, and approval of the district’s property and casualty insurance carrier.

The Washington County Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet in special session to discuss multiple agenda items on Tuesday morning.

Among the items is to seek Requests for Qualifications for Professional Architectural Services at 2509 Highway 105 in Brenham. The location is the former ATS Irrigation Building, where the County is seeking to use for additional office space, records storage, and a centrally located network server room.

The plan is for the RFQ’s to be due by September 5 at 10am, and then awarded at the Commissioners’ meeting on September 10.

Another item is the approval of a Lease Agreement between Washington County and the City of Brenham for the 911 Communication Facility at 301 North Baylor Street. The City already approved their part of the agreement at a previous meeting.

Other action items include a merit pay increase for Jail Administrator Eric Hensley, reappointing Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors, purchasing ClearGov Budgeting Software for the Auditor’s Department, and approving the Washington County Social Media Policy.

The Commissioners will also hear a quarterly update on Economic Development, as well as quarterly reports from Washington County 911, and the County Human Resources Department.

The Washington County Commissioners Court meets Tuesday at 9am at the Washington County Courthouse.

The Brenham Police Department’s current longest-tenured officer is retiring.

Cpl. Tommy Kurie
(Brenham Police Dept.)The Brenham City Council recognized Corporal Tommy Kurie on Thursday, as he prepares to retire after 34 years with the police department. Originally beginning his law enforcement career in 1985, Kurie served at the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office and then Sul Ross State University before joining the Brenham Police Department on May 1, 1990.

Brenham Police Chief Lloyd Powell spoke on Kurie’s behalf, as he could not attend the council meeting. Powell said many people today do not know the police department without Kurie, and that while his prowess in catching burglars is well-documented over the years, he is better known as someone who “leads with his heart” and as “a big teddy bear.”

Powell called Kurie “a valuable asset to the City of Brenham and to this community.” He also said Kurie wanted everyone to know that he is grateful for his many years with the city and appreciates everything the city and its residents have done for him.

Kurie’s official retirement date, according to Powell, is August 11th.

Mayor Atwood Kenjura said he has known Kurie for a long time and that his many kind gestures, whether it be buying children books or meals, go “a long way.” He said the city will miss him and thanks him for his “great service.”

The City of Brenham is showing the final film of this year’s Movies in the Park series tonight (Friday) at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.

Gates open at 8 p.m., with Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the live action version, playing around 8:30 p.m.

Guests must have a float in order to be in the pool during the movie.

Summer movie sponsors include KTEX/KWHI, Brannon Industrial Group, Strand Associates, Citizens State Bank, Thielemann Construction, Stegent-Thielemann Plumbing, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and the City of Brenham.

To learn more, visit the Brenham Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) proposed to hold the city’s property tax rate at the same level as this past year.

Kevin Schmidt (right) is recognized by the Brenham
City Council for 15 years of service with the city's
Information Technology Department. The total proposed rate of $0.4584 per $100 valuation is identical to the tax rate used in the current fiscal year, though due to higher property valuations, the average homeowner can anticipate paying more in taxes. The tax on the average homestead is projected to increase by 13.51 percent, from $1,098 to $1,247.

The rate is less than the voter-approval rate of $0.4666 per $100, but it is more than the no-new-revenue rate of $0.4555 per $100, so public hearings will be held at the council’s meetings on September 5th and 19th prior to formal votes on adopting the rate.

Chief Financial Officer Julie Flagg said the city would bring in $685,522 in extra tax levy with this rate, over half of which would come from new properties on the tax roll this year.

The new rate is different from the existing one in terms of how it is calculated, as the city plans to slightly increase the maintenance and operations (M&O) side from $0.3102 to $0.3164. Meanwhile, the interest and sinking (I&S) portion would fall from $0.1482 to $0.1420.

A memo included in the agenda packet for Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting shows the expected change in taxes from the current fiscal year to next year, based on increased homestead values.(courtesy City of Brenham)In June 2019, the city established an ordinance freezing property taxes for homeowners who are over 65 years old or disabled. The city has 1,735 homestead accounts with a tax freeze, totaling $413,419,705 in appraised value and representing a third of the city’s homestead-eligible properties.

In other business, the council:

Held work session discussion on the possible annexation of Dixie Road and Old Masonic Road, as well as their right-of-way, into city limits. The city is seeking to annex Dixie Road from Highway 36 North to the existing city limit line, due to the ongoing development of the Vintage Farms subdivision. The area to the west of Old Masonic Road was annexed in 1984 and is the Scenic Estates subdivision; this annexation would move the city limit line from the back of residential properties. City Secretary Jeana Bellinger said public hearings will be held on August 15th and 22nd, followed by readings of an annexation ordinance on September 19th and October 3rd.
Approved agreements with United Healthcare, Surency and Alliance Work Partners for employee benefits for the plan year lasting from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. The renewal comes with a 5 percent increase in group medical coverage, which will be applied to the city’s premiums and employees’ premiums starting October 1st.
Performed the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s code for buildings and structures, adopting the 2021 editions of the International Building Code Suite and 2020 National Electric Code. The city is currently using 2018 International Building Code and 2017 National Electric Code.
Granted a specific use permit to Walt Edmunds to allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in an R-1, single family residential zoning district on 0.1948 acres in the 300 block of West Third Street. The lot has a pre-existing 612 square-foot accessory structure that was grandfathered from the 1970s to 2020, when the applicant purchased the property. However, the ADU was vacant and in disrepair, so it lost its legally nonconforming status. The applicant submitted building plans to restore the ADU, which would be provided to family and guests. The approval, which was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission, is on the condition that the property be replatted.
Took no action on amending the rate tariff schedule for the city’s sanitary sewer system, adjusting surcharge rates for the industrial wastewater service rate schedule.
Held executive session discussion with the city attorney on five topics. They included Commonwealth Development, Inc. v. City of Brenham, Texas, Fair Housing Case No. 06-22-3294-8, involving the proposed tax-credit housing development on Pecan Street that was rejected by the city council in February 2021; the Brenham Municipal Airport; administrative procedures related to various personnel issues; the impact of Lindke v. Freed, 601 U.S. 187 (2024) on First Amendment law, and elected officials’ responsibility related to social media use; and ETC Marketing, LTD v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the State of Texas, and the City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. D-1-GN-24-004577, 53rd Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas. No action was taken on any of the items.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Washington County EMS recently recognized two members of the department for their work to save people and property during an RV fire.

Paramedic Hunter Dunn (left) and EMT
Lauren Coonrod were recently recognized
by Washington County EMS for their
outstanding service.
(courtesy Washington County EMS)EMS presented a Director’s Commendation Award to paramedic Hunter Dunn and a Meritorious Service Citation to emergency medical technician Lauren Coonrod.

The department says the two were the first on scene of a fully engulfed RV on May 28th.

Fire service was on the way, but additional RVs and trees were threatened by the blaze, so Dunn, who formerly served as a firefighter, began efforts to put out the flames. Once firefighters arrived, he continued to assist by connecting hoses and eventually manning the nozzle to directly fight the fire.

While Dunn aided in firefighting, Coonrod took the lead in caring for eight civilians who were gathered at the RV. She moved them away from the scene in her ambulance and single-handedly completed triage, administered oxygen and provided care.

EMS says Dunn’s actions “far exceed the call of duty placed upon him as a paramedic, and resulted in the protection of neighboring property.” It says Coonrod exercised resourcefulness and sound judgment, adding that her “proactivity and willingness to work independently allowed her partner to continue assisting with firefighting efforts,” which allowed property to be saved.

The department says the service of Dunn and Coonrod is “in keeping with the highest values of Washington County EMS.”

Downtown Brenham’s next First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market is tomorrow (Friday).

Shoppers can check out numerous vendors along Baylor and Park Streets from 4 to 7 p.m. Some of the goods available will include fresh produce, snacks, sauces and seasonings, health and wellness products, and handcrafted accessories.

Brenham Animal Services will have a donation drop-off at the market for visitors who wish to bring by food, toys, treats, hygiene products and other supplies to help staff at the Brenham Pet Adoption Center.

The market is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit.

For more information, or to register as a vendor, go to https://cityofbrenham.org or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

Jared James Dicus(Waller Co. Jail)A Waller County man will be going to prison for a long time after pleading guilty to the murder of his wife.

22-year-old Jared James Dicus was arrested on January 11, 2023 for killing his wife, Anggy Diaz, at their home on his parents’ property.

According to investigators, Dicus stabbed her multiple times, and then proceeded to decapitate her.

During pre-trial hearings, the defendant was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. It was determined that he was competent enough to stand trial.

As part of a plea agreement, Dicus was sentenced by 506th District Court Judge Gary Cheney to 40 years in prison.

According to Waller County Criminal District Attorney Sean Whittmore, the plea agreement and the sentence were discussed with the victim’s family.

As part of that agreement, Dicus waived his right to appeal the verdict, the sentence, and any potential defense to prosecution including temporary insanity.

He is also not eligible for parole until 2043 at the earliest.

The Washington County Appraisal District has put out the certified tax roll for 2024, and values around the county continue to climb.

A total of 60,875 properties were assessed this year, totaling $15,401,559,304 in market value. That is an increase of 10.91 percent from 2023’s $13,886,475,681 in market value on 56,378 properties.

The average market value for single-family residential rose 7.53 percent, while multi-family residential value grew by 25.1 percent. Commercial real property increased on average by 18.51 percent. Qualified open-space land, or land devoted principally to agricultural use, went up in value by 14.79 percent. Real property for industrial and manufacturing use increased by 16.58 percent. Value for oil and gas dropped 18.79 percent.

Moving to average homestead market values, homes in Washington County and the Blinn College District currently value at $334,247, up from $310,349 in 2023.

The average market value for a home in Brenham ISD grew from $315,321 last year to $339,383 this year. Values for Burton ISD increased from $276,275 to $298,943.

The City of Brenham’s average homestead market value is also up, going from $279,167 a year ago to $292,636. Meanwhile, home values in the City of Burton dropped from $256,602 to $254,688.

For homes in the Oak Hill Fresh Water District, the average market value rose from $384,685 in 2023 to $412,909 in 2024. Values for homes inside the Pecan Glen Road District increased from $515,077 to $518,072.

According to Washington County Chief Appraiser Dyann White, the appraisal district received 3,790 protests, representing 7.4 percent of properties in Washington County. Settlements were reached on 3,114 of the protests. The Appraisal Review Board heard 186 value protests and made value reduction to 70 properties. Approximately 180 protests remain.

White says an agreement of value is the appraisal district’s goal, but is not always possible. She thanks all those who participated in the hearings, and she encourages anyone who did not protest but still has a concern on value to reach out to her office to hear the options available.

Click here to view an analysis of market values across Washington County from 2023 to 2024.

Click here to view average homestead market values and taxable values in Washington County and its taxing districts, shown for 2023 and 2024.

The Brenham City Council will look to propose a property tax rate for the next fiscal year at its meeting Thursday.

The city currently plans to keep the same tax rate as last year, at $0.4584 per $100 valuation. The rate is lower than the voter-approval rate of $0.4666 per $100, but it is higher than the no-new-revenue rate of $0.4555 per $100, so a public hearing is required before the council adopts the rate in September.

With the new rate, the city intends to slightly increase the maintenance and operations (M&O) portion of the rate from $0.3102 to $0.3164. The interest and sinking (I&S) side of the rate would drop from $0.1482 to $0.1420.

According to the agenda packet for the meeting, the tax on the average homestead would increase by 13.51 percent, going from $1,098 to $1,247. The average homestead taxable value in the city is going up from $239,681 to $272,061.

A memo included in the agenda packet for Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting shows the expected change in taxes from the current fiscal year to next year, based on increased homestead values.(courtesy City of Brenham)Formal adoption of the tax rate is scheduled for the council’s meetings on September 5th and 19th.

In other items, the council will perform the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s code for buildings and structures, adopting the 2021 editions of the International Building Code Suite and 2020 National Electric Code. The city is currently using 2018 International Building Code and 2017 National Electric Code.

A work session will be held to discuss the possible annexation of Dixie Road and Old Masonic Road, as well as their right-of-way, into city limits. The city is seeking to potentially annex Dixie Road from Highway 36 North to the existing city limit line, due to the ongoing development of the Vintage Farms subdivision. The area to the west of Old Masonic Road was annexed in 1984 and is the Scenic Estates subdivision; this annexation would move the city limit line from the back of residential properties.

Also on the agenda, the council will:

Consider amending the rate tariff schedule for the city’s sanitary sewer system, adjusting surcharge rates for the industrial wastewater service rate schedule. The city says the current maximum surcharge rates do not cover the cost of operation at the wastewater treatment plant.
Act on agreements with United Healthcare, Surency and Alliance Work Partners for employee benefits for the plan year lasting from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.
Hold a public hearing and potentially grant a specific use permit to Walt Edmunds to allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in an R-1, single family residential zoning district on 0.1948 acres in the 300 block of West Third Street. The lot has a pre-existing 612 square-foot accessory structure that was grandfathered from the 1970s to 2020, when the applicant purchased the property. However, the ADU was vacant and in disrepair, so it lost its legally nonconforming status. The applicant submitted building plans to restore the ADU, which would be provided to family and guests. The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the item on July 22nd, on the condition that the property be replatted.
Hold executive session discussion with the city attorney on five topics. They include Commonwealth Development, Inc. v. City of Brenham, Texas, Fair Housing Case No. 06-22-3294-8, involving the proposed tax-credit housing development on Pecan Street that was rejected by the city council in February 2021; the Brenham Municipal Airport; administrative procedures related to various personnel issues; the impact of Lindke v. Freed, 601 U.S. 187 (2024) on First Amendment law, and elected officials’ responsibility related to social media use; and ETC Marketing, LTD v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the State of Texas, and the City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. D-1-GN-24-004577, 53rd Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas. No action is expected to be taken on any of the items.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) authorized the purchase of new vehicles for the sheriff’s office using grant funding established by the state for rural law enforcement agencies.

The sheriff’s office will receive five 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes, purchased from Caldwell Country Chevrolet at a total of $241,000.

Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley said the vehicles are for the office’s transport division to replace 2017 models. He said this cost is just for the vehicles themselves, as a separate agenda item will be needed next week to purchase upfitting for the vehicles.

Through Senate Bill 22, passed in the 88th Texas Legislature, the state is able to provide financial assistance to eligible sheriff’s offices, constable’s offices, and county and district attorney’s offices. The agencies must serve counties or jurisdictions with overall populations of 300,000 or less.

According to County Auditor Shawna Hollis, the sheriff’s office is receiving $350,000 through the grant program. The county and district attorney’s offices are each getting $175,000, while the constable’s offices – collectively, not individually – are receiving $26,572 in total.

According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office website, sheriff’s offices can use the money to increase salaries, hire additional deputies or staff, and purchase vehicles, firearms and safety equipment. Prosecutor’s offices can use the funding for salaries or more staff. Constable’s offices can only use the grant to go toward salaries.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners proceeded with the sale of land on the property where EMS Station No. 2 is located, in order to accommodate TxDOT’s Highway 290 cloverleaf project. Commissioners moved to authorize County Judge John Durrenberger as the county’s designated representative to execute closing documents with the State of Texas, via the Texas Transportation Commission, for the sale of a parcel of land on the EMS station property at 1875 Highway 290 West.

EMS Director Kevin Deramus said TxDOT is widening the highway in front of the EMS building, and they need the extra space for concrete and monument signage work, as well as to move some of the station’s driveway entrance.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the state’s original offer for the land was $249,000, but Deramus and County Engineer Wesley Stolz met with Hanath to discuss the EMS parking lot and the engineering that would need to be done to readjust it because of the TxDOT project. A counter-offer from the state came in at $348,000. Hanath thanked Stolz and Deramus for their work in helping to achieve that higher total, saying it “benefitted us a great deal.”

First Assistant County Attorney Kacie Murphy said this item allows the county judge to sign closing documents, as the title company needed to ensure that whoever was signing those documents had the authority to do so. Hanath said once that is done, paperwork can be signed and the county can move forward.

In other EMS business, commissioners approved an amendment to the department’s rate structure to increase charge rates.

Deramus said the last time the department increased the rates that are billed to insurance companies was in September 2021, and it currently has the lowest rates out of eight agencies that neighbor Washington County, including adjacent counties and some further out such as Robertson and Leon. He said this change will put EMS right on with the statewide average, as recommended by the department’s billing company, EMS Management and Consultants.

Deramus stressed that this does not impact Washington County residents, as the county waives copays for patients who live in the county, though non-county residents may see slightly higher bills than before. He does not expect revenue to increase by much, but the main purpose of the change is to help the county receive more reimbursement from insurance companies during contract negotiations involved with the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process.

The court also approved a contract with J. Mendoza Tree Services for county-wide debris cleanup from the May 17th declared disaster. The contract is for $2,800 per day at an expected total of 10 days. Stolz said the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the county 75 percent of its expenses in relation to the cleanup.

In addition, commissioners accepted the bid of Triple T Refrigeration for $18,460 to replace an A/C unit at the county jail. Hensley said the unit being replaced is a 2006 model that has “completely bit the dust.” The purchase will come from the county’s reserve funds.

In other business, the court:

Agreed to go out for bids for a full-color LED outdoor monument sign and cabinet cover at the Washington County Expo, using hotel occupancy tax reserve funds. Expo Director Harrison Williams said this is to replace the LED portion of the sign. Hanath said HOT funds cannot be used to build a new sign, but they can go toward working on the existing sign. Bids will be due at 10 a.m. on August 22nd and accepted on August 27th.
Terminated the county’s contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP for the collection of delinquent taxes and approved a contingent fee contract with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP for the collection of delinquent government receivables owed to the county.
Approved a resolution to adopt a 20 percent collection penalty to defray the cost of collection of delinquent taxes, penalties and interest due and unpaid as of April 1, 2025 and each year thereafter for delinquent personal property accounts, and as of July 1, 2025 and each year thereafter for all other delinquent accounts. The 20 percent penalty would be on top of the delinquent amount owed. Leslie Schkade, partner with Perdue Brandon, said this allows the firm to collect personal property taxes in April rather than waiting until July, allowing it more time to focus on those taxes before real property is turned over in July.
Approved updated jail medical job descriptions. Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley said the update is to include language in the position descriptions outlining weekend shifts and what their adjusted pay rates would be in comparison to the base rate.
Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Hohenwalde School Road, consisting of 24.49 acres in Precinct 4.

Washington County firefighters spent all day on Saturday brushing up on their training.

Firefighters run a hose into a home as part of a
training exercise on Saturday.
(Joshua Blaschke)Dozens of volunteers from the county’s fire departments, along with Washington County EMS and the CERT Team, came out to a property offered for their use in the Old Washington area so they could get further acclimated with all of the necessary equipment and procedures to tackle emergencies. The training, which catered to all experience levels, provided hands-on lessons on topics including rapid intervention, search and rescue, forcible entry, ventilation tactics and firefighter CPR.

Dustin Brown, Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department Captain and chairman of the Washington County Firefighters Association training committee, said it takes multiple training sessions to develop the skillset needed for fire response. While individual fire departments train often, Brown hopes that large-scale exercises like these can become a more regular occurrence.

One of the purposes of the training was to allow first responders the opportunity to build working relationships with others who serve across the county, even if they belong to a different department. Washington Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Casada said establishing that collaboration is crucial in the event of a major call where several or all of the county’s departments are called out to provide assistance.

Brown said their goal is to ensure every department has the training to better themselves and better protect the community as a whole.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer can visit the National Volunteer Fire Council’s website, www.nvfc.org, to find nearby departments they can join. If anyone has property they would like to lend to volunteers for training, they are encouraged to contact homebuilder and volunteer firefighter Garrett Casada at casadaenterprises@gmail.com.

Firefighters gear up ahead of a training exercise simulating a house fire.
(Joshua Blaschke)Firefighters discuss their plan of attack at a mock house fire during a training session.
(Joshua Blaschke)Firefighters learn how to administer aid to other firefighters in the event they need care.
(courtesy Sarah Venables, Meyersville VFD)Firefighters receive instruction during a training activity on Saturday.
(courtesy Sarah Venables, Meyersville VFD)(courtesy Sarah Venables, Meyersville VFD)

Downtown Brenham’s “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concluded its 20th anniversary season on Saturday with a trip back in time to the days of bright neon and leg warmers.

(courtesy KTEX-106)The Spicolis entertained large crowds with the greatest pop and rock hits of the '80s and the MTV generation.

Along with the free music, concertgoers were able to check out the Stray Katz Car Club’s classic car cruise-in and enjoy food and refreshments from local establishments and food trucks.

Meanwhile, the Zythological Society of North America had several dozen people come out to try various craft beers at its “Hot Nights, Cold Brews” event at the Ant Street Inn.

The concert was sponsored by Budweiser – Mike Hopkins Distributing, Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union, Strand Associates, and RCR Rail – Jeffrey Pittman.

(courtesy KTEX-106)(courtesy KTEX-106)

Washington County Commissioners have a long list of items to run through on Tuesday.

Some of that business relates to Senate Bill 22 from the 88th Texas Legislature, which established a grant program to provide financial assistance to eligible sheriff’s offices, constable’s offices and district and county attorney’s offices.

Commissioners will act on a budget amendment for SB 22 expenses and to allow the county auditor to create a SB 22 fund for revenue and expenses for prosecutor, constable and sheriff’s office funds.

The first item using those funds for a purchase will come from the sheriff’s office, who is seeking to buy five Chevrolet Tahoes.

Unrelated to SB 22, commissioners will then consider an item acting on purchasing and funding for an A/C replacement at the county jail.

Following that, the court will look at rate structures for the EMS Department and possibly increase charge rates, based on the recommendation of EMS’ billing company, EMS Management and Consultants.

Later, commissioners will consider entering into a contract with J. Mendoza Tree Services for county-wide debris cleanup from the May 17th declared disaster.

In other business, the court will:

Vote on a resolution authorizing County Judge John Durrenberger, as the designated representative for Washington County, to execute closing documents with the State of Texas, acting by and through the Texas Transportation Commission, for the sale of real estate parcel P00065042.
Consider approval of updated jail medical job descriptions.
Consider going out for bids for a full-color LED outdoor monument sign and cabinet cover at the Washington County Expo using hotel occupancy tax reserve funds. Bids would be due at 10 a.m. on August 22nd and accepted on August 27th.
Act on terminating the county’s contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP for the collection of delinquent taxes and approving a contingent fee contract with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP for the collection of delinquent government receivables owed to the county.
Consider a resolution to adopt a 20 percent collection penalty to defray the cost of collection of delinquent taxes, penalties and interest due and unpaid as of April 1, 2025 and each year thereafter for delinquent personal property accounts, and as of July 1, 2025 and each year thereafter for all other delinquent accounts.
Potentially approve a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Hohenwalde School Road, consisting of 24.49 acres in Precinct 4.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

All-time hits from the 80’s will fill downtown Brenham tomorrow (Saturday) as “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” closes out for the summer.

The Spicolis will blast back to the days of the MTV generation super groups with their concert, starting at 7 p.m. at the corner of Alamo and Baylor Streets.

The Spicolis are performing in Brenham for the fourth straight year, after making their debut in 2021 following a last-minute lineup change. Brenham Main Street Manager Leigh Linden says they quickly became a fan favorite.

Visitors, who are encouraged to wear neon colors for the concert’s neon theme, can check out a classic car cruise-in at the west end of Alamo Street, hosted by the Stray Katz Car Club. Local establishments and food trucks will be open to serve food and drinks.

The free concert is sponsored by Budweiser – Mike Hopkins Distributing, Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union, Strand Associates, and RCR Rail – Jeffrey Pittman.

KTEX-106’s Courtney Cartwright will introduce The Spicolis on stage.

For more information, visit the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes Downtown Brenham Facebook page.

Navasota police report a child was taken to the hospital this (Friday) morning after being struck by a stray bullet.

According to a release from the Navasota Police Department, officers responded at around 5:30 a.m. to the 600 block of FM 1227 for a report of shots fired and an injured juvenile.

Police arrived and discovered that a female juvenile living in the area had been struck by a bullet. She was transported to a hospital in Bryan with minor injuries.

Investigators found evidence of the shooting in the roadway southeast of the apartment complex in the 700 block of Doris Street. They observed gunshot damage to several vehicles and an apartment wall.

As of this morning, FM 1227 is closed to 18-wheeler traffic from Washington Avenue to FM 379, and all other vehicle traffic is closed on FM 379 from Doris Street to Roosevelt Street, in order to allow authorities to investigate. Update: Roads were reopened as of 10:45 a.m.

Police have not yet identified a suspect.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Navasota Police Criminal Investigations Division at 936-625-6410 or Grimes County Crime Stoppers at 936-873-2000.

Brenham ISD has chosen Kellie Fontenot as the new Special Education Director.

Kellie Fontenot
(Brenham ISD)Fontenot’s promotion, announced in a social media post on Wednesday, comes after having served 28 of her 29 years in education at Brenham ISD. Those include 10 years as a teacher, 16 years as a diagnostician and two years as the special education coordinator.

Fontenot is a 1991 graduate of Brenham High School. She received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. She went on to earn a Master’s in Instructional Leadership and a diagnostician certificate in 2007 from Sam Houston State University.

According to Brenham ISD’s website, the district’s Special Education Department serves over 600 students throughout the district, providing inclusive support, speech therapy and other related services.

Prior to Fontenot, special education was overseen by Christine Johnson, who was hired in May 2021 as the Special Education Services Director. Her role later expanded as the Executive Director of Leading and Learning, and she now serves as the Chief of Staff.

A local storm tracker contributed his expertise to the new movie, “Twisters”.

(courtesy Bob Pack Facebook)Bob Pack, who lives in Burleson County, served as an extra and helped consult with actors to make the storm-chasing scenes more realistic. His truck that collects weather data was also in the film.

“Twisters” officially released last Friday across the United States, starring Daisy Edgar Jones and Glenn Powell as storm chasers in Oklahoma. The movie enjoyed the third-biggest box office opening of the year at $80.5 million and now has the best opening for a natural disaster movie.

According to Pack’s IMDb page, he has served as a freelance videographer, content creator and producer in multiple markets across Texas and the nation. He has appeared in several documentaries and programs related to weather and meteorology.

Pack will be at Westwood Cinema 6 in Brenham tomorrow (Friday) between 7 and 8 p.m. to meet with moviegoers around the theatre’s nighttime showing of the film.

Two people, including a member of the most recent Brenham Maifest court, have been arrested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office following a monthslong investigation into assault allegations.

Lucas Cash Flynn
(Washington Co. Jail)According to a release from the sheriff’s office, deputies responded on Friday, March 29th just before 9:30 p.m. to a disturbance on Schlottmann Road. Deputies met with the victim, who had sustained numerous facial injuries requiring medical attention.

Investigators interviewed the parties involved and took photos of the scene. After further investigation, the case was submitted to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Reece Allen Wittu
(Washington Co. Jail)Today (Wednesday), deputies arrested 19-year-old Lucas Cash Flynn and 18-year-old Reece Allen Wittu on felony warrants issued by the 21st District Court. Both have been charged with Aggravated Assault. According to the sheriff’s office, their bonds were listed at $25,000 each.

Washington County First Assistant District Attorney Derek Estep confirmed that Flynn and Wittu were indicted during the last grand jury session on July 16th. Only the names of those who have been arrested are released in indictment reports.

Flynn was the 2024 Senior Maifest King. A statement from Maifest Association President Catherine Kenjura reads, “Brenham Maifest is sad and disappointed to learn this. The Maifest Association does not condone violence of any kind, and we have a policy in place that specifically addresses criminal behavior. Our executive committee will meet soon to discuss his future with Maifest.”

The Burton School Board held a workshop on Tuesday to review current budget conditions and see how the upcoming fiscal year’s budget is shaping up.

Burton ISD Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal first showed trustees the district’s expectations for how this year’s budget will close out. Thus far, general fund revenue totals $11.34 million and looks to add another $90,000 through investment interest and possible tax payments. Meanwhile, general fund expenditures to date are $6.52 million with another $5.01 million expected, mostly by way of recapture payment to the state, payroll costs, utilities, custodial services and fuel.

With expenses currently projected to exceed revenue, the district anticipates it will need to take approximately $107,821 from the general fund balance to close out the budget. Blakey-Staal said the district has $4.16 million in its fund balance to cover the shortfall.

Blakey-Staal said several unbudgeted expenses contributed to the present situation, including some new positions, insurance claims from storm damage, maintenance costs, bus repairs, and the costs associated with the superintendent search.

Discussion then moved into next year’s budget projections. As of now, the proposed budget sits at $15.17 million, made of up $11.95 million in general fund appropriations, $421,200 in food service and $2.79 million in debt service. The total adopted budget for the 2023-24 year was $15.27 million.

Trustee Mike Clyde asked if the proposed budget provides for any increase in employee salary. Blakey-Staal said it currently does not, as Burton ISD is “having to run it pretty tight” like many other school districts. Trustee Dean Fuchs said teachers would still receive their step increase.

Blakey-Staal did say that she wants to circle back with the board on the budget in early August, as they will have a better idea of its standing once certified values come in from the Washington County Appraisal District tomorrow (Thursday). Once that happens, the certified values will be sent to the Texas Education Agency, who will then give Burton the maximum compressed tax rate it can use. She said the district will go from there to see if that rate can support the proposed budget.

Fuchs said given the circumstances that the district faced this past year, he is “pretty satisfied with where we’re at” in terms of overall condition. Clyde said he wants to try to get the district’s salary schedule closer to where it should be, as many of Burton’s neighbors are paying higher, referencing the results of a salary survey shared with the board last month. Fuchs said they have a starting point, but still have work to do.

Click here to view the budget presentation on Tuesday. (Note: Blakey-Staal corrected the figures shown on page 2, under "Amount Expected from Fund Balance". The figure for 4 months of operating expenses should read $3,847,856.)

Multiple Washington County agencies conducted a water rescue operation Tuesday afternoon.

(courtesy Chappell Hill VFD)According to Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department Captain Dustin Brown, Chappell Hill firefighters were dispatched just after 3:15 p.m., with the Brenham Fire Department as mutual aid, to a reported motorist assist in the 6800 block of Old Chappell Hill Road. Units soon learned that it was a water rescue due to a vehicle driving in high water. Washington County EMS was also dispatched to the call.

While responding, DPS informed all other units that the water had risen approximately 2 – 3 inches in the last few minutes.

Chappell Hill booster trucks arrived on the scene on the east side, while Brenham firefighters, DPS and medics assessed the scene on the west side. The vehicle was found partially swept off the roadway, resting against a pole that kept it from going into the ditch. A DPS trooper was seen talking with the driver of the vehicle.

(courtesy Chappell Hill VFD)One of Chappell Hill’s booster trucks, manned by Swiftwater Technician Captain Matt Martin, entered the water from the east side of the incident and contacted the trooper and the victim. The victim was assisted into the truck’s passenger seat by Martin, and the trooper climbed into the back of the unit. The truck then reversed out of the water and moved the victim safely back to shore, where she was evaluated by EMS.

Brown said the victim was the lone occupant of the vehicle, and there were no perceived injuries.

The operation was a collaborative effort between the Chappell Hill and Brenham Fire Departments, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County EMS and DPS.

Washington County Commissioners heard a slate of department and office reports at their meeting this (Tuesday) morning.

A view of Washington County EMS' responses to the
county jail between April-June of 2023 and 2024.
(courtesy Washington County)During EMS Director Kevin Deramus’ quarterly report, he shared that the department’s calls to the county jail for this quarter, between April and June, are averaging at 15 per month. Those are up nearly double from the 8.8 calls per month during the same timeframe in 2023.

One of the reasons for the increase is due to EMS having to come to the jail to perform blood draws on people suspected of driving while intoxicated. The most blood draws needed during any month of this quarter in 2023 was four; last month, there were ten.

Commissioner Candice Bullock asked if it would be possible to eliminate EMS’ responsibility to do the blood draws since, through the county’s transition to MedHealth as the new jail medical services provider, the county will have its own medical staff at the jail. Deramus said he hopes that will be the case as it would be more efficient, but First Assistant County Attorney Kacie Murphy said there will be some steps in that process, since it entails getting employees involved in the chain of custody and following all the steps required by law enforcement. For now, Deramus said he expects EMS will likely handle the blood draws through the rest of the year.

Deramus also spoke on an increase in the EMS fleet’s driven miles. He said the department is currently on pace for about 100,000 more miles in a year compared to the previous year, and while calls for service have risen somewhat, he believes the main reason is St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan dropping from a Level II trauma center to a Level III. While EMS can still transport patients to Bryan, the change in designation means that depending on the patient’s level of care needed, they instead need to go to Level II or Level I trauma centers in Temple, Houston or Austin.

Deramus said St. Joseph can regain Level II status as part of a yearly review, but it is an expensive status to maintain.

Commissioners also received the monthly sheriff’s office report from Captain Eddie Ocanas, who said many categories of offenses were down from the previous month. He did say there was an increase in thefts and burglaries, but they were mostly “bleedover” from the previous month that had not yet been reported, and they were random incidents that are not tied to the organized activity that he discussed during the sheriff’s office’s report last month. Those cases remain under investigation, with Ocanas noting that the group involved has also “made their rounds” in area counties like Austin, Fayette and Waller.

Following that, commissioners reviewed the monthly reports of the county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector and constables.

The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission gave its recommendation of approval on Monday to a series of amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan, future land use map and thoroughfare plan.

A view of the third concept developed for the
Brenham Family Park Special Area Plan. The
concept was created through public feedback.
(courtesy City of Brenham)The amendments lay the groundwork for the adoption of the Brenham Family Park Special Area Plan and reflect the intent to extend South Blue Bell Road to Highway 36 South. The Special Area Plan acts as a guideline for the envisioned uses of the over 600 acres surrounding the proposed Brenham Family Park, which include single- and multi-family residential, commercial, and open space.

The creation of the plan was led by feedback received last year through interviews with landowners, real estate professionals, surveys and public meetings. City Planner Shauna Laauwe said this is the first and main piece of putting those responses into writing, so that the city has a concept in place to help achieve its desired mix of development.

Development Services Director Stephanie Doland reiterated that the Special Area Plan is not an absolute, as the city aims to be flexible with developers in order to meet the general feel for a master plan community. She added that because different tracts of land may be under development at different times, accommodating connectivity will be very important.

Commission Chair Keith Behrens said the city must maintain that flexibility if it wants anything close to this concept plan to happen, as developers will not want to come in if the city’s plans are rigid. Commission member Dr. Deanna Alfred said there has to be something in place so it is not a completely blank slate, but the city needs to be careful in how it markets its plans to show that there can be changes depending on use.

The amendments will be taken up by the city council at a future meeting.

Also on Monday, commissioners:

Approved a request from Atwood Kenjura for a residential replat on 8,864 square feet of land south of Second Street and east of Church Street. The property is currently three undeveloped, vacant lots that are platted for townhome development facing a private alley. The owner wished to replat the three lots into two lots facing the public street right-of-way of West Second Street for further development.
Approved a specific use permit request from Walt Edmunds to allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in an R-1, single-family residential zoning district on 8,487 square feet of property in the 300 block of West Third Street. The lot has a pre-existing 612 square-foot accessory structure that was grandfathered from the 1970s to 2020, when the applicant purchased the property. However, the ADU was vacant and in disrepair, so it lost its legally nonconforming status. The applicant submitted building plans to restore the ADU, which would be provided to family and guests. The commission approved the item on the condition that the property be replatted.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Monday's meeting.

Washington County and Austin County fire departments spent several hours on Friday battling a large house fire in the Latium area.

(courtesy Latium - Wesley - Greenvine VFD)Incident Commander and Rocky Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Tim Mantey says shortly after 12:45 p.m., the Latium-Wesley-Greenvine Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched along with Austin County for a structure fire at a home in the 13000 block of Sawmill Road.

Requests were soon made for additional assistance. The Burton, Berlin, Rocky Creek, Washington, Salem, Shelby, Industry and Bleiblerville Volunteer Fire Departments were called for aid via water tenders or extra manpower. Units remained on scene until 7 p.m.

(courtesy Latium - Wesley - Greenvine VFD)The house was deemed a total loss, but firefighters were able to save two adjacent structures.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Downtown Brenham was grooving to the beat Saturday night during the second “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concert of the summer.

(KTEX-106)The Brown Sugar Band played a mix of Motown, R&B, old school rock ‘n roll and contemporary hits all night long.

Guests enjoyed good eats and cold drinks from local businesses and food trucks. They also got to see all kinds of classic vehicles lining Alamo Street for the Stray Katz Car Club’s cruise-in.

(KTEX-106)The concert was sponsored by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Citizens State Bank, Woodson Lumber and Upchurch Yates Law Firm.

“Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” closes out this Saturday with The Spicolis.

The Burton School Board has planned a meeting on Tuesday evening that will be two-fold.

The board will be holding a workshop session to discuss the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 school year.

They are also scheduled to have an executive session to discuss personnel, the implementation of security personnel or devices, and to consult with their attorney regarding the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.

The Burton School Board meets Tuesday at 5:30pm in the Burton ISD Cafeteria.

Austin County Fair poster (Courtney Cartwright)The Austin County Fair’s Annual Shrimp Boil was held last (Friday) night in Bellville, and featured the announcement of the Fair entertainment lineup, the new Junior Fair Board members, and the Fair Queen candidates.

The entertainment begins with the kickoff on Saturday, October 5. Los Texmaniacs with Flaco Jimenez and Augie Meyers from the Texas Tornados will open for the Delta Boyz. On Thursday, October 10, Little Texas opens for Aaron Watson. Friday, October 11, has Corey Kent with Austin Snell as the opening act. Wrapping it up on Saturday, October 12, will be Walker Montgomery opening for the Randy Rogers Band.

Taylor Eckelberg was named as the chairman of the Junior Fair Board. Other members are Gracie Johnson, Ainsley Hancock, Emily Holloman, Jaylen Tesch, Sophie Vykukal, Madilyn McCullough, Jackson Vykukal, Levi Malinowski, Layne Malinowski, Maddison Diezi, Brayden Krahn, Rylea Roecker, and Katelyn Krenek.

2024 Austin County Fair Queen Candidates (Courtney Cartwright)This year’s Austin County Fair Queen Candidates are:

Carly Allen, daughter Andy & Amanda Allen, sponsored by Double M Fencing

Lylah Durrett, daughter of Ted & Angela Durrett, sponsored by SIM-TEX

Taylor Eckelberg, daughter of Ryan Eckelberg, sponsored by Austin County 4-H

Ally Estep, daughter of Tracy Estep and Amy Crutchfield, sponsored by Estep Farrier Service

Ainsley Hancock, daughter of Tony & Kelly Hancock, sponsored by Bellville Meat Market

Kayleigh Kendrick, daughter of Curtis & Megan Kendrick, sponsored by First National Bank of Bellville

Kaitlyn Kloss, daughter of Melissa Kloss, sponsored by Cody Havemann 4H Ferrier Service

Eryn Kruzel, daughter of JoAnna Kruzel, sponsored by Quality Machine Shop

Alana Lindsey, daughter of Adam & Janci Lindsay, sponsored by Twisted Willow by Donna

Rylea Roecker, daughter of Ryan & Nikki Roecker, sponsored by Brazos FFA

and Samantha Weems, daughter of Timothy & Nicole Weems, sponsored by Lone Star Bounce House LLC

The queens are now selling season passes to this year’s fair. You can go online to choose a Queen from which to purchase your tickets.

For more information on the Austin County Fair, please contact Kerry Spykes at 979-865-5995, or at acfair@austincountyfair.com.

The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission will take up action on Monday regarding amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan, future land use map and thoroughfare plan.

A view of the third concept developed for the
Brenham Family Park Special Area Plan. The
concept was created through public feedback.
(courtesy City of Brenham)The amendments are for the adoption of the Brenham Family Park Special Area Plan and to reflect the planned future extension of South Blue Bell Road to Highway 36 South. The Special Area Plan provides a concept and a guideline for the envisioned uses of the over 600 acres surrounding the proposed Brenham Family Park.

The city held surveys, workshops and town hall meetings last year to gather input on the plan and on possible land uses for the acreage, including single- and multi-family residential, commercial, and open space. Working with Kendig Keast Collaborative, three different concept plans were developed, and feedback from the public led to a unified vision for the area.

Two other items will be heard by the Commission on Monday. One is a request from Atwood Kenjura for a residential replat on 8,864 square feet of land south of Second Street and east of Church Street. The property is currently three undeveloped, vacant lots that are platted for townhome development facing a private alley. The owner is looking to replat the three lots into two lots facing the public street right-of-way of West Second Street for further development.

The other item is a request from Walt Edmunds for a specific use permit to allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in an R-1, single-family residential zoning district on 8,487 square feet of property in the 300 block of West Third Street. The lot has a pre-existing 612 square-foot accessory structure that was grandfathered from the 1970s to 2020, when the applicant purchased the property. However, the ADU was vacant and in disrepair, so it lost its legally nonconforming status. The applicant submitted building plans to restore the ADU and is seeking that the structure be allowed again to provide for visiting family and guests.

The Commission will meet Monday at 5:15 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Monday's meeting.

“Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” will bring the soul to downtown Brenham tomorrow (Saturday) night.

The Brown Sugar Band will perform starting at 7 p.m. at the corner of Alamo and Baylor Streets, bringing a blend of Motown, R&B, old school rock ‘n roll and contemporary hits.

Brenham Main Street Manager Leigh Linden says the group is very highly requested at “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes”, and that is because they know how to give everyone a good time.

Concertgoers can get their fill of food and drinks from local businesses and food trucks, and they can also see all kinds of vehicles on display at the west end of Alamo Street during the Stray Katz Car Club’s cruise-in.

The theme for this week’s performance is Disco Night, so bell bottoms and platform shoes are encouraged.

The concert is sponsored by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Citizens State Bank, Woodson Lumber and Upchurch Yates Law Firm.

KTEX-106’s Ryan Stone will introduce the Brown Sugar Band on stage.

The concert series will wrap up next Saturday, July 27th with The Spicolis.

To learn more, visit the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes Downtown Brenham Facebook page.

The Brenham City Council will hold a budget workshop next week.

Councilmembers will gather on Monday for dedicated discussion on the 2024-25 Fiscal Year budget.

During its first budget meeting on May 20th, the council reviewed upcoming expenditures over the next five years.

Some of the items mentioned at the workshop included the fire department’s new station to be built at the intersection of James Nutt Boulevard and Handley Street, as well as the hiring of new firefighters to staff the station, new emergency software for fire department dispatching, new body and dash cameras for the police department, and new police officer positions.

Other items beyond the budget will populate the agenda for Monday’s meeting. First will be an executive session, where councilmembers will consult with the city attorney about a petition received from local property owner Roger Chambers requesting that 24.39 acres be released from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. They will also discuss a recent open records ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Office about the release of information pertaining to the city’s contract with ETC Marketing, Ltd. for power services.

The executive session will be followed by a vote in regular session on an agreement with Geiger and Associates Public Relations for Visit Brenham media marketing. The budget workshop will begin after the regular session.

The council will meet Monday at 8:30 a.m. at Brenham City Hall. Should additional discussion be needed, a second budget workshop will be held on Tuesday, same time and location.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Monday's meeting.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst has been appointed to serve on the new Senate Special Committee on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery and Electricity.

Lois Kolkhorst
(R-Brenham)Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick on Wednesday named Kolkhorst and 12 other senators to the committee, which will examine current practices and provide recommendations in preparing for and recovering from hurricanes and tropical storms. The committee will focus on electric utility companies and steps that can be taken to ensure Texans have a more resilient electric distribution system.

Kolkhorst said she stands ready and grateful to serve on the committee. She said, “Texans, especially those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, deserve answers and solutions so our state and the for-profit infrastructure companies are better prepared and fully equipped to take on the next hurricane.”

Kolkhorst said this task is made even more critical given the failures witnessed by some of those companies during Beryl. She said, “As a Gulf Coast state, it is not a question of if – but a question of when – the next storm hits us.”

The committee’s first meeting will be held on Monday, July 29th at 10 a.m. at the Texas Capitol.

Washington County officials are looking to change locations for 911 emergency dispatch.

The 911 Communications Facility at 301 North
Baylor Street in Brenham.
(Mark Whitehead)Since 2014, the City of Brenham has leased the 911 Communications building at 301 North Baylor Street to the county, as part of the interlocal agreement between the two entities for dispatch services.

However, County Judge John Durrenberger says 911 has outgrown the facility and that it no longer meets the department’s needs. As a result, by the end of the lease, which was extended last Thursday by the Brenham City Council through the end of 2025, the county seeks to have a new home for the department.

Last week’s extension included an increase in monthly rent that the county pays to the city for the facility, covering all equipment, furniture and fixtures needed for 911 operations. The lease had been $1,000 per month since 2014, but after negotiations, the county will pay $1,500 per month through the rest of this year and $2,500 per month next year. The lease will automatically terminate on December 31, 2025.

As for where the department could move, Durrenberger says no firm commitment has been made yet, but one option is the county’s recently purchased property at 2509 Highway 105, the former location of ATS Irrigation.

While the property was acquired with the intent of serving as a storage facility for county records and documents, Durrenberger says it is large enough to “easily” accommodate 911 as well. Right now, the county’s next step is to bring in a design architect to figure out how to best utilize the property and determine the feasibility of housing 911 there.

Durrenberger adds that the interlocal agreement between the city and county is being reworked to reflect the change in rent at the current location. However, the county’s provision of the dispatch services themselves is not expected to change should the department move.

Trevor Noel Reynoso(Burleson Co. Jail)A Caldwell man that has been a fugitive since 2015 has been brought back to Texas to stand trial.

34-year-old Trevor Noel Reynoso was flown by DPS plane from California to Texas, where he faces charges of Possession of Child Pornography and Tampering with Evidence.

Reynoso was arrested for a 2013 charge of Tampering with Evidence and a 2015 charge of Burglary of a Habitation.

According to Chief Deputy Bill Rios, while out on bond, Reynoso fled to Mexico first, and then later went to California.

An investigation by the Texas Attorney General’s Office led to Reynoso being charged with nine counts of Possession of Child Pornography and an additional charge of Tampering with Evidence after he allegedly asked someone to destroy his tablet.

While in California, Reynoso was arrested for Lewd Conduct with an Underage Victim in 2021. He was later sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office waited for disposition of the case in California before seeking extradition.

Reynoso is in the Burleson County Jail where his bond was set at $925,000, and there is also a hold on him from California.

Chief Deputy Rios told the Burleson County Tribune that there have been discussions between officials in both states of letting Reynoso finish his sentences in Texas.

The Burton School Board held its first meeting with new Superintendent Vikki Curry at the helm on Tuesday.

New Burton ISD Superintendent Vikki Curry visits
with the public at a reception on Tuesday in the
Burton ISD Cafeteria, prior to the start of the school
board's meeting.Dozens of community members came to a reception at the Burton ISD Cafeteria, prior to the beginning of the board’s meeting, to welcome Curry to her new role and to Burton.

The first order of business at the meeting was a bond project update from new construction manager-agent Weaver & Jacobs Constructors, who is replacing DSA, Inc. Weaver & Jacobs Project Manager Randy Boone presented a slide of aerial photos to the audience, showing the construction site and pointing out where crews are focusing their efforts.

Boone said work is moving along, but cautioned that some items may appear “out of sequence” as the firm works on truly getting the project back on track. He said it may not always look like it makes sense, but “at this point, progress is progress.”

Aerial photos of work being done on and around the Burton ISD campus for the school bond project.
(courtesy Weaver & Jacobs Constructors)Ellie Archibeque (left) and
Charli Majewski were
recognized on Tuesday by the
Burton School Board for
placing at Beta Club Nationals
in Savannah, Georgia. Ellie
finished tenth place in
language arts, while Charli
achieved first place in poetry.
Not pictured was Ian Spahn,
who placed fifth in art.
(courtesy Burton ISD)After the bond update, board members recognized members of the Burton Beta Club for their accomplishments at Beta Club Nationals last month in Savannah, Georgia. Charli Majewski earned first place in poetry, Ian Spahn finished fifth in art, and Ellie Archibeque placed tenth in language arts.

Trustees later moved into discussion on the amount of local leave days the district provides to staff members. Currently, employees receive two local days of leave, but trustees expressed their desire to bring that number up to five, as most neighboring districts provide five local days. Burton’s local days also do not accumulate right now, but board members said they were open to considering a method of letting employees accumulate their days. The matter was only for discussion, so no action was taken.

The board also agreed to spend no more than $57,000 to outfit school buses with cameras. Six cameras with sound will be installed on each of the district’s 14 buses. Curry said the intent is to complete the installation as quickly as possible, ideally before the start of school.

In other business, the board:

Approved the student code of conduct and teacher appraisal calendar.
Approved an annual agreement designating Washington County Extension Agents as adjunct staff members.
Approved a bank signatory resolution replacing former Superintendent Rob Barnwell with new Superintendent Vikki Curry.
Agreed to delegate contractual authority to obligate the school district to the superintendent under Texas Education Code for the purchase of attendance credits for the 2024-25 school year.
Reviewed the Texas Association of School Boards’ investment policy. Burton ISD Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal said the review is required each year, but there are no changes to the policy.

Brenham ISD is tightening its restrictions on cell phones heading into the new school year.

On Monday, trustees reviewed changes in the student handbook for the 2024-25 academic year, specifically pertaining to the use of personal cell phones.

Summarizing the changes, Chief of Staff Christine Johnson said students will not be able to use a cell phone or other personal telecommunication device, like AirPods, at any time in the instructional day, not just in the classroom.

One of the changes in the handbook removes a disclaimer that allowed students to use cell phones if they were being used for approved instructional purposes. The handbook now states that students are still permitted to have their phones for safety purposes, but they must be turned off during the instructional day and during all testing.

The other major adjustment refers to if a student uses a device without authorization during the school day. The handbook states that the device will be confiscated, but now, only a parent, not the student, can pick up the confiscated device from the principal’s office for a $15 fee. If the device is not retrieved, it can be disposed of 30 days after notifying the family.

Johnson said some children will need exceptions from the policy, such as special education students, for accessibility purposes.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine said district administrators have been very supportive of the increased restrictions, at times even offering their own suggestions for how infractions could be used to benefit students that follow the rules.

Board members were generally in favor of the tighter rules. Trustee Kyle Hafner said families need to know that the district will be strict with this, as it is a serious problem. He said he is comfortable with allowing a grace period, but administrators have to be black and white on the issue with everyone.

Board Secretary Kelvin Raven said this will be an uphill battle, calling cell phones an addiction. He asked if employees will be held to the same standard, adding that there could be pushback from students and parents if there is not consistent enforcement. Johnson replied that employees who are in the classroom must be actively engaged with students, but she is willing to have a larger discussion on restrictions for staff.

Trustee Tommie Sullivan said this will be tough starting out and could put added pressure on administrators. He said it can work, but consistency must be a priority, otherwise the district will be “spinning our wheels.”

Trustee Archer Archer said substitute teachers need to be aware of these changes, and Trustee Bonnie Brinkmeyer cautioned that students are savvy and may try to find ways around the rules.

Board President Natalie Lange said if students see that the district is serious about this, it should lead to improved discipline and performance. Board Vice President Jared Krenek believes this is a good first step, and that if it does not work, the district can impose tougher policies if necessary.

Click here to view the 2024-25 student handbook [section on cell phones starts on page 68 in .pdf viewer (page 59 in handbook)].

The Washington County Grand Jury met on Tuesday and returned 41 indictments.

33-year-old Luis Banegas Ortiz of Brenham, indicted on two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

36-year-old Joshua Jeremiah Cloud of Brenham, for three counts of Burglary of a Habitation.

43-year-old Michelle Ennette Garcia of Brenham, for two counts of Burglary of a Habitation.

21-year-old Bryant Eduardo Perez-Beltran of Houston, for Money Laundering $30,000 – $150,000 and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

29-year-old Ryan Thomas Ramirez of Lyons, for three cases of Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information Under 5 Items Against the Elderly and four cases of Forgery/Defrauding the Elderly.

34-year-old Jessa Lynn Coke of Tomball, for Assault of a Public Servant.

46-year-old Antonio Cantrell Richardson of Somerville and 33-year-old Nikki Lee Spitzer of Somerville, both for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information Under 5 Items Against the Elderly and Forgery/Defrauding the Elderly.

34-year-old Brandon Jerome Patterson of Giddings, for two counts of Theft of Property Under $2,500 with Two or More Previous Convictions.

19-year-old Kamrin Keion Riley Best of Austin, for Assault of a Family Member Impeding Breath or Circulation.

41-year-old Taurus Lindsey of Bellville and 30-year-old James Ira Thomas IV of Brenham, both for Theft of Property Under $2,500 with Two or More Previous Convictions.

30-year-old Humberto Garcia Ponce of Rosharon, for Theft $2,500 – $30,000.

22-year-old India Elise Allen of Brenham and 58-year-old Jeff Andrew Williams of Houston, for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information Under 5 Items.

33-year-old Michael Craig Rhone Jr. of Houston, for Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

51-year-old Richard Allen Mann of Hewitt, for Evading Arrest/Detention with Previous Conviction.

38-year-old Matthew Way Taylor-Blanchard of Somerville, for Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone.

Five people were indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance. They are 27-year-old Gabriel Paul Hinton of Austin, 32-year-old Freddie Martinez Jr. of Brenham, 41-year-old Jermaine Earl Reliford of Brenham, 26-year-old Alexandra Alysa Spencer of Deer Park, and 18-year-old Marcus Jay Underwood of Brenham.

The following people were previously indicted by the Washington County Grand Jury and have since been arrested, so their names can now be released.

40-year-old Frank Jason Nickerson of Brenham, for Assault of a Family Member with Previous Conviction.

41-year-old Tiffany Lashae Rogers of Brenham, for two counts of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

54-year-old Stephen Murray Matthew Simpson of Caldwell, for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

57-year-old Randa Newman Allie of Brenham, for Injury to a Child.

50-year-old Monica Oralia Salgado of Brenham, for Theft of Property $2,500 – $30,000.

Evan AschenbeckOn Day Three of the Major League Baseball Draft, Texas A&M Pitcher Evan Aschenbeck was taken in the 13th round by Chicago Cubs earlier this (Tuesday) afternoon.

Aschenbeck, who is a former Brenham Cub and Blinn Buccaneer, had a big season for the Aggies. In 32 relief appearances, he finished with a 6-1 record, 10 saves, and a 1.78 ERA. In addition to that, Aschenbeck struck out 87 batters to just 12 walks in 75 2/3 innings pitched.

He also received numerous awards and recognitions including:

National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year

National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association First Team All-American

Pat Olsen Outstanding Pitcher of the Year Award

College World Series All Tournament Team

Baseball America First Team All-American

American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-American

Perfect Game First Team All-American

First Team All-SEC

Four honorees are going to be recognized at Brenham ISD’s 149th Distinguished Alumni Celebration.

The celebration will take place on Friday, September 6, from 11:30am-1pm at the Blinn College Student Center Banquet Room.

This year’s distinguished honorees are Meg Dippel-Voelter, Class of 1992, Kenneth Mueller, Class of 1966, Charles Schubert, Class of 1968, and Michael Watts, Class of 1987.

Meg Dippel-Voelter
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Kenneth Mueller
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Charles Schubert
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Michael Watts
(courtesy Brenham ISD)The Brenham Distinguished Alumni Celebration recognizes former students who have excelled in their professional careers and made significant contributions to their communities.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine said that Brenham ISD is incredibly proud of their distinguished alumni and their accomplishments.

He added, “Their dedication and success serve as an inspiration to our current students and a testament to the quality of education provided by Brenham ISD.”

The celebration will include a luncheon, presentations, and the opportunity for attendees to connect with the honorees, and fellow alumni.

Tickets for the Distinguished Alumni Celebration are available through the Brenham ISD website, or by contacting the district office.

Brenham ISD trustees on Monday reviewed the district’s current financial condition and received an update on how administrators are planning for the new school year ahead.

Chief Financial Officer Darrell St. Clair said the district still has July and August tax collections to receive, along with an outstanding payment of about $3.6 million from the Texas Education Agency that should come in the last week of August.

St. Clair said based on the efforts of the district throughout the year to cut costs, he expects it will close out the year with a lower deficit than originally budgeted for. The initial budget was approved with a $4.5 million deficit, but his conservative estimate is that the actual deficit will end up between $1 million and $1.5 million less.

Discussion then moved into a budget workshop for the 2024-25 school year, where finding ways to save will continue to be a priority. Communications Director Brooke Trahan said according to the Education Service Center Region 6, 80 percent of public school districts are announcing a deficit budget due to a lack of increased funding from the state.

Heading into 2024-25, Trahan said the district has absorbed 39 full-time equivalent positions – which include teacher, paraprofessional and administrative staff positions – at a rough savings of $3.6 million in salary.

In addition, Trahan said the district currently expects to save $337,860 in operating budget reductions, but it is still working with departments and campuses to see where else they can shave costs.

Some ways the district is working to reduce expenses include utilizing volunteers for duties and support where possible, reviewing and increasing student-to-teacher ratios, moving all summer activities to the high school campus, and emphasizing and maximizing attendance through additional training and incentives.

Also on Monday, trustees approved an increase in the district’s contribution toward employee medical insurance, from $325 per month to $375 per month. The cost of the increase will be approximately $331,000 in total for the next school year. St. Clair said the district will not be able to approve pay increases for the upcoming year, but this should increase the district’s contribution enough to ensure that, at least at the employee level, there will be little to no additional out-of-pocket expense for health insurance.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of Will Corn as a new assistant principal at Brenham Junior High School and selected Frontline Medicaid Billing for Medicaid billing services. The annual fee for Frontline is $22,930, with a one-time implementation fee of roughly $17,000.

A Washington County church was destroyed in a fire Monday afternoon.

(courtesy Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire
Dept.)Firefighters were called out just after 2 p.m. to a structure fire at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church at FM 1155 and Mt. Pleasant Lane, close to Washington-on-the-Brazos.

Meyersville Volunteer Fire Chief Trey Burleson said units arrived to find the church fully involved and an adjacent building catching on fire.

Responding were the Washington, Meyersville, Chappell Hill, Brenham and Navasota Fire Departments. Also assisting were Washington County EMS and the Washington County CERT team. By 7 p.m., the fire was extinguished and units were back in service.

Burleson said the church was a total loss, but firefighters were able to save the second building with minimal fire damage. No one was at the church at the time, so there are no injuries to report.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, ATF and State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating.

The cause is currently unknown, but Burleson said it does not appear to be suspicious.

Property owners who sustained damage from spring storms may qualify for a temporary property tax exemption this year.

On May 2nd, Governor Greg Abbott issued a weather-related disaster declaration for Washington County. The Washington County Appraisal District says in an area declared a disaster by the governor, property tax code allows qualified property that is at least 15% damaged by the disaster to receive a temporary exemption no later than 105 days after the governor’s declaration. Washington County’s deadline is August 15th.

Qualified property includes tangible business personal property used for income production if the owner filed a rendition; an improvement to real property, which would include residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family and other real property buildings; and certain manufactured homes used as a dwelling.

The appraisal district determines if the property qualifies for the temporary exemption and assigns a damage assessment rating of Level I, II, III or IV based upon available information. The district may rely on information from insurance adjusters, repair estimates, or other sources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency when making a determination.

| Level | Damage Assessment | Damage Description | Exemption Percentage | | I | 15% < 30% | Minimal, may continue to be used as intended | 15% | | II | 30% < 60% | Nonstructural damage and waterline <18” above floor if flooded | 30% | | III | 60% < 100% | Significant structural damage and waterline 18” + above floor if flooded | 60% | | IV | 100% | Total loss; repair is not feasible | 100% |

Qualification for the exemption is determined by utilizing owner-provided documentation in the form of estimates or receipts for damages that occurred during the disaster-declared event. Damage amounts will be compared to the qualified property values from the year the disaster occurred to determine if any damage assessment percentages are met.

If an assessment percentage is met, the amount of the exemption is determined by multiplying the value of the damaged structure or personal property by the exemption percentage and then prorated for the number of days remaining in the year after the date the governor declares the disaster.

The appraisal district must send written notice of application approval, modification, or denial to the applicant. The temporary disaster area exemption expires on January 1st of the following year.

Below is an example provided for a $200,000 improvement, which would need the following amounts in damage to qualify for the exemption:

| Cost to Repair | Exemption Level | Damage Assessment | Exemption Percentage | | < $30,000 | NA | Not Eligible | NA | | $30,000 - $59,999 | I | 15% < 30% | 15% | | $60,000 - $119,999 | II | 30% < 60% | 30% | | $120,000 - $199,999 | III | 60% < 100% | 60% | | $200,000 | IV | 100% | 100% |

The exemption percentage would then be applied and prorated based on the date of the declaration and how many days are left in the year, divided by the total number of days in the year. Multiplying the value of the property (example: $200,000) by the percentage of the damage assessment (0.15) and the proration amount (0.66) will provide the total that should be exempted.

Application forms can be found on the Washington County Appraisal District’s website, www.washingtoncad.org.

“Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” opened its 20th anniversary season Saturday night in downtown Brenham.

(KTEX-106)While the weather nearly put a damper on the concert as it did with the first performance, it ultimately went off without a hitch, as The Pictures made its “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” debut. The Austin wedding band entertained crowds with a large repertoire of party music and hits through the decades.

Guests were able to enjoy food and drinks from local businesses and vendors, along with free ice cream cups from Blue Bell. They also had the opportunity to see many different types of classic vehicles and hot rods at the Stray Katz Car Club’s cruise-in.

(KTEX-106)The concert was sponsored by BRIANNAS Fine Salad Dressings, Deep in the Heart Farms, Brannon Industrial Group and Valmont Industries.

Performing this Saturday will be the Brown Sugar Band. The concert series will close out on July 27th with the Spicolis.

Texas lawmakers are offering their support of former President Donald Trump after his attempted assassination at a campaign rally on Saturday in Pennsylvania.

Former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage
during a rally in Butler, Pa.
(Evan Vucci/AP)Officials took to social media to extend prayers for Trump, who was shot in his right ear but is okay. The gunman was killed, but one attendee also died and two were critically wounded.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst said many are shaken after Saturday’s events, but “truth and goodness prevails; fear not.” She said this is “a moment burned into history and a man spared for a reason.”

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul asked for prayers for Trump, those who were injured and the family of the one killed. He said, “Our democratic process will not be deterred by this baseless act.”

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz called the shooting “horrific & wrong & evil.”

Governor Greg Abbott said Trump is “truly blessed,” stating that “had it been less than a half inch to the right, he would not have survived.”

President Joe Biden issued an address Sunday night condemning the act. He said he is grateful Trump is doing well and called for unity, saying “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence – or any violence.”

Republican presidential candidate former President
Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service
agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024,
in Butler, Pa.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(Evan Vucci | AP)Former President Donald Trump was quickly escorted off stage by Secret Service agents after possible shots were fired at a rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump, who appeared to have blood on his right ear, was taken away in a motorcade. The Secret Service says he is safe and that they are now actively investigating, though it has not been confirmed if the loud bangs heard were actual shots.

The White House says President Biden has received an initial briefing on the incident.

The Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is back open after shutting down due to the effects of Hurricane Beryl.

In a social media post, the site says it experienced several hours of sustained winds from the storm, which led to significant tree damage, downed livestock enclosure fencing, shingle loss on buildings, utility outages and minor water intrusion.

Texas Historical Commission staff spent two days after the storm cutting up downed trees, removing hanging limbs, raking and picking up debris across the 300 acres of the complex.

The site reopened to visitors on Thursday once it was fully cleaned up and deemed safe.

(photos courtesy Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site)

The Burton School Board will gather for its next meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting will open with campus and administrative reports, plus an update from Weaver & Jacobs Constructors on the bond project. This will be the first construction update provided by the firm since it was hired last month to serve as the new construction manager-agent.

In addition, trustees will recognize students from the Burton Beta Club.

Later, the board will take a vote regarding the district’s bond contract for drywall with A Brush Above Services. It will also consider approval of the student code of conduct and teacher appraisal calendar and move to designate Washington County Chief Appraiser Dyann White to calculate the district’s no-new-revenue and voter-approval tax rates.

Other action items include the purchase of bus cameras, a yearly agreement designating Washington County Extension Agents as adjunct staff members, a bank signatory agreement, and an annual item to delegate contractual authority to obligate the school district to the superintendent under Texas Education Code for the purchase of attendance credits for the 2024-25 school year.

In dedicated discussion items, board members will review the Texas Association of School Boards investment policy and the district’s local leave days.

Trustees may also go into executive session to consult with an attorney and discuss personnel, security and real property.

The board will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Burton ISD Cafeteria. Prior to the meeting, the public is invited to a welcome reception starting at 5 p.m. for new Superintendent Vikki Curry.

Budget talks will lead the agenda for the Brenham School Board’s next meeting on Monday.

Trustees’ first order of business at the meeting will be a budget workshop and financial update, as well as an update from the district’s financial advisor.

In action items, the board will potentially name an assistant principal at Brenham Junior High School, vote on increasing the employer contribution towards employee medical insurance and consider Frontline Medicaid Billing. It will also review the 2024-25 student handbook.

The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in rooms 111 and 113 at Brenham High School. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

Trustees will meet again on Tuesday at noon in the Brenham ISD Administration Office. The meeting will take place in executive session for the board to discuss a Level III grievance.

The Brenham City Council gave city staff feedback on Thursday about a suite of proposed changes to city code and possible property tax exemptions for childcare facilities.

Allen Jacobs (left) is presented a service recognition
for his 30 years with the City of Brenham's
Development Services Department. The first part of the work session discussion revolved around accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and whether to loosen the residency requirements.

Currently, ADUs are allowed by specific use permit in the R-1 single-family residential district and by staff-level approval in the R-2 mixed residential and B-1 mixed residential/business use districts, but one of the conditions is that the property owner must live onsite, whether in the primary residence or in the ADU.

City Planner Shauna Laauwe said the city has had several prospective ADU applicants who wanted to rent out both the main home and the ADU, but the current system does not allow for that. The question posed to councilmembers was if they wished to stipulate in the code that the residency requirement only applies to properties in the R-1 district, or strike the requirement altogether for R-1, R-2 and B-1 properties.

Councilmembers preferred to keep the residency requirement inside the R-1 district, agreeing with a point made by Public Works Director Dane Rau that property upkeep is likely to be better if the owner is around. Questions did arise, though, of how the provision would be enforced. Development Services Director Stephanie Doland admitted that enforcement is difficult and would require assistance from neighboring properties, since city staff is not there to see who is coming and going from the subject property.

The next topic covered the residential district setback requirements of detached accessory structures, which can include ADUs but also carports or equipment sheds. Existing code states that the structures must be located behind the home on their own lot, but the council was asked if it wanted to add a restriction for corner lots that the structure must also be located behind the primary home on the adjacent lot. Doland said the intent of this would be to ensure that an accessory structure is not closer to the street than the neighboring property’s home.

Councilmembers Leah Cook and Dr. Paul LaRoche III said they were favorable to the proposed change, though less of an overall consensus was indicated by the council on the item.

After that, discussion moved on to the usage of alleys in subdivisions, which are currently prohibited. The suggestion by city staff, however, was to allow and encourage alleys in townhome developments to accommodate the design of garages and parking in the rear of lots. The alleys are kept up by the neighborhood and are often platted as a common area or private access area. The council quickly agreed that lifting the restriction on alleys would be beneficial.

Doland said she would return to the council with an ordinance amendment including the council’s suggestions once it is considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Members of Brenham's Parks and Recreation
Department are recognized after the city council's
proclamation of July as National Parks and
Recreation Month. Later, the council was asked if it wished to authorize a property tax exemption to qualifying childcare facilities in the city, of which there are five that could currently meet the criteria. In November, voters approved an amendment to the Texas Constitution allowing local governments the option to exempt up to 100 percent, but no more than 50 percent, of the appraised real property value.

City Secretary Jeana Bellinger said that in order to qualify for an exemption, a childcare facility must participate in the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Texas Rising Star Program, which is a quality rating and improvement system for childcare programs that scores their director and staff qualifications and training, teacher-child interactions, program administration, and indoor and outdoor environments. In addition, at least 20 percent of the children enrolled must receive subsidized childcare services administered by the TWC.

Overall, the council was not in favor of approving any exemption at the moment, saying that the law as it is written right now is too broad. Currently, there is not a restriction on how a childcare center uses its exemption, and councilmembers preferred that the money saved would be required to either go toward facility improvements or saving on tuition for enrolled families.

Councilmembers also received a presentation on planned amendments to the city’s code for buildings and structures, adopting the 2021 editions of the International Building Code Suite and 2020 National Electric Code. The city is currently using 2018 International Building Code and 2017 National Electric Code.

The council’s first reading of an ordinance to adopt the updated code is scheduled for August 1st, with an effective date of October 1st.

Click here to view a summary of the major changes that are part of the new code.

A newcomer to “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” will perform tomorrow (Saturday) night for downtown Brenham’s first concert of the summer.

The Pictures, voted as Austin’s best wedding band, will cover songs from all styles of music including Motown, country, and classics from the 70s all the way to today. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. at the corner of Alamo and Baylor Streets.

The concert series, marking its 20th anniversary this year, is getting a delayed start after rain led to last Saturday’s concert being cancelled. Brenham Main Street Manager Leigh Linden says The Pictures, with their big repertoire, are up to the task of kicking things off with a bang.

Guests can enjoy food and drinks from local businesses and food trucks. Starting at 5 p.m., Blue Bell Ice Cream will be set up on East Alamo Street, offering free ice cream cups to the first 500 people who stop by. Meanwhile, the west end of Alamo Street will welcome back the Stray Katz Car Club for its car cruise-in.

This week’s theme for the concert is Luau Night, so Hawaiian attire is encouraged.

The concert is sponsored by BRIANNAS Fine Salad Dressings, Deep in the Heart Farms, Brannon Industrial Group and Valmont Industries.

Next up will be the Brown Sugar Band on July 20th and the Spicolis on July 27th.

For more information, visit the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes Downtown Brenham Facebook page.

Members of the community are coming together to support a Brenham ISD student who is undergoing radiation treatment for brain cancer.

Kimber Bender(courtesy photo)A Meal Train has been organized for Kimber Bender, who just completed fourth grade at Alton Elementary School.

According to Danielle Mallory, the organizer of the fundraiser, Kimber was at school on May 8th when she became disoriented. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was found to have a brain tumor.

Kimber was flown to Texas Children’s Hospital, where surgery was successfully performed the next day to remove the tumor. The family soon learned that the tumor was an ependymoma, described by the National Cancer Institute as a rare type of tumor that affects about 200 children per year in the United States.

Kimber is now receiving radiation therapy at MD Anderson in Houston. Her treatments started on June 25th and will continue Monday through Friday for roughly six weeks. Her family is driving back and forth to the medical center during the treatments.

Anyone who would like to support the family can contribute to the Meal Train by volunteering to provide meals. They can also donate or provide gift cards.

The link to the Meal Train is available here.

Sarah Mabie receives congratulations after her home run.After having an outstanding junior season, Brenham Cubette OF Sarah Mabie racked up another postseason honor this (Thursday) afternoon. Mabie was named as a Second Team selection to the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team.

Mabie finished the 2024 season with a .417 batting average, a .738 slugging percentage, a .450 on-base percentage, nine doubles, three triples, six home runs, and 34 RBIs.

Other honors include: Texas Girls Coaches Association All State, 1st Team All-District, Academic All-District, Team Offensive MVP, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Female Athlete of the Year, and she was also recently selected to play in the Fastpitch Stars of Tomorrow Games in Chicago next month.

Other members of District 21-5A making the Blue Bell/TSWA All State Team were:

1st Team

Lake Creek OF Madalyn Davis

3rd Team

College Station P Gracie Ream

Lake Creek OF Gracee Brewer

Honorable Mention

College Station - C Chloe Ream, 2B Callia Carreon, and 3B Bryce Clendenin

Lake Creek - OF Carmen Uribe and UT Sara Wiggins

Magnolia West - C Sara Allen and SS Hailey Toney

The City of Brenham has officially named Lloyd Powell as chief of the Brenham Police Department.

Lloyd Powell speaks to the Brenham City Council on
Thursday upon his promotion to full-time chief of
the Brenham Police Department.At today’s (Thursday) Brenham City Council meeting, City Manager Carolyn Miller announced the removal of the “interim” tag from Powell’s title, making him the full-time chief after he had served in the role on a temporary basis since the retirement of former chief Ron Parker in March. He also served as the department’s acting chief while Parker was on medical leave last year.

Powell said he is immensely grateful for the chance to lead the department.

A 1992 graduate of Brenham High School, Powell first joined the department in August 1997, becoming captain in August 2015 and earning a promotion to assistant chief in June 2023.

Miller said Powell has worked to strengthen the department’s proactive policing by reinstating the Crime Reduction Unit and implementing a highway enforcement and traffic team to patrol, enforce and maintain safe driving habits. She also said Powell and his command staff have worked to identify replacement hardware and software for the department’s new body camera and in-car camera systems.

Curtiss Schoen (left) is pinned by his wife, Jenny,
with his new Assistant Police Chief badge at
Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting. Powell said he would not be where he is today without Lieutenants Kelvin Raven and Curtiss Schoen, calling them both men of integrity and good hearts. He then turned the podium over to Schoen as he announced his promotion to Assistant Police Chief.

Schoen has served in the department for 18 years as part of multiple divisions, including as a member of the SWAT team, negotiations team and head of the drone unit. Powell said, “It should be the goal of every leader to find another leader that is better than they are. I feel like, in this situation, I have done just that.”

Schoen said it is a great honor to have this bestowed upon him.

Mayor Atwood Kenjura said the city is very fortunate to have “true, outstanding leadership”, adding that with Powell, Raven and Schoen on the staff, “we are truly blessed.”

Lloyd Powell (center) and Curtiss Schoen (right of Powell) have been named the Brenham Police Department's new Chief of Police and Assistant Chief, respectively. The two were recognized at Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and Blinn College have partnered to open a temporary driver’s license office in Brenham at the Blinn College Student Center.

Beginning on Monday, residents can visit the temporary office at 1007 Walter Schwartz Way for full, in-person driver’s license services. Members of Texas Highway Patrol will also office at the location.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst said she is grateful to DPS and Blinn College for stepping up to create this temporary office, offering a convenient location to access driver’s license renewals and other ID services until a permanent location is operational. She said, “A local collaboration like this is a shining example of government working together to deliver services.”

DPS’ main office in Brenham at 975 Highway 290 West has been closed since the events of April 12th, when a stolen 18-wheeler drove into the facility. The closure has forced local residents to travel to neighboring cities for DPS services.

DPS Director Steven McCraw thanked Blinn for allowing the use of its student center so that DPS can best serve customers in the Brenham area. He said, “Members of DPS’ Driver License Division and the entire Brenham community have shown great strength and resilience in the aftermath of the DPS Brenham Station tragedy just a few short months ago.”

Hours at the Brenham office will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office will be closed for lunch between 12 and 1:15 p.m.

All driver’s license and identification card services are by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit public.txdpsscheduler.com. Appointments can be scheduled starting tomorrow (Friday).

Washington County and surrounding counties are part of the major disaster declaration approved by President Joe Biden following Hurricane Beryl.

An uprooted tree in downtown Brenham, next to
the old Brenham Opera House building at 101 West
Alamo Street. Damage from Hurricane Beryl was
felt throughout Washington County as the storm
passed through on Monday.
(Mark Whitehead)The declaration means local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in Washington, Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lee and Waller counties, out of a total of 67 counties, are eligible for federal disaster assistance to supplement recovery efforts. It allows for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of costs associated with expenses for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will also make its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program available statewide at the request of the state. Federal funding will be available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures.

Governor Greg Abbott said the approval is “a critical step forward in our efforts to provide assistance to impacted Texans across the state.”

Additional counties may be requested for inclusion in the federal disaster declaration as further damage assessments are completed.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Ice Cream Month, and Blue Bell is marking the occasion with a new flavor.

(courtesy Blue Bell)Cookies ‘n Cream Cheesecake Ice Cream is a cheesecake ice cream blended with chocolate cookie-crusted cheesecake pieces and chocolate crème-filled cookies.

Cookies ‘n Cream Cheesecake is now available at stores in half gallon and pint sizes for a limited time.

Each year for National Ice Cream Month, Blue Bell releases a new flavor or brings back a fan favorite.

To see a complete list of flavors in stores, visit www.bluebell.com.

The City of Brenham is getting closer to wrapping up design for the initial stage of the Brenham Family Park project.

Public Works Director Dane Rau informed members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board today (Wednesday) that the city is 90 percent through with design of Phase 1(a) improvements and should be at 100 percent “very soon.” He also announced that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has received approval from the National Parks Service to issue a Notice to Proceed to the city for the project.

Once the city receives the Notice to Proceed, which should be within the next 30 days, that will start the city’s clock on construction of the park. Rau said the city will have three years to complete the pieces that are part of the grant received from TPWD, including utility improvements, parking, restrooms, a walking/biking trail, an amenity lake/detention pond, lighting, wildflower areas, pedestrian bridges and signage. Rau said a two-year extension is possible based on factors like weather or funding.

The city has $1.54 million to start on the project, with $750,000 coming from the TPWD grant and $794,000 by way of earmarked funds from the Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC). Given the increase in material and construction costs since the city initially applied for the grant in 2020, Rau said more will be needed to “get this project off the ground”.

Rau said officials are exploring ways to maximize the available funding while still fulfilling as many requested park features as possible. He mentioned the facility naming policy adopted by the city in 2022 as a potential option to secure funding and stated that community input is welcome throughout this process.

Also at today’s meeting, the board discussed a recent request from a group seeking to organize 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 soccer leagues and play at Hohlt Park. The group would provide older children and adults an avenue for organized play and would have a larger umbrella with teams and players around the region, not just Washington County.

The intent would be to play a 10-11 month season, but Rau and the board were hesitant about allowing that long of a season, given the high amount of field usage in the fall. They also said they needed more time to consider what type of fee schedule to assign, since this is not a local league, and certify that the group is insured to host a league and play at the park.

The board also gave its recommendation of approval for a rehab intensive program combining rehabilitation and aquatic therapy at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center. The three-week program, which would be hosted two days a week by licensed PTA Amberly Darby, would lease space at the facility to assist patients with neurological disorders or trauma. The approval is based upon the city establishing a user agreement and setting lease rates.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Wednesday's meeting.

During his “Mayor’s Minute” on the City of Brenham website, Mayor Atwood Kenjura provided an update on the quest to get a new post office building.

Brenham Mayor Atwood KenjuraKenjura said that last Friday, he joined Washington County Judge John Durrenberger, City Manager Carolyn Miller, and Director of Engineering Services Richard O'Malley in meeting with the owner of the current post office building to discuss the need for a new facility.

City officials expressed to the owner that the current facility and its location can no longer serve the citizens of Brenham and Washington County due to the significant growth over the past 60 years.

The current location was built in 1964 when the population of Brenham and Washington County was 8,000 and 19,000, respectively. Today, these numbers have grown to 19,000 and 39,000. Kenjura said the current facility is outdated and inadequate for needs of local citizens.

Kenjura’s report said that the United States Postal Service has been very guarded about providing any information that would help secure a new facility. Even using the Freedom of Information Act has not been successful in obtaining the necessary information.

A recent court case and appeal were denied, with the ruling stating that providing any information was inconsistent with good business practices because it places the Postal Service at a disadvantage in their leasing activities to their potential detriment.

Kenjura closed the report by saying that obtaining any information about leases or a potential new facility will be very difficult. However, this does not mean it is impossible.

City officials have been given some additional contact information for individuals and political figures that they hope will assist them in their quest for a new post office.

Investigation is underway into the death of an inmate at the Burleson County Jail.

55-year-old Carrie Craig of Somerville was found in her cell at 9:15 a.m. Sunday by a jailer coming to check on her. She was pronounced dead by Burleson County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Bill Orsak.

Burleson County Chief Deputy Bill Rios said investigators currently do not suspect foul play. An autopsy was conducted on Monday at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, and while the sheriff’s office is still waiting on the final report, Rios stated that it appears she passed from natural causes.

According to Rios, Craig was arrested by the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, July 2nd on traffic warrants. She was last seen alive by a jailer around 5:45 a.m. Sunday. No one else was in her cell.

The Texas Rangers are handling the investigation, as is customary for a death in custody. The Burleson County Attorney’s Office, Texas Commission on Jail Standards and Texas Attorney General’s Office have been notified.

The suspect in the April 12th attack on the Brenham DPS Office that resulted in two deaths and several other injuries has been indicted for Capital Murder.

Clenard Parker
(Washington Co. Jail)42-year-old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill was indicted today (Tuesday) by the Washington County Grand Jury on two counts of Capital Murder, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Evading Arrest, Criminal Mischief, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

Parker is accused of intentionally crashing a stolen 18-wheeler into the DPS Office. Fourteen people were inside the building at the time, and six were hospitalized. Two of those victims, 78-year-old Bobby Huff of Giddings and 63-year-old Cheryl Turner of Brenham, passed away as a result of their injuries.

Parker remains in custody at the Washington County Jail.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office has hired a Special Prosecutor, Lisa Tanner, to assist in the prosecution of the case. Tanner previously worked for the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office and served as the Chief of the Major Offenders and Violent Crimes Section at the Attorney General’s Office before starting her own practice assisting prosecutors in small offices handling high-profile homicides. The District Attorney's Office says she has extensive experience in handling Capital Murder cases across the State of Texas.

Washington County has declared a local state of disaster stemming from Hurricane Beryl.

The declaration, signed and issued today (Tuesday) by County Judge John Durrenberger, is effective immediately and activates the county’s emergency management plan. It will last for up to seven days unless extended by commissioners.

The declaration states that the county has suffered severe damage resulting from the hurricane, leading to road flooding and damage to multiple roads, tropical storm-strength winds causing widespread power outages, damage to electric infrastructure, and trees down on at least 50 roads.

Accompanying the declaration is a letter requesting assistance from Governor Greg Abbott. Durrenberger wrote in the letter that the present situation “constitutes a public health and safety hazard” and that supplementary state and/or federal assistance is necessary in order for the county to fully recover.

A copy of the declaration and letter to the governor is available here.

Washington County Engineer
Wesley Stolz speaks to county
commissioners on Tuesday about
the efforts of Road and Bridge
crews to clear debris and open
roadways after Hurricane Beryl.Washington County Commissioners offered a tip of the hat today (Tuesday) to the county’s road and bridge crews for their quick work on Monday in getting roads open following the numerous closures caused by Hurricane Beryl.

County Engineer Wesley Stolz said workers responded to 87 road closures throughout the day, and all of the reported closures were cleared and back open the same day, the vast majority of them by 6 p.m. Stolz said there was quite a bit of damage to address, but all things considered, employees did an “exceptional” job.

Stolz said they were very fortunate with the timing, as all road and bridge employees were present and accounted for to dispatch across the county before the winds truly began to pick up.

According to Stolz, there were 36 road closures in Precinct 1, 25 in Precinct 2, 14 in Precinct 3 and 12 in Precinct 4. He noted that a few more reports came in this morning and they are still working on any more that pop up.

The court and the audience applauded the crews for their work, with County Judge John Durrenberger calling it a remarkable effort.

Commissioner Don Koester also thanked the county’s fire departments for their assistance, while Commissioner Kirk Hanath gave thanks to the constituents who stepped in to help with the road and bridge employees’ workload. Stolz said it was “an all-around good community effort.”

Commissioner Candice Bullock asked Stolz what the plan is moving forward, since road and bridge was already falling behind on road paving with the previous storm events prior to Monday’s. Stolz replied that they are getting back onto their paving schedule, but they will need to look into doing contract work to assist with storm cleanup and debris removal. He said he has been in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Texas Division of Emergency Management for grant and reimbursement opportunities to help with the storm damage costs.

Washington County first responders performed a swift water rescue on Monday as Hurricane Beryl cleared out of the area.

According to Washington County EMS Director Kevin Deramus, the operation took place in the 8900 block of Old Chappell Hill Road. The report was called in just after 3 p.m.

Deramus said the EMS Department worked collaboratively with the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and DPS to rescue two victims whose car was partially submerged. One of the victims was treated by EMS.

Information on how the vehicle ended up partially submerged was not immediately available.

Residents are reminded to avoid areas that are flooded, particularly if the water is flowing quickly, and to never attempt to cross through high water or flowing streams.

Washington County experienced a large amount of rainfall and strong winds on Monday as a result of the storm. Official readings from the Brenham Water Plant state that the city received 2.77 inches of rain.

Four work session items will come up for discussion at Thursday’s Brenham City Council meeting.

One of the topics will be potential revisions to the city’s code of ordinances pertaining to zoning and subdivisions.

Specifically, the city’s Development Services Department is seeking council input on amending the accessory dwelling unit standard provision regarding residency requirements. It is also looking for feedback on whether to adjust the accessory structure setback provision to require accessory structures on corner lots to be set back behind the front façade of the main structure on the nearest adjacent lot. Finally, the department is considering revising language to encourage the use of alleys in townhome developments for garage access.

Also in work session, the council will receive information on a proposed amendment to city code for buildings and structures for the adoption of the 2021 editions of the International Building Code Suite and 2020 National Electric Code.

Another item will cover a recent voter-approved amendment to the Texas Constitution that went into effect on January 1st, allowing local governments to exempt qualifying childcare facilities from ad valorem property taxation. The council has the option to exempt up to 100 percent, but no less than 50 percent. The exemption amount decided upon will be brought back via a resolution at the council’s next meeting.

The fourth work session item will be a presentation of the city’s 2023-24 second quarter financial report.

Once in regular session, councilmembers will act upon a lease agreement between the city and Washington County for the 911 Communications Facility at 301 North Baylor Street. The city leases the building to the county as part of the interlocal agreement between the two entities for dispatch services.

The council will then consider an increase in the fire department’s expenditures in the 2023-24 adopted budget to add three firefighters. The city’s current budget authorizes the filling of four firefighter positions, and the proposed budget for 2024-25 includes the hiring of three firefighters beginning in October.

City Manager Carolyn Miller wrote in the agenda packet that in recruiting for the four firefighter positions in the current budget, Fire Chief Mark Donovan is looking to also fill the three firefighter positions for the next budget, stating that the competition for qualified applicants is strong and the department does not want to limit its ability to hire them until the new fiscal year.

Once regular session concludes, the council will head into executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding the Brenham Municipal Airport, the city’s gas distribution system and the city’s wastewater treatment plant operations. It will also speak with the attorney on matters concerning the Brenham Municipal Airport and about Commonwealth Development, Inc. v. City of Brenham, Texas; Fair Housing Care No. 06-22-3294-8. The latter item involved the proposed tax-credit housing development on Pecan Street that was rejected by the city council in February 2021. No action is expected to be taken on any of the executive session items.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Damage was felt throughout Washington County as Hurricane Beryl passed through the region on Monday.

Several inches of rain fell through the morning, accompanied by strong wind gusts regularly reaching 30 miles per hour that resulted in downed trees and tree limbs, along with hundreds of power outages.

According to the National Weather Service, the unofficial maximum wind gusts were recorded at over 40 miles per hour around Brenham and over 50 miles per hour in the northeast portion of the county.

Inclement conditions began to clear out in the afternoon as the hurricane downgraded to a tropical storm and continued traveling northeast.

Anyone who has photos from the aftermath of the storm that they would like to share can send them to news@kwhi.com.

An uprooted tree in downtown Brenham, next to the old Opera House building at 101 West Alamo Street.
(Mark Whitehead)The aftermath of storm damage on West 5th Street.
(Mark Whitehead)A fallen tree limb outside a home on West Main Street.
(Mark Whitehead)A fallen tree on 5th Street, near the Blinn College campus.
(courtesy Billy Maxwell)(courtesy Claire Peters)

Thousands of residents around the region lost power as a result of Hurricane Beryl after making landfall this (Monday) morning.

The City of Brenham’s online outage map shows that as of 10:45 a.m., there were roughly 1,700 outages. Many of those appear to be concentrated on the north side of town, with another large portion located on the south side of town close to Highway 290 and along Highway 36.

As of 10:45 a.m., Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s online outage map showed a total of approximately 7,600 outages. Much of them are concentrated in Washington County, including around 1,300 in and surrounding Chappell Hill, 1,200 around Burton, 875 east of Brenham, 700 west of Brenham, 530 northeast of Brenham, around 430 near Washington, 380 southwest of Brenham, 370 southeast of Brenham, and over 220 northwest of Brenham.

There are also hundreds of outages in Austin County, including over 500 in the Bleiblerville area, roughly 380 located in the New Ulm area and around 45 in the Kenney area.

San Bernard Electric Cooperative’s online outage detector listed 15,100 outages as of 10:45 a.m. Around 6,500 of those outages are in the far northeast portion of the cooperative’s service area, between Prairie View and Magnolia. Widespread outages are also reported around Bellville, tallying over 1,800, with hundreds of other outages scattered around Cat Spring, Hempstead, Sealy, Columbus and Sheridan.

The totals reported on the online outage trackers have steadily increased throughout the morning as the storm progresses northeast through the region, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Conditions are expected to improve by the afternoon.

The Washington County 11 Year Old All-star Section 1 Tournament Game against Lufkin that was scheduled for this (Sunday) afternoon has been moved and has a new start time.

Due to the rain, the game is being moved from Brenham to Burton. The start time has now been moved back to 5pm.

Weather permitting, KWHI will have live coverage beginning with the pregame at 4:35pm.

If Washington County wins, they move on to the Championship game, which is scheduled for Monday at 6pm, but will likely be changed due to Beryl.

If Washington County loses, they will play a second game this evening, 30 minutes later against the winner of the College Station-Western Hills game.

Some offices and facilities in Washington County have announced closures on Monday for Tropical Storm Beryl, which is anticipated to make landfall Monday morning as a hurricane.

All Washington County offices will close on Monday.

City of Brenham offices and operations will be open and running on Monday during normal hours. There will be a delayed opening until noon for Brenham Animal Services, the Blue Bell Aquatic Center and the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.

BVR will not run residential sanitation/recycling or commercial front-load routes in Brenham on Monday. All routes will be pushed back one day. The Collection/Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, and the once-per-week commercial cart route on Tuesday will get picked up on Wednesday.

All Brenham ISD offices are closed on Monday, and all student activities are cancelled.

Burton ISD has cancelled athletic workouts for Monday.

All Blinn College campuses are closed and all classes are cancelled on Monday. Brenham Campus food services will be open to support campus residents. All campuses will re-open for regular operations on Tuesday.

First Baptist Church School and Early Education Center will be closed on Monday.

The Margaret E. Blizzard Senior Activity Center in Brenham will be closed on Monday.

KWHI has been informed by The City of Brenham that this evenings Hot Nights Cool Tunes concert has been cancelled due rain. Suede was set to kick of the music season and perform for the first time in five years. Tonight's concert was sponsored by Brenham National Bank, Seidel Schroeder, Dahmann and Associates, and Must Be Heaven. The City of Brenham invites everyone to downtown Brenham next Saturday for the #1 wedding band in Austin "The Pictures". Music will begin at 7:00p.

Due to rain in the area tonight's (Saturday) 11-year old baseball has been postponed until tomorrow (Sunday). The tournament will continue on Sunday at Linda Anderson Park.

SUNDAY:

3pm College Station vs. Austin Northwest

3pm Washington County vs. Lufkin (2:35pm pregame on KWHI)

7pm College Station/Northwest winner vs. Washington County/Lufkin loser

The Burton City Council is holding their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening.

Council members are going to be hearing a presentation from Hollie Janecka of Strand Associates. Strand Associates is one of the companies vying to be the City’s engineer on the Texas Water Development Board project. BEFCO Engineers is the other.

They will also be voting on the approval of Langford Community Management Services for Grant Administration Services, on the same project.

Other action items include a new security system for Burton City Hall, using funds from the Burton Beautification Committee to relocate the existing Flagpole at Laas-Weeren Park and extend the electric line for lighting, and amending budgets for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 reflecting actual income and expenses of the first quarter.

Burton City Council members also have some recommendations from Olson and Olson that will be up for discussion only. These include a simplified subdivision or land division ordinance, a ball park use agreement between the City of Burton and Burton Friends & Neighbors, and Laas Weeren Park Use & Rules.

The Burton City Council meets Tuesday at 5:30pm at the Burton City Hall.

Brenham High School is inviting local youth to take part in the upcoming "Future Cub Football Camp."

The camp runs from Monday, July 29, to Thursday, July 30, from 5-6:30pm each night at Cub Stadium. It is open to 3rd-6th graders.

Payments can be made on-line by going to the link on the camp brochure at brenhamcubs.net.

Parents can also pay with cash or checks on the first day of camp.

For more information about the Future Cub Football Camp, contact Coach Danny Youngs at 979-277-3790, or send an e-mail to dyoungs@brenhamk-12.net.

(courtesy photo)The action-packedPuppy Pals Live show will appear at The Barnhill Center (TBC) on Friday, July 19th at 7pm.

This act was a top quarter-finalist on America’s Got Talent (AGT) Season 15. It is one of only 44 acts that were chosen to perform at the AGT live shows, from over one million acts that auditioned. Since then, the show has been a hit across the nation, visiting over 200 cities each year.

“This show is full of surprises, family fun and laugh-out-loud comedy,” said Sharon Brass, TBC producer. “These pooches perform spectacular stunts and breathtaking tricks, showing everyone who is really boss! There is high energy and excitement from beginning to end.

“The happy production is for the dog lover in all of us. A special treat for youngsters will be after the show, when they get a chance to meet the canine stars up close.”

This is not an ordinary dog act. Most of the canine stars were adopted and rescued - coming from shelters to showbiz, from homeless to high-flying entertainers.

Wesley Williams, the show’s originator, was inspired by his love for all animals. His passion dates back to his childhood when, according to his mom, he wanted to acquire a full-on petting zoo at just five years old. She proclaimed, “every month there was something new. One month all he wanted was a potbelly pig. The next month a miniature pony. The next month a flock of chickens. You name the animal, and Wesley wanted it.”

Although he had an early and genuine joy for working with animals, Wesley pursued his unique unicycle skills. But he always kept the vision of working with furry friends.

Just a few years after fulfilling his life-long dream of forming an animal act, Wesley burst onto the scene with his hit show, Puppy Pals Live!

Learn more on their website: https://www.puppypalsshow.com

Watch them perform: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=puppy+pals+comedic+stunt+dog+show

For show details and tickets, go to: theBarnhillCenter.com/events.

Tickets and Season Tickets can also be purchased by calling or visiting TBC Box Office in the Visitor Center, 111 W Main Street in Brenham. 979-337-7240.

The Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs) have surpassed their goal for signatures on a petition to place an emergency services district (ESD) proposal on the ballot this fall.

The proposed boundaries of the
emergency services district for the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.
The area of the ESD would align with the service
area of the two departments, not including the City
of Brenham's extraterritorial jurisdiction.Chappell Hill VFD captain and president Dustin Brown said the final tally of signatures received and submitted is 186. The departments needed at least 100 names by today’s (Friday) deadline in order to bring the petition to Washington County Commissioners with the intent of calling an election for the ESD in November.

Brown, who said on Tuesday morning that the departments had about 55 signatures at the time, stated there was a “huge influx” of people who reached out to them in the following days. He said, “A silent majority in the community has voiced their support for our two agencies and this effort to establish an ESD.”

The ESD would become the primary source of funding for the Chappell Hill and Meyersville VFDs by levying an ad valorem tax of no more than 10 cents per $100 valuation on residents who live within their service territories. That would exclude the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

County Judge John Durrenberger confirmed receipt of the petition but said it is still pending review and verification with the county attorney.

The departments have requested that commissioners take up the petition at their meeting on July 16th, where they would move to accept the petition and schedule a public hearing. That public hearing, pending approval of the petition at the July 16th meeting, would tentatively be scheduled for August 13th and would be when commissioners officially vote on whether to call an election for the ESD.

A Washington County jury has convicted a man for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child.

Michael Earl Bee
(Washington Co. Jail)41-year-old Michael Earl Bee of Brenham was found guilty late Wednesday evening after a week-long trial. Judge Carson Campbell will assess punishment at a date to be determined.

Bee was indicted in November 2019 after a series of outcries were made during an investigation by the Brenham Police Department. Bee was listed as a resident of Bryan at the time. Through the forensic interview process by a local child advocacy center, officials determined a timeline for the abuse and presented the case to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, the case was delayed in large part by the Office of Court Administration not allowing jury trials for over a year during the COVID shutdowns. Court records show that Bee was on his third attorney and had been on bail since November 2020, which the District Attorney’s Office said required him by law to be set for trial behind any inmate.

At trial, District Attorney Julie Renken and First Assistant Derek Estep represented the State. Wesley Keng of Giddings represented the defendant.

Deliberations took just over three hours, and after the verdict was announced, Bee was taken into custody.

Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child is a specially categorized felony that allows the State to charge a person for committing two or more sex acts against a child under 14 for a period of more than 30 days in duration. The punishment range is 25-99 years, or life, in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, without the possibility of parole.

After the trial, Renken said, “We are so proud to have finally been able to get these girls a chance to tell their story. They walked away empowered, and we pray that this will be a major step in their healing process.”

The District Attorney’s Office said it will provide more details on the case once the sentencing hearing is complete.

One of the most requested bands for downtown Brenham’s “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” makes its long-awaited comeback tomorrow (Saturday) night as the concert series opens its 20th anniversary season.

The awarded Austin cover band Suede will bring its high-energy show to the corner of Alamo and Baylor Streets at 7 p.m., performing a range of songs from the 70’s to today’s hits.

This will be Suede’s first concert in Brenham since 2019, and Brenham Main Street Manager Leigh Linden, speaking during Tuesday’s Community Corner on KWHI, says people have been clamoring for the group to return.

The music is free to enjoy. Local businesses and food trucks will be open to sell food and refreshments, and the Stray Katz Car Club will have its popular cruise-in set up at the west end of Alamo Street for guests to check out classic cars and hot rods.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebration for “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes”, each performance this summer will have a different theme. This weekend is patriotic, so concertgoers are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.

Tomorrow night’s event is sponsored by Dahmann & Associates, Seidel Schroeder, Brenham National Bank and Must Be Heaven.

KWHI’s Craig Montana will be the emcee for the concert and introduce Suede on stage.

Next up after Suede will be The Pictures on July 13th, the Brown Sugar Band on July 20th and The Spicolis on July 27th.

For more information, visit the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes Downtown Brenham Facebook page.

Chappell Hill hosted its 47th Annual Independence Day Parade today (Thursday) in celebration of the Fourth of July.

Just under 40 entries rode through downtown Chappell Hill in the parade that also featured the World Famous Marching Kazoo Band.

Prize money was presented to the top parade participants.

First place was the Prairie Hillbillies, winning a $300 prize sponsored by Partners in Building.

Second place was Lorelei, LJ, Evan and Wyatt Mickelson and Tater Tot, receiving $175 sponsored by Kona Ice of Bellville.

Third place was the Chappell Hill Garden Club, winning $100 sponsored by Betty and Derrel Fogarty.

The Best Kids Entry was St. Paul’s Boy Scout Troop 742 and Cub Scout Pack 742, winning $100 sponsored by ADKR, Inc. – Angela Rutland.

Winning the Best Business Entry, receiving $100 from Brenham National Bank, was Diamond Texas Services.

The Best Classic Car Entry, and the winner of $100 sponsored by Whiz Motors, was Mark and Dorsey Shedd – DLS Interiors.

(photos courtesy Craig Montana)

DPS has released new information about the fiery crash involving an oil tanker on Sunday, June 23rd on Highway 290 near Ledbetter.

(courtesy Lee Co. EMS)The accident report from DPS Trooper Jon Martinez states that shortly after 10:45 a.m., a 2013 Mack Pinnacle tractor-trailer collided with a 2024 Mazda CX-90 SUV.

According to the report, the 18-wheeler was stopped at FM 180 and failed to yield the right-of-way to westbound traffic as it crossed the highway. The SUV shifted from the right-hand westbound lane to the left lane to avoid hitting other vehicles that were braking and moving to avoid the 18-wheeler themselves. The SUV’s front end hit the center of the tank on the left side of the trailer, which was holding roughly 175 crude oil barrels.

As the 18-wheeler moved into the inside shoulder of the eastbound side of Highway 290, the SUV was pulled by the trailer into the center median of the highway. The truck, trailer and SUV then caught on fire.

The female driver and male passenger of the SUV were able to get out of the vehicle and were transported by a private citizen to an urgent care center in Giddings before being taken by ambulance to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin with critical burn injuries.

The driver, who according to the Giddings Times and News was 8 months pregnant, had her baby delivered by C-section at the hospital. The baby is reported to be doing okay.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured, but he was issued a citation by DPS for Failure to Yield Right of Way at a Stop Sign.

Both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway were blocked until early the next morning, with traffic rerouted onto county roads.

Downtown Brenham will host the next First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market tomorrow (Friday).

Vendors will set up shop on the courthouse square from 4 to 7 p.m., selling fruits and vegetables, different varieties of bread and cheese, desserts, and handmade arts and crafts.

Live music will be provided by Jack Blaise.

The market is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit.

For more information, visit https://cityofbrenham.org or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

Retired Blue Bell Creameries President and CEO Ricky Dickson has authored a new book with stories from his 43 years with the company.

Ricky Dickson, the recently retired President and
CEO of Blue Bell Creameries.
(courtesy Blue Bell)“One Scoop at a Time” shares Dickson’s memories and experiences from his time at Blue Bell, from his journey as a college student writing an essay on the company to joining the business in 1981. It also highlights some of the lessons he learned as the company grew and his insights into leadership, faith and overcoming obstacles.

Dickson says the most exciting aspect about watching Blue Bell expand into new markets was getting to see and hear from people trying Blue Bell Ice Cream for the first time and being able to create new, lasting memories.

On the flip side, some challenges that Dickson points to were ensuring that Blue Bell stayed within itself and kept a methodical, step-by-step approach to take care of existing markets before going out into new territories.

In the book, Dickson also talks about the world of ice cream production, how new ice cream flavors are picked, and his favorite flavors like Homemade Vanilla and Salted Caramel Brownie.

Dickson says while the ice cream was certainly a great part of working for Blue Bell, the best part was the people.

“One Scoop at a Time” officially releases on July 16th, but Dickson will have a limited number of copies available at book signing events this Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Blue Bell Country Store in Brenham. Additional signing events at the Country Store will be held on July 18th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., July 19th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and July 20th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The book is available for pre-order on Amazon. More details can be found at https://onescoopatatime.com and https://rickydickson.com.

None

DPS Troopers are investigating after a single-vehicle crash in Grimes County on Tuesday that resulted in the death of a Navasota man.

The accident happened around 4 p.m. on FM 2562, east of Anderson.

According to DPS, a 1995 Ford F-350 was traveling southbound, failed to drive in a single lane and went into the grassy shoulder. The vehicle then over-corrected, causing it to roll over.

The driver, 61-year-old Rogelio Morales, was pronounced dead at the scene.

DPS says its investigation of the accident is ongoing.

A wide range of Fourth of July activities are happening across the region.

Celebrations are set in Washington County and surrounding counties, including some that start today (Wednesday).

WEDNESDAY

The Giddings Freedom Fest will have live music from the Texas Unlimited Band and Lost Cause Band at Veterans Park from 6 to 10 p.m. There will also be food trucks, vendors and games. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks.
Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell will host its 28th Annual July 3rd Fireworks Show from 6 to 11 p.m. Activities will include live music, food trucks, kids’ activities and a fireworks display.

THURSDAY

Chappell Hill’s “Biggest Small Town Parade in America” begins at 10 a.m. in downtown Chappell Hill with the firing of the Kingfisher Cannon. The theme for the parade is “Hometown Heroes”, honoring all first responders and electric linemen. The parade will also feature the “World Famous Marching Kazoo Band”. Rob Moorman & Company will provide pre- and post-parade entertainment.
Round Top will host its 174th Fourth of July Parade and Celebration beginning at 10 a.m. on the town square. The firing of the Round Top Cannon will signal the opening of the parade at 10:30 a.m. Afterwards, the Round Top Rifle Association Hall will serve a barbecue meal at $16 per plate, and there will be music throughout the afternoon by the Round Top Brass Band, Round Top Jam Session and Cool Freddie E and the Crew. There will also be a prize drawing.
Downtown Independence will celebrate the Fourth starting at 2 p.m. with a trail ride, then a parade at 5 p.m. Guests can then enjoy music from the Risky Liver Band at a street dance following the parade, as well as a live auction. Festivities wrap up with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Navasota’s 5th Annual Freedom Festival in downtown begins at 6 p.m. with a parade. ESCAPE: A Tribute to Journey will perform outside of Navasota City Hall at 7 p.m., and there will be a fireworks display around 9:15 p.m. at Brule Field. There will also be food and drink vendors and kids’ activities.
Bellville will hold its 3rd Annual Red White and Free Festival at the Austin County Fairgrounds, starting at 5:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy food and games, fun for the kids, live music from John Swantner and the Red Bulls, an appearance from Phenix Knives, and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Burton American Legion Post #242, the Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion will host their annual Fourth of July Picnic at the Burton Community Center. Barbecue meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $15 per plate, and there will be games, live and silent auctions, and a cake walk.
The Kenney Agricultural Society Hall’s Barbecue Celebration begins with a cake walk at 10:30 a.m., along with a silent auction. Barbecue will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and live music will be provided by DJ Sandman. The cost is $18 for adults and $8 for children 6 years old and under.

SATURDAY

Fury on the 6th will take place at the Lee County Sheriff’s Posse Covered Arena in Giddings, with professional bull riding and freestyle bull fighting. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the event begins around 7 p.m. There will also be kids’ mutton bustin’ and a dance with Johnny Condel after the bull riding. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for kids 7-14 and free for children 6 and under.
Harmonie Hall in Shelby will celebrate America’s birthday with music from the Risky Liver Band. Doors to the hall open at 7 p.m., and dancing will be from 8 to midnight. The kitchen and bar will be open for food and refreshments. No outside drinks or coolers are allowed. Tickets are $12 cash at the door.

KWHI and KTEX-106 will be all around the area to celebrate the Fourth, with appearances in Giddings, Caldwell, Chappell Hill, Round Top, Burton, Independence and Navasota.

Time is running out for the Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs) to secure public support in time for a proposed emergency services district (ESD) to go on the ballot this November.

The proposed boundaries of the
emergency services district for the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.
The area of the ESD would align with the service
area of the two departments, not including the City
of Brenham's extraterritorial jurisdiction.Friday is the deadline for the departments to secure at least 100 signatures on a petition to bring before county commissioners to call an election for the ESD. Dustin Brown, Chappell Hill VFD captain and president, said they had about 55 signatures as of this (Tuesday) morning.

The ESD would become the primary source of funding for the fire departments by levying an ad valorem tax of no more than 10 cents per $100 valuation on residents who live within their service territories, not counting the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

The departments held a pair of town halls over the past two weeks to offer the public more information and the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal. The petition was also available for residents to sign if they supported the proposal; Brown said they had hoped to get closer to 150 signatures by the deadline.

Should Friday pass without enough signatures received, Brown said the fire departments will continue to run the way they have and will “continue to try to find ways to establish a reliable funding source.” When asked if work would continue on an ESD proposal next year, he said, “It’s a strong possibility.”

Anyone who wishes to sign the petition can contact either of the fire departments via Facebook or email the ESD committee at wacounty.esdone.questions@gmail.com. The Chappell Hill VFD will also accept signatures at the Chappell Hill Fire Station after Thursday’s Fourth of July parade.

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) approved an electronic jail medical records contract with CorEMR and pay rate assignments for jail medical staff as part of the county’s shift to a new medical services provider.

The items are in relation to the county’s transition to MedHealth as the provider of medical services at the jail, after having worked with CorrHealth since 2021.

Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley called the transition seamless, saying the county was able to retain full medical coverage and documents without any hiccups. He said CorEMR, who provided medical record services while the county was under contract with CorrHealth, agreed to keep the system up during the transition to MedHealth despite the records contract being tabled from the court’s meeting on Thursday.

One reason that the contract with CorEMR was tabled last week was a proposed indemnity provision that would have required the county to indemnify the service provider, but the county typically does not recommend contracts with those provisions. County Judge John Durrenberger said since the county now has liability insurance, the company was ok with doing away with the indemnity clause.

Through the contract with MedHealth, the company provides the jail medical director and nurse practitioner, while the county provides a health services administrator, two correctional licensed vocational nurses and an emergency medical technician.

The employees being hired for the county’s roles came in on a contingency basis, as they were offered their pay rates based on the understanding that commissioners would need to approve them first. Commissioner Candice Bullock said this is because county policy requires court approval for any salaries above 6 percent over the minimum salary.

Bullock added that after conducting interviews for the positions, the county is retaining the existing staff from CorrHealth, so this action was to get the county up to the level of pay the employees received from CorrHealth.

Bullock said the county has continued to attempt to get employees up to the proper market salary range, and that includes placing new employees at where they should be based on their weighted experience, not just starting them out at the minimum. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the county still has work it needs to do on its pay ranges and processes, with Commissioner Kirk Hanath replying that it works out given that the county is soon going into budget discussions.

In other business, commissioners:

Received the Office of Emergency Management’s quarterly report. Emergency Management Coordinator Bryan Ruemke said the county is receiving reimbursement from the state for the water rescue deployments earlier this year. He also said he is working on submitting for assistance with the straight-line winds the county experienced on May 16th.
Heard a presentation from the Faith Mission SMART-CARE Kids program.
Approved the 2024 Chappell Hill 4th of July parade permit application.
Approved a new bond for Jacob Newsome as reserve deputy sheriff.
Discussed a formal notice for fiber installation by Industry Telephone Company in the Jaeger Road right-of-way in Precinct 4. No action was needed.
Discussed formal notices for overhead electric line installation by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative in the right-of-way of Quebe Road in Precinct 3 and Upshaw Road in Precinct 4. No action was necessary.

A Brenham man was killed in a single-vehicle accident Monday evening between Brenham and Chappell Hill.

DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz reports that the accident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. in the 6500 block of Old Chappell Hill Road.

According to Sgt. Ruiz, a 2009 Chevrolet Colorado was traveling westbound on Old Chappell Hill Road when it entered a right-hand curve “at a speed too great for the curve.”

The vehicle left the roadway on the left-hand side, going into the grass and striking a metal fence. The driver was unrestrained and was ejected from the vehicle.

The driver, 43-year-old Michael Dudich, was pronounced dead at the scene. Dudich was the lone occupant of the vehicle.

La Grange will welcome the Czech Republic’s head of state in a historic visit to Texas.

Czech Republic President Petr Pavel and First Lady
Eva Pavlová.
(courtesy photo)Czech Republic President Petr Pavel and First Lady Eva Pavlová will make a public appearance in La Grange on Saturday, July 13th as they visit the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center (TCHCC).

The public is invited to attend the welcoming ceremony in front of the TCHCC’s main building from 9 to 11 a.m. to hear the president speak.

This will be the first time a president of the Czech Republic has come to visit La Grange, and the first time the city has welcomed any head of state since U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in 1969.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp has announced his plans to retire.

Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp
announced on Monday his intent to retire effective
June 30, 2025.
(courtesy Texas A&M University)In a letter and a video message from the Chancellor released today (Monday), Sharp said his retirement will be effective on June 30, 2025.

Sharp first became Chancellor in September 2011 and is the university system’s longest-serving official in that role. He said his time leading the university has been “one of the great privileges of my life, a challenge, and an honor.”

Sharp said that while he may be retiring from this position, he will never retire from work completely and will “never be too busy or too old to help Texas A&M and the A&M system.”

Sharp is a 1972 graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science. He was a member of the Corps staff of the Corps of Cadets and was elected student body president. He went on to serve in the Texas House of Representatives, Texas Senate, Texas Railroad Commission and as Texas Comptroller.

Among Sharp’s accomplishments as Chancellor include increasing the A&M System’s student enrollment to one of the largest in the nation, overseeing $11.4 billion in over 300 building and facility improvement projects across the system, and supporting key research initiatives. Sharp said he is most proud that “our culture, our traditions, and the patriotic fervor of our students remain intact.”

Sharp is scheduled to speak in Brenham on September 10th as part of The Barnhill Center’s Speaker Series.

The Board of Regents will conduct a national search in the coming months to name the next chancellor. Board of Regents Chairman Bill Mahomes said, “It’s an understatement to say we have giant boots to fill,” adding that Sharp has “made the System smarter, more innovative, and more responsive to the needs of Texans in every corner of the state.”

Several commercial projects led the way for a large month of building permits issued by the City of Brenham in June.

Shown here are the City of Brenham building
permits through June 2024.
(courtesy City of Brenham)The top individual permit went to Murphy USA for $998,500. The permit was for the demolition of the existing gas station at 2615 Highway 36 South, in front of Walmart, and rebuilding at the location with a new gas station and convenience store. Work is contracted to Ready Construction Services.

The second-highest permit was issued to Quick Quack Car Wash for $502,263 for the construction of a new car wash at 2950 Highway 36 South. Work is led by Lonestar Builders.

Another noteworthy permit last month went for interior remodeling of Starbucks at 111 Highway 290 West for $250,000, led by Jerry Kachel Builder.

Eighteen new homes were permitted for $3,117,952, the largest permit going for $395,000 for a home on Oak Hollow Lane. So far this year, 68 new homes have been permitted for $11,461,347.

June’s total was $5,450,586 on 32 permits, over three times the $1,695,441 from 25 permits issued in June 2023.

Through the first six months of the year, the city has issued 162 building permits worth $24,121,324. At this time last year, the city had 193 permits for $20,515,996. The city is currently on pace to exceed 2023’s full total of $44,202,794, achieved on 400 permits.

Clarence Muegge has worked at Brenham's
H-E-B for 55 years and counting, serving in
a variety of roles.
(courtesy H-E-B)The Brenham H-E-B store celebrated Clarence Muegge Monday. Muegge has served H-E-B for 55 years.

Muegge was hired at H-E-B in 1969 at $1.35 an hour, as he was still attending Brenham High School when he first joined. His first positions included checking out groceries, carrying out items and stocking products. He later moved to produce and assisted in the deli section. He currently unloads trucks and helps with dairy, in addition to general receiving and stocking.

H-E-B’s presence in Brenham has changed quite a bit during Muegge’s time at the company. When he first started, the store was formerly in the location of AutoZone on South Market Street and did not sell beer or wine. It then moved further down South Market Street, in the Health and Human Services office next to Higgins South. H-E-B moved to its third and current location on South Day Street in 1999.

With 55 years of service, Muegge plans to continue working at least until the end of this year. He says his faith has allowed him to push through and keep going strong.

L to R: Juan Alonso - HEB Regional VP, Jillian McAlister - Store Leader, Clarence Muegge, Larry Hargis- HEB General Manager

Main Street Brenham’s “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concert series will soon get its 20th anniversary season underway.

Each Saturday in July will feature live music at the corner of Alamo and Baylor Streets in downtown Brenham, starting at 7 p.m.

First up on Saturday, July 6th will be the return of a “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” favorite: Suede. Winners of Best Cover Band at the Austin Music Awards, Suede is coming back to Brenham for the first time since 2019 to perform a wide catalog of hits from the 70's to today.

Along with the free concert, there will be food and beverages for sale from local businesses and vendors. The Stray Katz Car Club will be on hand to showcase new and classic vehicles at the west end of Alamo Street.

The concert is sponsored by Dahmann & Associates, Seidel Schroeder, Brenham National Bank and Must Be Heaven.

KWHI’s Craig Montana will be at the concert to introduce Suede on stage.

Following Suede will be The Pictures on July 13th, the Brown Sugar Band on July 20th and The Spicolis on July 27th.

To learn more, visit the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes Downtown Brenham Facebook page.

The Burton School Board approved a contract today (Friday) with Weaver & Jacobs Constructors out of Cuero to serve as the school bond project’s new construction manager-agent (CMA).

Burton ISD trustees discuss a construction manager
agent contract with Weaver & Jacobs Constructors
at a meeting on Monday. The motion was quickly passed 5-0 by trustees with little discussion, and the meeting concluded two minutes after it was called. Trustees Demetrius Colvin, Sr. and Ande Bostain were absent.

Interim Superintendent Rob Barnwell prefaced the vote by saying the district had worked out the matters discussed during Monday’s board meeting surrounding contract incentives for early completion and any fees past the project’s estimated full completion date of July 2026.

Weaver & Jacobs’ total contract fee of $1,905,000 will be broken up by six initial monthly payments of $101,058, followed by payments of $72,184 per month over the following 18 months, unless the project is finished before the 24-month deadline.

If it is finished early, the district would normally only owe Weaver & Jacobs the prorated fees through the date of full completion, and the remaining total would not be owed. However, the district is choosing to offer an incentive by paying the CMA a percentage of the remaining fee balance. The percentage ranges from 30 percent if the project is completed between June 2-30, 2026, up to 50 percent if it is completed by March 1, 2026 or earlier.

Barnwell said after the meeting that while he normally would not like “paying somebody for something they didn’t do”, the time factor is extremely important with this project, so he considers it worth it to give the CMA a benefit to finishing early, especially since it will still save the district money versus going the full 24 months or longer. He does not believe workers would stall in order to receive the full amount from the 24 months, as he said contractors are typically eager to get off a job so they can start their next one. He said incentives like these are an “industry norm” from his previous experience.

Should the project not be completed by July 1, 2026, and the district still wishes to keep Weaver & Jacobs on, any future fees and costs would be re-negotiated between the two before moving forward.

The on-site project superintendent is slated to receive a total of $368,848 paid in equal installments over the course of 24 months. According to the contract, if the project is finished sooner, the amount due will be prorated and not owed by the district.

Weaver & Jacobs will provide builder’s risk insurance for the duration of the project, with the district reimbursing the CMA for the insurance premium.

Barnwell noted that Reliance Architecture is still involved as the project’s architect. Reliance was selected by trustees to serve as the architect in December 2021, the same time that DSA, Inc. was chosen to be the first CMA, but Barnwell said Reliance was not directly associated with DSA.

This Sunday, June 30th, is the deadline for the owners of commercial property in Washington County to file a protest over their property valuation. Just as the Washington County Tax Appraisal Office did with residential property, they’ve increased the appraised value of commercial property by ridiculous percentages in just one year. Our company alone has seen increases of between 242% and 414% on the appraised value of land. Thank goodness the Texas Legislature put in a cap of 20% increase for non-homestead property this year, otherwise our taxes would be doubled or even quadrupled. Appraisers seem to have lost any perspective of the logical and sane. I’ve even had an appraiser for Burleson County argue with me that a 32-year-old communications tower can appreciate in value based on the cost to build a new one. Really? An old tower becomes more valuable over time, even as its lifespan gets shorter? That logic is a tough sell, at least to me.

Yes, I realize that our local tax appraisal offices are under pressure from the State to constantly increase property values. But when does it end? You can’t just arbitrarily assign the same dollar amount per square foot to every piece of land in an area, when each has its own characteristics. The appraisers will tell you they follow a formula and that there is a method to this madness. But to me, I don’t see it. Once of our buildings downtown has seen a 708% increase in valuation in just 5 years! If you are not happy with your commercial property valuation, I encourage you to take a few minutes and file a protest. You have through this Sunday to do it.

And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.

Washington County Commissioners today (Thursday) approved a contract to bring in a new medical services provider at the county jail.

The contract with MedHealth will take effect on Monday, which led to the county having to work quickly to wrap up negotiations with the company after starting talks in late May. The county has contracted with CorrHealth since 2021.

Through the contract, MedHealth provides a medical director at the jail and a nurse practitioner who works underneath the director. The county provides the nursing staff, including a health services administrator, two correctional licensed vocational nurses, and an emergency medical technician.

Pay rate assignments for the county’s jail medical staff will be approved at the court’s next meeting on Tuesday, a day after the contract goes into effect. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the county is hiring employees coming into the roles on a contingency basis, and that those new hires understand the rates listed in their offers may be lower if not approved by commissioners.

The cost of the contract is $276,186 over 12 months, plus a one-time startup payment of $25,000. The initial term of the agreement will end on June 30, 2025, but it can be extended via one-year renewals.

The quick turnaround time for the contract nearly proved problematic, as First Assistant County Attorney Kacie Murphy explained that MedHealth had sent over a version of the document this morning that corrected some errors, but commissioners did not receive it until shortly before the meeting and had not been able to review it.

Given the importance of the contract, Murphy recommended that commissioners take the time to make sure they understood everything in it. Initially, commissioners considered waiting until Tuesday’s meeting to follow up, but Murphy said that would lead to Washington County EMS having to cover any medical calls at the jail on Monday. County Judge John Durrenberger said he met with EMS Director Kevin Deramus about this matter, and he agreed to cover at the jail for two days if necessary.

Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley said the switchover from CorrHealth to MedHealth was intended to begin Sunday at midnight, with officials from MedHealth coming in to provide staff training. He also said an inventory would be necessary to go through what CorrHealth is taking out and what MedHealth is bringing in, so he did not believe it would work to wait until Tuesday when several important tasks need to be done before then.

Ultimately, commissioners recessed the meeting to take an hour to look over the contract. Upon returning, and after clearing up remaining questions, they voted 4-0 to approve the contract. Commissioner Candice Bullock was absent.

Commissioners also unanimously approved professional liability insurance, which is required now that the county is employing its own medical personnel at the jail.

As for a contract with CorEMR for electronic jail medical records, commissioners tabled it until Tuesday’s meeting. Murphy said the contract includes an indemnity provision that requires the county to indemnify the service provider, and the county typically does not recommend contracts with those provisions, but the clause cannot be removed without negotiating with CorEMR.

Hensley said the issue would have been more complicated had the jail medical contract not been approved, but now that the new employees will be able to come in and “hard copy everything” until the records contract is approved, this will just be “a small hiccup.”

Baylor Scott & White Health (BSW) and BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBS) have reached a temporary contract extension.

(courtesy photo)The two have announced an agreement to extend provider and facility contracts until October 1st.

The extension means BSW providers, hospitals and other facilities will remain in network for BCBS members as work continues on finalizing a long-term agreement.

The current contracts were set to expire on Monday. If the two do not reach an agreement by the new deadline, BCBS would no longer be in-network for BSW doctors and facilities.

Unity Theatre in Brenham has revealed the slate of performances scheduled for its 30th anniversary season.

Starting in September and continuing through July 2025, Unity Theatre will offer a range of comedies, dramas and musicals for all ages.

The new Main Stage season kicks off with “Always a Bridesmaid”, a comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. The play runs from September 26 – October 13, following four friends who make a vow on the night of their senior prom to be bridesmaids for each other no matter what.

Next will be a holiday comedy by Julian Wiles, “Fruitcakes”, playing from December 5 – 22. The play tells the story of a young runaway who finds refuge in a small town full of quirky characters who appear to be nuttier than fruitcakes.

First up next year will be “The Trip to Bountiful”, a drama from Horton Foote running February 6 – 23, 2025. The play follows Carrie Watts, who is longing to visit her childhood home in Bountiful, Texas one last time and escape her son and domineering daughter-in-law.

Closing out the Main Stage season will be “Honky Tonk Angels”, a musical comedy by Ted Swindley. Scheduled for June 5 – 22, 2025, the production follows three women on a musical journey as they chase their dreams of stardom in Nashville.

There will also be two Studio Series productions, starting off with “The Originalist” from October 24 – November 3. The political drama written by John Strand explores the clash of ideologies between conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and his new liberal law clerk.

After that will be “Embraceable Me”, a romantic comedy from Victor L. Cahn to play March 27 – April 6, 2025. The play tells the story of two strangers who meet by chance and discover unexpected connections as they navigate the ups and downs of modern romance.

Lastly, Unity Theatre will host a wild western adventure in Snow White Goes West, a family-friendly musical from Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy that will run from July 24 – 27, 2025.

Subscriptions for the 2024-25 season are now available. They can be purchased online at https://unitybrenham.org or by calling Unity’s box office at 979-830-8358.

A recent graduate of Brenham High School and member of the Brenham FFA continues to excel in her FFA involvement and achievements.

Madison Moran is the recipient
of a Texas FFA Scholarship.
She was awarded the $10,000
Wallrath scholarship after
interviewing at Tarleton State
University.
(courtesy photo)Madison Moran has been named a Texas FFA Scholarship recipient. Moran interviewed with a panel of judges at Tarleton State University and is the recipient of the $10,000 Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation Scholarship. She will be recognized on stage to receive the honor at the Texas FFA Convention on July 11th in Houston.

Moran also recently competed in the Texas FFA Senior Prepared Public Speaking Contest at Tarleton State University. She finished 10th in the state out of 176 senior speakers in Speaking Development Events.

Madison Moran competed
in the State FFA Senior
Prepared Public Speaking
contest, placing 10th
overall in the state.
(courtesy photo)Moran prepared a speech in the Ag Policy division and qualified for state after 1st place success in the district and area contests. Her speech covered pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease, and the relationship of chemical use/abuse and disease. The contest was comprised of a 7-minute speech and questions from judges about comprehensive research and policy topics.

Moran was advised and supported by Ag teachers and FFA Advisors Travis Gonzales and Jordan Kaminski in both her scholarship and speaking contest endeavors.

Madison is the daughter of David and Christy Moran. She will be a freshman at Texas A&M University in the fall, majoring in animal science.

The estimated number of veterans in Washington County appears to have decreased for the second year in a row, but Washington County’s Veterans Service Officer disagrees with that data.

Washington County Veterans
Service Officer Eric Posern shares
his department's 2023 annual
report with county
commissioners on Tuesday.Eric Posern presented his department’s 2023 report for Veterans Affairs (VA) to county commissioners on Tuesday. The report, using population totals calculated by a federal VA model, listed the estimated number of veterans in Washington County at 1,894 in 2023, compared to 1,909 in 2022 and 2,136 in 2021.

Posern believes the county’s number of veterans is higher than the VA model indicates, and that the number of 1,894 is the bottom of a range that goes up to 2,500.

Posern told commissioners that the VA’s model starts from the 2020 Census, using a set of criteria to adjust population numbers as time goes along. However, he feels the VA did not project changes in migration across the country post-COVID, including the shift from cities to more rural areas.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the gap between 1,894 and 2,500 is “pretty significant of a range.” Posern replied that he does not like that the range is large and would prefer to have it closer, but the figure of 2,500 is the highest he has seen, and he does not feel the number of 1,894 is reliable.

Posern did not voice concerns about any other portion of the report, which also tallied the amount that local veterans received in federal VA assistance. That increased from $21.48 million in 2022 to $24.68 million last year. Of that total was $14.47 million in compensation and pension, $9.13 million in medical care, $933,000 in education and vocational rehabilitation, and $135,000 in insurance and indemnities.

The county had 582 unique patients who were treated at a VA healthcare facility in 2023, nearly identical to the 583 reported in 2022.

A copy of the Veterans Service Officer's report presented to Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is looking into a string of vehicle burglaries committed in previous weeks.

Washington County Sheriff's Office
Captain Eddie Ocanas presents the
sheriff's office's report for May 2024
to county commissioners on Tuesday. During commissioners court today (Tuesday), Captain Eddie Ocanas briefly discussed some of the data from the sheriff’s office report for the month of May, which showed an increase in overall offenses from the month prior and in comparison to the rest of 2024. Part of that was attributed to what Ocanas called a “rash” of car burglaries that have been under investigation for some time.

Ocanas did not provide specific dates or locations where the burglaries occurred, but he said the sheriff’s office does have leads on potential suspects.

Ocanas said the sheriff’s office has been spending more time on back roads in order to attempt to find those involved in the burglary incidents.

According to the May report, the sheriff’s office responded to or investigated 92 total offenses in May, up from 79 in April.

Of the 92, 30 were considered “Group A” offenses, comprised of 21 assault cases, two burglary cases, four theft/larceny cases, two motor vehicle theft cases, and one sex offense. April had 26 “Group A” offenses, made up of 20 assaults, three sex offenses, and one each of burglary, theft/larceny and theft of a motor vehicle.

The remaining 62 offenses for the month of May are categorized as “Group B”, which include cases like fraud, criminal mischief, drug offenses, driving while intoxicated, public intoxication and trespassing. The sheriff’s office recorded 53 “Group B” offenses in April.

Ocanas then provided data on jail population numbers. In May, 132 inmates were booked into the jail, up from 118 in April. The jail’s average daily population increased slightly from 111 in April to 114 in May.

Ocanas also informed commissioners that the sheriff’s office is still working to fill vacancies for patrol, transport and the jail.

In other business, commissioners accepted a bid from Triple T Refrigeration out of Brenham for $192,484 to replace the Washington County Expo Sales Facility HVAC system.

Facilities Manager Bobby Branham said four bids were received. The lowest bid, according to Branham, had quotes for equipment that the company felt was compatible to what the county was asking for, but he said the county has had “very bad luck” with in the past. The second-lowest bid came from a Houston-based company, which he said could prove problematic in having to pay travel costs associated with any labor.

Branham said the intent is to have the work involved with removing the old HVAC system and putting in the new one completed in time for the county fair.

Commissioners also approved new health insurance contribution amounts for renewal on October 1st. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the county’s insurance rates went up 4 percent, so the county will split that increase with employees. Mlcak said the contribution of employees has not changed for the past 12 years.

Also today, the court:

Approved the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers buoy plan at Lake Somerville. The buoy plan indicates no wake zones, restricted areas and any possible danger.
Appointed the Tax Assessor-Collector Chief Appraiser to calculate the no-new-revenue and voter-approval tax rates.
Corrected the date to seek requests for qualifications (RFQs) for delinquent tax collections for Washington County property taxes. RFQs will be due to the Washington County Clerk by Friday, July 12th at 10 a.m., and negotiations will begin between the county and the chosen RFQ provider after the July 16th commissioners court meeting.
Heard a series of monthly reports from the county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections and veterans service officer.

Industry Bancshares has announced a change in leadership.

According to an internal press release provided by Industry Bancshares, the Board of Directors moved last week to elect Carl Chaney as Executive Chairman and Brian Hobart as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Chaney and Hobart have worked with Industry Bancshares as consultants since February 1st.

The release described the two as “key leaders of the capital raise offering”. A capital raise is when a company asks investors to provide capital through equity or debt.

The board stated that it has been “extremely pleased with the knowledge, hard work, and skillset that Chaney and Hobart have brought to Industry.” Board President J. Doak Hartley said the board “felt very strongly that this was the right decision at the right time.”

According to the release, CEO Jim Kruse “is no longer with Industry” as a result of this transition. Industry Bancshares said it wishes Kruse well in his future endeavors.

After a 20-year career at Blue Bell, Kruse joined Industry Bancshares in 2015 as the Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. He was named Executive Vice President of Bank of Brenham in January 2016 before being named President of the bank in April of that same year. He served in that role for seven years before becoming the CEO of Industry Bancshares this past fall.

The Burton School Board opted to take no formal action on Monday regarding a contract for a new construction manager-agent for the school bond project.

The board instead designated a committee, made up of Board President Jeff Harmel and trustees Demetrius Colvin, Sr. and Mike Clyde, to meet with Weaver & Jacobs Constructors out of Cuero to work through the remaining details of note with the contract. The firm is being chosen to replace DSA, Inc.

One major piece of discussion at the meeting was whether the district should provide any form of incentive to the firm based on if it completes the project within 24 months.

Interim Superintendent Rob Barnwell said he would not want the district to pay more to the firm if it finishes early. Rather, he would prefer an incentive to take the shape of a reduced amount paid to the company if it takes longer than the established timeline, saying the district needs to save money if it can.

The board agreed with Barnwell in not wanting to pay extra for early completion. Clyde said with the existing contract language, should the firm finish six months early, it could receive “almost $200,000”.

Harmel stated he was of the mindset that if the project did not wrap up within 24 months, the contract would come back to the board to renegotiate the remaining work needed from the company.

The committee will sit down with Weaver & Jacobs President Brant Jacobs to clarify language and address the type of incentive that the contract will contain. The discussion will also cover the district’s percentage paid, if any, for builder’s risk insurance. In addition, it will go over how any increases in the job superintendent’s salary and benefits over the next two years will be handled.

A juvenile arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Brenham in April of last year will be tried as an adult.

Jotore Moore
(Washington Co. Jail)On Friday, Jotore Moore of Old Washington, who is now 17, was certified by the Washington County Court at Law to be tried as an adult on the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Moore was originally detained in May of 2023 for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred inside the city of Brenham on April 1, of last year outside the V.F.W. Hall which resulted in the death of 17-year-old Marquis Williams. Moore was 16 years old at the time of the alleged shooting.

At the conclusion of the two-day hearing, Moore was taken into custody and bond was set at $500,000 total, $250,000 per count. Counsel for Moore has announced their intention to appeal this decision.

This case was investigated by the Brenham Police Department with assistance from the Texas Rangers and, pending appeal, will be handled by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

This is the second juvenile that has been certified to face charges as an adult in Washington County since 2020. Truvon Sweed was previously presented for certification on the charge of murder for the death of Derrick Anthony Davis in March of 2020. As an adult, Truvon Sweed pled guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on December 7, of last year and was sentenced to 10 years in Prison.

The post JUVENILE TO BE TRIED AS ADULT IN FATAL BRENHAM SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

American Legion Post 48 in Brenham recognized some of the outstanding first responders of Washington County at an awards ceremony on Thursday.

(from left) Cpl. Derrick Washington, Washington
County Sheriff's Office; Jon Devine, Brenham Fire
Department; Yasmeen Youssef, Washington County
EMS; Officer Nicolas Conforti, Brenham Police
Department
(courtesy Brenham Fire Department)Each year, the American Legion presents awards to members of the Brenham Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Brenham Fire Department and Washington County EMS.

Officer Nicolas Conforti was honored as the Brenham Police Department’s Officer of the Year.

Corporal Derrick Washington was named Officer of the Year from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Jon Devine, an apparatus operator for the Brenham Fire Department, won Firefighter of the Year.

Yasmeen Youssef was chosen as the Washington County EMS Paramedic of the Year.

The awards are given to those who exceed the duty requirements of their position and who demonstrate dedication and service to their community.

The post BRENHAM AMERICAN LEGION PRESENTS ANNUAL FIRST RESPONDER AWARDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two people were hospitalized with major injuries after a fiery crash involving a tanker Sunday morning along Highway 290 between Giddings and Ledbetter.

(courtesy Lee Co. EMS)The accident happened shortly before 11 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 180.

DPS reports that a truck tractor carrying crude oil barrels was attempting to enter the eastbound lane on Highway 290 when it collided with an eastbound SUV, causing an explosion.

Two people in the SUV were critically injured and were transported to a medical facility in Austin for treatment.

Both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 290 between Giddings and Ledbetter were closed as first responders worked to clear the scene. Traffic was rerouted for several hours Sunday afternoon onto county roads.

In a social media post, Lee County EMS recognized all the other departments involved in the incident, including the Giddings Fire Department, South Lee County Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Department, Ledbetter Fire Department, Giddings Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, DPS and Fayette County EMS.

The post TWO CRITICALLY INJURED AFTER TANKER EXPLOSION ON HIGHWAY 290 IN LEE CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet in special session this Tuesday morning.

Among the items is to correct the date on seeking Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for delinquent tax collections for Washington County property taxes.

The RFQs would be due to the County Clerk by 10am on Friday, July 12, and negotiations would then begin after the Tuesday, July 16, Commissioners Court Meeting between the County and the new provider.

Other action items on the agenda include, a new buoy plan at Lake Somerville by U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the approval of health insurance contribution amounts for renewal, and the appoint of the Tax Assessor-Collector Chief Appraiser to calculate no new revenue tax and the voter approval tax rate.

Several of the county departments are also scheduled to present their monthly reports as well.

The Washington County Commissioners Court meets Tuesday at 9am at the Washington County Courthouse.

The post WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO MEET TUESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Lee County Sheriff's Office)Lee County Sheriff Garrett Durrenberger recently completed participation in the 122nd session of the National Sheriffs' Institute Leadership Development Course held in Quantico, Virginia.

This no-cost program is provided by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), and the U.S. Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA).

Sheriff Durrenberger was nominated to join 28 other sheriffs from across the country for training on effective leadership within the Sheriff's Office, the local criminal justice system, and their community.

The NSI is the only executive leadership training program designed specifically for sheriffs to prepare them for all matters that impact the Office of Sheriff.

It was first developed and presented in the early 1970s in response to a need by sheriffs to meet the evolving demands of the office.

Durrenberger was one of five sheriffs from Texas that took part in the class.

The post SHERIFF PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL TEST first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD’s performance in the spring 2024 STAAR and End-of-Course (EOC) exams falls mostly below state averages.

Brenham ISD Executive Director of
Leadership and Learning Sara
Borchgardt discusses student results in
the spring STAAR/EOC exams during
Monday's Brenham School Board
meeting. During the Brenham School Board’s meeting on Monday, Brenham ISD Executive Director of Leadership and Learning Sara Borchgardt walked through the percentages of elementary, middle school, junior high and high school students that “approached”, “met” or “mastered” their subjects.

Out of a total of 60 performance categories measured, Brenham ISD matched or exceeded the state in 21 of them. Meanwhile, when examining Brenham schools’ performance to that of what they scored a year ago, they improved in 28 out of 60 categories.

Borchgardt said there are signs of progress, and she believes the district’s instructional team has the ability to lead meaningful improvement.

When looking at Brenham ISD’s scores versus the state, elementary campuses met or surpassed the state standard in 5 of 12 categories, which cover reading and math for grades 3 and 4. Brenham Middle School, measuring reading and math for grades 5 and 6 plus grade 5 science, was the same or better than the state in 3 of 15 metrics. Brenham Junior High School, which graded reading and math for grades 7 and 8, along with grade 8 science and social studies, was equal to or greater than the state in 8 of 18 groups. Brenham High School, which tested for English I and II, Algebra I, U.S. History and Biology, was identical or beat out the state in 5 of 15 categories.

Comparing Brenham ISD’s performance this year to how it fared in 2023, scores held steady or grew in 7 out of the 12 metrics for elementary campuses, 4 out of the 15 for Brenham Middle School, 4 out of the 18 for Brenham Junior High School, and 13 out of the 15 for Brenham High School.

Trustees asked Borchgardt about reports that results are being negatively impacted by the state’s use of artificial intelligence to grade test submissions, giving zeroes in instances that would at least receive partial credit in a classroom setting. Borchgardt discussed how testing situations will have students type in text-based responses after reading questions or passages on the test, and the state’s AI system will grade the submission based on how closely the student followed the rubric, if they remained on topic, and if they used appropriate evidence to support their claims. She said the state claims it is grading some tests by hand, but she needed to find out more before speaking on that further.

Borchgardt said Brenham ISD has a wealth of resources to get where it needs to go, and that it is simply a matter of determining how to best leverage those resources and help teachers implement them effectively. So far this summer, the district has been looking at research-based best practices for instruction, training teachers on what research says is important to include for students. She said they have also been taking a “very fine look” at high-quality instructional materials, looking across grade levels to reduce variability and to have standard processes in place.

Borchgardt noted that this data is purely looking at performance and student achievement, as the district will not get numbers from the state pertaining to growth and closing the gaps until August. District accountability ratings will also be released in August.

Board President Natalie Lange expressed confidence in Borchgardt, who was hired in January, saying she has a wealth of knowledge and experience in turning districts around.

In related business, following the STAAR/EOC presentation, the board agreed to use instructional material allotment funds earmarked by the state to purchase NWEA MAP growth assessments for $56,100 and HMH Into Reading for $381,965. HMH Into Reading was described by Borchgardt as a comprehensive literacy curriculum that fills a need for more “on-grade-level, complex text” for students in grades 3-8 to engage in reading and writing.

Brenham ISD campus test scores for the spring 2024 STAAR and End-of-Course exams, measured against the state average and against how the campuses performed in spring 2023. (Note: the charts comparing Brenham ISD schools' performance to the state show both matching and exceeding scores in dark green, while the charts examining schools' performance to last year only show exceeding scores in dark green.)The post BRENHAM ISD STAAR/EOC SCORES FALL SHY OF STATE MARKS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board will hold a special meeting Monday to proceed with formally approving a contract with a new construction manager-agent for the school bond project.

Trustees voted at their previous meeting on June 11th to pass a resolution to hire Weaver & Jacobs Constructors. The firm, based out of Cuero, was selected to replace DSA, Inc., who the board terminated the district’s contract with on June 3rd.

Interim Superintendent Rob Barnwell said the company stood out based on its past experience in school construction, strong references and a desire to start as soon as possible.

Prior to action on the contract, the board will hold a public hearing on the district’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) funds.

An executive session is scheduled for trustees to discuss personnel, security and real property, as well as to consult with an attorney. Any action will occur in open session.

The board will meet Monday at 5 p.m. in the Burton ISD cafeteria.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE ON CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AGENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Members of the Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments hosted a town hall meeting on Thursday to present information to the public about a proposed emergency services district (ESD).

Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department
Captain and President Dustin Brown shares
information during a town hall meeting on
Thursday about how a proposed emergency
services district would support the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville VFDs.Several dozen residents came to the First Baptist Church of Chappell Hill to learn more and ask questions about the ESD, which would raise funding for the fire departments via an ad valorem tax of no more than 10 cents per $100 valuation on residents inside their service territories, not including the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The departments are collecting petition signatures with the intent of bringing the proposition before voters this November.

Dustin Brown, Chappell Hill VFD captain and president, said the goal is to have the ESD become a reliable source of funding for the departments to put toward equipment upgrades and recruit new members. The funding would take the place of what the departments receive from the county, but they could continue to host fundraisers as a supplement.

Thursday’s presentation was similar in structure to the one made to county commissioners in December, though this one had updated financial figures and data on call volume.

The proposed boundaries of the
emergency services district for the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.
The area of the ESD would align with the service
area of the two departments, not including the City
of Brenham's extraterritorial jurisdiction.Based on the approximate property value inside the two department’s territories of $1.05 billion and a tax rate of 10 cents per $100, the anticipated revenue collected – with ag exemptions – would be roughly $1.05 million annually. The yearly revenue may change based on shifting property valuations. A sales and use tax could also be implemented, but the ESD would need to be in place for a year before that can be considered.

One question asked during the presentation was why is now the right time to implement an ESD, and is it the right move altogether. Brown answered that with rising equipment costs, higher call volume and lower volunteer numbers, the danger of having to close is a very real possibility if the departments are not proactive.

The ESD would be governed by a five-member board that is appointed by the county and whose members would live inside the district. The ESD would establish a budget each year to fund the short-term needs of the fire departments and work toward their long-term goals. It would be required at the end of each year to perform an independent audit that would be presented to the county for review. The ESD’s board members can be compensated, but the compensation would only be to recompensate for costs associated with serving on the board, such as travel and training, and it would have to be voted on by the board itself.

Should the departments receive at least 100 signatures on their petition, it can be brought to county commissioners for their consideration to call an election. Only residents who are registered to vote within the proposed district boundaries would be able to participate in the election.

Another town hall will be held on Thursday, June 27th at 6:30 p.m. at Cowboy Church of Brenham.

Anyone who would like to know more about the ESD can contact the ESD committee at wacounty.esdone.questions@gmail.com.

The full PowerPoint presentation from Thursday's meeting can be downloaded here.

The post RESIDENTS LEARN ABOUT EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT FOR CHAPPELL HILL, MEYERSVILLE VFDs first appeared on KWHI.com.

The first film in the City of Brenham’s annual Movies in the Park series is tonight (Friday).

Families are invited to Hohlt Park for a free showing of “Under the Boardwalk”. The movie will start at approximately 8:30 p.m., around sunset.

Prior to the movie, guests can enjoy games and activities.

Tonight’s movie was initially scheduled to be the second in the city’s three-part series, but the first movie, “Shark Tale”, had to be postponed from May 31st to a future date due to weather.

“Under the Boardwalk” is sponsored by Thielemann Construction and Stegent-Thielemann Plumbing.

Presenting sponsor for Movies in the Park is Brannon Industrial Group. KWHI and KTEX-106 are also sponsors.

For more information, visit the Brenham Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

The post MOVIES IN THE PARK BEGINS FRIDAY AT HOHLT PARK first appeared on KWHI.com.

A large oak tree on the Washington County Courthouse lawn will be coming down this weekend.

The large oak tree that sits to the left of the
courthouse entrance on Park Street will come down
this weekend, as it has been deemed a safety
hazard.Washington County Facilities Manager Bobby Branham said the corner of Main Street and Park Street in downtown Brenham will be closed off on Saturday starting at 7 a.m. This is to remove the oak tree on the left-hand side of the courthouse entrance on Park Street. The corner will be closed until completion.

Branham said the tree is affected by the same wood-decaying fungus, called hypoxolon canker, that led to two other trees located to the left of the Main Street entrance being taken down in November. According to Branham, the tree on Park Street has lost some large limbs, including one that fell onto a vehicle, and is becoming a hazard.

Branham noted that these particular kinds of trees typically have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and he believes this tree has been around for at least 35 years. He also said an arborist will inspect the remaining trees on the Alamo Street side of the courthouse to make sure they are in good shape.

The Urban Foresters will handle the tree removal. It is the same tree service company that took down the other trees in November and is working with the county as part of its courthouse landscaping project.

Branham said the work should be all done on Saturday, with stump grinding set to be done at another time.

The post TREE TO BE REMOVED SATURDAY FROM WASHINGTON CO. COURTHOUSE LAWN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) unanimously approved a specific use permit request to allow the construction of a new gas station and convenience store on the north end of town.

Following an hour of discussion at a rare morning meeting, the council voted to give the go-ahead to 30K Holdings, LLC to build a Zippy J’s at the site of the vacant Terminix Pest Control building at East Blue Bell Road and Gay Hill Street.

The council upheld the condition that the property must receive preliminary and final plats before the city issues a building permit. However, it revised the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation of putting in a 10-foot screening fence on the east property line, between the gas station and the adjacent Wee Care for All Childcare Center, reducing the required height to six feet.

Much of the council’s debate recalled concerns raised previously during Planning and Zoning meetings in April and May, including traffic at the location and potential negative impacts to the daycare. Larry Lazare, owner of Wee Care for All, said he is worried about the sale of alcohol and tobacco in close proximity to his facility, and that, combined with the increased amount of cars in an already busy zone, creates a safety issue and would hurt his business.

The old Terminix building at 804 East Blue Bell Road.
The Brenham City Council approved a specific use
permit request on Thursday to allow a developer
seeking to redevelop the property with a gas station
and convenience store.
(courtesy City of Brenham)The site plan for the gas station shows two driveways on Gay Hill Street and one on East Blue Bell Road. The Gay Hill Street driveways are under the city and are permitted, but Blue Bell Road is a TxDOT roadway, and Adam Griffin and Brad Trochta of 30K Holdings told the council that TxDOT came out to the site for several hours in early May and gave them their blessing to leave the driveway entrance on Blue Bell Road. City of Brenham Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city has been in conversation with TxDOT about putting in a traffic signal at the intersection, but TxDOT has not said if the suggestion will move forward.

The council ultimately agreed that traffic will increase regardless of the type of development that comes to the site. Griffin and Trochta said they will be able to restrict delivery times so that vendors or fuel trucks are not attempting to come in during peak traffic. They also referred to their security camera systems at their existing location at the corner of South Blue Bell Road and East Alamo Street, noting that in their experience, they have sent more security videos to Brenham police for off-site issues trying to help them find vehicles going by, rather than anything on-site.

Planning documents for the gas station to be built
at the site of the vacant Terminix Pest Control
building at 804 East Blue Bell Road.
(courtesy City of Brenham)The council brought up a chemical spill that happened at the Terminix site, which has been vacant for several years, where Terminix crews had to come out to clean it up. The environmental issue was remediated earlier this year, but Griffin said he felt it would be a greater risk to leave the site as is without being monitored.

Discussion then moved to the screening fence, which Griffin requested be lowered from a 10-foot requirement. He said they intended on putting in a fence anyway, but the engineering costs involved with building a fence higher than the standard would quickly become prohibitive.

The council concluded that the 10-foot requirement was excessive, so they agreed to reduce it to six feet.

The gas station will not be open all day, as the hours are intended to be from 5 a.m. to either 11 p.m. or midnight. It will have six gas pumps – 12 total fueling stations – and would only serve four-wheeled vehicles and light-duty commercial vehicles, not 18-wheelers. The area is zoned for retail use as is, but the gas station is what needed the specific use permit.

In other business today, the council:

Approved a temporary resale amendment to the city’s system water availability agreement with the Brazos River Authority (BRA) and a water supply resale agreement with The Dow Chemical Company. The amendment allows the city to elect to resell excess water temporarily to a resale purchaser with prior approval from the BRA. Deputy General Manager of Public Utilities Alton Sommerfield said the city’s primary water availability agreement covers 4,200 acre-feet of water (one acre-foot is approximately 326,000 gallons), and the city uses 3,100 acre-feet on average each year. Through the system water availability agreement, the city sold 387 acre-feet of the 774 acre-feet available last year, and it is now looking to sell the remaining 387 acre-feet. The purchase price is $93.50 per acre-foot, or $36,184.
Adopted a revised drought contingency plan and revised water conservation plan. The amendments, which are required at least once every five years, reflect new information such as forecasted weather patterns. Water Systems Superintendent Jerry Saldivar said the amendments adjust the threshold percentages for when drought conditions initiate water conservation plans, making it to where the plan stages trigger earlier to start saving water sooner.
Accepted a request for proposals to replace the HVAC in the diner portion of the terminal building at the Brenham Municipal Airport. The lowest bid came from Round Top HVAC for $75,980. Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said the city has Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) funds available from TxDOT Aviation to cover the cost.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES REQUEST FOR GAS STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Somerville man is dead following a two-vehicle traffic crash in Grimes County on Tuesday.

According to DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz, 48-year-old Derrick Coleman was driving a Mercedes SUV along FM 2, when he turned on to Highway 6 in the left lane.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Coleman attempted to change lanes, and was struck by a 2024 Dodge Ram 1500, which was also a Hempstead Police Department unmarked vehicle.

The Dodge was traveling south on Highway 6 in the right lane.

Ruiz said the Mercedes then left the roadway into the center median, and overturned.

Coleman was pronounced dead at the scene by Grimes County Precinct Three Justice of the Peace Mark Laughlin.

The driver of the Dodge was not injured.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

The post SOMERVILLE MAN DIES IN GRIMES COUNTY TRAFFIC CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Zane Aschenbeck is the recipient of a
Texas FFA State Scholarship. He was
awarded the scholarship after
interviewing at Tarleton State
University.
(courtesy photo)A recent graduate of Burton High School and a member of the Burton FFA continues to collect accolades as he prepares for his collegiate career.

Zane Aschenbeck has been named a Texas FFA State Scholarship recipient. He interviewed for the scholarship earlier this month at Tarleton State University.

Aschenbeck will receive a $20,000 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Scholarship at the Texas FFA Convention in Houston on July 11th.

Aschenbeck is also receiving a national award of $10,000 via the Darling Ingredients Building the Future Scholarship.

Aschenbeck graduated as valedictorian of Burton High School’s Class of 2024. He will be pursuing an engineering degree at Texas A&M University.

The post BURTON’S ZANE ASCHENBECK RECEIVES STATE, NATIONAL FFA SCHOLARSHIPS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College anticipates several million dollars less in state funding in the coming fiscal year due to changes in Texas’ community college funding model.

During discussion by Blinn trustees on Tuesday regarding the College’s proposed – and later approved – $129.3 million budget, Blinn Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Dr. Clen Burton said administrators learned in mid-May that the state would reduce appropriations to Blinn by $4.4 million, going from $32.7 million received in the current fiscal year to an estimated $28.3 million in the upcoming year.

Blinn did get news last week that after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reran its models based on co-enrollment data provided by the College, the state restored $1.2 million of that loss, bringing the amount Blinn expects to receive up to $29.5 million. The overall drop of $3.2 million in state funding is a 9.8 percent decline from the current fiscal year.

Dr. Burton said this decrease is the most of any community college in the state, but other institutions on average actually reported increases.

A list of Blinn College's previous and estimated
revenue figures as presented during
Tuesday's Blinn Board of Trustees meeting. The
slide does not include the FY24 actual state
appropriations of $32.7 million or the new estimate
of $29.5 million in state appropriations in FY25.
(Blinn College)House Bill 8, the community college funding model that was passed in the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023, shifts from funding based on how many hours students spend in the classroom to how many students receive a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year university. Governor Greg Abbott said upon the bill’s passage that it “will be an important tool to help enhance the role of public junior colleges in workforce training and preparation for high-demand careers.”

Blinn greatly benefitted from the new funding model in this current fiscal year. Blinn’s $32.7 million in state funding received for the fiscal year to date is more than what the College initially budgeted for at $26.4 million, and it is also more than the $25.3 million received in the fiscal year prior.

Executive Vice Chancellor Leighton Schubert told trustees that the new bill adjusted how frequently the state reevaluates the amount of funding it distributes, going from every two years to an annual process.

When asked for additional information about the decline in funding, Blinn Communications Director Richard Bray told KWHI that the Coordinating Board has proposed changing its formulas to count transfer students differently, which particularly impacts Blinn because it is the statewide leader in academic transfers.

Blinn Trustee Randy Wells said it is “very disturbing” that Blinn would experience the highest funding cut out of the 50 junior colleges in Texas despite having the highest transfer rate. He added that while many other community colleges are tax base-driven, Blinn is tuition-driven, so this “doubly impacts us in a very adverse way.”

Schubert said the College has engaged with its external partners both within and outside of the Coordinating Board, noting that he met with the board on Monday in Austin. He said those external outreach efforts will continue, and while he cannot go into much detail at the moment, he expects there will be items related to this issue in next year’s legislative session.

The post BLINN COLLEGE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE NEARLY 10 PERCENT LESS STATE FUNDING IN UPCOMING BUDGET first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments invite residents in their service areas to a town hall meeting tomorrow (Thursday) for more details about a proposed emergency services district (ESD).

A map of the district lines of the
proposed Emergency Services District
(ESD) for the Chappell Hill and
Meyersville Volunteer Fire
Departments.
(courtesy Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire
Dept.)The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Chappell Hill, 7675 FM 2447.

Members of the fire departments will share information about what ESDs are and how they are used to support fire protection services. They will also discuss what an ESD would look like for the Chappell Hill and Meyersville VFDs and how that would impact the communities they serve.

The first information on the ESD was presented to county commissioners at a meeting in December 2023. The fire departments said at the time that they intended to receive funding through an ad valorem tax of no more than 10 cents per $100 valuation on residents living within the boundaries of the departments’ service territories. That would not include the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Tomorrow’s meeting will have a presentation lasting roughly 30 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session. There will also be a petition to place the ESD on the ballot for anyone who wants to support it.

Event organizers ask that only those who live within the proposed district in the east end of the county attend the meeting, as it is intended for those who will be directly affected.

Anyone with questions or who would like to know if they live inside the proposed district can contact the ESD committee at wacounty.esdone.questions@gmail.com.

The post CHAPPELL HILL, MEYERSVILLE VFDs TO HOST TOWN HALL THURSDAY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Heritage Museum is honoring the history of Juneteenth in Washington County with a new exhibit.

Previous Juneteenth royalty's attire that is on
display at the Brenham Heritage Museum as part of
its Juneteenth exhibit.
(courtesy Brenham Heritage Museum)“Juneteenth: Freedom’s Jubilee” combines photographs, newspaper articles and Juneteenth memorabilia to focus on the celebratory elements of Juneteenth, including parades, coronations, horse races, contests and sporting events. Guests will be able to view intricate Juneteenth gowns, vintage mantles, and trains from past royalty.

The exhibit opened earlier this month, with a special guest speaker event this past Saturday featuring a Juneteenth film debuted by Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and Brenham native, Don Sharp.

Brenham native and award-winning broadcaster
Don Sharp (right) speaks to visitors to the Brenham
Heritage Museum on Saturday during the
presentation of a film showing Brenham's
Juneteenth celebrations over the years.
(courtesy Brenham Heritage Museum)According to Brenham Heritage Museum board member Natearah Austin, preparing the content for the exhibit required months of research from the museum’s African American Content Committee, along with community member interviews. Austin said newspaper articles from the 1880s show that thousands of African Americans from neighboring cities came to Brenham’s well-known Juneteenth celebrations. She said the museum is “fortunate to have artifacts, interview excerpts, and event detailed newspaper accounts about the festivities.”

Today, Brenham’s Juneteenth celebration continues to draw out-of-town visitors to celebrate freedom. Throughout the month of June, Brenham hosts several weeks of activities including a parade in downtown Brenham, a coronation to crown royalty, music, food, and family-friendly fun.

Several pieces of history are featured
in the Brenham Heritage Museum's
exhibit celebrating Juneteenth.
(courtesy Brenham Heritage Museum)The exhibit is on display to members and visitors through June and July in the museum’s Blue Bell Gallery, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more can call the museum at 979-830-8445 to schedule specific times for tours. Admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 and under get in for free.

Community members are encouraged to contact the museum if they have Juneteenth memorabilia that can be showcased for future exhibits.

The post BRENHAM HERITAGE MUSEUM FEATURES NEW JUNETEENTH EXHIBIT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College’s newly approved budget accounts for a 4 percent increase in full-time pay.

A list of Blinn College's estimated revenue figures
for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
(Blinn College)The Blinn Board of Trustees today (Tuesday) approved a $129.3 million budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year, growth of 2 percent from the $126.5 million budget for the current fiscal year.

Part of that is a 4 percent increase in salary for full-time employees and tiered longevity pay for full-time faculty and staff, including benefits. The budget also calls for a $25 pay schedule increase for part-time faculty.

A list of Blinn's projected operating expenses for the
2024-25 Fiscal Year, not including debt service.
(Blinn College)Blinn Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Dr. Clen Burton showed during the meeting that the College’s estimated cost to implement the 4 percent salary increase is $2.42 million, while the tiered longevity pay is $486,500.

According to Dr. Burton, the tuition and fee budget projections do not include an enrollment increase.

Blinn Board Chair Jim Kolkhorst noted that Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley voluntarily offered to accept no wage increase on her behalf so that the College could give the maximum raise that it could to employees.

Also today, Vice Chancellor for Student Services Dr. Becky McBride gave an enrollment report for the spring 2024 semester. The certified spring total of 15,953 students districtwide is a 1.71 percent increase over the previous spring and is Blinn’s largest since the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, which had 17,076 students.

A chart showing Blinn's certified spring 2024
enrollment in comparison to recent spring
semesters.
(Blinn College)The spring 2024 enrollment includes 3,137 students at RELLIS, up 25.6 percent from spring 2023; 2,198 high school dual credit students, up 16.1 percent; 25 Sealy Campus students, up 8.7 percent; 47 Schulenburg Campus students, up 6.8 percent; 4,173 online students, up 2.4 percent; 1,553 Brenham Campus students, down 1.6 percent; 4,728 students on the Bryan Campus, down 12.5 percent; and 92 students listed as “other”, down 85.8 percent.

Dr. McBride said the Brenham Campus had a higher number of students transfer out during the holidays to continue working toward their four-year degrees. As for the decline on the Bryan Campus, she said the College is actively recruiting students who have been with Blinn and decided to stop going to college altogether.

In other business, trustees authorized the College to seek qualifications for engineering services related to central plant upgrades on the Brenham Campus. This project, which includes the replacement of various chillers and pumps, reconfiguration of internal piping, and the addition of a new cooling tower, is scheduled to begin in fall 2024 and be completed in fall 2026.

The post BLINN BOARD APPROVES 4 PERCENT PAY INCREASE FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN NEW BUDGET first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners approved the disbursement of hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant funding for the fall 2024 cycle at a brief meeting this (Tuesday) morning.

The court awarded four organizations a total of $15,320 to promote tourism and events or to use for operational expenses. Eight requests were made for $72,846, but four were not fulfilled.

The organization receiving the most funding was the Burton Chamber of Commerce, which was awarded its full amount requested in $6,320 to use for wayfinder signage. The Texas Arts and Music Festival received $4,000 out of $27,000 sought for event advertising, while the Brenham Heritage Museum will get $3,000 out of $8,850 desired for billboard advertising and the Chappell Hill Historical Society will obtain $2,000 out of $5,000 requested for the Scarecrow Festival.

Groups that did not receive funding were the Burton Beautification Association, which requested $11,048 for granite sidewalks; Unity Theatre, which put in for $7,100 for promotion of the arts; the Texas Ten Historical Explorers, which sought $5,000 for panels; and the Burton Heritage Society, which asked for $2,528 for walking tour signage.

HOT funds are presented twice a year, in the spring and the fall, with a standard maximum of $25,000 allocated in each distribution. The funding amounts are determined by a funding committee. In December, the county awarded $23,895 in HOT funds to five organizations for the spring 2024 cycle.

County Judge John Durrenberger said the $9,680 left from the fall 2024 requests fulfilled will roll over into the spring of 2025.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners:

Approved the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado for the Engineering and Development Services Department. The purchase is for $43,500 from LaRoche Chevrolet Buick GMC. County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the county is saving $2,790 on the price, after the initial purchase order was approved in December 2022 through a different vendor.
Approved the addition of new Washington County 911 supplemental policies to the county employee handbook.
Passed a non-appropriation addendum between the county and the business technology solutions company, UBEO. Information Technology Director T.J. Harris said this allows the county to take 22 independent contracts for copiers and multi-function units and consolidate them into one contract.
Agreed to go out for requests for qualifications (RFQs) for delinquent tax collections for Washington County property taxes. RFQs would be due to the county clerk by 10 a.m. on July 11th, with negotiations to begin after July 16th at 9 a.m. between the county and the chosen RFQ provider.
Approved the Independence 4th of July parade permit application.
Approved a job description for bailiff.
Proceeded with selling surplus county property through the county’s online auction service, GovDeals.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS AWARD FALL 2024 HOT FUNDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will potentially vote on whether to allow the construction of a new gas station and convenience store at its meeting on Thursday, which will be held sooner than normal.

The meeting is being pushed up to 8:30 a.m. to allow councilmembers to attend The Barnhill Center’s Speaker Series luncheon being held later that morning.

The request from Adam Griffin of 30K Holdings, LLC is to demolish the former Terminix Pest Control building at East Blue Bell Road and Gay Hill Street and put in a Zippy J’s there.

The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-2 at its meeting in May to approve the request, on the condition that a 10-foot screening fence be placed on the east property line between the proposed gas station and the adjacent Wee Care for All Childcare Center. The property must also receive preliminary and final plats before the city issues a building permit.

During previous Planning and Zoning discussions on the topic in April and May, concerns were raised about the gas station’s potential impact to the daycare and about traffic at the site.

A public hearing will be held before action is taken on the item.

Also in session, the council will act on a temporary resale amendment to the city’s system water availability agreement with the Brazos River Authority (BRA). After that, the council will take up a water supply resale agreement with The Dow Chemical Company.

The amendment allows the city to elect to resell excess water temporarily to a resale purchaser with prior approval from the BRA. Last year, the city sold 387 acre-feet of the 774 acre-feet available, and it is now looking to sell the remaining 387 acre-feet.

In other items, the council will consider:

Adoption of a revised drought contingency plan and revised water conservation plan. The amendments, which are required at least once every five years, reflect new information such as forecasted weather patterns.
Accepting a request for proposals related to HVAC replacement at the Brenham Municipal Airport terminal building.

The council will meet Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON GAS STATION IN THURSDAY MORNING MEETING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Several changes to campus administration were made official during Monday’s Brenham School Board meeting.

During his monthly report, Superintendent Clay Gillentine announced that Jillian Wilke, who has most recently served as principal at Krause Elementary School, is now moving to the principal position at Brenham Junior High School. The role previously belonged to Michael Watts, who was named last month as the new principal at Brenham High School.

Joining Wilke as assistant principals will be Allan Colvin and Aaron Smithers.

Filling the principal’s opening at Krause Elementary School will be Sarah Cook, who had previously been the dean of instruction at Brenham High School. Gillentine said the times called for the district to absorb the dean position.

Later, trustees voted to approve the hire of Brenham Middle School teacher Jamaus Williams as an assistant principal at Brenham High School. Gillentine said Williams was recommended for the position by Watts, and several members of the board who taught Williams spoke glowingly about their experiences with him as a young leader.

Gillentine said the administrative team continues to work on “right-sizing this district” and absorbing where it can to be leaner in operations. He said the district is “very fortunate” to have talent in-house to be able to fill vacancies when they occur.

Jillian Wilke (second row, second from left) was formally named the new principal at Brenham Junior High School during the Brenham School Board's meeting on Monday.Sarah Cook (front row, left) was named the new principal at Krause Elementary School at Monday's Brenham School Board meeting.Jamaus Williams (front, second from left) was hired by Brenham ISD trustees on Monday as a new assistant principal at Brenham High School. The post JILLIAN WILKE NAMED PRINCIPAL OF BRENHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL; SARAH COOK TO BECOME PRINCIPAL AT KRAUSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL first appeared on KWHI.com.

George Strait’s concert at Kyle Field in College Station Saturday night made history.

(KTEX-106)The show now holds the record for the largest attendance at a ticketed concert in the United States, at 110,905 people.

The previous record of 107,019 had stood since 1977, set during a Grateful Dead performance at Raceway Park in New Jersey.

(KTEX-106)The concert, the first ever at Kyle Field, also broke the stadium’s record for attendance at an event, formerly belonging to the Aggies’ home football game against Ole Miss in 2014 that drew a crowd of 110,663 fans. Officially, the stadium’s capacity is 102,733, but the concert had floor seats and standing-room-only as well.

In addition, Strait set a new personal attendance record for a performance in Texas, which was previously his concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2014 with an attendance of 104,793.

Opening for Strait on Saturday were New Braunfels native Catie Offerman and Parker McCollum from Conroe.

The post GEORGE STRAIT CONCERT AT KYLE FIELD SETS U.S. ATTENDANCE RECORD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County’s celebration of Juneteenth came to a close on Saturday.

The day began with a parade through downtown Brenham, featuring dozens of entries with local organizations, schools, churches, businesses and dignitaries participating.

The 2024 Juneteenth Royalty included Toddler King Trystan McDonald, Elementary Queen Jazmine Mathis, Intermediate Queen Ariana Villatoro and Intermediate King Zay Crawford, Senior Queen Zora Austin, and Adult Queen LaToya Beal.

After the parade, Fireman’s Park opened up for a full day of fun with the Washington County Juneteenth Association’s Jubilee.

Juneteenth is celebrated each year on June 19th to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.

Photos of the parade can be seen below, and a Facebook Live video can be seen here.

The post JUNETEENTH PARADE RIDES THROUGH DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will review the latest state testing results when it meets on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the results for the spring 2024 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. The results, which include Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology and U.S. History, serve to measure student performance and academic readiness.

Statewide, in terms of students meeting grade level, the TEA says performance improved in English II, declined in U.S. History, and held steady in Algebra I, Biology and English I.

In other business, trustees will act on the approval of an assistant principal at Brenham High School. They will also vote on instructional materials, receive a budget update and hold a public hearing regarding the district’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) title grant application.

Later, the board will go into executive session to consult with an attorney and discuss personnel matters.

Also on Monday, the board will consider:

A resolution designating the district’s investment officers.
A contract for student and catastrophic insurance.
Possible designation of 10 non-business days to be utilized for open record requests.

The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in rooms 111 and 113 at Brenham High School. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO HEAR STAAR/EOC RESULTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

One person was hospitalized with serious injuries after a shooting Wednesday night in Navasota.

Navasota police responded around 11 p.m. to the St. Joseph Health Grimes Hospital for a male victim wounded by gunfire.

Through their investigation, officers found that the man was shot in the 800 block of East McAlpine Street and transported to the hospital by a family member.

The victim was then airlifted to St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Bryan.

Police collected evidence at the scene of the shooting and continue to investigate the incident. They ask anyone who may have information to contact the Navasota Police Department at 936-825-6124 or Grimes County Crime Stoppers at 936-873-2000.

The post ONE FLOWN TO HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING WEDNESDAY IN NAVASOTA first appeared on KWHI.com.

The newest addition to the Brenham Fire Department’s fleet has arrived at the Brenham Fire Station.

Members of the Brenham Fire Department,
Brenham City Council and other city officials stand
next to the department's new fire engine on Friday.Brenham City Councilmembers and other city officials gathered at the station this (Friday) morning to check out the new fire engine, which was delivered to Texas from Wisconsin.

Brenham Fire Chief Mark Donovan says the engine will greatly benefit the fire department as it continues to grow.

The engine comes with a 1,000-gallon water tank and is equipped for a five-man cab, with firefighting and rescue capabilities.

Stephen Draehn, City of Brenham Facility and Fleet Supervisor and Assistant Fire Chief for the volunteer end of the fire department, says the truck will be the department’s second main engine and should go into service within the next month or so, once it is fully outfitted. He says the truck will include hoses and other equipment purchased by the department’s volunteers through the support of the community.

The city first approved the purchase of the truck in early 2022 to replace an older engine that will go into reserve status for now.

The truck will operate out of the department’s second fire station once it is complete.

Brenham firefighters wipe down the fire department's new engine to give it a showroom shine.Brenham Fire Chief Mark Donovan (left) shows firefighters the department's new fire truck after its arrival at the Brenham Fire Station on Friday. The post NEW FIRE TRUCK ARRIVES AT BRENHAM FIRE STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board on Tuesday heard the results of a salary survey.

Zachary Hobbs from the Texas Association
of School Board's HR Services Department
presents the results of a salary study to
Burton ISD trustees on Tuesday.No action was taken, but trustees learned about what Burton ISD teachers and staff members make on average and how they compare to other school districts in the region. They also heard recommendations for ways the district could bring lower-paid positions more in line with market averages.

Zachary Hobbs, a member of the Texas Association of School Boards Human Resources Services Department, compared what Burton pays to the median pay of 15 districts in Burton’s market. The analysis included Brenham, Bellville, Caldwell, Columbus, Dime Box, Fayetteville, Giddings, La Grange, Lexington, Milano, Navasota, Round Top-Carmine, Smithville, Snook and Somerville ISDs.

According to Hobbs’ presentation, on average, Burton is 9 percent below the market salary rate for teachers new to the profession and 7 percent under the market for teachers with 5 years of experience. However, the gap begins to close once teachers hit 10 years, with Burton’s salaries falling 4 percent below market, and that drops to just 1 percent below market for teachers with upwards of 15 years of experience.

As a result of Burton’s pay structure, Hobbs said roughly two-thirds of the teachers on the district’s payroll have over 10 years of experience, as the district is able to attract and retain more experienced employees with its competitive pay, but has difficulty in bringing in entry-level teachers.

Trustees also received information on Burton’s pay for other staff groups. Central office administration, according to Hobbs, are paid 8 percent below the market rate on average, while professional staff like counselors or coordinators are 2 percent under. Meanwhile, Burton exceeds the market average in salaries for auxiliary staff at 5 percent above, campus administration at 6 percent above, clerical and technical staff at 7 percent above, and instructional support staff at 17 percent above.

Hobbs suggested that any adjustments to the salary schedule should be done with the intent to become more competitive for teachers in their earlier years, while also still ensuring that returning employees are paid more than new hires. One of Hobbs’ proposals included a general pay increase (GPI) of 2 percent or 3 percent, which would bring Burton’s starting salary for a teacher new to teaching up from $43,000 to $44,600 or $45,000. GPI could also be calculated as a percentage of the local market median salary of $54,383, while for other pay groups beyond teachers, the GPI can be calculated as a percentage of an employee’s pay grade midpoint.

Following Hobbs’ presentation, Burton ISD Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal gave the board a brief overview of where the district stands in its budget process for the next school year, though she cautioned that the data thus far is very preliminary.

Currently, the proposed budget for the 2024-25 year is $14.86 million, down from the 2023-24 adopted budget of $15.27 million. Blakey-Staal said the reduction is due in part to a drop in what the district expects it will have to send back to the state via recapture payment, from $4.5 million in the current budget to $3.85 million in the new one. The district is still working on getting a closer estimate of the amount it will owe for recapture.

Blakey-Staal said the salary compensation plan is another piece of the budget that still needs to be finalized. In addition, the district is waiting on the release of certified property tax values, which she said should be on July 25th, and the maximum compressed tax rate from the Texas Education Agency, which is expected in early August.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD HEARS RESULTS OF SALARY SURVEY, PRELIMINARY BUDGET DETAILS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Juneteenth Association’s annual celebration culminates this weekend.

Tonight (Friday) will be the Jubilee Kickoff at Fireman’s Park in Brenham from 6 to 10 p.m. The theme for the Kickoff is “Coolin’ in the Park”, and there will be music from Keyun and the Zydeco Masters, along with food and drinks.

Juneteenth Association President Betty Wilson, speaking during Tuesday’s Community Corner on KWHI, said everyone is encouraged to come out and enjoy an evening of fellowship with family and friends.

Activities continue tomorrow (Saturday) starting with the parade through downtown Brenham at 10:30 a.m., featuring around 60 entries. Streets on and around the parade route will be blocked off beginning at 8 a.m.

The 2024 Juneteenth Kings and Queens will be honored during the parade. They include:

King, Toddler Division – Trystan McDonald
Queen, Elementary Division – Jazmine Mathis
Queen, Intermediate Division – Ariana Villatoro
King, Intermediate Division – Zay Crawford
Queen, Senior Division – Zora Austin
Queen, Adult Division – LaToya Beal

KWHI will broadcast the parade live.

Following the parade, the public is invited back out to Fireman’s Park for the Jubilee celebration, with vendors and music from a DJ.

Admission is free for all Juneteenth activities.

The post WASHINGTON CO. JUNETEENTH JUBILEE KICKOFF FRIDAY, PARADE & MORE FESTIVITIES SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 9 a.m. Friday: The Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley reports that Ruth Irene Jaeger was safely located in Fayette County.

Original Story @ 6 a.m. Friday: The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing woman who is believed to be in danger.

(courtesy Amber Alert Network Brazos
Valley)79-year-old Ruth Irene Jaeger was last seen around 9 a.m. Thursday in Brenham.

Jaeger is 5’8”, 162 pounds with white hair. She is thought to be in a red 2013 Ford Edge with Texas license plate DDD7059.

Authorities believe Jaeger is in danger of death or serious bodily injury. She could be in the area of Washington, Fayette or Burleson counties.

Anyone who has information on Jaeger’s location is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 979-277-6251.

The post UPDATE: MISSING WASHINGTON CO. WOMAN FOUND SAFE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A 15-year-old girl reported missing last week out of Brenham has been found safe.

The teenager was first reported missing on June 6th after having last been seen on May 22nd in the 500 block of Green Street in Brenham.

The Brenham Police Department and Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley say the teen was safely located Wednesday night.

According to Interim Brenham Police Chief Lloyd Powell, the teen returned home on her own.

The post MISSING BRENHAM TEEN FOUND SAFE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board approved a resolution on Tuesday to hire a new construction manager-agent for the Burton ISD bond project.

The board selected Weaver & Jacobs Constructors, who offices out of Cuero and Corpus Christi. The firm is being chosen to replace DSA, Inc., who the board terminated its contract with at a meeting on June 3rd.

Interim Superintendent Rob Barnwell said the firm distinguished itself due to its wealth of school construction experience, strong references, enthusiasm and eagerness to start right away. He said it has “the manpower to handle fixing a situation like ours.”

Barnwell said he contacted several firms about taking on the project, with a few of them showing interest. He said Weaver & Jacobs “has been easy to communicate with and just stood out overall.”

Weaver & Jacobs President Brant Jacobs and Project Manager Randy Boone were in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. They said they appreciate this opportunity and are “ready to hit the ground running”, beginning with a site walkthrough the next day with the job superintendent. They plan to have a sit-down meeting with the architect on Monday.

Barnwell said the district still needs to negotiate the contract terms, but feels the company will offer “the best value for the district.”

Also on Tuesday, trustees approved procedures concerning pay applications and change orders related to the construction project. The item sets the limit at $25,000 for what the superintendent can approve for a change order without having to come before the board for a decision.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION TO HIRE NEW CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-AGENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Family members of an Indiana woman who died from injuries sustained in an accident outside of Brenham are asking for help in bringing her home.

(courtesy Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Dept.)A GoFundMe has been created by the family of Kay Eldridge, who was hospitalized and later passed away after a two-vehicle crash on Sunday.

DPS reports that Eldridge was attempting to turn onto Highway 290 from William B. Travis Lane when her vehicle was struck by another car headed eastbound on Highway 290.

Eldridge, who was from Lafayette, Indiana, was 70 years old. Called “Grandma Kay” in the online fundraiser, family members shared on social media that she was in Texas visiting.

The GoFundMe is to assist Eldridge’s family in transporting her back to Indiana for burial at the West Lebanon Cemetery.

A link to the GoFundMe is available here.

The post ‘BRINGING GRANDMA KAY HOME’; GOFUNDME SET UP TO HELP FAMILY OF INDIANA WOMAN IN FATAL COLLISION NEAR BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board moved unanimously Tuesday night to approve the hiring of Vikki Curry as Burton ISD’s next superintendent.

Vikki Curry (center) was hired by the Burton School
Board on Tuesday as Burton ISD's new
superintendent. Curry, who has 30 years of experience in education, was most recently in Galveston ISD, where she served as the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. Prior to that, she was an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and a principal in Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD. In addition, she served as an assistant principal in Spring ISD and a teacher in Galveston ISD.

Curry calls herself “a country girl at heart” and says she was drawn to Burton in part for its smaller community feel. She says seeing the bond construction project through to its completion will be among her main objectives, as she strives to “make good out of a bad situation.”

Curry, who was heavily involved in a bond project during her time with Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, says she intends to reach out to the campus teams and community members to hear their perspective and get an idea for what they consider to be the biggest tasks at hand for the district.

Rob Barnwell, who has served as Burton’s interim superintendent since March, will stay on with the district on a temporary basis as the director of school operations. He says his remaining time in the district will be spent assisting Curry with getting up to speed on the construction project and school operations. He admits that it will be hard to step away when the time comes, as he has greatly enjoyed his time in Burton ISD.

Curry was chosen out of 38 candidates for the superintendent position. Her contract is for three years, with an annual salary of $130,000.

New Burton ISD Superintendent Vikki Curry (front row, third from left) along with Interim Superintendent Rob Barnwell (right of Curry) and members of the Burton School Board, including (from left) Misty Lucherk, Demetrius Colvin, Mike Clyde, Dean Fuchs, Donna Putnam, Jeff Harmel, and Ande Bostain.The post VIKKI CURRY HIRED AS NEW BURTON ISD SUPT. first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Waller man has been charged with murder in the investigation into the death of his father in Waller County.

Joshua Land
(Grimes Co. Jail)The Waller County Sheriff’s Office announced the charge today (Tuesday) against 29-year-old Joshua Land, who was arrested in Grimes County on June 1st as the result of a separate investigation into the shooting and killing of a dog in the parking lot of a Navasota convenience store that morning.

The Navasota Police Department requested a welfare check on June 3rd for Land’s father, who lives in Waller, as part of the shooting investigation. Officers with the Waller Police Department informed Navasota police soon after that Land’s father was found deceased, and the scene had been turned over to the Waller County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau to investigate as a homicide.

A neighbor who lived close by Joshua Land’s father in Waller told the Navasota Examiner that police found the body of Larry Land around noon on June 3rd, and that he had been shot.

Prior to the discovery of his father’s body and the issuing of the murder charge, Joshua Land was in custody at the Grimes County Jail on $25,000 bond.

Navasota police continue to meet with the Waller County Sheriff’s Office to review evidence and assist in their investigation.

The post SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER IN DEATH OF FATHER IN WALLER CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners heard today (Tuesday) from a child advocacy center who shared a glimpse into its work around the area in helping victims of child abuse.

Cary Baker, Executive Director of
the child advocacy center Scotty's
House, gives a presentation to
Washington County
Commissioners on Tuesday about
the work that her organization
does for children across the Brazos
Valley.Cary Baker, Executive Director of Scotty’s House, discussed the services that the nonprofit provides to the seven counties of the Brazos Valley.

The organization coordinates with law enforcement agencies and Child Protective Services during investigations of abuse or neglect. It also offers counseling to assist victims in their recovery and extends education and outreach opportunities so that the public can recognize signs of abuse and know how to respond.

Baker said many times, child abuse victims do not tell others about what they are experiencing. She said Scotty’s House’s mission is to provide support, safety and justice for those victims, and to be “the place where healing begins.”

According to Baker, there were 109 children that Scotty’s House served in Washington County in 2023, out of 1,189 children in total throughout the region. In Washington County, the group conducted 83 forensic interviews, eight forensic medical evaluations and 191 counseling sessions. It also provided family support services to 80 families.

Members of the commissioners court thanked Baker for her presentation and for the work done by Scotty’s House to provide healing and closure. Commissioners Kirk Hanath and Candice Bullock both said it is unfortunate that the need exists for these kinds of services, but they are grateful that these resources are available. County Clerk Beth Rothermel said, “What these people do is incredibly important.”

Also in court, commissioners:

Revised the Veterans Service Officer job description to reclassify its Fair Labor Standards Act status. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the item reclassifies the status of Veterans Service Officer Eric Posern to “salary – nonexempt”, as the U.S. Department of Labor has changed the requirements for minimum salary beginning on July 1st. Mlcak said the change means Posern will be eligible for overtime compensation anytime he exceeds 40 hours in a work week, but he will also have to track his hours.
Approved a budget amendment to allow for a cell phone stipend of $200 annually in the county judge’s department, shifting $100 from two other department funds. County Judge John Durrenberger said the stipend is for administrative assistance in the county judge’s department, as Executive Administrative Assistant Carli Koehne has to use her personal cell phone often for county business.
Tabled an item to sell surplus county property through GovDeals, the county’s online auction service.

The post SCOTTY’S HOUSE SHARES PRESENTATION WITH WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ON IMPACT IN REGION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Four Brenham ISD educators were honored for their positive impact on students during the Brazos Valley Educator’s Society’s awards program this past weekend in Bryan.

The ceremony recognized educators and support staff from around the Brazos Valley region for the differences they make in children’s lives.

Michael Watts, who served this past school year as principal of Brenham Junior High School and will take on the role of principal at Brenham High School next school year, received the award for Top Administrator in the Brazos Valley. Watts also received the Red Apple Award for having the most votes in his category.

Brenham High School Theatre Arts Director Kara Freeman was named the Brazos Valley High School Teacher of the Year.

Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) instructor Konstance Lester received the honor of Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Cassie Desern, who also works at the ECLC, was named the Paraprofessional of the Year.

Brenham ISD congratulated the award recipients in a post on social media on Monday, saying the work of an educator is challenging, but it “clearly demonstrates the necessity of a servant’s heart.” The district said, “We are proud of their accomplishment and honored they call Brenham ISD their home.”

Michael Watts (right) was honored as Top Administrator in the Brazos Valley and the recipient of the Red Apple Award.Kara Freeman (right) was named the recipient of High School Teacher of the Year.Konstance Lester (left) and Cassie Desern were named the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Paraprofessional of the Year, respectively. The post BRENHAM ISD EDUCATORS RECEIVE BRAZOS VALLEY EDUCATOR AWARDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Dept.)Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers are investigating a two vehicle fatality crash that occurred on Sunday just outside of Brenham.

The crash happened on Highway 290 at William B. Travis Lane at 3:10pm.

According to a preliminary investigation, a 2024 Chevy Corvette was traveling eastbound. A 2016 Kia Forte attempted to turn from William B. Travis Lane onto Highway 290 when the Corvette struck it.

The driver of the Kia Forte, 70-year-old Kay Elderidge of LaFayette, Indiana was transported to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Bryan with suspected serious injuries.

According to DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz, she succumbed to those injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff on Monday.

The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to Baylor Scott & White in Brenham, and also believed to have suspected serious injuries.

Sgt. Ruiz said that the investigation into the case is ongoing, and that no other information can be released at this time.

The post DPS INVESTIGATING FATAL CRASH NEAR BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham had summery drinks and beautiful art aplenty during the Summer Sip and Art Walk on Saturday.

(Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106)Brenham Main Street Manager Leigh Linden says just over 400 tickets were sold for the event, which allowed visitors to go to 37 businesses and locations to try out many different types of refreshing drinks like mojitos, margaritas, sangria, palomas, peach bellini cocktail slushes and hurricane punch. They also had the opportunity to view a diverse range of art from a variety of creators.

(Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106)Proceeds from the Summer Sip and Art Walk go towards Brenham Main Street's efforts to revitalize downtown and promote downtown businesses.

Event sponsors were Van Gogh sponsors Deep in the Heart Farms and Hermann Furniture, Picasso sponsor Dream Dental, and Monet sponsor Altman Dentistry.

The post DOWNTOWN BRENHAM ENJOYS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SIP & ART WALK first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments will host a town hall meeting next week to offer more information about a proposed Emergency Services District (ESD) to support fire protection services.

A map of the district lines of the
proposed Emergency Services District
(ESD) for the Chappell Hill and
Meyersville Volunteer Fire
Departments.
(courtesy Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire
Dept.)The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 20th at 6:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Chappell Hill, 7675 FM 2447.

At the meeting, fire department members will provide details about what an ESD is, its potential impact on the Chappell Hill and Meyersville VFDs, and what that would mean for their communities.

Initial details on the ESD were shared during a presentation to county commissioners in December 2023. At the time, the departments said they would look to receive funding via the levying of an ad valorem tax of no more than 10 cents per $100 valuation on residents living within the boundaries of either department’s service territory, excluding the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

The presentation on June 20th will last roughly 30 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session. For those who wish to support the initiative, there will also be a petition to place the ESD on the ballot.

The meeting is intended for those who will be directly affected by the ESD, so event organizers ask that only those who live within the proposed district in the eastern portion of the county attend, in order for there to be enough room for them.

Anyone who has questions or would like to know if they live inside the proposed district can contact the ESD committee at wacounty.esdone.questions@gmail.com.

The post TOWN HALL MEETING FOR CHAPPELL HILL – MEYERSVILLE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT JUNE 20 first appeared on KWHI.com.

W. Caleb McDanielLifetime Learning Brenham will have a special guest speaker at their next meeting later this month.

They are going to welcome Pulitzer Prize winning historian W. Caleb McDaniel as to their June 21st luncheon.

Dr. McDaniel is Professor of History at Rice University. His book Sweet Taste of Liberty tells the story of Henrietta Wood who was born into slavery, attained her freedom, and was later kidnapped and re-enslaved.

After the Civil War ended, she sued and won reparations.

According to Lifetime Learning, McDaniel’s telling of Wood’s story demonstrates how African-Americans have fought to be free and made whole since the beginning of their tragic enslavement in the United States.

Lifetime Learning Brenham meets June 21, 2024 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Cannery located at 314 East Alamo Street.

They do ask that you register at lifetimelearningbrenham.org by June 18th.

The cost to attend is $25

The post RICE PROFESSOR TO SPEAK AT LIFETIME LEARNING BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council on Thursday approved a set of amendments to the city’s impact fee ordinance that are meant to clarify language before the ordinance goes into effect on July 1st.

City of Brenham Development Services Director
Stephanie Doland walks the city council through a
set of proposed amendments to the city's impact
fee ordinance during a meeting on Thursday.The impact fees, which were adopted by the council in February, will be levied on developers to allow the city to generate revenue or make up costs of capital improvements or facility expansions for new development.

One of the primary amendments, explained by Development Services Director Stephanie Doland, applies the 1-year grandfathering period for platted properties to all subdivision plats that have been submitted and are pending approval from city staff, Planning and Zoning Commissioners or city councilmembers.

Other approved amendments include ensuring that no impact fees are charged for services only utilized to provide fire protection, for residential irrigation meters which are a sub-meter to the main meter, or for development on properties that are determined to be a legal lot of record. Irrigation meters that are 1.5 inches or greater will be assessed an impact fee for water. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) will only be assessed an impact fee if the existing tap meter is increased in size to handle additional capacity, which Doland noted would be unlikely, as a 1-inch meter has normally been enough in the past.

The revisions also allow for credits to be granted to properties needing to relocate because of the Highway 290 – Highway 36 cloverleaf reconstruction project led by TxDOT.

Councilmember Dr. Paul LaRoche III asked if the city would ever be able to actually impose impact fees, given the grandfathering and the legal lots of record. Doland replied that the impact fee ordinance is a starting point for sharing costs associated with new construction. She said it ultimately depends on a subdivision developer’s timeline in relation to the ordinance’s effective date for if any of the developer’s lots are grandfathered.

Speaking further on the subdivision developers, Doland mentioned they continue to show interest in vacant properties despite the incoming impact fees.

Mayor Pro Tem Clint Kolby said he feels the amendments are “reasonable exceptions” to the impact fee policy, and that some of them still have an expiration date.

Also on Thursday, the council:

Approved the allocation of $26,000 in additional funds to purchase a fire truck for the Brenham Fire Department from Siddons Martin Emergency Group. The additional amount, above the $880,358 originally approved in January 2022, can be covered by accumulated interest earnings from 2022 bond proceeds. Former Interim Fire Chief Rhea Cooper said the truck is expected to arrive next Friday, and a push-in ceremony for the new engine will be held at a later date.
Approved the purchase of a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 for the city’s Gas Department from Lake Country Chevrolet through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) in the amount of $65,501. Maintenance Supervisor Stephen Draehn said the vehicle will replace a 2015 model truck that, given it is still in good condition, will likely be passed down to another department.
Approved an amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with Strand Associates, Inc. for the Community Development Block Grant pertaining to Hogg Branch Creek. City staff decided earlier this year to halt the Hogg Branch Creek project, so this item was to clear out the professional services agreement with Strand Engineering and reflect that services are no longer needed.
Approved two professional services agreements with Strand Associates. One agreement is for engineering services related to Highway 105 lift station improvements in an amount not to exceed $345,000. The other agreement is for engineering services for Fiscal Year 2024 water main and sanitary sewer replacements up to $270,000.
Met in executive session to consult with the city attorney on matters concerning the Brenham Municipal Airport and about Commonwealth Development, Inc. v. City of Brenham, Texas; Fair Housing Care No. 06-22-3294-8. The latter item involved the proposed tax-credit housing development on Pecan Street that was rejected by the city council in February 2021. No action was scheduled to be taken.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES IMPACT FEE POLICY REVISIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Several members of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) gathered at the Brenham Heritage Museum for a reception on Thursday as they prepare to hold a meeting today (Friday) in Brenham for the first time.

Commissioners met with officials from the museum, the Fortnightly Club of Brenham and other local dignitaries leading up to today’s meeting at the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.

Brad Tegeler of Brenham, who is a member of the Commission and also serves as vice chair of the museum’s Board of Directors, said he is honored that one of the state agencies that oversees Texas history chose to come to Brenham, which has a storied past of its own.

Tegeler said this visit came about after the Commission’s chair, Martha Wong, attended an event at the Brenham library and was impressed with the facility. The Fortnightly Club soon invited the Commission to hold one of its meetings at the library. The Commission has campuses in Austin and Liberty, but will hold a traveling meeting once a year.

Gloria Meraz, Director and Librarian for the TSLAC, said the agency manages many of the state’s information functions, including the preservation and digitization of historic documents and public records. It also supports library services throughout Texas and works to make reading material more accessible by way of braille books, large-print books and audio books.

Meraz praised Brenham’s library system and what it offers to the community, calling it “forward-thinking” and “proactive.”

Today’s commission meeting at the library begins at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and will include a tour of the library.

Click here to read an agenda for the commission's meeting today.

The post STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION MEMBERS GATHER FOR RECEPTION AHEAD OF FRIDAY’S MEETING IN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham’s new fire chief and librarian were formally introduced during today’s (Thursday) city council meeting.

Mark Donovan speaks with the Brenham City
Council for the first time on Thursday after being
named the city's new fire chief.While Mark Donovan and Tammy Murphy were announced in late May as the respective heads of the fire department and library, the two formally spoke before the council on their new roles for the first time today.

Monday was the first day on the job for Donovan, who moved to Brenham last June and previously served as assistant chief of the Houston Fire Department and Harris County Emergency Services District (ESD) 48 in Katy.

Donovan is grateful for the opportunity to lead this organization and said he wants to help the department go above and beyond.

Rhea Cooper, pictured with Brenham City Manager
Carolyn Miller, addresses the city council as he
prepares to depart his role as interim fire chief to
make way for the new fire chief, Mark Donovan. City Manager Carolyn Miller said the city is looking forward to having Donovan’s expertise.

As Donovan joins, the department’s interim chief, Rhea Cooper, will soon be departing. Cooper has twice served as the temporary chief, once from May to October of 2021, and again from January of this year to the present. His last day will be June 21st.

Cooper said he has grown quite attached to Brenham and the fire department and appreciates the chance to be of service.

Miller said Cooper has meant a great deal to her, the department and the community in providing leadership, stability and continuity.

Tammy Murphy, the City of Brenham's new librarian,
visits with city councilmembers on Thursday.A farewell reception for Cooper will be held on June 18th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Fireman’s Training Center.

Tammy Murphy joined the city in 2012 and became assistant librarian in 2016. She has led the library as an interim two times, the first time being from August to December of 2021, and most recently since September 2023.

Murphy said she is thankful for the trust placed in her and believes her past interim experience will greatly benefit her as she takes on the role full-time.

Human Resources Director Susan Nienstedt said Murphy possesses a positive attitude, professionalism and strong work ethic. Nienstedt and Mayor Pro Tem Clint Kolby both called Murphy’s promotion “well deserved.”

The post CITY OF BRENHAM INTRODUCES NEW FIRE CHIEF, LIBRARIAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Police Department is searching for a missing teenager.

(courtesy Brenham Police Dept.)Brenham police shared a missing person notice today (Thursday) for 15-year-old Julise Michelle Martinez, who was last seen on Wednesday, May 22nd in the 500 block of Green Street in Brenham.

Martinez is 5’2” and 110 pounds with black hair.

Police say Martinez could still be in the local area, but she may have travelled out of Washington County and may be with someone in violation of Texas Penal Code 25.06.

Anyone with information on Martinez’ location is asked to contact the Brenham Police Department at 979-337-7337.

The post BRENHAM POLICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING 15-YEAR-OLD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Authorities in Navasota have identified the suspect who died in custody last week after an alleged burglary attempt and a physical altercation with local residents.

The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Edrick Peterson of Navasota.

Peterson is accused by Navasota police of breaking into an apartment in the 700 block of Doris Street and assaulting one of the residents early in the morning on May 28th. Police say other residents inside forcefully removed Peterson, and a physical altercation ensued.

When officers arrived, Peterson was not on scene, but he was found by a family member in a grassy field two blocks away from the apartment complex. He was reported to be mumbling and unable to stand on his own.

Police detained Peterson after they say he resisted, but paramedics had to be called when he lost consciousness. After administering CPR, they transported him to Grimes St. Joseph Hospital in Navasota, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Navasota Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Texas Rangers are leading investigation on the case.

Navasota Police Chief Mike Mize said while an autopsy has been performed, there is currently not a timeframe on when the results will be released, as the coroner’s office is waiting on a toxicology report before releasing the findings from the autopsy.

Anyone who has information that could assist in the investigation is asked to contact the Navasota Police Department at 936-825-6125 or Grimes County Crime Stoppers at 936-873-2000.

The post DECEASED SUSPECT IN NAVASOTA BURGLARY CASE IDENTIFIED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Another First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market will set up shop tomorrow (Friday) in downtown Brenham.

The market will have vendors around the courthouse square from 4 to 7 p.m., selling fresh produce, baked goods, bath and beauty products, decorative pieces and many other items.

This month’s market will also feature live music from John “Swat” Swantner.

The market is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit.

To learn more, go to https://cityofbrenham.org or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

The post VENDORS, LIVE MUSIC TO FILL DOWNTOWN BRENHAM FOR FRIDAY FARMERS MARKET first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tuesday’s Washington County Commissioners meeting was full of commendations.

Members of the Washington County Historical
Commission are recognized by county
commissioners on Tuesday after receiving the Texas
Historical Commission's Distinguished Service
Award for work accomplished in 2023.After honoring first responders who served during the attack on the Brenham DPS Office on April 12th, the court also recognized members of the county’s Engineering and Development Services (EDS) Department for their work throughout the past few weeks following the severe storms in mid-May. In addition, commissioners acknowledged the Washington County Historical Commission, which has received a Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Historical Commission for its work in 2023.

During the EDS Department’s quarterly report, County Engineer Wesley Stolz called the string of bad weather events that have occurred since January “unprecedented.” The department continues to work through damage caused by the May 16th storm, which he said led to an “unbelievable amount” of roads closed, debris on roadways and downed power lines. Several other non-essential department operations have been put on hold as it addresses areas of need.

Stolz lauded employees for their long hours on the 16th and since then, as well as their collaboration with groups like the police and fire departments, the sheriff’s office, emergency dispatch, emergency management officials and landowners. He said thanks to their efforts, many roads were reopened within a short amount of time, and over 326,000 pounds of debris have been hauled away over the last two weeks.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the department’s work has not gone unnoticed, as he has heard “nothing but good comments.” County Judge John Durrenberger said the crews are doing an “exceptional job.”

Prior to the EDS report, Durrenberger read a letter from the Texas Historical Commission announcing the 2023 Distinguished Service Award for the Washington County Historical Commission. The award is given to recognize a commission’s performance and contributions as determined by a statewide assessment of annual reports. A total of 80 county historical commissions, including Washington County’s, received awards for their “exceptional efforts to preserve and promote Texas’ diverse history.”

Washington County Historical Commission Chair Tom Stevens said all of the commission’s members love Texas history, and this is award goes straight to them. He said, “What a privilege it is to work with people like this.”

In other items on Tuesday, the court:

Agreed to go out for bids for the Washington County Expo Sales Facility HVAC system. Bids will be due by 10 a.m. on June 21st and awarded on June 25th.
Approved appointments to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Criminal Justice Advisory Committee: John Chancellor, Blinn Police Chief; Donna Damon, Adult Probation Director; Mark Pennybacker, Washington County Citizens on Patrol; Trey Holleway, Washington County Precinct 2 Constable; Ken Holle, Washington County Precinct 1 Constable; Scott Atwood, Washington County citizen; Bob Funk, Washington County citizen; Joel Romo, Washington County citizen; and Justin Knuppel, Washington County EMS. Commissioners also approved the removal of former Burton ISD Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy, Rev. Randy Wells of Faith Mission and Mark Whidden of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office from the committee, which assists the county in applying for and receiving grants.
Approved jail medical staff job descriptions and positions, as part of the county’s transition to MedTrust, doing business as MedHealth, as the new provider of medical services at the county jail. Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley said six positions are being vacated once the county’s jail medical contract with CorrHealth expires on July 1st.
Tabled action on a catch-up contribution to the Texas County & District Retirement System, following an executive session.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZE ROAD & BRIDGE CREWS, HISTORICAL COMMISSION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Investigation into the shooting and killing of a dog outside a Navasota convenience store has elevated into a homicide investigation, after the suspect’s father was found dead.

Joshua Land
(Grimes Co. Jail)The Navasota Police Department arrested 29-year-old Joshua Land of Waller on Saturday after a report of shots fired at a store in the 8700 block of Highway 6 led to the discovery of a deceased dog in the parking lot. Land was charged with Animal Cruelty, Deadly Conduct, Disorderly Conduct and Possession of Marijuana.

The department issued a press release today (Tuesday) stating that as investigation continued into the shooting, police on Monday requested a welfare check on Land’s father in Waller. A short time later, officers with the Waller Police Department informed Navasota police that Land’s father was found deceased, and the scene is being investigated as a homicide.

According to Waller County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Shelby Braziel, no charges have been filed yet with the sheriff’s office. The body has been sent off for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Navasota police are meeting with the Waller County Sheriff’s Office to review evidence and assist in their investigation.

The post HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AFTER FATHER OF CONVENIENCE STORE SHOOTING SUSPECT FOUND DEAD first appeared on KWHI.com.

A pursuit involving a stolen vehicle traveled through Grimes and Brazos counties Monday night before ending with an arrest.

Navasota police say around 10:30 p.m., the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office asked for assistance in finding a Chevrolet Cruze reported stolen out of Montgomery County traveling west on Highway 105.

Police located the vehicle entering city limits and attempted to stop it at the intersection of Highway 105 and Highway 6, but the driver did not stop and instead accelerated onto Highway 6.

A pursuit ensued with Navasota police and Grimes County Sheriff’s deputies, reaching speeds of around 100 mph. As the chase went into Brazos County, units from DPS, the College Station Police Department and Brazos County Sheriff’s Office joined in attempting to stop the vehicle.

The car was spiked several times, but it continued traveling westbound on University Drive before finally coming to a stop on Wellborn Road.

The driver, 51-year-old Kevin Jackson of Spring, was taken into custody and charged with Evading in a Motor Vehicle, Tampering with Evidence, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Montgomery County warrant for Resisting Arrest.

(Mugshot requested via Grimes Co. Sheriff's Office)

The post PURSUIT OF STOLEN VEHICLE TRAVELS THROUGH GRIMES CO., ENDS WITH ARREST IN BRAZOS CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County EMS Director Kevin Deramus
(right) shakes the hand of County Commissioner
Don Koester (left) after receiving a plaque at
Tuesday's county commissioners meeting in
recognition of the EMS Department's service during
the April 12th attack at the Brenham DPS Office. Washington County first responders and public safety officials were honored today (Tuesday) for their service during the attack on the Brenham DPS Office on April 12th.

During commissioners court, plaques were presented to members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Brenham Police Department, Washington County EMS, Brenham Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, 911 Emergency Dispatch, Washington County Constables and the Office of Emergency Management. The plaques commended the departments in recognition of their acts that day when an 18-wheeler crashed into the DPS Office, resulting in two deaths and several other injuries.

Washington County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jay
Petrash (left) speaks during Tuesday's county
commissioners meeting about the attack on the
Brenham DPS Office on April 12th.Members of each department came forward to share their experiences from the 12th and their thoughts on the community coming together in the aftermath to help those in need.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jay Petrash extended condolences and sympathies to the families impacted. He also said this event should not be labeled as merely an incident, but an assault on law enforcement agencies.

Interim Brenham Police Chief Lloyd Powell said he is immensely grateful for the outpouring of support for all those involved and is honored to be included among those who serve.

EMS District Chief Tanner Jacob, who served as the medical incident commander on the 12th, said everyone was all hands on deck that day, and he is extremely proud of the team members that worked to keep the public safe.

Rhea Cooper, now exiting as Brenham Fire Chief after serving as the interim since January, appreciates the commitment shown by those serving in Washington County public safety to do the job that is needed, and he is thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of that.

DPS Sergeant Jason Dominguez commented on the strong relationships that exist between local public safety departments and with DPS, as well as the support from the public that continues to this day.

Washington County Precinct 1 Constable Ken Holle said April 12th was a tragic day, but he is greatly inspired by how every part of the community has rallied together.

Following the conclusion of the speeches, the crowd stood and applauded all of the departments. County Judge John Durrenberger, referencing Holle’s words, said the phrase “Washington County united” is simply stated, but has a lot of meaning.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HONOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS AFTER DPS OFFICE ATTACK first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will vote Thursday on added clarifications to the city’s recently adopted impact fee ordinance.

Following approval of the ordinance in February, the council will consider several language amendments ahead of the ordinance’s effective date of July 1st. The impact fees will be imposed on developers to generate revenue or recoup costs of capital improvements or facility expansions for new development.

One of the amendments would add language that takes the 1-year grandfathering period for platted properties and applies it to all subdivision plats that are currently in review by the city’s Development Services Department.

Other amendments would ensure no impact fees are charged for services only utilized to provide fire protection, for residential irrigation meters that are a sub-meter to the main meter, or for development on properties which are determined to be a legal lot of record. Per the proposed changes, irrigation meters that are 1.5 inches or greater would be assessed an impact fee for water.

In addition, the revisions to the ordinance would clarify how impact fees are assessed in conjunction with the subdivision ordinance pertaining to platting. They would also allow for credits to be granted to properties relocating as a result of the TxDOT cloverleaf reconstruction at Highway 290 and Highway 36.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council will:

Consider allocating $26,000 in additional funds to purchase a fire truck for the Brenham Fire Department from Siddons Martin Emergency Group. The city says the additional amount can be covered by accumulated interest earnings from 2022 bond proceeds.
Act on the purchase of a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 for the city’s Gas Department from Lake Country Chevrolet through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) in the amount of $65,501.
Consider an amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with Strand Associates, Inc. for the Community Development Block Grant pertaining to Hogg Branch Creek. As the city has decided to halt the Hogg Branch Creek project, it is looking to amend the professional services contract with Strand Engineering to reflect that all services are no longer needed.
Act on a professional services agreement with Strand Associates, Inc. for engineering services related to Highway 105 lift station improvements in an amount not to exceed $345,000.
Consider a professional services agreement with Strand Associates, Inc. for engineering services related to Fiscal Year 2024 water main and sanitary sewer replacements up to $270,000.
Meet in executive session to consult with the city attorney on matters concerning the Brenham Municipal Airport and about Commonwealth Development, Inc. v. City of Brenham, Texas; Fair Housing Care No. 06-22-3294-8. The latter item involves the proposed tax-credit housing development on Pecan Street that was rejected by the city council in February 2021.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER REVISIONS TO IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD trustees voted unanimously at a called meeting this (Monday) morning to approve a resolution terminating the district’s contract with DSA, Inc.

The school district has been under contract with DSA for construction manager agent services since the passage of the November 2021 school bond proposal.

Frustration has grown in the school community as the bond project has lagged behind schedule. When trustees learned at their regular meeting on May 13th that several bond contracts had not been signed by the school district for months, they criticized DSA representatives for not alerting them sooner.

Interim Burton ISD Superintendent Rob Barnwell told KWHI in a statement that today’s action was “determined to be necessary.” Barnwell said, “The district is currently investigating the appropriate steps to take in order to ensure the BISD construction project can move forward in a timely and effective manner.”

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TERMINATES CONTRACT WITH DSA first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance in locating two suspects who are accused of breaking into vehicles and stealing credit cards.

(courtesy Washington Co. Sheriff's Office)The sheriff’s office posted a notice on Thursday saying the incident in question happened on May 6th at the Silver Wings skating rink, when the suspects broke into two vehicles in the parking lot and took purses from them before leaving in a grey, newer-model minivan.

Credit cards from the purses were then used at the Brenham Walmart.

(courtesy Washington Co. Sheriff's Office)Anyone who has information on who the two suspects are or where they may be located is asked to contact Brenham/Washington County Crime Stoppers at 979-836-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is offering a $500 reward for the arrest and/or conviction of each individual, totaling $1,000.

The post WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE SEEKING INFO ON SUSPECTS IN VEHICLE BURGLARY, CREDIT CARD THEFT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A week long string of games in Grand Junction, Colorado resulted in the Blinn Buccaneer Baseball Team capping off a dream season with the program's first ever National Championship.

The Bucs, who came into the tournament as the #8 ranked team in the country, defeated #4 ranked Northwest Florida State College 12-5 to capture the title. This came one night after getting past #2 ranked Georgia Highlands to get to the championship game.

Lucas Davenport (Buccaneersports.com)Lucas Davenport , a Freshman from Prosper, pitched a complete nine-inning game allowing 12 hits, five earned runs, no walks, and eight strikeouts on 130 pitches.

Blinn jumped out to an early six run lead with two in the first, and four in the second. NW Florida cut it to 6-4 with a run in the second and three in the third.

Blinn responded with one in the fourth, and three in the fifth to make it 10-4. NW Florida scored one in the eighth, but then Blinn got two more in the ninth for good measure.

Tanner Reaves (Buccaneersports.com)After giving up those four early runs, Davenport settled down and gave up only one run over the final six innings of the game.

It was another big night for Tanner Reaves. The sophomore from Bonham, had four hits including two doubles, a home run, four runs scored, and three RBIs. He also broke the NJCAA record for hits in the World Series with 18.

Blinn finishes the season with a record of 47-17

The Bucs set team records for the season with 101 hits and 86 runs scored.

The post BLINN WINS FIRST EVER BASEBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Waller man has been charged after a shooting Saturday morning at a convenience store in Navasota that resulted in the death of an animal.

Joshua Land
(Grimes Co. Jail)According to a release from the Navasota Police Department, officers responded just past 7 a.m. to a report of shots fired at a convenience store in the 8700 block of Highway 6. When they arrived, police placed a male subject into custody.

Officers located a deceased dog in the parking lot. Police say the suspect, 29-year-old Joshua Land, is charged with Animal Cruelty, Deadly Conduct, Disorderly Conduct and Possession of Marijuana.

Investigators are working on determining the reasoning behind the shooting and killing of the dog.

The Navasota Police Department is receiving assistance from the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office and DPS. Anyone who has information on the shooting is asked to contact the Navasota Police Criminal Investigation Division at 936-825-6410 or Grimes County Crime Stoppers at 936-873-2000.

A second incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. in a convenience store parking lot in the 9300 block of Highway 90. The police department says officers who were investigating the shooting heard a loud commotion and saw two subjects start to engage in a physical altercation. Officers arrived on scene and found that no one was physically assaulted.

One of the parties at the location, 33-year-old Jordan Howard of Angleton, was found to have an outstanding warrant for probation violation – Assault to a Child or Elderly Individual. Howard was booked into the Grimes County Jail for the warrant and for Possession of Marijuana.

The post NAVASOTA PD: WALLER MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER SHOOTING DOG OUTSIDE CONVENIENCE STORE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board may opt to move on from DSA Construction Management at a special meeting on Monday.

Trustees will first go into executive session to consult with legal counsel concerning confidential matters.

Upon going into regular session, the board will consider possible action to terminate the contract with DSA as the construction manager agent.

Burton ISD entered into a contract with DSA in November 2021, shortly after the school bond measure was passed by voters, but the bond project has fallen behind schedule and community frustration has grown.

At the board’s regular meeting on May 13th, upon learning for the first time that several bond contracts had been unsigned for months by the school district, trustees criticized DSA representatives for not bringing the matter to their attention sooner.

The board will meet Monday at 7:30 a.m. in the Burton High School auditorium.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER TERMINATING CONTRACT WITH DSA first appeared on KWHI.com.

Austin County authorities have arrested a 17-year-old in a homicide investigation.

Kody Lowe
(Austin Co. Jail)Kody Lowe is charged with Murder after a shooting reported on Friday at a home in the 700 block of Old Highway 36 in Bellville.

According to a release this (Wednesday) morning from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, sheriff’s deputies and Bellville police responded to the scene after emergency dispatchers received a 911 call notifying them of the shooting.

Upon arrival, responding units located and detained a suspect in the front yard of the residence. They also located a female victim inside the residence who appeared to have been shot with a firearm.

Austin County EMS assessed the victim and determined that she was deceased. The victim was identified was 74-year-old Karen McAndrews.

The scene was secured by patrol deputies and supervisors while members of the Austin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, Austin County District Attorney’s Office and Texas Rangers responded.

Lowe was arrested at the scene and booked into the Austin County Jail without incident.

The sheriff’s office says investigation is ongoing at this time.

The post MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN AUSTIN CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

The stage is set for the November general election after Tuesday night’s primary runoff.

Trey Wharton speaks during a campaign kick-off
event on February 5, 2024 at the Ant Street Inn
Ballroom in Brenham.Among the most notable races was for the Texas House District 12 seat, sought by Republicans Trey Wharton and Ben Bius. Wharton secured the Republican nomination after tallying 10,127 votes to Bius’ 3,860, or 72.4 percent of the vote. Wharton won all six counties in the district.

Wharton was thrilled with the voting turnout for this runoff election and said it was driven by a “true grassroots, full-team effort” of family, friends and supporters.

Wharton will now face Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November. The election is to fill the seat of Republican Kyle Kacal, who did not run for another term.

Bius congratulated Wharton on the victory and said he wishes for his success. Bius is optimistic that his message resonated with voters heading into the fall election and the next legislative session.

When asked if he would consider another potential run should an opportunity arise, Bius said that at his age, combined with his desire to tend to his business and be with family, he feels “it’s time for the younger people.”

Elsewhere, Tom Maynard defended his position with the State Board of Education District 10 against challenger Mary Bone. The two Republicans were in a close race, but Maynard emerged victorious with 24,622 votes, while Bone had 22,891. Of the 27 counties in the district, Maynard won 21 of them.

Maynard will proceed to the November election, where he will face Democrat Raquel Saenz Ortiz, Daniel Caldwell of the Green Party and Libertarian Gerald McAlexander.

For the 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3, Democratic challenger Velda Renita Faulker unseated incumbent Jerry Zimmerer by a margin of 30,893 – 21,854. Faulkner claimed eight of the 10 counties in the district, with one of the two remaining counties – Colorado County – resulting in a tie.

Faulkner will go up against Republican Chad Bridges in November.

A total of 3,001 ballots were cast in the primary runoff in Washington County, including 1,942 during early voting, 889 on Election Day and 170 absentee ballots. There are 25,062 registered voters in Washington County, so the voter turnout in this election was 11.97 percent.

In area races, Gary Bender defeated Courtney Armstead 469-355 for Grimes County Precinct 3 Constable. Incumbent Wes Male was defeated during the March primary. Bender, a Republican, will not have a Democratic opponent in November’s election.

Waller County had two races on the runoff ballot. For Tax Assessor-Collector, Carolyn Miedke received 587 votes to Jessica Weaver Holloman’s 387. Ellen Shelburne did not run for re-election. Miedke wins the Republican nomination and will face Democrat Rebecca Richard in November.

Meanwhile, for Waller County Precinct 3 Commissioner, Democratic incumbent Kendric Jones bested Carla Richardson Foster 83-69. Jones will go on to face Republican Brent Davis this fall.

Colorado County also featured two races, one for Tax Assessor-Collector and the other for Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace. Both winners on the Republican ticket will not face Democratic opposition come November.

For Colorado County Tax Assessor-Collector, challenger Melinda Zajicek defeated incumbent Erica Kollaja 1,016-585.

The Colorado County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace race ended with incumbent Donald Clark defending his seat, winning against Bennie Zajicek 511-303.

For Brazos County Precinct 1 Commissioner, Bentley Nettles collected 1,442 votes to incumbent Steve Aldrich’s 985. Nettles secures the Republican nomination and advances to November. Democratic candidate Maria McCain Shelton ended her campaign in March, but Nettles is still expected to face Libertarian Scott Haynes.

The post TREY WHARTON WINS RUNOFF FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 12, ADVANCES TO GENERAL ELECTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Election Results for May 28, 2024 Primary Runoff Election

Election coverage presented exclusively by Van Dyke Rankin Insurance

Texas House District 12 (Republican; winner will face Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November election)

Unofficial Final (across six counties):

Trey Wharton – 10,127
Ben Bius – 3,860

Washington County (final):

Trey Wharton – 1,993
Ben Bius – 864

Brazos County (final):

Trey Wharton – 1,307
Ben Bius – 634

Grimes County (final):

Trey Wharton – 1,217
Ben Bius – 586

Madison County (final):

Trey Wharton – 852
Ben Bius – 181

Robertson County (final):

Trey Wharton – 1,351
Ben Bius – 722

Walker County (final):

Trey Wharton – 3,407
Ben Bius – 873

Grimes County Precinct 3 Constable (final) (Republican; winner will not have Democratic opponent in November election)

Gary Bender – 469
Courtney Armstead – 355

Waller County Tax Assessor-Collector (final) (Republican; winner will face Democrat Rebecca Richard in November election)

Jessica Weaver Holloman – 387
Carolyn Miedke – 587

Waller County Precinct 3 Commissioner (final) (Democratic; winner will face Republican Brent Davis in November election)

Kendric Jones (i) – 83
Carla Richardson Foster – 69

Colorado County Tax Assessor-Collector (final) (Republican; winner will not have Democratic opponent in November election)

Erica Kollaja (i) – 585
Melinda Zajicek – 1,016

Colorado County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace (final) (Republican; winner will not have Democratic opponent in November election)

Donald Clark (i) – 511
Bennie Zajicek – 303

Brazos County Precinct 1 Commissioner (final) (Republican; winner will face Democrat Maria Shelton in November election)

Steve Aldrich (i) – 985
Bentley Nettles – 1,442

State Board of Education District 10 (Republican; winner will face Democrat Raquel Saenz Ortiz, Green Party candidate Daniel Caldwell and Libertarian Gerald McAlexander in November election)

Unofficial Final (across 27 counties):

Tom Maynard (i) – 24,622
Mary Bone – 22,891

Washington County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 1,367
Mary Bone – 1,319

Austin County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 272
Mary Bone – 267

Brazos County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 3,001
Mary Bone – 2,669

Burleson County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 240
Mary Bone – 187

Colorado County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 770
Mary Bone – 609

Fayette County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 329
Mary Bone – 266

Lee County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 118
Mary Bone – 110

Anderson County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 402
Mary Bone – 252

Bell County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 2,403
Mary Bone – 2,100

Burnet County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 1,115
Mary Bone – 784

Comal County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 2,895
Mary Bone – 2,577

Falls County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 68
Mary Bone – 32

Freestone County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 218
Mary Bone – 118

Gillespie County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 1,768
Mary Bone – 2,448

Henderson County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 391
Mary Bone – 412

Kendall County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 680
Mary Bone – 523

Kerr County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 643
Mary Bone – 1,241

Lampasas County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 184
Mary Bone – 156

Leon County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 580
Mary Bone – 354

Limestone County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 522
Mary Bone – 280

Llano County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 388
Mary Bone – 710

Madison County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 555
Mary Bone – 398

Mason County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 42
Mary Bone – 108

Milam County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 715
Mary Bone – 473

Robertson County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 1,042
Mary Bone – 914

San Saba County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 63
Mary Bone – 105

Williamson County (final):

Tom Maynard (i) – 3,851
Mary Bone – 3,479

14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 (Democratic; winner will face Republican Chad Bridges in November election)

Unofficial Final (across 10 counties):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 30,893
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 21,854

Washington County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 103
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 36

Austin County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 25
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 23

Colorado County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 25
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 25

Grimes County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 97
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 43

Waller County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 237
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 55

Brazoria County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 968
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 381

Chambers County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 18
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 22

Fort Bend County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 2,417
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 1,421

Galveston County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 767
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 392

Harris County (final):

Velda Renita Faulkner – 24,636
Jerry Zimmerer (i) – 18,751

The post PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION RESULTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Jason Andrew Saxton(Washington Co. Jail)A Brenham man will be spending a long time in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his significant other.

32-year-old Jason Saxton pled guilty back in January to the murder of 44-year-old Cynthia Jackson.

Saxton was scheduled to have a jury determine his punishment this (Tuesday) morning in Washington County District Court. However, he elected to be sentenced by a plea agreement to 40 years in prison.

Judge Reva Towslee Corbett presided over the hearing. District Attorney Julie Renken represented the State, while Letitia Quinones of Houston represented the defendant.

On August 8, 2021, Brenham Police responded to a report of shots fired at 2300 Becker Drive. Jackson died at the scene from a gunshot wound.

Saxton was arrested and later indicted for Murder on October 26, 2021.

The case was investigated by the Brenham Police Department with assistance from the Texas Rangers.

This morning’s plea hearing was attended by numerous members of the victim’s family including her daughters, granddaughters, cousins, and a sister. Many gave Victim Impact Statements describing the tragic effects of losing a loved one.

After the trial, Renken said, “Dating Violence is real and it is a local problem. We hope that this long sentence will deter others from making a tragic choice, and help both victims and offenders just walk away.”

The post BRENHAM MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MURDER first appeared on KWHI.com.

An alleged burglary suspect is dead following a physical altercation with local residents in Navasota early Tuesday morning.

Navasota Police were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 700 Block of Doris Street around 1:15am.

Officers arrived on the scene to find a large crowd gathered. Witnesses said that a male subject made forced entry into an apartment without consent, ran through the apartment, and assaulted one of its residents.

Others inside the apartment forcefully removed the male subject from the inside. A physical altercation occurred between the residents and the subject, who left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival.

According to Navasota Police, a family member located the subject in a grassy field that was two blocks away from the apartment complex.

Officers said he was unable to stand on his own and mumbling. When they tried to take him into custody, the man resisted, and had to be detained.

Paramedics were called to the scene after the subject lost consciousness. CPR was immediately given at their location.

The male suspect was transported to the Grimes St. Joseph Hospital in Navasota, where he was later pronounced dead around 2:30am.

The identity is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin.

The Navasota Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Texas Rangers are investigating the case.

If anyone has any additional information, you are asked to contact the Navasota Police Department at 936-825-6125, or Grimes County Crimes Stoppers at 936-873-2000.

The post SUSPECT DIES AFTER ALLEGED BURGLARY ATTEMPT IN NAVASOTA first appeared on KWHI.com.

Election Day is here for the May primary runoff election.

Today (Tuesday) is the last day that voters will be able to participate in the races that advanced past the March primary after no candidate received over a 50 percent majority of votes. In Washington County, those include Texas House District 12 and State Board of Education District 10 on the Republican ballot, and the 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 on the Democratic ballot.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at eight polling places in Washington County.

Precinct 1:

101, 109 – Friedens Church of Washington, 20322 FM 1155.
104, 115, 117, 121 – Washington County Expo Event Center, 1305 East Blue Bell Road in Brenham.

Precinct 2:

203 – Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department, 5295 Main Street in Chappell Hill.
202, 205, 208 – Brenham VFW Hall, 1200 East Tom Green Street in Brenham.

Precinct 3:

307, 320 – Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Brenham.
311, 312 – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill, 8201 Old Gay Hill Road.

Precinct 4:

406, 418, 419 – Blinn College Student Center, 1007 Walter Schwartz Way in Brenham.
410, 413 – Burton Community Center, 13100 West Washington Street.

Early voting in the runoff saw 1,942 participants, consisting of 1,880 Republicans and 62 Democrats.

For Texas House District 12, Trey Wharton faces Ben Bius to determine who will secure the Republican nomination against Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November. Wharton and Bius finished first and second in the March primary, with John Harvey Slocum coming in third in a tight race.

The State Board of Education District 10 seat is currently held by Republican Tom Maynard, who is challenged by Mary Bone after advancing to a runoff as the top two of three candidates in the primary. The winner between the two will go up in November against Democrat Raquel Saenz Ortiz, Daniel Caldwell of the Green Party and Libertarian Gerald McAlexander.

The 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 race features challenger Velda Renita Faulkner and incumbent Jerry Zimmerer, who placed first and second out of four candidates in the Democratic primary. The runoff winner will face Republican Chad Bridges in November.

The post ELECTION DAY FOR PRIMARY RUNOFF first appeared on KWHI.com.

Residents gathered today (Monday) to honor fallen veterans and remember their sacrifices during the Washington County Veterans Association’s annual Memorial Day program at the Brenham American Legion Hall.

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major
Monica Stephenson addresses the
crowd at Monday's Memorial Day
service at the Brenham American
Legion Hall.
(Craig Montana)The featured speaker was retired and decorated U.S. Army Sergeant Major Monica Stephenson, who served for 36 years in the Army, including 11.5 years in active duty and 24.5 years in reserves.

Stephenson talked about her experiences as a combat medic and practical nurse, as well as her service in Fort Polk, Louisiana; Baumholder, Germany; the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii; and her deployments to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.

Stephenson said she will always remember the pride of being a soldier and called it an honor and a privilege to serve alongside those who have now been called home.

Local government officials and representatives also spoke, including Washington County Judge John Durrenberger, Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura, Burton Mayor Karen Buck, and John Brieden on behalf of State Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

(Craig Montana)The post WASHINGTON CO. HONORS VETERANS AT MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The primary runoff election tomorrow (Tuesday) will set the stage for the November election or decide the winner outright in several races around the area.

The Texas House District 12 race between Republicans Trey Wharton and Ben Bius for the seat held by Kyle Kacal, who is not running for re-election, impacts six counties: Washington, Grimes, Madison, Robertson, Walker and a portion of Brazos. Wharton and Bius collected the most votes in a three-way primary race that also featured John Harvey Slocum, but none of the three received over 50 percent of the vote.

The winner between Wharton and Bius will appear on the Republican ballot in November against Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili.

The State Board of Education District 10 race pits Republican incumbent Tom Maynard against challenger Mary Bone, after finishing as the top two candidates out of three in the primary. The district covers 27 counties, with ones in the more immediate area including Washington, Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette and Lee.

The runoff winner will face Democrat Raquel Saenz Ortiz, Green Party candidate Daniel Caldwell and Libertarian Gerald McAlexander in the November election.

For the 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3, two Democrats are vying for the party nomination after receiving the most and second-most votes out of four candidates in the primary: Velda Renita Faulkner and incumbent Jerry Zimmerer. The court serves 10 counties, most of them concentrated around the Houston region. They are Washington, Austin, Colorado, Grimes, Waller, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris.

The winner in the runoff will face Republican Chad Bridges in November.

Some area counties also have county-specific races that voters will participate in.

Grimes County

The Grimes County Precinct 3 Constable race advanced to a runoff after two Republican candidates, both challenging incumbent Wes Male, finished first and second place in the primary.

The runoff will have Gary Bender facing Courtney Armstead. The winner will not have a Democratic opponent come November.

Waller County

Waller County’s Tax Assessor-Collector and Precinct 3 Commissioner seats are featured on the runoff ballot.

For Tax Assessor-Collector, Ellen Shelburne is not running for re-election, and two Republican candidates moved to a runoff out of three in the primary. The winner between Jessica Weaver Holloman and Carolyn Miedke will face Democrat Rebecca Richard in November.

The Precinct 3 Commissioner runoff includes incumbent Kendric Jones and Carla Richardson Foster on the Democratic ballot, after they achieved the most votes out of three who ran in the primary. Whoever wins will go up against Republican Brent Davis in the November election.

Colorado County

Colorado County’s runoff will have voters deciding on the races for Tax Assessor-Collector and Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace.

For Tax Assessor-Collector, incumbent Erica Kollaja is challenged by Melinda Zajicek after the two advanced out of three Republican candidates in the primary. No Democratic opponent will appear on the November ballot.

The Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace race has Republican incumbent Donald Clark and challenger Bennie Zajicek. As with the Tax Assessor-Collector’s race, the winner of this runoff will not be opposed by a Democrat in November’s election.

Brazos County

The race for Brazos County Precinct 1 Commissioner had three Republican candidates in the primary, with incumbent Steve Aldrich and challenger Bentley Nettles advancing. Out of the two, the winner will face Democrat Maria Shelton in the fall election.

The post REGIONAL RACES TO WATCH IN PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County residents are invited today (Monday) to remember fallen veterans.

The Washington County Veterans Association will host its annual Memorial Day program at the Brenham American Legion Hall at 11 a.m.

Monica Stephenson, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, will be the keynote speaker.

A barbecue chicken and sausage meal will be served after the program. Plates will be available dine-in or drive-thru. There will also be a cakewalk.

Meal tickets are $15. A limited number will be sold at the door. The program is free and open to all who wish to attend.

KWHI will broadcast the program live on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com, starting at 10:45 a.m.

The post MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE AT BRENHAM AMERICAN LEGION HALL first appeared on KWHI.com.

2024 graduating class (Mark Whitehead)The Brenham High School Class of 2024 is moving on to the next big thing.

Three hundred fifty-four students were recognized during Brenham High School’s commencement ceremony on Friday at Cub Stadium.

Valedictorian Alex Dallmeyer
(Mark Whitehead) Alex Dallmeyer and Joshua Parker, the class valedictorian and salutatorian, shared well wishes and words to hold close as they embark on a new journey. Dallmeyer, who achieved a grade point average of 4.7566, was the class valedictorian.

Salutatorian Joshua Parker
(Mark Whitehead)Parker, who attained a GPA of 4.6538, was the class salutatorian.

Of the 354 students in this year’s class, 126 are honor graduates.

The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS GRADUATION CEREMONIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Zane Aschenbeck speaks to his
fellow graduates at Burton High
School's commencement
ceremony on Friday.Thirty-one Burton High School seniors are bringing an end to one chapter of their life and starting a new one.

Family and friends gathered at the Oliver Whitener/Roy Winkler Pavilion to watch the Class of 2024 receive their diplomas at Burton High School’s graduation ceremony.

The valedictorian and salutatorian, Zane Aschenbeck and Noelia Casas, spoke to their class to offer words of inspiration. Aschenbeck, who completed high school with a grade point average of 3.99, said important decisions are made every day, and now it is time for one of the most important ones they will ever face.

Noelia Casas addresses the Class
of 2024 at Friday's Burton High
School graduation ceremony.Casas, who finished with a GPA of 3.92, told the class to remember to go on adventures and live a life without regrets.

Thirteen of the 31 seniors graduated with honors.

Burton High School graduates walk to the Oliver Whitener/Roy Winkler Pavilion from the Burton Cotton Gin.Burton High School graduates sing the school song during the Class of 2024 commencement ceremony on Friday.Burton High School seniors toss their graduation caps into the air at the conclusion of their commencement ceremony on Friday.The post BURTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2024 HONORED AT COMMENCEMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School District held their teacher appreciation and awards luncheon Friday afternoon at Silver Wings Ballroom. This year’s event was a collaboration between Brenham ISD and the Let Our Teachers Teach group. Awarded the District Substitute Teacher award was Sunne Wheaton. Awarded the District wide Para-Professional of the Year was Ashlee Niemeyer. Awarded the District wide Teacher of the Year was Kassey Wiesepape. Retiring from the school District after 50 years of service is Lorena Schroder. Others were recognized for their service to the district 5 years through 30 years.

Awarded Para-Professional of the Year from the Early Childhood Learning Center was Cassie Desern, and teacher of the year from the ECLC was Amanda Symington. Earning the Award for Para of the year from Brenham Elementary was Rozetta Green and Teacher of the year from Brenham Elementary was Tabita Williams. From Alton Elementary School, the Award for Para of the year went to Michelle Janner, and the Teacher of the year went to Heather Hinze. For Krause Elementary School, the Award for Para of the year went to Coach T and the Teacher of the year went to Hanna Bosse.

For Brenham Middle School, the Award for Para of the year went to Letty Bustos and Teacher of the Year went to Kassey Wiesepape. For Brenham Jr. High, the Award for Para of the year went to Mattie Barnes and the Teacher of the Year went to Bradon Williams. For Brenham High School, the Award for Para of the year went to Ashley Niemeyer and the Teacher of the year went to Shelby Jones.

The post BRENHAM ISD HOLDS TEACHER APPRECIATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham has promoted Tammy Murphy to be the city's next Librarian.

Tammy Murphy
(City of Brenham)Murphy joined the City of Brenham in 2012 and was named Assistant Librarian in 2016. She has held the role of Interim Librarian since September 2023 after the resignation of Idalia Avezuela, and she also served as Interim Librarian following the resignation of Andria Heiges in August 2021.

In a press release today (Friday) from the city announcing her promotion, Murphy said she is “honored and grateful” for the city’s trust in her “to care for and to keep advancing the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.”

Murphy holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Texas A&M University and retired from Brenham ISD after 29 years serving as an educator.

The city said, “Her knowledge, experience, dedication, and professionalism are assets to our community and the NCRML.”

The post CITY OF BRENHAM NAMES TAMMY MURPHY AS NEW LIBRARIAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 has its last Armadillo Hi-Lo winner of the season.

Brenda Surrett of Brenham correctly guessed the jackpot of $811.61 this (Friday) morning with Eilish and Cowboy Dave.

With this winner, Armadillo Hi-Lo has concluded for 2024. KTEX-106 congratulates all of this year’s winners: Bonnie Griffin of Brenham, Neal Jay Frels of La Grange, Connie Oevermann of Brenham and now Brenda Surrett of Brenham.

In total, KTEX-106 gave away $2,682.47 in cash prizes this season.

Armadillo Hi-Lo was sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, Brenham Trees, Cedera Liquor and The Diesel District.

Brenham and Burton students will mark the end of their high school careers tonight (Friday) as they look toward what comes next.

Brenham High School and Burton High School will host their graduation ceremonies tonight at 8 p.m. to celebrate the Class of 2024. Brenham’s graduation will be held at Cub Stadium, while Burton’s will be at the Burton Cotton Gin Pavilion.

The graduating class of Brenham High School has 354 students, including 126 who are graduating with honors. The top seniors are valedictorian Alex Dallmeyer, who attained a grade point average of 4.7566, and salutatorian Joshua Parker, whose GPA was 4.6538.

Burton High School has 31 graduating students, 13 with honors. Leading the class are valedictorian Zane Aschenbeck, who earned a GPA of 3.99, and salutatorian Noelia Casas, with a GPA of 3.90.

KWHI will have live broadcasts of both ceremonies, with Brenham’s on AM 1280, FM 101.7, kwhi.com and the KWHI Facebook page. Burton’s graduation will be broadcast via the alternate stream on kwhi.com and the KWHI phone app.

Alex Dallmeyer
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Joshua Parker
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Zane Aschenbeck
(courtesy Burton ISD)Noelia Casas
(courtesy Burton ISD)

Property valuations for tax purposes are up again this year in Washington County, but market conditions do not seem to correlate with that increase.

A report on home sales in Washington
County for April 2024.
(courtesy Texas Realtors)Preliminary numbers released by the Washington County Appraisal District in April show that the average homestead market values in most local taxing entities grew between 5-9 percent from last year. Meanwhile, April’s Washington County housing report from Texas Realtors says the median home sale price is down 12.3 percent when compared to April 2023.

KWHI spoke with professionals in the real estate market and with the appraisal district to see how values placed on properties by appraisal districts compare to sales history.

Bradley Bevers, founder of Legend Texas Properties and Bevers Real Estate Group, said 2023 already experienced a cooldown compared to what was seen in 2022 or 2021, and this year seems to be continuing that trend.

Bevers stated that Washington County is a luxury market for many people, such as weekenders or retirees, who often are content to wait it out when selling, rather than lowering their prices to move the property. That in turn, according to Bevers, can lead to a significant slowdown that can affect property appraisals from a market perspective.

Bevers said a combination of factors, including higher interest rates, the incoming heat of the summer and 2024 being an election year, may mean it could take several months before the market swings back upward.

Roger Chambers, founder of Market Realty and a state-certified general appraiser and property tax consultant, also said the feverish market has generally subsided, with prices per acre on average seeing a decline.

Chambers said the conversations he has had with many chief appraisers indicate they, too, agree that the market is down, but inconsistencies arise due to the mass appraisal methods that appraisal districts are required to use by the Texas Comptroller’s Office. He said appraisal districts are not provided access to the larger datasets that independent appraisers have for property sales. This, combined with the fact that appraised values need to meet school funding ratios while also being used by all taxing entities within the school districts, leads to a system that he believes creates a disadvantage for the property owner while tying the hands of the appraisal district.

Chambers noted that higher appraised values do not necessarily lead to higher taxes, as what property owners pay ultimately depends on what tax rates their local government entities set and if they choose to implement a “no-new-revenue” rate.

Chief Appraiser Dyann White said the appraisal district’s average homestead values are not the same as the realtor data for median home sale prices. She said the district looks at all properties in the county with a homestead to come up with an average. Concerning new home construction, she said there is essentially none under $200,000, while she is seeing more and more over $500,000.

White said values are not driven by any force of the Comptroller, but by the sales data the appraisal district collects. The district is governed by laws that require appraisals to be at market value.

White encourages any property owners who feel their appraisals are not consistent with what they could sell their property for to reach out to the appraisal district.

The deadline to file a formal protest for residential and non-commercial land is tomorrow (Friday). White said property owners are still able to communicate with the appraisal district on an informal basis until mid-July.

The Washington County Veterans Association is preparing to host its annual Memorial Day program.

Monday’s ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m. at the Brenham American Legion Hall.

The featured speaker will be retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Monica Stephenson.

Following the program, a barbecue chicken and sausage meal will be served dine-in and via drive-thru. There will also be a cakewalk.

Meal tickets are $15. A limited number will be available at the door. The program is free and open to the public.

KWHI will have a live broadcast of the program starting at 10:45 a.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

Local offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

Closures include Brenham City Hall, Brenham Municipal Court, Brenham Animal Services, The Barnhill Center, the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library, and the Collection/Transfer and Recycling Station. All county offices will also be closed.

The Blue Bell Aquatic Center will be closed tomorrow (Friday). All Aquatic Center pools will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. Regular summer hours at the Aquatic Center begin Tuesday.

The Brenham & Washington County Visitor Center will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residential and commercial trash pick-up will run on a regular schedule.

The offices of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will be closed on Monday. Members can access their account information and make payments through the co-op’s website, www.bluebonnet.coop, the co-op’s MyBluebonnet mobile app, or by calling 800-842-7708. Power outages can be reported through the website, the mobile app, or by calling 800-949-4414. Members enrolled in Bluebonnet’s Outage Alerts can report an outage by texting OUT to 85700.

Brenham ISD is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards.

The recognition celebrates the history and success of Brenham ISD schools and its alumni, with a special luncheon honoring the award recipients each September.

2023’s honorees were Wanda Smith, Bill Rankin, Beverly Hamilton-Roberts and Merle Picone.

Nomination forms can be found online at www.brenhamisd.net. They must be completed and submitted to the Brenham ISD Administration Office by June 24th.

Any nominations received after the deadline will not be considered for this year’s awards, but will be kept on file for five years for future consideration.

The distinguished alumni selection committee will focus on alumni who have demonstrated the character traits of leadership and service, with an emphasis on personal and professional success.

Consideration will be given to those who have shown active participation in community, state, or national activities; evidence of lasting contribution to an organization, business, or society in general; leadership ability; and distinction in personal life.

Selected alumni will be honored at the district’s 149th anniversary celebration at Blinn College on September 6th.

The Brenham School Board took care of several pieces of business during its meeting on Monday, its last meeting prior to school letting out for the summer.

Members of the Texas Arts and Music Festival Board
and Brenham ISD art teachers stand with the
Brenham School Board on Monday after trustees
accepted a $2,500 donation from the festival for art
and choir students.First up for trustees was to select the officers who will serve as leaders on the board until the next election in May 2025. Natalie Lange was elected to be board president, while Jared Krenek was chosen as vice president and Kelvin Raven was voted to be secretary.

Lange and Krenek each received five of the seven votes, with Kyle Hafner and Archer Archer not voting. Raven received six votes, with Archer not voting.

Archer was also nominated for the vice president position, receiving the nomination from Hafner after Tommie Sullivan, the existing vice president, nominated Krenek.

Archer spoke on his desire to expand his impact on the school board after he was informed by Sullivan that he would not seek the vice president’s role again. While Archer was first elected in May 2023, he said his presence in the community and his experience in other board roles such as the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, Texas Parks and Wildlife Accessibility Board, Easterseals Central Texas and The Arc of the Capital Area qualifies him for a greater leadership capacity on this board.

No vote was held for Archer, as Krenek was the first nominee for vice president and received a majority of votes.

Also on Monday, the board accepted a donation on Monday from the Texas Arts and Music Festival for high school art and choir students.

Members of the Texas Arts and Music Festival Board presented trustees with a check for $2,500. Proceeds from the annual fall festival go toward the educational resources that support local arts.

Festival President Mark Rosenbaum said Brenham ISD has continued to grow its art program, and that leads to positive impact for students.

Rosenbaum said the festival has been able to give back to the high school every year since it started eight years ago.

Members of the Brenham High School MCJROTC
are recognized by the Brenham School Board on
Monday for the group's recent accolades, including
top-tier placement in national competitions.Each October, the festival offers live music and brings artists from all over the country to create live art installations, including the large murals that decorate many of downtown Brenham’s historic buildings.

Trustees also recognized members of the high school MCJROTC, who recently placed among the nation’s best at competitions in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Daytona, Florida. MCJROTC Captain Jeffrey Bayse said this current group of students is the most decorated that the high school has had since he started 10 years ago. Following that, the board recognized the volunteers who participated this year in the district’s reestablished volunteer program.

Chief Financial Officer Darryl St. Clair presented a brief financial update. He said as of April 30th, the district has received $42.79 million in revenue out of $49.69 million budgeted in total for the school year. St. Clair pointed out that revenue from local sources, including from taxes and from interest on investments, sits at $29.83 million, above what was budgeted for the whole year at $29.01 million.

Meanwhile for expenditures, the district budgeted for $54.27 million in expenses at the start of the year, but as of April 30th has only spent $31.99 million, so revenue is currently outpacing expenses by $10.8 million.

Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Billy Sutherland spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting about the joint Teacher Appreciation Banquet and Brenham ISD End-of-Year Awards Ceremony being held this Friday at Silver Wings Ballroom. The teachers and staff of Brenham ISD will be treated to a fajita meal and will receive mementos and door prizes.

Sutherland said the event was made possible thanks to over $30,000 in fundraising from local churches, businesses and individuals, and all of that funding will be used at the direction of Brenham ISD planning team members. He thanked Superintendent Clay Gillentine, Communications Director Brooke Trahan and Multimedia Content and Design Facilitator Amy Hatfield for assisting himself and community members Christine Giese and Bill Rankin with the planning of the event.

In other business, the board approved the purchase of two steamers for the Child Nutrition Department, using $53,301 in excess department fund balance. Child Nutrition Director Kasandra Davis said the purchases are for Alton Elementary School and Brenham Junior High School.

St. Clair said the Texas Department of Agriculture requires a spending plan to be put in place once a certain threshold of excess fund balance is reached. Gillentine added that the food service department is “a business within a business”, so it cannot transfer from its fund balance to the district’s general fund balance. St. Clair further clarified that is because the food service department receives federal funds for its breakfast and lunch programs.

The board also approved budget amendments to accommodate the Child Nutrition Department purchase and to transfer unused travel funds to purchase and repair band instruments.

Trustees then approved amendments to the District of Innovation plan that are meant to provide added flexibility in establishing local teacher certification requirements when hiring in CTE, industry-based, or otherwise hard-to-fill positions or late hires.

Pictured L to R - the two graduates, Alexis and Morgan
with SEARCH instructor Sharon Machac.Two young interns celebrated finishing their SEARCH program during a bridging ceremony Tuesday afternoon. They spent the past nine months learning employability skills training and interning in various departments at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Brenham. The two graduates are Morgan Steck and Alexis Hymann. Project SEARCH assists young adults with disabilities as they transition from youth to adult life. The program aims to secure competitive employment for those with disabilities.

Their primary instructor from Brenham ISD is Sharon Machac. She is retiring this year after 10 years in the position. Both Morgan and Alexis don’t know where their next job will come from, but they both have interviews lined up.

The post PROJECT SEARCH GRADUATES TWO first appeared on KWHI.com.

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry visited Brenham today (Tuesday) as the first guest of The Barnhill Center’s new Speaker Series.

Rick Perry speaks to listeners at Tuesday's inaugural
Speaker Series luncheon hosted by The Barnhill
Center. Perry addressed a crowd of local officials and citizens at Morriss Hall, sharing stories from his time as governor from 2000-2015 and as U.S Secretary of Energy from 2017-2019.

Perry, who also served Texas as lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner and state representative of District 64, said the best job of his life was being governor, but his most interesting job was working in the Cabinet, given the role that the Department of Energy plays in national security. He said rules and regulations in the executive branch of government tend to be very entrenched, so changing the course of an agency was, from his experience, “nigh-on impossible.”

Perry talked about the 2024 presidential election and said it is important for voters to understand that they will not just be choosing a president, but the team of people behind them. In addition, he gave his thoughts on what the future holds for the energy sector and where the next innovations might come from.

Perry also talked about what led him to move to Round Top and about what makes Brenham and this part of Texas an “extraordinary” place to be.

Rick Perry holds a gift basket presented to him at
the conclusion of his speech Tuesday at The Barnhill
Center's Morriss Hall.Following Perry’s speech, event organizers presented him with a basket full of Brenham-based souvenirs and goodies.

Today’s program was the first of four luncheon events to be held at Morriss Hall this year. Next will be nationally known political commentator and consultant Karl Rove on June 20th, followed by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp on September 10th, and concluding with Texas Historical Commission Chairman John Nau on November 22nd.

The post RICK PERRY SPEAKS AT BARNHILL CENTER’S INAUGURAL LUNCHEON EVENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission was divided on Monday in its approval of a request to build a new gas station and convenience store on the north side of town.

The old Terminix building at 804 East Blue Bell Road.
The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission on
Monday voted 3-2 in favor of a request from a
developer seeking to redevelop the property with a
gas station and convenience store. The item will
now go before the city council on June 6th.
(courtesy City of Brenham)After extended discussion, the commission voted 3-2 to approve a request from Adam Griffin of 30K Holdings, LLC to put a Zippy J’s at the site of the vacant Terminix pest control building at the southeast corner of East Blue Bell Road and Gay Hill Street. However, the vote came with the condition that a 10-foot screening fence be placed on the east property line between the proposed convenience store and the adjacent Wee Care for All Childcare Center.

Voting in favor were commissioners Cyndee Smith, Chris Cangelosi and Dr. Deanna Alfred, while Calvin Kossie and Darren Heine were opposed. Keith Behrens and Cayte Neil were absent.

The vote of approval came after a motion to deny the request, but the motion failed 2-3. Kossie and Heine voted to deny, while Smith, Cangelosi and Dr. Alfred were against denial.

Those who spoke from the public included the applicant, Griffin, as well as Larry Lazare, owner of Wee Care for All, and a teacher at the childcare center. Much of the discussion revolved around traffic at the site and how the business could impact the daycare.

The request will now go to the city council for a public hearing on June 6th. The council can choose to follow the commission’s recommendation to add the screening fence, move forward with the application as is without it, add further restrictions, or deny the item altogether.

Four other requests came before the commission on Monday, and each were approved unanimously. They were:

A commercial replat of 2.609 acres at the southeast corner of Brookside Drive and Highway 36 North for the Brookside Food Truck Park. In January, the city council approved a specific use permit request for the food truck park.
A residential replat of 8,666 square feet of vacant land at 708 Cottonwood Street, to divide into two lots for future single-family residential development.
A residential replat of 1.136 acres at 503 West Alamo Street, to split into two lots so that the owner can sell a portion of the large lot.
A residential replat of 5.69 acres of vacant land generally located east of Cantey Street and north of Oak Hollow Lane, to make 15 lots for future single-family residential development in the Heritage Oaks subdivision.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Monday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM PLANNING & ZONING VOTES 3-2 IN FAVOR OF NEW GAS STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board has selected a lone finalist to serve as Burton ISD’s next superintendent.

Vikki Curry
(Galveston ISD)Vikki Curry was unanimously named as the district’s top candidate, following an executive session at a special board meeting on Monday.

Curry has 30 years of experience in education and is currently serving as the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning at Galveston ISD, a post she has held since July 2021. In that role, she has overseen the development and delivery of curriculum and instruction, monitored and evaluated instructional programs, and actively helped develop campus improvement plans.

Prior to Curry’s existing position, she served in Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and as a principal. She was also an assistant principal in Spring ISD and a teacher in Galveston ISD.

A total of 38 candidates were considered for the position. Burton School Board President Jeff Harmel said Curry “stood out as both an exceptional administrator, and as the best fit for Burton ISD in regard to experience and skill.”

The board's decision Monday comes after it approved a voluntary retirement agreement on March 19th with former superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy, who had served in the district since 2015. She has since been named the lone finalist for superintendent in Dime Box ISD.

The Burton School Board must wait 21 days from Monday’s meeting before officially hiring Curry as superintendent.

The post VIKKI CURRY NAMED LONE FINALIST FOR BURTON ISD SUPT. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD has appointed Brenham Junior High School Principal Michael Watts as the new principal of Brenham High School.

Michael Watts (middle row, second from right) and
family members join the Brenham School Board on
Monday after Superintendent Clay Gillentine's
announcement that Watts has been named the new
principal of Brenham High School.Watts, who will transition to his new role at the conclusion of the current school year, fills the position of Jennifer Griffin, who is shifting into the district office to become the director of continuous learning. That position became vacant due to the retirement of Peggy Still, who has served 31 years in Brenham ISD.

The announcement came at Monday’s school board meeting, followed by a round of applause from the audience. Watts said he is thankful for all of the support and encouragement he has received, and is ready to get to work.

Watts was named as Brenham Junior High School principal in April 2022. He has over 26 years of education experience, including service as an assistant principal and associate principal at Brenham High School, and as principal of the Pride Academy campus.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine said in a press release following the announcement that, “His passion for Brenham ISD students and the community is well known, and we believe his leadership will greatly benefit Brenham High School.”

Trustee Kelvin Raven, who worked as a school resource officer at the high school when Watts was there previously, told Watts, “Welcome home.”

Gillentine commented on Brenham ISD’s efforts to restructure and streamline operations and look from within for staff opportunities. He said the district absorbed nearly 12 administrative positions over the past year, and all of those, including the superintendent position and now the junior high school principal position, were posted internally.

Full press release from Brenham ISD:

Brenham Independent School District (Brenham ISD) is excited to announce the appointment of Michael Watts as the new Principal of Brenham High School, effective for the 2024-25 school year. Mr. Watts, who currently serves as Principal of Brenham Junior High School, will transition to his new role at the conclusion of the current school year.

Superintendent Clay Gillentine expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Watts's appointment, stating, "We are confident that Michael Watts will receive a warm welcome as he joins the Brenham High School campus. His passion for Brenham ISD students and the community is well known, and we believe his leadership will greatly benefit Brenham High School."

This announcement comes as part of a broader effort by Brenham ISD to navigate the current fiscal state of public education. Superintendent Gillentine acknowledged the district's resilience and dedication over the past year, noting, "We have faced significant challenges and have had to make difficult decisions to ensure the continued success of our district. Currently, we have absorbed almost a dozen administrative positions from last year to this year, and all positions have been posted internally, including the superintendent position."

As Brenham ISD continues to restructure and streamline operations, the district remains committed to maintaining essential roles that support its goals and initiatives. One such position is the Director of Continuous Learning, which will become vacant due to the retirement of Peggy Still, who has dedicated 31 years of service to Brenham ISD. Despite the absorption of other administrative positions, the district has determined that this role is vital and will not be absorbed. Instead, it may evolve to better align with the district's needs.

In line with this strategic approach, Brenham High School Principal Jennifer Griffin will transition into the administrative position of Director of Continuous Learning for the next school year. This transition may involve adjustments in the role, responsibilities, and operational procedures as the position integrates into the broader district support framework.

Superintendent Gillentine emphasized the importance of internal opportunities for staff, stating, "The BJHS principal position has been posted internally. This approach allows our dedicated and talented staff to explore opportunities within the district while also being mindful of budget challenges to streamline operations and allocate resources more efficiently."

Brenham ISD is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and continued excellence in leadership. The district looks forward to the positive impact that Michael Watts will bring to Brenham High School and appreciates the ongoing support of its community, staff, and students.

The post MICHAEL WATTS NAMED BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL; JENNIFER GRIFFIN TO BECOME DIRECTOR OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council held their first budget meeting Monday. The meeting was designed to gauge the Council’s direction for the budget. It went over the next 5 years of expenditures. Many of the items listed are funded by grants or the BCDC.

Primary on the agenda is the new fire station. Design drawings of the new station have been completed and it is scheduled to go out for bids in September. The new station is to be built on property in the industrial park next to the Saddle Shop. The Fire Department is planning on hiring 3 new firefighters per year over the next 2 years to man the station. No new equipment is needed for the station, but the Fire Department is looking at replacing two ladder trucks in 2028. Council was reminded that the lead time is 48 months for firetrucks, so City Manager Carolyn Miller said she would get with the city attorney and see if they can order the trucks with a letter of intent. The Fire Department is also requesting new emergency software for dispatching. Their old software will be obsolete in January of 2025.

Also primary on the agenda is new body and dash cameras for the Police Department. Their old cameras have reached the end of their operational life. Lloyd Powell, Brenham’s Interim Police Chief, said that grants are available for the body cameras and that they have already applied for them. He is also planning on hiring two new officers each of the next 5 years to add to the force.

The next Budget Workshop is scheduled for the end of July. In the only other item on the agenda for the meeting, the Council approved purchasing a Freightliner Slinger Truck for the Wastewater Treatment Department. The Council also approved the financing proposal from Bank of Brenham for the purchase.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL HOLDS BUDGET WORKSHOP first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham will soon kick off its 15th year of free summer movies.

Three films will play this summer in the Movies in the Park series, one at Hohlt Park and two “Floats-n-Flicks” at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.

The first movie will be “Shark Tale” on Friday, May 31st at the Aquatic Center, starting at 8:30 p.m. Film sponsors are Strand Associates and Citizens State Bank.

Next will be “Under the Boardwalk” on Friday, June 21st at Hohlt Park, beginning about 10 minutes after sunset. Sponsors are Thielemann Construction and Stegent-Thielemann Plumbing.

Rounding out the series will be “The Little Mermaid”, the live-action remake, on Friday, August 2nd at the Aquatic Center at 8:30 p.m. Sponsoring the movie is Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Presenting sponsor for Movies in the Park is Brannon Industrial Group. KWHI and KTEX-106 are also sponsors.

For the “Floats-n-Flicks” at the Aquatic Center, gates will open at 8 p.m. Guests must have a float in order to be in the pool during the movie.

For more information on the City of Brenham’s Movies in the Park, visit the Brenham Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

The post CITY OF BRENHAM REVEALS LINEUP FOR 2024 SUMMER MOVIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting opens on Monday for the races in the May 28th primary runoff election.

Trey WhartonThe Washington County Courthouse Annex will be open for five days of early voting next week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 20-24. On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at eight designated polling places in the county.

Of the three contested races on the runoff ballot, the one drawing the most attention is the State Representative District 12 race between Trey Wharton and Ben Bius. The two Republicans advanced to the runoff after finishing first and second out of a close three-way race in the March primary that saw no one receive over 50 percent majority of the votes.

Results from the Texas Secretary of State’s website show Wharton received 10,506 votes in the primary, while Bius finished with 9,804 and John Harvey Slocum collected 9,712. Wharton led in Washington and Walker counties, Bius took Grimes and Madison counties, and Slocum won Brazos and Robertson counties.

Ben BiusThe winner of the runoff will go on to face Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November.

One other race is on the Republican ballot. The seat for State Board of Education District 10 is sought by incumbent Tom Maynard and challenger Mary Bone, who moved on to the runoff as the top two of three total candidates.

The runoff winner will face Democrat Raquel Saenz Ortiz, Green Party candidate Daniel Caldwell and Libertarian Gerald McAlexander in the November election.

On the Democratic ballot, voters will choose their preferred candidate to serve as justice for the 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3. In a four-way race in the primary, Velda Renita Faulkner and incumbent Jerry Zimmerer were the top two vote-getters.

The winner among the two will go up against Republican Chad Bridges in November.

The post EARLY VOTING STARTS MONDAY FOR PRIMARY RUNOFF first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board’s search for a new superintendent may come to a close on Monday.

Trustees are set to meet in executive session to interview candidates for superintendent. They will then go into regular session to consider naming a lone finalist for the position, if appropriate.

Dr. Edna Kennedy retired as Burton ISD’s superintendent in March and has since been named the lone finalist for Dime Box ISD’s superintendent position.

Burton trustees are conducting their search with Powell Law Group. According to the timeline provided by the school district for the hiring process, the hope is to have the selected candidate ready to start in mid-June.

The board will meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Burton ISD Administration Office.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO INTERVIEW SUPT. CANDIDATES, POTENTIALLY NAME LONE FINALIST first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Round Top woman was killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday evening near the Washington-Burleson County line.

DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz reports that the crash happened shortly before 6:30 p.m. at FM 50 and Devault Lane, north of Independence.

According to Sgt. Ruiz, a 2009 Nissan Altima was traveling southbound on FM 50 when it crossed into the northbound lane and struck a 2023 Ford Expedition head-on.

The driver of the Nissan, 73-year-old Patricia Tidwell, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Ford was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in College Station with injuries that are believed to be minor.

The crash remains under investigation.

The post ROUND TOP WOMAN KILLED IN WASHINGTON CO. CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County has declared a local state of disaster as a result of damage from the recent heavy rain and storms.

A fallen tree on property
along Tom Green Street in
Brenham as a result of
storms Thursday night.
(courtesy photo)The declaration from the Washington County Judge’s Office states that severe weather and excessive rain over the past three weeks, beginning on April 26th, has caused road flooding resulting in damage to multiple roads, strong winds over 70 miles per hour leading to widespread power outages, damage to electric infrastructure, and trees down across over 50 roads.

The declaration activates the county’s emergency management plan and takes effect immediately, continuing for no more than 7 days unless renewed by the commissioners court.

As part of the declaration, County Judge John Durrenberger is requesting assistance from Governor Greg Abbott due to the severity of the incident at hand.

In a letter to the governor, Durrenberger writes that damage to county roads and bridges and the cost for removal of tree debris may exceed $164,703. He says the county “is currently facing tremendous physical and economic losses” and that an effective response “is beyond Washington County’s capability to recover without supplementary state and/or federal assistance.”

A copy of the declaration and letter to the governor can be read here.

The post WASHINGTON CO. DECLARES LOCAL STATE OF DISASTER FROM WEATHER DAMAGE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Former Burton ISD Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy has been chosen as the lone finalist for Dime Box ISD’s superintendent role.

Former Burton ISD Superintendent Dr. Edna
Kennedy speaks during a Leaders in Education
Forum at Blinn College in Brenham on August 4,
2021.Dr. Kennedy was selected after the Dime Box School Board met on May 8th to name a lone finalist for the position.

In the district’s announcement, it stated that Dr. Kennedy emerged as the top candidate following a thorough search process. School Board President Charles Fritsche said the district looks forward to welcoming Dr. Kennedy, adding that she “shares our commitment to providing a high-quality education for every student in Dime Box ISD.”

The Dime Box School Board must wait 21 days before making the hire official.

Dr. Kennedy served as the superintendent of Burton ISD from 2015 until March 19th, when the board approved a voluntary retirement agreement with her. Rob Barnwell is serving as the district’s interim superintendent while trustees continue to search for a full-time superintendent.

KWHI has reached out to Dr. Kennedy for comment.

The post DR. EDNA KENNEDY NAMED LONE FINALIST FOR DIME BOX ISD SUPT. POSITION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Thursday’s severe weather led to a busy evening for local first responders.

The Brenham Fire Department alone responded to 12 calls on Thursday, 10 of them within a 2-hour period during the brunt of the storm.

The department says most of the calls were for downed power lines and tree limbs in power lines. One call was for a tree that fell onto a house and caused major structural damage. The homeowners were unharmed, but were removed from the home for the night.

Later at night, the department was called around 9:45 p.m. to the 1400 block of Cyndi Circle for a report of a power line arcing. Units arrived to find a tree limb sparking on a power line. The City of Brenham Electric Department was on location removing the limb. Firefighters returned to service once the limb was removed.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m., BFD members received a report of an alarm sounding in the 1100 block of Davy Street. Nothing was showing from the exterior of the home. Units made contact with the homeowner, who advised she was straightening her hair, and that caused the alarm to sound.

The post NUMEROUS STORM-RELATED CALLS AMONG 12 TOTAL FOR BRENHAM FIRE DEPT. THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Several school districts around the area are delaying the start of classes or cancelling them outright on Friday after severe weather Thursday evening.

A fallen tree sits on property on South Austin Street
in Brenham.
(courtesy photo)Brenham ISD says school will be delayed by one hour on Friday to ensure roadway visibility. Campuses will receive students starting at 8 a.m., and classes will begin at 9 a.m.

Burton ISD has cancelled classes for Friday. Interim Superintendent Rob Barnwell told KWHI that flooding has occurred at the high school and cafeteria, and several bus routes are blocked.

Bellville ISD will not have class on Friday, reporting extreme damage to some homes, trees blocking multiple roads, and numerous power outages.

A fallen tree on property
along Tom Green Street in
Brenham.
(courtesy photo)Hempstead ISD and Waller ISD are also closing schools on Friday due to storm damage and power outages.

The weather has led to flooding in some areas and knocked-down trees.

Thousands of residents lost power Thursday night, according to the online outage maps of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and San Bernard Electric Cooperative.

The City of Brenham is reporting downed power lines, along with tree debris on roadways. Crews are working to get power restored. As of its notice at approximately 8:22 p.m. Thursday, the city says some areas may be out for up to 8 hours.

Drivers are asked to be cautious and to stay away from downed power lines.

Anyone who would like to share photos showing the damage from Thursday's storms can send them to news@kwhi.com.

The Brenham HEB store courtesy of Pam Mossbarger:

The post LOCAL SCHOOL CLOSURES, DELAYS FRIDAY DUE TO SEVERE STORMS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council approved a funding request today (Thursday) from the Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) to assist with traveling exhibits coming to Brenham this winter.

City of Brenham Tourism and Marketing Director
Jennifer Eckermann talks with city councilmembers
on Thursday about the Smithsonian's Museum on
Main Street exhibit program coming to Brenham
this winter. The council agreed to provide the DMO with $50,000 from hotel occupancy tax reserves as it coordinates with the Smithsonian Institution to bring the Museum on Main Street program to town from December 7 – January 20, 2025.

City of Brenham Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermann said the program, called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America”, will focus on increasing heritage tourism in Washington County, sharing undertold stories of local African American history, and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Simon Theatre.

Three exhibits will be developed as part of the program. One will feature Belle’s Alley and tell the story of the county’s freedom colonies. Another will share specific history about the Camptown community and include an audio tour with different sounds like a church choir singing or ambient sounds from a campsite. The third exhibit will showcase the life of the Simon Theatre and its ties to downtown Brenham.

Part of the project will involve updates to the county’s historical markers guide, assisting visitors who come in to see the exhibits as they explore other parts of the county. New brochures and rack cards will be created to promote the planned activities and programming.

Eckermann said numerous groups have gotten involved with the project or expressed their intent to do so, like the Texas Historical Commission, Texas 10 Historical Explorers, Brenham Heritage Museum, Brenham Main Street, Brenham ISD, Washington County Historical Commission and Brenham’s tourism partner communities of Burton, Chappell Hill, Independence and Washington.

Eckermann said the preliminary projected budget for the program is $200,000. Visit Brenham is also receiving support from Washington County, as county commissioners voted in March to contribute $25,000 and follow up again in the summer to see how the funds are used before potentially providing more assistance. She said there have been contributions from other sources as well.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FUNDING REQUEST FOR MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET PROGRAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Local FFA members were acknowledged Wednesday night during the annual Brenham FFA awards ceremony at Cowboy Church of Brenham.

Members reflected on their time in the organization and were presented with scholarships and awards in recognition of their accolades.

The Top Hand Award was presented to Chasidy Nowicki. Nowicki also won the Top Fundraiser Award.

The Greenhand Top Hand Award went to Tyler Gajeske.

Gage Kmiec was named Outstanding Member of the Year.

The Star Agribusiness Award was given to Corbin Janner.

Ella Scheel received the Star Greenhand Award.

The recipient of the Star Chapter Farmer Award was Katie Allen.

Madeline Pierce was named the Star Lone Star FFA Member.

Madison Moran was the recipient of the Curtis Fuchs Leadership Scholarship.

The Robert Little Memorial Scholarship was presented to Kaylin Jacobs.

Brenham FFA Alumni Scholarships went to Laci Strack, Kaylan Curl, Chasidy Nowicki, Kaylin Rodriguez, William Schomburg, Gage Kmiec, Trenton Stewart and Katie Seeker.

Cole Dismukes received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

American FFA degrees were presented to Shelby Prazak and Keely Mikolajchak.

The 2024-25 FFA officer team was also announced. Officers include Cullen Halfmann, President; Mackenzie Tiemann, Vice President; Madeline Pierce, Secretary; Morgan Westerfeld, Treasurer; Calvin Wunderlich, Reporter; Melanie Martin, Sentinel; Addy Lange, Student Advisor; Gavin Wright, Chaplain; Katie Allen, Historian; Caleb Landry, Parliamentarian.

(All photos below courtesy of Christy Moran / Elizabeth Taylor)

Chasidy Nowicki, winner of the Top Hand Award and Top Fundraiser AwardTyler Gajeske, winner of the Greenhand Top Hand Award Gage Kmiec, winner of Outstanding Member of the YearCorbin Janner, winner of the Star Agribusiness AwardElla Scheel (left) and Madeline Pierce, winners of the Star Greenhand Award and Star Lone Star Member AwardsKatie Allen (right), winner of the Star Chapter Farmer AwardAll recipients of FFA scholarships.The 2024-25 FFA Officer TeamThe 2023-24 FFA Officer Team2023-24 FFA President Madison Moran (left) presents newly elected 2024-25 FFA President Cullen Halfmann his President’s buckle.The late Cole Dismukes was named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Pictured are family members of Dismukes accepting the award on his behalf. The post BRENHAM FFA MEMBERS PRESENTED AWARDS AT CEREMONY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blue Bell Ice Cream has a new refreshing treat just in time for the summer.

(courtesy Blue Bell)A&W Root Beer Float ice cream takes Blue Bell’s creamy vanilla ice cream and swirls it together with an A&W Root Beer-flavored sherbet.

The new flavor is now available in stores in the half gallon and pint sizes.

To see a full list of Blue Bell flavors in stores, go to https://bluebell.com.

The post BLUE BELL PARTNERS WITH A&W ROOT BEER FOR NEW ICE CREAM FLAVOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Little League District and International All Star Rosters for Baseball and Softball were announced this (Wednesday) afternoon.

DISTRICT ONLY ALL-STARS

WASHINGTON COUNTY 7 YEAR OLD BOYS GREEN TEAM

Doyle Williams, Emery Souphanthong, Henry Davis, Jax Kuecker, Kasen Davis, Lincoln Branham, Merlin Dupre, Noah O'Brien, Reid Windham, Ridge Russell, Ty Mahon, and Will Dreyer

Manager: Kyle Branham

Coaches: Justin O'Brien, Ross Windham, and Sean Davis

The Tournament is scheduled to begin May 31 in Sealy.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 7 YEAR OLD BOYS WHITE TEAM

Bo Finke, Brooks Remedios, Drake Keltgen, Elijah Merritt, Jaxon Johnson, Kaysen Parker, Lincoln Bell, Luke Wienken, Myles Morales, Nolan Yelderman, Owen Maynard, and Rion Runge

Manager: Colby Finke

Coaches: Brandon Keltgen, Brian Maynard, and Mason Finke

The Tournament is scheduled to begin May 31 in Sealy.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 7 YEAR OLD GIRLS TEAM

Avery Clark, Brinnlee Randermann, Cameron Wickel, Claire Schulte, Hallie Lechler, Jacy Belvin, Lyla Zwernemann, Olivia Coleman, Rylie Locke, Swayzee Schroeder, Tatum Pellerin, and Tatum Tappe

Manager: Rinn Randermann

Coaches: Jonathan Belvin, Genna Lechler, Kolbie Tappe

The Tournament begins May 31 in Sealy.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 7-8 YEAR OLD GIRLS TEAM

Ansley Grawunder, Audrey Smith, Ava Merkley, Avery Meyer, Baige Collins, Brylee Margist, Brynlee Kmiec, Lillie Landua, Presley Parker, Remi Boeker, Remi Draehn, and Stella Church

Manager: G.W. Meyer

Coaches: Robin Landua, Sean Church, and Sarah Kmiec

The Tournament begins June 7 in Burton.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 8 YEAR OLD BOYS GREEN TEAM

Bo Mangan, Brady Wallace, Braxton Musselwhite, Case Knesek, Grady Curtis, Graham Wilke, Harrison Turnbill, Holden Hejl, Kullen Priesmeyer, Preston Hodde, Reese Haevischer, and Ryker Wooten

Manager: Kevin Turnbill

Coaches: Christopher Curtis, Dustin Knesek, and Stuart Musslewhite

The Tournament begins June 7 in Hempstead.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 8 YEAR OLD BOYS WHITE TEAM

Ayden Clay, Bo Hirschfield, Caleb Jordan, Cameron Seely, Canaan Wilkerson, Charles Ellington, Cooper Huckert, Denton Bosse, Django Moffett, Martini Gonzalez, Solomon Davidson, and Tanner Schroeder

Manager: Clay Bosse

Coaches: Nick Jordan, Scott Schroeder, and Darren Huckert

The Tournament begins June 7 in Hempstead.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 9 YEAR OLD BOYS TEAM

Aiden Prigge-Mathis, Blane Baker, Bowen Riley, Cam Wheaton, Connor Marak, Jake Church, Jake Doelitsch, Jentry Locke, Luke Lechler, Mason Ehlert, Thomas Asmussen, and Walker Ebert

Manager: David Doelitsch

Coaches: Chad Lechler and Chris Marak

The Tournament begins June 7 in Giddings.

INTERNATIONAL ALL STARS

WASHINGTON COUNTY MINOR GIRLS (9-10) TEAM

Adde Sebastian, Belle Schroeder, Callie Dismukes, Caroline Sommer, Charli Majewski, Finlee Youngs, Kinley Parker, Kinsley Haferkamp, Quinly Scheffer, Paisley Meyer, Presleigh Allen, and Teagyn Wilson

Manager: Sam Sommer

Coaches: Amanda Dismukes and Shelley Scheffer

The Tournament begins June 15 in Sealy.

WASHINGTON COUNTY MINOR BOYS (9-10) TEAM

Aaron Thaler, Brody Parsons, Bryan Garner, Gage Gutierrez, Hudson Eckert, Hudson Turnbill, Knox Brannon, Lane Dreyer, Mason Kalkhake, Mason Wehmeyer, Teague Sulik, and Tucker Plagens.

Manager: Eric Plagens

Coaches: John Parsons and Josh Sulik

The Tournament begins June 15 in Brenham.

WASHINGTON COUNTY 11 YEAR OLD BOYS TEAM

Garrett Rubach, Guilherme Morquecho, Jace Riley, Jagger Shedd, Knowles Koehler, Kyler Wells, Parker Hejl, Ronaldo Castillo, Rylan Draehn, Silvano Morquecho, Wells Shelton, and Zack Lloyd

Manager: Chris Koehler

Coaches: Jason Draehn and Bradley Riley

The Tournament begins June 15 in Caldwell.

WASHINGTON COUNTY MAJOR BOYS (12) TEAM

Austin Smith, Ayden Cunningham, Blain Carmeans, Bradley Nowicki, Callen Schulte, Hudson Frank, Hunter Knesek, Jackson Burch, Levi Duran, Logan Lampe, Wes Warschak, and William Hefferly

Manager: Steve Smith

Coaches: Andy Hefferly and Dustin Knesek

The Tournament begins June 15 in Bellville.

The post 2024 LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STAR ROSTERS ANNOUNCED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County District Clerk Tammy Brauner has resigned after nearly 30 years of service in the county.

Tammy BraunerThe resignation, according to Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak, was due to “personal reasons” and would take effect when an interim district clerk was sworn in.

Suzette Blakey was sworn in this (Wednesday) morning to the interim position by District Court Judge Carson Campbell.

Brauner started her career with Washington County in June 1996 as a deputy clerk in the district clerk’s office. She served as interim district clerk from April to December 2012, and has been in that role full-time since January 2013. She was sworn in for her current term in January 2023.

Suzette Blakey (middle) receives the oath of office
Wednesday morning to serve as Washington
County's interim district clerk.
(courtesy Washington County)Mlcak said, “Washington County is grateful for her many years of dedicated service.”

County Judge John Durrenberger said it is the district judge’s responsibility to name an interim appointment for the district clerk position. County commissioners on Tuesday approved a bond for Blakey to serve as the interim district clerk.

Durrenberger said since Brauner had over two years remaining on her term, an election will need to be held for a new district clerk. The election will take place in November.

The post TAMMY BRAUNER RESIGNS AS WASHINGTON CO. DISTRICT CLERK; SUZETTE BLAKEY APPOINTED AS INTERIM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The lives of fallen peace officers were honored this (Wednesday) morning at a memorial service at the Washington County Courthouse.

Local law enforcement officials salute during the
playing of "Taps" at a memorial observance on
Wednesday for fallen peace officers.The Washington County Peace Officers Association led the service as part of Peace Officers Memorial Day, observed on May 15th of each year to acknowledge the local, state and federal officers who have died in the line of duty.

Daniel Gaskamp of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office led the memorial. Gaskamp stated that 137 officers died in the United States in 2023, including 37 from Texas. He talked about their roles as spouses, parents and community members who took an oath to serve and who laid down their lives for that goal.

Daniel Gaskamp of the Washington County Sheriff's
Office addresses the crowd at Wednesday's
memorial observance for fallen peace officers
outside of the Washington County Courthouse. The service ended with the placing of a memorial wreath on a monument outside of the courthouse, accompanied by the playing of “Taps” by members of the Brenham Cub Band.

The post WASHINGTON CO. HONORS FALLEN PEACE OFFICERS AT MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD trustees learned on Monday that several contracts pertaining to the school bond construction project were unsigned by school administration, with some dating back to last year.

Ande Bostain receives the oath of office to
begin service on the Burton School Board
during its meeting on Monday. During a public forum to provide updates on the project, DSA Construction Management Project Manager Stad Tomlinson informed the board that roughly 20 contracts were filled out and sent to the school district for signature, but some were not received back.

Tomlinson confirmed that Interim Burton ISD Superintendent Rob Barnwell has copies of all contracts that have been signed by both the contractors and the school district, and there are about eight of those contracts. As for the remaining ones that were not signed by the school district, Tomlinson said they go as far back as March or April of 2023.

Tomlinson said many of those outstanding contracts involved items from contractors that were scheduled to come along later down the line and have not started work yet. He said DSA was told that the district did not want to sign them until all the numbers were “squared away.”

Trustees asked why they and the public were not informed of this situation sooner. Some audience members expressed frustration at not seeing progress in construction despite seeing money spent at board meetings. Trustee Demetrius Colvin Sr. said the board was proactive with everything that needed to be done to move forward with the project, but he could not understand it if this situation ended up being the reason for the hold-up in progress. Trustee Dean Fuchs said his biggest concern is that if a contractor never got a signed contract back from the district, the company would not be obligated to honor it.

Mike Clyde is administered the oath of
office on Monday for his new term on the
Burton School Board. Board Vice President Misty Lucherk asked Tomlinson if the school district is currently doing work with any companies that it does not have a signed contract with. He replied that of the companies that have actually done work out at the site, there are none that do not have a signed contract. He added that since the contractors themselves have signed the contracts, he believes they will still honor them.

The public forum preceded the board’s regular meeting, which opened with the canvassing of results from the May 4th election and the swearing in of new trustees Ande Bostain and Mike Clyde. The board opted to keep the same officer structure, renaming Jeff Harmel as president of the board, Lucherk as vice president and Donna Putnam as secretary.

Later, the board discussed revising the district’s policy for locally-provided leave for employees. Barnwell said the district currently provides two local days of leave, but the average for surrounding districts is between four and seven days. Trustees were open to potentially increasing the number of days offered and approved a motion to ask Barnwell and school principals to develop guidelines for leave policy, to be presented at the next board meeting.

The board also approved adding a local policy to accommodate the offering of professional non-certified contracts to positions of importance who do not qualify for regular Chapter 21 contracts. Barnwell said this allows the district to offer contracts with some protections for certain administrative positions, like a business manager or technology director, that may not be certified but still retain a high level of importance.

The post SOME BURTON ISD BOND CONTRACTS NOT SIGNED BY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MONTHS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will meet on Thursday to consider a funding request from the Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).

Visit Brenham is preparing for Brenham to host the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit program. The exhibit, called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America”, is set to come to town from December 7 to January 19, 2025.

The DMO is asking for $50,000 from Hotel Occupancy Tax reserves to assist in covering expenses of the three local exhibits being developed, and the additional cultural activities and programs associated with the event.

The request was presented in March to Washington County Commissioners, who agreed to fund half of the amount at the time and look at it again in the summer to see how the money was used.

In other business, councilmembers will act on two professional services agreements between the city and Strand Associates for engineering services, one for chlorine room upgrades at the surface water treatment plant, and the other for the Industrial Boulevard pumping station replacement project. The cost for the engineering agreements is not to exceed $22,600 for the surface water treatment plant and no more than $70,000 for the pumping station.

There will be a work session for the council to continue discussion on updates to the city’s charter document in preparation for a possible charter amendment election next May.

Also on Thursday, the council will:

Consult with the city attorney in executive session concerning a demand letter and notice of contemplated litigation received by the city. Councilmembers will also discuss the Brenham Municipal Airport. No action is expected to be taken on either discussion item.
Consider a resolution between the city and TxDOT for the temporary closure of state right-of-way in connection with the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes summer concert series in downtown Brenham, to be held on July 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Act on a municipal maintenance agreement between the city and TxDOT for the maintenance, control, supervision and regulation of state highways within city limits. Public Works Director Dane Rau said some language has changed from the previous document in 2009, but the duties and responsibilities remain the same.
Act on accepting a bid for mowing, maintenance and clean-up services for various city buildings, public properties and parking lot areas.
Potentially accept a bid for a gas main line pressure test.
Appoint members to serve on the Brenham Community Projects Fund Board of Directors.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR FUNDING REQUEST FOR MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County EMS provided an overview today (Tuesday) to county commissioners about the agency’s response to the Brenham DPS office incident on April 12th.

Washington County EMS Director
Kevin Deramus gives a report to
county commissioners on Tuesday
regarding the EMS response to the
attack at the Brenham DPS office on
April 12th. During a workshop session, EMS Director Kevin Deramus briefed the court about the actions taken by EMS officials after a stolen 18-wheeler rammed into the facility. He evaluated what the department did well and what could be improved for similar mass-response incidents in the future.

Deramus said the department has three keys to ensure efficiency and effectiveness at scenes like the one that day: accurate triage to determine how urgent the situation is, maintaining easy access into and out of the area without getting gridlocked, and getting proper treatment or medicine for the patients wherever they are. He said all three were accomplished thanks in part to the work of emergency dispatchers and assisting law enforcement.

Speaking on individual aspects of EMS’ response, Deramus said the proximity of the department’s station on Highway 290 to the DPS station allowed for a very rapid response. He also spoke positively on the triage and treatment of patients, getting them on their way to the care they needed. In addition, he praised the “seamless” communication and “hand-in-hand” collaboration between agencies.

Deramus did say there could stand to be improvements on the technology side, saying while communication from parties onsite was strong, it could have been better for responding agencies outside the immediate region that came into play once the severity of the incident was realized. He also said minimizing scene time for some of those outside agencies is important, as there needs to be the same expectations from outside resources that there are with local resources. Finally, he said a better job could have been done of getting information and formal communication out to the public to calm constituents and assure that the situation was being taken care of.

The court thanked Deramus and the department for the efforts of those who responded, with County Judge John Durrenberger saying it is unfortunate that this work had to be done, but it was done in a very professional manner. Commissioner Kirk Hanath mentioned the role that the EMS helicopter played during the incident and said without it, the outcome could have been much different.

Also during the workshop, Deramus talked about the department’s assistance with Texas A&M Task Force 1 in performing water rescues during the recent flooding in East Texas. He showed several videos of task force members, comprised of first responders from several agencies across the state, including some from EMS and the Brenham Fire Department, rescuing residents who were trapped as their homes or vehicles were surrounded by floodwaters.

Deramus said the task force performed 50 rescues during its deployment. That total does not include what individual jurisdictions performed, as Deramus noted that Montgomery County conducted around 300 rescues alone. The task force also assisted with 300 evacuations, and there were over 300 search and rescue personnel on scene.

Deramus said locally, there are 12 members credentialed to serve on the boat rescue team, with six going out on deployment at a time. He noted that through a memorandum of understanding, the state reimburses the members who deploy for their time, as well as the staff who fill their shifts back home.

Durrenberger said it is important to “help your neighbors”, adding if the flooding was happening locally, Washington County would be glad to have the extra assistance.

The workshop also allowed commissioners to provide brief updates on miscellaneous county projects in the works.

Commissioner Dustin Majewski spoke on the file storage facility. He said the inspection for the building, formerly the location of ATS Irrigation at 2509 Highway 105, is scheduled to be completed this Friday. Negotiations will continue once the results from the inspection are in.

Next, Commissioner Candice Bullock talked about the courthouse landscaping project. She said a contract has been negotiated with Terralab Landscape Architects. GrantWorks now has the contract, and the item will be on the commissioners court’s agenda next week. She said the project consists of three tasks, which include analyzing the previously completed courthouse restoration project, which should take 4 to 5 weeks; pre-design meetings and programming, set to take 4 to 6 weeks; and schematic design, which is expected to last 6 to 8 weeks.

Following that, Commissioner Hanath discussed the EMS station project at Lake Somerville. He said the property has a city water line running next to it, so getting electricity to the site has been a challenge. The county has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering and Bluebonnet Electric to move forward with that process. Hanath said work will move quicker once the electrical is done.

Last up for an update was the jail kitchen renovations. Hanath said the county recently got notification from DRG Architects that the company is getting a soil report and survey done through Gessner Engineering. Plans will then be presented to the court for review.

The post WASHINGTON CO. EMS EVALUATES RESPONSE TO DPS OFFICE INCIDENT, DISCUSSES ROLE IN EAST TEXAS FLOOD RESCUES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Alex Dallmeyer (left) and Joshua Parker, Brenham
High School's 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian.
(Craig Montana)Over $460,000 in scholarships were presented to graduating Brenham High School seniors Monday night during the 37th Annual Scholarship Ceremony and Academic Awards Program, hosted by the Brenham High School National Honor Society.

The top graduates of 2024 are Alex Dallmeyer, named valedictorian with a grade point average of 4.7566, and Joshua Parker, named salutatorian with a GPA of 4.6538.

Alex is the son of Andy and Heather Dallmeyer. He says it is an honor to sit atop the Class of 2024 and that it is a reflection of many years of hard work.

Dallmeyer plans to major in finance at the University of Texas at Austin.

Joshua is the son of Lee and Sara Parker. He says he greatly benefitted from putting in the time and energy to succeed.

Parker will attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he will major in mechanical engineering.

There are 322 graduating seniors this year, including 126 honor graduates.

Brenham High School’s graduation will be held on Friday, May 24th at 8 p.m. at Cub Stadium. KWHI will have a live broadcast of the ceremony.

The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES RECEIVE ACCOLADES AT SCHOLARSHIP CEREMONY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham police are investigating several instances of criminal mischief at local businesses over the weekend.

Friday night at 11:20, Officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of South Day Street in reference to criminal mischief. A passing motorist reported one of the windows being shattered. Information was gathered and the incident is pending further investigation.

Saturday morning at 8:00, Officers were dispatched to a business located in the 1800 block of Highway 290 West in reference to criminal mischief. The calling party reported an unknown person used a BB or Pellet gun to shoot out a glass window of the business sometime between 9:30 Friday night and 8:00 Saturday morning.

Then at 8:55 Saturday morning, Officers were dispatched to a business located in the 2600 block of 36 South in reference to criminal mischief. The calling party reported an unknown person used a BB or Pellet gun to shoot out a glass window of the business sometime between 10:00 Friday night and 8:00 Saturday morning.

Then at 9:10 Saturday morning, Officers discovered a broken window to a business located in the 500 block of Highway 290 West, the glass had been broken out with a BB or Pellet gun. The store manager was able to determine the time that the glass was broken at 10:36 Friday night using surveillance video.

Then Saturday morning at 10:35, Officers discovered a broken window to a business located in the 1400 block of South Day Street. The glass window was apparently broken by a BB or Pellet gun. The property owner was notified and the case is currently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division.

Taurus Lindsey
Washington Co. Jail photoThen Saturday night at 9:30, Officers responded to a business located in the 200 block of Highway 290 West in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, investigation revealed that the suspect, Taurus Lindsey, 41 of Bellville, was intoxicated and attempted to steal several items from the business. Lindsey was eventually placed in custody for Failure to ID a Fugitive from Justice, Theft of Property less than $2,500 with 2 or more with previous convictions, Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct – Language, and for an active local warrant. Lindsey was transported to the Washington County Jail for booking.

Then Saturday night at 10:30, Officers responded to a residence located in the 900 block of Harrington Street in reference to a report of a weapon-involved situation. The victim and a witness reported a firearm was discharged during a disturbance. No one was reported injured and the incident is currently under investigation by the criminal investigation division.

The post BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING SHATTERED WINDOWS OVER WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Sheriff Jack Brandes swears in new Chief Deputy
Matthew Walls
(Austin County Sheriff's Office)The Austin County Sheriff’s Office has a new second in command.

Sheriff Jack Brandes has appointed Matthew Walls as his new Chief Deputy.

Walls brings over 21 years of law enforcement experience to the position, with almost 15 years working for the Austin County Sheriff's Office.

According to a press release, Chief Deputy Walls was chosen because he knows the inner workings of the department, and has established great working relationships with the current staff and surrounding agencies, which they feel will make this a positive transition for the Sheriff's Office.

Walls takes over the position formerly held by Richard Holloman, who retired last month after over 40 years of service to the County.

The post NEW AUSTIN COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY SWORN IN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a school shooting threat that was written on the bathroom wall at Caldwell High School.

The threat, which was discovered on April 24, said that the person who wrote it was planning to shoot up the school on May 6, which was this past Monday.

The threat was reported to the principal’s office, and then to the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office the same day.

Ten Burleson County Sheriff Deputies and DPS Sgt. Justin Stohler provided an increased law enforcement presence on campus.

They also patrolled the Elementary, Intermediate, and Junior High campuses as well.

Law enforcement and school officials were relieved that nothing happened.

The extra officers were on hand on Tuesday, but again nothing happened.

Chief Deputy Bill Rios told the Burleson County Tribune that they have been questioning students, but so far no one saw who wrote message, or when it was written.

Caldwell High School Principal Erin Meadows sent out an email saying that they are committed to the safety of all their students, and thus far the Sheriff’s Office has not found any credible information that would substantiate the threat.

Rios said that the surveillance is going to continue. He added that if they do find out who made the threat, there will be charges filed.

The post BURLESON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING SCHOOL SHOOTING THREAT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A former Washington County employee who was charged with making thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases with a county credit card pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation in 21st District Court before Judge Carson Campbell.

Lisa Michelle Grebe
(Washington Co. Jail)57-year-old Lisa Michelle Grebe of Brenham received 4 years’ deferred adjudication probation, was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $3,151 in restitution for Credit/Debit Card Abuse, a state jail felony. She will also have to perform 300 hours of community service.

Grebe was arrested and released from her position in the county treasurer’s office in June 2023 as the result of an investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators determined that Grebe used a county credit card to, without permission, conduct multiple purchases from a local business and in another Texas city.

Grebe was one of nine people who were sentenced this week. The others include:

19-year-old Joshua Servin-Lopez of Hutto had his probation adjudicated and was sentenced to 5 years in prison for Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle, a third degree felony. Servin-Lopez was also sentenced to 6 months in state jail and ordered to pay $3,393 in restitution for Criminal Mischief $2,500 - $30,000, a state jail felony.

29-year-old Matthew Ryan Callahan of Brenham was sentenced to 12 months in state jail for Failure to Comply with Sex Offenders Duty to Register 10 Years, a state jail felony.

35-year-old Kelli Michelle Campbell of Granbury was sentenced to 5 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a third degree felony. Campbell was also fined $500 and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

44-year-old Michael Leroy Hooper of Brenham received 4 years’ probation for Assault of a Family Member with Previous Conviction, a third degree felony. Hooper was also fined $1,000 and must complete 150 hours of community service and a batterers intervention program.

24-year-old Brian Charly Cuevas of Brenham was sentenced to 3 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a third degree felony. Cuevas must also pay a $500 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

26-year-old Darrod Bernard Smith of Brenham was sentenced to 3 years’ deferred adjudication probation for Injury to a Disabled Individual, a state jail felony. Smith was also fined $500 and must perform 100 hours of community service. In addition, he is not allowed to work as a caretaker.

64-year-old Philippe August Cras of Kingwood received 2 years’ probation for Driving While Intoxicated 2nd, a Class A misdemeanor. Cras must also pay a $1,000 fine, perform 40 hours of community service and complete a DWI education program.

31-year-old Hannah Elisabeth Johnson of Austin had her probation revoked and was sentenced to 35 days in the Washington County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class A misdemeanor.

The post FORMER WASHINGTON CO. EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR CREDIT CARD FRAUD first appeared on KWHI.com.

A La Grange man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder.

Denzale Jydon Myles
(Fayette Co. Jail)31-year-old Denzale Jydon Myles was sentenced on Wednesday by District Judge Jeff Steinhauser for the death of Ezrianna Poncik on September 4, 2021 at the Green Acres Apartments near La Grange.

Myles also received a 2-year sentence for possessing a stolen firearm in connection to the murder.

Poncik, who was 20 years old when she was killed, was in a relationship with Myles at the time.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office announced on September 7, 2021 that Myles was arrested in Bastrop County. He has been in Fayette County custody since then.

The post LA GRANGE MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS FOR MURDER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham High School will honor graduating seniors on Monday at the 37th Annual Scholarship Ceremony and Academic Awards Program.

The ceremony starts at 6 p.m. in the Brenham High School Auditorium.

Students will receive numerous college, memorial and civic scholarships and be presented with academic awards. The evening will also include the announcement of the Class of 2024’s valedictorian and salutatorian.

KWHI will broadcast the ceremony live beginning at 5:45 p.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

Brenham High School’s graduation will be Friday, May 24th at 8 p.m. at Cub Stadium.

The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP CEREMONY MONDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Fortnightly Club of Brenham presents a check
to City of Brenham officials during the club's annual
spring luncheon on Thursday. Pictured are (from
left) Susan Nienstedt, City of Brenham Human
Resources Director; Sabrina Roberts, Fortnightly
Club Reporter; Tammy Murphy, Interim City of
Brenham Librarian; Susan Myers, Fortnightly Club
President; Atwood Kenjura, Brenham Mayor; Carolyn
Miller, Brenham City Manager The Fortnightly Club of Brenham gathered today (Thursday) for its spring luncheon to give back to the City of Brenham.

Club representatives presented city officials with a check for $36,000. The funding comes via proceeds from the club’s book sale held every February at the Washington County Expo and goes to benefit the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.

Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura said he is in awe of everything the club does to organize the sale and support the city.

City Manager Carolyn Miller said the funds allow the library to have additional programming, computers, summer reading and circulation materials. She said the club helps make the library the best it can be.

The Fortnightly Club's "Bookhouse Babes" pose for
a silly photo after being recognized during the
club's annual spring luncheon. The group handles
the cleaning, pricing and sorting of books for the
club's yearly book sale.The luncheon also highlighted the work done by the club members who clean, price and sort books in preparation for the book sale. The group is affectionately called the “Bookhouse Babes”.

The Fortnightly Club and its contributions to the Brenham library will be formally recognized at an upcoming city council meeting.

The post FORTNIGHTLY CLUB PRESENTS $36,000 IN PROCEEDS FROM BOOK SALE TO CITY OF BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tarod Johnson (Brazos County Jail)A Hempstead man will be spending the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty of Murder by a Brazos County jury.

23-year-old Tarod London was found guilty of killing his former girlfriend, 18-year-old Roshainah Tompkins.

On July 25, 2021, College State Police were dispatched to the Crescent Pointe Apartments for a welfare concern after neighbors saw a trail of blood leading to the defendant’s apartment.

Officers breached the locked door, and found the body of Tompkins just inside the apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. London was not at the scene.

Investigators set up surveillance at London’s permanent address in Hempstead, and around 1:15am on the morning of July 26, 2021, saw his car parked outside the address.

As officers approached the vehicle, London sped off with no headlights on, and evaded arrest at a high rate of speed.

His car was located later that day in a hotel parking lot in Brenham, along with an AR-15 rifle owned by the defendant near the driver’s seat.

Prosecutors presented a timeline of London’s movements using traffic camera footage and cell tower data from his phone to show that he had driven with the victim’s body in his car before disposing of it in his apartment.

The jury also heard how London attempted to take a Texas Ranger’s service weapon and escape from custody.

London testified on his own behalf, and claimed self-defense. The claim was rejected by the jury.

The post HEMPSTEAD MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is searching for those responsible after a resident was shot during a reported vehicle burglary early this (Thursday) morning.

A photo of a suspect who is said
to be connected to a vehicle
burglary early Thursday morning
on Rehburg Road. The
Washington County Sheriff's Office
believes there are two suspects
involved.
(courtesy Washington Co. Sheriff's
Office)The sheriff’s office says it responded around 3 a.m. to a burglary of a vehicle call in the 6300 block of Rehburg Road, northeast of Burton, in which shots were fired.

The homeowner told deputies he was alerted to activity in his driveway. As he left his residence, he was shot and wounded in his lower extremities by the suspects, of which the sheriff’s office believes there are two involved.

The homeowner returned fire, and the suspects fled to an awaiting pickup truck parked on Rehburg Road.

The victim was treated at the scene and transported by Washington County EMS to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in College Station. He is listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies and assisting law enforcement agencies are conducting an area-wide search. The case is currently under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Texas Rangers. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of any suspects involved.

The sheriff’s office encourages everyone to always remove their keys and any valuables from their vehicles.

The post WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE SEARCHING FOR SUSPECTS AFTER HOMEOWNER SHOT DURING VEHICLE BURGLARY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two hundred and seventy-seven Blinn College District graduates walked the stage during the College’s 149th commencement ceremony Wednesday, May 8, at Brenham High School.

Weston Hinze speaks to his fellow Blinn College
graduates at commencement on Wednesday at
Brenham High School.
(courtesy Blinn College)The exercise recognized students who earned associate degrees, certificates, and occupational skills awards. Including students who reverse transfer, approximately 994 Blinn students graduated this spring.

The ceremony featured two student speakers, Weston Hinze and Branden Francis. Hinze, who graduated with an Associate of Science in Agriculture and an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, was a member of Blinn’s national champion livestock judging team.

“I encourage you to dream bigger, chase those dreams, and most importantly, not to just go be something, but to be somebody,” Hinze told his fellow graduates.

Francis, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, graduated with an Associate of Arts in Architecture and an Associate of Science in Business. He graduated as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Sigma Kappa Delta English honor society.

Livestream footage of the ceremony is available at the Blinn College YouTube page.

Registration is now open for Blinn’s May minimester, summer, and fall terms.

The May minimester runs Monday, May 13, through Wednesday, May 29, and students earn full course credit in just a few weeks. These accelerated courses cover the same material as a full-length course and allow students to make rapid progress toward their degree. For more information about the May minimester, including the courses offered and their transfer equivalents, visit www.blinn.edu/may.

Summer I classes begin Monday, June 3, and summer II courses begin Monday, July 8. For more information about the summer I and summer II terms, including the courses offered and their transfer equivalents, visit www.blinn.edu/summer.

The fall semester begins Wednesday, Aug. 21. For a list of fall courses and transfer equivalents, visit www.blinn.edu/fall.

New students can apply to Blinn via the ApplyTexas.org application, then register for classes at https://my.blinn.edu. Blinn recommends that all students speak to an academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Students can chat online with a Blinn admissions specialist between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at www.blinn.edu/admissions or by calling 979-830-4800.

(Story courtesy Blinn Information)

The post BLINN COLLEGE CELEBRATES SPRING CLASS OF 2024 AT COMMENCEMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBS) says Baylor Scott & White Health (BSW) could end its physician and hospital agreements, unless the agreements are modified.

(courtesy photo)Notices posted on the BCBS and BSW websites show that the two are in contract negotiations for BCBS plan holders to continue to receive in-network coverage from BSW doctors, hospitals and facilities. If the two do not come to an agreement by July 1st, BCBS will be considered out of network.

The negotiations cover the following plans and pertain to all BSW locations:

ParPlan
Blue Choice PPO
Blue Essentials
Blue Advantage HMO
Blue Premier / High Performance Networks (HPN)
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO)
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (HMO)
Managed Medicaid STAR Kids

Not included in the negotiations are BCBS Medicare supplement plans.

BCBS said while it has a long and positive relationship with BSW, patients are the top priority, and it wants to reach an agreement that will continue to give them access to BSW doctors and hospitals at fair prices.

BSW said nothing is changing right now with the agreement, and it is working to reach a new agreement to keep BCBS plan holders in-network so as to minimize any potential disruptions.

Full press statement from Baylor Scott & White Health:

Baylor Scott & White Health is negotiating a new contract to cover care for patients with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) health insurance. Currently, patients with BCBSTX plans have in-network coverage with our providers and facilities, and we are working to reach a new agreement before July 1, 2024, to keep BCBSTX plan holders in-network. Our patients are our top priority, and we are working to minimize any potential disruptions.

For more information, please visit www.BSWHealth.com/BCBSTX

The post BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE COULD TERMINATE BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD CONTRACT JULY 1 IF NEW AGREEMENT NOT NEGOTIATED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Six Blinn College District faculty and staff members have received 2024 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards for their dedication to Blinn students.

Jessica Garza, Veterinary Technology Program Director; Craig Jeffrey, Assistant Dean for the Division of Arts, Kinesiology, and Agriculture; Mary Lange, Vocational Nursing Program Instructor; Julie Marshall, Administrative Assistant to the Blinn College Executive Dean at Texas A&M-RELLIS Michelle Shoemaker, Admissions and Records Training and Development Coordinator; and Rachel Valentine, Reference and Instruction Librarian will receive commemorative pewter medallions from NISOD to mark their achievements. Each winner will be recognized during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence held May 25-28 in Austin.

“It is a pleasure to congratulate these individuals for this well-deserved recognition and to celebrate their invaluable contributions to our institution,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District. “Their achievements inspire their colleagues and students to pursue excellence in all their endeavors. Congratulations to all the award recipients for setting such a high standard of professional and educational excellence.”

NISOD is a membership organization that promotes and celebrates excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. First presented in 1989, NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.

Faculty, staff, students, and departmental supervisors made nominations based on character and integrity, effectiveness as instructors, involvement in student organizations and activities, service to Blinn, and participation in professional organizations and professional development activities. Final recipient selections were made by Blinn’s Professional Development Funding Committee.

Jessica Garza
(courtesy Blinn College)Garza joined Blinn in 2020 as a full-time instructor for the Veterinary Technology Program before transitioning to the role of clinical coordinator. In 2023, she became program director and also serves as the advisor for the Blinn Veterinary Technology Student Chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).

Garza is an active member of the veterinary profession. She holds memberships in the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, the NAVTA, and the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators and is vice president of the Veterinary Team Association of Texas.

“I am truly blessed to teach the future credentialed veterinary technicians in our community,” Garza said. “It gives me great joy to see the knowledge, confidence, and passion our Blinn students have at the end of their educational journey. It serves as a reminder that we all started somewhere, but a dedicated and compassionate mentor can truly bring out the best in someone. It is an honor to be part of an amazing institution that recognizes the dedication that faculty put into their students.”

Craig Jeffery
(courtesy Blinn College)Jeffrey began teaching in Blinn’s Architecture Program in 2010. He earned his associate degree in arts and architecture from Lee College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental design and his Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University.

“My goal is to support Blinn students and provide them with the foundation they need to be successful, whether they choose to transfer to a four-year institution or go directly into the industry,” Craig said. “For me, teaching is a joy and I feel privileged to work at an institution that supports a creative and innovative learning environment to ensure student success.”

Mary Lange
(courtesy Blinn College)Lange began mentoring Blinn Vocational Nursing Program students while working as a staff nurse at a Brenham area hospital affiliate’s birthing center. She combined her passions for nursing and education by joining Blinn’s faculty in 2007. Lange’s courses focus primarily on nursing fundamentals, clinical simulation, and maternal-neonatal nursing.

She has been a registered nurse for 40 years since graduating in 1984 from Foothills Hospital School of Nursing (associated with the University of Calgary) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

“I strive to foster a collaborative and interactive classroom where discussion and inquiry are encouraged,” Lange said. “By incorporating real-world examples and bringing hands-on experiences to my students, I hope to make nursing relevant, engaging, and meaningful. I am fortunate to be surrounded by a team of talented educators working toward the same goals. Together we are stronger.”

Julie Marshall
(courtesy Blinn College)Marshall joined Blinn in 2009 as an enrollment services specialist. She also served as an accounts payable and student collections clerk before transitioning to her current position supporting the Executive Dean of Blinn at Texas A&M-RELLIS when the campus opened in 2018. Marshall assists the executive dean by coordinating campus logistics, interacting with students, and working with staff, faculty, and administrators across all six of Blinn’s physical campuses.

“It is an honor to be recognized for this award and I accept it for each person I work alongside,” Marshall said. “Taking the time to ask students or colleagues, ‘How are you doing?’ or ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ and then listening to their answer is something I always strive to do. These simple acts have the power to let others know that someone sincerely cares, which may ultimately brighten their day.”

Michelle Shoemaker
(courtesy Blinn College)Shoemaker has been with Blinn for more than 20 years. She began her career in the Distance Learning Department as a support specialist before moving into the Admissions and Records Department. In her current position as Admissions and Records Training and Development Coordinator, she organizes course entry, online forms, and New Student Registration. Shoemaker also teaches part-time in the Division Business and Mathematics.

She earned her associate degree in liberal arts from Blinn, and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human relations and business from Amberton University.

“I have seen so many changes over the past 20 years, but the one thing that remains unchanged is Blinn’s commitment to students,” Shoemaker said. “Being part of that commitment has been an honor, and being recognized with this award is very appreciated.”

Rachel Valentine
(courtesy Blinn College)Valentine joined Blinn in 2014 as a full-time reference and instruction librarian. In addition to this role, she serves as an advisor for Blinn’s Alpha Phi Lambda chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa student honor society.

Valentine earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in modern British women’s history from London Metropolitan University, and a master’s in library science from Texas Woman’s University.

“I love to teach students about the research process and how to navigate the information landscape,” Valentine said. “I think it is wonderful that Blinn places such a large emphasis on student success and that the libraries can be recognized for playing an active role in the academic achievements of Blinn students.”

Registration is available now for Blinn’s May minimester, summer, and fall 2024 courses. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.

(Story courtesy Blinn College)

The post SIX BLINN COLLEGE FACULTY & STAFF RECOGNIZED WITH 2024 NISOD EXCELLENCE AWARDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Both candidates in the Republican primary runoff for Texas House District 12 joined KWHI on Tuesday for a forum to share their ideas and goals for the region.

Ben BiusBen Bius and Trey Wharton answered questions on topics including economic policy, education, property taxes, the southern border, and the growth being experienced in House District 12.

Speaking on school vouchers, Bius said the answer is not simple, as schools should not be subjected to a one-size-fits-all approach. He believes true change starts in the classroom.

Trey WhartonWharton said dialogue on proposed legislation has been back and forth in the House and Senate, but he ultimately supports allowing families to choose the educational setting that best suits their children while also keeping public schools strong.

Shifting to property taxes, both Bius and Wharton said they are open to reform. Bius said sales taxes can be more versatile.

Wharton said excessive property taxation turns homeowners into renters.

Bius and Wharton received the most votes out of the three candidates in the March 5th primary, advancing to the runoff on May 28th. The election is for the seat of Kyle Kacal, who did not run for another term.

The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November.

Early voting for the runoff will be held from May 20-24.

Click below to listen to the full interview with Ben Bius.

Click below to hear the full interview with Trey Wharton.

The post HOUSE DISTRICT 12 CANDIDATES SPEAK ON CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES AT FORUM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County EMS is using artificial intelligence to help keep its ambulance drivers safe and alert on the roads.

During his quarterly report at today’s (Tuesday) county commissioners meeting, EMS Director Kevin Deramus talked about how the department is testing out software from Samsara to monitor drivers behind the wheel.

Via an additional camera in the cab of the truck, the software tracks behaviors such as how often drivers are using their phone, if they are braking too hard, and if they appear to be getting tired. It can then send a notification to the driver’s supervisor, who can check in to see if they are ok.

Since data tracking began in January, Deramus said the software has already led to improved driver safety habits and reduced risk.

Deramus said the software is relatively inexpensive and that, while commissioners can expect a larger presentation on the software during preparation of the new budget, the department is “really close to tying a knot” to use donation funds to support it for the rest of the year.

The court applauded Deramus and the department for taking on this initiative, with Commissioner Candice Bullock calling it “outside of the box” thinking. Commissioner Kirk Hanath said this benefits both the EMS team and constituents.

County Judge John Durrenberger said during his absence over the past few months due to health issues, he had to take several trips to College Station. Over that time, he observed many ambulance units and noted that their driving speed was not always consistent, something he believes this software can help identify and correct.

Deramus said the long-term goal is to take the data gathered by the software and use it to create a scoring matrix for drivers, showing when they are good to go and when action may be needed.

Also at today’s meeting, Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Teresa Rosales provided updates on several economic projects. She said an agreement with Project Color Guard, described by former Economic Development Director Susan Cates as a “data center project”, is being finalized for signature, but staff is crafting language for a restrictive covenant related to water.

Rosales referenced the work being done to bring a Panda Express to Brenham and mentioned that her department is working with La Quinta and Marriott on development. She said Del Sol Food Company, the maker of BRIANNAS, is renovating a building onsite to add a bakery. She also announced that Corrosion Resistant Alloys is expected to open its location along Highway 290 East “very soon.”

The court also:

Approved orders for plat revision development applications for six lots within the Bluebonnet Hills subdivision and two lots within the Bluebonnet Ridge subdivision, both in Precinct 2. They then approved plat revisions for both subdivisions.
Granted a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Kolkhorst Schultz Road in Precinct 1.
Discussed a formal notice for fiber installation by Industry Telephone Company in the Koether Road right-of-way in Precinct 4. No action was needed.

The post WASHINGTON CO. EMS TESTING AI SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE DRIVER SAFETY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Zane Aschenbeck
(courtesy Burton ISD)Burton High School has named the leading graduates of the Class of 2024.

Receiving valedictorian honors is Zane Ryan Aschenbeck, with a grade point average of 3.99.

Noelia Casas
(courtesy Burton ISD)Zane is the son of Mr. Ryan Aschenbeck and Ms. Stacy Aschenbeck. He will be pursuing an engineering degree at Texas A&M University.

The salutatorian is Noelia Anita Casas, whose GPA is 3.90.

Noelia is the daughter of Mr. Narciso Casas and Ms. Veronica Casas. She will attend Blinn College and then transfer to Texas A&M, where she will study health science with plans to become a doctor.

Thirty-one students are graduating this year, including 13 honor graduates. Along with Aschenbeck and Casas, honor students are:

Patrick Clemons Tavary, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Tavary
Katy Lynn Whitfield, daughter of Mr. Clay Whitfield and Ms. Cathy Pribilski
John Walter Brode, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Brode
Grayson Robert Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brown
Madelyn Ann Dixon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jared Dixon
Allison Makenzie Biggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Biggs
Andre Kalim Ortiz, son of Ms. Isabel Gomez
Makenzi Jo Sullivan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Todd Sullivan
Trinity Logan Pope, nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Rhodes
Jynisha Lanae Randle, daughter of the late Ms. Charlene Patterson and Mr. Johnnie Randle
Justin Keith Walker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jodee Walker

Burton High School’s graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24th at 8 p.m. at the Burton Cotton Gin Pavilion.

The post BURTON HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES TOP GRADUATES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham High School MCJROTC had another strong showing at the All Service Drill Meet held this weekend in Daytona, Florida.

The Brenham High School MCJROTC unarmed team
competed on Saturday and Sunday at the National
High School All Service Drill Championship in
Daytona, Florida.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Over 90 teams from across the country participated in the event as a whole. Brenham’s unarmed drill team competed in the top division against 15 other military high school programs.

Brenham achieved results of 2nd Best Commander, 2nd in Regulation, 4th in Color Guard and 5th in Inspection.

MCJROTC Instructor, Captain Jeffrey Bayse, said Brenham ISD is “immensely proud” of the cadets’ performance and their “remarkable achievements.” He said, “Their commitment to excellence and teamwork has once again shone brightly, and they have represented Brenham High School with distinction.”

The post BRENHAM MCJROTC EXCELS AT ALL SERVICE DRILL MEET first appeared on KWHI.com.

KWHI’s Candidates Forum is tonight (Tuesday) for the two Republican candidates seeking election as representative of Texas House District 12.

Ben BiusThe forum will be broadcast from the KWHI studios starting at 5:30 p.m.

Ben Bius will be live in studio for questions from the news media and the listening audience. Trey Wharton is unable to attend this evening, but he will sit for questions in a pre-recorded interview that will play after the program with Bius.

Questions can be submitted to mail@kwhi.com or called in to 979-836-9937.

Trey WhartonThe forum can be heard on AM 1280, FM 101.7, kwhi.com and the KWHI mobile app.

Wharton and Bius are facing off in a primary runoff election on May 28th after being the top two vote-getters out of three in the March 5th primary. The election is to fill the seat of Kyle Kacal, who is not running for re-election.

The winner of the runoff will go up against Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November.

Early voting for the runoff will take place between May 20-24.

The post KWHI TO HOST FORUM TUESDAY FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 12 CANDIDATES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD trustees became students again for a day, as they took part during their meeting today (Monday) in science experiments demonstrating how a new science curriculum will impact the way students learn.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Clay Gillentine (right)
and School Board President Natalie Lange smile as
they watch the reaction of a science experiment
demonstrating different states of matter. Trustees
sprayed hair spray into a jar of water and closed the
jar with an upside-down lid filled with ice. Upon
lifting the lid, water vapor began to escape from the
jar.Prior to their unanimous vote in support of SAVVAS K-12 science curriculum, board members donned protective goggles and listened to Brenham ISD teachers explain what kind of lessons students might expect and how they align with new Texas Education Agency (TEA) requirements.

The first experiment showed how water exists in different states of matter, as board members sprayed hair spray into a jar of water and closed it with an upside-down lid holding several small cubes of ice. After waiting a few moments, they lifted the lid and saw water vapor start to rise out of the jar. The second experiment had trustees using shaving cream to draw the different shapes that clouds can take.

Secondary Curriculum Coordinator Amanda Dismukes stressed the importance of students not just reading during lessons, but engaging in them, and said this curriculum will help to achieve that.

Brenham ISD trustees observe the outcome of a
science experiment showing how water can exist as
a solid, liquid and gas.The need for new curriculum comes about after the State Board of Education in 2021 approved new science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards for grades K-12, with major changes to the junior high grade levels. The new TEKS standards, which take effect in the upcoming school year, emphasize phenomena-based learning, scientific and engineering practices, and recurring themes and concepts.

Executive Director of Leading and Learning Sara Borchgardt said all of Brenham ISD’s science teachers were involved in the procurement of new curriculum, and SAVVAS was unanimously ranked out of three companies as the teachers’ top choice.

Brenham ISD trustees Jared Krenek (left) and Archer
Archer draw clouds using shaving cream as part of a
science experiment.The district is adopting SAVVAS for the next 8 years at a total cost of $492,324, divided into two payments from the instructional materials and technology allotment provided by the state. Borchgardt said the district is coming in “right where we should” in terms of cost.

Trustees Bonnie Brinkmeyer and Tommie Sullivan said it is great that teachers are all behind the new curriculum. Brinkmeyer added that students should enjoy the lessons and will be more apt to take their new knowledge home with them.

Also at today’s meeting, the board received presentations on preliminary taxable value numbers and delinquent tax collections. Chief Financial Officer Darrell St. Clair said Washington County’s preliminary net taxable value is just over $5 billion, with freeze-adjusted value sitting at $4.3 billion. Preliminary value for the land in Austin County that sits within Brenham ISD comes out to almost $24 million. Certified values will be released in July.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES PURCHASE OF NEW SCIENCE CURRICULUM first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham High School graduate and 13-year member of Brenham ISD’s staff has been promoted as the district’s new Director of Technology.

Brittni Kalich (center) was selected on Monday to be
Brenham ISD's new Director of Technology. Brittni
is pictured with her husband, Josh, and members of
the Brenham School Board.Brittni Kalich was named to the position by the Brenham School Board today (Monday) following an executive session. Kalich will assume the role previously held by Rodney Leer, who is retiring from the school district next month after 20 years in Brenham ISD and 33 years total in education.

Kalich joined Brenham ISD as a teacher in 2011 and has held various other roles throughout her career, including librarian, instructional technology specialist and systems coordinator. She has also contributed as a part-time English professor for Blinn College and teaches Sunday school, coordinates Vacation Bible School and helps with children’s sermons at Salem Lutheran Church.

Kalich attended Texas A&M University as an undergraduate and earned a master’s degree from Sam Houston State University. She is currently on a path to obtaining her doctorate from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, specializing in Educational Technology.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Clay Gillentine said Kalich’s “dedication to professional development and her innovative approach to technology integration make her the ideal candidate to lead our technology initiatives.” He said her promotion “highlights our district's commitment to building capacity from within.”

Gillentine also thanked Leer for his contributions to the district, saying he “has been an invaluable member of our team, and his presence will be deeply missed.”

The post BRITTNI KALICH NAMED BRENHAM ISD’S NEW DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Changes are coming to the Burton School Board as a result of Saturday’s election.

Three candidates filed for the two seats of Brian Hinze and David Warner Sr., the latter of which did not seek re-election.

Ande “Arch” Bostain received the most votes at 212. Bostain is a former trustee who served from May 2015 to May 2018 and then again from December 2018 to November 2020.

Bostain will be joined on the board by retired school administrator Mike Clyde, who tallied the second-highest vote total at 160. Clyde was formerly a principal at Burton High School and was involved in committee work during the 2021 school bond election.

Finishing in third place was Hinze, who accumulated 146 votes. Hinze has been a trustee since May 2021.

A total of 303 ballots were cast in the election, including 88 during early voting, 15 absentee and 200 on Election Day. There are 2,712 registered voters in Burton ISD, meaning the voter turnout was approximately 11.17 percent.

Results are considered unofficial until they are canvassed by the board.

In other elections around the area, voters approved a series of bond propositions in Navasota and Hempstead ISDs, decided on mayoral races in Hempstead and Caldwell, and participated in several other city council and school board races.

Navasota

Proposition A, worth $71 million, passed 437-353. The measure calls for the construction of a fourth elementary school, the purchase of land for future schools, new buses, facility improvements and upgrades to school safety. Proposition B, which was approved 431-354, will refinance $3.04 million, moving it from the existing Maintenance and Operations side of the budget to the Interest and Sinking side over the course of the next six years.

For the Navasota City Council, incumbent B.F. “Bernie” Gessner Jr. defeated challenger Bobby Gentry 203-134.

Hempstead

Proposition A, valued at $42.32 million, received 917 votes in favor to 349 votes against. It will fund a replacement campus for the Hempstead Early Childhood Education Center, cafeteria and band hall additions at the high school, an auxiliary gym addition and roof replacement at the middle school, plus other campus and security improvements. Proposition B, worth $3.4 million, passed 854-400 and will go toward a new synthetic turf field and track at Bobcat Stadium.

The City of Hempstead will have a new mayor, as challenger Katherine Ragston Ward defeated incumbent Erica Gillum 503-457. The Position 1 seat will also change hands, after a three-way race between incumbent Mildred Jefferson, Dave Shelburne and Quinn Anthony Navarre Jr. resulted in Shelburne claiming victory with 438 votes. Jefferson received 358 votes and Navarre tallied 165. Meanwhile, the Position 2 seat of Cindy Pearce, who did not pursue re-election, will be filled by Veronica Celaya Klausmeyer, who received 385 votes to the 301 of Valencia Renita Tompkins and the 254 of Annette Rutledge Baker.

For the Hempstead School Board, the Position 5 seat of Ricky Pearce, who did not run for another term, will go to Susan Hopkins after her defeat of Donald Jeffrey 785-470.

Caldwell

On the Caldwell City Council, Mayor Janice Easter won another term in office, besting challenger Brad Oliver 236-177.

Two newcomers won election to the Caldwell School Board. The top vote-getters were Craig Ayers Jr. at 351 and Michael Cook at 329. Incumbent Gregory Cook received 295 votes. Another incumbent, Erica Chollett, did not seek another term.

Somerville

Three seats were up for election on the Somerville City Council, and two will have new faces. Bobby J. Schoppe, the only incumbent who sought re-election after Deonna Strickland Moses and Amanda Flencher chose not to do so, collected the most votes at 106. Following in second place was Mark Sager with 98 votes, while Laura Hoover took third with 68. Jerri Negrete accumulated 57 votes.

The Somerville School Board had four candidates vying for three open seats. The positions will be filled by incumbent Melissa Tharp with 195 votes, Michael Moses with 156, and incumbent David Idlebird with 148. Jessica Douglas received 45 votes. Joe Gonzales did not run for re-election.

Giddings

The Giddings City Council’s two incumbents in this election will return for another term, as Mark Muniz and Linda Pruitt gathered the most votes at 167 and 123, respectively. Gina Reat tallied 117 votes.

Bellville

On the Bellville School Board, Position 3 incumbent Jim Batson secured re-election after winning against Kara Rathbone 774-211.

Sealy

On the Sealy City Council, incumbent Chris Noack won his bid for re-election, defeating Melaney McShan 101-63.

La Grange

On the La Grange School Board, Calvin Mersiovsky will continue to serve after winning re-election with 433 votes. His position was also sought by Ryan W. Kleiber, who received 149 votes, and Verlia Mosley-Rhodes, who took in 76 votes.

Round Top

The two incumbents for the Round Top Town Council won re-election, with Lynn Conine receiving 27 votes and Owen Massey bringing in 25. Karen Duddlesten tallied 7 votes. Judith Vincent was unopposed to become Round Top’s new mayor, after Mark Massey did not run for another term.

The post BOSTAIN, CLYDE WIN SEATS ON BURTON SCHOOL BOARD; NAVASOTA & HEMPSTEAD ISDs PASS SCHOOL BONDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tickets are now available for the annual “Summer Sip and Art Walk” in downtown Brenham.

Dozens of businesses and downtown destinations will host the Sip on Saturday, June 8th from 3 to 7 p.m., offering tasty and refreshing summer drinks along with striking artwork from a variety of creators.

Some of the drinks that will be served include mojitos, sangria, palomas, hurricane punch, peach whiskey lemonade and peach bellini cocktail slushes.

Tickets can be purchased for $25 at participating locations downtown. A full list of those can be seen at https://downtownbrenham.com. They can also be purchased online directly for $30. Prices go up to $35 the day of the event.

On June 8th, attendees can exchange their tickets for commemorative event glasses at the Washington County Courthouse gazebo starting at 2 p.m. They will also receive a map to direct them to all of the locations taking part.

Sponsors for the “Summer Sip and Art Walk” are Van Gogh sponsors Deep in the Heart Farms and Hermann Furniture, Picasso sponsor Dream Dental, and Monet sponsor Altman Dentistry.

The post SUMMER SIP & ART WALK TICKETS NOW ON SALE first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106’s Armadillo Hi-Lo had another winner on Friday.

Connie Oevermann of Brenham correctly guessed the jackpot of $622.79 Friday afternoon with Ryan Stone.

A brand new jackpot starts with this (Monday) morning’s Armadillo Hi-Lo with Eilish and Cowboy Dave at 7:35 a.m.

Armadillo Hi-Lo is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, Brenham Trees, Cedera Liquor and The Diesel District.

The post ARMADILLO HI-LO HAS A NEW WINNER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 134th Brenham Maifest came to an end on Saturday with the coronation of the Junior Royalty.

Junior Maifest King Tyler Henry Hopkins gives a rose
to Junior Maifest Queen Caroline Adele Kenjura
during the Junior Coronation on Saturday.Junior Queen Caroline Adele Kenjura and Junior King Tyler Henry Hopkins reigned over the court of “Up, Up and Away: Across the USA”.

The ceremony took the audience on a hot air balloon trip to experience everything America has to offer, from Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Hawaii and New York, to the southern hospitality of states like Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, to the comfort of home in Brenham.

The festival at Fireman's Park treated guests to German food and music, beer tasting, carnival games and rides, dancing, and a parade through downtown on Saturday. The Senior Maifest coronation on Friday, themed “Viva Las Maifest”, put on display the allure and excitement of the Las Vegas Strip.

Junior Maifest King Tyler Henry HopkinsJunior Maifest Queen Caroline Adele KenjuraThe post JUNIOR ROYALTY CORONATION BRINGS 134TH BRENHAM MAIFEST TO A CLOSE first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Mark Whitehead)Click here to watch KWHI's Facebook livestream of the 2024 Maifest parade through downtown Brenham on Saturday, with commentary from Craig Montana and Courtney Cartwright.

The post VIDEO – 2024 BRENHAM MAIFEST PARADE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton School Board (two seats up for election)

(Unofficial Final - 1 of 1 Election Day Precincts Reporting)

Brian Hinze (i) – 146
Mike Clyde – 160
Ande “Arch” Bostain – 212

The post ELECTION RESULTS – BURTON SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Saturday) is Election Day for Burton ISD voters, as they head to the polls to vote on their choice of school board representatives.

Voting will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Burton Community Center, the lone polling location for this election.

Three candidates are running for the two seats of Brian Hinze and David Warner Sr. Hinze is seeking re-election, while Ande “Arch” Bostain and Mike Clyde are also vying for a position on the board. Warner did not file for another term.

Hinze has been a school board trustee since he was first elected in May 2021. Bostain has previous experience on the board from his election in May 2015 to May 2018, then being reappointed in December 2018 and serving until November 2020. Clyde is a retired school administrator who was formerly a principal at Burton High School and was involved in committee work during the 2021 school bond election.

A total of 88 people voted during the seven days of early voting offered at the Washington County Courthouse Annex in Brenham. According to Washington County Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, there are 2,712 registered voters in Burton ISD.

The Burton School Board election is the only contested one on today’s ballot in Washington County. All City of Burton councilmembers who were up for election are running unopposed, and the City of Brenham, Brenham ISD and Blinn College elections will not be held until May 2025.

However, cities and school districts in neighboring counties have several options for voters to consider, from school bonds in Navasota and Hempstead, to mayoral races in Hempstead and Caldwell, and many city council and school trustee races in between. A list of some of the elections of note can be found here.

Family and friends celebrated the coronation Friday night of the 134th Brenham Maifest’s Senior Royalty.

Senior Maifest Queen and King, Ashley Ribbon
Jones and Lucas Cash FlynnSenior Queen Ashley Ribbon Jones and Senior King Lucas Cash Flynn reigned over the court of “Viva Las Maifest”. The ceremony at Fireman’s Park showcased the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip, from its endless casino games to some of the musicians and entertainers that have come from all over the world to find fame and fortune.

The Junior Queen and King, Caroline Adele Kenjura and Tyler Henry Hopkins, will be crowned Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. as they reign over the court of “Up, Up and Away: Across the USA”.

Saturday’s activities begin with the parade through downtown Brenham at 10:30 a.m. KWHI will broadcast the parade live starting at 10 a.m. and will livestream it on Facebook, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Brenham. The Maifestival grounds and carnival will open following the parade for dance performances, games and beer tasting.

Music will be provided by Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Das ist Lustig from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Alli & the Polka Dots from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the Brown Sugar Band from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Admission to the festival is free. Coronation tickets are available at https://brenhammaifest.com.

Senior Maifest Queen Ashley Ribbon JonesSenior Maifest King Lucas Cash Flynn

Brenham could be getting a Panda Express.

Local economic and development officials say the fast food restaurant chain, which offers American Chinese dishes, is evaluating opening a location in front of Walmart on Highway 36 South, between Bush’s Chicken and the Murphy USA fuel station.

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Teresa Rosales said work is currently being done on platting a pad site parcel with Walmart and adjusting shared access easements to accommodate the site. City of Brenham Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said the next step after that will be getting a building permit from the city.

Doland said there is not a timeline for when construction of the restaurant would start, as plans have not yet been submitted. She cautioned that it is still very early on in the process, but said the chain is “strongly considering” Brenham.

The Brenham School Board will consider new K-12 science curriculum and the hiring of a new Information Technology Director when it meets Monday.

Trustees will hear a presentation on science curriculum from SAVVAS Learning Company before voting on the matter.

Brenham ISD Communications Director Brooke Trahan said the school district is having to change the curriculum in order to align with new Texas Education Agency (TEA) requirements and revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards.

Trahan said Brenham ISD went through a procurement process for the new curriculum, and that science teachers in the district were part of that process.

Following an executive session, the board will look to approve the selection of an IT Director, as well as various administrator and professional teacher contracts.

According to Trahan, Rodney Leer is retiring from the IT Director role next month. The position was posted internally.

Leer rejoined Brenham ISD in May 2021 after having previously worked for the district for 17 years. His career has also included stops in Magnolia ISD, Pasadena ISD and Dickinson ISD.

Other regular session business will include an update on tax collections and discussion on preliminary property values for 2024.

The board will meet Monday at noon in the Brenham ISD Administration Office. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

A man has been convicted and sentenced to prison after a Washington County jury found him guilty on Thursday of assaulting two Brenham police officers.

Trayvon Tyrone DK May
(Washington Co. Jail)25-year-old Trayvon May was sentenced to 30 years in prison and fined $10,000 for two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer. He also received a 10-year prison sentence and was fined $5,000 for Evading Arrest with a Vehicle. The sentences will run concurrently.

The charges date back to October 15, 2021, when May, who had moved to Texas from Madison, Wisconsin five months prior, escaped after being taken into custody following a traffic stop on Highway 290 for various traffic violations and possession of marijuana. Authorities said May got back into his vehicle and struggled with Officers Armando and Andrea Guerra before knocking them down and nearly running them over.

A chase ensued on Highway 290, reaching speeds upwards of 120 miles per hour. The pursuit ended when May crashed near Senate Avenue in Harris County. Police reports at the time stated he injured himself after jumping about 50 feet from the Highway 290 overpass.

Both officers were treated for minor injuries at Baylor Scott & White in Brenham and released the same evening.

At the punishment hearing Thursday afternoon, Andrea Guerra testified about the long-term effects of the incident, describing the fear and anxiety she experienced.

May, who requested that the jury sentence him to probation, was questioned by District Attorney Julie Renken about previous arrests for evading police with a vehicle, assault and firearm possession, as well as possessing razor blades in the Washington County Jail. At the time of the incident, May had a pending charge of fleeing police in Wisconsin.

Renken said after the trial that, “We will not tolerate those that want to harm the men and women that have been sworn to protect us.”

Full press release from Washington County District Attorney's Office:

Trayvon May, 25, of Brenham, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and one count of Evading Arrest With a Vehicle Thursday morning and sentenced that afternoon to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each Aggravated Assault and 10 years and a $5,000 for Evading Arrest. At trial, District Attorney Julie Renken and Assistant District Attorney Ryon Adams represented the State, and George Bishop represented the defendant.

Aggravated Assault is typically a second degree Felony, but becomes a first degree when committed against any public servant, including a peace officer. A first degree felony has a punishment range of 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Evading With a Vehicle is a third degree felony, with a punishment range of 2-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

On Friday, October 15, 2021 Brenham Police Department officers Armando and Andrea Guerra were on a traffic stop with the defendant, after he was stopped on 290 West for speeding, no front license plate, and an obscured rear temporary tag. May was placed in custody for possession of marihuana after a probable cause search was conducted of his vehicle but prior to being secured completely in the police vehicle he was able to escape the handcuffs and push pass the officers. May got back in his vehicle, and struggled with the officers until he ultimately was able to pull away. He knocked the officers down and almost ran them over before putting the car in reverse and almost running them over again. May led law enforcement on a high-speed chase down 290 before wrecking out near Senate Road in Harris County driving at speeds well over 120 mph late on a Friday afternoon.

During her closing argument at the guilt-innocence portion, Renken implored the jury to “protect those have sworn to protect us.” She highlighted May’s actions in nearly running over Armando Guerra twice as evidence of his intent to hurt them both.

At the punishment hearing, Andrea Guerra testified as to the long-term effects of the incident. She described the lasting fear and anxiety after experiencing a close call in the line of duty. She testified that this traffic stop will stay with her the rest of her life.

The Defendant testified about his life growing up in Wisconsin and how he came to Texas in May of 2021. In the end he requested the jury sentence him to probation. On cross-examination, Renken questioned May about previous arrests for evading police with a vehicle, assault, and firearm possession, as well as possessing razor blades in the Washington County Jail. At the time of the incident, May had a pending charge of Fleeing Police in Wisconsin.

Renken reminded the jury, during her closing, “after only five months in Texas on October 15, 2021 he drove through our county, and endangered our police officers and citizens.” The jury returned after short deliberations with the sentence.

Afterward, Renken commented, “I’m proud of our jury for sending the message that in Washington County it is not open season on our law enforcement. We will not tolerate those that want to harm the men and women that have been sworn to protect us.”

The 134th Brenham Maifest will hold the first of two royalty coronation ceremonies tonight (Friday).

(from left) Junior King Tyler Henry
Hopkins, Senior King Lucas Cash Flynn,
Senior Queen Ashley Ribbon Jones,
Senior Queen Caroline Adele Kenjura
(courtesy Brenham Maifest
Association)The Senior Coronation will begin at 7 p.m. at Fireman’s Park. Queen Ashley Ribbon Jones and King Lucas Cash Flynn will reign over the court of “Viva Las Maifest”.

The carnival opens at 5 p.m. Tonight’s music lineup includes The Czechaholics from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the Nite Moves Band from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

The Junior Coronation will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:30 p.m. Queen Caroline Adele Kenjura and King Tyler Henry Hopkins will reign over the court of “Up, Up and Away: Across the USA”.

A clear bag policy is in place for both coronation ceremonies.

Festivities tomorrow get underway with the parade through downtown Brenham at 10:30 a.m. KWHI will broadcast the parade live starting at 10 a.m. and will also livestream it on Facebook, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Brenham.

Afterwards, the festival grounds and carnival will open for music, dancing, beer tasting and games. Entertainment will be provided by Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Das ist Lustig from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Alli & the Polka Dots from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the Brown Sugar Band from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Admission to the festival is free. To learn more, or to purchase coronation tickets, go to https://brenhammaifest.com.

The post BRENHAM MAIFEST SENIOR CORONATION FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The men and women of the Brenham Police Department were recognized today (Thursday) by city councilmembers for their actions during the April 12th attack at the Brenham DPS Office.

Interim Brenham Police Chief Lloyd Powell (center)
speaks to city councilmembers on Thursday about
the actions of officers and police department
officials during the attack on the Brenham DPS
Office on April 12th. Also pictured are Lieutenant
Kelvin Raven (left), Sergeant Jason Derrick (second
from right) and Lieutenant Curtiss Schoen.
Interim Police Chief Lloyd Powell, joined by several other members of the department, spoke on the efforts of on-duty police officers, combined with sheriff’s deputies, constables, DPS troopers and all other first responders, to get the suspect in custody, tend to the wounded and protect the public from any further incident.

Powell gave special acknowledgement to Detective Connor Caskey and Corporal Alex Saenz, who jumped on the cab of the 18-wheeler that drove into the building in order to get the driver out and prevent the truck from causing more damage or injuries.

Powell said those who responded that day put their lives on the line.

Powell talked about the collaboration between all the agencies that were called out, saying everyone did their part. He said it is a privilege to be counted among them.

Following Powell’s comments, the council and audience stood and applauded all of the officers present. Mayor Atwood Kenjura said Brenham is “tremendously fortunate” to have people like them serving the community.

Powell said the department will present formal officer commendations at a later date.

James Antkowiak (right) receives a service
recognition for 25 years with the City of Brenham
Electric Department. The recognition was the focal point of a brief meeting for the council. In their only regular session business, councilmembers voted to terminate the city’s contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP for delinquent property tax collections. It then approved an interlocal agreement with Brenham ISD via the Washington County Appraisal District for the assessment and collection of property taxes.

City Secretary Jeana Bellinger explained that Brenham ISD terminated its contract with Linebarger in November and started a new agreement with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP. The council’s action today allows it to join all other Washington County taxing entities in receiving delinquent property tax collection services from Perdue.

At the conclusion of the regular meeting, the council went into executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding the Brenham Municipal Airport. No action was taken.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM POLICE DEPT. RECOGNIZED FOR EFFORTS DURING DPS OFFICE INCIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and Blinn College are in talks to potentially provide driver’s license services at the Brenham Campus.

Blinn Communications Director Richard Bray confirmed in a statement to KWHI this (Thursday) morning that, “DPS has reached out to us and as part of our role as a partner in the community, we are working with their staff to establish a temporary location at the Brenham Campus Student Center.”

DPS’ main office in Brenham at 975 Highway 290 West has been out of commission since April 12th, when a stolen 18-wheeler drove into the building. Six people were hospitalized, with two of the victims passing away as a result of their injuries. The suspect, 42-year-old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill, remains in custody on numerous charges, including murder.

As a result of the incident, Brenham-area residents in need of driver’s license services have been forced to make appointments at offices in other cities like Bryan, Caldwell and Hempstead.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst also provided a statement on the prospective partnership, saying, “I am familiar and encouraged with the discussions between DPS and Blinn to provide a temporary location and resume local services.”

KWHI asked Bray what specific services would be offered at the temporary location and when it might get up and running. Bray said the College is “currently in discussions with DPS to identify how we can best serve their needs”, adding that they plan to share that information “once we have some concrete details regarding the timeline and services.”

The post DPS, BLINN COLLEGE ‘IN DISCUSSIONS’ TO TEMPORARILY OFFER DRIVER’S LICENSE SERVICES ON BRENHAM CAMPUS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham will offer a wide selection of homemade and handmade goods tomorrow (Friday) during the First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market.

Shoppers can browse through vendors along Baylor and Park Streets from 4 to 7 p.m. to find items like fresh produce, baked treats, personal care products, accessories and home décor.

In addition, the Brenham High School Folkloric team will perform live.

The market is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit.

For more information, visit https://cityofbrenham.org or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

The post DOWNTOWN BRENHAM PREPPING FOR FIRST FRIDAY MARKET first appeared on KWHI.com.

(all photos courtesy Brenham Maifest Association)

Click here to read the biographies of the 2024 Brenham Maifest Royalty.

JUNIOR QUEEN - CAROLINA ADELE KENJURA

Click here to read the attire description for the Junior Queen.

JUNIOR KING - TYLER HENRY HOPKINS

Click here to read the attire description for the Junior King.

SENIOR QUEEN - ASHLEY RIBBON JONES

Click here to read the attire description for the Senior Queen.

SENIOR KING - LUCAS CASH FLYNN

Click here to read the attire description for the Senior King.

The post GALLERY – 2024 BRENHAM MAIFEST ROYALTY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Maifest officially got its 134th celebration underway on Wednesday with the Friends of Maifest Kick-off Picnic at Fireman’s Park.

(Craig Montana)The picnic honors the sponsors of Maifest and the volunteers who work to make Maifest a reality each year. Attendees were treated to German food, refreshments and entertainment, as well as a children’s Maipole dance and ribbon cutting.

There was also an auction supporting the Maifest Kids Helping Kids program, and four local students received $1,000 scholarships from the Brenham Maifest Association: Zane Aschenbeck, Katie Seeker, Kaylee Sodolak and Dalton Winkelmann.

Today (Thursday) will be the first day of the carnival on the Maifestival grounds. The carnival opens at 5 p.m. today and tomorrow (Friday) and at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

(from left) Dalton Winkelmann, Kaylee Sodolak,
Zane Aschenbeck, Katie Seeker
(Craig Montana)Coronation ceremonies begin tomorrow with the Senior Coronation at 7 p.m. The Junior Coronation will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Guests will need to abide by a clear bag policy.

Junior Queen and King, Caroline Adele Kenjura and Tyler Henry Hopkins, will reign over the court of “Up, Up and Away: Across the USA”. The Senior Queen and King, Ashley Ribbon Jones and Lucas Cash Flynn, will reign over the court of “Viva Las Maifest”.

Saturday opens with the parade through downtown Brenham. KWHI will broadcast the parade live starting at 10 a.m. and will have a livestream on the KWHI Facebook page, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Brenham.

After the parade, the festival grounds will open for music, dancing, beer tasting and games. Scheduled performers are The Czechaholics and the Nite Moves Band on Friday, followed on Saturday by Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies, Das ist Lustig, Alli & the Polka Dots and the Brown Sugar Band.

Admission to the festival is free. To purchase tickets for the coronation ceremonies, visit https://brenhammaifest.com.

The post BRENHAM MAIFEST KICKS OFF WITH PICNIC first appeared on KWHI.com.

While the Burton ISD school board election is the only contested race in Washington County this Saturday, cities and school districts in surrounding counties have many options on their ballots.

Some of the big-ticket items include school bond propositions in Navasota and Hempstead; mayoral races in Hempstead and Caldwell; council elections in Somerville, Navasota, Giddings, Sealy, Hempstead and Round Top; and school board elections in Bellville, Caldwell, Somerville, Hempstead and La Grange.

Navasota

Voters in Navasota ISD will have two bond proposals to decide on. Proposition A, worth $71 million, would fund the construction of a fourth elementary school, the purchase of land for future schools, new buses, facility improvements and upgrades to school safety. Proposition B would move $3.04 million from the existing Maintenance and Operations side of the budget to the Interest and Sinking side over the course of the next six years.

Hempstead

Hempstead residents will have a say in several city and school district matters, with some of the main issues being Hempstead ISD’s two bond propositions. Proposition A, for $42.32 million, would pay for a replacement campus for the Hempstead Early Childhood Education Center, cafeteria and band hall additions at the high school, an auxiliary gym addition and roof replacement at the middle school, plus other campus and security improvements. Proposition B, valuing at $3.4 million, calls for a new synthetic turf field and track at Bobcat Stadium.

For the Hempstead City Council, the mayor’s seat and two council positions are up for election. Mayor Erica Gillum is seeking another term and will face Katherine Ragston Ward. Position 1 incumbent Mildred Jefferson is running against Quinn Anthony Navarre Jr. and Dave Shelburne. Running for the Position 2 seat of Cindy Pearce, who is not pursuing re-election, are Annette Rutledge Baker, Valencia Renita Tompkins and Veronica Celaya Klausmeyer.

On the Hempstead School Board, the Position 5 seat of Ricky Pearce, who is not running for re-election, is sought by Susan Hopkins and Donald Jeffrey.

Caldwell

The Caldwell City Council has one race for consideration, that being the mayor’s race between incumbent Janice Easter and challenger Brad Oliver.

On the Caldwell School Board, three candidates are vying for two seats: incumbent Gregory Cook, Michael Cook and Craig Ayers Jr. Erica Chollett is not running for another term.

Somerville

The Somerville City Council has three seats up for election, and four candidates have filed: incumbent Bobby J. Schoppe, Mark Sager, Laura Hoover and Jerri Negrete. Deonna Strickland Moses and Amanda Flencher are not seeking re-election.

Three seats are also on the Somerville School Board ballot, with four candidates up for consideration: incumbents Melissa Tharp and David Idlebird, along with Michael Moses and Jessica Douglas. Joe Gonzales is not running for the board again.

Giddings

Two seats on the Giddings City Council will be voted on, and there are three candidates. Incumbents Linda Pruitt and Mark Muniz filed for re-election, and Gina Reat is also seeking a spot on the council.

Bellville

The Bellville School Board has one contested position on the ballot. Position 3 incumbent Jim Batson faces Kara Rathbone.

Sealy

The Sealy City Council also has a single contested seat, with incumbent Chris Noack being challenged by Melaney McShan.

La Grange

One seat on the La Grange School Board is sought by three individuals. Incumbent Calvin Mersiovsky faces Ryan W. Kleiber and Verlia Mosley-Rhodes.

Round Top

Two alderman seats are up for election on the Round Top Town Council. Incumbents Lynn Conine and Owen Massey are on the ballot along with Karen Duddlesten. Meanwhile, Mayor Mark Massey is not seeking another term, and his seat will be filled by Judith Vincent.

The post BOND ELECTIONS, RACES FOR CITY COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARD ON THE BALLOT IN AREA COUNTIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

KWHI will air a Candidates Forum next week for the two candidates in the Republican primary runoff election for Texas House District 12.

Ben BiusThe forum will be broadcast from the KWHI studios on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Ben Bius will be live in studio to take questions from the news media and from the listening audience. Trey Wharton is unable to attend the evening forum in person, but will answer questions in a pre-recorded interview that will play following the program with Bius.

Listeners are encouraged to submit questions in advance for the candidates by emailing mail@kwhi.com.

Trey WhartonThe forum can be heard on AM 1280, FM 101.7, kwhi.com and via the KWHI mobile app.

Wharton and Bius advanced to a runoff after being the top two candidates of the three that ran in the March 5th primary for the seat held by Kyle Kacal, who did not seek re-election as state representative.

The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Dee Howard Mullins and Libertarian Robert Profili in November.

Early voting for the runoff election runs from May 20-24. Election Day is Tuesday, May 28th.

The post CANDIDATES FORUM TUESDAY FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 12 RACE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 134th Brenham Maifest officially opens tonight (Wednesday) with the Friends of Maifest Kick-off Picnic.

(Craig Montana)The picnic, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Fireman’s Park pavilion, honors the sponsors and volunteers that make Maifest possible each year. Tonight’s activities will include music, a children’s Maipole dance and a ribbon cutting.

KWHI will have a live broadcast from the picnic starting at 5:45 p.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

The carnival opens tomorrow (Thursday) at 5 p.m. at Fireman’s Park and runs through Saturday.

Tickets for the coronation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday can be purchased at www.brenhammaifest.com. The Senior Coronation will be Friday at 7 p.m., and the Junior Coronation will take place on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. A clear bag policy will be in effect for those who attend.

The Junior Royalty of Caroline Adele Kenjura and Tyler Henry Hopkins will reign over the court of “Up, Up and Away: Across the USA”. The Senior Royalty of Ashley Ribbon Jones and Lucas Cash Flynn will reign over the court of “Viva Las Maifest”.

The Maifest parade through downtown Brenham will start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. KWHI will have a live broadcast starting at 10 a.m. and will livestream it on Facebook, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Brenham. The festival grounds will open after the parade for music, dancing, beer tasting and games.

This weekend’s live entertainment will feature The Czechaholics and the Nite Moves Band on Friday, followed on Saturday by Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies, Das ist Lustig, Alli & the Polka Dots and the Brown Sugar Band.

Admission to the festival grounds at Fireman’s Park is free.

The post 134TH MAIFEST KICK-OFF PICNIC WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A light regular session agenda awaits the Brenham City Council on Thursday.

The two items up for consideration pertain to the collection of delinquent property taxes. The council will consider terminating the city's contract with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP and acting on an interlocal agreement with Brenham ISD, via the Washington County Appraisal District, for those services.

Brenham ISD terminated its contract with Linebarger in November and entered into a new property tax collection agreement with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP.

City Secretary Jeana Bellinger wrote in the agenda packet that the city has a separate contract with Linebarger, and city staff recommend ending that contract so that the city's delinquent property taxes can be collected, along with all other taxing entities in Washington County, by Perdue.

Prior to regular session, the city will formally introduce its new Chief Financial Officer, Julie Flagg, and General Manager of Public Utilities, William Bissette. There will also be special recognitions and the reading of a proclamation declaring May 12-18 as National Peace Officers Memorial Week.

Councilmembers will later convene in executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding the Brenham Municipal Airport. No action is expected to be taken.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION AGREEMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham man has been charged for failing to stop and provide assistance after a hit-and-run accident resulting in the death of a pedestrian.

Jorge Pinon
(Washington Co. Jail)Brenham police say shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the area near the intersection of Highway 36 South and Salem Road in reference to a man lying in the roadway.

Initial investigation revealed a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle, and the vehicle fled from the scene. Witnesses stopped when they saw the victim and contacted law enforcement.

The victim, identified as 20-year-old Camilo Hernandez-Mendoza of Brenham, was pronounced dead at the scene by Washington County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Duane Houston.

The Brenham Police Criminal Investigation Division responded and was able to identify the suspect’s vehicle that was later located.

Investigators secured search and arrest warrants for the suspect, 42-year-old Jorge Piñon of Brenham. Police found Piñon around 8:15 p.m. Saturday at an area hotel and placed him under arrest for Failure to Render Aid (Collision Involving Death), a second degree felony.

Piñon remains in custody at the Washington County Jail.

The post BRENHAM MAN CHARGED IN FATAL HIT-AND-RUN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD trustees will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to go over applications received for the district’s superintendent position.

The board will hold an executive session where it will evaluate and screen candidate applications for the role of superintendent.

The search follows the retirement last month of previous superintendent, Dr. Edna Kennedy. Board members agreed on March 19th to engage with Powell Law Group to conduct the search for a new superintendent. Dr. Rob Barnwell, a retired superintendent from Jefferson ISD, is leading Burton ISD in the interim.

At the time Powell Law Group was hired, Dr. Danny Lovett, a consultant and senior public policy advisor with the firm, told trustees that the most condensed timeline would have interviews starting on April 30th and a lone finalist named on May 10th, before the chosen candidate formally starts on June 3rd. That timeline, however, could vary due to the school board election happening this Saturday.

The board will meet tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Burton ISD Administration Office.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO REVIEW SUPT. APPLICATIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Chappell Hill VFD)Members of the Chappell Hill Volunteer Department responded to the scene of structure fire on Friday morning.

The fire broke out just after 10:10am on the 13,600 Block of FM 1371 in Chappell Hill.

Fire departments from Salem, Meyersville, Berlin, and Bellville arrived to assist at the scene with extra vehicles and man power.

(Chappell Hill VFD)Firefighters were able to stop the flames before they reached the house on the property.

However, a barn and a carport were a total loss.

On their Facebook page, the Chappell Hill Volunteer Department reported that the homeowner is good.

The cause of the fire is under a further investigation.

The post CHAPPELL HILL VFD SAVES HOME FROM A FIRE first appeared on KWHI.com.

With only one weekend to go until the big event, the Brenham Heritage Museum hosted an Anniversary Maifest Reception on Thursday night.

Approximately 60 people attended the reception, which featured regalia from various years of Maifest, past Maifest Royalty, and Museum members.

According to the Museum, some of the featured regalia, which will be on display throughout May, includes trains, robes, scepters, and more from the years 1954, 1959, 1984, and 1989.

Visitors can view the items during the museum’s open hours Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-4pm.

The Brenham Heritage Museum is located at 105 South Market Street in the historic Post Office Building.

For more information, or to donate to the Brenham Heritage Museum please visit their website at www.brenhamheritagemuseum.org.

You may also send an email to them at admin@brenhamheritagemuseum.org or call 979-830-8445.

The post BRENHAM HERITAGE MUSEUM HOSTS MAIFEST RECEPTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Appraisal District mailed out approximately 23,500 appraisal notices on Wednesday for residential and non-commercial land accounts.

Chief Appraiser Dyann White said in a press release today (Friday) that 2024’s residential value changes were “not as dramatic” as what has been seen over the last three years, with most homes increasing in value by 10 percent or less, and rural land values going up about 15 percent.

A breakdown of preliminary average homestead market values from the appraisal district shows increases between 5-9 percent from last year in Washington County, the City of Brenham, Brenham and Burton ISDs, Blinn College and the Oak Hill Fresh Water District. Homestead values in the Pecan Glen Road District mostly remained the same on average, while values in the City of Burton dropped by 1 percent.

Click here to view comparisons of preliminary average homestead values.

Business personal property and commercial notices will be mailed in May.

White said the Legislature has implemented new programs that are helping to slow property tax increases. One is the $100,000 homestead exemption for school tax, and the other is referred to in the release as the “circuit breaker”, which limits increases of taxable value to 20 percent for properties that are not homesteads or agricultural, are less than $5 million in value and are under the same ownership as of January 1, 2023. White said she expects this will be the most beneficial to commercial property owners, landlords and other non-homestead property owners.

Appraisers are available for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Owners are encouraged to reach out if they have any questions or concerns regarding their notice of value.

The appraisal district has also implemented a new online protest portal available to all property owners and tax agents, regardless of property type. However, White reported that as of this (Friday) afternoon, the portal is not working as expected. Appraisal district programmers and IT support are working to restore the portal; until it is operational, protests can be emailed to wcad-arb@brenhamk-12.net.

White said state law requires appraisal districts to appraise property at its market value. The Texas State Comptroller’s Office performs audits to ensure that appraised values are fair and accurate. Appraisal districts are not responsible for setting the tax rate, and must follow the law, state regulations, and actual sales data when making value determinations.

The post WASHINGTON CO. APPRAISAL DISTRICT SENDS OUT APPRAISAL NOTICES first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Missouri City man has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder in La Grange.

Charles Lee Tillman, Jr.
(Fayette Co. Jail)37-year-old Charles Lee Tillman, Jr. was found guilty last Friday by a Fayette County jury for the shooting death of David Wayne Harrison, Jr. at the River Valley Apartments in May 2021.

The jury deliberated for over three hours on Friday before handing down the guilty verdict for Tillman. He was sentenced on Monday after an hour and a half of jury deliberation.

Jurors learned during the trial that the shooting was the result of an argument between Harrison and Tillman’s daughter, as Harrison was dating her mother – Tillman’s ex. According to prosecutors, Tillman came to Harrison’s residence at the apartment complex and shot him through the screen door.

Tillman, who for a time was on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted List after the murder, evaded arrest until November 9, 2021, when he was taken into custody in Killeen. He was previously sentenced to 14 years for assault of a family member and was on parole at the time of the murder. He also has ties to the Crips gang.

Tillman will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

The post MISSOURI CITY MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR LA GRANGE MURDER first appeared on KWHI.com.

A third suspect has been arrested in connection to a Lee County homicide investigation.

Tavion Malique Williams
(Midland Co. Sheriff's Office)19-year-old Tavion Malique Williams of Midland was one of three suspects named by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday in the death of 36-year-old Carlos Ramone Greene. Greene’s body was discovered with apparent gunshot wounds at a home on County Road 123 on March 5th.

This (Friday) morning, the sheriff’s office announced that Williams surrendered to authorities in Midland on Thursday and was taken into custody by Midland police on an outstanding warrant for Capital Murder in Lee County.

The other two suspects, identified as 18-year-old Jayden Dangelo Medearis and 27-year-old Atlantic Anthony Eredia-Johnson, are already in custody. Medearis is charged with Capital Murder, and Eredia-Johnson faces charges of Murder and Aggravated Robbery.

Lee County Sheriff Garrett Durrenberger thanked the office’s criminal investigations team for its “dedication and persistence” in this case, as well as the local, state and federal partners who assisted in locating the suspects.

The post THIRD ARREST MADE IN LEE CO. HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham and Unity Theatre have each received $25,000 grants from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to put toward community projects.

The City of Brenham will use the grant, combined with $11,000 in matching funds from the city, to purchase two mobile electronic message boards that can be used during emergencies, disasters, bad weather and community events.

Meanwhile, Unity Theatre’s grant from LCRA and the city, along with $18,835 in matching funds from the theatre, will replace 22-year-old carpeting and seating to create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for guests.

City of Brenham Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city currently works with other local agencies to share mobile message boards when needed. He said many times they are short on the signs, particularly when multiple events are happening at the same time. He said the city has a tight budget and a lot of needs, so it is nice to receive relief from a grant like this.

Unity Theatre Executive Artistic Director Kate Revnell-Smith said the new seating will have a contoured back for support and better functionality for visitors, along with more room for those who need to transfer to a theater seat from a mobility device. She said the upgrades are long overdue and is thankful for the generosity from organizations like the LCRA and the community as a whole.

The community grants were two of 44 awarded recently through the LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Applications for the next round of grants will open in July at https://lcra.org/cdpp.

LCRA representatives present a $25,000 grant to the City of Brenham for new mobile message boards. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured are (left to right): Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Lloyd Powell, interim police chief; Atwood C. Kenjura, mayor; Lowell Ogle, LCRA principal account manager; Dane Rau, Public Works director; Carolyn D. Miller, city manager; Carol Freeman, Matthew L. “Matt” Arthur and Margaret D. "Meg" Voelter, LCRA Board members; Brian Smith, Streets superintendent; Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager; Tom Oney, LCRA chief people officer and executive vice president of External Affairs; Rhea Cooper, interim fire chief; and Tammy Jaster, Aquatic and Recreation superintendent.
(courtesy LCRA)Representatives from LCRA and the City of Brenham present a $25,000 grant to the Unity Theatre Company for upgrades to the Main Stage theater. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured are (from left to right): Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Lowell Ogle, LCRA principal account manager; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Roger Ross, theater board president; Carolyn D. Miller, city manager; Atwood C. Kenjura, mayor; Leslie Wood, theater accountant and development administrator; Matthew L. “Matt” Arthur and Margaret D. "Meg" Voelter, LCRA Board members; Kate Revnell-Smith, theater executive artistic director; Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager; and Tom Oney, LCRA chief people officer and executive vice president of External Affairs.
(courtesy LCRA)The post CITY OF BRENHAM, UNITY THEATRE RECEIVE LCRA GRANTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County residents came together Thursday evening in a show of support for those impacted by the tragedy at the Brenham DPS Station on April 12th.

Crowds gathered for a prayer vigil by the courthouse gazebo to pray for the affected families and for local first responders and community leaders. They also heard from public officials who offered words of healing and unity.

Among those who spoke was Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura, who talked about the resilience of Washington County and how in times of struggle, people come together and take care of each other.

Brenham Mayor Atwood
Kenjura addresses the crowd
during a prayer vigil on
Thursday at the Washington
County Courthouse gazebo.Other speakers included Washington County Judge John Durrenberger, Precinct 3 County Commissioner Kirk Hanath, Burton Mayor Karen Buck, and Andrea Fischer on behalf of State Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

Hanath read a statement provided by some of the families involved, who shared memories of Cheryl Turner of Brenham, one of the victims who passed away after fighting for several days in the hospital. The statement recalled the difference Turner made in the lives of those around her.

Presiding over the event was Reverend Randy Wells of Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church. Prayers were led by Pastor Billy Sutherland of Calvary Baptist Church, Dr. Craig Dohse of Salem Lutheran Church, and Dr. John D. Harris of Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church.

The post WASHINGTON CO. UNITES FOR PRAYER VIGIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham High School Drama Department selected a very challenging play as their Spring musical this year. Chicago was selected as the play. Chicago takes place in the Roaring Twenties, and aspiring chorus girl Roxie Hart and fading vaudeville star Velma Kelly each face trial for murder. The two women compete for the services of shady lawyer Billy Flynn, who promises to make them media celebrities and win them acquittals.

The musical, which features a full orchestra, will be performed beginning tonight in the black box theatre at Brenham High School. The musical will be performed at 7:00 PM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and at 2:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased at the door or you can purchase the ahead of time by going to cubcompany.booktix.net. Seating is limited in the Black Box Theatre.

The post CUB COMPANY PRESENTS “CHICAGO” first appeared on KWHI.com.

Members of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will soon receive electric bill credits for their share of $6.23 million.

Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors voted unanimously during its April meeting to return the sum to member-owners via capital credits on their electric bills starting next month. The $6.23 million is more than $500,000 over what was returned to members last year.

Capital credits are revenue above what it takes to operate the co-op. Every April, Bluebonnet’s board approves a capital credits payment, with the amount based on how much it will impact electric rates and the co-op’s financial strength.

How much each member gets back depends on how much electricity they used in previous years through 2023 and how long they have been a Bluebonnet member.

During the past 20 years, Bluebonnet has returned $94 million in capital credits to its members.

Bluebonnet Board Chairman Ben Flencher said, “We are proud to return historic amounts in capital credits to our members year after year. It demonstrates the commitment from our Board of Directors and employees to invest in and serve Bluebonnet’s members and communities for more than 85 years.”

Bluebonnet General Manager Matt Bentke said, “The continued, historic growth in Bluebonnet’s service area and sound fiscal management has enabled Bluebonnet to return record amounts in capital credits the past several years. In addition to having one of the lowest electric rates in the state, the credit our members will see on their bills in May is one of the most important benefits of being a member-owner of Bluebonnet.”

Current members will see a credit on their May electric bill for their share of this year’s capital credits retirement. Former members who are still owed a capital credit will be mailed a check in May or June.

The post BLUEBONNET MEMBERS TO GET BACK $6.23 MILLION IN CAPITAL CREDITS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 40th Annual Texas MS 150 will travel through the area this weekend in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Bicyclists will travel in from Houston and Austin on Saturday before stopping in La Grange. On Sunday, they will ride through Round Top, Carmine, Burton and by Lake Somerville before crossing the finish line at Kyle Field in College Station.

The Houston route’s starting points include Addicks Park & Ride in the Energy Corridor, Royal High School in Brookshire, and Brahma Stadium at Bellville High School. The Austin route will have riders starting at the State Capitol and at Webberville Park.

Both routes will have lunch stops, either at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville or Calvary Baptist Church in Bastrop. They will end Saturday at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange.

The next day, bicyclists can choose to depart from La Grange and ride through either Round Top or Carmine, or start off in Burton. They will then continue north, stopping for lunch at Lake Somerville and traveling through Snook before making it to Kyle Field.

The public is asked to be mindful of those participating in the event and be prepared for potential delays.

More information about the MS 150 is available at https://bikems.org.

The post TEXAS MS 150 TO RIDE THROUGH AREA THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

TxDOT’s short-term proposal to modify the Highway 290-FM 1155 intersection in Chappell Hill while the agency explores long-term improvements appears to be put on hold.

A close-up view of a portion of TxDOT's proposed
Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) intersection
design at Highway 290 and FM 1155 in Chappell
Hill. The project has been put on hold after
community feedback received in opposition to it.
(courtesy TxDOT) Members of the commissioners court, public safety officials and other Chappell Hill community stakeholders met last Thursday with TxDOT to share concerns about the planned Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) intersection, which would redirect traffic to turn or make U-turns at offset locations along Highway 290 instead of crossing through the intersection itself.

The project was slated to begin construction in May, but after last week’s two-hour meeting where an overwhelming majority of those in attendance showed that they were opposed to the redesign, TxDOT agreed to not proceed with the project, indicating it would not do so without community support.

A statement from TxDOT-Bryan District Public Information Officer Bob Colwell said that while updates had already been made to the design to address community feedback, the meeting “brought forward additional items to consider”.

County Judge John Durrenberger, who facilitated the meeting along with Precinct 2 County Commissioner Candice Bullock, said in a statement that he applauds TxDOT leadership for its “commitment to listening to the community, and their goal to continue working with our county on other projects.” He said TxDOT will implement minor public safety improvements in the Chappell Hill area, but the major R-CUT project “will not move forward.”

Bullock told KWHI that one of the main worries shared by the public was that the new intersection would not accommodate heavy farm equipment. Other issues brought up previously included the impact to first responders and festival traffic, although Bullock noted that TxDOT did work to ease concerns about how the intersection would handle response times. TxDOT’s project webpage states that the medians at the intersection would be mountable to allow emergency vehicles to go through.

Bullock commended TxDOT for the existing improvements made at and around the intersection, which include rumble strips, caution lights warning drivers to slow down for the upcoming traffic signal, and revised timing for the signal itself. She said TxDOT will evaluate if the caution lights can be moved further out, and the idea has been raised for a new study to potentially lower the speed limit. She also said TxDOT plans to remove some of the unprotected cross-through points that are located close to the main intersection on both sides, where drivers can U-turn to shift from the eastbound to westbound lanes, or vice versa.

The R-CUT project was intended by TxDOT to be a short-term solution while it develops a larger-scale overhaul of the intersection, which would include an overpass that bridges over FM 1155 and widening Highway 290 from four lanes to six. That project, however, has not been funded, so construction is not expected to begin before 2030.

Full release/statement from Washington County Judge John Durrenberger:

Washington County Judge John Durrenberger announced today that after extensive discussions with community leaders, public safety officials and Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) leadership, the proposed intersection improvements at the U.S. Hwy 290 and Farm Market Road 1155 in Chappell Hill have been put on hold indefinitely. “Over the past few months concerned citizens and public safety officials from the community of Chappell Hill have been expressing their concerns with the proposed R-Cut design proposed by the Texas Department of Transportation. The community has seen increased traffic along U.S. Hwy 290, and with the increased traffic during the town’s two key festivals, the local community expressed severe concerns with the impact this would have not only on traffic but the local manufacturing and agriculture industry. My office along with Precinct 2 County Commissioner Candice Bullock, facilitated a meeting with these concerned residents and TXDOT officials recently to review their proposal once more and it was determined that this R-Cut design was not feasible for Chappell Hill. I want to applaud the leadership of TXDOT for their commitment to listening to the community, and their goal to continue working with our county on other projects. TXDOT will implement a few minor public safety improvements in the Chappell Hill area over the coming months but the massive project implementing an R-Cut design will not move forward,” concluded Judge John Durrenberger.

The post TxDOT NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH R-CUT PROJECT AT 290-1155 INTERSECTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Several inches of rain on Saturday have brought Lake Somerville to its highest point in nearly a year.

(courtesy photo via U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -
Fort Worth District)According to data from https://somerville.lakesonline.com, the lake measured at 240.18 feet as of 9 a.m. today (Wednesday). That is 2 feet above the lake’s full pool cutoff of 238 feet, but still well under the flood pool level of 258 feet.

The last time the lake exceeded 240 feet was in May 2023, when it recorded at a high mark of 243.08 feet mid-month.

The lake has remained above the 238-foot full pool since late January, after flooding raised levels by six feet.

Meanwhile, levels along the Brazos River also increased. As of 9 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service, the Brazos River at Washington was 25.43 feet, with flood stage starting at 30 feet. The river also recorded at 19.08 feet near Hempstead, with flood stage at 50 feet; 11.2 feet near Bryan, flood stage being 52 feet; and 97.34 feet above San Felipe, flood stage at 122.5 feet.

The post WEEKEND RAIN BRINGS LAKE SOMERVILLE TWO FEET ABOVE FULL POOL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota High School has announced its homecoming court. Running for homecoming queen are Annie Haug, Zoe Nobles, Jamiyah Thomas and Le’Yonce Williams. Other homecoming court members are Jadyn Dacus, Lindsey …

The post NAVASOTA HIGH SCHOOL REVEALS HOMECOMING CANDIDATES first appeared on KWHI.com.

As Brenham ISD looks to bring in a new school superintendent, the public is invited to share feedback as part of that search process. A community survey is open for …

The post PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR BRENHAM ISD SUPT. SEARCH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt a budget of $45,004,482 and a tax rate of $0.3840 per $100 valuation at their meeting today (Tuesday). The certificate for the 2023-24budget …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ADOPT NEW BUDGET, TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Commissioners are set to vote on a new budget and tax rate Tuesday morning during their 9 o’clock meeting. How much that total budget will be is …

The post THE SPECTATOR: WHAT’S THE REAL STORY? first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Hospital Center of Excellence took another step forward to taking over management of the St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange. The La Grange Economic Development Corporation approved up …

The post LA GRANGE EDC APPROVES $500,000 IN FUNDS FOR ST. MARK’S first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners will hold a public hearing and vote to adopt the new year’s budget and property tax rate on Tuesday.

The certificate for the proposed 2023-
24 budget to be voted on by
Washington County Commissioners on
Tuesday.The most recent proposed budget available on the county’s website, dated August 15th, showed a total of $44,628,526. However, County Judge John Durrenberger told KWHI on Friday that those budget numbers have since been reduced and that the budget is now lower.

A list of line item adjustments to the requested budget, dated September 6th, was added to the website late Friday, but it does not list a new overall total in comparison to the $44,628,526, only individual changes for specific departments and offices.

Last year’s adopted budget was $40,330,551. According to the agenda packet for Tuesday’s meeting, the new budget would raise more revenue from property taxes than the 2022-23 budget by $1,631,352, a 7.22 percent increase. Of that amount, $527,975 is revenue raised from new property on the tax roll.

The newly proposed tax rate of $0.3840 per $100 valuation is lower than the rate of $0.3898 that was initially presented in August, and is also a reduction from last year’s adopted rate of $0.3860.

The new rate is made up of $0.2940 for maintenance and operations, $0.0823 for road and bridge and $0.0077 for interest and sinking.

Following action on the budget and tax rate, the court will hold another public hearing and take a vote on the Washington County Clerk’s proposed records archive plan for the new fiscal year. The plan is for the preservation and restoration of archived records.

After the regular meeting, commissioners will open a meeting for the Pecan Glen Road District to levy the road district’s tax rate at $0.33407 per $100 valuation for the new tax year. The tax only applies to residents within the Pecan Glen subdivision.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners will consider:

Appointing Bob Cox to the Washington County Historical Commission to serve the remainder of the 2023-24 term.
A subdivision variance request amendment for a land division fronting Cedar Hill Road in Precinct 3.
A subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Bosse Road in Precinct 1.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO VOTE ON BUDGET, TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

State Representative Kyle Kacal (R-Brazos County) has declared he will run for re-election next year to Texas House District 12.

Kyle Kacal
(Mark Whitehead)Kacal was first elected in November 2012 and owns a large-scale cattle business and full-service hunting operation in Brazos County.

Kacal said in a press release that the state has made strides in addressing critical needs, especially in rural areas, but more work needs to be done. He said, “It’s important for the rural areas of our state to maintain a strong voice in the Texas House that speaks to our values and way of life.”

In his announcement, Kacal pointed to occasions of note from the 2023 Texas legislative session, including voting to secure over $1.4 billion in funding for school safety measures, provide a cost-of-living increase for retired teachers, increase the state’s contribution to local schools to reduce the burden on property taxpayers and local governments, allocate over $5 billion to border security operations and create an interstate compact for enforcement of the southern border.

Kacal also cited investments into rural water and broadband infrastructure, passage of the Texas Jobs and Security Act and helping to create a constitutional amendment to be voted on this November that specifies that Texans have the right to farming, ranching, lumber and timber production and horticultural business.

Kacal could not be reached by KWHI for an interview to discuss his candidacy.

House District 12 covers Washington, Grimes, Madison, Robertson and Walker counties, along with a portion of Brazos County.

The post KYLE KACAL TO SEEK RE-ELECTION TO TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 12 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tyler Kay
(courtesy photo)The featured muralist has been revealed for the 2023 Texas Arts and Music Festival, set for October 21-22.

Houston-based visual artist Tyler Kay will join this year’s festival, which will feature live art installations, musical performances and other cultural experiences in downtown Brenham.

(courtesy Tyler Kay)Kay grew up in Cat Spring and has commissioned works of art for many entities, including Converse, the City of Houston, the City of Groesbeck and Typhoon Texas Waterpark.

Kay said she is excited to add a new mural to downtown Brenham’s growing display. She said growing up in the area makes her “even more invested in this festival’s growth and outreach to the local and nearby communities.”

Brooke Trahan, a member of the festival board of directors, said, “Tyler’s journey of rediscovery through art and her dedication to community engagement align perfectly with our festival’s mission.” Trahan said her career has taken her around the world, including Paris this fall, and that the new mural will “undoubtably inspire and touch the hearts of all who attend.”

(courtesy Tyler Kay)The festival will also include a classic car cruise-in on the evening of October 22nd. Other planned activities are an art village, children’s business fair, and music performances on the 22nd from the Brenham Children’s Chorus, Brenham’s own Nite Moves Band and headliner Reverend Horton Heat. All events are free and open to the public.

The Texas Arts and Music Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an event for art and music lovers to enjoy while raising money for local art programs. The festival has provided support to art programs in Brenham, Burton and Sealy.

Sponsors for the festival include Dynamic Drains, Visit Brenham, Blue Bell Creameries, Brenham National Bank, Brannon Industrial Group and KTEX/KWHI.

To learn more, visit www.texasartsandmusicfestival.com.

The post TEXAS ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2023 MURALIST first appeared on KWHI.com.

Bellville High School Homecoming
Queen Avaleigh McCann with senior
escort Kaden Anderson.
(courtesy Bellville ISD)Bellville High School celebrated homecoming festivities Friday night.

Named as Bellville’s 2023 Homecoming Queen was Avaleigh McCann. She was escorted by senior Kaden Anderson.

The Brahmas were victorious in their matchup against the Navasota Rattlers, 31-3.

The post BELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CROWNS HOMECOMING QUEEN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham ISD family gathered today (Friday) to recognize four outstanding graduates for their contributions to education, the community and society.

(from left) Wanda Smith, Bill Rankin, Amy Hamilton-Colvin (representing Beverly Hamilton-Roberts) and Merle Picone.As part of Brenham ISD’s 148th anniversary celebration, the school district inducted four new members into the ranks of its distinguished alumni: Wanda Smith, Bill Rankin, Beverly Hamilton-Roberts and Merle Picone.

Wanda Smith
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Wanda Smith, an esteemed alumna of Brenham High School Class of 1981, is celebrated for her significant contributions to education and the community. She is a proud graduate of both Blinn College and Sam Houston State University. Her remarkable journey in education led her to achieve the distinguished title of Teacher of the Year in 2019, a testament to her dedication and teaching prowess. Wanda's influence extended to national acclaim as the recipient of the National Teacher of the Year award in 2021. She played a pivotal role in shaping educational policies by serving on the Superintendent Advisory Committee. Wanda also contributed to educational enhancement through her involvement on the Campus Education Improvement Committee at Brenham Elementary, both as a parent and educator. Her impact reached a national audience when she was featured on NBC’s Today Show for her educational contributions. Wanda's dedication to her community was further acknowledged with the esteemed Wanda Smith You Make A Difference award, affirming her transformative influence. Beyond her professional life, Wanda co-facilitated the Church Home Group at Champion Fellowship, fostering a sense of unity and connection within her faith community. She devoted her time to the Washington County Historical Juneteenth Association, actively preserving local heritage. Wanda also volunteered at Mission Brenham, displaying a commitment to the community's well-being. Her contributions were formally recognized when Mayor Milton Tate Jr. proclaimed May 4 as “Be the Best You Can Be” Wanda Smith Day in 2021. Wanda's commitment to inspiring the next generation was evident when she took the stage as the commencement speaker at Sam Houston State University in 2021. She continued to promote an appreciation of local history as a volunteer at the Brenham Heritage Museum. Wanda also served as the keynote speaker at the Washington County Chamber Professional Administration Banquet, sharing insights and inspiration with her community. Her commitment to student success was exemplified through tutoring elementary students after school and offering mentorship to new educators. Currently, Wanda serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Evvaylois Academy School of Beauty, an institution offering cosmetology classes to students aspiring to be beauty industry professionals.

Smith pointed to advice given by her grandmother to inspire and encourage her students and others.

Wanda shares her life with her husband Darron Smith, and together they have three children: Dairius Smith, Shenearia Lott, and Steven Smith.

Bill Rankin
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Bill Rankin, a distinguished alumnus of Brenham High School Class of 1970, embarked on an accomplished career path as the Chief Financial Officer of Blue Bell Creameries, where he dedicated 33 years of his life. He earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University and obtained a CPA qualification. Prior to his tenure at Blue Bell Creameries, Bill served his country as a pilot in the United States Air Force for six years after graduating from Texas A&M University. He further strengthened his credentials by obtaining a Master of Business Administration from Sul Ross State University. Bill's contributions and impact extended beyond his professional career, earning him induction into the esteemed Blinn College Hall of Honor in 2011. In 2014, he received the prestigious Sul Ross State University Distinguished Alumni Award. Bill's commitment to the community was evident through his appointment by Governor Rick Perry to contribute to the Board of the Brazos River Authority. He played an integral role at Blue Bell Creameries Board of Directors, initially joining as an Associate Director in 1993, and later as Director since 2004. His significance in the community was further recognized when he was honored as the Washington County Man of the Year in 2013. Bill's family also played a pivotal role in the community through the establishment of Hohlt Park, showcasing his family's influential role. His contributions to education were highlighted through the naming of the William “Bill” J Rankin Agricultural Complex in 2011, honoring his exemplary service and influence. Bill has been a dedicated leader in various community organizations, including serving as Past President of the Washington County A&M Club and Past President of the Brenham Noon Lion’s Club, where he remained actively engaged. His commitment to his faith has been evident through his roles as Past President of the Church Council for St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Abiding Word Lutheran Church. Bill has also actively engaged with the Gideons, Lutheran Social Services of the South, and was a long-standing volunteer at the Lion’s Children’s Camp in Kerrville. Achieving the distinction of Eagle Scout, Bill continued to be a devoted advocate for the community. He served as the former President of the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and continued to contribute by serving on the advisory council. Bill has also been a strong advocate for the Margaret Blizzard Senior Center, making a substantial donation in honor of his wife Lois. Beyond his community involvement, Bill engaged in the nursing home and jail ministry for over two decades.

Rankin said the people of Brenham are the reason it continues to succeed.

Bill has cherished his partnership with Lois Rankin for 51 years and they have been blessed with two children, Johanna Rankin Gessner (Husband Thomas) and Tyler Rankin (Wife Jamie), both of whom are Brenham ISD graduates. He is also a loving grandparent to four cherished grandchildren: Miles, Mason, Grace, and Gunnar.

Beverly Hamilton-Roberts
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Beverly Hamilton-Roberts, a distinguished alumna of Brenham High School Class of 1969, achieved a historic milestone as the First African American Homecoming Queen for Brenham High School in 1969, leaving an indelible legacy. Her commitment to education led her to graduate from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor's Degree, followed by a Masters Degree, showcasing a commitment to scholarly excellence. Beverly devoted over five decades to the field of education, positively impacting countless students through her roles at Somerville Independent School District and Aldine Independent School District. Her distinguished career included serving as a Diagnostician at Aldine Independent School District, where she contributed significantly to the enhancement of special education services. Beverly's dedication extended to shaping future educators as she directed the Clinical Teacher & Field Experience Program at Prairie View A&M University. Her commitment to educational advancement was evident early on when she actively participated in the Upward Bound Program through Prairie View A&M University in 1972. Her exceptional teaching methods and dedication to public education were recognized when she earned the coveted title of Teacher of the Year at Aldine Independent School District. Beverly's contributions were further acknowledged with the prestigious Texas A&M University Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Award. Committed to nurturing the next generation of educators, she established the Grace Hamilton Mays Scholarship for Future Educators. Beverly held certifications in Special Education, Diagnostician, and Principal roles, showcasing her diverse skill set and unwavering dedication to public education.

Hamilton-Roberts was represented by her first niece, Amy Hamilton-Colvin, who said her aunt took great joy in imparting knowledge and building relationships with her students.

Beverly's impact extended beyond her professional life to influence several nieces and nephews, including those attending the event—Amy Colvin, Estella Bailey, Kevin Raven, and Kelvin Raven—representing a legacy that spans generations.

Merle Picone
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Merle Picone, a distinguished alumnus of Brenham High School Class of 1959, achieved the distinction of Valedictorian at Brenham High School and continued this academic excellence at Blinn College in 1961. Graduating with honors, she attained a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from The University of Texas in 1963. Her dedication to education spanned an impressive 40 years across various institutions, including roles at Spring Branch Independent School District, Brenham Jr. High, and Brenham State School. Merle's passion for teaching led her to become the Math Department Chair at Brenham High School and the Math Curriculum Coordinator. Her teaching excellence was recognized with the University of Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding Teachers and the Tandy Corporation Outstanding Teacher Award. Beyond her classroom contributions, Merle also served as a Presenter for Texas Professional Development Appraisal Instrument and a trainer in Classroom Management. She was selected to the Texas Education Advisory Board for Prentice Hall and was a member of the Southern Association Accreditation Team. Merle's commitment to education was further highlighted by her role in the National Honor Society Advisory Council and her participation in the Texas Select Committee on Education, where she was one of only 10 Texas teachers invited to share her insights. Merle's impact extended beyond her classroom, as she was honored with the prestigious Mirabeau B. Lamar Award for Excellence in Education and the Brenham High School Teacher of the Year Award. She was also acknowledged for her indelible difference in education, earning the esteemed Brenham Independent School District You Make a Difference Award. In 1999, Merle was recognized as the Washington County Woman of the Year. Her dedication to the community extended to her involvement as Treasurer of Fortnightly Club Education Department, St. Peters Episcopal Church - Women, Brenham Library Board, BHS PTA, and BHS Band Parents. She was also a proud member of the Brenham Evening Lions Club and a Lions Foundation Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. Merle shared her educational experiences and insights as a speaker around the world when her spouse, Joe Al Picone, served as Lions International Director. Her commitment to education further manifested through her role as an Endowed Scholarship Donor for Blinn College. Merle is celebrated not only for her significant contributions to education but also for her enduring commitment to her family.

Picone said being able to play a role in her students going on to achieve great things is a feeling like no other.

Merle has been married to Joe Al Picone for 59 years and they have two sons, Kyle and Kevin, daughter-in-law, Stacy, and granddaughter Landry.

Brenham ISD’s 148th anniversary celebration serves to mark a milestone for the district and be a platform to recognize and honor the individuals who have made a profound impact.

(Alumni biographies courtesy Brenham ISD)

The post BRENHAM ISD HONORS 2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI first appeared on KWHI.com.

(from left) Freshman Duchess Liala Trejo,
Sophomore Duchess Caroline Poffenberger, Junior
Duchess Madison Terry, and Homecoming Queen
candidates Rachael Hohlt, Audrey Winch, Valery
Rodriguez, Avaleigh McCann, Ruby Olvera and
Alexandra Fernandez
(courtesy Bellville ISD)Bellville High School will crown a new Homecoming Queen tonight (Friday).

Nominees for Homecoming Queen are Alexandra Fernandez, Rachael Hohlt, Avaleigh McCann, Ruby Olvera, Valery Rodriguez and Audrey Winch.

Other members of the Homecoming Court are Junior Duchess Madison Terry, Sophomore Duchess Caroline Poffenberger and Freshman Duchess Liala Trejo.

Festivities will take place during tonight’s football game between the Bellville Brahmas and the Navasota Rattlers. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Brahma Stadium.

The game is KTEX-106’s Friday Face-off, and Eilish will be broadcasting live from the KTEX Country Cruiser.

The post BELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council unanimously voted today (Thursday) to adopt a budget and property tax rate for the new fiscal year beginning October 1st.

Strategic Budget Officer Tim McRoberts presents
the 2023-24 budget and tax rate for adoption at
Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting. The balanced budget lays out $89.5 million in expenditures. Strategic Budget Officer Tim McRoberts said the budget includes three new firefighters to be added mid-year, with six more planned over the next two budgets, to staff the fire department’s new station once it comes online.

Other items of note include one new police officer, six police car replacements, two new water/wastewater employees and cybersecurity enhancements.

McRoberts said the budget also accounts for water rate increases in October and January. He said the city is planning on a 5 percent increase in October but is still looking at how to implement the January increase.

The new budget raises an additional $629,495, or 6.7 percent, in property tax revenue in comparison to the previous budget. Of that amount, $210,319 is revenue from new property added to the tax roll.

Last year’s adopted budget was $91.8 million. McRoberts explained that this year’s operating funds are higher than a year ago, and that the reason for last year’s budget being larger was due to power and gas costs being much more volatile at the time.

The approved tax rate of $0.4584 per $100 valuation consists of $0.3102 for maintenance and operations and $0.1482 for interest and sinking. While it is lower than last year’s tax rate of $0.4737 per $100, it is still effectively a 3.1 percent increase in the rate due to higher property values and new property on the tax roll.

The no-new-revenue tax rate was set at $0.4445 per $100, while the voter-approval rate was $0.4606.

No comments were received from the public on either the budget or tax rate before their adoption.

Also at today’s meeting, the council unanimously approved a Chapter 380 agreement between the city and the new Academy Sports + Outdoors, providing sales tax reimbursement in the amount of $1.5 million split between the city, Washington County and Brenham Community Development Corporation.

Per the agreement, Academy’s annual share of sales tax revenue will be 80 percent throughout the term, which ends on December 2, 2033 or once the city has reimbursed $500,000, whichever comes first. Academy’s total capital investment in the project is $8.8 million.

The agreement was initially planned to be presented to the council for approval in June, but more time to review the plan was needed. The agreement stipulates that Academy would receive the reimbursement as long as the new location was operational by January 1, 2024.

In other business, the council:

Moved to advance the city’s airport master plan for review by TxDOT’s Aviation Division and the Federal Aviation Administration. Following their approval, the plan will go back to the city council for formal adoption.
Approved a resolution to repeal a prior resolution approving an interfund loan between the city’s sanitation and water funds to repay an advancing line of credit with Bank of Brenham for the raw water intake structure repair project. In July 2020, the city approved a $5 million promissory note with Bank of Brenham for an advancing line of credit for interim financing to pay for the project. With the advancing line of credit maturity date of July 1, 2021 and outstanding balance of $1,351,075, an interfund loan was approved by the city council in June 2021 to repay the bank. The interfund loan was for $1 million, with the remaining balance of $351,075 being paid for with water fund reserves. According to the agenda packet, city staff recommends the remaining $815,000 in principal balance of the loan be forgiven, given the immediate needs of water capacity expansion for the city and in order to reduce the impact that capital expenses from the expansion have on water rates.
Approved a resolution repealing and rescinding previous resolutions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 29, prohibiting local governments form implementing or enforcing COVID-preventative measures. The city issued a local disaster declaration in March 2020 consistent with Abbott’s, and the city council last renewed the declaration in September 2020 but never officially rescinded it.
Approved two items previously recommended for approval by the Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission: a rezoning request for 307, 309 and 401 Peabody Street from B-2 Commercial, Research and Technology Use to B-1 Local Business/Residential Mixed Use; and a specific use permit for Powerfam Washes, LLC to build an automatic car wash on a vacant 2-acre tract of land on the east side of the Highway 105 – Sabine Street intersection, zoned for B-1 use.
Met in executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus v. City of Brenham; Cause No. 37896; 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Pastor and Brenham City Councilmember Albert Wright (right), with First Lady Emma Wright, are recognized by a council proclamation on Thursday declaring September 7, 2023 as Pastor Albert and First Lady Emma Wright Day. The two recently celebrated 50 years of ministry. Brian Smith (right) receives a service recognition for 15 years with the City of Brenham Street Department. Sgt. Ashley Burns (right) receives recognition for 10 years with the Brenham Police Department.Stephanie Doland (right) is recognized for five years of service in the City of Brenham Development Services Department.Stephanie Kinghorn (right) of the Captain Jabez-Deming Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution holds a proclamation read by the Brenham City Council on Thursday recognizing September 17-23 as Constitution Week. The group will commemorate the 236th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution on September 17th with a ceremony at the courthouse gazebo at 3 p.m. The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS BUDGET AND TAX RATE, APPROVES SALES TAX AGREEMENT WITH ACADEMY first appeared on KWHI.com.

William Clark Green (file photo)Due to some recent health complications, the Washington County Fair announced today (Thursday) that Charlie Robison will no longer be to perform.

Robison was scheduled to be the opening act for Shane Smith & The Saints on Friday, September 22.

Fair officials have announced that William Clark Green will now be taking the stage as the opener at 9pm.

Shane Smith & The Saints will perform beginning at 11pm.

Fair Officials thank everyone for the understanding and ongoing support. They also wished Robison a speedy recovery.

The post LINEUP CHANGE TO WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR ENTERTAINMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst was one of six Republican senators on Tuesday who voted to dismiss all articles of impeachment in their entirety against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Lois Kolkhorst
(R-Brenham)The vote to throw out all articles being heard by the Senate ended 24-6, with Kolkhorst joined by Paul Bettencourt of Houston, Donna Campbell of New Braunfels, Brandon Creighton of Conroe, Bob Hall of Edgewood and Tan Parker of Flower Mound.

None of the motions to dismiss a single article received more than 10 votes out of the 30 senators – 18 Republicans and 12 Democrats – voting in the trial. Republican Senator Angela Paxton, Ken’s wife, is not able to vote.

Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in May and suspended from his duties, facing allegations that include bribery and abuse of office. He has pleaded not guilty to each of the impeachment articles.

A two-thirds majority is required in the Senate to convict Paxton, which would remove him from office. The trial could last for weeks.

Kolkhorst’s communications office told KWHI that they are unable to comment while the trial is ongoing. Prior to the start of the trial, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued a gag order intended to keep proceedings impartial.

The impeachment trial can be watched at https://senate.texas.gov.

The post SEN. KOLKHORST VOTES TO DISMISS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES AGAINST KEN PAXTON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Votes on the City of Brenham’s budget and tax rate, as well as a sales tax agreement with the new Academy Sports + Outdoors, will lead today’s (Thursday) agenda for the Brenham City Council.

The upcoming year’s budget authorizes $89.5 million in expenditures and raises an additional $629,495, or 6.7 percent, in property tax revenue compared to the previous budget. Of that amount, $210,319 is revenue from new property added to the tax roll.

The proposed tax rate of $0.4584 per $100 valuation is made up of $0.3102 for maintenance and operations and $0.1482 for interest and sinking. It is below the past year’s tax rate of $0.4737 per $100, but because of higher property values, it is still effectively a 3.1 percent increase in the tax rate.

The council will then consider a Chapter 380 agreement that provides sales tax reimbursement to the Academy store, with $1.5 million in reimbursement divided between the city, Washington County and the Brenham Community Development Corporation.

Per the agreement, Academy’s annual share of sales tax revenue will be 80 percent throughout the term, which ends on December 2, 2033 or once the city has reimbursed $500,000, whichever comes first.

In other items, the council will seek to move forward with the city’s airport master plan by sending it to TxDOT’s Aviation Division and the Federal Aviation Administration for review. Once the document is approved, it will come back to the council for formal adoption.

Act on a resolution to repeal a prior resolution approving an interfund loan between the city’s sanitation and water funds to repay an advancing line of credit with Bank of Brenham for the raw water intake structure repair project. In July 2020, the city approved a $5 million promissory note with Bank of Brenham for an advancing line of credit for interim financing to pay for the project. With the advancing line of credit maturity date of July 1, 2021 and outstanding balance of $1,351,075, an interfund loan was approved by the city council in June 2021 to repay the bank. The interfund loan was for $1 million, with the remaining balance of $351,075 being paid for with water fund reserves. According to the agenda packet, city staff recommends the remaining $815,000 in principal balance of the loan be forgiven, given the immediate needs of water capacity expansion for the city and in order to reduce the impact that capital expenses from the expansion have on water rates.
Consider a resolution repealing and rescinding previous resolutions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 29, prohibiting local governments form implementing or enforcing COVID-preventative measures. The city issued a local disaster declaration in March 2020 consistent with Abbott’s, and the city council last renewed the declaration in September 2020 but never officially rescinded it.
Hold public hearings and vote on two items recommended for approval last week by the Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission: a rezoning request for 307, 309 and 401 Peabody Street from B-2 Commercial, Research and Technology Use to B-1 Local Business/Residential Mixed Use; and a specific use permit for Powerfam Washes, LLC to build an automatic car wash on a vacant 2-acre tract of land on the east side of the Highway 105 – Sabine Street intersection, zoned for B-1 use.
Hold an executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus v. City of Brenham; Cause No. 37896; 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County.

The council will meet today at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for today's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON ADOPTION OF BUDGET AND TAX RATE, SALES TAX AGREEMENT WITH ACADEMY first appeared on KWHI.com.

David Blakey
(courtesy photo)A Washington County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant and now-former Precinct 3 Constable is looking to become the next sheriff.

David Blakey Jr. has announced he will seek the post currently held by Otto Hanak, who plans to retire upon the end of his current term in office next year. Blakey will run as a Republican in the March 2024 primary.

Blakey’s law enforcement career spans over 35 years and consists of time in the Brenham Police Department, Burton Police Department, Bellville Police Department and Austin County Sheriff’s Office. He is currently a patrol lieutenant for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and held the Precinct 3 Constable’s post since 2017.

Blakey says he is ready to enter a new stage of serving the public.

Over Blakey’s time with various agencies, his responsibilities and ranks have included jail, patrol, investigation, sergeant, lieutenant, and assistant and interim chief of police. He has worked closely with all branches of law enforcement and with city, county, state and federal governments.

Blakey has over 3,500 hours of continuing education and holds a Master Peace Officer License, and is also a Law Enforcement and Firearms Instructor. He has completed several advanced leadership courses such as the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association’s Texas Command College and advanced training for command in the Incident Command System through FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He is also a graduate of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, including the Texas Constables Leadership College and the Command Staff Leadership Series.

Blakey wishes to build upon Hanak’s work at the sheriff’s office and believes his past experience and involvement will guide the office and help it become the best that it can be.

Since Blakey is seeking the elected position of sheriff, he has submitted his resignation as Precinct 3 Constable, in accordance with the Texas Constitution. At this time, no other candidates have announced their intent to run for sheriff.

Blakey is a lifelong resident of Washington County and presently lives in the Rehburg community with his wife, Suzy. They have a daughter, Caitlyn, with her husband Lathan Staal, and a son, Joshua Daniels, with his wife Marissa, all of Burton. They also have four grandchildren.

The filing period for the primary ballot officially begins on November 11th.

The post DAVID BLAKEY TO RUN FOR WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF first appeared on KWHI.com.

Billy Ruemke
(courtesy photo)A Washington County native and law enforcement veteran is declaring his candidacy for Precinct 3 County Commissioner.

Billy Ruemke will run in the March 5, 2024 Republican primary. Ruemke has served in the Brenham Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Austin County Sheriff’s Office over the course of his 45-year career in law enforcement.

Ruemke says being a first responder is very “near and dear” to him and feels his experience in administration and with dealing with the public will be an asset.

Ruemke is a 1975 graduate of Brenham High School and received his law enforcement training from the Texas A&M Engineering and Extension Service. During his 17 years with Brenham police, he was a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, detective and SWAT team leader. He then spent 18 years with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, investigator, patrol lieutenant and jail administrator. He currently serves as a patrol sergeant at the Austin County Sheriff’s Office.

Ruemke has also served as president, chaplain and associate member of the Brenham Fire Department. In addition, he was also the president of the Washington County Peace Officers Association, was on the Hero’s Selection Committee for the 100 Club of Houston, is a member of the Brenham Sons of Hermann, and formerly served on the council of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill.

Ruemke says he has no pre-conceived notions about what serving as a commissioner looks like, but believes that having a strong relationship between individual commissioners, respecting the community and taxpayers, and giving every county agency and office a “fair shake” will be vital to success as the county grows and faces new challenges.

Ruemke lives in the Independence area with his wife, Pam, and son, Joshua. His family also includes a son, Robert, who lives in Bryan, and a daughter, Heather, who lives in Stephenville.

Current Precinct 3 Commissioner Kirk Hanath has not announced whether he plans to run for another term next year. The first day to file for a place on the primary ballot is November 11th.

The post BILLY RUEMKE SEEKING ELECTION AS WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 3 COMMISSIONER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham’s splash pad at Henderson Park is closing today (Wednesday) for the fall season.

(courtesy City of Brenham)The splash pad is normally open from April until the end of September. However, the city says that due to the continued drought and high daily demand on the water treatment plant, it will help conserve treated water by ending the splash pad season a few weeks early.

In a press release, City of Brenham Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city wants to be mindful of the ongoing drought conditions in the county and do its part in conserving the best that it can.

The splash pad has been in operation at Henderson Park since June 2020.

The post HENDERSON PARK SPLASH PAD TO CLOSE WEDNESDAY FOR FALL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board heard from a representative from the Texas Association of School Boards about the upcoming Superintendent search at their noon meeting Tuesday. Marian Strauss presented the board …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HEARS FROM TASB first appeared on KWHI.com.

Construction of a beauty and cosmetic store inside the Brenham Crossing shopping center led the month of August for building permits issued by the City of Brenham. Shown here are …

The post NEW ULTA BEAUTY STORE LEADS AUGUST BUILDING PERMITS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will look to adopt the new year’s budget and tax rate at its meeting Thursday.

After public hearings, councilmembers will vote on approving the budget, which authorizes $89.5 million in expenditures and raises approximately $629,495, or 6.7 percent, more in property tax revenue than last year’s budget. That includes $210,319 in revenue from new property added to the tax roll.

They will then proceed with levying property taxes at $0.4584 per $100 valuation, consisting of $0.3102 for maintenance and operations and $0.1482 for interest and sinking. The rate is lower than the previous year’s tax rate of $0.4737 per $100, but is still effectively a 3.1 percent increase due to higher property values.

Other business for the council will include action on a Chapter 380 agreement between the city and the new Academy Sports + Outdoors. The agreement outlines $1.5 million in sales tax reimbursement to Academy, split three ways between the city, Washington County and the Brenham Community Development Corporation.

The percentage annual share of the sales tax revenue that Academy receives will be 80 percent throughout the term of the agreement, which concludes once the city has reimbursed $500,000 or on December 2, 2033, whichever occurs first.

Councilmembers will also look to advance the city’s airport master plan for review by TxDOT’s Aviation Division and the Federal Aviation Administration. Following their approval, the plan will go back to the city council for formal adoption.

Also on Thursday, the council will:

Act on a resolution to repeal a prior resolution approving an interfund loan between the city’s sanitation and water funds to repay an advancing line of credit with Bank of Brenham for the raw water intake structure repair project. In July 2020, the city approved a $5 million promissory note with Bank of Brenham for an advancing line of credit for interim financing to pay for the project. With the advancing line of credit maturity date of July 1, 2021 and outstanding balance of $1,351,075, an interfund loan was approved by the city council in June 2021 to repay the bank. The interfund loan was for $1 million, with the remaining balance of $351,075 being paid for with water fund reserves. According to the agenda packet, city staff recommends the remaining $815,000 in principal balance of the loan be forgiven, given the immediate needs of water capacity expansion for the city and in order to reduce the impact that capital expenses from the expansion have on water rates.
Consider a resolution repealing and rescinding previous resolutions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 29, prohibiting local governments form implementing or enforcing COVID-preventative measures. The city issued a local disaster declaration in March 2020 consistent with Abbott’s, and the city council last renewed the declaration in September 2020 but never officially rescinded it.
Hold public hearings and vote on two items recommended for approval last week by the Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission: a rezoning request for 307, 309 and 401 Peabody Street from B-2 Commercial, Research and Technology Use to B-1 Local Business/Residential Mixed Use; and a specific use permit for Powerfam Washes, LLC to build an automatic car wash on a vacant 2-acre tract of land on the east side of the Highway 105 – Sabine Street intersection, zoned for B-1 use.
Hold an executive session to consult with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus v. City of Brenham; Cause No. 37896; 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT BUDGET AND TAX RATE, CONSIDER SALES TAX AGREEMENT WITH ACADEMY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners will potentially take action regarding a solid waste ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday.

At their last meeting, the court learned about the steps involved with creating an ordinance, which is designed to give the county more authority and leeway should a landfill company want to operate in the county.

The ordinance would select one lone site in the county that would be designated as “not prohibited” for a landfill and prevent a landfill from going anywhere else. It would also restrict a landfill company from beginning operations without the county having a say.

Any action on Tuesday will include preparation of the ordinance, moving forward with a takings impact assessment and issuing a notice of a hearing for the proposed ordinance.

In other business, the court will vote on a software license agreement between Washington County EMS and FirstWatch Solutions, Inc., a provider of data monitoring and biosurveillance software for public health and public safety organizations and agencies. There will also be a quarterly report provided by the Engineering and Development Services department.

Also in session, commissioners will consider:

A right-of-way permit application for the 2023 Washington County Fair trail ride.
Approval of the 2024 sheriff’s and constable’s fees for Washington County.
Notice of the appointment of election judges for the November 7th constitutional amendment election, as well as possible approval of an order of replacement appointments for judges and alternates.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO FURTHER DISCUSS SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will continue its discussion regarding a new Brenham ISD superintendent at its meeting on Tuesday.

Trustees will meet with a Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) consultant to go over the superintendent search process and outline the search schedule.

Last month, the school board voted to proceed with TASB Executive Search Services to guide the effort to find a replacement for Dr. Tylor Chaplin, who plans to retire at the end of December.

An executive session is planned for trustees to consult with an attorney and discuss personnel matters.

The board will meet Tuesday at noon in the Brenham ISD Administration Office. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET WITH TASB CONSULTANT FOR SUPT. SEARCH first appeared on KWHI.com.

An Indiana man who was arrested in Brenham following an armed robbery at a phone store in Giddings two years ago will spend the next 23 years in prison.

Aaron Akins
(Lee Co. Jail)Aaron Stephon Akins of Indianapolis was sentenced last month by Judge Reva Towslee Corbett in Lee County District Court for Aggravated Robbery occurring in January 2021 at the Cricket Wireless store in the Giddings Plaza.

Giddings police were told by an employee that Akins and a second person confronted her in the back of the store while displaying a handgun. The employee said the two suspects took cell phones and an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported during the incident.

The suspects’ vehicle was spotted traveling eastbound on Highway 290, and Lee County authorities provided information to surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Brenham police located the vehicle and stopped it at the Westwood Chevron gas station on Highway 290. Inside the vehicle were the stolen money and property, along with other evidence.

Giddings officers came to Brenham and took the two suspects, Akins and Ayona Krystyne Tunstill, into custody for Aggravated Robbery. Both Akins and Tunstill have been linked to other robberies at cell phone stores around the state.

The post MAN CONVICTED IN ARMED ROBBERY OF GIDDINGS PHONE STORE SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS IN PRISON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County’s Engineering and Development Services (EDS) department is shifting road paving operations in-house.

On Tuesday, the county unanimously authorized the purchase of a chip spreader and asphalt distributor truck. EDS is moving away from contracting out paving services to instead providing them internally.

County Engineer Wesley Stolz said by doing this, the county can operate on its own timeline rather than having to wait on a contractor’s availability.

The chip spreader purchase from R.B. Everett & Co. comes out to $397,944, while the asphalt distributor truck from Associated Supply Company, Inc. is for $263,573. Stolz said both purchases are through a state cooperative purchasing program and will pull from the department’s reserve funds. He added that the vehicles are cheaper than what was initially budgeted for; initial cost projections were $400,000 for the chip spreader and $315,000 for the asphalt truck.

Stolz said both vehicles are already manufactured and that the county should have them by October, in time for when the county begins the new road paving cycle in May 2024, once temperatures are consistently warm.

Commissioner Candice Bullock said the court is investing in this new equipment due to prices and logistics, and County Judge John Durrenberger said this will allow the county to provide services “in a timely manner.”

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the challenges that the county faces with getting paving contracts and other related issues have been discussed for years. He pointed to data given by Stolz that showed savings of $211,000 per year based upon the current level of cost. He said this is “an investment to our county government” to have this equipment, but cautioned that “we definitely do not want to mess this one up” and this is “something that we just cannot fail at.”

Two other EDS department purchases were approved by commissioners in August, those being a pair of 2024 Freightliner dump trucks from Houston Freightliner for $250,436.

The shift to internal road paving, and potential staff restructuring associated with it, may have played a role in the departure of several department employees, including two long-time ones. Stolz told KWHI that three employees left the department this summer after being recruited to work for Waller County. Washington County’s former county engineer, Ross McCall, now leads Waller County’s road and bridge department.

Stolz said two of the employees had worked in Washington County for around 20 years, while the third had been with the county for about a year and a half. When asked if this operational adjustment contributed to their decision to leave, he conceded that there was “disagreement” and “a lot of frustration from that particular side of things.”

According to Stolz, the department filled the openings for the time being with existing staff as it brought in new employees. One position has been filled, while another candidate has accepted an offer. Those two roles were an administrative and development supervisor and an administrative assistant. Fully staffed, he said the department employs 36 people, including over 30 in road and bridge and the remaining working in environmental and addressing.

Regarding the third vacancy, a field operation supervisor position, Stolz said the role may change into one of an equipment operator, as with the county’s decision to bring paving services in-house, there could be a need to have more personnel in the field rather than supervisory roles.

The post WASHINGTON CO. TO BEGIN ROAD PAVING IN-HOUSE first appeared on KWHI.com.

An Iola man has pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of waging paraphernalia after running a fake raffle for a car.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 48-year-old Marcos Trevino admitted to operating a drawing that offered a chance to win a limited edition Dodge Challenger SRT Demon from 2018 to 2022.

Authorities say Trevino promoted the raffle throughout the United States on various websites, social media and at auto shows. The raffle’s website made it appear as thought the participant was not purchasing a ticket; instead, they would be getting a koozie that would grant them an entry for the drawing. Each beverage holder was $105.

The rules claimed no purchase was necessary and that a purchase would not improve the chance of winning. However, the purchase of a koozie was the only means of entry.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the raffle was in existence for nearly four years, but there was no drawing or receipt of prizes by any participants, and no one ever received a koozie. The vehicle was still on Trevino’s property at the time of his arrest.

According to the drawing website, total ticket sales reached 765, resulting in funds totaling $80,325.

Authorities say the raffle was illegal since it was not run by a charitable organization, no date was set for the drawing, there was no end date, proceeds were not spent on a lawful purpose, and it included statewide and interstate advertising. In addition, although the website claimed there was a money back guarantee, no method was described for a participant to get their money back.

Sentencing has been set for December 7th. Trevino faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He could also be ordered to forfeit the earnings from the raffle and provide restitution to the participants.

The post GRIMES CO. MAN CONVICTED OF RUNNING FAKE CAR RAFFLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 96th Annual Fayette County Fair got into full swing Thursday night with the crowning of a new queen.

Harper Henneke (left) is crowned
the 2023 Fayette County Fair
Queen during opening ceremonies
Thursday night.
(courtesy Fayette Co. Fair
Association)The 2023 Fayette County Fair Queen is Harper Henneke representing the La Grange Optimist Club, selling $29,645 in season passes. Henneke was also named Most Photogenic.

First Runner Up was Camryn Alvarado representing the Kyla Faith Memorial, with $25,130 in season ticket sales. Alvarado was also named Miss Beauty and Poise and Miss Congeniality.

Andrea Ortiz, representing the Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse, was Second Runner Up with season pass sales of $23,660.

Top honors in the Little Mister and Miss Fayette County contest went to Branson Moerbe and Reagan Arlund. First Runners Up were Leonardo Martinez and Patsy Lemus. Most Photogenic were Roman Veitch and Reagan Arland. Biggest Personality went to Branson Moerbe and Rylee Hentschel.

In the Junior Miss Fayette County competition, Anabella DelaRosa, who sold a record in carnival passes at $24,990, was named the winner. Bebe Pavlica was named First Runner Up and Most Photogenic. Junior Miss Congeniality was Brinley Freedman.

Total season ticket sales totaled $109,859 from the five queen contestants, with another $62,622 in carnival pass sales from the five junior miss contestants, for a grand total of $172,481. Total sales exceeded 2022’s total by $5,600 and are the most since 2015, when ZZ Top headlined the fair.

KTEX-106’s Dean Dillon will be broadcasting live from the fair parade in downtown La Grange tomorrow (Saturday) morning, while Courtney Cartwright will broadcast live from the fair Sunday night.

The post FAYETTE CO. FAIR CROWNS NEW QUEEN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Livestock producers in Austin and Washington counties are eligible for drought recovery assistance.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to drought. The deadline to apply for assistance is January 30, 2024.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash-leased land, or fire on federally managed land.

Producers in Austin and Washington counties can apply for 2023 LFP benefits for grazing losses on small grains, native pasture, improved pasture, mixed forage and forage sorghum.

Livestock that qualify for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland. Recently, eligibility was expanded to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation.

Livestock used for hunting and consumption by the owner and horses, along with other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering, remain ineligible.

To learn more, visit https://farmers.gov/recover.

The post DROUGHT RECOVERY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham is ready to hold its next First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market.

Several dozen vendors will set up along Baylor and Park Streets tomorrow (Friday) from 4 to 7 p.m. to sell items like vegetables, bread, crafts, snacks and sweets, and health and wellness products.

Brenham Animal Services will be on site to offer free microchipping and pet adoptions.

The city continues to take applications from local musicians or entertainers to perform live at the markets each month.

To learn more about the market, or to sign up to become a vendor or performer, go to https://cityofbrenham.org or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

The post DOWNTOWN BRENHAM FARMER’S MARKET FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Eric Magee of Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP reviews
options that Washington County can take to
prevent landfill companies from coming into the
county during commissioners court on Tuesday.Washington County Commissioners learned on Tuesday about the measures they can take to prevent a landfill from coming to the county.

Eric Magee with Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP gave a presentation about a solid waste ordinance the county can create that would effectively restrict landfill companies from picking their own site to place a landfill.

Magee said the ordinance would give the leg up to Washington County and ensure that any company seeking to put in a landfill has to come before the county before any progress can be made. He said several counties that have attempted to retroactively prevent landfills did not have an ordinance that would have stopped the fight from happening in the first place.

In practice, the ordinance would select one location in the county where a landfill would be considered “not prohibited” and designate everywhere else in the county as ineligible for one. Counties cannot exclude themselves entirely, and they cannot choose land that they own inside another county, such as the school land Washington County owns in Tom Green County.

Magee said the land needs to be at least 95 acres in order to match the size of the smallest landfill in Texas and avoid an automatic challenge from landfill companies. He suggested that the land be located in a remote area, away from major highways that provide easy access, and be selected in cooperation with a long-standing family or institution like Blinn College that has no plans to sell their property to a landfill.

County Judge John Durrenberger said he has spoken to Blinn about this and made the College aware of these discussions. He referenced the lengthy legal battle several years ago in Waller County to stop a landfill from being put near Hempstead. Commissioner Candice Bullock called this ordinance “a proactive attempt” to get out in front of landfill companies, while Commissioner Kirk Hanath said a landfill is “the last thing we want in the birthplace of Texas.”

Decades ago, the City of Brenham operated a landfill on over 100 acres of land off of Allen Road. The city also owned over 200 acres between Brenham and Chappell Hill that had been proposed for use as a landfill, but the land was sold in October 2014.

Magee noted that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality treats landfill applications as grandfathered once they are submitted. Bullock replied, “Time is of the essence.”

No action was taken after Tuesday’s presentation, but the court is expected to quickly follow up on the item at upcoming meetings by choosing a piece of land, drafting an ordinance and beginning the public hearing process.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HEAR OPTIONS TO PREVENT LANDFILLS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early enrollment numbers for Brenham and Burton ISDs are up from the start of school last year. (Mark Whitehead) Enrollment data provided by Brenham ISD shows the number of students …

The post BRENHAM, BURTON SCHOOLS REPORT INCREASED ENROLLMENT FROM BEGINNING OF CLASSES LAST YEAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

General Manager of Public Utilities Debbie Gaffeypresents professional services agreements withStrand Associates to the Brenham City Council forconsideration on Tuesday. The agreements relateto the expansion of Brenham's water treatmentplant and …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ENGINEERING AGREEMENTS FOR WATER PLANT IMPROVEMENTS, GROUNDWATER WELLS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash that occurred this (Tuesday) morning in Burleson County. According to Sgt. Justin Ruiz, the preliminary investigation indicates …

The post DPS INVESTIGATING FATAL CRASH IN BURLESON COUNTY first appeared on KWHI.com.

An update on staffing in the Washington County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office was provided during today’s (Tuesday) county commissioners meeting. Last week, three employees in the office suddenly quit, leaving just …

The post UPDATE GIVEN ON TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR’S OFFICE STAFFING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Wilber Geovani EscobarWashington Co. Jail photo One person was arrested Monday on Sexual Assault charges. Brenham Police report that Monday night at 10:40, Officers responded to the 2000 block of …

The post ONE ARRESTED ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham and Washington County offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. Brenham City Hall, Brenham Municipal Court, Brenham Animal Services and the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial …

The post CITY, COUNTY OFFICES TO CLOSE FOR LABOR DAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Houston man is in custody after a fatal shooting early Sunday morning in Grimes County. Justin Alexander Sanchez (Grimes Co. Jail) 21-year-old Justin Alexander Sanchez is charged with Murder …

The post MAN CHARGED AFTER FATAL GRIMES CO. SHOOTING SUNDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Don Koester (courtesy photo) Washington County Precinct 1 Commissioner Don Koester has announced his intent to seek a third term in office. Koester has served as county commissioner since January …

The post DON KOESTER RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AS WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 1 COMMISSIONER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Police Department is investigating an auto-pedestrian crash that occurred over the weekend. Police were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. Saturday to the 1700 block of Highway 105 in reference …

The post BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING AFTER VEHICLE STRIKES PEDESTRIAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Dean Dillon, KTEX-106) Many families have met their new fur-ever friend thanks to the annual Clear the Shelters adoption drive at the Brenham Pet Adoption Center. Saturday’s free adoption event …

The post OVER 20 ADOPTIONS AT BRENHAM’S ‘CLEAR THE SHELTERS’ EVENT SATURDAY; NEARLY 50 THROUGHOUT MONTH OF AUGUST first appeared on KWHI.com.

Michael Scott Morgan (Brazos Co. Jail) A Somerville man has been indicted on multiple charges in connection with a June 1st incident in which he brought explosives to Easterwood Airport. …

The post SOMERVILLE MAN INDICTED BY BRAZOS COUNTY GRAND JURY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Pat Green (courtesy photo) The Austin County Fair had to make a change to their upcoming lineup. The Randy Rogers Band announced that they have had to pull out of …

The post RANDY ROGERS BAND PULLS OUT OF AUSTIN COUNTY FAIR, PAT GREEN TO FILL IN first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Pictured left to right: Lt. David Beyer, Sheriff Keith Korenek, Jail Administrator Holly Smith, and Chief Deputy Randy Noviskie) Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek has made history with his appointment …

The post FAYETTE COUNTY SHERIFF APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE JAIL ADMINISTRATOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will meet Tuesday to take steps in expanding the city's water capacity. The council will vote on engineering service agreements with Strand Associates, Inc. to rehabilitate …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO ACT ON ENGINEERING AGREEMENTS FOR WATER PLANT REHAB, GROUNDWATER SUPPLY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A workshop regarding the possible creation of a solid waste ordinance will be part of Tuesday's proceedings for Washington County Commissioners. The court is considering authorizing its legal counsel, Allison, …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO HOLD WORKSHOP ON POTENTIAL SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office is short-handed after several employees suddenly quit. A line of customers stands outside the WashingtonCounty Tax Assessor Collector's Office Fridayafternoon. County Judge John Durrenberger …

The post EMPLOYEES WALK OUT AT WASHINGTON CO. TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR’S OFFICE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Sabine, the Brenham Pet AdoptionCenter's longest stay resident, is one ofmany animals that will be available foradoption during Saturday's Clear theShelters event.(courtesy Brenham Animal Services) The Brenham Pet Adoption Center …

The post BRENHAM PET ADOPTION CENTER TO HOST ‘CLEAR THE SHELTERS’ SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham native and U.S. Army Colonel is at the helm of a storied brigade that is helping to deter Russian aggression in Europe. Col. Trevor Voelkel addresses the soldiers …

The post BRENHAM NATIVE, U.S. COLONEL LEADING TROOPS IN EASTERN EUROPE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The owner of an auto repair shop in Navasota was sentenced on Thursday to 50 years in prison. Leonardo Perez (Grimes Co. Jail) 51-year-old Leonardo “Leo” Perez pleaded guilty to …

The post GRIMES CO. JURY SENTENCES AUTO SHOP OWNER TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) will now accommodate Burton ISD students. On Monday, the Brenham School Board voted unanimously in approval of an interlocal agreement that will provide …

The post BRENHAM ISD ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM TO TAKE IN BURTON STUDENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham attorney has declared his intent to run for Washington County District Attorney. Dave Bunger (courtesy photo) Dave Bunger announced his candidacy today (Thursday) for the post currently held …

The post DAVE BUNGER TO RUN FOR D.A. OF WASHINGTON CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Burton will begin its stage 1 drought contingency plan effective Sunday morning at midnight. In a notice sent Wednesday to Burton water customers, the city says data …

The post CITY OF BURTON ENTERING INTO STAGE 1 DROUGHT PLAN BEGINNING SUNDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham High School’s Marine Corps Junior ROTC program has received its third straight Naval Honor School Award. (courtesy Brenham ISD) The honor, which was awarded for the 2022-23 school year, …

The post BRENHAM MCJROTC EARNS THIRD CONSECUTIVE NAVAL HONOR SCHOOL AWARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Cub Stadium was full of green and white Wednesday night for the annual “Meet the Cubs” pep rally. The Brenham Cub and Cubette teams, the Cub Band, cheerleaders and the …

The post ‘MEET THE CUBS’ RALLY CELEBRATES RETURN OF FALL SPORTS SEASON first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board received information on Monday about a recently formed organization that is labeled as a replacement for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Texans for Excellence …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD LEARNS ABOUT POSSIBLE TASB ALTERNATIVE first appeared on KWHI.com.

"Make Your World Beautiful" by Citadel ChristianSchool Senior Beta Club, one of 2022's entries in theScarecrow Extravaganza. Main Street Brenham’s annual Scarecrow Extravaganza has opened registration, and this year the …

The post REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR 20TH ANNUAL SCARECROW EXTRAVAGANZA first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106) The Brenham Cub and Cubette fall sports season kicks off tonight (Wednesday) with the annual “Meet the Cubs” rally. Festivities at Cub Stadium begin at 7 p.m. …

The post ‘MEET THE CUBS’ WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT CUB STADIUM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Board members for Run for the Youth ofWashington County present Brenham ISD trusteeson Monday with a donation of $77,500. The funds,which were raised from the Blue Bell Fun Run, willsupport …

The post RUN FOR THE YOUTH OF WASHINGTON CO. DONATES $77,500 TO BRENHAM ISD ATHLETICS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) agreed to use sheriff’s office donation funds to purchase new handguns for non-uniformed officers. Fifteen SIG Sauer P365 9mm handguns with optic sights will be …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE PURCHASE OF HANDGUNS FOR NON-UNIFORMED OFFICERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board adopted the school district budget and tax rate and selected a firm to conduct the search for a new superintendent at a four-hour meeting on Monday. …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD PASSES BUDGET, NAMES FIRM TO LEAD SUPT. SEARCH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Chase Nicole Cormack (Texas EquuSearch) Texas EquuSearch is looking for a missing woman from Brenham who is likely in need of medical attention. Authorities on Friday issued a missing person …

The post EQUUSEARCH: MISSING WOMAN FROM BRENHAM MAY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

With the fall sports season getting underway, the public is invited to the annual “Meet the Cubs” Night. (Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106) “Meet the Cubs” Night is going to be this …

The post “MEET THE CUBS” NIGHT COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

house fire (Fayette County Sheriff's Office) While her house was destroyed, a Fayette County woman and her dog are still alive thanks to a quick-thinking deputy. The Fayette County Sheriff’s …

The post FAYETTE COUNTY DEPUTY SAVES WOMAN AND HER DOG FROM A FIRE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will look to formally adopt a budget and tax rate and choose a firm to conduct the search for a new superintendent at its meeting Monday. …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE ON BUDGET & TAX RATE, POTENTIALLY SELECT SUPT. SEARCH FIRM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Blinn College District recently recognized the exceptional accomplishments of its 2023 Teaching Excellence Award winners. These four outstanding instructors have demonstrated a commitment to fostering innovative learning environments, a passion for …

The post BLINN NAMES 2023 TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) on Wednesday released the results from this spring’s STAAR assessments for grades 3-8. Statewide averages in the Spring 2023 STAAR forReading-Language Arts. (courtesy Texas Education …

The post TEA RELEASES STAAR RESULTS FOR GRADES 3-8 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham GameChangers thanks the public for contributing to its yearly school supply drive for Brenham and Burton ISD students. This year’s drive raised $20,000 through local fundraising efforts. Brenham ISD …

The post BRENHAM GAMECHANGERS REPORTS SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Misti Hartstack Corn (courtesy photo) A lifelong Washington County resident has announced her candidacy for Precinct 1 County Commissioner. Misti Hartstack Corn will run as a Republican in the March …

The post MISTI HARTSTACK CORN TO RUN FOR WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 1 COMMISSIONER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Big Game Program DirectorAlan Cain spoke in Brenham on Wednesday aboutchronic wasting disease, the county's first confirmedcase, and what will be done to prevent any furtherspread. …

The post LANDOWNERS RECEIVE INFO ON CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Courtesy Caldwell Police Department) A Caldwell Police Officer has been cleared in the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy that occurred on June 17. A Burleson County Grand Jury determined …

The post CALDWELL OFFICER CLEARED IN FATAL SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Saralyn Proschko (Austin County Jail) A former parole officer is going to be spending the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of Aggravated Sexual …

The post FORMER PAROLE OFFICER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Wednesday) is the first day back in the classroom for students in Washington County. (Mark Whitehead) Brenham and Burton ISD campuses begin a new school year today. The opening …

The post BRENHAM, BURTON ISD STUDENTS BACK AT SCHOOL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Landowners and hunters in Washington County are invited this (Wednesday) evening to an informational meeting about chronic wasting disease (CWD). The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) will host the …

The post TPWD TO HOST MEETING ON CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

An extra $1,000 in pay is on the way for Burton ISD teachers and staff. After an executive session on Monday, the Burton School Board approved the 2023-24 staff payment …

The post BURTON ISD APPROVES $1,000 STAFF PAY RAISES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Firefighters from across Washington County responded this (Tuesday) morning to a barn fire in Chappell Hill that nearly spread to two nearby homes. (courtesy Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Dept.) Units …

The post BARN DESTROYED, HOMES SAVED AFTER FIRE IN CHAPPELL HILL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners are proposing a property tax rate that exceeds last year’s rate and is the highest rate permitted without requiring an election. At their meeting this (Tuesday) morning, …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE INCREASED TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board on Monday proposed a reduced property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Information from Burton ISD on the school district'snewly proposed tax rate. The presented …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSES LOWER TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Noe R. Padilla (Washington Co. Jail) A Brenham man was arrested on Sunday on a child indecency charge. According to Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak, the sheriff’s office began a …

The post BRENHAM MAN ARRESTED FOR INDECENCY WITH A CHILD first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Dean Dillon, KTEX-106) The Brenham community came out in a big way over the weekend to support the Brenham Fire Department at its 54th Annual Fireman’s Fiesta. According to early …

The post BRENHAM FIRE DEPT. RAISES OVER $55,000 AT FIREMAN’S FIESTA first appeared on KWHI.com.

The nonprofit Thomye Delle “Celebrate Our Seniors” program marked 20 years of giving thanks to Washington County senior citizens at festivities this past weekend in Brenham. Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura …

The post ‘CELEBRATE OUR SENIORS’ HITS 20-YEAR MILESTONE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Austin County Sheriff’s Office is cautioning the public after a series of reported vehicle thefts. A notice published by the sheriff’s office on Friday reads that in the past …

The post MULTIPLE VEHICLE THEFTS REPORTED IN AUSTIN CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Budget talks, including discussion on the staff payment plan and a tax rate, will continue during the next Burton School Board meeting on Monday. The board met in a workshop …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS PROPOSED PAY PLAN, TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Idalia Avezuela (Washington Co. Jail) The head of the City of Brenham’s library system was arrested Thursday night on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated. 43-year-old Idalia Perez Avezuela of …

The post BRENHAM LIBRARIAN ARRESTED FOR DWI first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Fire Department has a weekend of festivities in store at its 54th Annual Fireman’s Fiesta. The department’s biggest fundraiser of the year begins tonight (Friday) at the Fireman’s …

The post BRENHAM FIREMAN’S FIESTA THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Cub Band made its annual trek across town this (Friday) morning during its March-a-Thon. The public cheered on the band as it performed marching tunes at several stops …

The post BRENHAM CUB BAND MARCHES THROUGH TOWN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College now says there was no firearm involved in Wednesday morning’s threat on the Brenham Campus that resulted in a brief shelter-in-place order. A statement received from Blinn Communications …

The post BLINN COLLEGE: ‘NO EVIDENCE’ THAT STUDENT HAD GUN ON BRENHAM CAMPUS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Several dozen residents and city representativesmet on Thursday at The Barnhill Center to view theconcepts presented for future development of theland around the Brenham Family Park. Brenham residents gathered Thursday …

The post TOWN HALL OFFERS LOOK AT POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS AROUND BRENHAM FAMILY PARK first appeared on KWHI.com.

Nine people pleaded guilty and were sentenced this week in 21st District Court before Judge Carson Campbell. 51-year-old James Carroll Brunson, Jr. of Caldwell was sentenced to 8 years probation …

The post NINE SENTENCED IN 21ST DISTRICT COURT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Amtrak along with Texas Central Partners could soon be reviving the controversial Dallas to Houston high-speed rail project. Amtrak issued a press release on Wednesday that said that they have …

The post AMTRAK AND TEXAS CENTRAL POTENTIALLY REVIVING HIGH SPEED RAIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Virginia Hillman is the recipient of Texas District 17'sVFW Auxiliary President of the Year Award. (courtesy photo) The president of Brenham’s VFW Auxiliary has received a prestigious honor. Virginia Hillman …

The post HEAD OF BRENHAM VFW AUXILIARY NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham residents are invited tonight (Thursday) to learn more about the Brenham Family Park small area plan. (courtesy City of Brenham) A town hall will be held from 5:30 to …

The post TOWN HALL THURSDAY FOR BRENHAM FAMILY PARK SMALL AREA PLAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners received an audit report on Tuesday that was generally positive on a broad level, but highlighted some potentially troubling trends for the EMS department. Lewis Crain of …

The post NEGATIVE EMS FUND BALANCE A FOCUS OF WASHINGTON CO. AUDIT REPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College’s Brenham Campus briefly went into a shelter-in-place this (Wednesday) morning after an "armed subject" was spotted on campus. Blinn College issued an alert just after 11:15 a.m. advising …

The post ‘ARMED SUBJECT’ SEEN ON BLINN-BRENHAM CAMPUS APPREHENDED; SHELTER-IN-PLACE LIFTED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County firefighters are warning the public about increased fire danger for the next several days. (National Weather Service) The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for …

The post VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER THIS WEEK IN REGION; RED FLAG WARNING WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

An almost 2-hour meeting as trustees question every expenditure greeted the Brenham School Board Tuesday at their Noon Special meeting. The trustees are wary of spending any money with a …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS LENGTHY MEETING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD is making a switch in contractors for the school bond project. The Burton School Board unanimously voted on Monday to release Circle H Dirt Work and Excavation from …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO CHANGE SITE WORK CONTRACTORS FOR BOND PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham Cub Band tradition will make its way through town on Friday. Flag twirlers and other Brenham Cub Band memberswalk along Main Street during the band's March-a-Thon on August …

The post BRENHAM CUB BAND TO MARCH THROUGH TOWN FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will soon receive new handguns. County commissioners today (Tuesday) approved the purchase of SIG Sauer 9mm handguns, using money from the sheriff’s office donation account. …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE PURCHASE OF NEW HANDGUNS FOR SHERIFF’S OFFICE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will continue budget discussions and set a proposed tax rate at its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). The board will resume budget talks from its meeting last week. …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO REVIEW BUDGET, TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Appraisal District has released 2023’s certified property values, which continue to climb but are up by much less on average compared to last year’s appraisals. Across the …

The post WASHINGTON CO. PROPERTY VALUES CERTIFIED first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 155th Washington County Fair held its unofficial kick-off party Saturday night. (from left) MaKayla Hueske, Seta Naylor, DellaJasinski, Katie Seeker The Volunteer Appreciation Night at Silver Wings Ballroom thanked …

The post WASHINGTON CO. FAIR QUEEN COURT, ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP REVEALED AT VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION NIGHT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD is inviting the public to the upcoming “Meet the Panthers” Night. “Meet the Panthers” Night is being held this coming Wednesday at 6pm in the Burton High School …

The post BURTON ISD HOLDING “MEET THE PANTHERS” NIGHT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Film crews on Thursday shoot on Market Street,outside of the Brenham Heritage Museum, for themovie "ICK". Filming took place at several spots indowntown for two days. Film crews wrapped up …

The post FILMING IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM CONCLUDES FOR ‘ICK’ MOVIE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County’s youth in 4-H will be honored tonight (Friday) at the annual 4-H Family Night and Awards Banquet. The event will take place at the Washington County Expo Event …

The post 4-H FAMILY NIGHT FRIDAY AT WASHINGTON CO. EXPO first appeared on KWHI.com.

The last film of the City of Brenham’s annual free summer movie series will be shown tonight (Friday) at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center. “Clifford the Big Red Dog” will …

The post CITY OF BRENHAM SUMMER MOVIE SERIES CONCLUDES FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Strategic Budget Officer Tim McRoberts reviews theCity of Brenham's proposed tax rate for the 2023-24fiscal year at a city council meeting on Thursday. The Brenham City Council formally proposed a …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL PROPOSES REDUCED TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

An urgent care clinic was at the top of the list for building permits issued by the City of Brenham in July. Shown here are the City of Brenham buildingpermits …

The post URGENT CARE CLINIC TOPS JULY BUILDING PERMITS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Another First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market is coming to downtown Brenham. From 4 to 7 p.m. tomorrow (Friday), dozens of vendors will offer homemade and homegrown items along Baylor …

The post DOWNTOWN BRENHAM TO HOLD FIRST FRIDAY MARKET first appeared on KWHI.com.

A property tax rate for the new fiscal year and an agreement for the design of a second fire station will be among today’s (Thursday) items of discussion for the …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS TAX RATE PROPOSAL, VOTE ON AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN OF SECOND FIRE STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board met for over an hour in a budget workshop on Wednesday to hammer out the details of pay raises for Burton ISD employees. The initial proposal …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSES STAFF PAY RAISES IN BUDGET WORKSHOP first appeared on KWHI.com.

After a 1 hour and 10-minute executive session, the Brenham School board at their noon meeting Wednesday reconvened in open session to pass a resolution addressing the lack of funding …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS BUDGET WORKSHOP first appeared on KWHI.com.

Four people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Brenham. A release today (Wednesday) from the Brenham Police Department says officers responded just after 3 p.m. to an …

The post FOUR TRANSPORTED AFTER HEAD-ON CRASH ON HIGHWAY 290 FRONTAGE ROAD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brad Kuecker (courtesy photo) A member of Washington County’s Precinct 1 Constable’s Office is seeking the lead constable role in Precinct 3. Brad Kuecker has announced his intent to run …

The post BRAD KUECKER RUNNING FOR WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 3 CONSTABLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Somerville police are asking the public to help them find a man accused of causing a fatal crash in early June. Jose Daniel Vega Rodriguez (Somerville Police Dept.) 31-year-old Jose …

The post SOMERVILLE POLICE SEARCHING FOR MAN WANTED IN FATAL CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

A predicament has arisen with Washington County Commissioners and the Pecan Glen Road District. Washington County Engineer Wesley Stolz tellscounty commissioners on Tuesday about adifference between the county's agreement with …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS LEARN OF DILEMMA WITH PECAN GLEN ROAD DISTRICT PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will submit a property tax rate to be considered for the upcoming fiscal year at its meeting on Thursday. The city is proposing a total tax …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO PROPOSE TAX RATE, CONSIDER AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN OF SECOND FIRE STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham Parks Department reports recent vandalism at three local park restrooms. In a press release issued Monday, the city says the damage includes broken porcelain sinks and …

The post VANDALISM AT BRENHAM PARK RESTROOMS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A longtime local law enforcement official is entering his name into consideration for the Precinct 3 Constable’s Office of Washington County. Damon Wegner (courtesy photo) Damon Wegner will seek election …

The post DAMON WEGNER TO RUN FOR WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 3 CONSTABLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD will celebrate its 148th anniversary and recognize four outstanding graduates at its upcoming Distinguished Alumni luncheon. The celebration will take place on Friday, September 8th beginning at 11:30 …

The post BRENHAM ISD TO HONOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SEPT. 8 first appeared on KWHI.com.

“Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” came to a roaring conclusion Saturday night with a blast back to the ‘80s. (Trail Boss Troy, KTEX-106) The Spicolis, based out of Houston, had crowds …

The post THE SPICOLIS CLOSE OUT ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ WITH SALUTE TO THE ’80s first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will take the first steps in its search for a new school district superintendent when it meets on Wednesday. An executive session will be held for …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS SUPT. SEARCH, RESOLUTION ON LACK OF STATE FUNDING first appeared on KWHI.com.

The victim of a Colorado County homicide dating back nearly half a century has been identified. Isolde Deirdre Yockey (Colorado Co. Sheriff's Office) The Colorado County Sheriff’s Office says DNA …

The post VICTIM IN COLORADO CO. COLD CASE IDENTIFIED first appeared on KWHI.com.

David Blakey (Washington County) Washington County’s Precinct 3 Constable will not run for re-election next year, and two others have declared their candidacy for the post. David Blakey Jr. has …

The post DAVID BLAKEY JR. NOT SEEKING ANOTHER TERM AS WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 3 CONSTABLE; TWO ANNOUNCE INTENT TO RUN first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Craig Montana) The music of the ‘80s will come to downtown Brenham tomorrow (Saturday) night for the last “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concert of the summer. The Spicolis, hailing from …

The post ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ TO ROUND OUT WITH ’80s TRIBUTE FROM THE SPICOLIS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Trey Holleway III (courtesy photo) Washington County Precinct 2 Constable Trey Holleway III will not seek another term in office. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Holleway announced …

The post TREY HOLLEWAY III NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AS WASHINGTON CO. PRECINCT 2 CONSTABLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County is entering into a burn ban. Today (Thursday), county commissioners adopted an order banning outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county. The county says the order becomes …

The post WASHINGTON CO. ENACTS BURN BAN EFFECTIVE FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Waller County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a man who was swept into the Brazos River while clearing logs and debris from around a bridge. According to …

The post WALLER CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE: MAN DIES AFTER FALLING INTO RIVER WHILE CLEARING DEBRIS FROM BRIDGE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A small monument honoring a World War I soldier buried in Brenham has arrived at Prairie Lea Cemetery after being discovered in Navasota. The marker for Private Joseph Harris that …

The post MONUMENT FOR WWI SOLDIER BURIED IN BRENHAM FOUND IN NAVASOTA, BROUGHT TO PRAIRIE LEA CEMETERY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Bellville ISD band director has passed away unexpectedly. Aaron Rettig (Schmidt Funeral Home) Aaron Rettig died Monday at the age of 46. Rettig was employed for 16 years at …

The post BELLVILLE BAND DIRECTOR PASSES AWAY AT 46 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Appraisal District lost its appeal to the state about Brenham ISD’s appraised values being considered too low. Brenham ISD's preliminary value study results fromthe Texas Comptroller. (courtesy …

The post WASHINGTON CO. APPRAISAL DISTRICT’S APPEAL OF ‘INVALID’ VALUES UNSUCCESSFUL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Representatives from Brenham ISD met with the public on Tuesday to answer a series of questions at a community-led town hall. Brenham ISD trustee Kyle Hafner (right) answers aquestion at …

The post BRENHAM ISD TRUSTEES ANSWER PUBLIC’S QUESTIONS AT TOWN HALL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tickets are sale for the Brenham Cub Football Pre-Season banquet this Saturday at the Fireman's Training Center. Doors open at 5:30. Former Brenham Cub Offensive Coordinator Tim Oehrlein will be …

The post BRENHAM CUB FOOTBALL PRE-SEASON BANQUET THIS SATURDAY, SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Three suspects are in Fayette County custody as part of an investigation into criminal activity last week in the Mullins Prairie community. 19-year-old Eagan Rivers of La Grange, 17-year-old Cody …

The post THREE ARRESTED IN FAYETTE CO. BURGLARY, VANDALISM CASE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council held a pair of Budget Workshops Monday and Tuesday. Prior to the Budget Workshop Monday, the Council approved several items. They approved the City of Brenham’s …

The post CITY COUNCIL HOLDS BUDGET WORKSHOPS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The hunt for a new generator for the Washington County Jail may conclude around the end of the year, after all. After worries that the process to secure a generator …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE CHANGE ORDER TO SPEED UP JAIL GENERATOR TIMELINE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A set of recommended changes to the City of Brenham’s zoning ordinance will go before city councilmembers next week after being given the go-ahead on Monday by the Planning and …

The post BRENHAM PLANNING & ZONING RECOMMENDS ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Giddings has elevated water restrictions for the public as its water shortage reaches critical levels. Earlier this month, one of the city’s four water wells became inoperable, …

The post CITY OF GIDDINGS ENACTS CRITICAL WATER SHORTAGE CONDITIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

DPS has issued a Silver Alert for a missing man from Hempstead. (Texas Dept. of Public Safety) Authorities say 69-year-old Leonard Wilson was last seen around 2 p.m. Sunday driving …

The post SILVER ALERT ISSUED FOR MISSING HEMPSTEAD MAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The third “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concert of the summer had all of downtown Brenham feeling the music. (Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106) Shekere, a seven-piece band from Houston, energized crowds Saturday …

The post LATIN MUSIC OF SHEKERE FLOWS THROUGH DOWNTOWN BRENHAM FOR ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

Chief Deputy Bill Rios (Burleson County Sheriff's Office) Burleson County Sheriff Gene Hermes has named his new Chief Deputy. Bill Rios was chosen to take the position formerly occupied by …

The post BURLESON COUNTY SHERIFF NAMES NEW CHIEF DEPUTY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Austin County Fair announced this year’s Fair Queen Candidates and the Entertainment Lineup at their annual Shrimp Boil last (Friday) night. This year’s Fair Queen Contest features 12 candidates: …

The post AUSTIN COUNTY FAIR QUEEN CANDIDATES AND ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Texas A&M University President M. Katherine Banks is resigning. M. Katherine Banks (Texas A&M University) In a press release, the university revealed that Banks submitted a letter late Thursday announcing …

The post TEXAS A&M PRESIDENT KATHERINE BANKS RESIGNS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The next edition of “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” tomorrow (Saturday) night will have a distinct Latin flair. (courtesy photo) Shekere, a seven-piece band from Houston, will spice up downtown Brenham …

The post ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ TO FEATURE LATIN BEAT OF SHEKERE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The new Academy Sports + Outdoors in Brenham is less than two months away from opening. The contractor for the sporting goods store, located at 1041 Nolan Street, inside the …

The post BRENHAM ACADEMY PREPPING TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Transparency and how Brenham School Board meetings are conducted were discussed at length during Monday’s gathering of trustees. Brenham School Board President Natalie Lange(right), pictured along with Trustee Tommie Sullivan,gives …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSES TRANSPARENCY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD is adding to its security with a second School Resource Officer (SRO). After an executive session on Tuesday, the Burton School Board approved an interlocal agreement with the …

The post BURTON ISD TO GET SECOND SRO first appeared on KWHI.com.

Dr. Tylor Chaplin Brenham ISD Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin says his choice to retire was motivated by a desire to spend more time with family. In an interview this (Wednesday) …

The post DR. CHAPLIN: FAMILY DROVE DECISION TO RETIRE AS BRENHAM ISD SUPT. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Policies and procedures for the Washington County treasurer’s office will soon be discussed in commissioners court amid accusations of a now-former county employee making unauthorized purchases with a county credit …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS TREASURER’S OFFICE PROCEDURES FOLLOWING ARREST OF EMPLOYEE ON CREDIT CARD FRAUD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board heard updates on the status of the school bond project at its meeting Tuesday. DSA Construction Management Job Superintendent Rob Ogletree said June had several rain/mud …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD RECEIVES BOND UPDATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin has announced his retirement from the school district, effective at the end of this December. Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin gives his monthlyreport during the …

The post DR. TYLOR CHAPLIN TO RETIRE AS BRENHAM ISD SUPT. IN DECEMBER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Joshua Christopher Crowley(Washington Co. Jail) “Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity” was the ruling by Judge Carson Campbell Tuesday for Joshua Christopher Crowley, otherwise known as the Burton Short Stop …

The post BURTON SHORT STOP SHOOTER FOUND “NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY” first appeared on KWHI.com.

Local business growth and housing were some of the topics addressed during an economic report given to Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday). Economic and Community Development Director Teresa Rosales told …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HEAR REPORT ON LOCAL BUSINESS GROWTH, HOUSING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Members of the Brenham FFA and Burton FFA received several awards and accolades at last week’s 95th Texas FFA Convention in Dallas. The Brenham FFA received the Golden HorizonAward, was …

The post LOCAL FFA MEMBERS HONORED AT STATE CONVENTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD anticipates to close out the current fiscal year in the red. Brenham ISD Chief Financial Officer Thad Lasatergives school board trustees a report on the district'sbudget as it …

The post BRENHAM ISD FACING BUDGET DEFICIT TO END FISCAL YEAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Washington County home is a total loss after a fire that started late Sunday night and continued into early this (Monday) morning, requiring the aid of multiple fire departments. …

The post WASHINGTON CO. HOME DESTROYED IN FIRE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak will not seek re-election next year. Sheriff Otto Hanak Sheriff Hanak announced in a press release this (Monday) morning that he will retire when his …

The post OTTO HANAK TO RETIRE AS WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF AT END OF TERM first appeared on KWHI.com.

An eclectic blend of music filled downtown Brenham on Saturday for this month’s second installment of “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes.” (Dean Dillon, KTEX-106) The Austin-based Skyrocket! had something for everyone …

The post SKYROCKET! ENTERTAINS WITH ICONIC HITS AT ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

A beneficiary of an international relief organization was a guest speaker this past Friday at a church service in Brenham. Edouardo Ndecky visited Brenham’s First Baptist Church, talked about the …

The post NDECKY SPEAKS TO FIRST BAPTIST CROWD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The addition of a second School Resource Officer (SRO) and consideration of next school year’s budget lead a packed agenda for Tuesday’s Burton School Board meeting. The board will act …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO VOTE ON SECOND SRO, SCHOOL BUDGET first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners will meet Tuesday to revisit a tax phase-in request tabled from their previous meeting. The court will take up a resolution adopting a commercial tax phase-in agreement …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER TAX PHASE-IN REQUEST, HEAR QUARTERLY REPORTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Transparency and the Texas Open Meetings Act are among the scheduled topics of discussion at Monday’s Brenham School Board meeting. Previous meetings have had some members of the community come …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS TRANSPARENCY, OPEN MEETINGS ACT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A new addition to Brenham’s park system was formally unveiled this (Friday) morning. Representatives from the City of Brenham,Washington County Chamber of Commerce, TexasParks & Wildlife and the community cut …

The post HOHLT PARK CROSSOVER NATURE TRAIL OPENS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The second of this month’s “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concerts in downtown Brenham will be the debut of an electric group covering an abundance of genres. (courtesy photo) Skyrocket!, based …

The post SKYROCKET! TO TAKE ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ STAGE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council received a wealth of information today (Thursday) about options the city could pursue to expand its water capacity. Brian Hackman (left) and Ryan Tinsley of StrandAssociates …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL LEARNS ABOUT OPTIONS TO IMPROVE WATER CAPACITY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will learn more about the city’s water capacity during its meeting today (Thursday). A council work session will go over the results of a water capacity …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW WATER CAPACITY STUDY, CONSIDER ABATEMENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Garrett Durrenberger Lee County has named a new sheriff. Garrett Durrenberger was sworn into office on Tuesday after being selected on Monday to fill the role vacated by Casey Goetz, …

The post GARRETT DURRENBERGER SWORN IN AS LEE CO. SHERIFF first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 5 p.m.: KWHI has learned of new developments in the effort to secure a generator for the Washington County Jail that could lead to a longer-than-expected timeline. Sheriff …

The post UPDATE: NEW DELAYS ANTICIPATED IN SECURING JAIL GENERATOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board voted to modify the current contract for school resource officers (SROs) with the City of Brenham at their meeting Tuesday at noon. Superintendent Tylor Chaplin presented …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO MODIFY SRO CONTRACT WITH CITY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham’s water capacity will be one of the subjects of city council discussion on Thursday. Councilmembers will hold a work session to hear the results of a water capacity study. …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO RECEIVE WATER CAPACITY STUDY RESULTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Derek Estep (courtesy photo) Washington County’s First Assistant District Attorney is seeking election as the county’s lead prosecutor. Derek Estep declared his candidacy today (Monday) in the March 2024 Republican …

The post DEREK ESTEP ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR WASHINGTON CO. D.A. first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Smithsonian Museum is coming to Brenham. The Smithsonian's "Crossroads" exhibit in Union,South Carolina. (courtesy Smithsonian Institution Museum on MainStreet) The Texas Historical Commission’s Heritage Tourism Program has announced that …

The post BRENHAM SELECTED TO HOST TRAVELING SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The long-awaited return of “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” in downtown Brenham had crowds rocking in the streets. (Eilish, KTEX-106) Saturday night’s opening concert, which hosted the Dallas-based Ashmore, featured a …

The post CLASSIC ROCK ‘N ROLL OF ASHMORE OPENS ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

Madison Moran (Christy Moran) Senior 4-H members from Washington County 4-H participated at the 77th Texas 4-H Roundup in College Station, Texas. Texas 4-H Roundup, the pinnacle event for all …

The post WASHINGTON COUNTY 4-HERS EXCEL AT THE TEXAS 4-H ROUNDUP first appeared on KWHI.com.

A month of sizzling summer music gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) in downtown Brenham. (Rip Rolling, KTEX-106) “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” opens its 19th season with a performance from Ashmore, a …

The post CLASSIC ROCK ‘N ROLL TO FILL DOWNTOWN BRENHAM FOR RETURN OF ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Police Department is advising of a phone scam involving utility meters. Assistant Chief Lloyd Powell says multiple people have contacted city hall reporting that someone claiming to be …

The post BRENHAM POLICE WARNING OF UTILITY SCAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

All kinds of goods will be for sale in downtown Brenham tomorrow (Friday) during the First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market. From 4 to 7 p.m., Baylor and Park Streets …

The post FIRST FRIDAY FARMER & ARTISAN MARKET IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blue Bell is celebrating National Ice Cream Month with a new sweet treat. (courtesy Blue Bell) Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream is a vanilla ice cream with hints of brown …

The post BLUE BELL RELEASES MONSTER COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham and Burton ISDs showed a mix of improvement and regression in this year’s STAAR end-of-course assessments. Statewide averages in the Spring 2023 STAAR endof-course assessments. The scores of Brenham …

The post TEA RELEASES 2023 STAAR END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT RESULTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken is not running for another term next year. Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken,pictured here speaking at an observance for fallenpeace officers on May …

The post JULIE RENKEN WILL NOT SEEK ANOTHER TERM AS WASHINGTON CO. DISTRICT ATTORNEY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The town of Chappell Hill was full of Fourth of July fervor on Tuesday as it hosted its 46th annual Independence Day parade. Numerous patriotic floats made their way through …

The post CHAPPELL HILL INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE WINNERS ANNOUNCED first appeared on KWHI.com.

St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange received some good news as a new group has emerged to take over the troubled medical facility. Hospital Center of Excellence has signed …

The post NEW GROUP TO TAKE OVER ST. MARK’S first appeared on KWHI.com.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department NaturalResource Specialist Stephanie Damron speakswith Washington County Commissioners onMonday about the new proposed testing sitefor chronic wasting disease. Washington County Commissioners have selected a location …

The post TESTING SITE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CHOSEN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 19th year of “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” kicks off this weekend in downtown Brenham. (Rip Rolling, KTEX-106) The opening concert of the summer will feature the return of Dallas-based …

The post ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ RETURNS SATURDAY WITH ROCK ‘N ROLL FROM ASHMORE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Casey Goetz (Lee Co. Sheriff's Office) Lee County’s top lawman is reportedly stepping down. According to the Giddings Times & News, Lee County Sheriff Casey Goetz announced his resignation from …

The post LEE CO. SHERIFF ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Blue Bell Aquatic Center has a full week of fun planned in celebration of National Aquatic Week. From Monday to Friday, July 3-7, the aquatic center will have a …

The post BLUE BELL AQUATIC CENTER GEARING UP FOR NATIONAL AQUATIC WEEK first appeared on KWHI.com.

A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon near Plantersville. The accident happened around 3:15 p.m. on FM 1774, about half a mile north of Highway 105. According …

The post MOTORCYCLIST DEAD AFTER CRASH NEAR PLANTERSVILLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

As residents make plans to celebrate the Fourth of July, local fire officials remind them to be careful in all activities they are enjoying. The City of Brenham does not …

The post OUTDOOR SAFETY ENCOURAGED AS FOURTH OF JULY APPROACHES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Independence Day celebrations get underway today (Friday) through the Fourth of July. Plenty of activities will be taking place in Washington and surrounding counties: FRIDAY In Brenham, a Stars & …

The post FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES ALL AROUND AREA first appeared on KWHI.com.

As downtown Brenham prepares for a packed month of summer concerts, a new slate of entertainment is getting ready to take the stage. (Trail Boss Troy, KTEX-106) This year marks …

The post VISIT BRENHAM LAUNCHES PERFORMANCES FROM LOCAL MUSICIANS AT ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board on Wednesday approved a pair of rebids that are expected to save over $1 million for Burton ISD’s bond project. Trustees approved a concrete bid from …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES REBIDS FOR BOND PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) The Texas Legislature opened its second special session on Wednesday, focused on uniting both chambers on a measure to provide citizens with property tax relief. Lawmakers concluded …

The post SEN. KOLKHORST DISCUSSES OPENING OF SPECIAL SESSION FOR PROPERTY TAXES, RECAPS REGULAR SESSION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Jerome Jacobs (Austin County Sheriff's Office) A fugitive wanted on criminal charges in Austin County was arrested on Tuesday in Richmond. 28-Year-Old Jerome Anthony Jacobs was taken into custody by …

The post AUSTIN COUNTY FUGITIVE APPREHENDED IN RICHMOND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lisa Michelle GrebeWashington Co. Jail photo A now-former Washington County employee has been arrested for allegedly using a county credit card to make over $3,000 in purchases. According to Sheriff …

The post FORMER COUNTY EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR CREDIT CARD FRAUD first appeared on KWHI.com.

New census information shows Brenham’s increase in population has continued since the turn of the decade, but slowed over the course of July 2021 to July 2022. According to …

The post NEW CENSUS NUMBERS SHOW POPULATION UP FOR BRENHAM & WASHINGTON CO., DOWN FOR BURTON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Leslie Eugene Young Jr. (Grimes County Jail) After being presented with evidence of physical and sexual abuse of a mother and her children, it only took a Grimes County jury …

The post BEDIAS MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Schulenburg man is accused of murder in the death of his father on Saturday. Shane Allen Machicek (Fayette Co. Jail) Schulenburg police responded to a report of shots fired …

The post SCHULENBURG MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF FATHER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Johnny Lacina Jr. A longtime Brenham attorney and former representative on the Blinn Board of Trustees has died. Louis John “Johnny” Lacina, Jr. passed away on Saturday at the age …

The post LONGTIME ATTORNEY, FORMER BLINN TRUSTEE JOHNNY LACINA JR. DIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lee County Cowboy Church at last year's Round Top 4th of July Parade (photo courtesy of the Round Top Rifle Association) The town of Round Top is getting ready for …

The post ROUND TOP 173RD FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton ISD Board of Trustees has called a special meeting for this coming Wednesday at noon at the Central Office on North Railroad Street. The lone item on the …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET ON WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Summer fun is in store this (Friday) evening at Henderson Park in Brenham. The City of Brenham will host a Pop-Up Play Day from 6 to 8 p.m. and the …

The post POP-UP PLAY DAY, MOVIE IN THE PARK FRIDAY AT HENDERSON PARK first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Plano woman who was airlifted to a hospital after falling from the Navasota River bridge following a crash is reported to be recovering. 24-year-old Sabrina Burton was flown in …

The post WOMAN REPORTEDLY RECOVERING AFTER CRASH, FALL FROM NAVASOTA RIVER BRIDGE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to celebrate the 46th anniversary of its annual Independence Day parade. (courtesy Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce) The “Biggest Small Town …

The post CHAPPELL HILL PREPARING FOR FOURTH OF JULY PARADE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College’s service territory has increased to include a portion of Harris County. A map of Blinn College's service area, prior toBlinn's newly approved addition of a portion ofHarris County, …

The post BLINN COLLEGE SERVICE TERRITORY NOW COVERS PART OF HARRIS CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

City of Brenham staff and local first responders had their training put to the test on Monday during an impromptu emergency drill at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center (BBAC). (courtesy …

The post BLUE BELL AQUATIC CENTER HOSTS EMERGENCY DRILL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board held a lengthy meeting Tuesday evening. On the consent agenda, that the school board is supposed to approve with just one vote, both trustees Kyle Hafner …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS LENGTHY MEETING first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Caldwell Police Department has released the name of the officer that was injured this past Saturday during an exchange of gunfire with a suspect. Caldwell Police were called out …

The post OFFICER IDENTIFIED IN WEEKEND FATAL SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Chris Finn A lengthy but mostly routine meeting greeted the Washington County Commissioners Tuesday morning. The Commissioners heard a report from Chris Finn from Metro Aviation about the 1st year …

The post WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEET first appeared on KWHI.com.

An unfenced outdoor play area in Burton soon will get new playground equipment, a fence and a pavilion, thanks to a grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet …

The post BURTON CHURCH RECEIVES LCRA GRANT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 10:45 a.m.: A Plano woman was flown to a hospital with serious injuries after falling from a bridge following an accident Sunday night west of Navasota. DPS reports …

The post ONE CRITICALLY INJURED AFTER FALLING FROM NAVASOTA RIVER BRIDGE FOLLOWING ACCIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County celebrated Juneteenth this past weekend with a parade through downtown Brenham. Saturday's parade led into a full day of activities for the Washington County Juneteenth Association's Jubilee at …

The post VIDEO – JUNETEENTH PARADE IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

In celebration of Juneteenth, offices around Washington County will be closed today (Monday). Brenham City Hall, Brenham Municipal Court, Brenham Animal Services, the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library and all …

The post JUNETEENTH OFFICE CLOSURES FOR CITY OF BRENHAM, WASHINGTON CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Multiple agencies are searching in Grimes County for an armed robbery suspect. The Navasota Police Department says it was requested to assist around 11:30 p.m. Friday with a vehicle pursuit …

The post MANHUNT IN GRIMES CO. FOR SUSPECT IN ARMED ROBBERY IN HEMPSTEAD first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Caldwell police officer was injured and a suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire early this (Saturday) morning. According to Caldwell Police Chief Charles Barnes, police were called …

The post OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING IN CALDWELL; OFFICER INJURED, SUSPECT KILLED first appeared on KWHI.com.

An Humble man was found guilty and sentenced this week in connection to an armed carjacking in Brenham in 2020. Zavien Armar Mayweather(Washington Co. Jail) A jury sentenced 21-year-old Zavien …

The post HUMBLE MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR ARMED CARJACKING IN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Business expansion was a recurring subject at Thursday’s Brenham City Council meeting, as three local companies presented requests to aid in their growth. Stanpac Vice President of Finance Brent Roszell(right) …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES TAX PHASE-IN AGREEMENT, REINVESTMENT ZONES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Officer Eric Crosby (BPD) American Legion Post 48 in Brenham has chosen Officer Eric Crosby of the Brenham Police Department for a prestigious honor. Last (Thursday) night, Crosby received the …

The post CROSBY NAMED POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermanntells the Brenham City Council on Thursday about"Ick", the movie that will come to downtownBrenham in early August for filming. The movie that will be …

The post DETAILS SHARED ABOUT ‘ICK’ MOVIE PLANNED FOR FILMING IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Texas Police Chiefs Association Director of TrainingMike Gentry (left) presents Brenham Police SergeantSteven Eilert with a certificate in recognition of hiscompletion of the Law Enforcement CommandOfficer Program. Two members of …

The post TWO BRENHAM PD MEMBERS HONORED first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Prairie View A&M) Prairie View Police are investigating the early morning shooting death of a 21-year-old female college student. Police say one person is dead and three others were …

The post PRAIRIE VIEW POLICE INVESTIGATING FATAL SHOOTING OF COLLEGE STUDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

First responders in Navasota rescued a crew member from a tower Thursday afternoon after they suffered a possible heat-related illness. Around 4:30 p.m., the Navasota Fire Department responded to Mid-South …

The post SEVERAL AGENCIES AID IN RESCUE ATOP COMMUNICATIONS TOWER IN NAVASOTA first appeared on KWHI.com.

Jennifer Ritter of Specialized Public Finance reviewsthe details of the certificates of obligation that theCity of Brenham agreed to issue during Thursday'scity council meeting. The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL OKs ISSUING $10 MILLION IN CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Kippers Kountry Store) Firefighters worked quickly this (Thursday) morning to put out a vehicle fire in downtown Chappell Hill and prevent it from spreading to a local business. The …

The post FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISH VEHICLE FIRE NEXT TO CHAPPELL HILL BUSINESS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The search for a man wanted by Milam County authorities after a fatal shooting in Rockdale has ended in Bellville. Isaac Carrizales (Austin Co. Sheriff's Office) 17-year-old Isaac Jay Carrizales …

The post SUSPECT IN ROCKDALE MURDER ARRESTED IN BELLVILLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Washington County man is accused of assaulting a teenage girl and two Washington County Sheriff’s deputies. Bobby Charles Ewing (Washington Co. Jail) The sheriff’s office was dispatched around 7:15 …

The post WASHINGTON CO. MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING CHILD, DEPUTIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham’s airport manager is taking a new position elsewhere. Debora Pinto Debora Pinto wrote to city officials and stakeholders in an email on Wednesday that she will …

The post DEBORA PINTO DEPARTING AS BRENHAM’S AIRPORT MANAGER first appeared on KWHI.com.

A packed agenda awaits the Brenham City Council at its meeting today (Thursday). Among the items to consider are the authorization to issue up to $10 million in certificates of …

The post CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, ECONOMIC ITEMS, FILMING IN DOWNTOWN AMONG BUSINESS FOR BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Police are investigating an increase in motor vehicle burglaries that have occurred over the last couple of months. Police Sergeant Jason Derrick provided KWHI with the statistics from April …

The post BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY INCREASE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A bill that changes Texas’ funding model for community colleges to one based on student performance and outcomes has been signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. House Bill 8 …

The post BILL ESTABLISHING OUTCOME-BASED FUNDING MODEL FOR TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES BECOMES LAW first appeared on KWHI.com.

Local offices will be closed on Monday in celebration of Juneteenth. Closures include Brenham City Hall, Brenham Municipal Court, Brenham Animal Services, the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library and all …

The post CITY, COUNTY OFFICES TO CLOSE FOR JUNETEENTH first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will potentially authorize the issuance of up to $10 million in certificates of obligation (COs) at a busy meeting on Thursday. The proceeds from the sale …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, CONSIDER TAX PHASE-IN ITEMS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County seal from thecounty's website. Washington County may be changing its official seal. A workshop held by county commissioners today (Tuesday) focused on the possibility of updating the …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COULD UPDATE OFFICIAL SEAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The life of a young boy was tragically cut short yesterday (Monday) morning in an ATV accident. Shortly before 10am, the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a crash scene …

The post YOUNG BOY DIES IN ATV ACCIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton ISD trustees went over preliminary budget projections and received information on the status of the school district’s bond project at a meeting on Monday. Currently, the projected budget for …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD REVIEWS BUDGET PROJECTIONS, HEARS BOND PROJECT UPDATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Memorial services are set after the sudden passing last week of a 2022 Bellville High School graduate and accomplished student-athlete. Colton Kaase (Colorado State University) Colton Kaase, 19 and entering …

The post MEMORIAL ARRANGEMENTS ANNOUNCED FOR BELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, CSU STUDENT-ATHLETE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Parts of Washington County experienced strong winds and some hail as a result of Saturday night storms. (courtesy Bob Cox) Dan Reilly, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service …

The post SATURDAY NIGHT STORMS BRING STRONG WINDS, HAIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106) Downtown Brenham was filled to the brim on Saturday with residents and visitors alike for the annual Summer Sip & Art Walk. Visitors strolled through dozens of …

The post SUMMER SIP & ART WALK DRAWS BIG CROWDS TO DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

One person was injured after a single-vehicle accident late Saturday night, west of Burton. The crash occurred around 11 p.m. on Highway 290, near Highway 237. According to DPS Sergeant …

The post ONE HOSPITALIZED AFTER CRASH NEAR BURTON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Vinyl Radio (The Barnhill Center) Vinyl Radio, which was voted Nashville’s “Best Local Band” will take The Barnhill Center stage on Friday, June 23rd at 7pm. The 4-piece band covers …

The post VINYL RADIO COMING TO THE BARNHILL CENTER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Six people pleaded guilty and were sentenced on Thursday in 21st Judicial District Court before Judge Carson Campbell. 29-year-old Jarvis Ryan Maxey-Hamilton of Brenham was sentenced to 10 years in …

The post SIX SENTENCED IN 21ST DISTRICT COURT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tasty drinks and striking art displays will be in store for guests to downtown Brenham tomorrow (Saturday), as Main Street Brenham holds its Summer Sip & Art Walk. Around 40 …

The post DOWNTOWN BRENHAM TO HOST SUMMER SIP & ART WALK SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Del Sol Food Company's headquarters in Brenham. Del Sol Food Company Inc., producer of BRIANNAS Fine Salad Dressings in Brenham, has acquired New Jersey-based bakery John Wm. Macy’s. The bakery …

The post DEL SOL FOOD CO. ACQUIRES JOHN WM. MACY’S BAKERY first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Blue Bell) Blue Bell has a new flavor for anyone who needs some extra pep in their step. Java Jolt Ice Cream combines Blue Bell’s Coffee flavor with dark …

The post BLUE BELL RELEASES JAVA JOLT ICE CREAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD has announced the winners of the teacher, substitute and paraprofessional of the year awards for the 2022-23 school year. Named Brenham ISD’s teacher of the year is Kristi …

The post BRENHAM ISD ANNOUNCES TEACHER, SUBSTITUTE, PARAPROFESSIONAL OF YEAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Somerville police have identified those involved in a fatal head-on collision Sunday afternoon. (courtesy Somerville Police Dept.) 28-year-old Nicolas Hinojosa of Taft, near Corpus Christi, was pronounced dead at the …

The post IDENTITIES RELEASED IN FATAL COLLISION IN SOMERVILLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Bellville High School alumnus and student-athlete at Colorado State University (CSU) has died. Colton Kaase (Colorado State University) The university on Tuesday announced the passing of sophomore Colton Kaase. …

The post BELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, COLORADO STATE STUDENT-ATHLETE DIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) approved the fall 2023 allocation of hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant funding to local tourism entities. Commissioners awarded six organizations a total of $21,400 to …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS AWARD FALL 2023 HOT FUNDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lloyd Powell (left) is sworn in as assistantchief of the Brenham Police Departmentby Chief Ron Parker. (courtesy Brenham Police Dept.) A long-standing member of the Brenham Police Department now has …

The post LLOYD POWELL PROMOTED TO ASST. CHIEF OF BRENHAM POLICE DEPT. first appeared on KWHI.com.

All games scheduled in Sealy for tonight have been postponed due to inclement weather in the area. Games have been rescheduled for tomorrow night at the same times. You can …

The post LITTLE LEAGUE RAINED OUT IN SEALY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Karen Brown is welcomed by Trustee Archer Archer asTrustee Jared Krenek looks on. The Brenham School board hired a new Assistant Principal for Brenham Middle School at their meeting at …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD HIRES ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham is adjusting operating hours for the Henderson Park splash pad in response to public feedback.

Public Works Director Dane Rau announces new
hours for the Henderson Park splash pad during
Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting.Effective today (Monday), the splash pad will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The changes come a week after the announcement of a schedule that only featured evening hours on weekdays in exchange for longer hours over the weekend.

Public Works Director Dane Rau announced the new times at Thursday’s city council meeting. He said the splash pad hours must be reduced due to the Brazos River Authority’s continued systemwide drought watch, but believes the revised schedule will provide added variety for families.

Rau’s update came after two residents spoke at the beginning of the meeting to ask the city to add daytime hours for the splash pad. Several posts and comments on social media also requested different hours.

The splash pad first opened for the season on April 1st and has been in operation since June 2020.

The post CITY OF BRENHAM REVISES SPLASH PAD HOURS TO OFFER MORNING TIMES ON WEEKDAYS first appeared on KWHI.com.

One person was killed and two others were injured in a two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon in Somerville.

Somerville police responded just after 5 p.m. to the 16900 block of Highway 36.

Authorities arrived to find one driver deceased. Two other people were transported in stable condition to hospitals in Bryan and College Station.

The police department says its investigation into the crash is still ongoing. Preliminary information suggests alcohol may have been involved, but the department has not specified to what extent.

No identities have been released.

The post SOMERVILLE POLICE INVESTIGATING FATAL WEEKEND CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

2023 WASHINGTON CO. DAIRY DAY CHAMPION WINNERS

(Rip Rolling, KTEX-106)SHOWMANSHIP

Junior - Jaedyn McPherson, Rio Vista FFA
Senior - Grace Dodson, Friendship 4-H
Old Timer - Jacey Frazier

JUNIOR CHAMPION

Brown Swiss - Landry Zapalac, Schulenburg FFA
Holstein - Landry Zapalac, Schulenburg FFA
Jersey - Mikayla Stana, Fayette County 4-H
AOB - Eddie Joe Weaver, Rio Vista FFA

SENIOR CHAMPION

Brown Swiss - Amber Molitor, Brenham FFA
Holstein - Jaedyn McPherson, Rio Vista FFA
Jersey - Maddison Molitor, Washington County 4-H

GRAND CHAMPION

Brown Swiss - Amber Molitor, Brenham FFA
Holstein - Jaedyn McPherson, Rio Vista FFA
Jersey - Maddison Molitor, Washington County 4-H
AOB - Eddie Joe Weaver, Rio Vista FFA

SUPREME CHAMPION

Holstein - Jaedyn McPherson, Rio Vista FFA

The post WASHINGTON CO. DAIRY DAY RESULTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners will act Tuesday on distributing hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant funds to local tourism organizations for the fall. A total of $51,200 is being requested by six …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER FALL 2023 HOT FUND REQUESTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham High School student has been selected to join 23 other young leaders in the beef industry to participate in the 2023 Cattle Raisers Roundup. Kaylin Jacobs, who is …

The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CHOSEN TO ATTEND CATTLE RAISERS ROUNDUP first appeared on KWHI.com.

Consideration of a new assistant principal at Brenham Middle School will top Monday’s agenda for the Brenham School Board. Trustees will look to hire a candidate to fill the position …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO HIRE NEW ASST. PRINCIPAL AT BMS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The next phase of roadwork along South Chappell Hill Street in Brenham is getting underway.

A major reconstruction project began in March on the section of South Chappell Hill Street between Market Street and the Highway 290 feeder road. Work consists of removing the existing pavement, going back with an all-concrete street surface and replacing some sections of the curb.

Phase 2 of the project will have the contractor working on one side of the road at a time, between Stringer Street and Business 290. The road will be one-way, always westbound traffic from Business 290 to Stringer Street, with access coming strictly from the Highway 290 feeder. Once one side of the road is complete, traffic will be converted over and reconstruction will shift to the other side, with traffic flow still staying westbound.

The contractor will work with residents and businesses regarding access to their properties. At times, when concrete is scheduled to be poured, delays will occur but access will be allowed and worked around.

The city asks for continued patience during construction and that the public respects the work zones and workers’ safety.

Work is contracted to Larry Young Paving and is expected to conclude in August.

The post PHASE 2 OF SOUTH CHAPPELL HILL STREET CONSTRUCTION BEGINS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Somerville man was arrested by College Station police Thursday morning, accused of possessing weapons, including homemade explosives, while driving to the Easterwood Airport.

Michael Scott Morgan
(Brazos Co. Jail)According to police, a DPS trooper was responding to an unrelated crash when he observed 56-year-old Michael Scott Morgan in a vehicle in the 8400 block of Turkey Creek Road around 4:45 a.m.

The trooper observed firearms, an open container of alcohol, butane lighters and a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine in the driver’s seat. College Station police were requested shortly after to take over the welfare check.

Police say Morgan told them he was “attempting to go near the airport to commit suicide by cop by using the rifle to shoot into the air to elicit a police response.”

Upon searching the vehicle further, officers located two devices that appeared to be homemade improvised explosive devices (IED). The College Station Police Department’s Bomb Squad arrived and confirmed the devices were IEDs before removing and disposing of them.

Morgan was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, two counts of a Prohibited Weapon, and Criminal Attempt Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Public Servant.

Police say the incident appears to be isolated and there is no threat to the general public. Local, state and federal authorities have been notified due to the proximity to the airport.

The post CSPD: SOMERVILLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF IEDs, FIREARMS DROVE NEAR AIRPORT TO ‘COMMIT SUICIDE BY COP’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

Censear Solomon
(Brazos Co. Jail)A Brazos County grand jury on Thursday indicted a teenager who is accused of murder in the death of a College Station man in January.

17-year-old Censear Solomon, who Brazos County Jail records say has lived in Brenham and Hempstead, is one of three suspects that College Station police say are responsible for the shooting death of 26-year-old Rashawn Jones.

A bulletin shared by College Station
police in January seeking information
on the suspects accused in the death of
Rashawn Jones.
(College Station Police Dept.)Police say the shooting happened during a targeted home invasion on January 3rd in the 400 block of Southwest Parkway.

Solomon was booked into jail on January 10th after a murder warrant was issued. The arrest was made with assistance from the Hempstead Police Department.

Police are still searching for the other two suspects wanted in Jones’ death. Anyone who has information on the case can contact the College Station Police Department at 979-764-3600.

The post MURDER INDICTMENT ISSUED FOR TEEN ACCUSED IN DEATH OF COLLEGE STATION MAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham’s 14th summer movie series kicks off tonight (Friday) at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.

The first of three films in the Movies in the Park/Floats-n-Flicks series will be “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile”. Gates to the Aquatic Center open at 8 p.m., and the movie will begin 10 minutes after sunset.

Guests must be on a float in order to be in the water during the movie.

The movie is sponsored by Brannon Industrial Group and The Barnhill House Toys & Books.

KWHI and KTEX-106 are sponsors of the summer movies.

For more information, visit the Brenham Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

The post CITY OF BRENHAM SUMMER MOVIES BEGIN WITH ‘FLOATS-N-FLICKS’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

New noise regulations will go into effect in Brenham following action by the city council today (Thursday) to amend the city’s code of ordinances.

Legal and Legislative Services Manager Karen Stack
details Brenham's new noise standards in a
presentation to the city council on Thursday.The new rules transition from measuring noise based on a “plainly audible” standard into a decibel-based system, with the allowed maximum decibels depending on the time of day and whether the property is zoned for residential, industrial or commercial-mixed use. Legal and Legislative Services Manager Karen Stack said the goal was to move to a “more objective standard” for determining acceptable noise levels.

A work session presentation provided an overview of important aspects of the noise ordinance, like what sounds are prohibited at all times. They comprise of using sound amplifying devices on public property where the noise can be heard over 50 feet away; using loudspeakers or amplifiers on non-vending vehicles where the music or bass reverberation is audible over 50 feet away; prolonged loud noise from an animal or bird; yelling or singing outdoors at night; and unreasonable noise from a vehicle due to being out of repair or overloaded.

Exceptions to any noise offenses established in the ordinance include emergency sirens or alarms, daytime construction or lawn maintenance, garbage collection, city-sponsored events, city-authorized activities at the Hohlt Park Amphitheater, fire marshal-authorized fireworks, aircraft at the airport, railroad equipment, road construction, properly maintained AC or refrigeration systems, and events at the Washington County Expo. Also allowed is noise from schools or school-sponsored athletic events, which Stack said served as the source for the city’s highest noise level during its testing.

The maximum allowable exterior sound level in residentially-zoned areas is 55 decibels in the daytime – or 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. – and 50 at nighttime – or 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Properties in commercial mixed-use zones have a limit of 62 decibels at all hours, while the limit is 85 decibels for industrial properties. In an instance where noise can be measured in more than one zoning district, the standard of the more permissive district will apply.

The ordinance will be enforced by police, but city zoning will have the ability to do so as needed. Violations are a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 for the first offense and escalating for subsequent occurrences.

One discussion point for the council was setting the exterior decibel limit for music venues, which are allowed to use noise-amplifying equipment between 10 a.m. and midnight. The council agreed to 85 decibels, the same amount allowed in industrial zones.

The new guidelines also lay the framework for a noise permit process that allows staff to issue permits for events, rather than the council having to approve noise variances. The council will maintain the authority to overturn the denial of any permits.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

Passed a resolution to adopt administratively enforceable guidelines for filming in the city. The resolution, which follows the council’s discussion last month of the potential of allowing filming in Brenham, is necessary in the certification process to become a Film Friendly Texas Community.
Approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with TxDOT to temporarily close state right-of-way for the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes summer concert series, taking place on July 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Click here to read the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

Jimmy Ha (left) is promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Brenham Police Department and is pinned with a new badge by his wife.Sierra Randle (left) is pinned by her husband with a new badge marking her promotion to sergeant in the Brenham Police Department. Tina Bruno (left) is pinned by Sergeant Ashley Burns to commemorate her promotion to corporal within the Brenham Police Department. Brenham Fire Department C-Shift Captain Brett Schroeder (right) receives a 20-year service recognition for his time in the Brenham Fire Department.Victorino Ortiz (right) is congratulated on 20 years of service with the City of Brenham's parks department. Kyle Branham (right) is recognized for 15 years of service in the City of Brenham's purchasing and central warehouse department.The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW NOISE RULES first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley)The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing teenager.

16-year-old Jacob Ismael Moreno was last seen at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Sunday in the 500 block of Highway 290 West in Brenham.

Moreno is 5’8”, 175 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing blue jeans, a dark-colored hoodie with a multi-color design on the back, and black and white tennis shoes.

The sheriff’s office believes Moreno has left the local area and could be in the Houston/Harris County region.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Washington County dispatch non-emergency number at 979-277-7373.

The post WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE ASKING FOR HELP IN FINDING MISSING TEEN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham is set to host the next First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market tomorrow (Friday).

From 4 to 7 p.m., numerous vendors will be around the courthouse on Baylor and Park Streets, selling meats, produce, bread, desserts, crafts and many other goods and items.

In addition to the shopping, anyone with pets can have them microchipped for free, courtesy of Brenham Animal Services.

For more information on tomorrow’s market, head to www.visitbrenhamtexas.com or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

The post DOWNTOWN BRENHAM GETTING READY FOR FIRST FRIDAY MARKET first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will go over the city’s noise rules and whether to adopt filming guidelines when it meets today (Thursday).

Councilmembers will hold a work session to receive information from city staff about a draft noise nuisance ordinance, which was created following other council discussions.

Some of the talking points on the proposed ordinance will include moving from a “plainly audible” standard to a decibel-based system, with maximum decibels based on the zoning area and time of day; types of noises that will always be allowed or prohibited, no matter the decibel level; the usage of the more permissive noise standard when a property line splits zones; live music venues; noise permits; enforcement by police; and the punishment for violators.

After the work session, the council will vote on implementing the new noise rules via an amendment to the city’s existing code of ordinances.

The other main item up for consideration today is a resolution to adopt administratively enforceable filming guidelines. The resolution comes after the council last month discussed the prospects of allowing filming in the city. It is required in the certification process to become a Film Friendly Texas Community.

Also at the meeting, the council will look to approve a resolution authorizing an agreement with TxDOT to temporarily close state right-of-way for the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes summer concert series, taking place on July 8, 15, 22 and 29.

The council will meet at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER NOISE ORDINANCE, FILMING GUIDELINES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Juneteenth Association has a couple of big events coming up this weekend as they prepare for the annual celebration. The coronation ceremony is going to be held …

The post WASHINGTON COUNTY JUNETEENTH EVENTS START THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota police are investigating a fatal accident late Tuesday night involving a train and a pedestrian. Officers responded around 11:45 p.m. to the Union Pacific railroad tracks along Railroad Street …

The post NAVASOTA MAN KILLED IN TRAIN-PEDESTRIAN COLLISION first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Caldwell man was killed Monday night in a one-vehicle crash southeast of Deanville. DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz reports the accident occurred around 7 p.m. on FM 60 near County …

The post CALDWELL MAN KILLED IN MEMORIAL DAY CRASH NEAR DEANVILLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

County Auditor Shawna Dyer (front row) holds acertificate of achievement awarded to her office bythe Government Finance Officers Association forexcellence in financial reporting. The award was forthe county's comprehensive annual …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HIRE ARCHITECT FOR LAKE SOMERVILLE EMS STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Air Evac Lifeteam emergency medical helicopter base in La Grange has permanently closed. (courtesy Air Evac Lifeteam La GrangeFacebook) In a statement issued last week, the Air Evac Lifeteam …

The post AIR EVAC HELICOPTER BASE IN LA GRANGE CLOSES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Christopher Johnson honors fallen veterans duringMonday's Memorial Day observance at the BrenhamAmerican Legion Hall. (Craig Montana) Citizens honored the sacrifices of fallen U.S. military and service members during today’s (Monday) …

The post COMMUNITY HONORS VETERANS AT MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham is getting ready to kick off its 14th year of free summer movies. The lineup this year has three films, two of which will be shown …

The post CITY OF BRENHAM SUMMER MOVIE SERIES BEGINS FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Changes to the City of Brenham’s rules on noise and the adoption of guidelines for filming in the city will be considered on Thursday by the Brenham City Council. City …

The post NOISE ORDINANCE, FILMING GUIDELINES TO BE DISCUSSED BY BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Residents are invited to pay tribute to fallen veterans at today’s (Monday) Memorial Day program at the American Legion Hall in Brenham. Christopher Johnson (courtesy photo) The observance, led by …

The post MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM AT BRENHAM AMERICAN LEGION HALL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Valedictorian Grant Mayfield addresses the
Class of 2023.
(Mark Whitehead)Brenham ISD’s graduating class marked an end Friday night to their time in high school and the beginning of what comes next.

Families gathered at Cub Stadium to celebrate the accomplishments of Brenham High School’s Class of 2023.

The valedictorian and salutatorian, Grant Mayfield and Erin Keller, spoke to their friends and colleagues to wish them well and give hope for the future. Mayfield, who finished atop the class with a grade point average of 4.8722, said success comes from more than just the work put in while in the classroom, but in facing any tests that life may bring with determination and vigor.

Salutatorian Erin Keller speaks to her
classmates as they celebrate their
graduation.
(Mark Whitehead)Keller, who placed second with a GPA of 4.7698, said this class came, saw and conquered all that it faced and is prepared for whatever new trials may come.

Out of the class of 377 graduates, 137 earned honors.

Click here to view the livestream of the graduation on the KWHI Facebook page.

(KWHI photos via Mark Whitehead)The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES HONORED AT COMMENCEMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Chet Fritsch gives his valedictory address
to his fellow graduates.Thirty-three Burton High School seniors are embarking on the next steps in their life journey.

The Class of 2023 was presented diplomas Friday night underneath the Oliver Whitener/Roy Winkler Pavilion, with a large crowd of loved ones cheering on the graduates as they walked the stage.

Words of encouragement were shared by the top two students of the class, valedictorian Chet Fritsch and salutatorian Vicente Veliz Jr. Fritsch, who completed high school with a grade point average of 4.1529, told his classmates to not be scared to follow their dreams, listen to their inner self and put in the work necessary to prosper.

Vicente Veliz Jr. presents his salutatory
speech to the Class of 2023.Veliz, who graduated with a GPA of 4.0637, said while this may be the end of one chapter, life’s book still has plenty more in store.

Fifteen of the 33 seniors graduated with honors.

Students in Burton High School's Class of 2023 turn their tassels to signify their graduation.Burton High School graduates walk to the Oliver Whitener/Roy Winkler Pavilion from the Burton Cotton Gin.The post BURTON SENIORS CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham residents are invited to give their feedback on a mixed-use development project on the north side of Brenham.

A master plan image showing what is planned for
each phase of the North Park Development.
(image courtesy PlanNorth)A survey is open for the public to give its preferences on what could be included in the North Park Development, to be located on 7 acres off of North Park Street within walking distance of Hohlt Park. Input is needed to help guide what features are part of the long-term project, which currently has plans for office space for lease, a public green space with outdoor amenities, boutique hotel, dining and golf simulator stations.

The project is being privately funded through a locally-led investment group. The land is owned by North Park Development LLC, which belongs to Ken and Katie Burch. Katie Burch, principal architect and owner of PlanNorth, says this development is meant to highlight the city’s best assets and address what it still lacks in order to give both locals and visitors a place to truly see why Brenham is special.

A view of where the North Park Development is
planned in relation to Hohlt Park.
(image courtesy PlanNorth)The first phase of the development is the office building project, which is currently out to bid for the core and shell of the building. Phase II, which is the focus of the survey, is scheduled for groundbreaking later this year along with Phase I. A third phase calls for future development, but what that looks like will be influenced by what is supported in the second phase.

The influence for Phase II is centered on indoor/outdoor activities and food and beverage options. The boutique hotel is planned to have 50 spaces, be run by a hospitality management company, and highlight the trades that went into building it. For food and drink, the hotel lobby will complement the possibility of a standalone restaurant, one either new to town or expanding locally. The indoor golf simulator is smaller in scale than a BigShots or Topgolf, and is more akin to a golf suite that offers avid golfers a place to work on and analyze their swing, while also providing a space for special events and parties. The multipurpose public green space will connect directly to Hohlt Park with two walking trails and will have a turfed plaza, hummingbird garden and creek-like detention areas. The design of the buildings is intended to fit in with the existing landscape and respect the site.

Burch says the responses to the survey are vital to defining what the North Park Development is and making it the best it can be.

The survey includes questions on demographics and on project specifics, such as the basic amenities desired, the importance of locally-owned businesses versus chains, defining good parking and outdoor seating, and architectural preferences. The survey will close on June 11th, and results will be shared later.

There are other ways the community can get involved with the North Park Development beyond the survey. Updates on when certain pieces of the project go out to competitive bid will be shared on social media for any local contractors wanting to participate. An emphasis is being placed on hiring and collaborating locally, working with local businesses and vendors to support the project. Opportunities to collaborate with experts in horticulture are being explored. Families who are in the building trades are encouraged to reach out so they can be honored in the hotel building.

If anyone has further comments other than what they put down in the survey linked above, they can contact PlanNorth’s Sam Stevens at sstevens@plannorth.com.

The post INPUT SOUGHT ON MIXED-USE PROJECT NEAR HOHLT PARK first appeared on KWHI.com.

Hundreds of students in Brenham and Burton are set to close the book on their high school careers.

The two high schools will hold graduation ceremonies tonight (Friday) to recognize the Class of 2023. Brenham’s graduation will be held at Cub Stadium, while Burton’s will take place at the Oliver Whitener/Roy Winkler Pavilion. Both ceremonies will begin at 8 p.m.

Brenham High School’s graduating class has 377 students, including 137 with honors. Leading the class are valedictorian Grant Mayfield, who earned a grade point average of 4.8722, and salutatorian Erin Keller, with a GPA of 4.7698.

Burton High School has 33 students set to walk the stage, with 15 honor graduates. The top seniors are valedictorian Chet Fritsch, who attained a GPA of 4.1529, and salutatorian Vicente Veliz Jr., whose GPA was 4.0637.

KWHI will have live broadcasts of both ceremonies, with Brenham’s on AM 1280, FM 101.7, kwhi.com and the KWHI Facebook page. Burton’s graduation will be broadcast via the alternate stream on kwhi.com and the KWHI phone app.

Grant Mayfield
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Erin Keller
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Chet Fritsch
(courtesy Burton ISD)Vicente Veliz Jr.
(courtesy Burton ISD)The post BRENHAM, BURTON GRADUATION CEREMONIES FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 has its last Armadillo Hi-Lo winner of the season.

This (Thursday) afternoon, Fred Hrnicko of Brenham won $685.12 with this guess…

With this winner, Armadillo Hi-Lo is done for the year. KTEX-106 congratulates all of this year’s winners: Connie Oevermann of Brenham, Christy Parkison of Brenham, Joe Moorehead of College Station, Erin Cafero of Brenham, Kyle Novosad of Somerville, Lori Moehlmann of Brenham and now Fred Hrnicko of Brenham.

Total cash winnings given away by KTEX-106 this season amount to $3,518.65.

Armadillo Hi-Lo was sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, ZochNet and Plinkers Ammo.

The post FINAL ARMADILLO HI-LO WINNER OF 2023 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham City Councilmembers and Washington County Commissioners held a joint meeting this (Thursday) afternoon to learn more about different types of property tax exemptions for business inventory.

Members of the Brenham City Council and
Washington County Commissioners Court meet to
receive information about potential exemptions to
offer to businesses relating to their inventory.Chief Appraiser Dyann White gave a presentation on freeport and goods in transit exemptions, covering how they work and what their impact would be to the city and county should they decide to begin offering them.

Freeport exemptions apply to certain goods manufactured in Washington County and shipped out of the state within 175 days. Goods in transit exemptions are for goods made outside of the county, then shipped and stored locally to be sent out again – either in-state or out of state – within 175 days. For the goods in transit exemption, the storage facility must not belong to the owner of the goods being shipped.

City Manager Carolyn Miller said the discussion came about because Valmont Industries is expanding and has inquired about the possibility of receiving a freeport exemption.

According to White, there is just over $115 million in value specific to inventory in Washington County. Valmont has the highest amount at $31 million, followed by Grocery Supply Company at $24 million, Blue Bell at $18 million and Sealy Mattress Company at $9 million. White noted that she cannot currently project how much of that inventory value would be exempt from the tax roll because it is not known what percentage of that value is leaving Texas. She also stated the value amount is what the goods would be appraised at if they were sold to another manufacturer, not their retail value.

If a business seeks an exemption, they would have to complete an annual application process that documents their total inventory value for the past year and the value of inventory that left the state. Whatever percentage of inventory shipped out would be eligible for the exemption. White said an honor system is usually how the reporting of items is policed, as the state does not provide many tools for enforcement. Commissioner Kirk Hanath said, “If we’re not going to police it, then we shouldn’t do it.”

There is no limit to the amount requested for an exemption, but in White’s experience, most businesses that are approved see 25-30 percent of their inventory value exempted annually. Exemptions are also granted in perpetuity and would not end. In addition, if the city and/or county were to move forward with offering the exemptions, they must be granted to all property owners that apply and qualify. However, inventories cannot qualify for both the freeport and goods in transit exemptions, only one or the other. According to White, goods in transit exemptions are often limited to entities in coastal counties and are far less common than freeport exemptions.

White said the exemptions would be another way to attract businesses to come to Washington County. Councilmember Clint Kolby said in his time with the Brenham Economic Development Foundation, there have not been many instances where a business asked about these exemptions, so they are not as effective of a tool as abatements. Hanath added that abatements are already offered locally and that he believes they have not been monitored as well as they should be.

The meeting was only for information and discussion, so no action was taken.

The meeting on exemptions followed a brief council meeting where the body approved an ordinance on its second reading to nominate Blue Bell Creameries as a Texas Enterprise Zone project. The first reading was performed last week. The nomination is for Blue Bell to pursue opportunities for state reimbursement as it expands its Brenham plant.

The council then approved an amendment to the state plan of operation related to the Law Enforcement Support Office program. The agreement authorizes the Brenham Police Department to use the Mine Resistant Ambush Protection (MRAP) armored vehicle currently in its possession. The amendment updates the agreement to reflect a change in the city’s authorized official for the document, adding Atwood Kenjura to replace Milton Tate.

The post INVENTORY EXEMPTIONS DISCUSSED DURING JOINT SESSION WITH CITY COUNCIL, COMMISSIONERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Veterans Association (WCVA) will honor the sacrifices of veterans at its annual Memorial Day program.

Christopher Johnson
(courtesy photo)Monday’s observance will be held in the American Legion Hall at Fireman’s Park in Brenham, starting at 11 a.m.

The featured speaker for the program will be Christopher Johnson. Johnson served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia as a rifleman, long range marksmanship instructor and career management non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the Office of the Chief of Infantry.

Johnson was also a senior drill sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; rifle squad leader at Fort Polk, Louisiana; sniper section leader at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and sniper team leader at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

After the Army, Johnson worked as a quality/process improvement specialist at Knust-Godwin LLC in Katy. He is currently a junior high bible teacher at Faith Academy of Bellville.

KWHI will have a live broadcast of the program starting at 10:45 a.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

A barbecue chicken meal will be served dine-in and via drive-thru, and there will be a cakewalk. Meal tickets are $15 and are available from Dan’s Meat Market, Felder’s Buy & Bye, K&M Grocery, Quick-Mart and Robert’s Service Station.

The post WCVA TO HOLD MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM MONDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Heritage Museum has named a new executive director.

David Thomas
(courtesy photo)David Thomas will take over the position and be in charge of the day-to-day operations and primary responsibilities of the museum.

Thomas recently served as executive director of the Lake Jackson Historical Association, and before that was the collections manager and registrar at the Bryan Museum in Galveston.

Thomas is a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History/Architecture and a Master’s in Public Administration.

Board President Tiffany Morisak said the board feels confident that Thomas will be a great fit for the Brenham Heritage Museum and will serve it and the community well as the organization continues to fundraise and implement additional phases of exhibits to its newly renovated facility.

The Brenham museum’s former executive director, Mike Vance, told KWHI he plans to continue working with Core Design Studio of Houston to research and create the history content for the additional permanent exhibits for the second and third phases of the museum’s master plan.

The museum will host a meet and greet with Thomas on Wednesday, June 7th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The meet and greet will coincide with the museum’s opening of its Juneteenth exhibit in the Blue Bell Gallery.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the museum or donate can go to www.brenhamheritagemuseum.org.

The post DAVID THOMAS NAMED BRENHAM HERITAGE MUSEUM’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Veterans Service Officer Eric
Posern presents his 2022 annual report during
Tuesday's county commissioners meeting. Washington County’s veteran population saw a noticeable drop in 2022 from the year prior.

During Veterans Service Officer Eric Posern’s annual report for Veterans Affairs (VA) presented to county commissioners on Tuesday, he stated that the county’s estimated number of veterans for 2022 was 1,909. The veteran population was 2,136 in 2021.

Posern said the VA has not provided an explanation as to the reason for the decline, but he believes COVID-19’s effects on older age groups were a contributor.

The veteran population estimates, produced by the VA Predictive Analytics and Actuary Service, are current as of September 30, 2022.

Despite the lower population, the amount that local veterans received in federal VA assistance increased over the previous year, totaling approximately $21,484,000 in 2022 in comparison to $19,008,000 in 2021.

Included in the $21,484,000 is $13,481,000 in compensation and pension, $6,939,000 in medical care, $607,000 in educational and vocational rehabilitation, and $457,000 in insurance and indemnities.

There were 583 unique patients who were treated at a VA health care facility in 2022, down from 601 the year before. The $6,939,000 in medical care in 2022 is also down from 2021’s reported total of $7,621,000.

Posern reminded the court and the public of their invitation to Monday’s Memorial Day program at the Brenham American Legion Hall, beginning at 11 a.m.

The post VETERAN POPULATION OF WASHINGTON CO. DECLINES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Offices around Washington County will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

Closures include Brenham City Hall, Brenham Municipal Court, Brenham Animal Services, the Barnhill Center and the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library. All county offices will also be closed.

The Blue Bell Aquatic Center will be open on Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. Regular summer hours for the Aquatic Center begin on Tuesday.

The Brenham & Washington County Visitor Center will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Collection/Transfer and Recycling Station will also be open for normal hours. Regular residential and commercial trash pick-up schedules will run.

The offices of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will be closed on Monday. Members can access their account information and make payments through the co-op’s website, www.bluebonnet.coop, the co-op’s MyBluebonnet mobile app, or by calling 800-842-7708. Power outages can be reported through the website, the mobile app, or by calling 800-949-4414. Members enrolled in Bluebonnet’s Outage Alerts can report an outage by texting OUT to 85700.

The post OFFICES TO CLOSE FOR MEMORIAL DAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 133rd Brenham Maifest culminated on Saturday with the crowning of the Junior Maifest royalty.

Junior Queen Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Junior King Luke Robert Hyatt reigned over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House.” The ceremony traveled through numerous eras of history, from the prehistoric ages with dinosaurs and cavemen, to the American Revolution, to the 1920s, 1950s and many more.

The coronation put a bow on a weekend’s worth of festivities at Fireman’s Park, including the Mighty Thomas Carnival, beer tasting, live music, games, dance performances, a parade through downtown and the Senior Coronation Friday night.

A Facebook Live video of the parade, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s, can be seen here.

Junior Maifest King Luke Robert HyattJunior Maifest Queen Virginia Kate Priesmeyer(photos via Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106)The post JUNIOR CORONATION CONCLUDES 133RD MAIFEST first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Final - All Boxes Reporting) Brenham School Board Pos. 1Bonnie Brinkmeyer 2322

James Franke 1159

Brenham School Board Pos. 2Dr. Michael Altman 1625

Archer Archer 1828

Brenham School Board Pos. 3Artis Edwards Sr. 1095

Kyle Hafner 2375

Brenham School Board Pos. 4David Jantzi 1704

Kelvin Raven 1740

Burton School Board (4 vying for 3 seats) Misty Lucherk 233

Donna Putnam 227

Dean Fuchs 264

Ande Bostain 214

Blinn BoardDiane Kettler 3105

Andrea Liner 577

The post SCHOOL BOARD BRENHAM-BURTON-BLINN first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Final - All Boxes Reporting) Brenham MayorAtwood Kenjura 1135

Keith Hofmann 753

Burton MayorKaren Buck 56

David Zajicek 47

Burton City Council Pos. 3Jeff Eckhardt 58

Peter Horn 33

The post CITY – BRENHAM AND BURTON first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Saturday) is the day where Washington County residents will find out the results of the municipal, school board and Blinn Board of Trustees elections.

Anyone who did not take part in early voting has one last chance today to head to their designated polling location to vote in the City of Brenham mayor’s race, four seats on the Brenham School Board, four candidates for three spots on the Burton School Board, mayor and one council seat in Burton, and two trustee positions on the Blinn College Board.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at five polling places:

Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library – 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Brenham;
Washington County Expo Event Center – 1305 East Blue Bell Road, Brenham;
Brenham VFW Hall – 1200 East Tom Green Street, Brenham;
Blinn College Student Center – 1007 Walter Schwartz Way, Brenham;
Burton Community Hall/American Legion Hall – 13100 West Washington Street, Burton.

In Brenham, Keith Hofmann and Atwood Kenjura are vying for the position of mayor.

For Brenham ISD, Bonnie Brinkmeyer is running against James Franke for Position 1. Position 2 incumbent Dr. Michael Altman faces Archer Archer. Position 3 pits Kyle Hafner against Artis Edwards Sr. Position 4 incumbent Kelvin Raven is opposed by David Jantzi.

For the City of Burton, Karen Buck and David Zajicek are running for mayor, while the Position 3 council race features incumbent Jeff Eckhardt against Peter Horn.

On the Burton School Board, incumbents Dean Fuchs, Misty Lucherk and Donna Putnam, along with Ande Bostain, seek to fill three seats.

For the Blinn Board of Trustees race for Precinct 2, Diane Kruse Kettler faces Andrea Liner.

There were 3,026 ballots cast during early voting from 24,413 total registered voters, a turnout of 12.39 percent. Breaking that total down into individual entities:

City of Brenham – 1,545 voters of 9,873 registered (15.64 percent early voting turnout),
Brenham ISD – 2,889 voters of 21,653 registered (13.34 percent early voting turnout),
Blinn College – 3,025 voters of 24,413 registered (12.39 percent early voting turnout),
City of Burton – 19 voters of 263 registered (7.22 percent early voting turnout),
Burton ISD – 137 voters of 2,699 registered (5.07 percent early voting turnout).

The post ELECTION DAY FOR CITY, SCHOOL BOARD, BLINN BOARD RACES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Senior Royalty for the 133rd Brenham Maifest was celebrated Friday evening at Fireman’s Park in Brenham.

Senior Maifest Queen and King, Lauren Ruth Hook
and Ashton Kiel BehrensSenior Queen Lauren Ruth Hook and Senior King Ashton Kiel Behrens reigned over the court of “Musical Memories.” The ceremony showcased the power of music and how it has brought people together through various genres and eras, from the 50s, 70s and 80s to country, rock and roll and today’s hits.

Saturday will feature the Junior Coronation beginning at 6:30 p.m., with Junior Queen Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Junior King Luke Robert Hyatt over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House.”

The day kicks off with the Maifest parade through downtown Brenham at 10:30 a.m. KWHI will broadcast the parade live starting at 10 a.m. and will livestream it on Facebook, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s. The Maifestival grounds will open after the parade for dance performances, games and beer tasting. The Mighty Thomas Carnival will be open at 11 a.m.

Saturday’s musical entertainers will be Das Ist Lustig from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies from 4 to 7 p.m., and Brandon Rhyder from 10 to 11:30 p.m.

Admission to the festival grounds is free. Coronation tickets are available at www.brenhammaifest.com.

Senior Maifest King Ashton Kiel BehrensSenior Maifest Queen Lauren Ruth HookThe post SENIOR MAIFEST ROYALTY HONORED AT CORONATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 has its newest winner in the Armadillo Hi-Lo.

This (Friday) afternoon, Kyle Novosad of Somerville correctly guessed the jackpot of $293.94.

The next chance to play for a new jackpot will be Monday at 7:35 a.m. with the Morning Express.

Armadillo Hi-Lo is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, ZochNet and Plinkers Ammo.

The post ARMADILLO HI-LO HAS ANOTHER WINNER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Ryan Tinsley, Director of Operations for Strand
Associates - Brenham, and Debbie Gaffey, General
Manager of Public Utilities for the City of Brenham,
discuss an agreement for an impact fee study with
city councilmembers on Thursday.The Brenham City Council on Thursday agreed to look further into the possibility of implementing impact fees for new development.

The council approved a professional services agreement with Strand Associates to perform an impact fee study for the city’s public utilities, including water, wastewater and roads. Impact fees are paid by developers to help the city finance infrastructure needed for new development and offset the tax burden on current residents.

Ryan Tinsley, Director of Operations at Strand Associates in Brenham, said models that come from the study will aid the city in determining the effect that future projects will have on its infrastructure.

Tinsley said impact fees are not paid by existing residents but can be rolled into the cost of a newly built home for future residents. He said infill lots that were in place before the adoption of fees can be exempted from them if the city chooses to do so.

The cost of the study will not exceed $250,000 and will be spread out over two fiscal years, with $135,000 coming from the wastewater fund, $65,000 from the water fund and $50,000 from the general fund. Debbie Gaffey, General Manager of Public Utilities for the City of Brenham, said the cost for the study can be recovered through the impact fees themselves.

Gaffey said the study has a 10-month timeline to complete. Once it is done, follow-up presentations and public hearings will be held before the council takes up consideration of the maximum assessable impact fees for water, wastewater and roadways.

Also on Thursday, the council:

Appointed 17 people to the city’s project working group for its small area plan. The plan is a long-range planning document for the land surrounding the proposed Brenham Family Park. The group includes the property owners within the approximately 600 acres in the subject area, along with city councilmembers and board representatives, TxDOT and local design professionals.
Passed a resolution re-adopting the guidelines and criteria for granting tax phase-in in a city reinvestment zone. City and Washington County officials plan to review the policy and present any recommended amendments to the council for consideration at a later date.
Held an executive session with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County. No action was slated to be taken.

The post BRENHAM CITY CITY COUNCIL APPROVES IMPACT FEE STUDY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The first of two coronation ceremonies in the 133rd Brenham Maifest is tonight (Friday).

Senior Maifest Queen and King, Lauren Ruth Hook
and Ashton Kiel Behrens, will reign over the court of
"Musical Memories" at Friday night's Senior
Coronation.The Senior Coronation, being held before the Junior Coronation this year, takes place at 7 p.m. at Fireman’s Park. Queen Lauren Ruth Hook and King Ashton Kiel Behrens will reign over the court of “Musical Memories.” After the ceremony, the Brown Sugar Band will perform from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The Junior Coronation will follow tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:30 p.m. Queen Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and King Luke Robert Hyatt will reign over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House.”

Tomorrow’s festivities lead off with the parade through downtown Brenham at 10:30 a.m. KWHI will have a live broadcast of the parade starting at 10 a.m. and will livestream it on Facebook, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s. The Maifestival grounds will open after the parade for dance performances, games and beer tasting.

Junior Maifest Queen and King, Virginia Kate
Priesmeyer and Luke Robert Hyatt, will be crowned
during Junior Maifest Coronation ceremonies on
Saturday. They will reign over the court of "The
Enchanted Tree House."The music lineup tomorrow has Das Ist Lustig from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies from 4 to 7 p.m., and Brandon Rhyder from 10 to 11:30 p.m.

The Mighty Thomas Carnival opens at 5 p.m. today and 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Admission to the festival grounds is free. To purchase coronation tickets or learn more about Maifest, go online to www.brenhammaifest.com.

The post SENIOR MAIFEST CORONATION FRIDAY NIGHT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker was in attendance
at Thursday's city council meeting. Parker, who was
hospitalized for a stroke in March, has recovered.Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker has recovered from a recent stroke and is going back to work.

Parker came to today’s (Thursday) city council meeting to visit with councilmembers in person for the first time since being hospitalized in College Station in March.

Parker told the council that he feels great and is glad to be “back in the saddle again.” He said he appreciates all of the thoughts and prayers extended to him over the past few months.

Parker has led the Brenham Police Department since March 2020, serving previously as the chief of police in La Porte. Captain Lloyd Powell served as the acting chief in Parker’s absence.

The post BRENHAM POLICE CHIEF RETURNING TO WORK AFTER STROKE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Mayor Milton Tate addresses the city
council and citizens in attendance at Thursday's
council meeting, which was his last regular meeting
to serve as mayor. It was an emotional Brenham City Council meeting today (Thursday) for Milton Tate, his last one serving as mayor.

This council meeting was the final regularly scheduled gathering before Election Day this Saturday, which will determine the city’s next mayor: Atwood Kenjura or Keith Hofmann. Tate chose not to run for another term after holding office since September 2003.

Tate said Brenham has exploded over the past decade, and while it has been challenging at times, he believes the city has much to look forward to.

Councilmembers and the public stood and applauded Tate in appreciation of his years of service.

A reception in honor of Tate will be held on Wednesday, May 17th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Morriss Hall at The Barnhill Center.

The council will meet again on Tuesday at 9 a.m. to canvass the results from Saturday’s election.

The post TATE HOLDS LAST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AS BRENHAM MAYOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

A 6-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital after he was accidentally hit by a vehicle outside a home northeast of Brenham.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Reagan Beth Lane, off of FM 50.

According to DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz, a family member was backing out of their driveway in a Ford SUV. Several children were in the driveway around the SUV, so the driver yelled out to alert them before pulling out, but did not see the boy in front of the vehicle. The SUV struck the child, and his head hit the concrete.

Sgt. Ruiz said the collision was not at high speed.

The child was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. At last check, he was in stable condition.

The post DPS: 6-YEAR-OLD FLOWN TO HOSPITAL AFTER BEING ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK BY VEHICLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

(all photos courtesy Brenham Maifest Association)

JUNIOR QUEEN - VIRGINIA KATE PRIESMEYER

Click here to read the description of the Junior Queen's attire.

JUNIOR KING - LUKE ROBERT HYATT

Click here to read the description of the Junior King's attire.

SENIOR QUEEN - LAUREN RUTH HOOK

Click here to read the description of the Senior Queen's attire.

SENIOR KING - ASHTON KIEL BEHRENS

Click here to read the description of the Senior King's attire.

The post GALLERY – 2023 BRENHAM MAIFEST ROYALTY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham may continue to look into the viability of impact fees.

Today (Thursday), the city council will vote on a professional services agreement with Strand Associates to conduct an impact fee study for the city’s public utilities.

Impact fees are imposed on developers to help the city recoup capital improvement costs and finance infrastructure needed for new development while lessening the economic impact to citizens. A study is needed before any fees are adopted.

The study with Strand Associates would not exceed $250,000. The cost will be spread out over two fiscal years, with $135,000 coming from the city’s wastewater fund, $65,000 from the water fund and $50,000 from the general fund.

The time to perform the scope of services as outlined in the agreement is through March 1, 2024.

Also at today’s meeting, the council will consider appointing 16 people to the city’s project working group for its small area plan, a long-range planning document for the land surrounding the proposed Brenham Family Park. The group includes the property owners within the approximately 600 acres in the subject area, as well city councilmembers and board representatives, TxDOT and local design professionals.

There will also be action on a resolution re-adopting the guidelines and criteria for granting tax phase-in in a city reinvestment zone. The tax abatement policy has not seen changes since 2017, but city and Washington County officials intend to review the policy and bring back any recommended amendments to the council for consideration in the future.

An executive session will be held for discussion with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County.

The council will meet at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DEBATE APPROVAL OF IMPACT FEE STUDY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 133rd Brenham Maifest celebration officially began Wednesday with the Friends of Maifest Kick-off Picnic at Fireman’s Park.

(Craig Montana)The picnic is held each year to recognize the sponsors and volunteers behind Maifest. Guests enjoyed German food, refreshments and entertainment, along with a children’s Maipole dance and ribbon cutting.

Today (Thursday), the Mighty Thomas Carnival opens on the Maifestival grounds. The carnival opens at 5 p.m. today and tomorrow (Friday) and at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The coronation ceremonies start tomorrow with the Senior Coronation at 7 p.m., followed by the Junior Coronation on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will need to abide by a clear bag policy.

Junior Queen and King, Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Luke Robert Hyatt, will reign over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House.” The Senior Queen and King, Lauren Ruth Hook and Ashton Kiel Behrens, will reign over the court of “Musical Memories.”

(Craig Montana)Saturday’s activities begin with the parade through downtown Brenham at 10:30 a.m. KWHI’s live broadcast of the parade will begin at 10 a.m., and there will be a livestream on the KWHI Facebook page sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s.

The festival grounds will open after the parade, with music, beer tasting, games and dance performances all in store.

This weekend’s musical performers will include the Brown Sugar Band tomorrow and Das Ist Lustig, Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies, and Brandon Rhyder on Saturday.

Admission to the festival grounds is free. To learn more, or to purchase coronation tickets, go to www.brenhammaifest.com.

The post FRIENDS OF MAIFEST PICNIC GETS FESTIVAL WEEKEND UNDERWAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 2:45 p.m.: The City of Brenham says the power is back on after an outage this (Wednesday) afternoon on the northwest side of town.

The outage was first reported at approximately 1 p.m., affecting over 500 residents. Brenham ISD officials reported a loss of power at Brenham Elementary School and parts of Brenham High School.

The city issued a notice at 2:30 p.m. that electricity had been restored.

Utility crews are still troubleshooting to determine the exact cause for the outage.

Original Story @ 1:45 p.m.: City of Brenham utility crews are responding to a power outage on the northwest side of town.

Over 500 residents are affected by the outage, according to a notice issued this (Wednesday) afternoon by the city.

Brenham ISD officials say power is out at Brenham Elementary School and parts of Brenham High School.

City crews are on scene at the north substation.

Additional updates will be provided once available.

(courtesy City of Brenham)The post CITY OF BRENHAM: POWER RESTORED AFTER OUTAGE IMPACTING OVER 500 RESIDENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Appraisal District will begin mailing 2023 appraisal notices on Friday.

Chief Appraiser Dyann White said in a press release that while residential market values are up again this year, the increases are “not as drastic as last year.”

Preliminary average homestead values provided by the appraisal district show increases in Washington County, Brenham ISD, the City of Brenham, Burton ISD, Oak Hill Fresh Water District, Blinn College and the Pecan Glen Road District, ranging from 1 to 8 percent. Homestead values in the City of Burton are down 1 percent from a year ago.

Click here to view a breakdown of preliminary average homestead values.

Appraisal notices will include residential, land, and commercial property. Business personal property notices will be mailed at the end of May or early June.

White said the largest value increases are in rural land tracts, especially those closest to 100 acres in size. She said most of the tracts have ag value so the taxable value will remain relatively similar, but her office is expecting a number of calls and visits on those properties in particular.

A preliminary roll analysis performed by the appraisal district indicates that values for single-family residential are up 11.07 percent, while multi-family residential is up 13.99 percent and mobile homes are up 6.79 percent. Vacant lots and land tracts increased by 22.26 percent, and qualified agricultural land went up 31.9 percent. Rural land not qualified for ag is up 13.1 percent. Commercial real property increased by 27.18 percent.

Click here to view the preliminary roll analysis.

White said appraisal districts are required by state law to appraise property at its market value and must follow the law, state regulations and actual sales data when making value determinations. The Texas Comptroller’s Office performs audits to ensure that appraised values are fair and accurate. Appraisal districts are not responsible for setting the tax rate.

Property owners that disagree with their appraisals can protest until June 5th.

The post WASHINGTON CO. APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO SEND OUT APPRAISAL NOTICES STARTING FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County will play host this weekend to a gathering of classic car enthusiasts.

A group of different Corvairs. The Heart of Texas
Corvair Club will travel to Washington County this
weekend.
(courtesy photo)The Heart of Texas Corvair Club will hold its 25th anniversary regional meeting on Friday and Saturday, making stops across Brenham and the county.

The Corvair was designed by Chevrolet in the 1960s to compete with the Volkswagen Beetle. It is the only American-made, mass-produced passenger car to have a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine.

The club’s activities begin on Friday with a full day of cruising around the county, opening with a historic tour of Brenham and a stop at Blue Bell Creameries. Members will then drive to Chappell Hill for lunch and a visit to the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm. After that, the group will go to the Antique Rose Emporium before gathering at The Barnhill Center for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Saturday kicks off with the cars participating in the Brenham Maifest parade, followed by a car show highlighting the vehicles at Henderson Park from noon to 3 p.m. Around 30 Corvairs are expected, and visitors to the show will be able to vote for their favorite one. The day concludes with a banquet at The Barnhill Center.

The group was founded in 1997 with four clubs: Corvair Houston, North Texas Corvair Association – DFW Area, Alamo City Corvair Association and Lone Star Corvair Club – Austin. Greg Wrobleske, president of the Corvair Houston club hosting the event, said the first regional meeting was held in Brenham 25 years ago, so they felt it was appropriate to come back for their 25th.

The post HEART OF TEXAS CORVAIR CLUB TO MEET IN WASHINGTON CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting has wrapped up for the municipal, school board and Blinn Board of Trustees elections this Saturday.

According to data from Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 3,026 people cast ballots during the seven days of early voting offered. With there being 24,413 registered voters in Washington County, that is an overall 12.39 percent voter turnout.

The total is made up of 3,025 votes in the Blinn College election, 2,889 for Brenham ISD, 1,545 for the City of Brenham, 137 for Burton ISD and 19 for the City of Burton.

Comparing this year’s early voting to past spring elections, the May 2022 constitutional amendment election had an early turnout of 12.61 percent, while the Brenham ISD bond election drew 13.75 percent of registered voters early.

Meanwhile, in May 2021, the City of Brenham election had 9.99 percent participation in the early voting timeframe. The Brenham ISD Board of Trustees election saw 7.05 percent of registered voters vote early.

The last day of early voting on Tuesday brought in 589 people to the Washington County Courthouse Annex. That includes 589 Blinn voters, 562 for Brenham ISD, 279 for the City of Brenham and 27 for Burton ISD. There were no voters in the City of Burton election.

Anyone who has yet to vote will be able to go to their designated polling place on Saturday. Five locations will be available: the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library, Washington County Expo Event Center, Brenham VFW Hall, Blinn College Student Center and Burton American Legion Hall. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The post OVER 3,000 PARTICIPATE IN EARLY VOTING; ELECTION DAY SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Activities for the 133rd Brenham Maifest get underway tonight (Wednesday) with the Friends of Maifest Kick-off Picnic.

(Craig Montana)The picnic is set for 6 p.m. at the Fireman’s Park pavilion, honoring the sponsors and volunteers for the annual festival.

Activities this evening will include music, a children’s Maipole dance and a ribbon cutting to mark the opening of Maifest.

KWHI will have a live broadcast from the picnic starting at 5:45 p.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is the opening of the carnival at Fireman’s Park, running through Saturday.

Tickets for the coronation ceremonies are available at www.brenhammaifest.com. The Senior Coronation will be held on Friday at 7 p.m., while the Junior Coronation will take place on Saturday beginning at 6:30 p.m. A clear bag policy will be in effect for attendees.

The Junior Royalty of Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Luke Robert Hyatt will reign over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House.” The Senior Queen and King, Lauren Ruth Hook and Ashton Kiel Behrens, will reign over the court of “Musical Memories.”

Saturday’s Maifest parade through downtown Brenham will start at 10:30 a.m. KWHI will broadcast the parade live beginning at 10 a.m. and will also livestream it on Facebook, sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s. After the parade, the festival grounds will open for music, beer tasting, games and dance performances.

Live entertainment for the weekend will feature the Brown Sugar Band on Friday and Das Ist Lustig, Isaak Klaus and the Lederhosen Junkies, and Brandon Rhyder on Saturday.

Admission to the festival grounds is free.

The post 133RD MAIFEST KICK-OFF PICNIC WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will potentially proceed with obtaining an impact fee study for the city’s public utilities at its meeting Thursday.

The city is looking into adopting impact fees, which are imposed on developers to help the city recover capital improvement costs and finance infrastructure needed to serve new development while reducing the economic burden on citizens. A study must be performed prior to the adoption of any fees.

The council will consider a professional services agreement with Strand Associates to conduct a study not to exceed $250,000. Study costs will be spread over two fiscal years, broken down to $135,000 from the city’s wastewater fund, $65,000 from the water fund and $50,000 from the general fund.

The time to perform the scope of services as outlined in the agreement is through March 1, 2024.

In other action on Thursday, the council will possibly appoint 16 people to the city’s project working group for its small area plan, a long-range planning document for the land surrounding the proposed Brenham Family Park. The group includes the property owners within the approximately 600 acres in the subject area, along with city councilmembers and board representatives, TxDOT and local design professionals.

The council will also take up a resolution re-adopting the guidelines and criteria for granting tax phase-in in a city reinvestment zone. No changes have been made to the tax abatement policy since 2017, but city and Washington County officials plan to review the policy and bring back any recommended amendments to the council for consideration in the coming months.

An executive session will be held for discussion with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IMPACT FEE STUDY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County E-911 Director Robyn Hood
detailed continued positive trends in the dispatch
department's call processing times during her
quarterly report to county commissioners on
Tuesday.Washington County dispatch continues to improve call processing times, according to the E-911 director’s quarterly report presented to county commissioners today (Tuesday).

Robyn Hood told the court that from a year ago, the time from when dispatchers receive a call to when first responders are sent out has gone down from as long as two and a half minutes to 30 seconds or less.

Hood credited the department’s effort to reprioritize calls as part of the reason for the better efficiency, along with a focus on getting units out the door quickly after they confirm a location to respond to.

Going through the E-911 department’s call processing times for public safety agencies around the county, Hood listed 146 seconds to 33 seconds for the Brenham Police Department; 156 seconds to 39 seconds for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office; 103 seconds to 37 seconds for the Blinn College Police Department in Brenham; 47 seconds to 25 seconds for Washington County EMS; 52 seconds to 34 seconds for the Brenham Fire Department; and 95 seconds to 33 seconds for volunteer fire departments.

Hood said the reorganization of call priority has also led to fewer instances of full sirens blazing, meaning safer responses.

Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday
recognized Thursday, May 4 as a National Day of
Prayer. Pictured with commissioners are (front, from
left) Pastor Billy Sutherland of Calvary Baptist
Church, Pastor Darren Donaldson of Fellowship
Baptist Church and Dr. Craig Dohse of Salem
Lutheran Church. A gathering will be held Thursday
at 6 p.m. on the Washington County Courthouse
square.According to Hood, overall calls for service that required a response are up 10 percent from this time a year ago, while officer-initiated calls—like traffic stops—and checks on license plates or wanted persons are up 19 percent.

Following the conclusion of the regular meeting, commissioners opened a workshop where they discussed the county’s emergency management plan, the yearly review of the plan and the process every five years to submit details of the plan to the state.

Emergency Management Coordinator Bryan Ruemke said there are 10 plan categories that are due for revision and resubmission to the state in September 2024: Warning, Shelter and Mass Care, Evacuation, Recovery, Human Services, Hazard Mitigation, Search and Rescue, Transportation, Donations, and Legal.

Commissioners also:

Heard a quarterly report from the Washington County Expo.
Approved budget line item adjustments and budget amendments.
Approved annual bond renewals for reserve deputy sheriffs Daniel Gaskamp and Floyd Mathis.
Issued a proclamation declaring Thursday as National Day of Prayer. A gathering will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. on the Washington County Courthouse square.

The post E-911 REPORTS CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN CALL PROCESSING TIMES first appeared on KWHI.com.

For the sixth year in a row, members of the Bellville FFA Chapter have qualified a CDE team for the National Competition to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana in November.

The Agricultural Sales team consisting of Jaylen Tesch, Maddie Diezi, Ainsley Hancock and Stewart Poffenberger finished first at the State contest held at Sam Houston State University this past weekend. Team members sold an agricultural product to a customer, performed a team activity and took an exam.

Another high-placing team was the Floriculture team, which finished second out of 65 teams competing. Team members were Lauren Lassus, Rachael Hohlt, Lydia Huebner and Madi Borne.

The Forage team, made up of Jack Luedeker, Kash Krueger, Gentrie Peschel and James Schumann, placed fourth out of 84 teams competing.

The Nursery Landscape team was ninth out of 60 teams. Its members include Levi Malinowski, Layne Malinowski, Katelyn Krenek and Matthew Wybro.

Bellville FFA qualified 10 teams for state this year and was awarded the Area XI Sweepstakes CDE award for the 17th straight year.

Bellville FFA's Ag Sales team, which finished first at state.Bellville FFA's second-place Floriculture team.Bellville FFA's Forage team, which took fourth place.Bellville FFA's Nursery Landscape team that finished ninth. (photos courtesy Bellville FFA)The post BELLVILLE FFA TAKES HOME ANOTHER STATE CDE CHAMPIONSHIP first appeared on KWHI.com.

Sherry Francis
(Lee Co. Jail)A Giddings ISD school bus driver was arrested after a hit-and-run crash Monday morning.

Giddings police say 14 students were on board when a bus driven by 65-year-old Sherry Francis rear-ended a passenger car around 7:45 a.m. in the 200 block of North Orange Street and left the scene.

According to police, there were no injuries, and damage to the passenger car was minimal.

During investigation, officers established probable cause that Francis was impaired by a substance other than alcohol. She was taken into custody and consented to a blood draw to be submitted for forensic testing.

Francis was charged with DWI with a Child Passenger. Her bond was set at $7,500, and she was released on personal recognizance.

The post GIDDINGS ISD BUS DRIVER CHARGED AFTER HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Tuesday) is the final day to vote early in the May 6th city, school board and Blinn Board of Trustees elections.

Through six days, there have been 2,437 early voters. That includes 2,436 for the Blinn election, 2,327 for Brenham ISD, 1,266 for the City of Brenham, 110 for Burton ISD and 19 for the City of Burton.

Monday saw 457 people cast early ballots, with 457 voting for Blinn, 436 in Brenham ISD, 241 in the City of Brenham, 21 in Burton ISD and six in the City of Burton.

The Washington County Courthouse Annex will be open today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After early voting concludes, anyone who has not voted will need to head to their designated polling location on Election Day this Saturday.

The post TUESDAY LAST DAY TO VOTE EARLY; OVER 2,400 EARLY VOTERS SO FAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Chet Fritsch
(courtesy Burton ISD)Burton High School has announced the top two seniors of the graduating class of 2023.

Chet Fritsch is valedictorian with a grade point average of 4.1529. Vicente Veliz Jr. is salutatorian with a GPA of 4.0637.

Vicente Veliz Jr.
(courtesy Burton ISD)Fritsch, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Fritsch, will study and compete in rodeo at Blinn College. After Blinn, he intends to major in ag business at either Texas A&M University or Sam Houston State University.

Veliz, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vicente Veliz Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Matt Thaler, plans to attend Texas A&M University, where he will major in civil engineering.

Other honor graduates include:

Liesha Aguilar, daughter of Mr. Cesar Aguilar and Ms. Lisbeth Aguilar
Peyton Franklin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Josh Eckert
Brinn Rhodes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Rhodes
Victoria Wiesepape, daughter of Mr. Richard Brending and Ms. Jamie Wiesepape
Dawson Rudloff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Rudloff
Bailey Gober, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Gober
Tanner Gore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Gore
Kody King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brian King
Abigail Lamson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Lamson
Carson Lauter, son of Mr. Ray Lauter and Ms. Lani Lauter
Reece Mahlmann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reece Mahlmann
Cannon Manley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Manley
Mycah Simank, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Simank

Burton High School’s graduation will take place on Friday, May 26th at 8 p.m. at the Oliver Whitener/Roy Winkler Pavilion.

The post FRITSCH, VELIZ NAMED TOP BURTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADS OF 2023 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The new Pizza Hut at 1502 South Day Street in
Brenham is set to hold its grand opening on Friday.Pizza Hut is celebrating the grand opening of its new location in Brenham on Friday.

The pizza chain returns to Brenham at 1502 South Day Street, over three years after its previous location at 2538 South Day Street closed its doors in October 2019.

Abel Villalobos, district manager for the Brenham restaurant, operated by Carter Enterprises, says the response from the public has been very positive leading up to the opening.

The location will offer drive-thru, carryout and delivery.

Friday’s event will feature specials and promotions, including the opportunity for the first 25 customers to win free pizza for a year.

Pizza Hut is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

KTEX-106 will be broadcasting live from Pizza Hut on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the KTEX Country Cruiser with the Wagon Wheel of Prizes.

The post PIZZA HUT TO HOLD GRAND OPENING IN BRENHAM FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham police are investigating a report of an aggravated robbery Friday afternoon.

The report filed with police says that around 3 p.m., a citizen was held at gunpoint by two young adults, believed to be around 17 years old, who took cash from the victim’s wallet.

According to the report, the aggravated robbery occurred less than two miles away from the site of a shooting that same afternoon around 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Meadow Lane. A 17-year-old male was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan after receiving one gunshot wound to the chest. He was listed in stable condition.

Further details on the reported robbery are pending from the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division. Police said they intend to put out a release with more information. They have not stated whether the robbery and the shooting could be connected.

The post BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING REPORT OF CITIZEN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Many times, the municipal and school board elections in May draw little interest and even fewer voters. But the election coming up this Saturday has huge implications for both the City of Brenham and the Brenham School Board. Mayor Milton Tate will be stepping down after leading the City for twenty years. And while Brenham’s city manager actually directs the day-to-day activities of the City, the mayor is the one who steers the City Council. With all of the problems the City is facing, and will face in the future, whomever wins Saturday’s election is going to play a big role in how those problems are handled. Brenham ISD also has its hands full with problems…like discipline in the classrooms and hallways, and the loss of good teachers to neighboring school districts. Now the school board has added to its plate bringing the bus service back “in house”, and forming its own police force. All four of the board seats up for election are being contested, so voters have choices. Down Highway 290 in Burton they will be electing a new mayor, and choosing four school board members from five candidates. And while the Burton community is not facing the problems that Brenham is, those races are also important for the future. There is also a contested race for the Blinn College Board of Trustees.

If you are a registered voter in Washington County, I strongly encourage you to make the time to vote in whichever elections you are eligible. There are two days remaining for early voting at the Washington County Courthouse Annex downtown. Please take advantage of early voting and free up your Saturday to enjoy Maifest. If you don’t make the time to vote, I don’t want to hear you complaining about the outcome and the choices made by the winners. And one other thing. Candidates, please stop parking your vehicles around the courthouse with big “vote for me” signs on them. Downtown parking is hard enough to find without you leaving a car or truck on the square all day long as a campaign billboard.

And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.

The post THE SPECTATOR: MAKE THE TIME TO VOTE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Friday afternoon.

Officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Meadow Lane at 3:30pm in reference to a report of shots fired.

Police arrived on the scene and located a 17-year-old male, who sustained a single gunshot wound to his chest.

The Washington County EMS transported him to St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan, where he was listed in stable condition.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Sergeant Detective Seth Klehm at 979-337-7368.

The post POLICE RELEASE ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON FRIDAY’S SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Game 1 of the Brenham Cubette Bi-District playoffs has been postponed this (Friday) evening due to the severe weather in the area. The game was called in the 6th inning with a 0-0 score and that is where they will pick up tomorrow (Saturday). Game time is set of 12:00, you can hear the finish to Game 1 and the complete Game 2 to follow on KWHI-AM 1280, FM 101.7, and KWHI.com.

The post CUBETTE SOFTBALL PLAYOFF GAME POSTPONED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham police are investigating a shooting this (Friday) afternoon.

City officials confirmed the shooting happened at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Meadow Brook Lane.

Police have not stated if anyone was injured in the shooting or if anyone is in custody.

Captain Lloyd Powell said the scene is “secure” and that there is no threat to the public.

KWHI will provide more information when it becomes available.

The post BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will vote on hiring a director of transportation when it meets on Monday.

Whomever is hired for the position will lead Brenham ISD’s new in-house transportation system, which the board set in motion at a meeting on April 3rd.

At that meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Superintendent Services Clay Gillentine told trustees that Brenham ISD could enter into a lease purchase agreement for buses and give drivers a pay increase and still pay less than what it does in its contract with Durham School Transportation. The contract concludes at the end of July.

Also on the agenda are consideration of a budget amendment and an executive session to discuss personnel matters.

The board will meet Monday at noon in the Brenham ISD Administration Office. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER HIRING DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

In addition to the city council, school board and Blinn College board races in Washington County, cities and school districts in neighboring counties have contested elections as well.

Several options are available on the ballots of voters in cities like Bellville, Snook, La Grange, Round Top, Giddings, Navasota and Hempstead.

Bellville ISD has a bond proposition for $49.5 million. The bond calls for the construction of a new junior high school; repairs and renovations to West End Elementary, O’Bryant Primary School and Bellville High School; the transition of Bellville Junior High into an intermediate school; and repurposing the current O’Bryant Intermediate School site into parking for O’Bryant Primary School and ancillary district facilities. The bond proposal is projected to create a 1 cent increase on the district’s Interest & Sinking tax rate.

Residents in Austin County’s Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 1, located around the San Felipe area, will vote on the authorization of a maximum ad valorem tax rate of 6 cents per $100 valuation to support the ESD.

In Burleson County, voters will decide whether to back a County Assistance District (CAD) and the creation of a 1.5 percent sales and use tax rate for unincorporated areas to finance the district, which would support road and drainage improvements. The district excludes all territory within the municipal limits of Caldwell, Somerville and Snook.

Snook will have races on the city council and school board. Linda Adair and Frank Fields are running to be the next mayor of Snook, as John See is not seeking another term as mayor. For the Snook ISD Board of Trustees, there are two contested races. Edwin Janac, Brittany Thigpen and Joel Withem are running for the two at-large seats presently held by Kristine Brisco and David Sebesta. Meanwhile, Dana Yezak and Sebesta are part of a special election to fill the position vacated by Leslie Groce.

On the La Grange City Council, incumbent Arthur Bosque is challenged by Chris Jernigan for the Ward 4 seat.

The Round Top Town Council has five candidates vying for three at-large seats. They are incumbent Amy Bone, Jeanette Burger, Karen Duddlesten, Cameron LePee and Judith Vincent.

Giddings has three seats up for election on the city council and six candidates running. Incumbents Alan Casey, Frank Castro and Jacob Janda are on the ballot alongside Jason Haas, Randie Maass and Kevin Rinn. On the Giddings School Board, incumbents Jason Locke and Roy Kruemcke face Torie Morrow for two seats.

In Navasota, there is one contested race on the city council and another for the school board. Patty Tokoly and James Harris are running for Position 5 on the council, currently held by Grant Holt. For Position 5 on the Navasota ISD Board of Trustees, incumbent Amy Jarvis is challenged by Mark Gremillion.

Voters in Hempstead will have two council positions and a school trustee race. Position 4 incumbent Raul Villarreal will face Patricia Lynn Mosley and Karon Neal, while Barbara Haffelfinger and Nora Hodges are running for the Position 5 seat of Chase Murray. In Hempstead ISD, Position 4 incumbent Stephanie Bush will go up against Hoveta Godines-Mayes.

Election Day is next Saturday, May 6th.

The post SEVERAL ELECTIONS IN AREA CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 has a big winner in the Armadillo Hi-Lo.

This (Friday) morning, Erin Cafero of Brenham won the jackpot with a guess of $826.29.

The next chance to play for an all-new jackpot will be Monday at 7:35 a.m. with the Morning Express.

Armadillo Hi-Lo is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, ZochNet and Plinkers Ammo.

The post ARMADILLO HI-LO HAS NEW WINNER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lois KolkhorstA bill authored by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst that curtails the purchase of some Texas land to certain foreign entities has passed the Senate.

On a 19-12 vote on Wednesday, Senate Bill 147 heads to the House for consideration. The bill restricts the purchase of farmland, oil and gas rights, timber and rare earth materials by entities that are classified as hostile by the Director of U.S. National Intelligence for three consecutive reports. Those nations currently include China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

The bill was amended from the initial version, which looked to ban citizens and businesses associated with those countries from purchasing land, after being criticized by some lawmakers and members of the public who claimed it was discriminatory. The bill was clarified so that its prohibitions do not apply to lawful permanent residents, as well as U.S. citizens and dual citizens. It also specifies the types of land that are restricted and how it does not apply to the leasing of land, only purchases.

The legislation follows the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 2116 during the 2021 session, preventing nations deemed as hostile from doing critical infrastructure business in Texas. The bill was filed after a China-based firm purchased around 140,000 acres for a wind farm near Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio.

During Senate debate, Kolkhorst said relinquishing control of the state’s agriculture, energy deposits and rare earth materials to the countries listed in the National Threat Assessment “would cause grave consequences for our state and national security.”

In the United States, there are 22 states that have prohibitions on foreign land purchases, with another five requiring reporting.

The post KOLKHORST’S SB 147 PASSES SENATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Over 1,500 people have come to the ballot box through four days of early voting in Washington County.

Per Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 398 people voted on Thursday, up from 383 on Wednesday. There have been 1,516 early voters to this point.

Thursday saw 398 voters for the Blinn College election, 388 for Brenham ISD, 214 for the City of Brenham, 10 for Burton ISD and two for the City of Burton.

Early voting is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays through Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 6th.

The post EARLY VOTING PASSES 1,500 THROUGH THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Dean FuchsVoters in Burton are choosing from four candidates to fill three seats on the Burton School Board.

One of the four on the ballot is Dean Fuchs. A member of the school board since November 2020, Fuchs was an educator for 28 years in Columbus, Boling and Katy. He currently serves as the manager of the Washington County Fair.

Fuchs believes he brings a “common-sense” approach to the board, grounded in practicality and realism while providing an educator’s perspective. He says while there are things that can stand to improve in Burton ISD, there are other places where the district excels.

Fuchs says the staff, community, parental involvement, relationships and tradition are very strong in the district, and feels the completion of the bond project will add an extra sense of pride.

In addition to making continued upgrades school safety, Fuchs wants to ensure that staff members are not overwhelmed with too many responsibilities.

Early voting concludes on Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 6th.

The post DEAN FUCHS RUNNING FOR BURTON SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Texas MS 150 will bring thousands of bicyclists through the area this weekend.

The two-day fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will have riders traveling from the Houston or Austin region into La Grange on Saturday, then through Round Top or Carmine, Burton, and by Lake Somerville before finishing at Kyle Field in College Station on Sunday.

Starting points on the Houston route include Addicks Park & Ride in Houston’s Energy Corridor, the Royal school complex in Brookshire and the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. The Austin route has starts at the Capitol and Webberville Park in Webberville. Both routes will converge Saturday afternoon at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange.

On Sunday, riders will go through either Round Top or Carmine and pass through Burton. This year’s route also has the option of starting in Burton after taking a shuttle.

From there, the route will continue north, going through Somerville and Snook before arriving at Kyle Field.

Residents should be mindful of bicyclists this weekend and prepare for possible delays.

To learn more about the MS 150, go online to https://mssociety.donordrive.com.

The post MS 150 TO TRAVEL THROUGH AREA THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Blinn College)The Blinn College Alumni and Friends and Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen associations’ 2023 Blinn College Clay Shootout raised $113,000 for scholarships and athletic equipment.

This year’s Shootout, held April 14 at Boswell Porter 4-H Shotgun Range in Burleson County, had 56 teams competing in three flights. It is the largest annual fundraiser held to benefit the Blinn College District.

“I’m always amazed by how much support every Shootout receives,” said Nathan Van Noord, President of the Alumni and Friends Association. “That success is a result of the hard work from a lot of volunteers and the generosity shown by businesses and individuals, and all of the money we raise goes directly to helping Blinn College students and programs.”

“Everyone seems to have a good time and raising money for a worthy cause is the reason why everyone does this,” said Kevin Bosse, Chair of the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen Association. “The money raised does so much good for students and programs that deserve our support.”

Overall winners were:

Teams – First: Vacha Services (Tanner Vacha, Taylor Zdunkewicz, Karl Stellpflug, and J.W. Atkinson; second: Citizens State Bank (Cory Flencher, Aaron Flencher, Scott York, and Tommy Teas; third: Lone Star Tank Management (Bruce Beaver, Brant Malek, Doug Deweese, and Steven Hicks).
Men’s division – First, Brant Malek; second, Justin Hejl.
Women’s division – First, Kailey Kuntschik; second, tie between Ashley Hodde and Jennifer Fleetwood.
Flight 1 – First, Grant Parker; second, Blake Henry; third, Brian Eben.
Flight 2 – First, Brant Malek; second, Justin Hejl; third, Jack Baumann.
Flight 3 – First, Tanner Vacha; second, J.W. Atkinson; third, Kieran Tobin.

Stylecraft Builders was the underwriter once again with a $15,000 sponsorship. Flight sponsors were Bank of Brenham, Blue Bell Creameries, and Brenham National Bank.

Station sponsors were Plinkers Ammo, Schaefer Custom Homes, Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, Paragon Advisors, Tejas Center, Texas KB Utilities, Germania Insurance, CC Creations, Collier Construction, Texas Commercial Waste, Aggieland Construction, GeoSouthern/Fenner Land Services, Citizens State Bank, First Financial Bank/First Financial Trust, Siemens Energy Inc., Van Dyke-Rankin, Kirksey Architecture, and Plumb Level.

Food and drink sponsorships were provided by Nathan’s BBQ, Ben E. Keith, U.S. Foods, Scarmardo Foodservice, Michael Griffin, Polar Ice, Christian Development Co., and Jack Hilliard Distributing. The silent auction sponsor was Kenjura Tile.

Friends of Blinn sponsors were Marcella and Ernie Koy, Cordell Levien, Must Be Heaven, and Schleider Furniture Co. First Responder Team sponsors were Charles Moser, Nancy Berry, and Celia Haley. Rob’s Fun Center provided all-terrain vehicles and the raffle was sponsored by LaRoche Chevrolet.

(Story courtesy Richard Bray, Blinn Information)

The post BLINN 2023 CLAY SHOOTOUT RAISES $113,000 BENEFITTING STUDENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Unemployment rates dipped around the region during the month of March.

Washington County’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent in March from 4.7 percent the month prior, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

The number of unemployed residents in the county fell from 732 in February to 666 last month.

Meanwhile, employment numbers rose from 14,700 in February to 14,849 in March. The total civilian labor force also grew from 15,432 in February to 15,515 a month ago.

In March 2022, the county’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, with 581 people jobless.

The state’s adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4 percent from February to March.

The unemployment rates of area counties also declined:

Austin County – 3.9 percent, down from 4.5 percent in February.
Brazos County – 3.2 percent, down from 3.7 percent.
Burleson County – 3.7 percent, down from 4.2 percent.
Fayette County – 3.6 percent, down from 4 percent in February.
Grimes County – 4.8 percent, down from 4.9 percent.
Lee County – 3.8 percent, down from 4.1 percent.
Waller County – 4.5 percent, down from 5.3 percent.

The post AREA UNEMPLOYMENT RATES DOWN IN MARCH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting totals are over 1,000 in Washington County through three days.

According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 383 people came to the Washington County Courthouse Annex on Wednesday, down slightly from 393 voters on Tuesday. There have been 1,118 early voters thus far.

Wednesday’s tallies included 383 votes cast for the Blinn College election, 372 for Brenham ISD, 207 for the City of Brenham, 11 for Burton ISD and one for the City of Burton.

The courthouse annex remains open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays until Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 6th.

The post OVER 1,000 EARLY VOTERS THROUGH THREE DAYS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Donna PutnamBurton ISD voters will look to fill three spots on the Burton School Board with this spring’s election.

Among the four candidates on the ballot is Donna Putnam. A career educator working for Brenham, Burton and Conroe school districts, Putnam has been a member of the school board since November 2020.

Putnam says her top priorities are school safety, providing a superior education, support for teachers and respecting taxpayers. She says her 37 years of education experience in a variety of capacities allows her to understand the issues most important to teachers.

Putnam wants to make teacher pay more competitive with neighboring school districts and provide extra personal days for them. Additionally, she feels that Burton ISD needs to focus on its in-district students and, if necessary, consider halting transfers in order to keep class sizes smaller.

Putnam believes Burton ISD has been very successful in its efforts to improve school security.

Early voting continues until Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 6th.

The post DONNA PUTNAM SEEKING ELECTION TO BURTON SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Representatives from Brenham ISD, the Brenham
City Council, Washington County Commissioners
and community members gathered at the
Washington County Expo Event Center on
Wednesday for a joint workshop to discuss Brenham
ISD's plans to create a police department. Officials from Brenham ISD, the City of Brenham and Washington County met for a workshop this (Wednesday) morning to begin discussions on how the school district’s plans for its own police department will take shape.

The workshop covered how the district will coordinate with partner agencies via interlocal agreements (ILAs) and memorandums of understanding (MOUs), its staffing goals, the training and pay of hired officers, costs involved with setting up and running the department, and the optimism of hitting the timeline of having everything in place by the start of the next school year.

Brenham ISD Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said moving forward with this process is one of the ways the school district looks to ensure school families and staff are protected and give them peace of mind.

Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Clay Gillentine called back to last summer when the city agreed to add a fifth school resource officer (SRO) at Brenham ISD campuses, which also allow off-duty officers to be paid to provide extra protection. He said while coverage at schools was strong to start off the school year, it has dropped off in the spring semester, and the school district was informed that the city would have to pull back one of the SROs due to its own police department staffing issues.

Gillentine said the school district met on Tuesday with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), who told the district there have been 48 other school districts putting in applications for their own police departments within this past year alone. He said while things have been “fast and furious,” TCOLE feels good about Brenham ISD’s schedule. Dr. Chaplin added that TCOLE told the district that in terms of having officers ready to go in August, it is “well ahead of the game.”

Dr. Chaplin said when looking at the guarantee to make sure an officer is at each campus, offset with the amount paid to off-duty officers, the money is “almost equal” in going this new route.

According to Dr. Chaplin, the department would not work on a 24/7 schedule, as its focus would be during school operations and functions. The district is planning to have nine officers in total, including two at the high school and one at each of the other campuses, as well as a roaming chief and sergeant. He noted that the officers who are stationed to a particular campus will not be dispatched offsite during the school day, so in the event of a situation on campus that requires backup, that help would come in the form of a roaming officer or from supporting law enforcement from the city and county.

Gillentine said the district understands hiring officers is a struggle for other law enforcement agencies, but it feels confident in what it can offer as a school district police department. He said the salary being offered is comparable to what the city pays and believes that candidates will value having a work schedule based off of Brenham ISD school days and hours, with some additional responsibility for after-school events.

Speaking on obtaining needed equipment for the department, Dr. Chaplin said items like vehicles can be purchased at a low price through contacts with other school districts that are rolling off their old vehicles that are still in good shape and are fully equipped.

Also at the meeting to answer questions was Jeffrey Yarbrough, chief of the Hutto Police Department and a driving force behind the creation of school police departments for Bastrop and Round Rock ISDs. Yarbrough called it “a privilege” for Brenham ISD to be able to start a police department, as it knows the needs of its children and families better than anyone else. He said the district would not be getting the “runts of the litter” when recruiting officers, as school policing is a specialized area that requires the proper training and temperament.

John Deans, who led the implementation of the Guardian program in school districts like Burton, Bellville and Round Top-Carmine, allowing volunteer staff members to train to carry handguns on school grounds, encouraged Brenham ISD officials to reconsider the program or utilize the existing community of licensed-to-carry individuals. He said police officers are “burned out” and feels the district would have a difficult time hiring the officers it needs in four months, given the struggles of local law enforcement in doing the same.

Dr. Chaplin said over the course of establishing the police department, the necessary steps involve setting up MOUs for the city to sponsor Brenham ISD for the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System radio network; for the county to provide dispatch services and enter into a non-terminal agency agreement with them; and establish overlapping jurisdiction with the city, county and Blinn College.

The post BRENHAM ISD POLICE DEPT. DISCUSSED DURING JOINT WORKSHOP first appeared on KWHI.com.

Day two of early voting in Washington County outpaced the first day.

Washington County Elections Administrator Carol Jackson says there were 393 voters on Tuesday, compared to 342 on Monday. That brings the two-day total to 735 ballots cast.

Tuesday’s votes included 393 in the Blinn College election, 382 for Brenham ISD, 199 for the City of Brenham, 11 for Burton ISD and two for the City of Burton.

Early voting at the Washington County Courthouse Annex runs on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 6th.

The post TWO DAYS OF EARLY VOTING BRING OVER 700 PARTICIPANTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Misty LucherkVoters in Burton ISD are deciding who will fill three at-large seats on the Burton School Board.

Four candidates are seeking election, one being Misty Lucherk. A Burton ISD graduate along with her husband and two sons, Lucherk has served on the school board for 12 years and has worked for 27 years at Germania Insurance, where she is currently a total loss adjustor.

Lucherk says she views Burton ISD students as an extension of her family and that she seeks to always put them first.

Lucherk says she is proud of the board’s work to improve Burton ISD facilities through the bond project and feels the school district has made great strides in academics, athletics and overall student involvement.

Along with facility upgrades, upping employee pay is something that Lucherk values highly. Ultimately, she wishes to provide students the best environment possible to succeed.

Early voting is underway through Tuesday, May 2nd. Election Day is Saturday, May 6th.

The post MISTY LUCHERK RUNNING FOR BURTON SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Human Resources Director
Angela Mlcak (in front) holds a proclamation read
by county commissioners on Tuesday, declaring the
month of April as Autism Awareness Month.Washington County Commissioners approved an oil and gas lease on county-owned school land in Tom Green County at their meeting today (Tuesday).

Per the 686-acre lease with Red Pheasant, LLC, Washington County will receive a one-time payment of $17,430 and a monthly royalty of 20 percent of any minerals produced and sold.

Celeste Dickshat (in front) of the Washington Soil &
Water Conservation District presents a proclamation
read by county commissioners during Tuesday's
meeting, declaring April 30 - May 7 as Soil & Water
Stewardship Week.Money from the oil and gas lease will go to Brenham and Burton ISDs based on their average daily attendance. Last year, the two school districts received a total of $1,279,482 in revenue from the county’s mineral rights, farming leases and hunting leases in Tom Green County, compared to $280,089 in 2021.

County Judge John Durrenberger said work on the oil and gas lease has been ongoing since October 2021. According to the lease document, it will remain in force for 30 months and as long thereafter as oil or gas is produced in paying quantities from the land.

Also at today’s meeting, the court read a pair of proclamations, one recognizing the month of April as Autism Awareness Month in Washington County and the other declaring April 30 – May 7 as Soil and Water Stewardship Week.

In other business, commissioners:

Approved a salary correction for E911 Operations Manager Shannon Selden. Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak stated Selden was brought in at the bare minimum for acceptable salary range, and her level of experience was reevaluated to change her rate from $58,432 to $65,745.
Approved an amendment to the bid with WEX BANK for fleet fuel for a maximum of 30 days. The extension is through May 31st to allow the bid to continue until the start of the county’s new fleet fuel agreement with Voyager/US Bank on June 1st.
Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Highway 290 and Red Tip Lane in Precinct 3.
Approved a final plat for the Saddle Ridge subdivision, a residential development of four tracts fronting Old Masonic Road in Precinct 3.
Heard monthly reports from county offices including the sheriff’s office, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections and veterans service officer.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE OIL & GAS LEASE ON TOM GREEN CO. SCHOOL LAND first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Somerville man is in custody for accusations of sexual abuse against five children.

Dallas Bryan Perry-Patrick
(Burleson Co. Jail)Somerville police responded on April 7th to reports of sexual assault of a child. Through their investigation, police found there were five children 10 years old or younger who claimed they had been abused.

Police, along with DPS, executed a search warrant at a home in the 700 block of 8th Street. They then obtained five felony warrants for 37-year-old Dallas Bryan Perry-Patrick, including two counts of Indecency with a Child-Sexual Contact and three counts of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child.

Authorities discovered upon attempting to arrest the suspect that he was no longer in the area. Through coordination with other agencies, the suspect was detained on April 13th by Border Patrol and turned over to Burleson County law enforcement.

Perry-Patrick remains in the Burleson County Jail.

The post SOMERVILLE MAN FACES FIVE COUNTS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A voter walks into the Washington County
Courthouse Annex on Monday, April 24, shortly
after early voting opened at 8 a.m. Early voting runs
though May 2, and Election Day is May 6.Over 300 people came out for the first day of early voting in Washington County.

Elections Administrator Carol Jackson says a total of 342 ballots were cast on Monday. That includes 342 votes in the Blinn Board of Trustees election, 330 for Brenham ISD, 197 for the City of Brenham, 12 for Burton ISD and three for the City of Burton.

Early voting continues at the Washington County Courthouse Annex through May 2nd, running on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day is May 6th.

Today (Tuesday) is the last day to submit an application for a ballot by mail. Any applications that are mailed in must be received by 5 p.m. in the Washington County Elections Office.

The post EARLY VOTING OPENS WITH OVER 300 FIRST-DAY VOTERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

TxDOT officials say the work to put in overhead span wires on Highway 290 in Burton beginning tomorrow (Tuesday) should be through quickly.

Bob Colwell, Public Information Officer for TxDOT’s Bryan District, told KWHI that the provided project timeline of tomorrow to Thursday is “very broad” in order to give crew members ample time should they need it, but the likelihood of them taking all three days for completion is not substantial.

Colwell said the work is taking place along Highway 290 from its first intersection westbound with FM 390 to San Marcos Street. It is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Drivers will need to be mindful of eastbound and westbound main lane closures in 15-minute intervals. According to an internal email provided by Colwell, “assuming everything goes well, the expectation is one fifteen minute delay to have the span wire up.”

Message boards are in place to inform travelers of the closures. Law enforcement will assist in traffic control.

An overview of the TxDOT work zone along Highway 290.
(courtesy TxDOT)The post TxDOT: WORK ON HIGHWAY 290 IN BURTON NOT EXPECTED TO TAKE FULL TIMELINE TO COMPLETE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two people pleaded guilty and were sentenced last week in 21st District Court before Judge Reva Towslee Corbett.

25-year-old Luis Perez of Brenham was sentenced to 10 years in prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Perez pleaded guilty in November 2019 to the offense after being indicted in November 2016. Perez, who was sentenced after a hearing on Friday, was a juvenile at the time of the offense but was certified as an adult by the juvenile court.

47-year-old Arthur Gantt Reliford of Brenham was sentenced to 6 years’ probation for Continuous Violence Against the Family. He must also pay a $2,000 fine and $100 family violence fee, perform 200 hours of community service and complete a batterer’s intervention program.

The post TWO SENTENCED IN 21ST DISTRICT COURT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A motorcyclist was flown to a hospital after being struck by a pickup truck Saturday night in Washington County.

The accident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Highway 105, between Brenham and Navasota.

According to DPS Sergeant Justin Ruiz, a Ford F-150 failed to yield the right of way when turning to a Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling southeast on Highway 105.

The driver of the motorcycle, 60-year-old Melanie Hewett-Deaeth of Washington, was life flighted to St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan with serious injuries.

The driver of the truck was not injured, but was cited for failing to yield right of way.

Investigation into the crash continues.

The post WASHINGTON WOMAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER MOTORCYCLE CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting kicks off on Monday for the municipal and school board elections in Brenham and Burton and the Blinn College Board of Trustees election.

The Washington County Courthouse Annex will be open for early voting from Monday to Friday, April 24-28, and on Monday and Tuesday, May 1-2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

In the City of Brenham, the lone contested race is for mayor, pitting Keith Hofmann against Atwood Kenjura.

For Brenham ISD, four seats are up for election on the school board. Bonnie Brinkmeyer faces James Franke for Position 1. Position 2 incumbent Dr. Michael Altman faces Archer Archer. Kyle Hafner is running against Artis Edwards Sr. for Position 3, and Position 4 incumbent Kelvin Raven is challenged by David Jantzi.

The City of Burton has two races, one for mayor and one for Position 3 councilmember. David Zajicek and Karen Buck are vying for mayor, while Position 3 incumbent Jeff Eckhardt faces Peter Horn.

There are four candidates for three seats on the Burton School Board. They include incumbents Dean Fuchs, Misty Lucherk and Donna Putnam, as well as Ande Bostain.

The Blinn Board of Trustees race for Precinct 2 will feature Diane Kruse Kettler against Andrea Liner.

According to Washington County Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, there were 24,413 registered voters in the county as of the April 6th voter registration deadline.

For voters on Election Day, May 6th, there will be five polling locations: the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library, Washington County Expo Event Center, Brenham VFW Hall, Blinn College Student Center and Burton American Legion Hall.

Applications for a ballot by mail must be submitted by Tuesday. All mailed applications must be received in the Washington County Elections Office by Tuesday at 5 p.m.

The post EARLY VOTING STARTS MONDAY FOR MAY 6 ELECTIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A country, blues and gospel star will soon take the stage at The Barnhill Center in Brenham.

T. Graham Brown
(courtesy photo)T. Graham Brown and his band will celebrate 35 years of hits with a performance on Saturday, May 13th at 7 p.m. Brown is best known for his #1 hit songs in the mid-1980s, “Hell and High Water”, Don’t Go to Strangers” and “Darlene”.

Eight more of Brown’s singles have made the Top 10 list. Over his career, he has recorded 13 studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.

The Barnhill Center producer Sharon Brass says Brown “still aces those high notes and he still charms an audience.” She says “his powerful voice is as strong as ever” and “his inspirational songs are breathtaking.”

In addition to touring with his band, Brown currently stars in the hit series, Live Wire, on SiriusXM Prime Country Channel, where he performs, interviews other top artists and features their music.

In 2021, Brown was presented the Lifetime Career Achievement Award at the Josie Music Awards in Nashville. Brown’s first Gospel album, “Forever Changed,” won a Grammy nomination in 2014 for Best Roots Gospel Album.

To purchase tickets, go to https://thebarnhillcenter.com.

The post T. GRAHAM BROWN COMING TO THE BARNHILL CENTER MAY 13 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Highway 290 in Burton will undergo a series of temporary but full closures next week.

TxDOT says both the eastbound and westbound main lanes will be closed throughout the day in 15-minute intervals, beginning on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and ending on Thursday.

According to TxDOT, the closures, which are weather permitting, are needed to place overhead span wires across Highway 290 and FM 390 in Burton.

Additional portable, changeable message boards have been put in place for the closure to inform travelers. Law enforcement officials will aid in traffic control.

The post HIGHWAY 290 IN BURTON TO CLOSE IN INTERVALS NEXT WEEK first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tickets are now on sale for Downtown Brenham’s “Summer Sip and Art Walk”.

Brenham Main Street and 40 downtown shops and businesses will host the “Summer Sip and Art Walk” on Saturday, June 10th from 3:00 ‘til 7:00. The shopping and drink tasting event will feature a large variety of refreshing summer drinks including lime coconut margaritas, spiked mermaid punch, sangrias, citrus berry cocktails, wine spritzers and a summer Campari cocktail. Participants will receive a commemorative glass for sampling as they shop at downtown stores. Artwork from dozens of artists will be on display inside the stores featuring everything from watercolors to woodworking, jewelry and gun metal art to oil landscapes.

Tickets are on sale now at most Downtown Brenham stores for only $25, or they can be purchased online at www.downtownbrenham.com. Only 500 tickets are being made available for this event. The City of Brenham’s Barnhill Center will also host a concert that evening featuring “Tapestry – The Carole King Songbook” with Suzanne O’Davis.

The 2023 “Summer Sip and Art Walk” on Saturday, June 10th is presented by Da Vinci sponsor Deep in the Heart Farms, Van Gogh sponsor Hermann Furniture, Picasso sponsors J&A Roofing, Appel Ford and Boss Lady Office Leasing, and Monet sponsors Euphoria, Top Floor Cars, Brenham Maifest Association and The Carrina Show.

The post TICKET SALES OPEN FOR SUMMER SIP & ART WALK first appeared on KWHI.com.

A bill making its way through the Texas Legislature would mark a major shift to the funding structure of community colleges, one that would potentially provide great benefit to Blinn College.

House Bill 8 recently passed in the House chamber and is headed to the Senate. According to Blinn Executive Vice Chancellor Leighton Schubert, the legislation would change the primary source of state funding from being based on the number of hours students are in the classroom to how many students receive a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year university.

In addition to the overhauled funding model, the state would also inject over $600 million in extra money for community colleges to support what is outlined in the bill. Schubert said this changes how the “pie” of state funds is allocated, but it also enlarges the pie itself.

Schubert believes Blinn is “well-positioned” with the changes to community college funding proposed in the bill and feels it would be a “very positive thing” for the College.

Currently, about 25 percent of Blinn’s budget is made up of state funding, with tuition, fees and property tax revenue accounting for the rest. Schubert said it is not known exactly how much additional money Blinn could see through the legislation, because it is currently a “shell” and has many more rules and stipulations to be defined.

Schubert said Blinn is still being cautious because while the College has seen increased state funding over the past three legislative sessions, state payouts for most other community colleges in Texas have remained static or declined over the past 10 years. He also noted that most community colleges seem to be on board with the legislation, but it could pose issues for extremely small community colleges that do not have the ability to generate large numbers of graduates or transfers. However, the state would set out a one-time provision for this first biennium guaranteeing that no community college would receive less funding than it did during the last legislative session.

Schubert is fairly confident that the bill will pass through the Senate without many further changes in the final version. If it does pass, it will go into effect September 1st.

The post BLINN EXPECTED TO SEE INCREASED STATE FUNDING THROUGH BILL SETTING PERFORMANCE-BASED MODEL FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Fire Chief Roger Williams discusses with
the city council on Thursday the process used to
select a firm to perform design and engineering for
a planned second fire station.Progress is being made toward a second fire station in Brenham.

On Thursday, the Brenham City Council awarded a request for qualifications (RFQ) to Brown Reynolds and Watford Architects (BRW) out of College Station for professional design and engineering services for the fire station. It also authorized the publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation (COs) not to exceed $10 million, including $8 million to build, equip and furnish the fire station and $2 million for in-house street construction/rebuild projects.

Brenham Fire Chief Roger Williams said out of 11 firms that submitted RFQs, BRW was chosen based on its qualifications, proficiency and scope of work with fire stations and fire training facilities.

The property for the fire station is at the intersection of James Nutt Boulevard and Handley Street, in the Brenham Business Center. Williams said the fire station, projected to be around 10,000 square feet, will have three drive-thru bays for fire engines. No new apparatus will be needed for the station, but the fire department will need nine new firefighters to man it over a three-year period.

At a workshop meeting in August, the cost estimate to build the station was $6.5 million. When asked why the projected cost is now $8 million, Williams said the continued fallout from COVID-19 in causing “exponentially” higher material costs was the main reason for the increase. He said the department will try to get the most it can for the least it has to spend so that more of the CO funding can be used for road work.

Following all required publication of the notice of intent to issue the COs, Specialized Public Finance Inc. will handle securing pricing, and the council will award COs to underwriters on June 15th. The first bond payment would be due on August 15th.

Williams said the entire project, including design, getting a cost analysis, securing bids for construction and building the station, is anticipated to take two years to complete.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TAKES STEPS WITH NEW FIRE STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham is implementing a new electric fee schedule for services performed by the electric department.

The Brenham City Council on Thursday voted to adopt a rate tariff schedule with added fees to offset rising supply and material costs. The fees, which are effective with utility billing on and after May 4th, pertain to new customers requesting service, upsizing existing services, repairing damaged service lines, meter pulling and reinstalling, and service wire disconnections and reconnections. They do not affect regular electric rates.

Deputy General Manager of Public Utilities Alton Sommerfield said a competitive analysis was done to ensure the new fees are in line with surrounding electric utilities.

The service fee for meter pulling and reinstallation will be $50 during regular business hours and $75 at all other hours. The disconnecting and reconnecting of service wires is $100 during normal hours and $150 at all other times.

Requests to upsize an overhead or underground service line, as well as to repair damages caused by a customer or contractor, will be at cost.

For new services, the cost to put in an overhead line for a single-family home is $800, while an underground line is $1,050. Sommerfield said these amounts are about 12.5 percent of the actual cost and are in line with what other utilities assess. All other new overhead or underground services will be charged actual cost.

A breakdown of the new fees on the electric rate schedule, as approved by the Brenham City Council on Thursday. The new schedule goes into effect on May 4th.
(City of Brenham)The post NEW CITY OF BRENHAM ELECTRIC SERVICE FEES TO GO INTO EFFECT MAY 4 first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham woman was killed in a two-vehicle collision Thursday afternoon in Brenham.

The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 36 North and Blue Bell Road.

According to Brenham police, a Honda Civic was stopped at the intersection in the left middle lane traveling northbound when it was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado that was also headed north.

The driver of the Honda, 60-year-old Susan Lee, was pronounced dead at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

The post BRENHAM WOMAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY 36 NORTH & BLUE BELL ROAD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Months after rejecting a license agreement for a new parklet in downtown Brenham, the Brenham City Council has changed its tune.

Public Works Director Dane Rau tells the Brenham
City Council on Thursday how the city is adding
more parking to downtown by putting in new
striping in previously unstriped areas and tightening
up spaces.Today (Thursday), councilmembers unanimously approved allowing Mescalito Coffee Company, located at 100 East Alamo Street, to put in a fully public parklet on Park Street. The council’s vote on the topic in January was 5-2 against the parklet, with some on the council citing concerns about losing parking at the time, but an effort by the city to add or enhance at least 18 parking spots in downtown convinced members to adjust their vote.

During a work session, Public Works Director Dane Rau showed how the city is working to provide dedicated parking striping to areas that are not currently striped but are still open to parking. In addition, some spaces will be reduced in size to allow more parking spots, and the number of reserved parking spaces belonging to Washington County employees by the public restroom on Douglas Street has been reduced, opening them up to visitors.

Following the work session, councilmembers agreed to revise the downtown parklet manual to permit any downtown business, not just food establishments, to apply for parklets, and to only allow one parklet per city street, rather than per block face.

Discussion then began on the Mescalito Coffee parklet, which drew comments from several in the audience. One was from Sherry Harber, the owner of the opera house building that houses Brenham Foundry & Floral Company. Harber stated she did not feel that putting this up for a vote again immediately after changing the rules on parklets was fair to others.

Mescalito Coffee was the only business to submit an application during the initial window last summer.

Mescalito Coffee owners Jared Anderson and Kathleen Matthews said they went through all the correct channels to put in the parklet. Anderson added that this seating is meant to be used by everyone, not just customers.

Katie Burch, principal architect at PlanNorth, said if Mescalito Coffee has kept in line with all guidelines, it deserves the go-ahead for the parklet.

Edward Smith III, proprietor of Ninety Six West, which also has a parklet, said he was fully supportive of granting one to Mescalito Coffee.

Pastor Billy Sutherland (right) of Calvary Baptist
Church and Texas Church Leaders holds a
proclamation from the Brenham City Council
declaring Thursday, May 4th as a National Day of
Prayer. The event will take place on the courthouse
square beginning at 6 p.m.Councilmember Atwood Kenjura said his initial hesitation on the issue in January came from concerns about the availability of parking, but now knows there are free spaces that have not been utilized. Councilmember Albert Wright explained that he wanted more information and to be “proactive rather than reactive,” hence his no vote the first time, but ultimately wants peace, harmony and good relationships.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

Adopted a new rate tariff schedule for electricity with added fees to offset rising supply and material costs. Deputy General Manager of Public Utilities Alton Sommerfield said the city is not raising electric rates, but is instead implementing fees for new customers requesting service, upsizing existing services, repairing damaged service lines, or services provided by the electric department.
Awarded a request for qualifications (RFQ) for professional services related to the design and engineering of a second fire station to Brown Reynolds and Watford Architects.
Authorized the publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation, series 2023 not to exceed $10 million, including $8 million for the construction and equipping of the new fire station and $2 million for in-house street construction/rebuild projects.
Approved an addendum to the agreement between the city and Vermont Systems for credit card processing software, hardware and related support services.
Accepted a bid from McDonald Municipal and Industrial in the amount of $184,136 related to a generator at the Atlow booster pumping station.
Approved a resolution authorizing the acceptance of public improvements in Phase 2B of the Liberty Village subdivision.
Took no action on an agreement with Dudley Construction for the extension of the bid award deadline for a project related to the 2022 sanitary sewer improvements – Stone Hollow lift station replacement.
Held executive session discussion with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County; and legal issues concerning the city’s Lake Somerville raw water intake structure, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and associated matters. No action was to be taken.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES MESCALITO COFFEE CO. PARKLET ON SECOND VOTE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two destinations in Brenham have been honored by the 2023 Texas Travel Awards Program.

The winner in the statewide category for the most iconic tourist attraction was Blue Bell Creameries. The small market winner for restaurants was Ninety Six West.

The awards recognize and celebrate top travel destinations and attractions across Texas. Sponsored by the publishers of Austin Monthly, San Antonio Magazine and Texas Music, tourism marketers across the state are recognized for their efforts to bring tourism dollars to local destinations.

Statewide winners and winners in three population breakdowns were scored by a panel of judges that included travel industry professionals, travel journalists and a touring musician.

More on each business and their recognition can be read below, courtesy Visit Brenham:

Statewide: Iconic Tourist Attraction – Blue Bell Creameries

The top tourist attraction for Brenham and Washington County, Blue Bell Creameries regularly draws more than 200,000 visitors annually and is typically swamped with visitors during Spring Break and Summer vacations. As a destination for Blue Bell fans, this home of “the best ice cream in the country” offers a Visitor Center complete with dates and historic artifacts, iconic television commercials, and more. The nearby Ice Cream Parlor and Country Store bracket the Observation Deck where visitors can watch the ice cream making process as it happens. Of course, no visit is complete without a Texas-sized scoop of ice cream from the Parlor (just $1), and a trip to the Country Store for a unique gift.

Restaurant: Small Market – Ninety Six West

Nearly a decade ago, on the square in Downtown Brenham, Ninety Six West opened its doors and was welcomed with open arms. This one-of-a-kind restaurant is named after Brenham’s latitude/longitude coordinates. Located in the old Shipman building and the Navratil Music House, Ninety Six West has a modern vibe paired with the patina and charm expected in historic Downtown Brenham. Exposed brick walls, beautiful wood and dark metal finishes are complimented with colorful art by local artists. Outdoor seating in Brenham’s first parklet on the square adds a charming dimension.

(courtesy Visit Brenham)(courtesy Visit Brenham)The post BLUE BELL, NINETY SIX WEST RECOGNIZED BY TEXAS TRAVEL AWARDS PROGRAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday) for the 2023 Brenham Maifest.

The 2023 Maifest Royalty includes Junior Queen and
King, Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Luke Robert
Hyatt, and Senior Queen and King, Lauren Ruth
Hook and Ashton Kiel Behrens.
(Mark Whitehead)Tickets for the junior and senior coronations at Fireman’s Park will be available starting at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Field seats, stadium seats and box seats will be sold online at www.brenhammaifest.com. General admission will be sold at the gate at both coronations.

This year, the Senior Coronation will take place on Friday, May 5th at 7 p.m., before the Junior Coronation. The Junior Coronation will be held on Saturday, May 6th at 6:30 p.m.

A clear bag policy will be in place for attendees at the coronation ceremonies.

The Junior Royalty of Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Luke Robert Hyatt will reign over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House.” The Senior Queen and King, Lauren Ruth Hook and Ashton Kiel Behrens, will reign over the court of “Musical Memories.”

The Maifest Kick-off Picnic will open Maifest activities on Wednesday, May 3rd at 6 p.m. at the Fireman’s Park Pavilion.

KWHI will have live coverage of Maifest festivities throughout the celebration on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

The post MAIFEST CORONATION TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Archer ArcherSafety in Brenham ISD schools, accountability and the school district’s current administration were some of the topics covered during KWHI’s Candidates Forum Wednesday night for the eight people running for Brenham School Board.

All candidates came to Brenham National Bank to reply to questions from the audience, KWHI listeners and the news media on various issues facing Brenham ISD and education.

The reading ability of young students was one matter discussed. Position 2 challenger Archer Archer said developing those skills is crucial to the rest of a student’s development.

Bonnie BrinkmeyerPosition 1 candidate Bonnie Brinkmeyer also addressed reading, saying it starts in the home.

James FrankeStudent discipline was another concern brought forth. Position 1 candidate James Franke took a hard-line stance, recommending restrictions on cell phones and a concise discipline policy.

David JantziPosition 4 challenger David Jantzi wants to ensure that teachers are able to perform instruction in the classroom without any distractions.

Kelvin RavenWhen asked about the possibility of implementing a program to allow trained, volunteering educators to carry handguns on campus, most candidates were open to the possibility, but Position 4 incumbent Kelvin Raven was opposed, saying a teacher should not have to have that level of responsibility.

Kyle HafnerPosition 3 candidate Kyle Hafner does not feel the district’s handling of existing facilities lends itself to building a new school using bond funds.

Dr. Michael AltmanAsked about whether the candidates thought Brenham ISD is too “top-heavy” in the administration, Position 2 incumbent Dr. Michael Altman said a balance has to be struck between administrators and teachers.

Artis Edwards Sr.Position 3 candidate Artis Edwards Sr. said he is up to the challenge of raising Brenham ISD’s standards.

Candidates were also asked for their level of confidence in the present administration at Brenham ISD. Raven and Dr. Altman answered that organizational improvements are being made and that the district is headed in the right direction. Hafner stated his opinion of the administration is "not high", while Franke said he would give a "3 at best" on a scale of 1 to 5. Archer said there is "a lot of room for improvement" and that transparency has been an issue. Jantzi said there are "a lot of red flags" but wants to examine more closely to get the overall picture. Edwards said the board is tasked with making sure that other school districts look up to Brenham ISD. Brinkmeyer answered similarly, saying the board is part of the school's leadership team and can hold everyone to higher expectations.

Early voting begins on Monday and continues through May 2nd. Election Day is May 6th.

To learn more about how each of the candidates answered the topics covered, check out the livestream of the forum on the KWHI Facebook page.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF AT FORUM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will return a total of $5.69 million to its members starting next month.

Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors voted unanimously during its April meeting to return the sum, which is nearly $500,000 more over last year, to member-owners in the form of capital credits on their electric bills.

Capital credits are revenue above what it takes to operate the co-op. Every April, Bluebonnet’s board approves a capital credits payment to members for their share of the amount agreed to. Directors determine how much to give to members by looking at the impact that the amount returned will have on electric rates and the co-op’s financial strength.

The amount each member gets back depends on how much electricity they used in previous years through 2022 and how long they have been a Bluebonnet member.

During the past 20 years, Bluebonnet has returned $84.8 million in capital credits to members.

Board president Ben Flencher said, “Historic growth in Bluebonnet’s service area and sound fiscal management has enabled Bluebonnet to return record amounts to our members.”

General Manager Matt Bentke said, “We are proud to return historic capital credits to our members year after year while successfully meeting the demand that tremendous growth has placed on our electric system.”

Current members will see a credit on their May electric bill for their share of this year’s capital credits retirement. Former members who are still owed a capital credit will be sent a check in May or June.

The post BLUEBONNET MEMBERS TO RECEIVE $5.69 MILLION IN CAPITAL CREDITS BEGINNING IN MAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Holly Weber, Customer Revenue Cycle Support
Director for Metro Aviation, gives an overview on
billing operations and processes for Washington
County EMS' air ambulance program during a
county commissioners workshop on Tuesday.Washington County Commissioners learned more on Tuesday about the ins and outs of billing operations with Washington County EMS’ air ambulance service provider, Metro Aviation.

During a workshop, Metro’s Customer Revenue Cycle Support Director, Holly Weber, explained federal laws governing the billing process and how a backlog of claims through Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) arbitration is causing delays for Washington County to receive payment from insurance providers.

Weber said the No Surprises Act that went into effect in 2022 was created to end surprise medical bills including balance billing, or when a patient is billed for the difference between the amount charged by the provider and the amount approved by the patient’s insurance. However, the act has been challenged by several lawsuits which, combined with a large amount of claims and only 13 entities set up to perform IDR for all of healthcare, excluding ground transports, has created a logjam.

The IDR process determines what a commercial insurance provider pays to a medical provider should the insurance company refuse to pay a certain amount during a set period of negotiations. An arbitration board hears the claims of the medical provider and the payer and decides on an amount.

Weber said with the way the IDR process currently works, it leads to insurance companies initially paying low amounts comparable to Medicare payouts, not wishing to negotiate with medical providers, and choosing to proceed with IDR because the rules tend to favor the payer. In addition, even if a medical provider wins arbitration, she said there is not much in the way of enforcement to ensure they are paid by the insurance company within the mandated 60-day timeline, contributing to providers—like Washington County—not receiving the full amount they are due for a lengthy period of time.

What works in Washington County’s favor, according to Weber, is that the county is only requesting what is needed to cover costs and is not price gouging, meaning it is looked on favorably in the IDR process. Commissioner Candice Bullock said that is because the county is a government entity and is not trying to make money off of its constituents.

Weber said from Metro’s program base specifically, it is averaging about 80-85 percent of the bill charge rate received, meaning the provider usually receives that percentage of what it is charging. EMS Director Kevin Deramus said that amount is what the EMS department bases its projections on for what is still due to be received. He said if the department gets that, then it will be “pretty solid.”

Kim Stanley, Chief Compliance Officer at EMS Management & Consultants, Washington County EMS’ billing company, said insurance claims with air transports have a longer lag time than ground transports because more documentation and proof are required in order to show that it was necessary for the patient to be transported by air. Bullock said there have been rumors that some of the EMS department’s flights were not needed and that this information should dispel them, because an unnecessary flight would not stand to receive any payment through the IDR process.

According to Stanley, the county has 22 air ambulance flights pending compensation from commercial insurance. Ten are in open negotiations, while 12 are submitted for IDR. If all IDR timelines are followed, final payments would be made within 83 days of the start of the IDR, which is 143 days from the initial disputed payment.

Stanley said proposed federal budget talks would extend the No Surprises Act and its processes to ground ambulance transports in 2025. If there are not new federal rules, she expects Texas will take up similar balance billing provisions. She pointed to one piece of legislation, Senate Bill 2476, which would prohibit municipalities from engaging in balance billing. She said the bill has the support of the Texas EMS Alliance and could be beneficial for Washington County because it already does not engage in balance billing.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said if new legislation is passed on that front, it will not affect Washington County in the way it would impact others, adding he feels the county was “so far ahead of the curve.”

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HOLD WORKSHOP ON EMS AIR AMBULANCE BILLING PROCESS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two people were killed and a child was injured in a head-on collision Saturday evening in Burleson County.

The accident occurred just after 5 p.m. on FM 908, roughly nine miles south of Rockdale.

According to DPS, a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado was driving south on the wrong side of the road and hit a northbound 2002 Toyota Tundra head-on.

The driver of the Chevrolet, 45-year-old Chad Barcak of Rockdale, and the driver of the Toyota, 47-year-old Kenya Beckett, also of Rockdale, were pronounced dead at the scene by Burleson County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Johnny Towslee.

A 4-year-old child traveling with Beckett was flown to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston in serious condition.

The post TWO KILLED, CHILD INJURED IN HEAD-ON CRASH IN BURLESON CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

KWHI will host a Candidates Forum tonight (Wednesday) for the eight candidates vying for four contested seats on the Brenham School Board.

KWHI's Candidates Forum on Thursday, April 13 for
the Brenham mayor and Blinn Board of Trustees
races drew a large crowd at Brenham National Bank.
A second forum for the Brenham School Board will
be held at the bank Wednesday night. All of the candidates have been invited to attend this evening’s forum at Brenham National Bank, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

For Position 1 on the school board, Bonnie Brinkmeyer faces James Franke for the seat vacated by Mark Schneider.

Incumbent Dr. Michael Altman faces Archer Archer for the Position 2 seat.

Position 3 pits Kyle Hafner against Artis Edwards Sr., as incumbent Susan Jenkins is not seeking another term.

For Position 4, incumbent Kelvin Raven is running against David Jantzi.

Candidates will answer questions from the audience, the news media and emails sent to mail@kwhi.com.

The forum can be attended in person or heard live on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com, as well as through the KWHI mobile app. There will also be a livestream on the KWHI Facebook page.

The post KWHI CANDIDATES FORUM WEDNESDAY FOR BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council on Thursday will discuss additional parking in downtown Brenham and revisit the possibility of putting in a parklet at a local business.

The city’s Public Works Department was tasked after the council’s meeting on January 19th to look at ways to enhance parking spots. According to the agenda packet, after the city looked at design standards and other factors like drive aisle dimensions, it was able to identify ways to add or enhance 18 spots in the downtown area. These suggestions will come before the council in a work session.

Some of the proposed enhancements include providing dedicated parking striping to areas that are not striped but are still considered parking areas, along with tightening up spaces in order to increase parking spots due to parallel spots being larger than minimum design standards.

Stemming from the parking discussion, the council will then act on a resolution to amend the city’s parklet manual adopted in June 2022. Two changes will be considered: allowing any downtown business, not just food establishments, to apply for a parklet; and allowing only one parklet per city street, instead of per block face.

Following that, councilmembers will re-review an application from Mescalito Coffee Company, located at 100 East Alamo Street, for a parklet on Park Street. The request was initially rejected by the council at the January 19th meeting, but following the city’s evaluation of downtown parking and the possibility of adding new spaces, it is being brought forth again. City staff says the parklet application meets the criteria set in the original parklet manual, as well as the proposed manual revisions.

Also on the agenda is an item to potentially award a request for qualifications (RFQs) for professional services related to the design and engineering of a second fire station. The city received 11 RFQs for the project.

In other action, the council will consider adopting a new rate tariff schedule for electricity with added fees to offset rising supply and material costs. Currently, the city does not have policy to charge any new customers for requesting service, upsizing existing services, repairing damaged service lines, or services provided by the electric department.

The city says the added fees associated with growth are intended to remove the cost burden of new development on the electric rates. All other new services would be based upon the actual cost of extending new lines and transformers for new equipment.

Councilmembers will also consider:

Authorizing the publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation, series 2023 not to exceed $10 million, including $8 million for the construction and equipping of a new fire station and $2 million for in-house street construction/rebuild projects.
An addendum to the agreement between the city and Vermont Systems for credit card processing software, hardware and related support services.
Action on a bid related to a generator at the Atlow booster pumping station.
An agreement with Dudley Construction for the extension of the bid award deadline for a project related to the 2022 sanitary sewer improvements – Stone Hollow lift station replacement.
A resolution authorizing the acceptance of public improvements in Phase 2B of the Liberty Village subdivision.
Executive session discussion with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas, Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County; and legal issues concerning the city’s Lake Somerville raw water intake structure, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and associated matters.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS DOWNTOWN PARKING, PARKLETS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Trustee Susan Jenkins (center) reflects on her time
as a Brenham ISD trustee during the school board's
meeting on Monday.Brenham ISD trustee Susan Jenkins was given special recognition by her fellow board members and the community Monday night.

Jenkins, who worked as an educator in Brenham ISD from 1981 to 2013, is not running for re-election to the board after serving as secretary for 10 years. Those gathered at the meeting thanked her for her time in the school district and on the board.

Jenkins said she will be forever grateful for the time she has been able to give to students and the Brenham ISD family.

Board President Natalie Lange said Jenkins’ years of service as a teacher and board member are “unprecedented” and that it will be hard to imagine a board room without her. Jenkins joked that she can always come back in the future as an audience member to speak during open session.

While the board will convene again prior to the May 6th election, Monday’s meeting was the last one before then to be held in the evening, as the next meeting on May 1st will be held at noon.

During Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin’s monthly report, he gave updates on the district’s new plans to bring transportation services in house and establish its own police force.

Dr. Chaplin said Brenham ISD is reaching out to Longhorn Bus Sales and finalizing a lease purchase agreement for the bus fleet. The district has also posted a position for director of transportation, and Dr. Chaplin hopes to bring that before the board in early May.

For the school police department, Dr. Chaplin said the district is working with a consultant through the steps involved in the process. An application has been filled out and turned in to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), the governing body for police entities in Texas. The district is also meeting with local law enforcement on jurisdictional understanding.

The board also went through an annual report of trustee continuing education hours and approved teacher contracts for the 2023-24 school year.

Area and state competitors in the Texas Association of Future Educators competitions were recognized during the Brenham School Board meeting on Monday. Preslye Parker (center) received a gold award and qualified for nationals in Orlando, Florida, while Autumn Kelly (right of Parker) received a silver award.Brenham ISD's performing arts students received recognition for their semester's worth of accolades.Sherri Desern (front row, left), Alayna Rosnowski (front, center) and Shamika Hudgen (front, right) were recognized as the Early Childhood Learning Center's respective teacher, student and paraprofessional of the month.Brenham ISD's substitute personnel were honored at Monday night's school board meeting.Trustee Susan Jenkins (second from right) along with the remainder of the Brenham School Board and Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin (right).The post SUSAN JENKINS RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE TO BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Big crowds came to Washington County this past weekend for two big festivals.

Warm weather was the backdrop for the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and for the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival.

The Cotton Gin Festival on Saturday featured activities like a parade through downtown Burton, historical demonstrations, games and contests, live music, and tours of the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin, the oldest operating cotton gin in America.

Meanwhile, the Bluebonnet Festival on Saturday and Sunday offered shopping through hundreds of juried arts and craft vendors selling a variety of items, live entertainment, and scenic landscapes all in celebration of the official state flower, the bluebonnet.

Washington County was abuzz with festival activity this weekend for the Burton Cotton Gin Festival (top photos) and the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival (bottom photos).
(courtesy Trail Boss Troy & Dean Dillon, KTEX-106)The post COTTON GIN FESTIVAL, BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL DRAW LARGE CROWDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Meyersville Volunteer Fire Dept.)Multiple Washington County fire departments battled an electric vehicle fire for several hours on Saturday.

Around 5:30 p.m., the Meyersville and Washington Volunteer Fire Departments were called to a single-car accident without entrapment in the 14000 block of Whitman Road in Washington.

(courtesy Meyersville Volunteer Fire Dept.)Firefighters arrived to find a Tesla had crashed off the roadway into a pasture and was actively on fire.

Units from the Brenham Fire Department and the Berlin and Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Departments provided mutual aid to extinguish the fire and cool the batteries on the car. The fire was out around 9:15 p.m., and units were released from the scene at approximately 10:45 p.m.

The vehicle was destroyed, but no injuries were reported.

The post ELECTRIC VEHICLE DESTROYED IN FIRE first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy James Pharaon)The Boys and Girls Club of Washington County’s annual Flight to Great Futures Gala was a big success.

According to Executive Director Stephanie Wehring, they raised over $100,000 at the event.

The proceeds are going to go to the Club’s Summer Camp.

Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Stephanie Wehring (right) and gala chair Lete Phillips share a laugh at the podium during Thursday's Boys & Girls Club gala.(courtesy James Pharaon)This year’s theme was “Destination Brasil!” Lete Phillips served as the Chair for the Event.

Members of the Houston office of the Consulate from Brasil were also in attendance at the Gala.

They also recognized past contributors. Bill Rankin was this year’s Individual Honoree, while Alexander Oil was the Business Honoree.

The post BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB GALA RECAP first appeared on KWHI.com.

Hundreds of Lower Colorado River Authority employees fanned out across parts of Texas to volunteer on dozens of community projects during LCRA’s annual day of service, Steps Forward Day.

Yesterday (Friday), LCRA employees in Brenham repainted the handrails on two bridges at Jackson Street Park and replaced the windscreen on a pickleball court.

"Steps Forward Day gives us the opportunity to give back and say thank you to our customer communities,” LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said. “This year, about 640 employees volunteered to work on projects communities may not have the time or resources to complete on their own.”

This year, LCRA employees volunteered on 34 Steps Forward Day projects in 30 communities.

LCRA launched its Steps Forward employee volunteer program in 2015. LCRA works with its customers to identify service projects in their communities, supplies the labor and helps provide the materials needed to complete the projects. For more information, visit www.lcra.org/stepsforward.

The post LCRA STEPS FORWARD DAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Main Street Brenham has announced the winners for the annual Spring Eggs Art Walk.

"EGGtraordinary Fish!!" by Traci MoranA record 40 eggs were entered into this year’s contest, and 11 prizes were awarded.

The grand prize Best of Show winner, receiving $200 from Kieke Egg Farm, was “EGGtraordinary Fish!!” by Traci Moran.

For adults, the Best Easter Theme, winning $125 from Celia Haley, was “He is Risen” by Platinum Bin Washer.

The student Best Easter Theme, receiving $125 from Must Be Heaven, was “The Cross of Jesus” by the 6th grade art class at First Baptist Church School.

Most Creative in the adults category was “Eggcited for Easter” by the Doty’s, winning $125 from Floyd’s Lounge.

The Most Creative student egg was “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Brenham High School AVID, receiving $125 from Brenham Foundry & Floral Co.

Judge’s Choice for adults, winning $125 from The Pomegranate, was “Paradise” by Katie McCracken.

The student Judge’s Choice, and the winner of $125, from Upchurch Architects, was “The Third Day” by Ella Knobloch.

The adult egg with the Most Votes was “Pickled Egg” by Brenham Pickleball, who was the recipient of $125 from Hermann Furniture.

Most Votes for a student egg was “Some Bunny Special” by Jayci Moran, winning $125 from The Canyon Chick.

The Best Seasonal Theme for adults, receiving $125 from The Book Nook, was “Meow, Said the Rabbit” by Bobbi Jo Supak.

The student egg chosen for Best Seasonal Theme, winning $125 from Texas Casual Cottages, was “Easter at the Pool” by Blue Bell Aquatic Center Staff.

"He is Risen" by Platinum Bin Washer"The Cross of Jesus" by 6th Grade Art Class at First Baptist Church School(photo courtesy FBCS 6th Grade Art Class)"Eggcited for Easter" by The Doty's"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by BHS Avid"Paradise" by Katie McCracken"The Third Day" by Ella Knobloch(photo courtesy Ella Knobloch)"Pickled Egg" by Brenham Pickleball(photo courtesy Brenham Pickleball)"Some Bunny Special" by Jayci Moran"Meow, Said the Rabbit" by Bobbi Jo Supak(photo courtesy Bobbi Jo Supak)"Easter at the Pool" by BBAC StaffThe post WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR SPRING EGGS ART WALK first appeared on KWHI.com.

The historic Burton Cotton Gin, the oldest operating cotton gin in America, will be the site tomorrow (Saturday) for a full day of festivities.

The 34th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival will have a parade through downtown starting at 10 a.m., with much more to follow at the Cotton Gin Museum.

Over 40 arts and crafts vendors and over 10 food trucks will offer many items to enjoy. Attendees can also look forward to guided tours of the cotton gin, folk-life demonstrations, a tractor pull, antique tractor and classic car displays, and the ever-popular bubblegum blowing, pie eating and cotton seed pulling contests.

Burton Cotton Gin Museum Director Steph Jarvis is excited for this year’s varied music lineup.

The music schedule is 11 a.m. to noon for Ella B and Robert Zientek, noon to 2:30 p.m. for The Pettit Brothers, 2:30 to 4 p.m. for Sean Orr & Texas Gold, and 4 to 6 p.m. for the Czechaholics. There will also be two step dance lessons from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with Hill Country Two Step.

Admission is free and open to all ages.

For more details, visit www.texascottonginmuseum.org or the Texas Cotton Gin Museum Facebook page.

The post BURTON COTTON GIN FESTIVAL SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas returns this weekend to Chappell Hill.

Hundreds of juried arts and craft vendors, live music and family-friendly activities are in store tomorrow (Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chappell Hill Historical Society President Joel Romo says over the course of decades, the event has grown from a small-town antique festival to bring in thousands of people from all over the country.

Vendors will be selling items like furniture, home décor and art, along with plenty of food and drinks.

Tomorrow’s music lineup features Dylan Rhys from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Jimmy Green from noon to 2 p.m. and DeAnna Wendolyn from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday will host Green from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Justin Cole from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and Wendolyn from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Entry to the festival is free. Parking is $10, with proceeds going toward the Chappell Hill Historical Society.

To learn more, visit https://chappellhillhistoricalsociety.com or go to the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival Facebook page.

The post CHAPPELL HILL TO HOST BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College has released the campaign finance reports for the two trustee candidates on the ballot in the May 6th election.

Diane Kettler (left) and Andrea LinerDiane Kettler’s report shows $8,917 in total political contributions and $7,847 in expenses. Four contributions that came from supporters range from $75 to $250, while three other contributions were self-funded.

The report for Andrea Liner’s campaign lists $3,222 in contributions—including $2,550 in monetary and $672 in in-kind—and $2,332 in expenses. Backers submitted eight monetary contributions from $50 to $1,500.

The campaign finance reports were obtained from Blinn after submitting a public information request.

Reports from candidates in other races around Washington County can be seen here.

The post BLINN RELEASES CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FOR TRUSTEE CANDIDATES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham High School Marine Corps Junior
ROTC placed third overall at the National
Championship in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)The Brenham High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC has finished third overall at nationals for the second year in a row.

Brenham’s Unarmed Drill Team competed on Wednesday at the National Championship in Fredericksburg, Virginia as one of a select few teams throughout the country to participate. This is the seventh straight year that the Brenham MCJROTC received an invitation to nationals.

In addition to the third place overall finish, the team placed first in Unarmed Regulation Drill and third in Inspection.

Amelia Bayse receives an NROTC scholarship that
covers all tuition, books, fees and a monthly stipend
as she pursues a four-year degree.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Ximena Cervantes received second place for Best Unarmed Commander. Lia Otero earned second place at the knockout drill against approximately 120 individual competitors from all schools invited to compete.

Amelia Bayse was awarded one of 1,200 NROTC scholarships given out nationwide. The scholarship pays all tuition, books, fees and a monthly stipend in pursuit of a four-year degree. She will also automatically receive the Patriot Scholarship, which will cover all remaining room and board at Texas A&M, where she will attend this fall as part of the Corps of Cadets.

The post BRENHAM MCJROTC PLACES THIRD AT NATIONALS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Atwood KenjuraPlanning for incoming growth was a central issue taken up Thursday night at KWHI’s Candidates Forum for the contenders in the Brenham mayor’s race and the election for the Blinn Board of Trustees.

Each of the candidates for mayor and the Blinn Board answered questions from the audience, KWHI listeners and the news media with a large crowd present at Brenham National Bank.

Infrastructure was frequently addressed by the mayoral candidates as they discussed options for expanding the city’s water sources, its economy and housing, and public safety.

Discussing downtown, both candidates agreed that the city’s permitting process could be streamlined, with Atwood Kenjura saying he hopes to have those conversations soon with local business owners.

Keith HofmannThe two also agreed that industry is and should continue to be a key driver in Brenham. Keith Hofmann said national retailers are not the long-term answer for building upon the local tax base and economy.

Diane KettlerFor the Blinn Board of Trustees candidates, discussion focused on how they intend to get students back into the classroom after COVID-19, the College’s athletic department, and Blinn’s relationships with surrounding universities and communities.

Diane Kettler spoke on the need to emphasize returning students to in-person learning for better engagement.

Andrea LinerAndrea Liner said Blinn College cannot be stagnant as the community around it continues to expand and evolve.

Early voting begins on April 24th and runs through May 2nd. Election Day is May 6th.

Thursday’s forum can be viewed on KWHI’s Facebook page. Another forum for the candidates in the Brenham School Board will be held on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the bank.

The entire forum can be viewed in this video: https://fb.watch/jVjlObYJpe/

The post CANDIDATES FOR BRENHAM MAYOR, BLINN BOARD TAKE CENTER STAGE AT FORUM first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 has its next winner in the Armadillo Hi-Lo.

This (Thursday) afternoon, Joe Moorehead of College Station correctly guessed the jackpot of $311.17.

The next chance to play will be Monday at 7:35 a.m. with the Morning Express and an all-new jackpot.

Armadillo Hi-Lo is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, ZochNet and Plinkers Ammo.

The post NEW ARMADILLO HI-LO WINNER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Romeo Gerrel Jackson
(Brazos Co. Jail)Three people, including a juvenile, were taken into custody in Brazos County after a chase involving a stolen vehicle late Tuesday through Grimes County.

Shortly after 10:15 p.m., Navasota police observed a vehicle traveling over 110 mph on Highway 6, in a 75 mph speed zone. An officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled. The vehicle was verified to be stolen out of Waller County.

Navasota police pursued the vehicle into College Station and were assisted by the College Station Police Department. The vehicle crashed on Princeton Circle, and three occupants fled on foot.

Johnathan Chandler David Bennett
(Brazos Co. Jail)At around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, College Station police located the suspects, who were identified as 17-year-old Romeo Jackson of Waller, 17-year-old Johnathan Bennett of Prairie View and a juvenile. Narcotics and firearms were discovered during the arrest of the suspects.

Jackson and Bennett were booked into the Brazos County Jail, while the juvenile was taken to the Brazos County Juvenile Detention Center.

Jackson is charged with Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle and Evading Arrest or Detention. Bennett faces charges of Evading Arrest or Detention, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon and Possession of Marijuana under 2oz. Navasota police are also filing charges against the suspects for Evading and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

The post THREE ARRESTED AFTER MULTI-COUNTY PURSUIT OF STOLEN VEHICLE ENDS WITH CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 and two of its DJs have been nominated for Insite Brazos Valley Magazine’s 2023 A-List recognition.

The station is one of 10 up to be voted as the Brazos Valley’s Best Radio Station.

Trail Boss Troy and Dean Dillon are two of eight choices for the Best Radio Personality. Trail Boss Troy won the award in 2022.

Voting is open now through May 5th and can be done online at https://insitebrazosvalley.com.

The post KTEX-106 IN THE RUNNING FOR INSITE BRAZOS VALLEY’S A-LIST AWARDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

KWHI’s Candidates Forum featuring the candidates for the Brenham City Council and Blinn Board of Trustees is tonight (Thursday).

Candidates in the 2022 Republican Primary speak at
a forum at Brenham National Bank on February 7,
2022.
(Mark Whitehead)The forum will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Brenham National Bank and will host the two candidates for the Brenham mayor’s race and the two running for the Blinn College Board. All four candidates have been invited to attend.

Running for mayor are Keith Hofmann and Atwood Kenjura.

For the Blinn Board’s Precinct 2 position, Diane Kettler is facing Andrea Liner.

Candidates will take questions from the audience, news media and emails sent to mail@kwhi.com.

The forum can be heard live on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com, as well as on the KWHI Facebook page and through the KWHI mobile app.

A forum for the candidates in the Brenham School Board election is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., also at Brenham National Bank.

The post KWHI TO HOST CANDIDATES FORUM THURSDAY FOR BRENHAM MAYOR, BLINN BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Thursday was the 30-day prior-to-election deadline for candidates in the May 6th elections to submit campaign finance reports.

The reporting period goes from the start of a candidate’s campaign to April 6th.

Looking at the Brenham mayor’s race, candidate Atwood Kenjura has received $11,875 in political contributions, spent $6,464 in expenses and taken out $3,265 in loans. Kenjura’s report shows 38 individual contributions ranging from $25 to $1,000.

The campaign of fellow candidate Keith Hofmann has received $2,610 in total contributions—including $1,300 in monetary and $1,310 in non-monetary, or in-kind, contributions—and spent $2,097. Hofmann received three individual monetary contributions of $100, $200 and $1,000, as well as three in-kind contributions estimated at $360, $400 and $550.

Four of the eight Brenham School Board candidates filed traditional reports, while the other four opted for a modified reporting schedule upon appointing their campaign treasurer. That means they do not have to file pre-election or runoff reports if they do not intend to accept over $1,010 in contributions or spend more than that amount in expenses.

Archer Archer’s report lists $3,845 in contributions and $2,282 in expenditures. Nine individual contributions were received, from $100 to $1,500.

Bonnie Brinkmeyer’s campaign has received contributions of $2,620 and spent $2,287. She too has received nine contributions, from $25 to $920.

Kyle Hafner has received $2,145 in contributions and made $1,221 in campaign expenditures. His campaign has 14 individual contributions, from $30 to $500.

David Jantzi’s contributions total $3,200, while his expenses amount to $1,504. The nine individual contributions range from $200 to $500.

The lone Burton City Council candidate not to choose modified reporting was mayoral candidate Karen Buck. Buck has $1,000 from one individual contribution, while she has spent $1,000 in personal funds and $832 via credit card.

All four Burton School Board candidates declared modified reporting.

The campaign finance reports can be obtained from each respective entity holding an election. KWHI is awaiting finance reports from the Blinn College Board of Trustees race.

The post A LOOK AT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FOR MAY 6 ELECTIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A new generator is on its way for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Carrie Martinez (front, left) and Kayla Duncan (front,
right) of the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC)
join commissioners after their proclamation
declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault
Awareness and Prevention Month in Washington
County.At today’s (Tuesday) county commissioners meeting, the court amended its contract with W-Industries for the purchase of a 500 kW Caterpillar diesel generator, along with a generator pad, docking station and equipment pads. The price of the generator is $702,169, which will be paid with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said this is a smaller generator than what was first agreed to in the contract at 750 kW, but the new size is “still sufficient” for the jail while also being $128,000 less. Commissioner Don Koester said he is “happy that we’ve finally got it to where we should be with this.”

The jail has been renting a temporary generator dating back to December 2021. According to Koester, citing information provided by Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley, nearly $100,000 has been spent thus far on the generator rental. Koester said the rental is being paid using Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) money.

Koester said the main holdup with getting the new generator in place at this point is acquiring a transfer switch for it, which could take up to a year. He said the contractor will start very soon with groundwork, electric work and placing the new generator, which will take a much shorter time than getting the special order transfer switch. Once the latter is done, the generator will be operable.

Commissioners then approved a contract with Brightengale for the implementation of a digitally integrated public announcing system at the Expo. The contract is for $358,764, also using ARPA funds.

Included in the agreement is a completion table with every applicable venue and section of the Expo facility that will be receiving the upgrades, along with the latest possible date for completion. Those are the event center, where the project is expected to be done by June 1st; the livestock barns and sales facility, listed to be finished by August 1st; the horse barn, to be concluded by October 1st; and the rabbit barn, VIP room, food court and entertainment plaza, to be wrapped up by December 1st.

Also at today’s meeting, the court approved:

A proclamation declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in Washington County.
Declaring a Kohler generator, the old generator at the jail, as salvage property to be listed on GovDeals.
An additional IT specialist. IT Director T.J. Harris said his department is about six months behind on projects and that he would not ask for this position mid-budget cycle if he did not consider it “mission-critical.” He said the entry-level position will be posted in the $45,000-$55,000 range and expects to hire a candidate on the lowest end of that.
A purchase agreement for fleet fuel with Voyager/US Bank using a state contract through Texas SmartBuy.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE JAIL GENERATOR PURCHASE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A van sitting in the Walmart parking lot in Brenham caused some stir last week on social media and started a police investigation.

(courtesy Joanne Mulanax Facebook)The social media poster claimed she was approached by a man who said they needed money for food. The poster stated she gave the man cash before realizing that the person was part of a group of other men who were waiting around outside the store.

The poster, who said she had family still inside the store, told them to remain inside while she went to get their vehicle and pick them up at the front entrance. The post then stated the group of men drove away quickly. The vehicle pictured in the post was a black Ford E-350 van with the words “Candy For Kids” drawn in blue on the rear passenger side.

The Brenham Police Department said it was notified of the post on Friday by a caller, who said the subjects were asking for money and that a vehicle was still on location. Police say their investigation found that there was nothing substantiating that the subjects in photos in the post and the vehicle that was also pictured were related to each other.

According to police, the officers that responded to the black van in the parking lot have seen the van in this same location for almost a month prior to the call while conducting patrols, and it appeared to be broken down. However, a responding officer said there was never any type of signage posted on the side of the van previously when it was seen at the end of their shift on Tuesday before being reported on Friday.

The poster told KWHI she has not been contacted by Brenham police.

If anyone believes there is suspicious activity occurring or if there is a suspicious person that necessitates a police response, they are asked to call the Brenham Police Department at 979-337-7337 or the Washington County non-emergency line at 979-277-7373. If there are emergency circumstances, call 911.

(courtesy Joanne Mulanax Facebook)(courtesy Joanne Mulanax Facebook)The post SUSPICIOUS VAN IN BRENHAM WALMART PARKING LOT PROMPTS POLICE INVESTIGATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton will commemorate the oldest operating cotton gin in America this weekend at the 34th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival.

Saturday’s event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and begins with a parade through downtown Burton, followed by many more activities on the grounds of the Texas Cotton Gin Museum.

Guests will be able to shop in the arts and crafts vendor area, enjoy tasty treats in the food court, watch folk-life demonstrations and a tractor pull, see displays of antique tractors and classic cars, and take part in the bubblegum blowing, pie eating and cotton seed pulling contests.

There will also be tours of the Burton Farmers Gin from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. the gin will come to life and gin a bale of cotton.

Live music will be performed from 11 a.m. to noon by Ella B and Robert Zientek, followed by The Pettit Brothers from noon to 2:30 p.m., Sean Orr & Texas Gold from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and the Czechaholics from 4 to 6 p.m. A new activity this year will be two step dance lessons from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with Hill Country Two Step.

Admission is free and open to all ages.

For more information, go to www.texascottonginmuseum.org or the Texas Cotton Gin Museum Facebook page.

The post BURTON COTTON GIN FESTIVAL SET FOR SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A construction services contract for a diesel generator at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will come before Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday.

The contract is with W-Industries, LLC for the installation of a 500 kW Caterpillar generator, generator pad, docking station and equipment pads. Per the contract up for consideration, the negotiated price is $702,169, to be paid with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

At a meeting in December, commissioners agreed to alter the contract to downsize from a 750 kW generator, saying at the time that it was more powerful than what was needed at the jail.

If the contract is approved, services of the contractor will begin on Tuesday and must be completed by the end of 2026.

Another ARPA project will be considered on Tuesday, that being a contract with Brightengale for the sound system at the Washington County Expo. The general services, supplies and/or equipment contract is listed at $358,764 and will implement a digitally integrated public announcing system at the Expo.

Locations covered in the agreement include the event center, where the upgrades are expected to be done by June 1st; the livestock barns and sales facility, to be finished by August 1st; the horse barn, to be wrapped up by October 1st; and the rabbit barn, VIP room, food court and entertainment plaza, to be complete by December 1st.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners will consider:

A proclamation declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in Washington County.
Approval for an additional IT specialist.
A purchase agreement for fleet fuel with Voyager/US Bank using a state contract through Texas SmartBuy.
Declaring a Kohler generator as salvage property to be listed on GovDeals.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO ACT ON CONTRACT FOR JAIL GENERATOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

One person was killed in a two-vehicle accident late Thursday night in Grimes County.

The crash occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Highway 249 near FM 1748, between Navasota and Stoneham.

DPS reports that a 2011 Toyota Corolla driven by 22-year-old Agustina Sanchez of Spring was traveling northwest on Highway 249. The Corolla was hit head-on by a 2014 Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle that was driving southeast and attempting to pass a large truck when it was considered unsafe.

Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Mercedes-Benz, 19-year-old Justin Taylor of Spring, was transported to Memorial Hermann – The Woodlands Medical Center with serious injuries.

The post ONE KILLED, ANOTHER INJURED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION IN GRIMES CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX 106 had their second winner in the Armadillo Hi-Lo Contest on Thursday right before 5pm during the Drive Home with Dean Dillon.

Christy Parkison of Brenham correctly guessed the winning Jackpot Number ($572.30).

The contest resumes on Monday with the Morning Express at 7:35pm

Armadillo Hi-Lo is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry & Loan, ZochNet, and Plinkers Ammo.

The post SECOND ARMADILLO HI-LO WINNER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Stephanie DolandDuring a Work Session of Thursday afternoon’s Brenham City Council Meeting, the council heard the recommendations of the City’s Housing Task Force. The 24 member Task Force was formed in July of last year and The City Director of Development Services, Stephanie Doland, presented the report. She said the recommendations are to help people between $47,000 to $62,000 in annual income. The Task Force recommended the city adopt Duplex and Twin Home standards, revise Accessory Dwelling Unit Standards, Promote Apartments Downtown by proposing a grant program supporting Fire Suppression, recognize that the city’s rating of 2 times per capita for Low Income Housing Units and not place on the agenda further LIHTC developments, smaller or varying lot sizes in future developments, the formation of Special Utility Districts and Public/Private Partnerships. The report prompted the most discussion by the council. City Manager, Carolyn Miller, said she would get with Stephanie and the Planning and Zoning Board and possibly form a sub-committee to look at bringing some of these recommendations to City Council at a future date.

In other action, the council essentially elected Dr. Paul LaRoche III to the Ward 3 City Council seat. Dr. LaRoche was unopposed for the special election for the post. The City Council action was prompted after current councilmember Atwood Kenjura’s announcement that he would run for mayor of Brenham and LaRoche did not draw any opposition. He will assume the position after the May 6th general election.

The council also:

Approved the rescinding of the purchase of a RapidView IBAK Trailer Mounted Pipeline Inspection System for the Wastewater Department. The original proposal brought to the council in March was incorrect, as the bidder had two proposals. The new proposal is for $209,000 instead of the original $181,000. The financing of the unit remains the same, a 5 year note for 4.95 percent interest.

Approved a Professional Services agreement between the City of Brenham and Strand Associates, Inc. for Engineering Services Related to the 2023 Brenham Business Center Sanitary Sewer Extension.

Approved an Airport Project participation Agreement for the Construction Phase of an Airfield Lighting Project for the Brenham Municipal Airport.

Robin Hutchens (R) of the City's Purchasing Department is awarded the 5 year service recognition from Mayor Milton Tate.Ande Bostain (R) awards Mayor Milton Tate a small shovel to proclaim April as Safe Digging Month.
City Secretary Jeana Bellinger welcomes new Animal Services Manager Megan Gray to the city.The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL HEARS HOUSING REPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Four senior student-athletes from three local high schools are going to benefit from the generosity of a local realtor.

Kade LaSagna and Shaun Ray of Brenham High School, Delvin Gantt of Burton High School, and Claiton Rodriguez of Hempstead High School were each presented with a $500 scholarship.

The scholarships were presented by Eric Benitez with Cedar Frame Real Estate.

La Sagna has been a member of the Brenham Cub Football and Track Teams.

Ray has been a member of the Brenham Cub Basketball and Track Teams.

Delvin Gantt has been a member of the Burton Panther Football and Basketball Teams.

Claiton Rodriguez has been a Cross Country runner for the Hempstead Bobcats.

The post FOUR STUDENT ATHLETES RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Prairie Hill VFD)Multiple fire departments were dispatched during a severe thunderstorm late last (Wednesday) night after a lightning strike caught the salt water treatment plant south of Clay on fire.

Prairie Hill Fire Chief Doyle Dahmann said the call came in at 11:17pm for a reported structure fire.

Fire Departments from Prairie Hill, Snook, Somerville, and Meyersville arrived on the scene to find multiple tanks and buildings on fire.

(Prairie Hill VFD)Dahmann said that lightning struck a hydrocarbon storage tank, which caused the fire.

Firefighters battled the flames for over four hours, but entire facility was a loss.

Assisting the Firefighters at the scene were the Sheriff’s Departments, EMS, and Emergency Management Coordinators for both Washington and Burleson County.

The post SALTWATER TREATMENT PLANT BURNS DOWN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Dr. Paul LaRocheThe Brenham City Council will hold their next monthly meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Among the items on the agenda is to certify an unopposed election for the office of City Council Ward 3. A special election was called when Atwood Kenjura decided to run for Mayor. Dr. Paul LaRoche was the only candidate to file for the position. They will also vote on an order canceling the special election and declaring LaRoche the new Ward 3 Councilman.

The council is also scheduled to vote on rescinding their previous approval of the purchase of a Rapidview IBAK Trailer Mounted Pipeline Inspection System for the Wastewater Construction Department. The system is designed to detect sewer clogs.

The purchase was originally approved on March 2 for $181,000, but it turned out that the wrong proposal was submitted. City staffers are submitting the corrected proposal for $209,000. The equipment has a life expectancy of 20 years, and the staff believes it is worth the investment.

The City Council will also vote on an equipment financing proposal with the Bank of Brenham for a five year note at an interest rate of 4.95%.

Other agenda items include:

a Professional Services Agreement between the City of Brenham and Strand Associates for engineering services related to the 2023 Brenham Business Center Sanitary Sewer Extension,

and an Airport Project Participation Agreement for the Construction Phase of an Airfield Lighting Project for the Brenham Municipal Airport.

The Brenham City Council meets Thursday at 1pm at the Brenham City Hall.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO MEET ON THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Due to inclement weather possible on Thursday, the Brenham Cub baseball team has made a schedule change. The Cubs will now face Bryan Rudder in a double header tonight (Tuesday) in Caldwell. First pitch is set for 5:00. KWHI will provide coverage of both games beginning with the pregame at 4:35 on KWHI - AM 1280, FM 101.7, and KWHI.com

The post BRENHAM CUB BASEBALL SCHEDULE CHANGE; DOUBLE HEADER SET FOR TONIGHT IN CALDWELL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Captain Lloyd Powell with the Brenham Police Department is asking for the public’s help as they continue to investigate the deadly shooting that occurred on Saturday night.

Powell said that there are a lot of rumors and false information going around on social media that has been mostly posted by kids. He asks that parents not feed into this, or pass it around. The Brenham Police are aware of all the videos.

Secondly, Captain Powell said that if it involves a suspect or person of interest, police ask that you wait to hear from them.

He added that if you didn’t hear it directly from the police, it probably isn’t true.

Finally, Powell explained that Brenham Police are not trying to keep the public in the dark. He said they are doing a thorough investigation and everything cannot be immediately spoken about.

Police request those of you that are parents to please speak to your children, and don’t feed into the gossip.

The post BRENHAM POLICE ASKING FOR PUBLIC’S HELP REGARDING RUMORS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A social media post has led to extra security on Brenham ISD campuses today (Tuesday).

Brenham ISD released a statement saying that they have been made aware of a social media post that describes a threat against the school district.

The message, which was sent out through their mms system, said that while they do not believe the threat is credible, Brenham ISD takes all reports seriously.

BISD says that the health and safety of their students and staff is their main priority, therefore they will have additional officers and first responders on campuses today (Tuesday).

Brenham ISD added that they cannot stress enough how important it is for students to “See Something, Say Something.” Reports can be made in person to administration, or using the "Report a Safety Concern" button on the school’s website.

The post BRENHAM ISD INCREASING SECURITY DUE TO SOCIAL MEDIA THREAT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Susan CatesBrenham’s Director of Economic Development has resigned, effective immediately.

Susan Cates, who has been Director of Economic Development for the City of Brenham since January of 2019, turned in her letter of resignation this (Monday) morning.

City Manager Carolyn Miller says that Cates resigned to pursue an opportunity in the private sector. Miller says that due to the sensitivity of Cate’s position, her departure is effective immediately.

The post SUSAN CATES RESIGNS FROM THE CITY OF BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Police have released the name of the deceased in a fatal shooting that occurred on Saturday night.

17-year-old Marquise Deshawn Williams of Waller County was one of two people that were shot after a large fight broke out at a birthday party on the 1200 Block of Tom Green Street.

Brenham Police Officers responded to a report of shots being fired around 10pm. When they arrived on the scene, they found numerous teens and parents fleeing the area.

Williams and the other victim, who has not been identified, were treated at the scene by off-duty paramedics until the Washington County EMS arrived.

They were then taken to the Emergency Room at Baylor Scott and White, where Williams later died.

The other victim was treated and released from the hospital.

Brenham Police and the Texas Rangers are investigating the case further. As of 4pm Monday, the Brenham Police said there is no other new information to release.

The post VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN SATURDAY NIGHT FATAL SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Clay GillentineThe Brenham School District will soon have a new police force and a new in house bus transportation system thanks to the School Board. At a lengthy meeting at noon Monday, the School Board voted in favor of both items. The board heard from Clay Gillentine, the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services about moving the transportation services in house. He said that the current contact with Durham School Transportation ends at the end of July. He said that currently, the school system pays Durham Transportation 2.7 million this year and next year will pay Durham 3.7 million. He said the school district could do a lease to buy of the 42 school buses involved and offer the drivers a pay increase to $22 to $25 per hour, and still come out for less than is costs to pay Durham for the service. That would include supervisory staff and maintenance. Trustee Tommie Sullivan, who was a bus driver when the School District went to a private company in the late 1980’s, said the School Board voted because of the headaches involved. Trustee Susan Jenkins asked about liability insurance. Clay Gillentine replied that it is not included in the numbers, but it will have a minimal difference. The School District currently only owns 7 buses that Durham operates. The board voted unanimously in favor of the item.

The board also voted in favor of the establishment of a school district police department. Trustee Kelvin Raven took himself out of the discussion and voting because he is currently an officer with the Brenham Police Department. Jay Huffty, the Director of Safety and Security for the district, said currently the ECLC and the Elementary Schools have an SRO less than 50 percent of the time. He said that other than the $300,000 startup costs, the district could cover the Elementary Schools and ECLC 100 percent of the time for the amount in the budget. He said he started getting approvals last month for the department and estimated it will be ready to go by the start of the school year. Another reason to do this now is HB 3 and the current legislative session. HB 3 requires an armed individual be on each campus. Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said it is too early in the legislative session to tell what will pass, but he felt HB 3 will pass in some form. Trustee Tommie Sullivan question whether the board is going too far and will have trouble taking care of teachers next fall. Trustee Susan Jenkins said that while she was not personally opposed to the formation, she felt that the school board needed more information on the subject. The board voted 3 to 2 in favor of establishing a district police force, with Jared Krenek, Dr. Michael Altman, and Natalie Lange in favor and Tommie Sullivan and Susan Jenkins voting against.

The post SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES DISTRICT POLICE FORCE, IN HOUSE BUS SYSTEM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that occurred just south of Snook.

Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call at 10pm Saturday night in reference to two subjects who had been shot in the arm.

Burleson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Texas DPS Troopers, and the Burleson County St. Joseph EMS responded to the scene in the 13,000 block of FM 2155.

Two adult male victims were identified and transported to the St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Bryan for non-life threatening injuries.

Both subjects were later discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case with the assistance of the Texas Rangers.

According to Lt. Jose Garza, a person of interest in the shooting has been identified and contacted by investigators.

The case remains an active investigation, and the identities of the involved persons are being withheld at this time.

The post BURLESON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Police are investigating a shooting incident Saturday night that left one person dead, and sent another to the hospital.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired around 10pm in the 1200 block of Tom Green Street where a birthday party was being hosted.

Brenham Police were notified that a large crowd of teens was fighting, and at least one person had been shot.

When the officers arrived on the scene, they found numerous teens and parents fleeing the area.

Two shooting victims were located and treated by off-duty paramedics until the Washington County EMS arrived on the scene.

Both victims were transported to the Baylor Scott and White Emergency Room here in Brenham, where one of the victims, a 17 year old male, later died.

Police say that the other victim has been treated and released from the hospital.

Officers were at the scene until 4am Sunday.

The Brenham Fire Department provided extra light at the scene, and Navasota Police also assisted with the investigation.

An investigation into the case is ongoing, and anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to contact Brenham Police Detective Connor Caskey at 979-337-7378.

City Manager Carolyn Miller said that Jay Huffty at Brenham ISD has been notified, while there have been no threats of retaliation, as a precaution, there will be increased security at Brenham High School on Monday morning.

The post BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATING A DEADLY SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Pictured L-R: Charles Henderson, Augustine Colanter,
Elias Ogrodowicz, Jackson Havers, Wyatt Tompkins,
Collin Jahnke, Everett Ogrodowicz, and Elise OgrodowiczStudents from Grace Lutheran School in Brenham had a successful outing at the recent Private Schools Interscholastic Association (PSIA) District Competition.

The competition was held at Immanuel Lutheran School in Giddings.

Out of 12 other private schools, Grace Lutheran had a combined 32 top ten finishes.

A school record eight students from Grace will be moving on to the State PSIA Competition, which will be held on May 6 at TCU in Fort Worth.

They are going to be competing against approximately 1,600 students from across the state of Texas.

The State Qualifying students are:

Wyatt Tompkins (1st place in Listening Skills)

Charles Henderson (2nd in Math and 1st in Spelling)

Everett Ogrodowicz (2nd in Music Memory)

Elias Ogrodowicz (1st in Music Memory)

Elise Ogrodowicz (2nd in Music Memory)

Augustine Colanter (2nd in Ready Writing)

Jackson Havers (2nd in Ready Writing)

Collin Jahnke (1st in Spelling).

Grace Lutheran School is located at 1212 West Jefferson Street in Brenham. They are celebrating their 75th Anniversary School Year.

The post GRACE LUTHERAN STUDENTS GOING TO STATE COMPETITION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD’s police force and school transportation could see major changes.

On Monday, the Brenham School Board will consider adopting a resolution authorizing the establishment of a school district police department. It will also potentially approve developing in-house transportation services and seeking lease/purchase agreements for school buses.

Brenham ISD has utilized an interlocal agreement with the City of Brenham to provide protection at campuses via School Resource Officers and off-duty officers. Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said the district wants to ensure all of its campuses are covered with an armed officer, and with local law enforcement agencies impacted by short staffing, he feels the best way to do that is to hire its own certified, licensed officers.

Dr. Chaplin said the resolution would begin the process of establishing a school district police department through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, with a goal of having it in place by the start of the next school year.

According to Dr. Chaplin, the district’s transportation contract with Durham School Services ends in July. He is recommending that the district start its own transportation department, saying it will be more cost-effective, improve an aging bus fleet, and make transportation employees part of Brenham ISD.

The school board took similar action last year with its custodial services, voting in February 2022 to transition employees of ABM Texas General Services, Inc. into the school district.

An executive session will be held at the end of the meeting to discuss personnel matters.

The board will meet Monday at noon in the Brenham ISD Administration Office. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPT., BRINGING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN-HOUSE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A summertime tradition in Sealy will not be held this year.

The Sealy Community Foundation announced on Wednesday that Sealybration has been cancelled.

A letter from the Sealy Community Foundation Board of Directors said the organization could not afford to hold the event, blaming “severe underfunding by the City of Sealy via HOT [hotel occupancy tax] funds.”

The foundation claimed it has received fewer HOT funds from the city “with each passing year.” It said it has been put into the situation of owing lenders for money acquired to hold last year’s Sealybration, and that the city only now awarded it “a fraction of the money” nine months after the event. The letter said, “We are three months away from Sealybration 2023 with no additional funding.”

The City of Sealy issued a response on Wednesday, saying it did not receive the original documentation to reimburse the foundation for Sealybration 2022 until October, and the documents were incomplete. The city said it received the final pieces this month and is still awaiting documents for Fantasy of Lights held in December.

The city said it “must and will comply with state law to ensure that any HOT funds paid out meets these laws and that documentation and sound accounting practices are in place.” It added, “It is unfortunate that the city’s obligation to meet legal requirements has led to this cancellation. The hope is that other community-based organizations will rise to the challenge of volunteerism for new events that comply with the law.”

According to the city, approximately $700,000 has been contributed for both Sealybration and Fantasy of Lights over the past 13 years, along with assistance from city staff with event preparation, cleanup, and facility use.

While the foundation’s letter acknowledged it has “an uncertain future,” Sealy Community Foundation President Melanie Willingham told The Sealy News that she expects Sealybration will come back next year.

The post SEALYBRATION CANCELLED first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Fortnightly Club of Brenham’s annual Used Book Sale this year was record-breaking.

February’s sale grossed over $35,000 for the first time in the event’s long-running history. The week-long event at the Washington County Expo featured thousands of books, puzzles, games, movies, music and records for sale, all benefitting the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.

Fortnightly Club President Susan Myers is thankful for all of the help provided by the club’s volunteers in organizing the event, and for the public in continuing to support them.

Myers says the club and the library allow people to have experiences with books that they might not normally get.

For anyone looking to contribute or get involved, the Fortnightly Club meets once a month and has a 24-hour donation drop-off at its book house at 906 North Park Street in Brenham.

The post FORTNIGHTLY CLUB SETS NEW RECORD AT USED BOOK SALE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Less than a week remains for Washington County residents to sign up to vote in the May 6 elections.

Citizens have until Thursday, April 6th to get registered. Voter registration applications must be delivered or postmarked to the Washington County Elections Office at the courthouse by 5 p.m. that day.

According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, there were 24,389 registered voters in the county as of Thursday.

Voters will use one ballot containing multiple elections, according to their eligibility. Entities that are holding an election include the City of Brenham, City of Burton, Blinn College, Brenham ISD and Burton ISD. Voters registered in Washington County and Giddings ISD will vote in that election.

Early voting will be held on weekdays between April 24th and May 2nd at the Washington County Courthouse Annex. On Election Day, there will be five polling locations: the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library, Washington County Event Center, Brenham VFW Hall, Blinn College Student Center and Burton American Legion Hall.

Voters with questions about their registration can go to www.co.washington.tx.us or www.votetexas.gov. They can also call the Elections Office at 979-277-6264.

The post DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION APRIL 6 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tara Royer Steele
(courtesy photo)Reservations are open for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce’s 9th Annual Administrative Professionals’ Appreciation Luncheon.

The event is set for Monday, April 24th at 11:30 a.m. in the Janis Sneed Banquet Room at the Blinn College Student Center in Brenham.

The special speaker for the luncheon will be Tara Royer Steele, also known as “The Pie Queen”. In the pie business for 36 years, she opened Royers Round Top Café, Royers Pie Haven and the Bake Shop at All Things Acres.

Royer Steele also authored a book, “Eat. Pie. Love”, an illustrated devotional with recipes that has become a best seller. In addition, she has appeared on “The Today Show with Hoda & Jenna”, “LIVE with Kelly & Ryan” and the Food Network show “Food Paradise”. Royers Pie Haven was also recently named one of the top bakeries in the South by Southern Living.

Along with the lunch and program, attendees will receive door prizes and gifts.

KWHI and KTEX-106 are headline sponsors for the luncheon.

Tickets are $30 for Chamber members, $40 for non-members and $300 for a reserved table for eight. Exhibitors and vendors can set up for a $100 booth fee, which includes two tickets to the event.

To reserve tickets, go online to www.brenhamtexas.com/adminproluncheon, email shae@brenhamtexas.com, or call the Chamber at 979-836-3695. Reservations must be made by Monday, April 17th.

The post TARA ROYER STEELE TO KEYNOTE ADMIN PROFESSIONALS APPRECIATION LUNCHEON APRIL 24 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The outside of the Community Education building.A Brenham ISD facility with nearly 100 years of history is being restored to its former glory.

Renovations are ongoing at the Brenham Community Education Building, which serves as the Pride Academy for accelerated learning and as the site of the school district’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program. It has continuously brought in students since being built in 1927, including use as an intermediate school and high school.

Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said the structure is a unique reflection of Brenham and Washington County and wants to continue to have it play a key role in education.

The hallways inside the Community Education
building have been repainted.Some of the work happening at the building includes repainting of the hallways and refinishing of floor tile. A focus of late has been the auditorium, where the walls, ceiling and moulding have been repainted, the windows have been glazed, the brick on the outside has been sealed, cracks in the plaster have been fixed, and there are plans to put in carpet.

Upgrades have also been made in the Rock Gym, with Brent Nedbalek of Triton Air being a key contributor. New floors have been put in, along with backboards, seating and bathrooms. A new scoreboard is also in the works.

The renovations are being made gradually as money allows for them, using school district maintenance and operation funds. Brenham ISD Facilities and Maintenance Director Paul Aschenbeck is overseeing the project.

The auditorium has seen much attention, receiving
new paint, sealing of the outside brick and reglazed
windows, among other improvements.Many former students who attended school at the Community Education Building have fond memories of their time there and have many stories to tell. One of them is Ben Seeker, a 1965 graduate who studied for two and a half years at the building before the high school was moved to what is now the junior high school. He hopes his experiences, which include an anecdote about the freshman rite of passage of getting tossed into a fish pond, can encourage an interest in revitalizing the building so it can continue to be used for modern education.

Dr. Donald Draehn, a member of the 1963 graduating class that was the last class before Brenham High School and Pickard High School integrated, said the Community Education Building has a lot of character and is very significant in the history of Brenham. He wishes to keep the building functional to where today’s students can see that history firsthand and create new memories there.

The bathrooms will be among the areas addressed
in Brenham ISD's renovation project.The bathrooms are an area that will later see some improvements. A big ticket item is the heating and cooling system, as the piping that runs through the building is aging and rusting through, but replacing the system is estimated to cost $1.5 million alone.

Dr. Chaplin encourages the public to get involved in helping to determine what the future looks like for the facility.

Dr. Chaplin said the building can be a point of pride not just for Brenham ISD, but for everyone. All it needs is some love, and it can truly be a place for “community” education.

The school's cafeteria area now serves as storage.An upstairs classroom inside the Community Education Building. One of the two original fire escapes in the back of the Community Education Building.The Rock Gym has seen numerous improvements like a new floor finish, backboards, seating and bathrooms. Brent Nedbalek of Triton Air was a major contributor to the upgrades.The names of the members serving on Brenham ISD's Board of Education in 1940, as pictured inside the Rock Gym.Photos from Brenham High School yearbooks dated 1945-1954.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Photos from Brenham High School yearbooks dated 1945-1954.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Photos from Brenham High School yearbooks dated 1945-1954.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)Photos from Brenham High School yearbooks dated 1945-1954.
(courtesy Brenham ISD)The post ‘BACK TO LIFE’: BRENHAM COMMUNITY EDUCATION BUILDING UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham will invite around three dozen vendors for its monthly farmer and artisan market tomorrow (Friday), pushed up a week due to Good Friday next week.

From 3 to 6 p.m., shoppers can walk down Baylor and Park Streets to see a plethora of items available, such as homemade treats, cooking ingredients, vegetables, soaps, beauty products, jewelry and gemstones.

For a full list of vendors taking part, go to https://visitbrenhamtexas.com or the Brenham Farmers Market Facebook page.

The post FARMER & ARTISAN MARKET FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

KTEX-106 has given away its first jackpot of the year in the Armadillo Hi-Lo.

Wednesday evening, Connie Oevermann of Brenham correctly guessed the winning amount of $391.22.

The next chance to play will be at 7:35 a.m. Monday with the Morning Express.

Armadillo Hi-Lo is sponsored by Texas Farm Credit, Cash Station Jewelry and Loan, ZochNet and Plinkers Ammo.

The post ARMADILLO HI-LO HAS FIRST WINNER OF 2023 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Ronnie James McDonald, Jr. Waller Co. Jail photoWaller County District Attorney’s Office is currently seeking information on the whereabouts of convicted felon Ronnie James McDonald, Jr. McDonald was indicted by a Waller County grand jury on two felony offenses: Sexual Assault and Prohibited Sexual Conduct. McDonald, who was out on bond pending trial reported for trial on Monday, March 27, 2023 in the 506thJudicial District Court of Waller County and was present as a jury was empaneled. McDonald’s trial resumed on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. McDonald failed to appear in court as ordered by the judge on Tuesday morning and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Since McDonald did appear for trial on Monday for jury selection his trial was able to continue without him present, and on Wednesday afternoon a Waller County jury found him guilty of both felony charges. If you have any information as to McDonald’s whereabouts, please contact the Waller County Sheriff’s Department at (979) 826-8282.

The post WALLER CO. ASKING FOR HELP IN FINDING FUGITIVE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Jason JenningsThe top officials in medical care in Washington County gave their thoughts on where the field stands locally at today’s (Wednesday) Washington County Chamber of Commerce State of Health Care Forum.

Representatives from Baylor Scott & White Health and Washington County discussed their respective operations and how citizens are cared for in present day, as well as what can be expected in the future.

Jason Jennings, president of Baylor Scott & White – College Station Region, said inflation is affecting hospitals and clinics like everywhere else, but the issue is compounded with medical insurance and Medicare rates not accounting for those increases.

Dr. Eric AlfordJennings gave recognition to the staff at Brenham’s hospital, which he said is in the top 5 percent in the country and top in the Baylor Scott & White system for patient satisfaction. The hospital and clinics in Brenham, as well as the College Station hospital, also earned a Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a designation that only 10 percent of hospitals and healthcare systems in the nation have.

Dr. Eric Alford, regional medical director of Baylor Scott & White – Brenham, said rural health care is in a scary place, citing the reduction of services at St. Mark’s in La Grange as an example. Despite that, he is very confident about Washington County’s offerings.

Dr. William LoeschDr. Alford announced that a new Baylor Scott & White clinic opened in February at 2111 South Day Street, between Brenham National Bank and Norman’s Pharmacy, and will have a ribbon cutting later this year. He also gave a reminder about the Highway 290 clinic’s walk-in Saturdays, where from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., patients can be seen without an appointment.

Dr. William Loesch, internal medicine physician at Baylor Scott & White – Brenham and the Washington County health authority, focused on mental health and how taking care of it has taken on a new look after COVID-19. He said often times, primary care physicians are the “de facto treaters of mental health” because they uncover the illness while attempting to treat another issue.

Kevin DeramusDr. Loesch said there is still a lot of growth to be had when it comes to the availability of ways to address mental health in Washington County, but compared to other counties of similar size, the county is doing “exceptionally well.”

Washington County EMS Director Kevin Deramus talked about the EMS department’s goal of having a paramedic available “within six minutes of everywhere in our county.” He said the reason for wanting to build new facilities, such as the proposed EMS station near Lake Somerville, stems from seeing some area counties get caught off guard by a rapid influx of new residents.

Deramus also pointed to data from the 2019 Brazos Valley Regional Health Assessment Report conducted by the Texas A&M School of Public Health. The information showed that despite Washington County not having a catheterization lab or trauma center, the county’s rates of death per 100,000 people due to heart disease, respiratory disease or stroke ranked best in the Brazos Valley and better than the state and national averages.

After their presentations, the four took submitted questions from the audience.

The post WASHINGTON CO. MEDICAL LEADERS SHARE INSIGHT ON HEALTH CARE AT FORUM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Texas Rangers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an inmate at the Austin County Jail in Bellville.

Sheriff Jack Brandes released a statement saying, “We had a death in our jail March 11. This is very unfortunate, and my sympathy goes out to the family.”

29-year-old Quincy Williams died at the jail. An autopsy was conducted by the Fort Bend County Coroner’s Office. The results have not been made public.

Williams turned himself in on a possession warrant. His father-in-law Ulysses Townsel told the Sealy News that they didn’t even know that Williams died at the jail, until other fellow inmates started calling them.

Townsel added that he was told that Williams had underwent an appendix surgery and developed a septic infection afterwards.

According to Townsel, the inmates claim that he was in pain and calling for help for two days, and no one ever came to check on him.

Williams leaves behind a wife and three children.

KWHI News has submitted a public information request for further information.

This past Monday, at an Austin County Commissioners Court meeting, Pastor J.R. Johnson and Lenel Brandiberg made the suggestion of forming a Citizens Review Board Committee to look into incidents such as Williams’ death, and the recent altercation at the Lindeman Store in Industry.

Johnson said the committee would be an independent group of community representatives that would have to pass a background check.

District Attorney Travis Koehn was asked what it would take to set up something like that. He advised them to speak with the heads of the various law enforcement agencies.

The post TEXAS RANGERS INVESTIGATING INMATE DEATH AT AUSTIN COUNTY JAIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham | Washington County Economic
Development Director Susan Cates presents an
update on economic projects to county
commissioners on Tuesday.Updates on existing economic projects, as well as a glimpse into new ones, were presented on Tuesday in a report to Washington County Commissioners.

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan Cates discussed how various projects around the county are shaping up.

Cates said the Baker Katz shopping center has Ulta, Burlington, James Avery and GreatClips signed and in progress. There are also some potential unnamed tenants on the way, ranging from a “major retailer” to “two national restaurants,” a “free-standing quick-serve restaurant” and a “full-service restaurant.”

The Market Square development, which is set to have a Chick-fil-A, Academy and dual-branded hotel from Wyndham Group, has another hospitality project in the works that is expected to close next week. Negotiation is ongoing for two multi-tenant medical office buildings, and there are plans for a “smaller footprint box store” adjacent to the Academy. That is in addition to the Brenham Trails age-restricted apartments and 170 units of multi-family residential, although Cates noted that the developer for the latter is dealing with higher construction costs and interest rates.

On the industrial side, Cates provided some details on Project Stone’s Throw and Project Color Guard. Stone’s Throw, which she described as a “greenhouse project,” is expected to be located in Brenham’s Southwest Industrial Park, with the closing on the property likely being next month.

As for Color Guard, a “data center project”, Cates said a predevelopment meeting revealed that the amount of water needed for the project would be “extraordinary.”

Cates said other options are being considered because the company involved really wants to be in Washington County. Some of those options include implementing alternate cooling system technology that consumes less water or moving out to a site in the county that could use well water.

Cates wrapped up her presentation with a discussion on workforce attraction and how economic leaders are helping businesses bring in new employees. She said a human resources roundtable has been established to share resources and develop a workforce pipeline among numerous local organizations. The roundtable is also taking an active role in job fairs.

The post BAKER KATZ SHOPPING CENTER, MARKET SQUARE, MORE DISCUSSED IN ECONOMIC UPDATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County First Responder Association
President Mark Pennybacker tells county
commissioners on Tuesday about his group's role in
caring for the mental health of local emergency
responders.A nonprofit organization is devoting itself to ensuring the mental health of Washington County emergency responders does not go untreated.

At today’s (Tuesday) county commissioners meeting, Mark Pennybacker, president of the Washington County First Responder Association, talked about the background of the group as it marks its one-year anniversary and what it does to provide emotional support for law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers recovering from traumatic experiences.

Pennybacker said the “responder” in the organization’s name is singular for a reason: it is to signify that the group is here to support each and every individual first responder.

The organization is made up of 16 volunteers, including mental health professionals, chaplains and fellow first responders who form a critical incident stress management team that is certified by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and is available at all times of the year.

The team conducts peer-based intervention in the aftermath of a critical incident event, such as a major car crash or threatening police standoff. The group seeks to provide emotional release and guide individuals to further care if needed.

Pennybacker said the chance of a first responder taking their own life is greater than them being killed in their line of duty. He said there are many times that barriers prevent first responders from getting help, including the stigma of being perceived as “weak.” This group, he said, is meant to knock down those barriers.

After Pennybacker’s presentation, commissioners thanked him for the services provided by the organization, with Commissioner Candice Bullock saying the mental health of first responders is “absolutely critical.” Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the group is bringing “a human element” to a field where many people forget it exists.

Also in court today, commissioners tabled action on the county’s inmate healthcare services agreement with CorrHealth. Commissioners will bring back the item at a future date to further discuss potential cost increases for services due to inflation.

In other business, commissioners:

Approved the county’s election services contracts with the City of Brenham, Brenham ISD, City of Burton, Burton ISD, Blinn College District and Giddings ISD for the May 6th election.
Approved a final plat for the Childress Ranch Estates subdivision, a 115.41 acre private subdivision consisting of 45 lots on FM 1155 East in Precinct 1.
Heard various monthly and quarterly reports from the sheriff’s office, economic development, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections and veterans service officer.

The post WASHINGTON CO. ORGANIZATION CARES FOR MENTAL HEALTH OF LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Heritage Society of Washington County will honor the history of the county at its annual Spring Gala this weekend.

The 2023 Senior Heritage Belles
(courtesy Heritage Society of Washington County)Saturday’s gala at the Giddings Stone Mansion begins at 6 p.m. and will include a four-course meal, open bar, live music from the Tin Man Band, live and silent auctions, and a drawing with a grand prize of $10,000 and reserve grand prize of $5,000.

The theme for this year’s gala is “Innovation, Imagination and Inspiration”, celebrating the inventions of the 1800s and their creators.

The 2023 senior belles will be presented at the gala. They include Janie Anderson, Payten Savage, Caraline Ross, Madison Rogers, Gabrielle Renken, Carmen Niemeyer, Lainey Masterson, Emma Marth, Reagan Lange, Erica Ladd, Kinsley Mendoza, Autumn Kelley, Erin Keller, Leah Hardy, Kendal Gurka, Bianca Garcia and Marisa Cromwell.

Longtime Heritage Society supporters, Jim and Lois Kolkhorst, will also be recognized.

Proceeds from the gala aid the Heritage Society of Washington County and the Heritage Belles program in their efforts to restore and beautify the Giddings Stone Mansion and Giddings Wilkin House Museum, as well as educate the community about houses and families that helped build Washington County.

To learn more about the gala, or to contribute to the Heritage Society of Washington County, go to www.giddingsstonemansion.com.

The post HERITAGE SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON CO. TO HOLD SPRING GALA SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Unemployment in Washington and surrounding counties is up for the second month in a row.

February’s data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows Washington County’s unemployment rate at 4.8 percent, up from 4.3 percent in January.

The number of jobless residents grew from 655 in January to 736 last month.

Employment numbers and the civilian labor force also increased. The tally of employed residents went from 14,450 in January to 14,696 in February, while the total civilian labor force rose from 15,105 at the start of the year to 15,432 a month ago.

In February 2022, the county’s unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, and 652 people were out of work.

The state’s jobless rate went up to 4 percent in February from 3.9 percent the month prior.

Area counties’ unemployment figures include:

Austin County – 4.4 percent, up from 4 percent in January.
Brazos County – 3.7 percent, up from 3.4 percent.
Burleson County – 4.2 percent, up from 3.8 percent.
Fayette County – 4 percent, up from 3.7 percent in January.
Grimes County – 4.9 percent, up from 4.7 percent.
Lee County – 4.1 percent, up from 3.7 percent.
Waller County – 5.3 percent, up from 4.9 percent.

The post FEBRUARY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES UP IN REGION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County’s contract with its medical provider at the jail will be among the subjects of Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting.

The court will act on the county’s contract with the private company, CorrHealth. The inmate healthcare services agreement between the two began in June 2021.

County Judge John Durrenberger said the item up for consideration will involve “discussing and possibly approving an adjustment in price for services rendered.”

Prior to CorrHealth, the county utilized the services of Dr. Stuart Yoffe as an interim jail medical director. This came after the former medical director at the jail, the late Dr. Robert Stark, was disallowed by Sheriff Otto Hanak from entering the jail to treat inmates.

During that dispute in 2020, Washington County EMS was being dispatched to the jail whenever an inmate had a medical issue. EMS would either treat them at the jail or transport them to the emergency room at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Brenham.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners will hear several reports, including a presentation from Washington County First Responder Association President Mark Pennybacker, the sheriff’s office’s monthly report and an economic development quarterly update.

In other items, the court will:

Consider the county’s election services contracts with the City of Brenham, Brenham ISD, City of Burton, Burton ISD, Blinn College District and Giddings ISD for the May 6th election.
Act on the approval of a residential development of a 115.41 acre private subdivision on FM 1155 East, Childress Ranch Estates subdivision in Precinct 1.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS JAIL MEDICAL SERVICES CONTRACT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Burleson County Sheriff’s deputy and a Burleson County citizen were recognized on Friday for their actions in saving the lives of two men on Monday at Lake Somerville.

Deputy Marshall Bengs (second from left) and
Nathan Benn (second from right) are presented the
Lifesaving Award for their actions to help save the
lives of two men at Lake Somerville on Monday.
(courtesy Burleson Co. Sheriff's Office)A ceremony was held at the sheriff’s office to present Deputy Marshall Bengs and Nathan Benn with “Lifesaving Awards”. The honor goes to individuals who perform a lifesaving act under extreme circumstances, including taking direct, immediate and positive action to preserve the life of another person in serious danger.

Authorities responded around 12:45 p.m. on Monday to the Birch Creek boat ramp after receiving a report of two men who had fallen out of a boat and could not swim. A bystander, now identified as Benn, was eating lunch nearby when he heard yells for help and rushed to assist the two men, who were clinging to an overturned kayak about 35 yards off shore.

According to the sheriff’s office, one of the men, who did not have a life jacket, caught a throw rope and was brought to shore. The other man was unable to reach the rope, so Benn held the overturned kayak and helped to keep him from going beneath it.

Bengs observed that the man still in the water was struggling to keep his head above water as his life jacket was sliding up on him. Bengs removed his tactical vest and gear to swim out and bring him to shore.

The men were cleared by Burleson St. Joseph EMS and released from the scene without injuries.

Aiding the sheriff’s office at the scene were Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens and the Birch Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Burleson County Sheriff Gene Hermes said Bengs and Benn were awarded for their “extraordinary performance” in saving a person’s life.

Deputy Marshall Bengs (right) receives the Lifesaving Award from Sheriff Gene Hermes.(courtesy Burleson Co. Sheriff's Office)Nathan Benn (right) receives the Lifesaving Award from Sheriff Gene Hermes.(courtesy Burleson Co. Sheriff's Office)The post BURLESON CO. DEPUTY, CITIZEN RECEIVE LIFESAVING AWARDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Spring has sprung in downtown Brenham with Main Street Brenham’s annual Spring Eggs Art Walk.

"Eggcited for Spring" by Kruse Village - Health Care
CenterDozens of colorfully decorated eggs sit nearby downtown businesses and at street corners.

The public is invited to vote for their favorite eggs by filling out a paper ballot from participating contest sponsors or the Brenham Washington County Visitor Center.

Ten prizes of $125 will be awarded, five for adults and five for students, in categories including Most Creative, Most Votes, Judge’s Choice, Best Easter Theme and Best Seasonal Theme. The grand prize winner for Best of Show will receive $200 from Kieke Egg Farm.

Other prize sponsors are Floyd’s Lounge, Hermann Furniture, The Pomegranate, Celia Haley, The Book Nook, Brenham Floral, The Canyon Chick, Upchurch Architects, Must Be Heaven and Texas Casual Cottages.

Voting is open through April 8th. The winners will be announced on April 11th.

Eggs are also up for auction during the art walk. Bids can be placed on egg designs at www.downtownbrenham.com/springeggs. Auction proceeds from each egg will be split 50/50 between the egg artist and Main Street Brenham. Proceeds will be presented in addition to any prize winnings.

"EGGtraordinary Fish!!" by Traci Moran"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by BHS Avid"Eggcited for Easter" by The Doty's"Easter at the Pool" by BBAC Staff"Eggatha Christie" by Readin' With Rose'"Otto the Minion" by Whitney MilesThe post VOTING BEGINS FOR SPRING EGGS ART WALK first appeared on KWHI.com.

A case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was confirmed last week at a deer-breeding facility in Washington County.

According to a release from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), the case was detected through live animal testing conducted prior to the deer’s transfer to a registered release site. The case is the first detection of the disease in Washington County.

TPWD and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials have taken action to secure all deer at the facility and will work together to perform additional investigations into the extent of the disease there and prevent it from spreading further.

David Forrester, TPWD - District 7 Leader, says the facility in question is located on the north side of the county, but could not provide a more specific location. Describing CWD, he says it is a degenerative disease that can severely inhibit a deer’s neurological function. It is ultimately fatal and does not have a treatment or vaccine.

Right now, there is no evidence that the disease can infect humans, but since it affects the animal’s lymph nodes and nervous system, Forrester recommends avoiding eating parts of the deer that are closely tied to them, like bone marrow.

According to TPWD, when deer-breeding facilities have a positive case, movement is shut down and a trace-out investigation is done to see everywhere that deer from the facility have gone or been sold to, typically over a five-year period.

Samples were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station and were later sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where the presence of CWD was confirmed.

Forrester says TAHC is currently considering new proposals for ways to address these cases. The rules, which would apply for when a positive case is confined to a breeding facility, will go out for public comment before potentially being adopted in May.

Once deer season approaches, Forrester says public meetings will be held to remind hunters of the situation and the precautions they need to take.

The post CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE DISCOVERED IN DEER-BREEDING FACILITY IN WASHINGTON CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

All participants in the Blue Bell Fun Run will
receive a medal, as well as free t-shirts and
Blue Bell Ice Cream.Tomorrow (Saturday) is the day of the 45th Annual Blue Bell Fun Run.

Thousands of people will head to Brenham High School for one of four runs that wind their way through the Washington County countryside. The half marathon gets underway at 7:30 a.m., followed by the kids’ 1-mile run at 8 a.m., 10K at 8:30 a.m. and 5K at 9:30 a.m.

Blue Bell Fun Run Director Tracy Campbell says the Fun Run is a big support for children in Brenham High School athletics.

While the run can certainly be a test, Campbell says the sweet reward at the end makes it all worth it.

In addition to the ice cream, participants will receive free event t-shirts and a medal. Awards will go to the top finishers.

Parking will be at the Washington County Expo, with a shuttle bus taking participants to the high school.

Registration is still open through tomorrow morning and can be done at https://bluebellfunrun.com.

The post 45TH ANNUAL BLUE BELL FUN RUN SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Daniel Jonathan Byrd
(Brazos County Jail)A Navasota ISD employee was taken into custody on Thursday after the FBI issued a warrant for his arrest.

The Southern District of the United States Attorney’s Office issued a press release announcing that 29-year-old Daniel Jonathan Byrd has been arrested for distribution and possession of child pornography.

Navasota ISD released a statement saying that they were notified by local law enforcement of an investigation into a current Navasota ISD employee.

Byrd, who is a science teacher at Navasota High School, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

On-line records show that Byrd was taken to the Brazos County Jail in Bryan, and placed on hold for the FBI. He was then released into their custody this (Friday) morning.

The criminal complaint, filed today (Friday), alleges that Byrd came to the attention of law enforcement upon discovery of a folder containing child pornography shared in a Kik chat group. Byrd was allegedly in control of that folder.

According to the complaint, Byrd used Kik and Telegram to view and download child pornography. He allegedly joined groups dedicated to sharing child pornography and would download content to his MEGA account.

Byrd then posted links from his MEGA account into Kik groups, thereby allowing others to access folders containing child pornography.

If convicted, Byrd faces up to 20 years in prison for distribution of child pornography as well as a maximum of 10 years for possessing it.

The FBI-Bryan resident agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of the College Station Police Department.

The post NAVASOTA SCHOOL TEACHER ARRESTED ON FBI WARRANT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Megan Gray
(courtesy photo)The City of Brenham has a new animal services manager.

Megan Gray began her new role with the city on Monday. Gray, who studied animal science at Stephen F. Austin State University, served for three years as the director of Lubbock Animal Services prior to coming to Brenham. She has also worked for the nonprofit SPCA.

Gray says she wants to help the public better understand the role that Brenham Animal Services plays in the community.

Programs that Gray is looking to implement in Brenham include outdoor play groups to help enrichment and quality of life for animals. She also plans to partner with other shelters to send some animals there, clearing out space at the local shelter while also giving other locations fully vetted pets for adoption. In addition, she seeks to grow Brenham’s volunteer program and expand relationships with public safety departments, pet stores and veterinarians.

The animal services manager position was formerly held by Allison Harper and – on an interim basis – by Che’ Kamani.

Gray is no stranger to Brenham, saying she was drawn to the area after spending a summer working at Camp Blessing.

The post MEGAN GRAY NAMED NEW BRENHAM ANIMAL SERVICES MANAGER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Emma Thompson
(courtesy photo)A Brenham woman convicted and sentenced in the death of her four-year-old daughter has once again been denied early release by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The board on Thursday denied parole for Abigail Young, who is serving 20 years in prison for Injury to a Child by Omission after Emma Thompson’s death in 2009. Young and her boyfriend, Lucas Coe, were found guilty in 2010. Coe is serving a life sentence.

Amanda Mathews, Young’s sister and Thompson’s aunt, appreciates the state hearing her family “loud and clear”, saying it is important to hold people accountable for their actions.

Abigail YoungIn 2013, Emma’s Law was passed to make parole review occur every five years instead of annually for anyone who is convicted of a felony against a child. However, Young is eligible for yearly reviews since she has served half her sentence.

Young’s next parole review date is scheduled for March 2024.

The post ABIGAIL YOUNG DENIED PAROLE BY STATE BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Brenham has completed a multi-million dollar project to enhance its emergency department.

Baylor Scott & White representatives, Washington
County Chamber officials and community members
gather on Thursday for a ribbon cutting celebrating
the completion of renovations at the Brenham
hospital's emergency department.A ribbon cutting was held this (Thursday) morning to introduce the public to the Brenham hospital’s renovations, which expand the emergency department with 5,000 square feet of new space and equipment. The $2.3 million project was funded through community donations to the Baylor Scott & White – Central Texas Foundation – Brenham.

Baylor Scott & White – College Station Region President Jason Jennings referenced a quote from famous football coach Vince Lombardi, saying, “Perfection is unattainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” He said the hospital’s board, foundation and staff strive to provide excellent care, and these additions will only help in accomplishing that goal.

Baylor Scott & White - Brenham Vice President of
Hospital Operations Blake Barnes addresses the
crowd at Thursday's ribbon cutting for the newly
renovated emergency department at the Brenham
hospital.The hospital has increased the number of examination areas from 10 to 13 and made them fully private exam rooms, giving more capacity and privacy to treat patients. It has also added two “fast-track” rooms, a dedicated triage space, expanded nurses’ station and an enhanced entrance.

Blake Barnes, Vice President of Hospital Operations in Brenham, said the emergency department last saw renovations in the 1990s. He said the improvements provide a more modern, accessible and patient-centered environment, and thanked the community for making this all possible.

One special addition to the hospital was given attention to, that being an “I Spy an A-Maze-Ing Quilt” created by the Piece Makers Ministry of Brenham’s First Baptist Church. The quilt hangs on the wall in the emergency department lobby, acting both as a maze and “I Spy” game for visitors to enjoy. The quilt is dedicated to the healthcare teams who care for Washington County.

(courtesy Baylor Scott & White)(courtesy Baylor Scott & White)(courtesy Baylor Scott & White)(courtesy Baylor Scott & White)The "I Spy an A-Maze-Ing Quilt", made by Brenham's First Baptist Church's Piece Makers Ministry.(courtesy Baylor Scott & White)The outside of the emergency department at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Brenham.The post BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE – BRENHAM CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF ER RENOVATIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two men were rescued Monday afternoon after they fell off a boat at the Birch Creek boat ramp at Lake Somerville.

According to Burleson County Chief Deputy Garrett Durrenberger, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call around 12:45 p.m. regarding two men who had fallen out of a boat and could not swim.

Deputies arrived to find three men in the water, one of them being a bystander who was eating lunch nearby and heard yells for help. The other two men were clinging to an overturned kayak about 35 yards off shore.

Durrenberger said one of the men, who was not wearing a life jacket, caught a throw rope and was assisted to shore. The second man could not reach the rope, so the bystander held the overturned kayak and helped to keep the man from going beneath it.

Deputies observed that the second man’s life jacket was sliding up on his head, making it difficult for him to keep his head above water. A deputy removed his tactical vest and gear to swim out and bring the man back to shore.

After the men were rescued, they were checked out by Burleson St. Joseph EMS, due to the temperature being approximately 57 degrees at the time. They were cleared and released from the scene without injuries.

Responding along with sheriff’s deputies were Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens and the Birch Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Burleson County Sheriff Gene Hermes reminds visitors to Lake Somerville to be safe and use caution when taking part in water recreation activities.

The post TWO MEN RESCUED AT LAKE SOMERVILLE AFTER FALLING OUT OF BOAT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Grand Jury met Tuesday and returned 19 indictments.

Andre Barnes, 22 of Cypress, was indicted for Possession of Marijuana between 4 oz. and 5 lbs.

Refugio Camarillo, 62 of Brenham, was indicted for Driving While Intoxicated, 3 or more offences.

Walter Louis Charles, 42 of Brenham, was indicted for Assault of a Family Member, with a Previous Conviction.

Mark Lott Garrett, 48 of Chappell Hill, was indicted for Deadly Conduct, Discharge of a Firearm.

Michael Leroy Hooper, 43 of Brenham, was indicted for Assault of a Family Member with a Previous Conviction.

Jordan Flonnoy Jones, 28 of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was indicted for Attempted Tampering with Physical Evidence.

Ivan Chavez Martinez, 23 of Austin, was indicted for Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Edward Josue Ramirez-Nava, 25 of Spring, was indicted for Tampering with a Government Record and Fraudulent Use of a Credit or Debit Card.

Sirvaugh Markell Rougeau, 20 of Killeen, was indicted for Possession of Marijuana between 4 oz. and 5 lbs.

Four people were indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance. They are: Kendra Nicole Christian, 35 of Round Rock, Eric Dewayne Jackson, III, 21 of Houston, Matthew Paradowski, 38 of Cypress, and Sonia Garcia Salaiz, 34 of Diboll.

The following persons were previously indicted by the Washington County Grand Jury and have since been arrested so the name can now be released.

Lateasha Allen, 34 of Houston, was indicted for Injury to a Child.

Jose Avel Perea Ferrel, 50 of Brenham, was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone.

Reece Neil Mahlmann, 54 of Brenham, was indicted for Exploitation of the Elderly.

The post WASHINGTON CO. GRAND JURY INDICTS 19 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Members of the Washington County Attorney's
Office join county commissioners after their
proclamation of March as Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month in Washington County.March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and one Washington County official is sharing her family’s story to remind the public of the importance of keeping up with their health.

Assistant County Attorney Kacie Murphy spoke to county commissioners at today’s (Tuesday) meeting about her mother’s battle with colorectal cancer, encouraging discussion on the often-ignored topic of intestinal health.

Murphy said her mother, Jeanette Williams, was considered by many to be “the picture of health,” as she was lean, ate well and kept herself and others in shape through her personal training business. However, she did not get herself checked despite experiencing concerning symptoms.

Williams’ first colonoscopy came when she was 58, far beyond the now-recommended age of 45, and after she went to urgent care because of an ulcer. She was diagnosed in June 2019 after doctors found a mass in her liver and other small tumors. Her cancer was Stage 4 and deemed “inoperable” and “treatable but not curable.” After undergoing nine months of chemotherapy, she passed in May 2020.

Murphy said cancer is real and can happen to anyone. She encouraged those who are in the recommended age range for screenings to not put them off, as the sooner a problem is detected, the easier it can be prevented from worsening.

Representatives from the Washington County
Justice of the Peace and Constable's Offices
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the
founding of the offices in Texas after a proclamation
read by county commissioners.Commissioners thanked Murphy for bringing her message to them, with County Judge John Durrenberger saying, “If you haven’t been screened, schedule one immediately.” Commissioner Kirk Hanath and Commissioner Don Koester said they have both had people close to them who fought the same cancer, and Hanath applauded Murphy for becoming an advocate for this cause.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

Approved a resolution recognizing the bicentennial of the establishment of the office of constable in Texas.
Received the quarterly impact report from the Washington County Extension Service.
Approved an interlocal agreement between Washington County and the City of Burton for road improvement services.
Approved right of way permit applications for Run for the Youth of Washington County on Saturday and the MS 150 on April 30th.
Granted authorization for the county engineer to advertise for sealed bids for right-of-way mowing in Precinct 1 and 2, and for seal coating services. Bids will be opened on April 12th at 9 a.m. and awarded on April 18th at 9 a.m.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PROCLAIM MARCH AS COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Work on the Burton ISD bond project continues on track.

At Monday’s Burton School Board meeting, DSA Construction Management Project Manager Stad Tomlinson said progress is following along the same timeline provided when trustees met last month. He said crews onsite are putting in long hours, and their efforts are making a difference.

Tomlinson said on Monday that next week, the track and field crew will mobilize and dirt work and chemical injections will wrap up. He said inspection results for dirt that has already been injected are showing no issues thus far, and he is not expecting problems with further tests.

Last month, Tomlinson told the board that the stadium and home parking should be complete by the end of July. The high school and remaining parking are expected to be done by January, while the junior high and cafeteria renovations are anticipated to be finished by January 2025.

During her monthly report to the board, Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy said there have been some worries about increased student vaping and marijuana usage. She said this problem is not exclusive to Burton and that many schools are dealing with this right now, but it is “a pretty serious safety concern for us.” She said the district has purchased additional detectors and sensors to cover areas where children could sneak off to, and is also ramping up random drug testing and drug dog searches.

Also on Monday, trustees met in executive session to review contract terms for administrators and personnel, including the elementary and high school principals, assistant principal, athletic director, counselor, instructional coach and teachers.

Among the contract extensions were for Elementary School Principal Melinda Fuchs, who was extended through June 30, 2025; High School Principal Micah Goebel, whose probationary contract was extended through June 30, 2024; Assistant Principal Jeremy Johnston, extended through June 30, 2024; Athletic Director Jason Hodde, whose dual/term contract was extended through June 30, 2025; and Counselor Angela Rhodes, extended through June 30, 2024.

The post BURTON BOND PROJECT REMAINS ON SCHEDULE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Five Blinn College District faculty and staff members have received 2023 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards for their dedication to Blinn students.

Rachel Landolt
(courtesy Blinn College)Manager of Enrollment Services and International Programs Rachel Landolt; Learning Center Assistant Maria Raducanu; Perkins Program Facilitator Jennifer Schafer; eLearning Systems Administrator Mathew Walpert; and Theatre Professor Greg Wise will receive commemorative pewter medallions from NISOD to mark their achievements. Each winner will be recognized during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence held May 27-30 in Austin.

“It is a pleasure to congratulate these individuals for this well-deserved recognition and to celebrate their valuable contributions to our institution,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District.

NISOD is a membership organization that promotes and celebrates excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. First presented in 1989, NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.

Faculty, staff, students, and departmental supervisors made nominations based on character and integrity, effectiveness as instructors, involvement in student organizations and activities, service to Blinn, and participation in professional organizations and professional development activities. Final recipient selections were made by Blinn’s Professional Development Funding Committee.

Maria Raducanu
(courtesy Blinn College)Landolt’s connection to Blinn began in high school when she took dual credit courses. She joined the staff as a clerk in the Academic Advising office in 2011. Additionally, she held roles as an academic advisor and international student program coordinator. In her current position, Landolt was instrumental in opening the new student services suite at the Blinn RELLIS Administration Building at Texas A&M-RELLIS.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Harding University and a Master of Education in higher education administration from Sam Houston State University.

“Rachel works tirelessly to assist our international students and she is always a positive role model for this student group during their time at Blinn. She builds a culture,” said Elaine Abshire, Director of Enrollment Management.

“I am thrilled to be part of a campus community that is forward thinking and committed to providing unprecedented opportunities and pathways to students in all walks of life,” Landolt said. “Being selected for this award is an extreme honor and I thank the many colleagues who have mentored and supported me as I sought to help students succeed during their time at Blinn.”

Jennifer Schafer
(courtesy Blinn College)Raducanu has been a staff member at the Blinn-Bryan Campus Learning Center since 2004. Tutoring students in mathematics and physics, she helps students achieve their academic goals by empowering them to acquire problem-solving skills in different and interesting ways. Prior to her work at Blinn, Raducanu worked as an engineer for 10 years.

She earned a master’s degree in engineering in machine construction technology from the University of Craiova in Romania.

“Maria goes above and beyond to help students and her efforts are apparent in the improvement of her students’ grades. She is a role model for her colleagues and students alike,” said Learning Center Director Sajida Shaikh.

“Every student’s success is my inspiration and motivation,” Raducanu said. “I believe that all students can succeed if they put in persistent effort. I am fortunate to work with a wonderful team at the Learning Center, and together we strive to create a learning environment where students interact with their peers, make friends, and find resources to improve their knowledge and achieve their dreams.”

Schafer has worked in Blinn’s Carl D. Perkins Grant office since 2009. In her current role, she administers textbook funding assistance for qualifying career and technical education students and organizes workshops for grant recipients. Previously, Schafer served for six years as the liaison for Blinn’s partnership with the Texas Engineering Extension Service’s (TEEX) Central Texas Police Academy. This program provides TEEX cadets with college credit toward Blinn’s Law Enforcement Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

Schafer earned her AAS degrees in accounting, business administration and management, and administrative assistant from Blinn in 2009. She is working toward her Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in business administration at Tarleton State University.

Mathew Walpert
(courtesy Blinn College)“Ms. Schafer’s commitment and dedication to Blinn College are demonstrated by her work quality at every opportunity. Her experience and knowledge are not only recognized within the College, but also by other colleges throughout Texas that work with the Perkins Grant,” said Dean of Applied Technology, Workforce, and Economic Development Karla Flanagan.

“I received Perkins assistance as a student, so I understand how needed this funding is and how much it can make a difference,” Schafer said. “It is an honor to be recognized with this award and to be part of such an outstanding institution.”

Walpert has been with Blinn for more than 10 years. In his current role, he administers eCampus, which is used to create webpages for the College’s online courses. This position also involves researching and solving technical problems to help instructors provide their students with the best educational experience. Previously, Walpert worked as an assistant to Blinn’s instructional designer, which gave him experience with the eCampus Learning Management System.

Walpert holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas A&M University.

“I cannot stress what a joy it is to work with Mathew daily. He is always ready to help, provide information, brainstorm ideas, or whatever is needed. No problem is too big or too small for his assistance,” said Instructional Design Specialist Linda Reed.

“My main goal is to help students and instructors with our online courses and materials,” Walpert said. “Overall, my goal is to ensure that the technology works and that students and faculty can focus on what is really important—education. To be recognized for those efforts is an honor.”

Greg Wise
(courtesy Blinn College)Wise has worked at Blinn for 17 years, teaching both theatre and film courses. Outside of his time in the classroom, he has produced 44 productions and directed 29 shows. Wise also has extensive live performance and film experience including his most recent stage role as Joseph in the College’s production of Kim Rosenstock’s “Tigers Be Still.” Film credits include “Chalk,” “Parkland,” and the award-winning “An Ordinary Family.”

Wise earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Austin College and his Master of Fine Arts in theatre from the University of Texas at Austin.

“Greg represents the best qualities you would want to find in an instructor at any level. Students flock to his classes and his involvement with multiple theatre arts organizations keeps his teaching relevant, offering the best for our theatre students,” Theatre Arts Department Head Todd Quinlan said.

“I believe theatre and film are a vital part of teaching us how to participate in ‘walking in someone else’s shoes,’” Wise said. “When students are exposed to a variety of stories, characters, cultures, and situations, they gain an understanding of how people from different backgrounds think and feel.”

For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.

(Story courtesy Richard Bray, Blinn Information)

The post FIVE BLINN COLLEGE FACULTY, STAFF RECOGNIZED WITH 2023 NISOD EXCELLENCE AWARDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

(petfinder.com)The Navasota Animal Shelter is asking for the public’s help in alleviating their current overcrowding problem.

The shelter, which is located at 1607 Nolan Street in Navasota, is a small facility that has twenty cages.

Shelter Manager Stevie Widders said that they have been taking in animals that are hurt, sick, lost, or strays.

As a result of the influx of animals, they have been doubling up the amount of dogs in each cage, because there is not enough room for them.

During April, the Navasota Animal Shelter is holding a month long “Adoption Event.” The cost for the adoptions is being lowered from $50 down to $35.

If you would like to adopt a pet, give them a call at 936-825-6641, or visit their website at www.navasotatx.gov/animal-control, and clicking “Adopt a Pet”.

The post NAVASOTA ANIMAL SHELTER TO HOLD ADOPTION EVENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

New details have been released by the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office about an incident Thursday afternoon in the Cooks Point community that prompted a large law enforcement response.

At around 4 p.m., the sheriff’s office received a call regarding a male subject who was experiencing a crisis. Deputies and the sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Team arrived at the scene, located near the intersection of Highway 21 East and FM 1362 South.

The sheriff’s office said the incident became “increasingly volatile” as the subject made statements that he had a handgun and would not go to jail or the hospital, before locking himself in his house.

Additional sheriff’s office personnel and DPS troopers responded and temporarily closed FM 1362 South for their safety and the safety of passing drivers.

The Crisis Intervention Team maintained communications with the subject until he was safely detained and the incident was peacefully resolved. FM 1362 South was reopened to traffic shortly after 7:15 p.m.

The sheriff’s office said no criminal charges have been or are expected to be filed. The name of the individual involved, along with any other information regarding the final disposition of the matter, will not be released.

The following phone numbers are available services for individuals who may be experiencing crisis:

Crisis Line: 988

Crisis Hotline: 1-888-522-8262

The post BURLESON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASES NEW INFO ON COOKS POINT INCIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A view from inside Blue Bell's ice cream parlor. The
company set a new single-day record on
Wednesday for most visitors.
(courtesy Blue Bell)Spring Break is always the busiest week of the year at Blue Bell Creameries, but this year’s break has made history.

Blue Bell Visitor Center Manager Matt Danesi says Wednesday’s number of tourists, around 4,900, broke the single-day record of roughly 4,800 set on the Friday of Spring Break in 2019.

According to Danesi, Blue Bell is averaging about 4,000 visitors a day this week and expects to have over 20,000 in total at the conclusion of Spring Break.

Danesi says the spring bluebonnets this year have played a big role in the uptick in tourism numbers.

Guests to Blue Bell can come to the observation deck between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday to Friday to see how ice cream is made and ask questions to employees. The gift shop and ice cream parlor are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The ice cream parlor currently has 16 flavors that are rotated out regularly and are served at $1 per scoop. Danesi says Homemade Vanilla is the most popular flavor.

Danesi thanks the Brenham Police Department and Citizens on Patrol for their assistance with parking, as well as the Blue Bell Aquatic Center and Brenham ISD for the extra parking space. He also thanks the City of Brenham for sitting in at Blue Bell’s Visitor Center to help promote other activities around the area for tourists to enjoy.

The post BLUE BELL SETS NEW SINGLE-DAY TOURISM RECORD first appeared on KWHI.com.

After agreeing to the gift of the Barnhill Center during an Executive Session almost 2 weeks ago, the Brenham City Council finally released a press release about it. Although many more proceeds were used in totally remodeling the theater, the ballroom, and the newly constructed Morriss Hall, the city has agreed , with HOT funding reserves, to contribute approximately $480,000 to finish payment of the loan from Brenham National Bank. In 2003, the group known as the Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. purchased the Simon Theater and began plans for the space. Through many fundraisers, they remodeled the theatre and purchased the adjacent Kugel property to build the Morriss Hall. The Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization, financed by the same HOT funds, will continue to operate and manage the facility and oversee the transition of The Barnhill Center to city-owned property.

The Simon Theatre originally.The Simon Theatre now.City of Brenham Press Release:The Barnhill Center at Historic Simon Theatre Gifted to the City of Brenham

In 1925, the James Simon family of Brenham commissioned noted Houston architect Alfred C. Finn to design the Simon Theatre, providing the community with a new entertainment and retail venue. Following years as a vaudeville theatre, the Simon then became a movie house, then offices for the Chamber of Commerce, an insurance agency, and finally the site of a Chinese restaurant (many remember the House of Chen). In 2003, the dilapidated theatre was purchased by Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. (BMSHP), a non-profit entity originally organized to preserve the architectural heritage of Downtown Brenham.

City Council recently voted to accept a gift of the restored theatre, along with an additional, freshly constructed ballroom and meeting space. BMSHP Board President Hal Moorman stated, “I am so glad the city has made the decision to accept our non-profit’s gift of the Barnhill Center. This is much more than a performance venue. It is an economic engine available for our community.” He continued, “I want to thank all the folks that worked on our Board and committees and all the people who gave generously to the campaign. Two names stand out among all of them: John Barnhill, and Tom Bullock, Senior. Their leadership helped us get where we are today.”

Soon after purchasing the historic property, BMSHP hired a theatre consultant to lead community meetings to determine the best use for the theatre. A downtown conference center was proposed to not only preserve the historic building but also contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the community. The plan was for the non-profit to raise funds for the project and eventually gift it to the City to own, operate, and manage.

In 2009 enough funds had been raised to begin the first major phase of the project. The first-floor space facing Main Street was designed and constructed as home of the Brenham and Washington County Visitor Center, with a creatively designed complete terrazzo floor map of Washington County that can be seen upon entering. Still recognized as a creative gem, more than 12 years later, the Visitor Center received the Best Visitor Center Award in a mid-sized community by Texas Travel Awards.

It was after years of fundraising, renovations, and restoration, and with great vision and insight from BMSHP, the non-profit purchased the Kugel property next door to the theatre, with plans to further develop the property adding space for additional restrooms and space for meeting rooms needed for conferences and events.

Fundraising, construction, and renovation continued to make significant progress with the opening of the Bullock Ballroom in 2015. That year, the City of Brenham agreed to operate and manage the facility with Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds committed to the operations, marketing, and promotion of the venue (HOT is a 7% charge collected by lodging properties for each overnight stay and is paid by visitors to our community). In 2016, the City’s operation and management of the conference center by City staff began as well as the opening of the restored 321-seat theater, now known as Hasskarl Auditorium. The newest addition to the facility, completed in the Spring of 2020, is Morriss Hall which features state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment in modern conference spaces.

The nearly 20-year public-private partnership between the City and BMSHP has evolved from the vision of a group of leaders dedicated to the preservation of a historic property, through decades of fundraising, planning, and phased construction, to a thriving anchor of our community in Downtown Brenham.

The decades-long fundraising efforts of BMSHP were highlighted by significant contributions through the years including donations by Jane and John Barnhill, the Hasskarl family, HEB, and honorary donations in the name of Tom Bullock, Sr, the Lowe family, and the Schulte family. The non-profit raised more than $9 million to accomplish the project, which included both federal and state historic tax credits.

The addition of Morriss Hall, important to the success of the facility as a conference center, added a new challenge of fundraising for completion, and the City of Brenham, with HOT funding reserves, is contributing approximately $480,000 to finish payment of the BMSHP loan from Brenham National Bank.

Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), financed by the same HOT funds, will continue to operate and manage the facility and oversee the transition of The Barnhill Center to city-owned property.

Mayor Tate said, “The City proudly recognizes and applauds the two-decade-long restoration efforts by Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. to preserve this historic downtown landmark. Our community has shown enormous support for the Barnhill Center, and we look forward to continuing the dedicated efforts of preservation and growth.”

The post CITY ACCEPTS GIFT OF BARNHILL CENTER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham City Manager Carolyn Miller speaks to the
city council on Thursday about a funding request
from the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County to
make security improvements.The City of Brenham will provide assistance to the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County to improve security.

The Brenham City Council voted today (Thursday) to provide $15,000 to the club so it can purchase a comprehensive security system. The additions include video surveillance, access control for doors and an alarm system.

Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Stephanie Wehring said these upgrades are much needed.

The contribution from the city matches $15,000 already set aside by Washington County in its 2023 budget. Wehring said the funding will help the club get the system in place, and the club will take on upkeep and any ongoing maintenance and upgrades thereafter.

Wehring said the county’s Information Technology Director, T.J. Harris, did a walkthrough of the Boys & Girls Club facility last summer and provided a quote for the security system. She said he will help implement and oversee the system.

In a letter written by Wehring to the city last month, Wehring noted the potential for grant opportunities as a result of this collaboration, such as one for exterior perimeter fencing.

City Manager Carolyn Miller said the city understands how important the safety is of its children and the adults who care for them.

Also at today’s meeting, the council approved a resolution approving the city’s participation in opioid litigation settlements with Allergan, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. The resolution allows the city to receive an allocation of funds through the companies’ settlement with the Texas Attorney General.

City Attorney Cary Bovey said the overall dollar amount to be paid to the city is roughly $51,000 split between the four defendants. Bovey said there are parameters for what the money can be used for, but the guidelines are “very broad”. Finance Director Stacy Hardy said no settlement money has come in yet, but the Attorney General’s Office does have the city’s direct deposit information.

In other action, the council:

Accepted a bid from Waller County Asphalt for type “D” hot mix asphalt. The bid was the lowest of two bids received and came in at $100 per ton delivered to the job site, $90 per ton picked up from the provider, and $2,500 plus material cost for emergency delivery. This is a $16 per ton increase from the city’s previous contract with Waller County Asphalt.
Approved a digital marketing agreement with Madden Media for digital marketing and programming for the Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization. Visit Brenham has contracted with Madden since 2018. Madden’s quote reflects a cost not to exceed $105,000.
Approved a second change order to the service agreement with Bassco Services, Inc. related to the design, construction and installation of the fuel farm at the Brenham Municipal Airport. The change order is in the amount of $20,051.
Approved a consulting agreement with HUB International for employee benefits consulting services beginning April 1st through March 31, 2024 in the amount of $3,500 monthly or $42,000 annually.
Approved a resolution repealing and rescinding a previous resolution concerning a letter of credit agreement and associated documents regarding the city and Municipal Gas Acquisition and Supply Corporation (MuniGas). Per the agenda packet, the letter of credit agreement authorized in July was to allow the city flexibility to manage cash through the changing environment, but the city executed a contract in October with Energy Transfer that would allow the city to purchase natural gas directly from the physical supplier, making the letter of credit with MuniGas no longer necessary.
Passed a resolution authorizing the selection of Terracon as a professional service provider to provide special environmental services related to federally funded infrastructure projects associated with the General Land Office CDBM-MIT programs.
Accepted the Fiscal Year 2022 audit from Seidel Schroeder.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL OKs FUNDING TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOR SECURITY UPGRADES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota police say there are no injuries following a shooting Wednesday night in a business parking lot.

Officers responded around 10:30 p.m. to the 500 block of West Washington Avenue and located evidence of a shooting there.

Police say after reviewing video footage and speaking with witnesses, they determined that two groups of people were exchanging words at the business. As one group drove away, they fired multiple shots at the other group.

Police have not identified any suspects.

Anyone who has information on the shooting can reach out to the Navasota Police Department at 936-825-6410 or tip anonymously to Grimes County Crime Stoppers at 936-873-2000.

The post NAVASOTA POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING IN PARKING LOT; NO INJURIES REPORTED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Karen BuckAn ordained minister is looking to become the next mayor of Burton.

Karen Buck will face former mayor David Zajicek in the May 6th election. Buck has served as a minister for over 25 years, many of them as an intentional interim pastor for churches in Washington, Fayette, Waller and Harris counties.

Buck says her experience in providing steady guidance to congregations in need translates well to her goal of giving the city a stable leadership presence.

Following her graduation from Brenham High School and Texas A&M University, Buck studied at Eden Theological Seminary in Missouri.

Buck says she is currently taking a break from pastoral work, which would allow her to be present in the city full-time to be of support to city staff and residents. She prioritizes ensuring Burton is ready for growth, so enhancing city services and infrastructure, improving the availability of affordable housing, and maintaining a strong relationship with Burton ISD as it expands are very important.

Buck says Burton is a rich town full of history, and she wants to use that history to shape its future and where it can go. As the city crafts a vision to move forward, she says unity will be a key piece.

In addition to the mayor’s seat, there will be a contested race between incumbent Jeff Eckhardt and Peter Horn for council position #3.

Early voting for the spring election begins April 24th and ends May 2nd.

The post KAREN BUCK SEEKING ELECTION AS BURTON MAYOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

(courtesy Salem Volunteer Fire Dept.)Several fire departments responded to a large structure fire Wednesday afternoon between Brenham and Kenney.

Around 2:45 p.m., the Salem Volunteer Fire Department was called out, with the Brenham Fire Department as mutual aid, to a fire at a residence on 70 New Wehdem Road off of Highway 36 South.

(courtesy Salem Volunteer Fire Dept.)Salem Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ricky Abernathy said a 30’ x 60’ barn and an outbuilding were fully involved. Assistance was requested from the Chappell Hill, Berlin and Bellville fire departments.

According to Abernathy, approximately 25 fire personnel, four engines and five tankers responded. Units were on scene for about three hours.

No injuries or fatalities were reported, but both structures were a total loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The post BARN, OUTBUILDING DESTROYED IN FIRE SOUTH OF BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

This summer’s “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” Summer Concert Series in Downtown Brenham will feature bands playing hit music from the 70’s through today, including Latin hits!

Crowds enjoy music from The Spicolis during 2022's
"Hot Nights, Cool Tunes" in downtown Brenham.
The Spicolis will make a return during this summer's
concert series.
(Trail Boss Troy, KTEX-106)Brenham Main Street is bringing back two of last year’s favorite bands, while premiering two bands new to “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes”. The Dallas-based classic rock ‘n roll band Ashmore returns to the courthouse square on Saturday night, July 8th. Sponsored by Citizens State Bank, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Woodson Lumber, and Budweiser – Mike Hopkins Distributing, Ashmore will rock downtown Brenham with guitar solos and 100% rock ‘n roll.

On Saturday night, July 15th, seven of the most talented musicians and singers in Texas will bring the Austin band Skyrocket to the square. Skyrocket has one of the largest repertoires of any cover band around, playing songs from the 70’s and 80’s along with more recent hits. Skyrocket makes their “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” debut sponsored by Brenham National Bank, Seidel Schroeder, Dahmann and Associates, and Must Be Heaven.

The Latin beat of Shekere, a talented seven-piece band of musicians and singers from Houston, will have the crowd dancing the salsa on Saturday, July 22nd. Shekere is bringing their horn section to really liven up their mix of English and Latin pop hits. They are sponsored by Briannas Fine Salad Dressings, Las Americas Latin Cuisine, Deep in the Heart Farms, and RCR Rail.

Closing out the “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concert series this summer on Saturday, July 29th will be the classic MTV tribute band out of Houston, “The Spicolis”. This will be the third year in a row for the Spicoli’s to perform in Brenham featuring the hits of the 80’s. They are sponsored by Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union, Brannon Industrial Group, Strand Associates, and Upchurch Yates Law Firm.

This will be the 19th season for the annual “Hot Nights, Cool Tunes” concert series, which draws nightly crowds in the thousands. The Stray Katz Car Club will be back with a classic car show on the downtown Brenham streets, and the bands will take the stage on Alamo street by the courthouse at 7 o’clock on Saturday nights. There is no charge to attend the concerts, and downtown stores and vendors will be selling food and drinks.

The post 2023 ‘HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES’ LINEUP RELEASED first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Burton will address several roads in the upcoming fiscal year through an interlocal agreement with Washington County that was approved by the Burton City Council on Tuesday.

Included in the interlocal agreement are pavement replacement on Live Oak Street and Cedar Street, applying chip seal to San Marcos Street, repairing major pot holes on North Brazos Street, and digging ditches for better drainage along the east side of South Main Street. The city’s estimated cost for the improvements is approximately $27,250.

Those upgrades will be part of the 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget, which was also approved on Tuesday along with the water/sewer budget. The budgets are based on last year’s actual revenues and expenses.

The general budget includes $159,654 in income, $127,792 in expenses, $107,559 in debt service fund revenue and $85,550 in debt service expenditures, bringing the net budget income to $53,871.

The water/sewer budget has $277,008 in income and $253,935 in expenses, so the net budget profit is $23,073.

The budgets are posted on the City of Burton website, https://cityofburton-tx.gov.

The council also approved the addition of no thru truck signs with a truck image at both ends of North Colorado Street. This is in addition to the existing signs.

In other action, the council:

Approved an estimate for the purchase and installation of an on-site generator with accompanying propane tank and propane for water well #4 from Zaskoda Repair, LLC and Fayetteville Propane Co. The city plans to use U.S. Treasury funds provided through the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to make the purchase, which is estimated at $87,565.
Approved a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the 2023-24 TxCDBG Community Development Fund competition.
Approved opening a new checking account with $8,500 from the general fund to be used for funds received through the Texas Department of Agriculture 2021-22 TxCDBG, having all elected officials as authorized signers on the account, giving the city secretary informational access regarding the account and adding the account to online banking.
Approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the state allowing closure of a segment of the state highway system on Spur 125 between Mulberry Street and Texas Street for the annual Sons of the Legion Cotton Gin Classic Car Show to be held June 10th, with a rain date of June 17th.
Approved an amended order of election for the May 6th general election and an amended election services contract with Washington County.
Approved the postponement of the May 9th regular council meeting to May 16th due to the first day for newly elected officers not being able to take office until after the 12th day following an election
Accepted house plans submitted by Sean Dunbar to be site built at 210 North Brazos Street.
Accepted and approved division orders for Lessard-Jimenez AW A 1H and Lessard-Jimenez AW B 2H from GeoSouthern Operating II, LLC for decimal interest of production proceeds.

The post BURTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVES INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH COUNTY FOR ROAD REPAIRS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A request from the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County for funding to improve security will be considered Thursday by the Brenham City Council.

The club seeks to purchase a comprehensive security system including access control, video surveillance and a security alarm. In a letter to the city in February, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Stephanie Wehring said the club is presently without these security measures, and the existing security alarm system needs to be updated.

The club is requesting $15,000 from the city to match $15,000 allotted in Washington County’s 2023 budget. Wehring said the collaboration would also maximize grant opportunities the club can pursue, including a grant for exterior perimeter fencing.

In other business, the council will act on a resolution approving the city’s participation in opioid litigation settlements with Allergan, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. Approval of the resolution allows the city to receive an allocation of settlement funds.

The council will also consider:

A digital marketing agreement with Madden Media for digital marketing and programming for the Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization. Visit Brenham has contracted with Madden since 2018. Madden’s quote reflects a cost not to exceed $105,000.
A second change order to the service agreement with Bassco Services, Inc. related to the design, construction and installation of the fuel farm at the Brenham Municipal Airport. The change order is in the amount of $20,051.
A consulting agreement with HUB International for employee benefits consulting services beginning April 1st through March 31, 2024 in the amount of $3,500 monthly or $42,000 annually.
A resolution repealing and rescinding a previous resolution concerning a letter of credit agreement and associated documents regarding the city and Municipal Gas Acquisition and Supply Corporation (MuniGas). Per the agenda packet, the letter of credit agreement authorized in July was to allow the city flexibility to manage cash through the changing environment, but the city executed a contract in October with Energy Transfer that would allow the city to purchase natural gas directly from the physical supplier, making the letter of credit with MuniGas no longer necessary.
Accepting a bid for type “D” hot mix asphalt.
A resolution authorizing the selection of a professional service provider to provide special environmental services related to federally funded infrastructure projects associated with the General Land Office CDBM-MIT programs.
Accepting the Fiscal Year 2022 audit from Seidel Schroeder.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR FUNDING REQUEST FROM BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOR SECURITY UPGRADES first appeared on KWHI.com.

(from left) Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Harold
Riddle, Precinct 2 Constable Trey Holleway, Precinct
1 Constable Ken Holle, Precinct 1 Chief Deputy
Constable William Shepherd, Precinct 2 Justice of
the Peace Douglas Cone, Precinct 3 Justice of the
Peace Duane Houston, Precinct 1 Justice of the
Peace Douglas Zwiener, Precinct 1 Deputy Constable
Sgt. Brad Kuecker, Precinct 1 Constable K-9 Lukas
(not pictured are Precinct 3 Constable David Blakey,
Precinct 4 Constable Greg Rolling and Precinct 2
Deputy Constable Jay Huffty)Washington County’s constables and justices of the peace gathered today (Monday) to commemorate a state milestone.

This month marks the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the justice of the peace and constable offices in Texas. They were created in 1823 after Stephen F. Austin appointed John Jackson Tumlinson, Sr. as the first justice of the peace and Thomas Valentine Alley as the first constable.

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Douglas Zwiener says all of the constables and justices of the peace in Washington County work well together and “run an efficient ship.” He credits the solid foundation established hundreds of years ago as the reason the system continues to be used.

Precinct 1 Constable Ken Holle says the local constables offices have seen much growth in recent years, adding new deputies and donation-funded K-9 programs, to keep up with the county as it continues to develop.

The Texas Senate issued a resolution last week, co-authored by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, in recognition of the bicentennial.

The post WASHINGTON CO. CELEBRATES 200 YEARS OF CONSTABLES, JPs IN TEXAS first appeared on KWHI.com.

All participants in the Blue Bell Fun Run
will receive a medal, as well as free t
shirts and Blue Bell Ice Cream.In just under two weeks, runners will take to the Washington County countryside for the 45th Annual Blue Bell Fun Run.

The fundraiser for Brenham High School athletics is set for Saturday, March 25th with a series of runs starting at Brenham High School. The day begins with the half marathon kicking off at 7:30 a.m., the kids’ 1-mile run at 8 a.m., 10K at 8:30 a.m. and 5K at 9:30 a.m.

Jamie Maurer of the Blue Bell Fun Run says the event has become a spring staple.

Over 3,200 people have registered so far for the Fun Run. Maurer says while it may be taking place a little earlier than normal, it still looks like it will have plenty of participation.

All runners will receive a medal, and the top finishers will receive awards. They will also all get free event t-shirts and Blue Bell Ice Cream after the run.

Parking will be at the Washington County Expo, with a shuttle bus taking participants to the high school.

To sign up, go to https://bluebellfunrun.com.

The post 45TH ANNUAL BLUE BELL FUN RUN MARCH 25 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The spring antique season begins this week in and around Round Top.

(courtesy https://roundtop.com)Nearly 100 venues will participate in the Spring Antiques Show, which starts on Thursday and continues through the first weekend of April. Vendors in Round Top, Warrenton, Carmine, Fayetteville and Burton will sell their various pieces of furniture, collectibles, and odds and ends.

Some locations taking part are open throughout the show, while others will have specific dates they take shoppers. Tickets may be required for entry to particular venues.

For a full list of places open for the Spring Antiques Show, go to www.roundtop.com.

The post ROUND TOP SPRING ANTIQUES SHOW OPENS THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham man and his walking sticks made from a unique plant will be featured on tomorrow’s (Tuesday) edition of “The Sound of Texas” with Tumbleweed Smith.

Ran Newman will be the guest on the program, discussing the walking sticks he makes from the stalks of his sotol plant he transplanted from the Chihuahuan desert.

“The Sound of Texas” can be heard Monday through Saturday around 7:20 a.m. on KWHI AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

The post BRENHAM’S RAN NEWMAN TO BE GUEST ON TUMBLEWEED SMITH’S ‘THE SOUND OF TEXAS’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

Sometimes you just have to tune out all of the noise and focus on the most important things. That’s the advice I would give to the members of the Brenham City Council right now. While the recent drag show in downtown has been drawing everyone’s attention, there are much, much bigger and more important issues facing the City.

The lawsuit with the City’s gas supplier during the “big freeze” of ’21 is still unresolved. Although I’ve heard rumors of a settlement, the lawsuit filed by the former Brenham Airport operator is still hanging out there. And then there’s the mess that was made with FEMA over the repairs at the City’s water intake system at Lake Somerville. Just those three issues alone are consuming millions of our tax dollars, and who knows when they will be concluded. But there’s another problem that is even larger. The City’s water treatment plant is close to being at its maximum capacity, and there’s no room to expand it at the present site. As fast as new homes are being built inside the city limits, it’s imperative that a solution be found, and soon. The cost of a second plant to treat the water we get from Lake Somerville is exorbitantly high. A better and less expensive option is developing a groundwater source by drilling water wells. That’s because ground water requires very little treatment…basically just some chlorine…to be safe for drinking. Drilling water wells would also give the City a second source of water in case anything ever happened to the supply from the lake. Water is the key to continued development for the City.

So Council members, don’t be distracted by the noise of other issues like people complaining about the recent drag show. A show that you legally could do nothing about under present law. I know you want to listen to everyone’s concerns and opinions about it, but you have much bigger decisions to make about issues you can actually address. And for those members of the public who are still insisting the City take some action, I implore you to take your message to the State Legislature, where there are bills being considered to address drag shows. No matter your stance on the issue, the Brenham City Council is not the group to lobby until there is a law in place. As you can see, their focus should be on issues they can actually do something about. They’ve got quite a few on their plate.

And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.

The post THE SPECTATOR: COUNCIL NEEDS TO FOCUS ON BIG ISSUES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Unemployment rates are up in Washington County and the surrounding area to start 2023.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the county’s January unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, up a full percentage point from the rate of 3.3 percent in December.

The number of unemployed residents shot up from 500 in December to 656 in January.

Employment totals fell slightly from 14,465 in December to 14,451 in January. Meanwhile, the civilian labor force grew from 14,965 in December to 15,107 in January.

In January 2022, Washington County’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, with 709 people jobless.

The state’s unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent from 3.8 percent in December.

Unemployment rates around the region also grew:

Austin County – 4 percent, up from 3.2 percent in December.
Brazos County – 3.4 percent, up from 2.6 percent.
Burleson County – 3.8 percent, up from 3.2 percent.
Fayette County – 3.7 percent, up from 3.1 percent in December.
Grimes County – 4.7 percent, up from 4 percent.
Lee County – 3.7 percent, up from 3.1 percent.
Waller County – 4.9 percent, up from 3.9 percent.

The post UNEMPLOYMENT RATES UP IN AREA FOR JANUARY first appeared on KWHI.com.

This weekend marks the return of Daylight Saving Time, meaning it’s time to spring forward and turn the clocks ahead an hour.

The time change becomes official at 2 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday). With Daylight Saving Time, the sun will come up later in the morning but also set later in the evening.

Most electronic devices will automatically adjust, but people should check all of their clocks to make sure they are correct.

Daylight Saving Time is observed in the Northern hemisphere from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

The post DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS SUNDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The history and legacy of the Texas Rangers will be honored tomorrow (Saturday) in Burton at the 12th Annual Texas Ranger Day.

A full day's worth of activities will be offered in commemoration of the deeds of famous Ranger Leander McNelly, as well as all Rangers.

Tom Whitesides, an organizer of the event, says this year is the bicentennial of the founding of the Texas Rangers, which makes the observation all the more reason to celebrate.

After the opening ceremony at 10 a.m., festivities run from noon to 5 p.m. They include historical reenactments from the Legends of the Texas Rangers and the Old West Rangers, folk life demonstrations, mule driven buggy rides, music from Kountry Chick DJ, tours of the Burton Railroad Depot and Burton Cotton Gin, the Annie Maud Avis Memorial Fajita and Bean Cook-off, and the Lil Mr. and Miss Ranger Contest.

Guests also have the opportunity for a small fee to swear out a warrant for a Ranger to “arrest” someone and have them take part in a public trial conducted by Judge Hang ‘em High. Proceeds from the “frontier justice”, and from all other activities, benefit the Burton Heritage Society and its efforts to restore the historic Mt. Zion Chapel.

Team entry fees for cookers in the fajita and bean cook-off are waived. Meal tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 6-10. General admission is free.

Steph Jarvis of the Burton Heritage Society says the event is a fun time where children can learn a lot about history.

To learn more about Ranger Day, or the Burton Heritage Society, visit www.burtonheritagesociety.org.

KWHI and KTEX-106 are a proud sponsor of Texas Ranger Day. KTEX-106’s Trail Boss Troy will be at Texas Ranger Day tomorrow in the KTEX Country Cruiser.

The post BURTON TO CELEBRATE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF TEXAS RANGERS’ FOUNDING SATURDAY AT TEXAS RANGER DAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst has filed a sweeping legislative package aimed at curbing illegal immigration in Texas.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) speaks at
a legislative forum in Brenham on August 13, 2019.In a release announcing the legislation, Kolkhorst said she has filed three bills and a concurrent resolution which are meant to address fentanyl trafficking, enhance offenses for unauthorized immigrants who commit crimes, ensure Texas workers are legally authorized to work in the United States, and “declare to the federal government that Texas has been invaded by foreign drug cartels.”

Senate Bill 1620 enhances the state penalties of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants in the course of unlawfully entering the United States.

Senate Bill 1621 requires local governments, state contractors, and private employers in Texas to participate in E-Verify, a federal system to ensure workers are legally authorized to work in the United States. Texas state agencies have been required to comply since 2015.

Senate Bill 1622 creates the new offense of the manufacture or delivery of fentanyl to a person who later dies. The offense will be classified as a first degree felony, which is punishable by life or 5 to 99 years in a Texas state prison.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 declares that the State of Texas has been invaded and calls on the federal government to declare foreign drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and Texas citizens are in danger of irreparable harm.

Kolkhorst said the state is spending billions of dollars per biennium to secure the border, and these bills “are intended to enhance that effort with new tools.” She said, “Where the federal government is avoiding its responsibility, Texas will fulfill its constitutional duty to protect our citizens, property, and border.”

The post SEN. KOLKHORST FILES BORDER SECURITY LEGISLATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Alexia LopezTomorrow (Saturday) marks 15 years since the death of a 2-year-old girl in Brenham, and authorities are still determined to obtain justice for her and her family.

Alexia Lopez died at the Brenham hospital on March 11, 2008 after suffering traumatic injuries to her stomach. The child’s caretaker, Berny Mayel Figueroa, now 44, was considered the primary suspect by Brenham police, but she fled before being taken into custody. A warrant is out for her arrest for murder.

Since that day 15 years ago, local, state and federal agencies have relentlessly pursued any leads that might help bring Alexia’s mother, Sandra Torres, and her family resolution. Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak said it is “aggravating” and “disheartening” that they have not been able to provide that closure, but work will never stop until they do.

Berny FigueroaFigueroa is a native of Honduras and is believed to have fled there, at one point being potentially linked to the city of San Pedro Sula. Honduras does not have an extradition process that could be used to return her to the United States. Authorities suspect her family, who Sheriff Hanak says still lives in the area, played a role in moving her out of the country and have information on how to get her back.

The case has gained national attention, being featured on “America’s Most Wanted” and “The Hunt with John Walsh”. Brenham Police Captain Lloyd Powell, who was assigned the lead role in the investigation at its beginning, said not a day goes by without thinking about Alexia’s murder and stressed that this is not a cold case.

There have not been major developments recently in the investigation, but Torres said she remains hopeful something will surface. She said she would give everything up to have Alexia back.

A Crime Stoppers reward is offered to anyone who provides information leading to Figueroa’s arrest. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Brenham Police Department at 979-337-7337 or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 979-277-6251.

The post JUSTICE FOR ALEXIA: AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO SEEK CLOSURE FOR FAMILY OF BRENHAM TODDLER 15 YEARS AFTER MURDER first appeared on KWHI.com.

(Mark Whitehead)Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes and other colorful wildflowers are popping up all across Washington County.

Lu Hollander, Tourism and Marketing Specialist for Visit Brenham, says because of the warm weather of late and the rain received at the end of last year, bluebonnets are blooming early. She believes lots of people will be coming in over Spring Break to enjoy the flowers, but it also means the season may reach its peak sooner than in previous years.

(Mark Whitehead)Hollander says the roadsides of Highway 290, particularly Highway 290 West, are always full of wildflowers. Other good spots include behind the Walmart Supercenter, by the industrial park and along FM 389.

While there are the tried and true places to see bluebonnets, Hollander says there may also be some new locations to check out.

Anyone hunting for photos in the bluebonnet fields is reminded to be mindful of their surroundings and to never trespass onto private property.

An interactive wildflower watch map is available at www.visitbrenham.com, with updated flower locations and safe places to view them.

The post BLUEBONNET SEASON BEGINS IN WASHINGTON CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Paul KruseFormer Blue Bell Creameries President and CEO Paul Kruse and the federal government have agreed to a settlement dismissing all fraud charges against him in connection to the company's 2015 listeria outbreak, according to multiple reports.

Through the settlement, per the Wall Street Journal and KPRC-TV, Kruse will agree to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for food safety violations. He will also pay a $100,000 fine and serve no time in prison.

In a statement to the two media outlets, Kruse's attorney, Chris Flood, said the settlement "confirms what Mr. Kruse has been saying from the very beginning, no one at Blue Bell ever intended to defraud its customers." He said they are "happy that the government has reached the same conclusion."

The settlement comes as preparations were underway to hold a second trial in April for Kruse, after the first one ended in August with a hung jury.

Kruse was initially charged in May 2020 on accusations that he concealed what Blue Bell knew about listeria contamination at its facilities. The charges were dismissed because an indictment was not obtained from a federal grand jury, but that indictment came in October 2020.

The fraud charges faced by Kruse carried a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

In a separate case, Blue Bell pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products. The company agreed to pay a total of $19.35 million in fines, forfeitures and civil settlement payments.

The post REPORTS: KRUSE TO PLEAD GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR IN LISTERIA CASE; ALL FRAUD CHARGES TO BE DISMISSED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County EMS Director Kevin Deramus gave an update on the status of EMS operations during his 2022 annual report to county commissioners on Tuesday.

Washington County EMS Director Kevin Deramus
presents his department's 2022 annual report to
county commissioners on Tuesday.Much of the report focused on EMS’ aviation division and encouraging trends for the county’s air ambulance agreement with METRO Aviation. Deramus presented data showing the amount of helicopter flights as continuing to stay on par with early projections, while the financial side maintains a favorable outlook.

Per Deramus, there have been 167 air transports with METRO from June to December. The most conservative estimate for a year was 300 transports. Through six months, the air program has accumulated $922,026 in revenue.

Deramus noted that with the county’s ability as a government entity to waive copays for patients, it has prevented $333,406 from being billed to residents who used air medical services.

In addition to the revenue already received, Deramus said the county and METRO believe they are still due an estimated $1,385,312 in air revenue through the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process. An IDR board determines what an insurance provider pays for services if the company refuses to pay a certain amount. He said since the county is billing the least in the region and not overcharging providers, it makes it easier to ensure the county is compensated appropriately.

Through six months, the county is looking at $2,307,338 in combined air revenue received and expected, compared to $1,485,219 in costs , including fixed costs of $1,116,435 and non-fixed costs—like fuel—of $368,783. After county salaries of $350,500 over six months—$701,000 over a full year—are paid, that is still a net profit of $471,619. Deramus cautioned, however, that the goal is to break even, not make money off of constituents as a government entity.

Over the time of the agreement with METRO, the aircraft has maintained an average in-service percentage of 97.7 percent, compared to 77 percent with the county’s previous vendor.

Deramus told the court that a conversation will need to be had about if and how much the county wants to offer its services to other counties, or stick to taking care of the people at home.

While financial data was a large portion of Deramus’ presentation, he stressed that the tangible effect the air medical program has on the lives of people who use the services is far more important. He cited a recent report from the Texas A&M University Health Science Center that showed per 100,000 people, Washington County’s deaths because of cardiac disease, stroke or trauma are fewer than those of contiguous counties, despite not having facilities in the county to treat those conditions.

Combining the air and ground divisions, Deramus said roughly 82 percent, or $4,620,953, of EMS’ 2022 budget of $5,666,447 is funded by revenue and fees for service. The other 18 percent, or $1,045,493, comes from tax contributions. Deramus said on average, the top 200 EMS systems in the nation are funded on a 60-40 split, with the 60 percent being tax income. Commissioner Kirk Hanath added that the county’s EMS facilities were built using donations or Texas Ambulance Supplemental Payment funding, not tax dollars.

Hanath reminded the public that the data provided by Deramus is available for anyone to see. He commended Deramus on the work he has done with the EMS department, saying the team he has put together and the culture he has created is “phenomenal.”

Commissioner Candice Bullock suggested organizing a public event in the future for residents to learn more about the ins and outs of the EMS program and clear up any misconceptions about how it operates.

The post FUNDING, OPERATIONS FOR WASHINGTON CO. AIR AMBULANCE DISCUSSED DURING ANNUAL EMS REPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Blinn Board of Trustees approved higher student rates and fees beginning in the fall 2023 semester at its meeting Monday.

The new tuition for students will be $2 more per semester credit hour for in-district and out-of-district students, and $1 more per semester credit hour for non-resident students. General fees per semester credit hour will increase by $2. Meanwhile, new housing and meal rates are going up by an average of 5 percent.

Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Richard Cervantes said the rate of inflation exceeds the increases that the College is implementing.

The College expects to receive an extra $2.3 million in revenue from the new tuition and fees. The adjusted housing and meal rates are projected to net a combined $609,000 in additional revenue.

In other items, the board authorized the College to negotiate and execute contracts for:

roof tile and façade repairs at the Old Main Building, Parking Lot K expansion, and storm-related damage to Blinn College Park Apartments Buildings 5, 6, and 7 on the Brenham Campus;
valve replacements and building automation system upgrades for Buildings G and H on the Bryan Campus;
and custodial services on the Brenham, Bryan, and RELLIS campuses.

The new tuition, housing and meal plan rates as approved by the Blinn Board of Trustees on Monday.The post BLINN BOARD ADOPTS INCREASED TUITION, FEES FOR 2023-24 first appeared on KWHI.com.

City of Burton residents will see their water and sewer rates go up next week.

Last month, the Burton City Council approved a rate increase that goes into effect on Wednesday, March 15th. The increases will be seen on customers’ utility bills that will be due in April.

A notice sent to customers says the higher rates are due to “an extreme increase” in cost over the past year for operating, repairing and maintaining the city’s utility systems.

For water service, the new rates include a minimum charge of $40 per month. Water will be $2.80 per 1,000 gallons for the first 4,000 gallons. The rate will go up to $3 per 1,000 gallons for service between 4,001 and 10,000 gallons. After 10,001 gallons, the cost will be $3.25 per 1,000 gallons.

Sewer rates will have no minimum charge. A flat fee of $35 per month will be charged to accounts up to 4,000 gallons. From 4,001 to 10,000 gallons, the rate will be $3 per 1,000 gallons, going up to $3.25 per 1,000 gallons for service between 10,001 and 30,000 gallons. Beyond 30,001 gallons, customers will be charged $3.75 per 1,000 gallons.

Previous monthly rates were $23 for sewer and $32 for water, including up to 4,000 gallons.

The new rates were calculated after a rate study conducted by City of Burton Utility Clerk Rachel Belvin, under the guidance of the Texas Rural Water Association.

Customers now have the option of managing their utility accounts and paying their bills online through Nexbillpay. They can go online to https://nexbillpay.net/burtoncityutilities to create an account.

Click here to view a copy of the notice and information provided to City of Burton utility customers regarding the new water and sewer rates.

The post NEW WATER, SEWER RATES FOR BURTON RESIDENTS GO INTO EFFECT MARCH 15 first appeared on KWHI.com.

A several-month-long road improvement project begins tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon on South Chappell Hill Street in Brenham, between Market Street and the Highway 290 feeder road.

In October, the Brenham City Council awarded a contract to Larry Young Paving to conduct major reconstruction work on South Chappell Hill Street.

The city says road work is expected to last until August 1st. Work will consist of removing the existing pavement and going back with an all-concrete street surface, as well as replacing some sections of the curb. Utility work has been completed.

In the first phase, which begins tomorrow, the contractor will close the section of South Chappell Hill Street from Market Street to Stringer Street, with a detour onto Becker Drive. This section will be closed during the duration of the project. All homes and businesses will still have access, except from South Chappell Hill Street in this section.

The second phase, from Stringer Street to Business 290, will have the contractor working one side of the road at a time. The road will be one-way, always westbound traffic from Business 290 to Stringer Street. Access to these areas will be strictly from the Highway 290 feeder. Once one side of the road is complete, the contractor will convert traffic and reconstruct the other side, still westbound.

The contractor will work with residents and businesses regarding access to their properties. At times when concrete is scheduled to be poured, delays will be expected but access will be allowed and worked around.

The city asks for patience with the construction process and for citizens to respect work zones and the safety of construction workers.

The post CONSTRUCTION BEGINS WEDNESDAY ON SOUTH CHAPPELL HILL STREET first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College celebrated 140 years of service to its community on Monday during its monthly Board of Trustees meeting.

Current and former Blinn College officials and
trustees joined on Monday to celebrate the
College's 140th anniversary.
(courtesy Blinn College)Dr. Donald Voelter, who served as the College’s 12th president from 1994 through 2009, gave a presentation on the College’s history and its growth since being founded in 1883. Former trustees were also invited to share recollections of their tenure on the board.

The school was started by the Southern German Conference of the Methodist denomination as the Mission Institution. Its first class had three students. The school became coeducational in 1888 and was named Blinn Memorial College in 1889 after Rev. Christian Blinn, who donated a large amount of money on the school’s behalf.

Dr. Voelter said for a time, the student population was much younger than what would be seen on campus nowadays.

Blinn was organized into a junior college in 1927. In the coming years, conversations began about establishing a taxing district to support the College.

An election in 1937 to create a public junior college district and levy a tax was successful, making Blinn the first county-owned junior college district in Texas.

Blinn would eventually expand from Washington County into Brazos County, first offering night courses at the Allen Academy in Bryan in 1970. A full campus in Bryan was opened in 1997, the same year the College opened a campus in Schulenburg. A campus in Sealy followed in 2005. The latest development is Blinn’s opening of the Walter C. Schwartz Building at Texas A&M-RELLIS in 2018.

Click here to view the board's Monday meeting on YouTube.

The post BLINN CELEBRATES 140TH ANNIVERSARY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Commissioners accepted a bid for an upgraded sound system at the Washington County Expo at their meeting today (Tuesday).

The court went with the bid of Brightengale out of Houston in the amount of $354,083, to be paid with American Rescue Plan Act funds, for a digitally integrated public announcing system.

Last month, when the court agreed to seek requests for proposals (RFPs), Expo Director Harrison Williams said this project is intended to address complaints from guests about the audio at the Expo.

Williams said the final bid received covers a larger scope and is actually less than what was initially budgeted for.

Williams said a benefit of this new system is that it does not require as much in-person support from the vendor, as most of it can be provided remotely. He did say that for the first year of using this new technology, he would like to have on-site support during the county fair to help with any issues that may arise.

Williams said the priority is to have the systems in the livestock barns and sales facility completed by August 1st in time for the fair. The event center and VIP building would be finished soon after if not within that timeframe.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

Approved the selection of engineering/architectural service providers and authorizing the county judge to enter negotiations regarding terms, cost and project details to complete project implementation for the EMS District 6 response station that will be located on federal property near Lake Somerville Marina in Washington County. Negotiations will take place with firms in the order of Keese & Associates, Cutright & Prihoda Architects, CasaBella Architects, Aran & Franklin Engineering Inc., and PlanNorth Architectural Co.
Heard presentations of the EMS 2022 annual report and Engineering & Development Services quarterly report.
Renewed the telemedicine services agreement between the county and the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, through the College of Medicine.
Approved updates to the county’s vacation policy.
Approved a second amendment to a bid with WEX BANK for fleet station and pump fuel for a maximum of 60 days. The extension is through May 1st.
Discussed a formal notice from Corix Utilities Inc. for a road bore for a one-inch service line at 15805 William Penn Road in Precinct 1.
Discussed a formal notice from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC for a natural gas pipeline crossing on Sandstone Road in Precinct 4.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ACCEPT BID FOR SOUND SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AT EXPO first appeared on KWHI.com.

Athletic Director Danny Youngs discusses the need
for weight room equipment at the junior high
school with Brenham ISD trustees on Monday.Students at Brenham Junior High School and Brenham High School will soon have access to new weight room equipment.

On Monday, the Brenham School Board unanimously approved using up to $176,514 to purchase new equipment for the high school weight room and move the existing equipment at the high school to the junior high.

Athletic Director Danny Youngs said the equipment will go inside a large room at the junior high that is meant to be used as a weight room, but currently sits empty.

According to Youngs, around 550 junior high school students are able to access the weight room daily, based on the number of participants in athletics and physical education.

Youngs said the new facilities will go a long way to help junior high students stay on track and not have to catch up when they enter high school.

Brenham Junior High School Principal Michael Watts supported getting the new equipment and joked that trustees are more than welcome to use the facilities if they would like.

Board members voiced their approval of bringing in the equipment, with trustee Jared Krenek said the current weight room setup for junior high students is “dangerous.” Trustee Dr. Michael Altman compared it to having a class with no instructional materials, while board president Natalie Lange said the need to improve the junior high athletic program has existed for years. Trustee Susan Jenkins said if Watts is in favor of this, then “that ices it right there.”

Also on Monday, the board met in executive session to renew contracts for coordinators, principals and assistant principals for the 2023-24 school year. Employees whose contracts were renewed were Melissa Boenker, Allan Colvin, Sarah Cook, Oneta Kay Domel, Ted Ferretti, Kellie Fontenot, Mary Gold, Jennifer Griffin, Natalie James, Kelsey Lopez, Sheridan Malota, Courtney Mason, Michael Ogg, Pamela Plagens, Toni Schwartz, Alison Seilheimer, Steven Siemsglusz, Donald Silvey, Aaron Smithers, Kirk Still, Erin Thibodeaux, Jessica Toliver, Brooke Trahan, Brian Walker, Michael Watts, Jillian Wilke and Adrian Woods.

The board also approved a proposal from Patillo, Brown & Hill, LLP for financial audit services for the fiscal year ending August 31st.

Sophia Flores (front row, second from left), Nelda Wells (front, center) and Rachel Parker (front, second from right) were recognized on Monday as Krause Elementary School's student, paraprofessional and teacher of the month. Brenham ISD administrative assistants and campus clerical staff were recognized at Monday's Brenham School Board meeting. All-State students at Brenham High School were commended for their accomplishments on Monday by the Brenham School Board. The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD OKs NEW WEIGHT ROOM EQUIPMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Authorities are working the scene of a major accident this (Monday) afternoon by Brenham Elementary School.

(courtesy Christina Mantey)The crash was reported just before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 36 North and West Blue Bell Road.

According to Brenham Police Captain Lloyd Powell, a GMC Yukon ran into the back of an 18-wheeler.

The condition of the driver of the Yukon is not known at this time. No one else was inside the vehicle. The driver of the 18-wheeler was said to be okay.

Travelers are advised to be mindful of potential delays.

The post AUTHORITIES RESPONDING TO ACCIDENT NEAR BRENHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INVOLVING SUV, 18-WHEELER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker is recovering after suffering a stroke last week.

Brenham Police Chief Ron Parker, pictured at a city
council meeting on August 4, is recovering at a
College Station hospital after suffering a stroke last
week. Parker was hospitalized in College Station. According to the Calvary Baptist Church Facebook page, Parker’s condition has been upgraded from critical to stable, and he is no longer in the Intensive Care Unit.

The City of Brenham said it did not have an update at this time.

Parker has served as the police chief of Brenham since March 2020. He was previously the chief of police in La Porte.

Captain Lloyd Powell is serving as the acting chief in the interim.

The post BRENHAM POLICE CHIEF RECOVERING AFTER STROKE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Family, friends and community members gathered today (Monday) to remember the life of former State Representative, Speaker of the House and Washington County Judge Gus Mutscher.

A funeral procession for Gus Mutscher exits from
Memorial Oaks Chapel on Monday.
(Mark Whitehead)Funeral services were held this morning at Grace Lutheran Church for Mutscher, who passed away on February 26th at the age of 90. He was laid to rest at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Mutscher served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1961 to 1972, being elected as the Speaker of the House in 1969.

During Mutscher’s time in the House, the state increased financial support for higher education, mental health and other state social services. Mutscher was a key figure in establishing the Brenham State School, now known as the Brenham State Supported Living Center, bringing jobs and careers to Brenham, and creating the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park.

Mutscher would go on to serve as judge of Washington County from 1977 to 1990.

In September, Mutscher was named as a Brenham ISD distinguished alumnus. He was known during his time at Blinn College as “Mr. Buccaneer”, and his efforts on behalf of the college extended to securing additional funding and growth and developing its alumni base and Hall of Honor.

Texas DPS Troopers escort a funeral procession for Gus Mutscher on Monday.
(Mark Whitehead)Gus Mutscher, bottom, pictured with Washington County Judges (top, from left) John Durrenberger, John Brieden and Dorothy Morgan, at Kruse Village in 2019.Gus Mutscher (left) pictured with Lyndon Baines Johnson at an appreciation reception given in honor of Mutscher in Brenham on July 31, 1970.
(courtesy Texas State Library and Archives Commission)Gus Mutscher (center) with George Baker at the capitol in Austin on February 1, 1971.
(courtesy Texas State Library and Archives Commission)The post FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR GUS MUTSCHER first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Smithville man was killed Friday evening in a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle in Washington County.

The accident happened around 6:15 p.m. on FM 390, near FM 50.

According to DPS, a 2018 Mazda CX9 was traveling westbound when it crossed the center line and struck an eastbound 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The driver of the motorcycle, 41-year-old Cole Kay, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Mazda was taken to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Brenham and treated for their injuries.

Investigation into the crash continues.

The post SMITHVILLE MAN KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON FM 390 first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham man is in custody after a shooting Sunday afternoon at a local gas station that sent one person to the hospital.

Bruce Ladarius Banks Jr.
(Washington Co. Jail)Around 2:15 p.m., Brenham police were dispatched to a reported shooting at the gas station on South Day Street at the Highway 290 frontage road. Police say one person was shot, and the suspected party fled the scene.

The suspect, 24-year-old Bruce Ladarius Banks Jr., was later apprehended without incident at an apartment complex on Stone Hollow Drive. He is charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The victim was shot once and was life-flighted to a hospital. Their condition is not known at this time.

Details on what led to the shooting are unclear. Brenham police say this was an isolated incident with no danger to the public.

The police department says it is not releasing any further details at this time, including the identity of the victim, due to its ongoing investigation.

The post ONE IN CUSTODY AFTER SHOOTING IN BRENHAM SUNDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

This year’s Arts and Appetizers fundraiser hosted by the Brenham ISD Education Foundation is one for the record books.

Eli Hodges displays his painting, titled "La Vista" at
the Arts and Appetizers fundraiser on Thursday at
Ant Street Inn. The Brenham ISD Education
Foundation raised a total of $82,915 from the event,
a new record.
(Mark Whitehead)Final numbers provided by Brenham ISD show Thursday’s event brought in $82,915, breaking last year’s record by $6,579.

The live auction accounted for over half of the final amount at $41,500. Sponsorships made up $26,750, while the silent auction tallied $9,545. Ticket sales from the prize drawing totaled $5,120.

This was the 18th year of the Arts and Appetizers event. Students receive half of the proceeds, with the other half going to the Brenham ISD Education Foundation for teacher mini-grants.

The Education Foundation has given out over $500,000 in mini-grants since it was created in 2004. Just last year, it gave out over $115,000.

The post ARTS & APPETIZERS RAISES NEW RECORD OF OVER $82,000 first appeared on KWHI.com.

A celebration of Ireland’s most popular songs, dance and lore is coming this month to The Barnhill Center in Brenham.

(courtesy photo)The Celtic Angels, accompanied by The Celtic Knight Dancers and The Trinity Band Ensemble, will perform on Saturday, March 18th at 7 p.m. The production is comprised of award-winning and world champion singers, dancers and musicians.

The Barnhill Center producer Sharon Brass calls Celtic Angels shows “a delightful visual and musical feast for all ages.” She said patrons at The Barnhill Center have been asking for more ever since their sold-out Christmas show in 2021.

Members of the audience will experience an homage to the Celtic Angels’ Emerald Isle, with over 30 contemporary and traditional Irish tunes woven together through song, dance and storytelling.

Tickets are available by going to The Barnhill Center box office in the Visitor Center at 111 West Main Street in Brenham. They can also be purchased at https://thebarnhillcenter.com.

The post CELTIC ANGELS COMING TO THE BARNHILL CENTER MARCH 18 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Made possible through a donation from Bill Thienes of Brenham, VR technology is an exciting new training tool that allows ADN and vocational nursing students to practice scenarios and receive instant feedback.

The equipment complements Blinn’s existing simulation programs, which include high-fidelity simulators and complex case scenarios.

Thienes recently visited Blinn at Texas A&M-RELLIS to see the technology in action and was so impressed by the students’ reaction he pledged an additional $30,000 gift to expand the program.

In addition to his gifts in support of Blinn’s nursing programs, Thienes, a retired petroleum engineer, previously established two endowed scholarships through the Blinn College Foundation.

Blinn College Foundation Chair Nancy Berry said that they are grateful for the ongoing support that Mr. Thienes has shown for the College and their students. She added that his commitment to education and unwavering generosity will benefit and enhance the lives of current and future Blinn students for years to come.

ADN Program Director, Dr. Karla Ross, believes VR technology is a valuable addition to Blinn’s nursing curriculum that will allow students to collaborate and master specific skills.

Blinn purchased 10 VR headsets and the Oxford Medical Simulation software with the original gift from Thienes. His additional pledge allows the College to more than double the number of headsets available for students to check out, similar to a library book, and practice their skills on their own time.

Blinn offers a number of nursing career options, including Certified Nurse Aide, Vocational Nursing, and Associate Degree Nursing.

For more information about Blinn’s nursing programs, visit www.blinn.edu/nursing.

The post THIENES MAKES ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO BLINN first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Junior High treble singers attended the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation.

Judges awarded Brenham with Excellence in Concert and a Superior rating in Sight Reading.

According to Brenham Junior High Choir Director Liz Foster, it was a very rewarding experience for all involved, and they want to thank everyone for their support.

Treble singer members are: Aaliyah Shiminege-Rogers, Maggie Thibodeaux, Abigail Bunger, Laci Ratcliff, Cody Lavelle, Jaida Thomas, Autumn Osagie, Eleanor Fleetwood, Iris Blakemore, Zackendra Jones, Elizabeth Shelton, Kylee Moralez, Aldyb Jacks, Sophia Dubowik, Sabrina Colvin, and Lily Baker.

The post BRENHAM JUNIOR HIGH TREBLE SINGERS AT COMPETITION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Further plans for a sixth EMS station located by Lake Somerville will be discussed on Tuesday by Washington County Commissioners.

The court will act on the selection of engineering or architectural service providers and allowing the county judge to enter negotiations regarding terms, cost and project details to complete project implementation for the EMS station.

The facility will be built using Texas Ambulance Supplemental Payment (TASP) funding, donations, or a combination of the two.

In May, commissioners entered into a five-year agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the ability to build, operate and maintain an EMS station and helipad on 1.5 acres near Overlook Park Road and LBJ Drive.

In other items, the court will consider renewing the telemedicine services agreement between the county and the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, through the College of Medicine. It will also potentially accept a bid for the sound system at the Washington County Expo.

An executive session will be held regarding the county engineer.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners will:

Hear presentations of the EMS 2022 annual report and Engineering & Development Services quarterly report.
Act upon updates to the county’s vacation policy
Consider approval of a second amendment to a bid with WEX BANK for fleet station and pump fuel for a maximum of 60 days. The extension is through May 1st.
Discuss a formal notice from Corix Utilities Inc. for a road bore for a one-inch service line at 15805 William Penn Road in Precinct 1.
Discuss a formal notice from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC for a natural gas pipeline crossing on Sandstone Road in Precinct 4.

Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS LAKE SOMERVILLE EMS STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Appraisal District is appealing the state’s findings from a property value study that deemed Brenham ISD’s appraised values were too low.

Brenham ISD's preliminary value study results from
the Texas Comptroller.
(courtesy Washington Co. Appraisal District)Per a release from the appraisal district office, the Texas Comptroller released preliminary property value study results on January 31st. The results showed that the 2022 appraised values in Brenham ISD were 91.8 percent, 8.2 percent below the state’s values.

The value is deemed “invalid” for the year if the difference between the local value assessed by the appraisal district and the state values determined by the Comptroller is greater than 5 percent.

Chief Appraiser Dyann White said this is the second year in a row where Brenham ISD is below the state’s appraised values by more than the acceptable margin. She said the invalid score was “unexpected”, as the appraisal district raised values “tremendously” in 2022. She said last year’s increase in values was “by far the largest I’ve experienced in over 20 years.”

Burton ISD residential values were also found to be low according to the state, but the increase in oil and gas values pushed the overall score up to 96.7 percent.

Burton ISD's preliminary value study results from
the Comptroller's Office.
(courtesy Washington Co. Appraisal District)Texas property tax law requires property tax appraisals to reflect true market value. If an appraisal district appraises below market value, then the state can fund the school using values as determined by the Comptroller instead of the locally appraised values, causing the school district to lose money from the state.

White said the appraisal district chose to appeal Brenham ISD’s values after reviewing the state’s study “very closely.” She said more information will be released as the appeal process moves along.

The Comptroller’s property value study findings can be seen here.

During the appraisal district board of directors meeting on Tuesday, the board approved proceeding with the appeal process. The Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott law firm will assist in the appeal. It will be funded from the appraisal district’s litigation fund in the amount of $7,500, but there could be additional cost if the appeal must go to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

Board members also approved a budget amendment to reallocate unused funds from 2021-2022 for specific uses. They include adding an additional appraisal clerk position, digitizing old permanent records, purchasing sales data, and smaller miscellaneous uses like adding to the district’s vehicle and computer funds.

The board also went over the proposed appraisal district budget for 2023-24. The budget is projected at $1,632,220, an increase of $109,220 from the previous adopted budget. White said the increase is due to the added position, budgeting for potential raises, and adding contracts for the sales reports and digital library for permanent records.

The post WASHINGTON CO. APPRAISAL DISTRICT APPEALING ‘INVALID’ APPRAISED VALUES IN BRENHAM ISD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Blinn Board of Trustees will consider increases to student rates and fees for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year when it meets Monday.

At last month’s trustee meeting, the College proposed increases of $2 per semester credit hour for both in-district and out-of-district students, and $1 more per semester credit for non-resident students. It is also looking to raise general fees by $2 per semester credit hour.

The added tuition and fees are projected to raise an additional $2.3 million in revenue for the College.

Student housing rates and meal rates would go up by an average of 5 percent. Combined, Blinn predicts the housing and meal rate increases will net $609,000 more in revenue.

Under the new fee schedule, vehicle registration fees would be $10 more for the fall, spring and summer semesters, and $5 more for just the spring and summer semesters.

Also on Monday, the board will act on authorizing the negotiation of contracts for facility improvements and repairs. On the Brenham Campus, they include roof tile and facade repairs at the Old Main Building, the expansion of Parking Lot K, and repairing storm-related damages in the Blinn College Park Apartment Buildings 5, 6 and 7. On the Bryan Campus, the contracts will cover building automation system upgrades and mechanical and plumbing contractor services for valve replacements in Buildings G and H.

In an executive session, trustees will consider allowing negotiations for custodial services on the Brenham, Bryan and RELLIS Campuses.

The board will meet Monday at noon in the third-floor board room of the Brenham Campus Administration Building.

Screenshots from the February 21st Blinn Board of Trustees meeting showing proposed increases to the College's tuition, housing, meal plan and parking fees and rates.The post BLINN BOARD TO VOTE ON INCREASED TUITION, FEES FOR 2023-24 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham is moving forward with the creation of a small area plan for the land that will be the site of the proposed Brenham Family Park.

Kendig Keast Collaborative President Gary Mitchell
discusses some of what his firm will do in the
creation of a small area plan for the land containing
the proposed Brenham Family Park during
Thursday's Brenham City Council meeting.On Thursday, the Brenham City Council approved a professional services agreement with Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC) for consulting services to produce the plan. The plan acts as a document to cover potential uses, community needs and cost considerations for developing the combined 600 acres around the area west of the Brenham Business Center, south of Highway 290, north of the Brenham State Supported Living Center and east of Highway 36.

City of Brenham Development Services Director Stephanie Doland said feedback from residents will be a strong component of this plan, both from landowners included in the 600 acres and from the general public.

KKC is the same consulting firm that was utilized by the city to develop its comprehensive plan, finalized in 2019. Doland said while the comprehensive plan is a document that governs the “big picture”, the small area plan provides ground-level detail in a focused location.

Pieces of the plan would include determining what the physical features and environment are within the 600 acres, the benefits and disadvantages of development, current and projected traffic counts – along with possible road realignments and additions, such as extending Blue Bell Road to Highway 36 South – and financing mechanisms or funding possibilities.

Gary Mitchell, president of KKC, said a focus of this plan will be how to utilize this land not just for the Brenham Family Park project, but for new residential opportunities.

The agreement to create the plan will not exceed $70,000. The timeline for completion is seven months.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES SMALL AREA PLAN AGREEMENT FOR BRENHAM FAMILY PARK LAND first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Fire Department is celebrating a milestone for one of its historic fire engines.

Tomorrow (Saturday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the department will hold a 100th birthday celebration at the Brenham fire station for its 1923 American LaFrance Chemical Engine, Samanthe.

Brenham Fire Chief Roger Williams says families are invited to see some of the department’s history and get a firsthand experience with some department activities.

According to the fire department's website, Samanthe was purchased on April 2, 1923 from the manufacturer in Elmira, New York. A project to restore her to original condition began in 2004 and was completed in 2008, during the city’s sesquicentennial observation.

Williams says Brenham’s Samanthe is unique in that she is the only one left with her original engine.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, cake, cookies and Blue Bell Ice Cream will be served. The department’s mascot, “Sparky”, will be on hand as well.

The post BRENHAM FD TO CELEBRATE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF ‘SAMANTHE’ FIRE ENGINE SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Ryan Colley shows off her Goldfish painting while auctioneer Rusty
Mertink takes another bid. In what has become the annual big fundraiser for the Brenham ISD Education Foundation, the 18th Annual Arts and Appetizers event took place Thursday evening at the Ant Street Inn Ballroom. The live auction had 34 items in it and brought in over $41,000. The highest bid of the evening was for a 3 night fishing trip for $2000. Brannon Industrial Group won the bid, then donated the trip back in to have other people bid on it. It then went for an additional $1700 to the Crain Group. The highest student done artwork brought in $2800 and was a collaborative artwork by 4th grade students at Alton Elementary School entitled “Our Hometown Rocks” The picture depicts many of the iconic buildings that make Brenham unique.

Although the final numbers for the fundraising event won’t be in until sometime Friday, preliminary results from the live auction show it brought in more than last year. This year’s live auction brought in over $41,000 compared to last year’s $40,350. Students will receive ½ of the proceeds from their artwork, with the other ½ going to the Brenham ISD Education Foundation. The Foundation has given out over $500,000 in mini-grants since it was created in 2004. It gave out over $115,000 just last year.

Paige and Nathan Meyer and their boys look over the silent auction items before the event.Graceyn Stroech shows her painting entitled "Sky Is The Limit" to the bidders.The post 18TH ANNUAL “ARTS AND APPETIZERS” EVENT TAKES PLACE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Members of the public expressed frustration with the Brenham City Council today (Thursday) over what they consider to be a lack of action in response to last month’s Drag Brunch at Floyd’s Lounge.

Four citizens addressed the council during the public comment section of the meeting, with several others in the crowd who applauded after each person spoke. Each called on councilmembers to take steps against allowing events such as these.

The first resident who spoke, Carol Collins, claimed photos and video shared online indicated the event was more explicit than the description provided beforehand by Floyd’s co-owner Pete Simpson. She called for the council to remove Simpson from his spot on the Main Street Board, investigate any potential city ordinance violations, prohibit any businesses from holding events like this, and bill Floyd’s for the large number of city police officers who stood guard outside.

Simpson said before the drag show that the event would involve three individuals in women’s clothing who would lip sync songs and perform comedy. He said the private, ticketed event was restricted to guests over 18 and would not include any nudity, lingerie, stripping or touching from the performers or guests.

Carol Collins speaks to the Brenham City Council on
Thursday about the drag show held last month at
Floyd's Lounge.Collins contested Simpson’s account, saying video from the event showed some of the performers in revealing apparel, dancing in a “very sexually provocative matter”, soliciting cash from patrons and allowing touching from them. In a longer version of her letter to the council sent by Collins to KWHI, she also claimed a young man who “appeared to be in his teens” was in attendance, although there was not a way to verify the person’s age from the video.

KWHI reached out to Simpson, who was not in attendance at the council meeting, for a response. He said he had no comment at this time.

Pastor John Dowling said the council should not wait for Texas legislators to make a change regarding the allowance of drag shows and their exposure to younger audiences, and should instead take charge on its own.

Pastor Jon Davies reiterated his stance shared at the council’s meeting on February 2nd, saying morality should determine legislation, not the other way around.

Candy Arth said she was “ashamed” of the city council’s inaction on this issue and implored its members to take a stand.

Because the citizens’ remarks came during public comment, councilmembers were not allowed to reply.

In January, the city issued a statement saying it “does not have the general authority to regulate events held by private businesses and/or organizations unless laws or ordinances are violated, citizens are placed in harm’s way, or other public health and safety reasons authorize action by the City.”

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

Approved a professional services agreement with Kendig Keast Collaborative for no more than $70,000 for consulting services to produce a Small Area Plan for the land comprised in the future Brenham Family Park. The plan is expected to be completed in seven months.
Approved an amendment to the election services contract between the city and Washington County for the May 6th election. The county requested that there only be one single ballot for cost effectiveness and to reduce confusion, due to the city, Brenham ISD and Blinn College all having a contested election.
Received a presentation of the first quarter financial report for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year.
Held executive session to discuss the development, operations, funding and possible acquisition of The Barnhill Center, and to consult with the city attorney regarding the Aviators Plus lawsuit and the Lake Somerville raw water intake structure. After executive session, the council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute all documents related to the acquisition of The Barnhill Center from Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc.

Terry Fielder (right) receives a certificate in recognition of 35 years with the city's water construction department.Angeline Howard (right) is recognized for 10 years of service with Brenham Municipal Court.The post CITIZENS CRITICIZE BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL OVER FLOYD’S LOUNGE DRAG SHOW first appeared on KWHI.com.

Leigh Linden
(LinkedIn)Brenham Main Street has named its newest manager.

Leigh Linden will take charge of the day-to-day operations and primary responsibilities of the Main Street program.

Linden founded and operated Sweet Repeats in downtown Brenham for several years. Some of her prior roles in marketing and promotions included positions at Brannon Industrial Group/Brand It Graphix, the office of former State Representative Ben Leman, PlanNorth Architectural Company, Independence Coffee Company and Brenham Christian Academy.

Linden is a current or past member of the City of Brenham’s Citizens Advisory Board, Camp for All Camp Friends Board, the Young Professionals Organization of Washington County and the board of the Heritage Society of Washington County. She has also served as an advocate for CASA for Kids of South Central Texas.

Linden fills the position formerly held by Monique Breaux, who resigned in December following the downtown Christmas Stroll.

The post LEIGH LINDEN NAMED NEW BRENHAM MAIN STREET MANAGER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Expo Director Harrison Williams
presents a proposal to county commissioners on
Tuesday to raise rental rates at the Expo to account
for inflationary costs.Washington County Commissioners agreed on Tuesday to bump up the rental rates for some facilities at the Expo and also accepted a donation to better accommodate local 4-H gatherings.

The rate increases apply to half-day, weekday and weekend rentals at the Expo, and range from $25 to $200 more for certain amenities such as the commercial kitchen, standard kitchen and some restrooms.

Expo Director Harrison Williams said the higher rates are meant to combat inflation and remain reasonable when compared to other rental destinations in the region.

Williams noted that the increases are just for the Expo’s main buildings and not the livestock barns, saying attempting to raise the prices there would be “pricing ourselves out.”

Also on Tuesday, the court accepted a donation of items to be used for a dedicated gathering space for 4-H groups, in the building near the beer token booth for the county fair. The items include tables and chairs, as well as improved technology like a TV, internet access and better acoustics to put in the space to hold meetings. The monetary value of the donation is worth $5,000.

Crystal Mikolajchak, chair of the Washington County 4-H Parent Association, said this equipment will be of use to more than just the youth in 4-H.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said it can be difficult to balance rented activities at the Expo with 4-H events, but this is “a super solution.”

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE INCREASED EXPO RENTAL RATES, ACCEPT EQUIPMENT DONATION FOR 4-H MEETINGS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A screenshot of enrollment data for Blinn College
winter minimesters from the 2017-18 academic year
to the 2022-23 year, as shown at Tuesday's Blinn
Board of Trustees meeting.
(courtesy Blinn College)The Blinn College District saw a 16 percent enrollment increase and set a new registration record for the term during the recent winter minimester.

On Tuesday, the Blinn Board of Trustees learned the College enrolled 2,197 students for this past winter minimester, exceeding the previous high mark of 2,160 who enrolled in 2019-2020. Blinn also set a new high in contact hours – the amount of scheduled instruction given to students – with 106,368, a 16.02 percent increase from the previous year.

Vice Chancellor for Student Services Dr. Becky McBride said more students, new course section offerings and stronger advertising efforts played into the increased winter enrollment.

Trustees also received a preliminary report indicating that Blinn’s spring 2023 enrollment was up 1.59 percent as of February 6th.

Dr. McBride said the College has already passed its spring 2022 certified enrollment by 245 students, with registration still open for 4-week and 8-week terms.

Also on Tuesday, the board adopted three priorities for the state legislative session. They include support of legislation developed from recommendations of the Texas Commission on Community College Finance, support of policy priorities adopted by the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, and a request that the Legislature amend Blinn’s service area to include the portion of Waller ISD that is located in Harris County.

Trustees also approved a new Associate of Science in Health Sciences – Nursing Degree Program for students seeking to obtain an advanced degree in a health science-related field. The plan is modeled on the pathway for advanced health science degrees at major universities and was developed for transfer to such programs. With the board’s approval, the degree plan will now be considered for approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The board also authorized the College to negotiate and execute a contract for roof and gutter replacement at Blinn College Park Apartments buildings 1, 2, and 3 on the Brenham Campus and for roof replacement at buildings A, C, and D on the Bryan Campus. Trustees also approved interior finish upgrades in Bryan Campus buildings A and G.

Enrollment numbers for Blinn's spring semesters between 2018 and the current semester, shown to Blinn trustees on Tuesday.(courtesy Blinn College)A by-campus breakdown of spring semester enrollment for Blinn College dating back to 2018. The data was presented to Blinn trustees at their meeting Tuesday.(courtesy Blinn College)The post BLINN SETS NEW HIGH MARK FOR WINTER MINIMESTER ENROLLMENT; SPRING ENROLLMENT ALSO UP first appeared on KWHI.com.

A final docket call is scheduled for March 31st in the second trial proceedings for former Blue Bell Creameries president and CEO Paul Kruse.

Paul KruseA report from Food Safety News says this will be the last meeting prior to jury selection on April 10th. Judge Robert Pitman in the Western District Court in Austin ordered Kruse, his defense attorneys and federal prosecutors to be in attendance at the hearing, and Pitman will hear any pending pre-trial motions at that time.

A mistrial was declared in August for Kruse’s first criminal trial, as the jury voted 10-2 to acquit Kruse. He faces one count of conspiracy and five counts of fraud in connection to Blue Bell’s listeria outbreak in 2015.

Kruse was first charged in May 2020 on allegations of covering up what the company knew about listeria contamination at its facilities. Those charges were initially dismissed because an indictment was not obtained from a federal grand jury, but an indictment was secured in October 2020.

Blue Bell pleaded guilty separately to two misdemeanor counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products and agreed to pay a total of $19.35 million in fines, forfeitures and civil settlement payments.

The post FINAL DOCKET CALL SET FOR MARCH 31 FOR SECOND KRUSE TRIAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

CNN anchor Coy Wire holds a copy of "The
American Experience" and a note with the
signatures of students from Ben Lewis' sixth grade
class at Brenham Middle School.
(image via CNN10)Ben Lewis’ sixth grade social studies and gateway science class at Brenham Middle School got special recognition today (Tuesday) on national news.

In the final minute of today’s CNN 10 newscast, anchor Coy Wire acknowledges Lewis and his class, who turned interviews with citizens over 60, U.S. immigrants and veterans into a book called “The American Experience”, raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Wire then holds up a copy of the book and a note filled with the signatures of students from the class.

The class, which recently published its third volume of “The American Experience”, has been recognized by the Brenham City Council and by U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul.

Copies of the book can be purchased from any student in the class or by contacting Lewis at blewis@brenhamk-12.net. They are also available on Amazon.

The post CNN GIVES SHOUT-OUT TO BRENHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lifetime Learning has announced its selection for the 2023 Washington County READ: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.

Best known for his Cork O’Conner series, Krueger’s This Tender Land is his 2019 standalone story of four rag-tag children who run away from an Indian residential school in Minnesota.

Odie, Albert, Emmy and Mose endure neglect, exploitation and abuse at the school, as well as along their journey of escape. However, this does not hold them back from discovering moments of kindness from each other and unexpectedly from strangers.

This Tender Land was a New York Times bestseller. Krueger is the winner of Anthony Awards for best novel in 2005 and 2006 and an Edgar Award for best novel in 2013.

Lifetime Learning will host a free community reception, dramatic reading, and appearance by Krueger at Unity Theatre on November 14th at 5:30 p.m.

To learn more, go online to www.lifetimelearningbrenham.org.

The post LIFETIME LEARNING REVEALS 2023 WASHINGTON CO. READ BOOK first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton City Council will have two contested races in the May 6th election, including for mayor.

The candidates who have filed for mayor are David Zajicek and Karen Buck.

Zajicek formerly served as mayor starting in May 2017 and continuing until his resignation in March 2022.

Buck serves as pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Zionsville.

Another race will be between Jeff Eckhardt and Peter Horn for council position #3.

Eckhardt was first elected to the council in May 2016 and served for four years. He was appointed to the council in June 2022 after Jason Schoenvogel chose not to seek re-election.

Horn, a businessman and member of Burton’s beautification committee, was previously considered for appointment as Burton mayor after Zajicek’s resignation, but he ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.

The position #1 and #4 seats on the council will be unopposed, those belonging to Nathan Kalkhake and Paul McLaughlin, respectively.

Friday marked the deadline for candidates to announce their intent to run in the spring election. Early voting will be held from April 24th to May 2nd.

The post BURTON TO HAVE CONTESTED ELECTION FOR MAYOR, COUNCIL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department Captain
Dustin Brown discusses the unexpected engine
replacement that had to be made for one of the
department's fire trucks during Tuesday's county
commissioners meeting.Washington County has agreed to pay for an unexpected expense for the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

Commissioners at their meeting today (Tuesday) voted to reimburse the department in the amount of $38,830 to replace a fire truck engine. This came after a commissioner workshop last week where it was discovered that insurance did not take care of the cost for the engine.

Fire Captain Dustin Brown said the county’s help is much appreciated.

County Judge John Durrenberger said this is an emergency situation for the community and surrounding areas, and that it is “crucial” to have the vehicle running properly. Commissioner Candice Bullock said this is a “very critical component” required to meet the needs of the county.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said expenses like this cannot be budgeted for, but the interlocal agreement the county has with the volunteer fire departments allows for these purchases. He said the county appreciates all the departments do and that this is “an excellent use of our tax funds.”

Commissioner Dustin Majewski thanked Hermann International for working on the engine and keeping the price reasonable for the fire department. Brown added to that, saying it “definitely could have been a whole lot more.”

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

Held executive session discussion regarding incentives for economic development purposes and the possible offer of financial or other incentives to Project Katydid, a business seeking to locate, stay or expand in Washington County. No action was taken.
Approved updated rental rates for the Washington County Expo. Expo Director Harrison Williams said the rates have gone up to help offset the cost of inflation, mainly with electricity and water usage. He said the Expo is still “quite competitive” when compared to surrounding facilities in this market. The rate increases do not apply to the Expo barns, only the main buildings.
Accepted a donation of tables, chairs and associated technology from Washington County 4-H for the Expo. The monetary value of the donation is worth $5,000.
Approved the position description for a courthouse deputy. The fulltime deputy at the courthouse was included in this year’s budget.
Approved the purchase of 12 radios from Motorola Solutions Inc. for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $50,913. Durrenberger said the purchase will come from the radio contingency fund and the sheriff’s office small caps fund.
Approved action on the completed roads located in the Bluebonnet Ridge subdivision in Precinct 2 to be placed into the maintenance phase for a one-year period and reducing the security/bond to 50 percent. Roads affected include Bluebonnet Ridge Drive, Chapel View Lane, White Bud Trail, Sledge Court. The roads will later be accepted into the county system.
Approved a subdivision platting variance request for a land division fronting Stern Road in Precinct 2.
Approved an oil and gas development permit for Magnolia Oil and Gas Operating, LLC on Bredthauer Road in Precinct 4.
Discussed a formal notice for utility installation by NextLink in the Rhapsody Road, Daisy Drive, Cheri Lane, Heather Glen Street and Mustang Road rights of way within Precinct 2.
Tabled the adoption of a citizen participation plan and the authorization of a grant administration services contract and engineering services contract for the Community Development Block Grant Regional Council of Governments Method of Distribution grant for Washington County.

The post WASHINGTON CO. TO REIMBURSE CHAPPELL HILL VFD FOR FIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A group of men from the local VFW post talked Tuesday to Brenham High School US History classes. They talked about the Vietnam War mostly and also the Civil Rights movement at home. The men included Ben Seeker, Jack Faulkner, and Robert Wright. They presented first-hand information about what it was like to fight for the Country they loved, and what it was like to come home to mistrust and hatred.

Jack FaulknerThe post VFW TALKS TO STUDENTS AT BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Addressing the teacher shortage, allowing local flexibility, funding districts based on enrollment and rejecting a voucher system are some of the Brenham School Board’s requests for state legislators this spring.

Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin gives his monthly
report during Monday's Brenham School Board
meeting.The board on Monday adopted Brenham ISD’s list of legislative priorities, formally listing what the district wants to see accomplished in the 88th Texas Legislature, which continues through May. The priorities were established in collaboration with Brenham ISD’s fellow school districts in Education Service Center Region 6.

Among Brenham ISD’s requests when pertaining to teachers are removing the surcharge paid by districts when hiring a retired teacher and increasing the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) multiplier.

The district is also asking legislators to avoid writing bills that give the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or the Texas Education Commissioner sole responsibility to define standards and expectations.

In terms of school funding, Brenham ISD requests that lawmakers increase the state’s basic allotment and fully fund all-day Pre-Kindergarten.

For school accountability, the district wants the TEA to not assign A-F ratings this year due to ongoing changes being made to the accountability system and assessments. In lieu of that, it requests a gap year or phase-in period and for ratings to be limited to “Met Standard” or “Did Not Meet Standard.” It also asks for greater information on the state’s scoring system for districts and campuses.

Brenham ISD’s last bullet point for the Texas Legislature is safety and security. The district wants proper funding to meet the state’s requirements for safety and security standards while retaining local control to be able to customize expenditures based on the needs of the community. It also asks for added safety and security funding to be retroactive to spring 2022 expenses, so that districts that used other funds to improve school safety are not penalized. Finally, the district is looking for the state to make improvements in mental health and student support and reinstate laws that address habitual absenteeism among students and their guardians.

After an executive session, the board approved the contract extensions of several administrators. They include Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Clay Gillentine, Chief Financial Officer Thad Lasater, Facilities and Maintenance Director Paul Aschenbeck, Child Nutrition Services Director Kasandra Davis, Safety and Security Director Jay Huffty, Special Education Services Director Christine Johnson, Human Resources Director Christie Olivarez, Director of Instruction Peggy Still, Athletic Director Danny Youngs, Technology Services Director Rodney Leer, and Chief Appraiser Dyann White.

Brenham ISD's FIRST LEGO League teams and state qualifiers are commended during Monday's Brenham School Board meeting.(front row, from left) Cheyenne Sheets, Heather Deramus and Comeshila Hartfield are recognized as this month's respective student, teacher and paraprofessional of the month at Monday's Brenham School Board meeting.Brenham ISD's transportation department receives recognition at Monday's Brenham School Board meeting. The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, EXTENDS ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Floyd's Lounge sold out both of its
Drag Brunch shows on Saturday, with
35 seats per show.
(courtesy Pete Simpson)A drag show brought numerous residents into downtown Brenham on Saturday, both in support of and opposition to the event.

The Drag Brunch at Floyd’s Lounge sold out both of its late morning and early afternoon performances. Many people gathered outside the business, with some carrying Pride flags while others held signs critical of the drag show.

Among those attending the event were the Brenham PFLAG chapter and the Pride Community Center. Josh Tutt, board president of the Pride Community Center, said he was thrilled that an event like this was held in Brenham so that more people can learn about drag entertainment and the LGBTQ+ community.

Performances at Saturday's Drag
Brunch at Floyd's Lounge included
comedy acts and lip syncing of songs.
(courtesy Pete Simpson)Floyd’s co-owner Pete Simpson said prior to the drag show that the event would feature three individuals in women’s clothing who would lip sync songs and perform comedy. He said the private, ticketed event was restricted to guests over 18 and would not include any nudity, lingerie, stripping or touching from the performers or attendees.

A prayer group of citizens and local church representatives met on the courthouse square as the event took place. Matt Sweeney, lead pastor for Grace Community Fellowship and a member of Texas Church Leaders, said the gathering was meant to spread God’s message while “pushing back the darkness.”

Several officers from the Brenham Police Department were onsite to monitor activities outside Floyd’s, and Baylor Street was blocked off in front of the business. Police Chief Ron Parker said approximately 70 guests attended the event, with the number of protestors and demonstrators on both sides numbering close to 100. He said activities remained peaceful, as no arrests or disturbances took place.

Supporters of the Drag Brunch event meet outside Floyd's Lounge.A group of protestors gathers in the Commerce Street parking lot across from Floyd's Lounge.Local pastors lead a prayer service outside the courthouse prior to the start of the Drag Brunch at Floyd's Lounge. Pictured are (from left) Matt Sweeney of Grace Community Fellowship, Jon Davies of Brenham Bible Church and Waylon Eddings of One Way Bible Church.The post DRAG BRUNCH AT FLOYD’S DRAWS LARGE CROWDS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Friday was the filing deadline for candidates planning to run for the May 6th City Council and School Board elections.

For the Brenham City Council, the only contested race is for Mayor, where Atwood Kenjura will face Keith Hofmann. Current Mayor, Milton Tate, decided not to seek another term of office.

Ward 2 Councilman Albert Wright and Ward 4 Councilwoman Adonna Saunders are unopposed for re-election.

There is a special election for the Ward 3 Council seat that is vacant due to Kenjura running for Mayor. Because of the seat being a special election, the filing deadline is extended until March 6. So far, Dr. Paul LaRoche is the only one to file for the position.

For Brenham ISD, all four positions on the Board of Trustees will be contested. For position one, Bonnie Brinkmeyer faces James Franke for the seat vacated by Mark Schneider.

For position two, Dr. Michael Altman, the incumbent, faces challenger, Archer Archer.

For position three, Kyle Hafner will face Artis Edwards Sr. The incumbent, Susan Jenkins is not running for re-election.

For position four, the incumbent, Kelvin Raven is running against David Jantzi.

In Burton ISD, there will be four people running for three at-large seats.

Incumbents Dean Fuchs, Misty Lucherk, and Donna Putnam have all filed for re-election. Former board member Ande Bostain has also filed for the election.

The Blinn College Board of Trustees will have a contested election. Diane Kettler will face Andi Liner in Precinct 2. Allison Bentke in Precinct 3 was the only candidates to file in that race.

The City of Burton has not yet provided a list of candidates who have filed for its council election.

The post NUMEROUS CONTESTED RACES FOR BRENHAM, BURTON, BLINN ELECTIONS AS FILING DEADLINE PASSES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Bellville ISD has placed a $49.5 million school bond on the ballot for the upcoming May 6th election.

The bond includes $44.5 million to construct a new junior high on school property in the vicinity of the current campus.

According to the Bellville Times, plans call for the new junior high to be a 133,000 square foot facility and built for 700 students.

Core areas such as the cafeteria and gymnasium would be built for up to 900 students so that when the day comes that they need to expand, those areas would already be equipped to handle the extra students.

The remainder of the bond funds would be used to transition 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students at the O’Bryant Primary and O’Bryant Intermediate Schools to the current junior high, as well as provided renovations and improvements across the district.

Renovations and improvements include HVAC replacement at Bellville High School, HVAC replacement at O’Bryant Primary, and window replacement and restroom additions at West End Elementary in Industry.

If passed, the bond is projected to create a one cent increase on the Bellville ISD interest and sinking tax rate.

The post BELLVILLE ISD TO HOLD BOND ELECTION ON MAY 6 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Discussion on the 88th Texas Legislature will lead Monday’s meeting of the Brenham School Board.

Trustees will consider approving Brenham ISD’s list of priorities for legislators to address during the current legislative session, which ends in May.

The meeting will also include special recognition for Brenham Middle School’s LEGO League participants and qualifiers, Brenham High School’s All-State students, and the monthly spotlighted students, teachers and staff members.

The board will conclude with an executive session, after which it will potentially vote on assistant superintendent and director contracts.

The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in rooms 111 and 113 at Brenham High School. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

There will be a contested election this spring for the Burton School Board.

Incumbent Dean Fuchs will seek re-election as a trustee to one of three at-large positions, according to updated filing information provided this (Friday) morning by Burton ISD.

Fuchs was first elected to the board in November 2020.

With Fuchs’ filing, there are now four candidates for the three positions up for election. They include current board members Misty Lucherk and Donna Putnam, as well as former trustee Ande Bostain.

Today is the deadline to apply for a place on the ballot for the May 6th election.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION TO BE CONTESTED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Jayshua Hedge
(courtesy Burleson Co. Sheriff's
Office) A Harris County man was sentenced to prison this week for his role in the armed robbery of a Dollar General store near Lake Somerville in 2021.

19-year-old Jayshua Dquan Marquis Lee Hedge pleaded guilty to first degree felony aggravated robbery charges and received a 23-year prison term from Judge Reva Towslee Corbett. He was additionally sentenced to eight years in prison, to be served concurrently, for theft.

The robbery occurred just before 10 p.m. on August 14, 2021 at the Dollar General off FM 60 at County Road 410.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office said two masked men entered the store and demanded cash from the register before striking the clerk in the head with a handgun. The men then took the money from the register and fled, eventually leading to a pursuit along FM 60 towards Lyons.

The chase ended in a subdivision on Park Road 57 when the suspects left the car and fled on foot into a wooded area. A search by law enforcement did not immediately lead to their capture, but Hedge was later arrested on an unrelated aggravated robbery charge in Harris County.

The clerk injured in the robbery was treated at a hospital in Bryan and released.

The post SUSPECT IN BURLESON CO. ROBBERY SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS IN PRISON first appeared on KWHI.com.

A longtime member of the Brenham Police Department is retiring from the city.

Todd Ashorn (left) is recognized for his years of
service at the Brenham Police Department by Chief
Ron Parker.
(courtesy Brenham Police Dept.)The police department on Wednesday honored Sergeant Todd Ashorn at a retirement ceremony. Ashorn’s tenure with the department lasted over 22 years, beginning as a patrol officer on October 16, 2000, and his career saw him assigned to every section and division within the police department.

Ashorn’s most recent assignment was as the department’s recruiter, public relations liaison, internal affairs investigator and community outreach. He was also a department instructor in a variety of subjects, including the Citizens Police Academy.

At the retirement ceremony, City Manager Carolyn Miller said the city wishes him all the best in his future, adding he “is a wonderful example of the dedicated and committed staff who serve our community every day.”

Police Chief Ron Parker awarded Ashorn with a Meritorious Service Award and several commendations and certifications recognizing him for his years of service.

The department said Ashorn has retired from active duty as a full-time sworn officer, but will remain as a reserve police officer.

The post BRENHAM POLICE SGT. TODD ASHORN RETIRING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Worries about illegal aliens played a role in the Brenham City Council’s decision today (Thursday) to vote down a proposal for a mixed-income community housing project west of Brenham, the third rejection of new tax-credit housing in as many years.

Trinity Housing Development, the designers of Brenham Junction, sought to build a 48-unit, non-age-restricted complex on the north side of Highway 290, west of Westwood Lane, and needed a resolution of support from the council in order to secure state funding for the project. Shannan Canales and Leah Cook voted in favor of allowing the complex to proceed, with the other five councilmembers voting against.

Much of the council’s discussion revolved around the possibility of the housing being offered to illegal immigrants and if non-local applicants would end up moving in through the government voucher system.

Brenham Housing Authority (BHA) Executive Director Ben Menjares said part of the BHA’s application process requires a birth certificate, social security number, driver’s license and at least one family member to be a United States citizen or legal resident. He said while that would not stop a situation from a family with only one legal citizen from moving in, the amount of assistance is prorated to where only that one person would receive the subsidized assistance; the others would have to pay the full amount.

Trinity Housing Development Vice President Michael Fogel said the project would be required to accept vouchers, but the developer’s other projects typically have very few residents who use them. He said they would communicate with the BHA in order to encourage local applicants, which usually make up a large majority of the referrals received. Menjares added that the BHA’s voucher budget is limited, and other housing authorities typically do not want to have to go through all of the paperwork of sending residents to the BHA unless it can absorb the cost. He said in those situations, it is usually from somewhere within this area of the state.

Approximately half of the 48 one- to three-bedroom units in Brenham Junction would have been bound to tax credit rent and income restrictions at or below 60 percent Area Median Income (AMI). Fourteen units would have gone for full market rate, and the remaining 10 would be considered workforce housing, or 80 percent AMI.

Fogel said the tax credit funding system would be a stable method to bring new housing supply into Brenham beyond market-rate properties that are at the mercy of the changing economy.

When the project was first brought before the council last month, Fogel said Trinity would ask for a property tax abatement from the city and county for additional support. However, that contingency was later removed from consideration.

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan Cates said Brenham has not added any new tax credit or workforce housing, not counting age-restricted developments or Brenham Housing Authority-led renovations or replacements of existing units, since 2002.

Brian Fathauer was one of the residents who spoke at the meeting, asking “when is enough enough” when it comes to subsidized housing and saying the city should not pursue projects like this when it is nearing its limit on new water customers that can be served.

Blake Brannon of Brannon Industrial Group said the council should take more time to explore ideas presented by Councilmember Clint Kolby on behalf of the city’s housing task force, including container housing, reduced lot sizes, and allowing duplexes in single-family zoned areas.

Councilmember Atwood Kenjura said he would like to delay any action on projects such as this until the council is sure they are the best alternative.

Canales asked the council where a solution it would agree with would come from, and said by rejecting this, it is going to “kick the same can down the road over and over again.”

The council’s vote today follows a rejection of a tax credit home development on Pecan Street in 2021, and a workforce housing community that would have been located on Prairie Lea Street in 2022.

Also at today’s meeting, the council:

Accepted a bid from KRPS Contractors, LLC for the Brenham Family Park Main Creek Crossing project for $271,732.
Approved final payment of $26,132 to Carlson McClain Construction Company for the rehabilitation of the two Henderson Park pedestrian bridges. The total contract amount was $163,400.
Accepted a bid from Dudley Construction, LLC for $1,130,000 for the Stone Hollow lift station project. The approval is contingent on the city’s acquisition of property for the relocation of the lift station.
Accepted a bid from D&S Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $924,932 for the Stone Hollow force main and Ralston Creek gravity sewer crossing.
Approved a professional services agreement between the city and McCord Engineering, Inc. for the Lower Colorado River Authority load shedding upgrade in an amount not to exceed $57,000.
Approved a license agreement between the city and Brenham Market Square, LP related to the construction of a multi-tenant pylon ground sign.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL VOTES 5-2 AGAINST BRENHAM JUNCTION HOUSING PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange is cutting nearly half of its staff and several services amid financial struggles.

The hospital board voted unanimously last Thursday, February 9th to pursue becoming a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH), transitioning from a full-service hospital. Starting Saturday, the hospital will only offer 24/7 emergency medical services, patient observation and select outpatient services.

According to the Fayette County Record, 64 of the hospital’s 144 employees are losing their jobs, including 58 full-time positions and six part-time positions.

Services closing include inpatient services, surgical services, orthopedic care, post-acute rehab, ambulatory care and speech therapy. However, 24/7 emergency services, lab work, X-rays and imaging, mammography, pharmacy services, cardiac rehab, and therapy for physical, occupational and respiratory needs will continue.

A press release from the hospital says the REH model is designed to “maintain access to emergency and critical outpatient services in communities that may not be able to financially support or sustain a community hospital.” The REH designation was adopted by the federal government at the start of the year and by Texas legislators on January 13th.

To qualify for the new designation, 24/7 emergency services must be maintained, but inpatient services cannot be offered. Approved hospitals will receive an increase in reimbursement for relevant outpatient services, as well as a monthly facility payment from Medicare.

St. Mark’s President and CEO Mark Kimball said the hospital board and leadership “have exhausted every other financial avenue.” He said the hospital is “optimistic that with this new REH designation, St. Mark’s can remain a viable, local healthcare facility,” but stressed that it will still need “additional financial support from the community to survive.”

The post ST. MARK’S MEDICAL CENTER TO CUT STAFF, SERVICES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Michael Brewster
(courtesy photo)Update @ 10:05 a.m.: Brenham School Board candidate Michael Brewster’s campaign has ended shortly after it began.

Brewster told KWHI this (Thursday) morning that he has discovered he is ineligible to run for the school board, as he lives in the county and pays Burton ISD taxes. He said he will have to formally withdraw from the race.

The Brenham ISD administration office confirmed it spoke with Brewster this morning, and that he would withdraw his candidacy.

Brenham ISD notified KWHI Wednesday morning of Brewster’s filing for the Position 1 seat formerly held by Mark Schneider. KWHI spoke with Brewster Wednesday afternoon for a candidate interview.

Brewster was set to run against Bonnie Brinkmeyer for the trustee position. Brinkmeyer now returns to being the only candidate in that race with one day remaining before the filing deadline.

The two contested races thus far are between incumbent Dr. Michael Altman and Archer Archer, as well as Kyle Hafner and Artis Edwards Sr. for the spot of outgoing trustee Susan Jenkins. Incumbent Kelvin Raven is currently unopposed.

Original Story @ 8:40 a.m.: A third position on the Brenham School Board will be contested come the May 6th election, as another candidate has filed.

Michael Brewster is seeking election to the vacated seat of Mark Schneider, who moved out of the district. Michael is the owner of Kwik Kopy in Brenham along with his brother, Chris. He is also a worship leader and the founder of Stronghold Bible Outreach, which provides free bibles to people in the community. Brewster will face Bonnie Brinkmeyer for the position.

Brewster says he aims to bring in new ideas and make sure every family feels valued.

Prior to owning Kwik Kopy, Brewster worked as a personal trainer and as a police officer for the City of Giddings and Blinn College.

Brewster says he would like to improve introductory teacher pay and have faculty and staff members participate in more hands-on safety training with local law enforcement. He would support concealed carry for qualified staff who are comfortable doing so. In addition, he is in favor of implementing a policy to remove cellphones from the classroom except in an emergency. He would also like trustees to be more involved in the day-to-day instructional process so that they can maintain a presence in schools and build rapport with students and teachers.

Brewster says he treats everyone with respect, courtesy and compassion.

The other two contested races thus far are between incumbent Dr. Michael Altman and Archer Archer, as well as Kyle Hafner and Artis Edwards Sr. for the spot of outgoing trustee Susan Jenkins. Incumbent Kelvin Raven is currently unopposed.

Tomorrow (Friday) is the final day to file for a place on the ballot.

The post MICHAEL BREWSTER TO WITHDRAW FROM BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD RACE first appeared on KWHI.com.

An assortment of hit songs from Frank Sinatra to Frankie Valli to Queen to Figaro is coming to The Barnhill Center in Brenham.

The Jersey Tenors(courtesy photo)The Jersey Tenors, produced by Off Broadway Group, will perform on Saturday, February 25th at 7 p.m. Backed by a six-piece band, the genre-bending group of four has a large collection of Broadway and operatic credits, with rock and pop hits from several eras.

The Barnhill Center producer Sharon Brass says the four entertainers “raise the roof with their powerful voices, original arrangements and brilliant choreography.” She says their “high-energy show” will leave the audience “in awe.”

Born and bred in New Jersey, The Jersey Tenors focus their show on the music of Jersey stars Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, The Four Seasons, Kool and The Gang, and Jersey girl Whitney Houston. The repertoire also includes popular songs from Journey, The Beach Boys, Josh Groban, ABBA, Elton John and Bon Jovi.

The Jersey Tenors have opened for Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Chubby Checker and others. They performed for President George W. Bush and were featured on the season finale of The Real Housewives of New York on Bravo. The Observer says The Jersey Tenors are “top-flight male vocalists.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, go online to www.thebarnhillcenter.com.

The post THE JERSEY TENORS TO PERFORM FEB. 25 AT THE BARNHILL CENTER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton School Board will review several administrative positions at its meeting Monday.

Trustees will perform the annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy in executive session and discuss her contract and salary. They will also discuss the contracts for the elementary and high school principals, assistant principal, counselor and athletic director.

No action was taken following Dr. Kennedy’s evaluation in January 2022. The year prior, the board voted unanimously to extend her contract through June 30, 2024.

In other items, the board will consider the proposed calendar for the 2023-24 school year.

Election business will also come before the board, as it will consider approving a joint election contract with the City of Burton and an order of a school board election for the positions of Dean Fuchs, Misty Lucherk and Donna Putnam on May 6th. It will then appoint election officials.

Also on Monday, trustees will:

Hear a facilities bond project update.
Call a public hearing to discuss the district and campus Texas Academic Performance Reports.
Consider a board policy update affecting local policies.
Discuss and consider a 2022-23 application for a low attendance day waiver for Burton Elementary School on December 16th.
Discuss and consider a proposed Washington County Appraisal District surplus funds budget amendment for the 2021-22 budget year.
Consider approval of adjustment of the 2022-23 school calendar student minutes and professional staff development days.

The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in the Burton High School Auditorium.

For audio access, dial 1-346-248-7799 and use meeting ID 952 0665 6432 and passcode 919473.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD TO EVALUATE SUPT., CONSIDER ADMIN CONTRACTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Prairie View A&M University President Ruth J. Simmons has announced she will step down from her position at the end of the month, four months sooner than anticipated.

Ruth J. Simmons
(courtesy Prairie View A&M University)In a letter today (Friday) to the university community, Simmons said she was recently informed that she could only continue as president with “limited presidential authority.” She intended to resign June 1st.

Simmons said she “could not and would not agree to being president in name only”, and that she “cannot now become a leader accepting lowered expectations.” She added, “No one is more surprised than I by this premature end to my tenure.”

In November, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents selected Dr. Tomikia LeGrande as the sole finalist to serve as PVAMU’s next president. Dr. LeGrande, who is currently the vice president for strategy, enrollment management and student success at Virginia Commonwealth University, is not set to assume her new duties until the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said in a statement that departing presidents in the system cannot hire senior staff or deans unless they are interim hires, so that the new president is able to choose their own leadership team. Sharp said he informed Simmons he would not make exceptions to this policy and she decided to resign. He said he is “sorry she chose this path” but is “forever grateful for her service at Prairie View A&M University and look forward to even greater things in the future.”

The Texas A&M System said it will appoint an interim president to serve prior to Dr. LeGrande’s start.

The post RUTH J. SIMMONS TO RESIGN EARLY AS PVAMU PRESIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Dr. Michael Altman
(Mark Whitehead)A Brenham dentist is seeking his third term on the Brenham School Board.

Dr. Michael Altman was first elected as a trustee in 2015. He and his wife, Sabrina, started Altman Dentistry in 1994. His school board race is contested, as he is facing Archer Archer for the position.

Dr. Altman believes Brenham ISD needs to continue building upon the foundations of education, making sure students are prepared for the real world and not just assessments.

A Brenham High School graduate, Dr. Altman has lived in Brenham since 1971. He attended Blinn College and Texas A&M University, and graduated in 1993 from University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston.

Dr. Altman is proud of the school district’s implementation of programs to help students catch up in reading and writing in the wake of COVID-19. He says he wants to address facility growth and improvements so that Brenham is ready for larger student populations.

There are currently two school board races that have more than one candidate, including Dr. Altman and Archer. Kyle Hafner and Artis Edwards Sr. are seeking the seat occupied by Susan Jenkins, who is not running for re-election. Incumbent Kelvin Raven presently is unopposed, along with Bonnie Brinkmeyer, who is running for former trustee Mark Schneider’s seat.

Next Friday, February 17th, is the final day to file for a place on the May 6th ballot.

The post DR. MICHAEL ALTMAN RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION TO BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst
speaks on the Senate floor in
2021.
(courtesy Office of Lois Kolkhorst)State Senator Lois Kolkhorst has filed legislation for the legalization and regulation of online sports betting in Texas.

In a press release from the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, Kolkhorst said Senate Bill 715 and Senate Joint Resolution 39 “will promote integrity through transparent licensing, permitting, and reporting requirements” while stopping “underage offshore betting” and keeping sports wagering funds in Texas.

If passed, the legislation would prompt a constitutional amendment election in November, where voters would choose whether to legalize wagering on games online. It would not allow bets to be made in person at sporting events. The bills would also create a 10 percent tax for the adjusted gross wagering revenue.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) has signed on as a joint author to Kolkhorst’s SB 715, while Representative Jeff Leach (R-Plano) has filed HB 1942 for consideration in the House chamber.

Legislation to allow sports betting failed in 2021’s legislative session.

Former Governor Rick Perry, who is a spokesperson for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, said “a smart, efficient legal framework will keep [mobile sports betting] revenue here to go towards much-needed property tax relief.”

The post SEN. KOLKHORST FILES ONLINE SPORTS BETTING LEGISLATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Randy Reets
(KWHI file photo)Funeral arrangements have been announced for longtime Brenham radio announcer Emil Kocurek Jr., known on-air as Randy Reets.

Reets died on Tuesday at the age of 88.

Visitation will be tomorrow (Friday) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel. The family will be present from 5 to 7 p.m., and a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with burial following at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Reets was a broadcaster for over 60 years, many of which were at KWHI as a disc jockey, news director, sports director, operations manager, salesman, and sales manager. He also served for many years as a play-by-play voice for local sports teams including the Brenham Cubs, Burton Panthers, Blinn Buccaneers and Washington County Little League.

The post FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS SET FOR RANDY REETS first appeared on KWHI.com.

(from left) DSA Construction Management Sales and
Marketing Director Joe Carlock, Reliance
Architecture President Antonio Naylor, Burton ISD
Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy, and Burton ISD
trustees David Warner Sr., Jeff Harmel, Donna
Putnam, Demetrius Colvin Sr., Misty Lucherk, Dean
Fuchs, Brian HinzeBurton ISD trustees on Wednesday broke ground at the site of the school facilities project and heard an update on how it is progressing.

DSA Construction Management Project Manager Stad Tomlinson said some challenges have presented themselves with the weather, but work has begun for the stadium and crews are “adamant” about working whatever hours they can to keep on schedule.

Tomlinson said it is a balancing act between all of the different workers involved with various portions of building the stadium to stick to the timeline.

A scheduling sheet provided by Tomlinson showed that construction of the stadium and home parking is projected to be complete by the end of July. Work at the high school and for the remaining parking should be done by January 2024. The renovations for the junior high and cafeteria are expected to be finished by January 2025.

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD BREAKS GROUND, HEARS BOND PROJECT UPDATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A bill filed by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst restricting certain foreign ownership of Texas lands has the support of Governor Greg Abbott, but has also drawn opposition.

State Senator Lois Kolkhorst speaks on the Senate
floor during the 2021 Legislative Session.
(courtesy Office of Lois Kolkhorst)Senate Bill 147 would prohibit citizens, businesses or entities from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from making land purchases in Texas. Gov. Abbott has said he intends to sign the bill should it come to him, but the bill has come under scrutiny from some lawmakers and members of the public who claim it is discriminatory.

Kolkhorst said the bill will be clarified to reflect that private, legal United States citizens and permanent residents will still be able to purchase land.

Kolkhorst said the bill builds off of SB 2116 from the 2021 Texas Legislature, which prevents those four countries from entering into contracts or agreements in connection to critical infrastructure in Texas. That bill passed unanimously, and she questioned why some legislators are critical of this new bill after voting for the previous one. She also said there are 22 other states that have some form of restriction on foreign national land ownership.

Kolkhorst said this would not stop anyone from doing business in Texas, as they could still lease buildings. She reiterated that this is not a blanket on all foreign countries and is not meant to target any certain ethnic group, only the countries that are considered “hostile to Texas and the United States.”

In her press release first announcing the filing of SB 147, Kolkhorst pointed to the purchase in 2021 of over 130,000 acres by a Chinese-controlled firm for a wind farm near Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. She said the bill is meant to provide “basic safeguards to ensure Texans remain in control of Texas land.”

Other bills similar to Kolkhorst’s have been introduced in the Senate and the House. Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) filed SB 552 to ban citizens and companies from the same four countries from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in Texas. Representative Cody Harris (R-Palestine) filed HB 1075 to prevent any foreign governments or companies controlled by a foreign government from owning agricultural land.

Kolkhorst said SB 147 has yet to be referred to committee and anticipates debates on the bill later this spring.

The post SEN. KOLKHORST ADDRESSES SB 147 CONCERNS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Randy Reets (KWHI file photo)A longtime Brenham radio personality has passed away.

Emil Kocurek Jr., known to radio audiences as Randy Reets, died yesterday (Tuesday) at the age of 88.

Reets was hospitalized last week after suffering what his family revealed on Facebook was a catastrophic stroke.

Reets was born in Wharton, and his family later settled in Sealy, where he graduated high school.

He later went to college at the University of Houston to study for a career in broadcasting.

After college, Reets first joined the staff here at KWHI in 1958 as a disc jockey. By his own admission, he adopted the “Randy Reets” name after deciding that his given name, Emil Kocurek Jr., didn’t sound like a radio name.

His broadcasting career spanned over 60 years, most of which were here at KWHI where he wore a variety of hats including disc jockey, news director, sports director, operations manager, salesman, and sales manager.

Randy Reets (left), David Grace (Center),
and Keith Kane (right)Reets was also a long time play-by-play voice for the Brenham Cubs, Burton Panthers, Blinn Buccaneers, and Washington County Little League.

During his career, he called games for nearly every high school in Washington and the surrounding counties.

Reets also played in band that was first known as Randy and the Rockets, and later became the Serenaders.

He is survived by his two daughters Deidra and Amy, his two sons Kellen and Chris, his grandchildren, and numerous other family members and friends.

Funeral arrangements are still pending at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

The post LONGTIME RADIO PERSONALITY RANDY REETS PASSES AWAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham Police Department released its Annual Report for the Calendar Year 2022 on Crime in the City of Brenham, Texas.

The report includes Crimes Against Persons (violent crime) and Crimes Against Property (property crime). The overall crime rate for 2022 was 551 compared to 499 in 2021, resulting in a 10% increase.

For Crimes Against Persons (murders, aggravated assaults, rapes, robberies, and assaults), the rate decreased by 4.3%. There were 271 violent crimes in 2022 as opposed to 283 in 2021. There were no murders in the city in 2022.

For Crimes Against Property (burglaries, larcenies/thefts, and auto thefts), the rate increased by 24%. There were 277 property crimes in 2022 and 216 in 2021. The largest increase in this category was the number of auto thefts, which increased by 45% over 2021 rates.

The number of traffic crashes within Brenham remained unchanged, with 516 in both 2021 and 2022. And, there were 32,849 calls for service in 2022, and 36,243 in 2021.

Police Chief Ron Parker states, “Enforcing the law within Brenham became more dangerous for our officers in 2022, with more violators/suspects resisting arrest and fleeing from officers. We have also seen a significant increase in the number of firearms illegally in the possession of suspects during our encounters.”

Response times for officers, from the time they receive a call from dispatch until they arrive on the scene, were 8:58 minutes for Priority 1 calls, (life-threatening/emergency), with the national average being 28 minutes according to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics.

“We will continue to urge the citizens to be active stakeholders in the crime rate for Brenham. The overall message to our citizens is: “If you see something, say something”. The report of crime occurring, or suspicious circumstances, as observed by citizens to the police is essential in helping us in our mission to protect our city,” says Chief Parker.

(Report courtesy Melinda Gordon, City of Brenham Communication and Public Relations Manager)

The post BRENHAM POLICE DEPT. 2022 ANNUAL REPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC is headed to nationals for the seventh straight year.

The Brenham High School Marine Corps Junior
ROTC is advancing to nationals for the seventh year
in a row.On April 12th, Brenham’s Unarmed Drill Team will represent Brenham High School at the National Championship in Fredericksburg, Virginia as one of only eight teams throughout the country to receive an invitation.

The Brenham MCJROTC participated on February 4th in the Region 5 Drill Championship in Allen against 16 select teams in two divisions. Divisions included the Armed Division and the Unarmed Division, which encompass personnel inspection, Color Guard, regulation drill and exhibition drill.

The Unarmed Drill Team placed 2nd in their division, while the Armed Team placed 3rd. Per a press release from Brenham ISD, it would normally be the top three teams that are invited to the National Championship, but due to government budget constraints, only the top two teams are moving on.

Special recognition goes to Unarmed Commanders Jackie Salinas, Amelia Bayse and Ximena Cervantes Mejia, and Armed Commanders Dylan Guerrero, Noah Childs and Colton Linegar for their work this year.

The post BRENHAM MCJROTC ADVANCING TO NATIONALS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Hannah Shahzad is the top speller in Washington County. She finished first in the annual Spelling Bee Tuesday night. After misspelling multiple second words, Hannah spelled topgallant and modular correctly for the win.

Hannah is the daughter of Shandale Shahzad and is an 8th grade student at Brenham Junior High School. Finishing in second place was Brooklyn Meech. She attends First Baptist Church School and is the daughter of Adam & Leslie Meech.

The third and fourth place finishers had to then come up for a tiebreaker, as both misspelled their words in the same round. Emma Forman beat out Will Hefferly for the third spot by spelling windbreaks and basil correctly. Emma is a student at Citadel Christian School and is the daughter of Julie & Dave Forman. Will Hefferly is the son of Andy & Abby Hefferly and is a student at Brenham Middle School.

The winner of the spelling bee, Hannah Shahzad, will now advance to the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee on March 25th. KWHI has been a sponsor of the spelling bee since its inception in 1955, and has provided cash prizes to the top three spellers at the event each year.

The Spelling Bee winners are (L to R) 1st Place Hannah Shahzad, 2nd Place Brooklyn Meech, and 3rd Place Emma Forman. The post HANNAH SHAHZAD IS SPELLING BEE WINNER first appeared on KWHI.com.

(from left) Brenham Fire Chief Roger Williams,
KWHI/KTEX Sales Representatives Kathy
Randermann and Wilson Montepeque, and former
BFD Assistant Chief Rob AguilarKWHI and KTEX-106 have received special recognition from the Brenham Fire Department.

This (Tuesday) afternoon, Brenham Fire Chief Roger Williams and former assistant chief Rob Aguilar presented the radio stations with a certificate of appreciation.

Per the certificate, the department awarded the certificate for the stations’ “unwavering support of the Brenham Fire Department in its commitment to community relations and providing the highest quality of public service to its citizens” and “for continually demonstrating a willingness to help serve the City of Brenham and Washington County, Texas.”

The post KWHI/KTEX PRESENTED CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM BRENHAM FIRE DEPT. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Archer Archer
(courtesy photo)The founder of a nonprofit to assist people with disabilities is pursuing a spot on the Brenham School Board.

Archer Archer, formerly Archer Hadley, will challenge Dr. Michael Altman for his seat on the school board. Archer, who is 26, has cerebral palsy and uses a power wheelchair. He is the creator of Archer’s Challenge, which has raised over $1 million for accessibility improvements and services in communities.

Archer says he wants to share his recent experiences in the public school system while also being a voice for students like him, ensuring they do not slip through the cracks.

Archer is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in political science. He has policy making experience including an appointment by Governor Greg Abbott to the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, a position working for former Congressman and Chairman of Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady, and former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus. He travels annually to Washington, D.C. to lobby and speak on healthcare and disability-related issues.

Since moving to Brenham two years ago, Archer has served on both of Brenham ISD’s bond planning committees and is a member and grant writer for Brenham Elks Lodge 979. He has spoken to several local organizations like the Pilot and Anchor Clubs, Ladies Lions Club and the Republican Club.

Archer feels listening to and serving everyone while making sure all of Washington County is represented are crucial to being a school board trustee.

The race between Archer and Dr. Altman is one of two that are currently contested on the May 6th ballot. The other is between Artis Edwards Sr. and Kyle Hafner, who are running for the seat held by outgoing trustee Susan Jenkins. Incumbent Kelvin Raven does not have an opponent thus far, nor does Bonnie Brinkmeyer, who is seeking to fill the seat of former trustee Mark Schneider.

The last day to apply for a position on the ballot is next Friday, February 17th.

The post ARCHER ARCHER SEEKING SEAT ON BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The three champions from 2022's Washington
County Spelling Bee are (from left) 1st Place Macy
Holster, 2nd Place Will Hefferly, and 3rd Place
Corbin Brooks.
(Mark Whitehead)Students will compete tonight (Tuesday) for the title of best speller in Washington County.

The 67th Washington County Spelling Bee will be held at 6 p.m. at The Barnhill Center in the Hasskarl Auditorium. The winner of the spelling bee will advance to the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee on March 25th.

The top three spellers will also receive cash prizes from KWHI, a proud sponsor of the spelling bee since its inception.

Participants in this year’s spelling bee are:

Alton Elementary

Araceli Rodriguez-Gomez, child of Daniel Rodriguez & Maria Gomez
Everett Westfield, child of Heath & Krystyna Westfield
Colette Schluens, child of Cody & Amanda Schluens
Alternate - Kaylee Maier, child of Jared & Kellye Maier

Brenham Elementary

Caine Randle, child of Cheneka Jones & Nicolas Randle
Kynleigh Kidd, child of Megan & Nate Whalen and Jennifer & Travis Kidd
Gracyn Kaminski, child of Brooke & Joshua Kaminski
Alternate - Cormac Ervin, child of Michael & Julia Ervin

Krause Elementary

Alora Gaskamp, child of Melissa & Michael Havard and Dustin Horrocks
Madison Fridye, child of Megan & Christian Fridye
Ryleigh Cooper, child of Nichole & Brandon Cooper
Alternate - Maggie McWhorter, child of Sarah & Neil McWhorter

Brenham Middle School

Corbin Brooks, child of William & Carol Brooks
Carter Smith, child of Ronan & Alexis Smith
Will Hefferly, child of Andy & Abby Hefferly
Alternate - Oluwsefunmi Oruwa, child of Awaiye Aolushola

Brenham Junior High

Fabian Lopez (8th grade), child of Erica & Ernesto Lopez
Hannah Shahzad (8th) , child of Shandale Shahzad
John Hefferly (7th), child of Andy & Abby Hefferly
Alternate - Autumn Osagie (8th), child of Rachael & Brad Schramm

Burton Elementary

Scout Rhodes, child of Justin & Angela Rhodes
Levi Hirsch, child of Dale & Ashlee Young
Hadlee Reed, child of Vernon & Michelle Reed
Alternate - Korbin Mertz, child of Jessica Mertz & Kevin Mertz

Citadel Christian School

Emma Forman, child of Julie & Dave Forman
Maddie McHargue, child of Katie & Andy McHargue
Braeden Brewster, child of Megan & Chris Brewster
Alternate - Hudson Forman, child of Julie & Dave Forman

First Baptist Church School

Charley Eberly, child of Chad Eberly & Kristen Eberly
Sandy Supak, child of Matt & Bobbi Jo Supak
Brooklyn Meech, child of Adam & Leslie Meech
Alternate - Rachel Chan, child of Jose Chan & Sarah Dominguez

St Paul's Christian Day School

Lilah Joswiak, child of Christina Joswiak & Scott Joswiak
Wesley Whitehead, child of Dr. Jennifer Jones & Joel Whitehead
Jonathan Loesch, child of Dr. William & Michelle Loesch

Master of Ceremonies: Courtney Mason

Word Caller: Nancy Oertli

Judges: Donna Logan, Retired Teacher, Brenham ISD; Dr. Edna Kennedy, Superintendent, Burton ISD; Kathleen Bedrich, Teacher, First Baptist Church School

The public is invited to attend the spelling bee in person or listen to KWHI’s live broadcast starting at 5:45 p.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com. There will also be a livestream on KWHI's Facebook page.

The post 67TH WASHINGTON CO. SPELLING BEE TUESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Expo Director Harrison Williams
presents the Expo's latest quarterly report to county
commissioners at their meeting on Monday.The announcing system at the Washington County Expo could be getting an upgrade.

Washington County Commissioners today (Monday) authorized Expo Director Harrison Williams to seek requests for proposals (RFPs) for a digitally integrated public announcing system.

Williams called this a “multi-faceted” project that is meant to address the audio at the Expo, which he said has been one of the biggest complaints received from guests.

Williams said the rodeo arena was omitted from the requirements section of the RFP documents, as it is “a much bigger project” than the announcing system. However, he said the firms that choose to bid on the project will receive information on compatibility and network protocols that allow for remote management and the ability to expand onto the system as it is.

Bids will close on February 28th and will be opened by commissioners the same day. The court will potentially accept a bid at their following meeting on March 7th.

County Judge John Durrenberger said the project will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds.

During Williams’ presentation of the Expo’s quarterly report, he announced that the Expo grossed $253,000 in 2022, up from $181,000 in 2021. He believes this is the first time the Expo grossed over $250,000 in a year.

Williams also announced that he recently spoke at an International Association of Venue Managers conference in Oklahoma and was appointed to serve as the district representative for the Southern Texas and Mexico region. In addition, he received the opportunity to serve on the amphitheatre and fairgrounds committee for the United States.

In other action, commissioners:

Awarded a construction contract to Glenn Fuqua, Inc. for $288,096 for the resurfacing of 1.2 miles of roadway on Old Plantation Road, as part of the Community Development Block Grant project. The county’s match will equate to $28,096.
Approved a pay grade change for the evidence technician position and pay rate adjustment for the current employee.
Approved a circuit contract renewal for the county’s AT&T telephone lines. Durrenberger said the contract involves switching the phone lines from copper to fiber and will go down in cost from $1,500 a month to just over $1,300 a month.
Approved appointments and reappointments of Homeland Security Advisory Council members for the county. New members are Commissioners Don Koester and Dustin Majewski, Brenham Fire Chief Roger Williams and Brenham ISD Safety and Security Director James Huffty. Current members are Brian Scheffer, Trey Holleway, Larry Neveux, John Chancellor, Kevin Deramus and Bryan Ruemke.
Did not approve the Road and Bridge Department to haul concrete waste/rip rap from the Holiday Inn parking lot on Schulte Boulevard to the county yard on Highway 36 North for erosion control purposes. Commissioner Kirk Hanath said he did not want the county’s equipment or taxpayer funds being used for this purpose. County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the county still wants the materials, but will instead tell the contractor to bring them to the county.
Approved a subdivision platting variance for a land division fronting Wonder Hill Road in Precinct 2.
Approved an oil and gas development permit for Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating LLC on Nixon Lake Road in Precinct 4.
Approved an amended cooperative agreement between the county and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The post WASHINGTON CO. TO GO OUT FOR BIDS FOR PUBLIC ANNOUNCING SYSTEM AT EXPO first appeared on KWHI.com.

Kelvin Raven
(Mark Whitehead)A longtime member of the Brenham Police Department is running for re-election to the Brenham School Board.

Lt. Kelvin Raven was first elected as a trustee in 2015. Born in Brenham, he has served for 26 years with the Brenham Police Department, including 14 years as a School Resource Officer. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2019.

Raven says he wholeheartedly loves serving the community and wants to continue doing so for Brenham ISD students, families and staff members.

Raven says a priority of his is to ensure teachers are paid more for the work they do in educating future generations.

Raven feels he can be a strong voice for the public on the board.

Raven’s seat is one of four that will be on the ballot during the May 6th school board election. He currently does not have an opponent.

Trustee Dr. Michael Altman is also uncontested at this time, as is Bonnie Brinkmeyer for the position formerly held by Mark Schneider. The one contested race is for the spot held by Susan Jenkins, who is not seeking another term; Artis Edwards Sr. and Kyle Hafner have filed for that position.

The last day to file for candidacy is February 17th.

The post KELVIN RAVEN SEEKING ANOTHER TERM ON BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

(from left) Andrew Dismukes, Michael B. Jordan and
James Austin Johnson perform in a Saturday Night
Live sketch aired on January 28, 2023. The skit
features a fictional auto dealership in Brenham that
is putting on an overstock sale and is struggling due
to new chain restaurants in town.
(courtesy Saturday Night Live YouTube)The town of Brenham was mentioned by name in a new comedy sketch performed this weekend on “Saturday Night Live”.

The skit is a commercial from the imaginary King Brothers Toyota dealership, who is holding an overstock sale.

The auto salesmen in the commercial are frustrated that their dealership is being undone by highway traffic caused by new fast food chains, and take to task the fictional councilman responsible for allowing the restaurants to locate there.

It also features special guest host Michael B. Jordan, a sales rep who begins to reveal ingredients from one of the restaurant’s secret sauces for as long as the dealership’s demands are not met.

The skit can be seen on the Saturday Night Live YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM NAME-DROPPED IN ‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ SKETCH first appeared on KWHI.com.

The birthplace of Texas is getting ready for the 187th anniversary of Texas independence.

The Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site will put on its annual two-day living history celebration on Saturday, February 25th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, February 26th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration commemorates Texas’ declaration of independence from Mexico in 1836.

The admission-free event will have live music, food and demonstrations, as well as sales of traditional crafts like blacksmithing, candle making, wood working and quilting. In addition, there will be living history presentations, musket and cannon firings, pageantry, children’s activities, museum exhibits and other programs.

Guests will experience historical reenactments of how soldiers and their families lived in 1836 and be able to walk through the tents of a time-accurate Texas Army camp.

Admission fees will be waived during the celebration for the site’s attractions, including Independence Hall, the Star of the Republic Museum and the Barrington Living History Farm. Entry to the grounds, on-site shuttles and parking will also be free.

Washington-on-the-Brazos will start a $44 million renovation project later this year for many of its facilities and exhibits. Approximately $34 million of the funding for the project will come from money secured through the Texas Legislature, but a capital campaign will raise the remaining $10 million.

To learn more about the Texas Independence Day Celebration, or to donate to the capital campaign, visit https://wheretexasbecametexas.org.

The post WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS TO CELEBRATE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY FEB. 25-26 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Camping fees at Lake Somerville will increase at Rocky Creek and Yegua Creek Parks, effective April 1st.

(courtesy photo via
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Fort Worth District)The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Fort Worth District announced on Friday that 50-amp campsites, which are currently $28 per night, will increase to $30 per night year-round.

The 30-amp tent sites located in Rocky Creek Park will now be $26 per night year-round, while primitive sites in Yegua Creek Park will remain at $20 per night year-round.

There will no longer be a price reduction during the winter season, between October 1st and February 28th.

Reservations made before April 1st will not be impacted by the price increase.

Camping fees at Lake Somerville were last increased in 2014.

Campsite reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.

Lake visitors are encouraged to wear a life jacket any time they are in or near the water.

The post LAKE SOMERVILLE CAMPING FEES TO INCREASE EFFECTIVE APRIL 1 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Barnhill Center in downtown Brenham is getting ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special performance.

Sweet Baby James
(courtesy photo)A Sweet Valentine Event headlined by Bill Griese, known as “Sweet Baby James”, will be held at The Barnhill Center on Saturday, February 11th at 7 p.m.

The Nashville-based artist is America’s top tribute to James Taylor, with more Facebook followers than all other James Taylor tribute acts combined and coming in #1 on Instagram and YouTube.

Many of Taylor’s hits will be covered, including favorites like “Fire & Rain”, “You’ve Got a Friend”, “Shower the People”, “How Sweet It Is”, “Steamroller” and “Handyman”.

The Sweet Valentine Event also includes complimentary hand-crafted Sweet Valentine Treats served with either champagne or coffee.

The Barnhill Center producer Sharon Brass says the show “is an intimate, spellbinding experience” and that Griese “delivers this timeless music in a natural, authentic way.” She says, “This will be an evening to make special romantic memories.”

For ticket information, go online to www.thebarnhillcenter.com.

The post SWEET BABY JAMES VALENTINE EVENT FEB. 11 AT THE BARNHILL CENTER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Big changes are coming at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

(courtesy Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical
Foundation)A $44 million renovation project is set to begin using $34 million secured through the Texas Legislature and $10 million being raised through a capital campaign organized by the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Foundation.

Site Manager Jonathan Failor says this is a chance to breathe new life into many of the site’s facilities and exhibits.

The Star of the Republic Museum and the Visitor Center are some of the focal points of the project, but the improvements will extend across the 300 acres of the historic site. Plans also call for the exploration of the original Washington townsite and recreation of significant buildings.

Failor says these upgrades will give visitors a new way to learn about the origins of the Lone Star State.

Failor anticipates construction will be phased in over two years, with partial site closures beginning late this spring or early this summer and continuing into early- or mid-2025.

The post WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS TO SOON BEGIN $44 MILLION RENOVATION PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Navasota ISD student and their parents have been barred from school property pending an expulsion hearing after the school district says the student posted a photo online appearing to possess a firearm on campus.

In a statement this (Friday) afternoon, Navasota ISD said that personnel were notified late Wednesday night of the post on the student’s social media account.

The school district said it has reason to believe it can prove that the student was on Navasota Junior High School property when the picture was taken. It added, however, that it cannot currently tell when the photo was taken, but confirmed that the student was not at school on Wednesday.

District and campus officials met with Navasota police Thursday morning and continued their investigation throughout the day. The student was again not present at school on Thursday.

Per the district, no weapon was found on campus, and the investigation with police is ongoing.

The post NAVASOTA ISD INVESTIGATING AFTER STUDENT POSTS PHOTO WITH WEAPON – POSSIBLY ON CAMPUS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn Board President Jim Kolkhorst addresses
the crowd in attendance. (Mark Whitehead)In front of a near packed house at Leroy Dreyer Field this (Friday) morning, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Field House, and the recently renovated facilities at the ballpark.

Blinn College Board of Trustees President Jim Kolkhorst told the crowd that planning for the facilities began in the Spring of 2020. He thanked former Blinn Coach Harvey McIntyre for his input into the project, and the Leroy Dreyer family for their continued support of Blinn College.

Last season, the Bucs had to split their home games between Fireman’s Park in Brenham and Nutra Bolt Stadium in Bryan due to the construction project.

According to Blinn Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley, the new Field House is a 5,500 square foot facility that contains a club deck to watch the game from the third base line.

It also has a club room with lounge seating, a new training room, a new locker room that can handle up to 45 players, lounge seating for the players, TVs, a new speaker system, and coaches’ offices.

On the concourse area, there are new restrooms, a new ticket booth, and upgrades to the concession stands. They also have a new sound system for the press box.

Dr. Hensley added that they are also going to be replacing the current seats at the ballpark with new padded seats with plastic backs. However, due to supply chain shortages, that portion of the project will have to wait until February.

New Blinn Coach Dusty Hart thanked the fans in attendance and said they will put a good product on the field this year.

The team then presented Dr. Hensley with a custom-made baseball bat as a token of appreciation for her support.

Dr. Mary Hensley addresses the fans in attendance. (Mark Whitehead)Fans gathered to see the renovated facility at Leroy Dreyer Field. (Mark Whitehead)Fans tour the new training room inside the new Field House. (Mark Whitehead)Blinn players introduce fans to their new locker room. (Mark Whitehead)Fans check out the view from the Club Deck. (Mark Whitehead)The post BLINN OPENS NEW/REVAMPED BASEBALL FACILITIES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham GameChangers put on the next installment of their 5th Annual “Purse Bingo” fundraiser Thursday night, raising money to support local youth and their activities.

(courtesy LaKesha Morgan, Kaylee Roznovsky)The event treated a sold-out crowd of 580 guests to Bingo games for 30 designer purses, a bucket drawing, and food and drinks at Silver Wings Ballroom.

Brenham GameChangers Board President Dr. Heather Thielemann said estimates from the event show the organization brought in around $60,000.

Dr. Thielemann said the goal of GameChangers is to make a difference in the lives of children and the community.

Programs provided by Brenham GameChangers include activity scholarships to allow K-12 students to register for activities like sports, music, art and dance. Dr. Thielemann said she hopes to expand the scholarships from covering registration fees to supporting children with equipment and supply costs.

New and returning initiatives include an etiquette lunch for high school students; a professional readiness event to teach preparation for interviews, resume writing and how to apply for jobs; and the P.E.A.C.E. program held in collaboration with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and local schools, taking core values taught to students and sharing them with businesses. The organization also hosts a school supply drive in the summer.

To learn more about Brenham GameChangers, go online to www.brenhamgamechangers.com or find them on social media.

(photos courtesy LaKesha Morgan, Kaylee Roznovsky)The post AROUND $60,000 RAISED AT BRENHAM GAMECHANGERS ‘PURSE BINGO’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

Bonnie Brinkmeyer
(courtesy photo)A longtime Brenham ISD educator has announced her candidacy for the Brenham School Board.

Bonnie Brinkmeyer is seeking election to the position formerly held by Mark Schneider before he resigned in May. A Brenham native, Brinkmeyer spent 38 years as a Brenham ISD teacher, HOSTS program director, assistant principal, principal at Krause Elementary and Brenham Middle Schools, and district director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability. She retired in 2017 but remained a volunteer.

Brinkmeyer says she has a “kids first” philosophy and, if elected, will focus on making decisions that are for their benefit.

Brinkmeyer has served on the boards of the local Boys and Girls Club, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Texas A&M Club and Aggie Moms, and is active with several other organizations. Since her retirement, she has also volunteered her time with the county Spelling Bee, Local History Day events and the Brenham ISD Anniversary and Distinguished Alumni Celebration.

Brinkmeyer says she wants to help the public trust the school system, feel welcome, and know their children are safe and getting the best education possible.

Brinkmeyer is one of five school board candidates who have filed thus far. Dr. Michael Altman and Kelvin Raven are running for re-election to their seats, while Artis Edwards Sr. and Kyle Hafner are vying for the seat currently held by Susan Jenkins, who is not seeking another term.

February 17th is the last day for candidates to file for a spot on the May 6th ballot.

The post BONNIE BRINKMEYER RUNNING FOR BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Post Office is searching for a new postmaster.

United States Postal Service spokesperson Evelina Ramirez told KWHI that the Brenham Post Office currently has an Officer In Charge (OIC), an interim position while the Post Office looks for an official postmaster. Michael Bonnette is serving as the OIC.

Ramirez said the previous postmaster, Jerry Nelson, was transferred to Pleasanton.

The OIC holds all the roles as a normal postmaster, managing the daily operations of a post office with regards to mail delivery, retail services and other operations.

Ramirez said the timeline for the temporary assignment varies, but it is “common for an OIC to be in place for several months.”

Full statement from Evelina Ramirez, USPS Corporate Communications - Media Relations

An Officer In Charge (OIC) is currently in place at the Brenham Post Office. The timeframe for this temporary assignment varies, depending on each individual office and the needs of the Postal Service, but it is common for an OIC to be in place for several months. Use of a temporary Postmaster is not unique to Brenham or the local area. The Postal Service utilizes individuals as OICs across the nation, in communities of all sizes. The OIC fulfills the same responsibilities as the Postmaster, to manage the daily operations of a post office, with regards to mail delivery, retail services, and other operations, to serve our customers. The current OIC, Michael Bonnette, is based at the Brenham Post Office, and is always available to address any customer concerns.

The post BRENHAM POST OFFICE LOOKING FOR NEW POSTMASTER first appeared on KWHI.com.

There will be at least one contested race in the Brenham School Board election in May.

Former Brenham Junior High School Principal Artis Edwards Sr. has filed for the trustee position being vacated by Susan Jenkins, who will not run for another term after 10 years on the board. Kyle Hafner is also seeking election to the post.

As of today (Thursday), all other seats on the school board have one candidate in the running. Dr. Michael Altman and Kelvin Raven are seeking re-election, while Bonnie Brinkmeyer has filed for the position formerly held by Mark Schneider before he resigned in May.

The last day to file to run in the school board election is February 17th. Early voting will be held from April 24th to May 2nd. Election Day is May 6th.

The post AT LEAST ONE BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD SEAT TO BE CONTESTED IN ELECTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken says she will not take further action on the case involving Sunday’s discovery of fetal remains at Hohlt Park.

Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken,
pictured speaking outside the Washington County
Courthouse on May 20, 2022, says she will not
pursue further action on the case concerning the
discovery of a fetus buried at Hohlt Park. Renken said in a statement this (Thursday) morning that upon reviewing the facts of the investigation, “there are no charges that can be brought under the law, and no felony offense was committed.”

Renken said she “cannot imagine the pain and desperation the mother of the child is experiencing” and hopes she “can eventually find peace in her grief.”

The fetus was found Sunday afternoon in a shallow grave at the park by Brenham police, after they received reports from witnesses about suspicious circumstances. They were told a young male and female, one of them holding a shovel, emerged from the woods and walked to the parking lot.

Police said on Monday, the “persons of interest” voluntarily came to the police headquarters to speak with investigators. The couple said they had gone to Baylor Scott & White Hospital to seek assistance prior to going to the park. Medical professionals delivered the stillborn fetus and returned the remains to the mother, who was identified as an adult.

State law and Texas Health and Safety Code says if the delivered fetus is under a certain threshold for weight and term of pregnancy, the remains may be released directly to the parents, provided they are addressed appropriately by the individual hospital policy.

The fetus was sent to the Fort Bend County Medical Examiners’ Office for autopsy.

No identities will be released due to statutory privacy concerns under medical care provisions and statutes.

Full statement from Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken:

The District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the facts of the tragic discovery of human remains at Hohlt Park this weekend, and we will not be taking any further action on the case. There are no charges that can be brought under the law, and no felony offense was committed. I cannot imagine the pain and desperation the mother of the child is experiencing, and hope that she can eventually find peace in her grief.

The post WASHINGTON CO. DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL NOT PURSUE ACTION IN HOHLT PARK CASE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The topic of tax credit housing in Brenham will come back before the Brenham City Council at a busy meeting on Thursday.

A view of Brenham Junction's proposed location
along Highway 290, west of Westwood Lane.
(courtesy Trinity Housing Development)The council will hold a work session about a proposed mixed-income community housing development called Brenham Junction, to be located on the north side of Highway 290, west of Westwood Lane.

Councilmembers will hear from Trinity Housing Development, who is submitting an application for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program and potentially the Multifamily Direct Loan program through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. No action will be taken.

According to the developer’s presentation included in the agenda packet, Brenham Junction will have 48 apartment units of one to three bedrooms, open to all ages. The developer is targeting half of the units to be at market rate, with the others being units bound to tax credit rent and income restrictions at or below 60 percent Area Median Income.

Trinity Housing Development is currently building another project in Brenham, that being Brenham Trails on South Market Street. The building will have 49 one- and two-bedroom apartments to lease for seniors 55 and older.

A resolution of support is needed from the Brenham City Council by March 1st in order for the developer to be able to apply for and receive tax credit funding to build the project. Without a resolution from the council, the state will not grant funding for the development.

The issue of subsidized housing has come before the council in recent years, and has brought with it much debate between councilmembers and the public. Last year, the council voted 4-3 in opposition to The Bluebonnet, a workforce housing community that would have been located on Prairie Lea Street. In 2021, the council initially voted unanimously in favor of a tax credit home development on Pecan Street, but later rescinded that approval and voted 6-1 against it.

In other action, councilmembers will act on a license agreement between the city and Mescalito Coffee Company to build a downtown parklet adjacent to their business at 100 East Alamo Street. City staff say Mescalito’s request meets all of the criteria set by the council in the parklet manual. After approval of a permit, the project would take seven to eight weeks to complete.

In executive session, the council, among other things, will discuss the annual evaluation of the city manager. Any action from the evaluation will be taken in open session.

Also on Thursday, the council will:

Hold executive session discussion regarding City of Brenham v. WTG Gas Marketing, Cause No. 37573, 335th Judicial District Court; Aviators Plus v. City of Brenham, Cause No. 37896, 21st Judicial District Court; and legal issues concerning the Lake Somerville raw water intake structure and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Consider the termination of the license agreement between the city and Country Sunshine related to the mobile kitchen located adjacent to 110 West Main Street. The company relocated its mobile kitchen to Brazos Valley Brewing Company property last year. Danielle Holle originally requested that La Jefe mobile kitchen, owned by Zaira Pelayos, be able to utilize this location to provide food service supplemental to a new business venture the Holle’s launched on the property, Mas Vino. After discussion with the city, the La Jefe mobile kitchen will be located wholly on the site, subject to applicable mobile kitchen permitting.
Potentially accept a proposal for aviation fuel supply and associated services at the Brenham Municipal Airport.
Act on a resolution for the installation of a changeable electronic variable message sign to be located at 1007 Walter Schwartz Way.
Consider submitting a grant application through the Community Development Partnership Program offered by the Lower Colorado River Authority to purchase two electronic message boards for the city.
Hold a public hearing on and potentially approve an ordinance to amend the city’s thoroughfare plan pertaining to the removal of a proposed collector street between Old Masonic Road and FM 2935. The Brenham Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the item at its meeting December 19th.
Hear a noise variance request from Tara Royer Steele for live outdoor music at the Fireman’s Park pavilion on various dates between January 21st and June 30th. There will also be a noise variance request from Brazos Valley Brewing Company, who is asking about live outdoor music at 206 South Jackson Street on various dates between January 20th and June 30th.
Vote on several election items, including an interlocal agreement between the city, Brenham ISD and Blinn College for the May 6th election, as well as an election services contract between the city and county related to election responsibilities.
Consider an addendum to the contract for participation in the city’s rotation log for non-consent tows.
Act on the appointment of nine members to serve on the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board of Directors for a period of two years beginning January 1, 2023. The council will also choose a board member to serve as chairman for one year.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR PRESENTATION ON MIXED-INCOME COMMUNITY HOUSING PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Fire Department recognized several new and outstanding firefighters at its annual awards dinner this weekend.

Jonathan Schramm (second from
right), pictured with family, is
presented the Brenham Fire
Department's annual Firefighter of the
Year Award at an awards dinner over
the weekend.
(courtesy Brenham Fire Dept.)Jonathan Schramm was honored as the department’s 2022 Firefighter of the Year.

Schramm has served in the department for eight years and completed numerous certifications, including for State Firefighters & Fire Marshals Association of Texas Firefighter, Driver Operator, Hazmat, National Incident Management System and Wildland Firefighter.

Schramm currently serves on the department’s examination and pension committees. He has also taken on a greater role in organizing the fish fry and Fireman’s Fiesta fundraisers, as well as functions like the Toys for Tots toy drive.

Another firefighter recognized was Jon Devine, who received the Character Award. The award is presented to a firefighter who performs in the Bucket Brigade’s annual fire prevention plays at local schools, interacting with and entertaining schoolchildren.

Jon Devine (right) is presented the
Brenham Fire Department's 2022
Character of the Year Award.
(courtesy Christine Devine)Service awards were presented to several firefighters in honor of their years of service. Assistant Chief Brian Scheffer was recognized for 25 years with the department, while firefighter Josh Ruemke and apparatus operators Chase Jones and Joe Hinds were acknowledged for five years of service.

In addition, 11 fire officials received new badges. They include four firefighters: Jon Devine, Josh Ruemke, Alex Knight and Dakota Woodruff; apparatus operators Jonathan Schramm and Ron Luhn; Lieutenants Brent Folsom and Ryan Swor; Captain Andrew Jozwiak; Assistant Chief Stephen Draehn; and Fire Marshal Steven Loving.

Four new personnel were also introduced, those being A-shift firefighters Jon Devine and Josh Ruemke and B-shift firefighters Alex Knight and Dakota Woodruff.

The post BRENHAM FIRE DEPT. NAMES FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, PRESENTS AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Representatives from the Brenham Pregnancy
Center join Washington County Commissioners
after the court's proclamation of Sunday, January
22nd as Sanctity of Human Life Day.Washington County Commissioners issued a proclamation today (Tuesday) in recognition of the right to life.

Commissioners proclaimed this Sunday, January 22nd as Sanctity of Human Life Day in Washington County.

2023 is the 50th year since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade that conferred the right to choose to have an abortion. This year’s observation of Sanctity of Human Life Day, which began with President Ronald Reagan in 1984, is the first since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in June.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath encouraged the court and the public to keep in mind the power of prayer.

Members of the Brenham Pregnancy Center attended the meeting, including Donna Lehmann, who thanked commissioners for “being a voice” for the unborn. The court thanked the Brenham Pregnancy Center for its services to pregnant women and families.

Also in court today, commissioners:

Approved funeral home rotation agreements with Memorial Oaks Chapel and Brenham Memorial Chapel.
Approved renewal of the county’s investment policy.

A copy of the proclamation read by Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday, declaring Sunday, January 22nd as Sanctity of Human Life Day.The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PROCLAIM JAN. 22 ‘SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE DAY’ first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham residents met Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Community members gathered at Hattie Mae Flowers Park to pray and sing hymns before beginning a March for Unity. Several dozen people walked and drove down Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway while holding signs and chanting for equality.

The march was organized by the Washington County Juneteenth Association. President Betty Wilson says the organization seeks unity and diversity.

Loretta Johnson, founder of the Juneteenth Association, says she aspires to educate youth about the roots of the civil rights movement and to help them commemorate its pioneers, so that their efforts can continue with future generations.

The march concluded in downtown Brenham, where a candlelight vigil was held at the Washington County Courthouse gazebo. The annual vigil was sponsored by the Brenham Activist Association and featured Reverend Fred Marshall of the Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Brenham.

Washington County Juneteenth Association President Betty Wilson addresses the crowd at Hattie Mae Flowers Park before the start of the March for Unity.Citizens attending the March for Unity at Hattie Mae Flowers Park join in song.The post BRENHAM OBSERVES DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY WITH MARCH FOR UNITY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Cypress man was killed after hitting a deer in the road Sunday evening in Grimes County.

DPS reports around 6:45 p.m., a 2013 Honda Civic was traveling northbound on Highway 90 near County Road 176, north of Roans Prairie.

The vehicle struck a deer in the roadway, side-skidded into a grass ditch, rolled over and hit a tree.

The driver, 22-year-old Ritvik Aayush Reddy Yeruva, was pronounced dead at the scene.

DPS reported that no one else was in the vehicle, and no other vehicles were involved.

The post CYPRESS MAN KILLED AFTER HITTING DEER IN GRIMES CO. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham enjoyed another successful “Uptown Swirl” on Saturday.

Great weather helped make downtown the place to be, as event organizers say over 700 commemorative glasses were sold for the winter wine walk. Participants were able to visit 36 different businesses and locations to try wines suitable for every palate.

This year marked the 11th installment for the “Uptown Swirl”, which benefits Main Street Brenham and its downtown improvement projects. The event is estimated to have grossed at least $30,000 in glass sales and sponsorships, before expenses.

Organizers thank each of this year’s “Uptown Swirl” sponsors, including Champagne Sponsor Old 300 Title, who paid for the wine glasses; Cabernet Sponsors Main Street Uncorked and Deep in the Heart Farms; and Pinot Grigio Sponsor Hermann Furniture.

(Courtney Cartwright, KTEX-106)The post ‘UPTOWN SWIRL’ DRAWS BIG CROWDS TO DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County authorities are investigating a weekend drowning at Lake Somerville.

According to Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak, a boater fell from his boat into the water near Overlook Marina around noon on Sunday.

Hanak said the victim, identified as a 65-year-old male from Sealy, was treated by Washington County EMS. He was transported to a medical facility in Brenham before being transferred to a facility in College Station, where he was later pronounced dead.

The victim’s name is being withheld at this time pending the notification of family.

The post SEALY MAN DROWNS AT LAKE SOMERVILLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

TxDOT will hold a public meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) for citizens to give their feedback about proposed upgrades to the Highway 290 – FM 1155 intersection in Chappell Hill.

TxDOT is proposing a traditional overpass design at
the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 1155, with
the Highway 290 traffic bridged over the 1155 –
Main Street traffic.The in-person meeting will be held at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church parish hall at 9175 FM 1371. The meeting begins with an open house at 4:30 p.m., followed by a live presentation at 6 p.m.

Guests will be able to speak to TxDOT staff and consultants and ask questions. They can also review copies of project materials and leave written comments.

The improvements to the intersection are planned as part of a larger project to widen Highway 290 to six lanes along a 12-mile stretch in Washington and Waller counties, from FM 1371 to Highway 6.

TxDOT intends to use an overpass design at the intersection, building a Highway 290 bridge over FM 1155 with entrance and exit ramps for local access. The enhancements would incorporate pedestrian accommodations in order to allow them to cross under Highway 290 safely. Right of way will be required for these improvements.

Tomorrow’s meeting will also go over TxDOT’s plans for short-term and near-term solutions at the intersection while the larger improvements are developed. Those include new signage and modified signal timing, as well as the use of a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) intersection, which would reduce conflict points by redirecting side street left-turning movements to offset U-turn locations.

Written comments on the project can be submitted by mail to the TxDOT Bryan District Office, Attn: Juan Quiroz, P.E., 2591 North Earl Rudder Freeway, Bryan, TX 77803. Comments can also be emailed to Juan.Quiroz@txdot.gov. All comments must be received on or before February 1, 2023 to be included in the public meeting documentation.

Public meeting information, including exhibits and presentations, will be available on the project webpage for viewing and download tomorrow. To access the webpage, visit www.txdot.gov and keyword search “US 290 at FM 1155”.

The post TxDOT PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY ON HIGHWAY 290 – FM 1155 INTERSECTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

A warm and windy afternoon greeted the Royalty for the 133rd Brenham Maifest Sunday. The Royalty was announced at the Maifest Serenade Sunday afternoon at the Dr. Bobbie Dietrich Memorial Amphitheater at Hohlt Park.

Serving as this year’s Junior Royalty are Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Luke Robert Hyatt. Serving as this year’s Junior Royalty are Virginia Kate Priesmeyer and Luke Robert Hyatt. They will be reigning over the court of “The Enchanted Tree House”. Virginia is the daughter of Jamie and Kyle Priesmeyer and Luke is the son of Jill and Josh Hyatt.

Serving as this year’s Senior Royalty are Lauren Ruth Hook and Ashton Kiel Behrens.Serving as this year’s Senior Royalty are Lauren Ruth Hook and Ashton Kiel Behrens. They will be reigning over the court of “Musical Memories”. Lauren is the daughter of Tom and Lisa Hook. Ashton is the son of Kimberley and Keith Behrens.

A large crowd turned out for the 133rd Maifest Serenade at the Dr. Bobbie Dietrich Memorial Amphitheater at Hohlt Park.Full Miafest Press Release:Junior King - Luke Robert HyattLuke Robert Hyatt will adventure through time in “The Enchanted Tree House” of the 133rd Junior Maifest. This year’s Junior Maifest King has grown to love the Maifest tradition, and each spring, he looks forward to making special Maifest memories with family, friends, and the community. He has participated in Maifest since the age of 3 and has enjoyed being a cowboy, a race car driver, a cave explorer, Peter Pan, an ice fisherman, and a Viking!

He is a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and is a 4th grader at St. Paul’s Christian Day School. He is a member of Cub Scout Pack 742. Born on the 12th day of the 12th month of the 12th year, he was destined to be a 12th man, so you can find him wearing maroon and cheering on the Aggies! With admiration and respect for our American military, he enjoys learning, reenacting, and retelling historical military events, especially World War II naval battles. He enjoys using his imagination to build with Legos and create new worlds in Minecraft. Weekend fun includes working cows, hunting, fishing, and going on adventures at the Winkelmann family farm. His easy going, care-free nature and comical personality bring great joy to family and friends.

Luke is the son of Jill and Josh Hyatt. He is the grandson of Sherrie and Rob Winkelmann and Nita and Mark Hyatt. Luke and his family love Maifest and look forward to the springtime celebration each year. He is the 11th person in his family to receive this community honor. He joins his father, Josh Hyatt (1999); sister, Isabelle Hyatt (2019); aunt, Jodi Winkelmann Lyons (2004); great-aunt, Lois Winkelmann Kolkhorst (1983); great-uncle, John Hasskarl (1966); and cousins Courtney Cook Holm (1997); Caroline Cook Maxwell (1999); Cathleen Cook Redus (1995); Lois Kate Kolkhorst (2008); Jake Kolkhorst (2012) as Maifest royalty. Luke would like to invite all children to join in this magical adventure through time in “The Enchanted Tree House” by participating in the 2023 Maifest parade and Junior coronation on Saturday, May 6!

Junior Queen - Virginia Kate PriesmeyerVirginia Kate Priesmeyer is excited to join family, friends, and the community of Brenham for the 133rd Junior Maifest! She is looking forward to traveling through time with friends both old and new in “The Enchanted Tree House”. Kate is quite honored to be chosen as this year’s Junior Maifest Queen as she has many fond memories of her own! She has been a Maifest participant since the age of 3 as a Maiden of the Sunset, Elle Woods, a Sangeet Dancer, and a gingerbread girl!

Kate is a 4th grader at Krause Elementary School and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She enjoys her fall and spring playing on the Challenge Soccer team. When Kate is not on the soccer field, you’ll find her in the pool swimming with the Brenham Dolphins Swim Team each summer and the Brenham Swim Club year round. Kate adores her family and enjoys spending time with her cousins splashing in the waves and building sand castles on the beach.

This year’s Junior Maifest queen is the daughter of Jamie and Kyle Priesmeyer and the spunky sister to Kennedy and Kullen Priesmeyer. She is the granddaughter of Jimmy and the late Linda Priesmeyer and Judy and Randall Stockton.

Virginia Kate is looking forward to the memories that await this spring! She and her family would like to invite all children to join the fun for the coronation and parade on Saturday, May 6th!

Senior King - Ashton Kiel BehrensAshton Kiel Behrens is the 2023 Senior Maifest King. He is the eighteen-year-old son of Kimberley and Keith Behrens and the older brother of Emmie. Ashton participated in his first Maifest while a Kindergartener at St. Paul's Christian Day School. He has fond memories participating in past Junior and Senior Maifests as a chimney sweep, Lego construction worker, one of Robin Hood’s merry men, a hunter, a golfer, a storm trooper and many other memorable characters. He is excited and honored to be selected as the Senior King this year.

Ashton is currently a Senior at Brenham High School where he has played on both Varsity Basketball and Golf teams. He is a member of Cub Pride, a delegate to Texas Boys State, a member of National Honor Society, and a National Merit Scholar Commended Student. Additionally, he is the recipient of a College Board National Recognition Award. He will be pursuing an Engineering degree at Texas A&M University this Fall, where he will be the first of a fifth generation of Aggies in his family.

Ashton enjoys attending Aggie football games, skiing with family and friends, golfing and hunting with his dad. He attends First United Methodist Church with his family and enjoys volunteering annually at Faith Mission’s Thanksgiving meal at The Cannery. This community event holds a special place in his heart and has become one of Ashton’s favorite holiday traditions.

Ashton is the grandson of Betsy Spiller and the late Guy Spiller of Brenham; and Karen and Mike Behrens of Yoakum. Ashton will reign over the 2023 Senior Maifest “Musical Memories” with Queen Lauren Ruth Hook.

Senior Queen - Lauren Ruth HookLauren Ruth Hook is the Queen of the 2023 Senior Maifest. She is the eighteen year old daughter of Tom and Lisa Hook. She participated in her first Maifest at the age of 3 as Sparkling Glitter. This is when her love for Maifest sparked, and the abundance of memories she has created truly began. She has loved every costume and role from a tiny tooth fairy, to a pink dragon, to a sweet spoonful of sugar; although her friendships formed through Maifest are what she cherishes most of all.

Lauren is a member of First United Methodist Church of Brenham, Prairie-Hill 4-H club, and is now a Senior at Brenham High school. The sidelines at Cub Stadium are her favorite place to be. She is a Varsity cheerleader, as well as captain of her squad, a six time UCA All- American, and an Ed-Pothul Coach’s Award recipient. Outside of cheer she has participated in National Honor Society, Anchor Club, YoungLife, and has treasured her time spent volunteering for the William Syndrome Fall Festival and Spring walk for the past seven years. She was honored to be a part of the 2022 BHS homecoming court where she was named 2nd runner-up.

She is ecstatic to continue her education this fall as a “Fightin Texas Aggie” at Texas A&M University where she will pursue her dream of becoming a Child Psychologist. Lauren is the older sister of Lindsey Hook, granddaughter of Gary and Dede Eastveld of Brenham, and Bob and Sally Hook of The Woodlands. Lauren will reign over the 2023 Senior Maifest, “Musical Memories” with Ashton Behrens.

The post 133rd MAIFEST ROYALTY ANNOUNCED AT SERENADE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Consideration of next year’s school calendar and the annual evaluation of the superintendent will lead Tuesday’s agenda for the Brenham School Board.

Trustees will adopt Brenham ISD’s instructional calendar for the 2023-24 school year. Families were given the opportunity to choose their preferred option for when school lets out for the winter break, and their input will be reviewed by the board.

The two options that were available to vote on were a break that dismisses students on December 21st and has them return on January 9, 2024, and another that releases students on December 15th and resumes classes on January 3, 2024. Voting ended on Wednesday.

In executive session, board members will hold the annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin and perform their self-evaluation. At the time of Dr. Chaplin’s last evaluation in January 2022, his contract was renewed to continue through June 2025.

Consent agenda items for trustees include the approval of a joint election agreement between Brenham ISD, the City of Brenham and Blinn College for the May 6th election; an order of election for the board of trustees to be held May 6th; and the district and campus improvement plans with the ability to update as needed.

The board will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Brenham High School, rooms 111 and 113. The meeting will be livestreamed on Brenham ISD’s YouTube channel.

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER 2023-24 CALENDAR, EVALUATE SUPT. first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Nashville superstar will perform her hits and other great country music at The Barnhill Center in downtown Brenham.

Lorrie Morgan
(courtesy photo)Lorrie Morgan will take the stage with her band on Thursday, January 26th at 7 p.m. Known as one of the most passionate vocalists of modern times, her performances express a wide range of emotions from heartache to humor.

The daughter of Country Music Hall of Famer George Morgan, Lorrie says she’s experienced the songs she sings and that, in many ways, she is “a living, breathing country song.”

Over her career, Morgan has recorded 15 studio albums and has sold over 6 million records worldwide. Her “Greatest Hits” collection is her fourth Platinum album, and she has three albums that are Gold Record winners. Country fans voted her their TNN Music City News Female Vocalist of the Year in 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Morgan has recorded in collaboration with her father, Keith Whitley, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Tammy Wynette, The Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Andy Williams, the New World Philharmonic, and Pam Tillis.

To learn more, or to purchase tickets, visit https://thebarnhillcenter.com.

The post LORRIE MORGAN TO PERFORM AT THE BARNHILL CENTER JAN. 26 first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Bellville woman now faces charges after a fatal crash in July.

Austin County Jail records show 49-year-old Jill Dollar McGinty was recently charged with Intoxication Manslaughter with a Vehicle. She had been in the Austin County Jail for an unrelated offense when she received the new charge, after information from toxicology reports was released.

The accident happened around 2:30 a.m. on July 17th on Highway 159 near Bellville.

DPS reports say McGinty was driving a 2013 Lincoln MKX west on Highway 159 and crossed the center stripe, entering the eastbound lane of traffic and striking a 2015 Ford Explorer.

According to DPS, the driver of the Ford swerved to try to avoid the Lincoln, but the vehicles still collided. They both ended up in a ditch on opposite sides of the roadway.

34-year-old Elia Guerrero of Bellville was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Ruben, was injured but survived the crash.

(Mugshot requested via Austin Co. Sheriff's Office)

The post BELLVILLE WOMAN CHARGED WITH INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER AFTER FATAL COLLISION IN JULY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The royalty for the 133rd Brenham Maifest will be announced tomorrow (Sunday) at the annual Maifest Serenade.

The 2022 Junior and Senior Maifest royalty with
family members.
(Mark Whitehead)The Serenade begins at 2 p.m. at the Dr. Bobbie M. Dietrich Memorial Amphitheatre at Hohlt Park. It will reveal this year’s Junior and Senior Maifest courts, as well as their themes and some of the activities planned for Maifest weekend.

This year’s royalty will be announced by the 132nd Junior Maifest Queen and King, Talyn Presley Sulik and Evan Ross Dippel, and the Senior Maifest Queen and King, Moli Ragonis and Blake Cutter Jones.

KWHI will broadcast tomorrow’s Maifest Serenade live starting at 1:45 p.m. on AM 1280, FM 101.7 and kwhi.com.

The post 133RD BRENHAM MAIFEST SERENADE SUNDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham is ready for tomorrow’s (Saturday) 11th Annual “Uptown Swirl”.

Thirty-six businesses and locations will offer all kinds of wines to visitors and shoppers from 3 to 7 p.m.

Main Street Brenham Manager Monique Breaux says the winter wine walk will have something for all wine lovers to enjoy and is a way for people to keep their holiday spirit.

Tickets will be exchanged for commemorative wine glasses, wristbands and shopping bags at the courthouse gazebo tomorrow, starting at 2 p.m.

Proceeds from the “Uptown Swirl” go to Main Street Brenham and its downtown improvement projects.

Tickets are no longer available at participating merchants. Less than 100 tickets are left online at www.downtownbrenham.com, and a limited quantity will be sold at the event.

Locations that are taking part in the 2023 “Uptown Swirl” are: Company Five, Ballad of the Bird Dog / Mescalito Coffee, Timeless Designs Market, Puppy Dawgs & Cat Tails, Markets on Main, The Book Nook, Brenham Heritage Museum, posey roe, Woman’s Cave, The Canyon Chick, Wild Ones Baby Boutique, Mimi’s Brenham, Las Americas Latin Cuisine, Downtown Art Gallery, Tres Chic Boutique, M.C. Art Studio, Floyd’s Wine Lounge, Brown Water Cigar Bar, Brenham Foundry & Floral Co., Doug Peck Studio, Scrubs ‘N Stuff Boutique, Hermann Emporium, Hermann Furniture, Pioneer Smokehouse & Mercantile, Wine Bar Brenham, BT Longhorn, Branded Boutique, Smooth Dimensions, The Pomegranate, Tilted Windmill, Main Street Uncorked, Tribal Trends / Blue Mule Winery, Anatomy Clothing Boutique, The Southern Fox, Peter Emerson Silversmith, and the Brenham & Washington County Visitor Center.

Event sponsors are Champagne Sponsor Old 300 Title, Cabernet Sponsors Main Street Uncorked and Deep in the Heart Farms, and Pinot Grigio Sponsor Hermann Furniture.

KTEX-106’s Courtney Cartwright will be at the “Uptown Swirl” tomorrow in the KTEX Country Cruiser.

The post ‘UPTOWN SWIRL’ SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM; FEW TICKETS REMAIN first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Brenham Junior High student has been charged with making a terroristic threat against the school. Wednesday morning, a male student who attends Brenham Junior High School was detained by …

The post JR. HIGH STUDENT CHARGED WITH MAKING A TERRORISTIC THREAT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Main Street Brenham invites the public to participate in its first-ever Holiday Gift Art Walk. Art will once again come to the streets of downtown Brenham with the help of …

The post HOLIDAY GIFT ART WALK COMING TO DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

A robbery took place early Wednesday morning on Prairie Lea Street in Brenham. Brenham Police report that early Wednesday morning at 2:30, Officers responded to the Brenham Food Stop 2 …

The post ROBBERY IN BRENHAM EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Voters have rejected Brenham ISD’s two bond proposals. Proposition A, calling for the building of a new junior high school for $111 million, failed with 6,831 votes against and 5,170 …

The post BRENHAM ISD VOTERS REJECT BOND ISSUES first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County’s incumbents in the Texas Senate and U.S. Congress have won another term in office. Republican Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham defeated Democrat Josh Tutt of Burleson County to retain …

The post KOLKHORST, McCAUL WIN RE-ELECTION TO TEXAS SENATE, U.S. CONGRESS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD Bond Issue (20 of 20 Precincts Reporting) “THE ISSUANCE OF $111,000,000 OF BONDS BY THE BRENHAM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES (INCLUDING A NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL) …

The post BRENHAM ISD BOND ELECTION RESULTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Texas Senate District 18 (329 of 329 Precincts Reporting) Total: Lois Kolkhorst (R)(i) - 185,691 Josh Tutt (D) - 94,920 Washington County Lois Kolkhorst (R)(i) - 11,349 …

The post ELECTION RESULTS FOR SENATE DISTRICT 18, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10, HOUSE DISTRICTS 17 & 85 first appeared on KWHI.com.

As Veterans Day approaches, Washington County is shining a light on those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. County Commissioners today (Tuesday) passed a resolution in support …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PASS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ‘OPERATION GREEN LIGHT’ FOR VETERANS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota police are looking for suspects in a shooting Friday night that left one person injured. According to a police department press release, officers responded around 10:45 p.m. to the …

The post SUSPECTS SOUGHT IN NAVASOTA SHOOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Offices in Brenham and Washington County will be closed on Friday in observance of Veterans Day. Closures include Brenham City Hall, Brenham Municipal Court, Brenham Animal Services and the Blue …

The post LOCAL OFFICES TO CLOSE FOR VETERANS DAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Tuesday) is Election Day for the midterms and Brenham ISD bond election. Voters who did not participate in early voting can visit their designated polling place from 7 a.m. …

The post ELECTION DAY FOR MIDTERMS, BRENHAM ISD BOND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County is set to lift its burn ban. Per Washington County Judge John Durrenberger, the ban is being rescinded today (Monday) at noon after nine of the ten county …

The post WASHINGTON CO. TO LIFT BURN BAN AT NOON MONDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Lieutenant Colonel William “Rusty” Weedman will be the Washington County Veterans Association’s featured speaker at its annual Veterans Day program. Weedman, who is currently assigned as the J4, Chief of …

The post LT. COL. WILLIAM ‘RUSTY’ WEEDMAN TO SPEAK AT WASHINGTON CO. VETERANS DAY PROGRAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this weekend, meaning everyone will “fall back” an hour. Standard time returns at 2 a.m. Sunday, so for many, an extra hour of …

The post TURN THE CLOCKS BACK: STANDARD TIME RETURNS SUNDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting has concluded, and one last day to vote remains for the midterm elections and Brenham ISD bond election. Friday saw 838 voters in total at the Washington County …

The post NEARLY 9,500 VOTE EARLY; ELECTION DAY TUESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Severe weather is expected this (Friday) afternoon and evening around Brenham and the surrounding areas. The National Weather Service anticipates scattered thunderstorms to develop generally north of I-10 in the …

The post WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BRENHAM, SURROUNDING AREAS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The start time for the Brenham Cubs' District Championship bout with the Lake Creek Lions tonight (Friday) at Montgomery ISD Stadium has been moved up due to the threat of …

The post BRENHAM – LAKE CREEK MATCHUP MOVED UP TO 5 P.M. first appeared on KWHI.com.

Officials with Brenham | Washington County Economic Development are planning a shift in focus next year. At Thursday’s Brenham City Council meeting, Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan …

The post BRENHAM | WASHINGTON CO. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EMPHASIZING WORKFORCE ATTRACTION IN 2023 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The suspects in Thursday’s vehicle pursuit that ended near Independence in Washington County, prompting a search by multiple law enforcement agencies, have been identified. 21-year-old Keshun Jamal Semere and 20-year-old …

The post SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED IN WASHINGTON CO. PURSUIT, SEARCH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham was well represented this week at the annual Texas Downtown Conference in San Marcos. Winners for the 2022 President’s Awards Program were announced on Wednesday, and Brenham brought …

The post JENNIFER ECKERMANN, BBA ARCHITECTS RECEIVE AWARDS AT TEXAS DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Friday) is the final day to vote early in the midterm elections and Brenham ISD bond election. According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 829 people voted on Thursday at …

The post EARLY VOTING CONCLUDES FRIDAY; OVER 8,600 EARLY VOTERS THUS FAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Police Department is getting new equipment and gear, thanks to grants from the Office of the Governor. The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) approved resolutions authorizing the acceptance …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTS GRANTS FOR POLICE EQUIPMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

A regional Amber Alert has been issued for a missing 14-year-old girl from College Station. Lauren Isabell Gutierrez was last seen on Thursday, October 27th at 11 p.m. in the …

The post AMBER ALERT FOR MISSING COLLEGE STATION TEENAGER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham police are investigating an act of vandalism at Cub Stadium. Around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Brenham Police Officer Armando Guerra responded to the stadium in the 1600 block of East …

The post CUB STADIUM CONCESSION STAND VANDALIZED first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 2:30 p.m.: Due to a strong chance of severe thunderstorms tomorrow (Friday), the First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market in downtown Brenham has been cancelled. Original Story @ 9:30 …

The post FIRST FRIDAY MARKET IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM CANCELLED first appeared on KWHI.com.

An advance funding agreement with TxDOT for upgrades to the Pecan Street bridge at Hog Branch Creek will be brought before the Brenham City Council today (Thursday). On September 1st, …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR PECAN STREET BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Somerville ISD has named a lone finalist to become its next superintendent. At the Somerville School Board’s meeting Tuesday, trustees voted unanimously to select Eric Holton. The board will meet …

The post SOMERVILLE ISD SELECTS LONE FINALIST FOR SUPERINTENDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Extended early voting hours proved beneficial for Washington County voters on Wednesday. According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 813 people came to vote in the midterms on Wednesday, including 731 …

The post TOTAL EARLY VOTING TURNOUT OVER 7,800 WITH TWO DAYS LEFT; EXTENDED HOURS THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

As early voting nears its conclusion, KWHI is covering each of the races on Washington County ballots. Today’s look is at U.S. Congressional District 10 and at Libertarian Bill Kelsey …

The post CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10 CANDIDATE PROFILE: BILL KELSEY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County is getting closer to securing over $1 million in Hurricane Harvey mitigation funds to address flooding on a section of county road. On Tuesday, Washington County Commissioners accepted …

The post WASHINGTON CO. SEEKING OVER $1 MILLION TO ADDRESS FLOODING ON SOUTH MEYERSVILLE ROAD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two multi-million dollar commercial renovation projects led the month of October for building permits issued by the City of Brenham. Hyundai of Brenham took out a $4,325,376 permit for an …

The post COMMERCIAL RENOVATIONS TOP OCTOBER BUILDING PERMITS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A historic building in downtown Brenham most recently used as a live music venue has been listed for sale. A posting went up Tuesday for the property at 209 South …

The post FORMER LOCATION OF 4 STAR CONCERT HALL UP FOR SALE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Tuesday was a low mark for early voting in Washington County. According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 645 people came to vote Tuesday in the midterms at the Washington County …

The post TUESDAY SEES LOW TURNOUT FOR EARLY VOTING; EXTENDED HOURS WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will meet Thursday to consider an advance funding agreement with TxDOT for improvements to the Pecan Street bridge at Hog Branch Creek. On September 1st, the …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR PECAN STREET BRIDGE PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

First responders in Washington County will be getting a broader coverage area for their emergency radios. Washington County Commissioners voted today (Tuesday) to approve an interlocal agreement between the county …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR INCREASED EMERGENCY RADIO COVERAGE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Fire chiefs in Washington County are not recommending the county’s burn ban be lifted just yet. According to Washington County Firefighters Association President and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Chief Alan Winkelmann, …

The post WASHINGTON CO. BURN BAN TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR NOW first appeared on KWHI.com.

Dozens of children around the area won great prizes Monday night during KWHI’s annual on-the-radio Halloween Party. Special spooky guest DJs called families who turned in KWHI Halloween Party cards …

The post CHILDREN WIN GREAT PRIZES IN KWHI HALLOWEEN PARTY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting has started its second week in Washington County for the 2022 midterms and Brenham ISD bond election. Monday saw 832 voters, including 738 in the school bond election, …

The post OVER 6,300 EARLY VOTERS; FOUR DAYS OF EARLY VOTING LEFT first appeared on KWHI.com.

For the third time in five years, Bellville FFA is a national champion. Bellville FFA competed last week at the 95th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis. The Nursery …

The post BELLVILLE FFA MEMBERS CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Dozens of great prizes will be given away tonight (Monday) during the annual on-the-radio Halloween Party hosted by KWHI. The Halloween Party gets underway at 7 p.m. on AM 1280 …

The post KWHI TO HOST HALLOWEEN PARTY MONDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

One week of early voting is complete in Washington County for the midterms and Brenham ISD bond election. Per Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, weekend early voting drew 449 people on …

The post EARLY VOTING ENTERS SECOND WEEK first appeared on KWHI.com.

Holiday House is hosting their 7th annual Craft and Bake Sale to raise money for a good cause. The Craft and Bake Sale is raising funds for the Brenham Pet …

The post HOLIDAY HOUSE 7TH ANNUAL CRAFT AND BAKE SALE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham Cub Football Hall of Honor welcomed four new members into their ranks before a packed house at the Blinn College Student Center this (Friday) afternoon. Former Cub Coach …

The post CUB HALL OF HONOR INDUCTS FOUR MORE INTO THEIR RANKS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Halloween weekend is here, and in and around Washington County, there are lots of ways to celebrate. Here are some of the events going on around the area: FRIDAY: Lee …

The post HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES HAPPENING AROUND WASHINGTON CO. & THE AREA first appeared on KWHI.com.

A stolen vehicle was recovered and one person was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday. According to Sheriff Otto Hanak, Thursday evening at 8:00, Deputies Adam Zavala and Gabriel Belmares, …

The post STOLEN VEHICLE RECOVERED THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting in Washington County on Thursday dipped slightly, but still maintains a steady turnout overall. According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 890 people voted early on Thursday, including 808 …

The post NEARLY 4,000 EARLY VOTERS IN FOUR DAYS first appeared on KWHI.com.

As early voting progresses, KWHI is watching the races on the ballot for Washington County voters this fall. Today, we cover Texas Senate District 18 and the challenger in that …

The post SENATE DISTRICT 18 CANDIDATE PROFILE: JOSH TUTT first appeared on KWHI.com.

County residents with a current alarm system will need to abide by a new set of rules. Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak reports that in an effort to reduce false …

The post WASHINGTON COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH ALARMS TO ABIDE BY NEW SET OF RULES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 51st Annual South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic is set for tomorrow (Friday) at the Washington County Expo. The clinic gets underway with registration at 7:30 a.m., and the program …

The post 51ST ANNUAL COW-CALF CLINIC FRIDAY AT WASHINGTON CO. EXPO first appeared on KWHI.com.

Four people face theft charges in Navasota after being accused of stealing baby formula. The Navasota Police Department says around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to a business in …

The post NAVASOTA POLICE ARREST FOUR AFTER BABY FORMULA STOLEN FROM BUSINESS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Navasota woman has died from injuries from a one-vehicle crash Tuesday west of Todd Mission. DPS reports that around 3:45 p.m., a 2000 Ford Explorer was traveling westbound on …

The post NAVASOTA WOMAN DIES IN GRIMES CO. CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting continues at a consistent pace in Washington County for the midterm elections and Brenham ISD bond election. Elections Administrator Carol Jackson says there were 964 voters on Wednesday …

The post OVER 3,000 PEOPLE VOTE EARLY IN THREE DAYS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Main Street Brenham has announced the winners of the 19th Annual Scarecrow Extravaganza. Named Best Overall scarecrow and the winner of $300 from KTEX/KWHI is “Campers Have S’more Fun” by …

The post WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR SCARECROW EXTRAVAGANZA first appeared on KWHI.com.

With early voting for the November midterms underway, KWHI is taking a look at what races Washington County residents are voting on. We begin with Texas Senate District 18, and …

The post SENATE DISTRICT 18 CANDIDATE PROFILE: LOIS KOLKHORST first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD has just informed KWHI that the Cub football game against Huntsville that was originally scheduled for Friday night has been moved up. Due to the expected bad weather …

The post BRENHAM CUB FOOTBALL GAME MOVED TO THURSDAY NIGHT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Progress is being made on road improvements within the Pecan Glen subdivision in Washington County, although not as much as hoped for. At Tuesday’s Washington County Commissioners meeting, the county …

The post LIMITS ON MATERIALS SLOWING PROGRESS ON PECAN GLEN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, SAYS COUNTY ENGINEER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The second day of early voting in Washington County on Tuesday drew a larger turnout than the first. Elections Administrator Carol Jackson reports 1,089 people came to the ballot box, …

The post OVER 2,100 EARLY VOTERS THROUGH TWO DAYS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County will receive over $15,000 in grant funding to support feral hog abatement activities in the county. County Commissioners at their meeting today (Tuesday) approved an award of $15,530 …

The post WASHINGTON CO. AWARDED GRANT FUNDING FOR FERAL HOG TRAPPING PROGRAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Barnhill Center at the Historic Simon Theatre in downtown Brenham is getting ready for a busy new season of performances in 2023. Barnhill Center Producer Sharon Brass said that …

The post THE BARNHILL CENTER ANNOUNCES 2023 SEASON OF ENTERTAINMENT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD’s second and final public meeting on its two bond propositions this fall is taking place tonight (Tuesday). Residents are invited to Brenham Junior High School at 6 p.m. …

The post PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY FOR INFORMATION ON BRENHAM ISD BOND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Early voting in Washington County is off to a strong start for the 2022 midterm elections and Brenham ISD bond election. According to Elections Administrator Carol Jackson, 1,043 people voted …

The post OVER 1,000 PEOPLE CAST BALLOTS ON FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 1:30 p.m. Monday: Authorities have recovered the body of a man reported missing on Sunday at Lake Somerville. The body of 64-year-old John Ross Laughlin of Brazoria County …

The post BODY OF MISSING MAN RECOVERED AT LAKE SOMERVILLE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Blue Bell Aquatic Center had anglers of all ages come out on Saturday to enjoy a relaxed fishing experience during the 16th Annual Kids Gone Fishin’. Hundreds of pounds …

The post KIDS GONE FISHIN’ OFFERS UNIQUE FISHING EXPERIENCE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Some City of Brenham residents may have noticed an unusual taste or smell in their water this (Monday) morning. City of Brenham water systems staff said in a notice that …

The post CITY OF BRENHAM RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING UNUSUAL TASTE, SMELL IN WATER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Unemployment rates declined during the month of September for Washington and surrounding counties. Per the Texas Workforce Commission, Washington County’s unemployment rate fell three tenths of a percent in September …

The post AREA UNEMPLOYMENT RATES DOWN IN SEPTEMBER first appeared on KWHI.com.

Two weeks of early voting begin Monday for the November 8th midterm elections and the Brenham ISD bond election. Early voting at the Washington County Courthouse Annex will run 8 …

The post EARLY VOTING BEGINS MONDAY FOR NOV. 8 ELECTIONS first appeared on KWHI.com.

A local U.S. Air Force veteran marks a tremendous milestone this weekend. Members of Brenham VFW Post 7104 and Ladies Auxiliary gathered today (Friday) at the home of Gene and …

The post AIR FORCE VETERAN WHO SERVED IN WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM CELEBRATING 100TH BIRTHDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham ISD Safety and Security Committee met Thursday afternoon. The meeting was led by Brenham ISD’s Director of Safety and Security, Jay Huffty, and the committee is mostly made-up …

The post SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES INTRUDER AUDIT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Prosecutors will not seek a second trial against the man accused of robbing Burton State Bank at gunpoint on June 7, 2018, and have dismissed the case. In a statement …

The post BURTON BANK ROBBERY CASE WILL NOT HAVE SECOND TRIAL; CASE DISMISSED first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Milam County Sheriff’s deputy was shot several times Wednesday while responding to a mental health call near Rockdale. Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore says around 2 p.m., Mental Health …

The post MILAM CO. DEPUTY SHOT DURING MENTAL HEALTH CALL, SUBJECT KILLED first appeared on KWHI.com.

A plane landed off the runway this (Wednesday) afternoon at the Brenham Municipal Airport. According to Airport Manager Debora Pinto, a single-engine aircraft was making a landing at the airport …

The post NO INJURIES AFTER PLANE LANDS OFF RUNWAY AT BRENHAM AIRPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Camp For All’s annual fall gala last week proved to be a record-breaking evening in support of the nonprofit. According to a release from Camp For All, the event last …

The post CAMP FOR ALL FALL GALA RAISES $340,000 first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 4th Annual Brazos Valley Gives fundraising campaign surpassed its goal Tuesday of $1 million raised for area nonprofits. Preliminary donation totals are $1,012,882 on 3,369 donations. There were 161 …

The post BRAZOS VALLEY GIVES FUNDRAISER PASSES $1 MILLION FOR REGIONAL NONPROFITS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College will explore options to provide courses at Sealy ISD as it plans to end its lease at its current campus location in the city. The Blinn Board of …

The post BLINN BOARD MOVES TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIP WITH SEALY ISD TO RELOCATE SEALY CAMPUS PROGRAMS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Burton bond project is drawing closer to an official start date for construction. During Monday’s Burton School Board meeting, DSA Construction Management Project Manager Stad Tomlinson said everything is …

The post BURTON SCHOOL BOARD RECEIVES BOND UPDATE, DISCUSSES GRADUATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham School Board will hear the results of a state-conducted security audit at its meeting Monday. Trustees will discuss the findings from a districtwide intruder audit. In response to …

The post BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD TO RECEIVE SECURITY AUDIT REPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Brenham has named a new fire marshal. At Thursday’s Brenham City Council meeting, Fire Chief Roger Williams introduced Steven Loving as the new fire marshal. A firefighter …

The post STEVEN LOVING NAMED NEW BRENHAM FIRE MARSHAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 7th Annual Texas Arts and Music Festival is coming to downtown Brenham this weekend. Two days of art displays, live mural paintings, shopping and entertainment are in store tomorrow …

The post TEXAS ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Washington County Expo will play host tomorrow (Saturday) to the annual Lloyd Saunders Memorial Cook-off. Teams will compete in various contests for chili, beans, margaritas, bloody marys and chef’s …

The post LLOYD SAUNDERS MEMORIAL COOK-OFF SET FOR SATURDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

LIVESTOCK JUDGING RESULTS FOR 2022 AUSTIN CO. FAIR (Results current as of Friday, October 14th) PEN OF HEIFERS GRAND CHAMPION Blake Linseisen RESERVE CHAMPION Emersyn Novicke Click here to view …

The post LIVESTOCK JUDGING RESULTS FOR AUSTIN CO. FAIR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Today (Friday) is the day of the youth livestock auction sale at the 95th Annual Austin County Fair. Livestock exhibitors will look to have their work with their projects pay …

The post AUCTION DAY AT AUSTIN CO. FAIR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton residents no longer have to boil their water. The city’s boil water notice that went into effect earlier this week has been rescinded, meaning the water can be used …

The post CITY OF BURTON LIFTS BOIL WATER NOTICE first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council issued a unanimous vote today (Thursday) to establish a Chapter 380 economic agreement with the developer of a residential and commercial mixed-use project. The agreement with …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT FOR BRENHAM MARKET SQUARE first appeared on KWHI.com.

After four and a half hours of deliberation on Wednesday, a jury in the Burton State Bank robbery trial of Shawn Patrick Childers of La Grange could not reach a …

The post HUNG JURY IN BURTON BANK ROBBERY TRIAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council will vote today (Thursday) on whether to restrict parking on a section of Prairie Lea Street. The recommendation coming before the council is to create a …

The post CITY OF BRENHAM TO POTENTIALLY CREATE NO PARKING ZONE ON PRAIRIE LEA STREET first appeared on KWHI.com.

Closing arguments were heard today (Wednesday) in the trial of Burton State Bank robbery suspect, Shawn Patrick Childers. A 12-person jury broke into deliberations around 2 p.m. after hearing from …

The post CLOSING ARGUMENTS WEDNESDAY IN BURTON BANK ROBBERY TRIAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Air conditioning problems at the Brenham post office are restricting certain services. A post office clerk tells KWHI that because of the air conditioning unit being out, they are unable …

The post AC ISSUES AT BRENHAM POST OFFICE RESTRICT PRINTING OF POSTAGE, PREPAID LABELS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County property owners are receiving their tax bills in the mail, and most of them can expect to pay more in taxes. While large increases in property values pushed …

The post PROPERTY TAX BILLS OUT FOR WASHINGTON CO. HOMEOWNERS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham and Burton ISDs are set to receive considerably more revenue this year from Washington County school land in Tom Green County. This (Tuesday) morning, Washington County Commissioners approved the …

The post WASHINGTON CO. SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE REVENUE FROM TOM GREEN CO. SCHOOL LAND first appeared on KWHI.com.

A burn ban is going back into effect for Washington County. County Commissioners voted unanimously this (Tuesday) morning to restrict outdoor burning in unincorporated parts of the county. The ban …

The post WASHINGTON CO. RE-INSTITUTES BURN BAN EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

A no parking zone may soon be created along Prairie Lea Street, next to the Blinn College Campus. On Thursday, the Brenham City Council will consider a recommendation to establish …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER NO PARKING ZONE ON PRAIRIE LEA STREET first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Burton’s Stage III Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Demand Management Plan has been lifted, but a boil water notice is now in effect. The city has ended …

The post CITY OF BURTON LIFTS EMERGENCY WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, INSTITUTES BOIL WATER NOTICE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A longtime employee of the City of Brenham was killed and her husband was seriously injured after a two-vehicle accident Saturday in Belize. Shelley Addison and her husband, Chris, were …

The post CITY OF BRENHAM EMPLOYEE KILLED, HUSBAND INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN BELIZE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A Conroe woman was flown to the hospital after an accident involving an 18-wheeler this (Monday) morning on Highway 105 near County Road 415, just east of Navasota. DPS reports …

The post CONROE WOMAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER CRASH WITH 18-WHEELER NEAR NAVASOTA first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Chappell Hill community grew by several thousand over the weekend for the Chappell Hill Historical Society’s 45th Annual Scarecrow Festival. Guests to the two-day festival were able to shop …

The post CHAPPELL HILL ENJOYS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCARECROW FESTIVAL first appeared on KWHI.com.

Three people were seriously wounded after being shot early Sunday morning at a party near Prairie View A&M University. The Prairie View Police Department and Waller County Sheriff’s Office responded …

The post THREE SHOT AFTER OFF-CAMPUS PARTY IN PRAIRIE VIEW first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 95th Annual Austin County Fair crowned a new fair queen on Saturday. Hope Luedeker was named Austin County Fair Queen and Ticket Queen, with $30,290 in ticket sales. First …

The post HOPE LUEDEKER CROWNED AUSTIN CO. FAIR QUEEN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Local and area residents met in downtown Brenham this (Saturday) morning to hold a march for reproductive rights. An estimated 50 to 75 people gathered at the courthouse square in …

The post REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MARCH HELD IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County will potentially reinstate a burn ban when county commissioners meet on Tuesday. Restrictions on outdoor burning in unincorporated parts of the county were lifted by commissioners on September …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO RECONSIDER BURN BAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

A retrial date has been set for next year in the federal case of former Blue Bell Creameries president and CEO Paul Kruse. A second jury will be called in …

The post RETRIAL FOR PAUL KRUSE SET FOR 2023 first appeared on KWHI.com.

Several high schools around the area celebrated homecoming Friday night. In Navasota, Tayla Palmer was crowned the 2022 Navasota High School Homecoming Queen. The Navasota Rattlers defeated the Needville Bluejays, …

The post AREA HIGH SCHOOLS CELEBRATE HOMECOMING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton High School crowned its 2022 Homecoming Queen and King tonight (Friday). Liesha Aguilar was named Homecoming Queen, while Homecoming King honors went to Delvin Gantt. The crowning was held …

The post LIESHA AGUILAR, DELVIN GANTT NAMED BURTON HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING QUEEN, KING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Thousands of people will gather in Chappell Hill this weekend for the Chappell Hill Historical Society’s 45th Annual Scarecrow Festival. Over 250 juried arts and crafts vendors, live music, food …

The post CHAPPELL HILL SCARECROW FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Animal rescue workers on Wednesday removed 26 animals from a property in Washington County. The Houston SPCA Animal Cruelty Investigation Team worked with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to rescue …

The post 26 ANIMALS RESCUED FROM WASHINGTON CO. PROPERTY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The 95th Annual Austin County Fair begins this weekend. Today (Friday) marks the kick-off of activities at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville, continuing through October 16th. The fair gets …

The post AUSTIN CO. FAIR KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton High School will celebrate homecoming festivities at a crowning ceremony tonight (Friday). The crowning will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the high school gym, after this evening’s volleyball …

The post BURTON HIGH SCHOOL TO CROWN NEW HOMECOMING ROYALTY FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

BRIANNAS Fine Salad Dressings in Brenham marked 40 years at a ceremony this (Thursday) morning. BRIANNAS commemorated its anniversary with a celebration and ribbon cutting featuring the owners and leadership …

The post BRIANNAS CELEBRATES 40 YEAR ANNIVERSARY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton High School’s homecoming festivities came through town Wednesday evening with the annual parade. Various floats and vehicles traveled along Main Street, waving and tossing out lots of candy and …

The post BURTON HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES HOMECOMING WITH PARADE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Around 45 vendors will offer their various products in downtown Brenham tomorrow (Friday) during the First Friday Farmer and Artisan Market. Shoppers can stroll down Baylor and Park Streets to …

The post FIRST FRIDAY MARKET IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM – WITH WINTER HOURS first appeared on KWHI.com.

With the holidays not far away, Blue Bell Ice Cream is bringing back some festive flavors. Peppermint Bark is described as a smooth mint ice cream loaded with dark chocolate …

The post BLUE BELL HOLIDAY FLAVORS ON SHELVES first appeared on KWHI.com.

The first of two public meetings for residents to learn more about Brenham ISD’s bond propositions is taking place tonight (Thursday). Beginning at 6 p.m. at Brenham Junior High School, …

The post PUBLIC MEETING ON BRENHAM ISD BOND THURSDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Local History Day program offered in downtown Brenham in the spring for Brenham ISD students could see changes. At Monday’s Main Street Board meeting, city staff recommended that a …

The post CHANGES POTENTIALLY ON THE WAY FOR LOCAL HISTORY DAY PROGRAM IN DOWNTOWN BRENHAM first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County Chamber of Commerce members have begun receiving ballots to elect new directors to the Chamber Board of Directors. Six candidates have been nominated to fill six seats on …

The post SIX CANDIDATES ON BALLOT FOR WASHINGTON CO. CHAMBER BOARD first appeared on KWHI.com.

Community members and first responders came together Tuesday night for the annual Texas National Night Out. All around the area, residents and neighbors held block parties and gatherings to get …

The post COMMUNITIES GATHER TUESDAY FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT first appeared on KWHI.com.

No injuries were reported Tuesday evening after a plane landed off the runway at the Navasota Airport. According to the Navasota Examiner, the aircraft was attempting to land at the …

The post NO INJURIES AFTER HARD LANDING AT NAVASOTA AIRPORT first appeared on KWHI.com.

The first day of the Burton Bank Robbery trial got underway today (Tuesday). The jury was selected Monday in a process that went into the evening. Shawn Patrick Childers of …

The post BURTON BANK ROBBERY TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Burton High School has revealed its homecoming court. Homecoming Queen candidates are Liesha Aguilar, Reece Mahlmann, Brinn Rhodes and Mycah Simank. Nominees for Homecoming King are Chet Fritsch, Delvin Gantt, …

The post BURTON HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES FOR HOMECOMING QUEEN, KING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Faith Mission in Brenham has activated its Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to provide assistance to the victims of Hurricane Ian. Faith Mission, an extension of the Salvation Army, has opened …

The post FAITH MISSION OPENS NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS ACCOUNTS FOR HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Local and area law enforcement officials will be out and about tonight (Tuesday) to visit with community members during National Night Out. The theme for this year’s event, taking place …

The post NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TO BE CELEBRATED TUESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County District Attorney Julie Renken is one of five district attorneys in Texas that have been sued by abortion rights groups, in connection to the overturning of Roe v. …

The post WASHINGTON CO. DISTRICT ATTORNEY INCLUDED IN FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED BY ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Snook Secondary School celebrated homecoming Friday night. Named as the Homecoming Queen and King were Nadia Garcia and Lance Lara. The Bluejays defeated the Runge Yellowjackets, 56-6.

The post SNOOK SECONDARY SCHOOL CROWNS HOMECOMING KING, QUEEN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Attorneys for 93 property owners in nine Texas counties have issued a letter to Texas Central seeking answers on its plans for a high speed railway between Houston and Dallas. …

The post LANDOWNERS SEEK ANSWERS ON STATUS OF HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota High School has announced their homecoming queen candidates and court. The 2022 Homecoming Queen Candidates are Tayla Palmer, Connie Leal, Leah Garcia, and Justice Hearld. Members of the 2022 …

The post NAVASOTA HIGH SCHOOL NAMES HOMECOMING CANDIDATES AND COURT first appeared on KWHI.com.

New royalty was crowned during Brenham High School's annual Homecoming game Friday night. Kaitlyn Foster was crowned the 2022 Homecoming Queen during the halftime ceremonies. Brooke Bentke was named first …

The post KAITLYN FOSTER, SHAUN RAY CROWNED BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING QUEEN & KING first appeared on KWHI.com.

Blinn College held their Hall of Honor Luncheon Friday to induct 5 new members. Ray Daugbjerg, Lawrence Hemann, Eunice Kelm, F.C. “Sonny” Schulte and Randy Wells were inducted into the …

The post BLINN COLLEGE INDUCTS 5 TO HALL OF HONOR first appeared on KWHI.com.

A fuel system for the Washington County EMS helicopter hangar behind the Washington Volunteer Fire Department will be considered by county commissioners on Monday. According to EMS Director Kevin Deramus, …

The post WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER FUEL SYSTEM FOR EMS HANGAR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Washington County residents will have the opportunity next month to dispose of scrap tires at no cost to them. A free scrap tire collection event runs October 8-22 at the …

The post FREE SCRAP TIRE COLLECTION EVENT OCT. 8-22 AT BVR COLLECTION STATION first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham High School will celebrate homecoming and crown new royalty this (Friday) evening. Homecoming Queen candidates are Brooke Bentke, Destanee Cooper, Jakayla Fisher, Kaitlyn Foster, Lauren Hook, Brynn Planto, Eliah …

The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATING HOMECOMING FRIDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council voted after an executive session today (Thursday) to move forward with land negotiations to improve the city’s wastewater system. The council moved unanimously to authorize City …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LAND NEGOTIATIONS FOR WASTEWATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota Police Lieutenant and Interim Police Chief Michael Mize was sworn in this (Thursday) morning as the city’s new full-time Chief of Police. Members of the Navasota Police Department, other …

The post MIZE SWORN IN AS NEW NAVASOTA POLICE CHIEF first appeared on KWHI.com.

Large crowds congregated in downtown Brenham on a sunny and clear Wednesday evening for Brenham High School’s annual Homecoming Parade. Dozens of parade entries traveled down Main and Alamo Streets, …

The post VIDEO – 2022 BRENHAM HOMECOMING PARADE first appeared on KWHI.com.

A memorial scholarship has been established for an Iola ISD student who was killed last week in a crash. The life of Contessa “Tessa” Clae Shive is being remembered through …

The post MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP CREATED FOR IOLA ISD STUDENT KILLED IN CRASH first appeared on KWHI.com.

Sale totals for the 2022 Burleson County Fair set new records. Estimated numbers from the fair’s youth livestock auction, commercial heifer sale and baked foods sale amount to $2,278,800. That …

The post NEW TOTAL SALES RECORD AT BURLESON CO. FAIR first appeared on KWHI.com.

Update @ 9:05 a.m. Wednesday: Brenham police have identified the body of a man who was discovered Tuesday afternoon. The body of 64-year-old Philip Randy Helfer of the Caldwell area was …

The post BRENHAM POLICE IDENTIFY BODY FOUND BY RESTAURANT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Downtown Brenham will be packed this (Wednesday) evening for Brenham High School’s annual Homecoming Parade. The theme for this year’s parade is “Cubs Got Game”, with floats set to be …

The post BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL HOSTING HOMECOMING PARADE WEDNESDAY first appeared on KWHI.com.

The restoration project for the Washington County Courthouse appears to be on hold for the foreseeable future. Commissioner Joy Fuchs told KWHI that the county was not chosen to receive …

The post WASHINGTON CO. NOT SELECTED FOR COURTHOUSE RESTORATION GRANT first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota’s interim police chief has been chosen to fill that role on a permanent basis. On Monday, the City of Navasota announced that Michael Mize has been appointed as chief …

The post MICHAEL MIZE TABBED AS NAVASOTA’S NEW POLICE CHIEF first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham Junior High School has crowned a new Duke and Duchess. Ethan Aschenbeck and Katelyn Phan were recognized as the new junior high royalty at a pep rally on Monday. …

The post BRENHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NAMES DUKE, DUCHESS first appeared on KWHI.com.

The City of Burton has entered into Stage III of its Emergency Water Demand Management Plan and has implemented temporary restrictions on water use. In a notice posted on the …

The post CITY OF BURTON ENTERS STAGE III OF EMERGENCY WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN first appeared on KWHI.com.

Brenham ISD held their first informational meeting on the upcoming bond election Monday with the Washington County Ladies Lions Club. Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin presented the ladies with the facts …

The post LADIES LIONS CLUB HEARS ABOUT NEW BOND ELECTION first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a traffic crash involving a Waller ISD school bus and an 18-wheeler earlier this (Monday) morning. The bus was carrying 28 Waller …

The post WALLER SCHOOL BUS COLLIDES WITH AN 18 WHEELER first appeared on KWHI.com.

The Brenham City Council unanimously adopted the new fiscal year budget and levied its associated tax rate after a public hearing this (Monday) morning. The $91.8 million budget raises an …

The post BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS 2022-23 BUDGET, TAX RATE first appeared on KWHI.com.

Navasota Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a shooting incident on Sunday afternoon. Police received reports of shots being fired around 12:20pm in the 700 Block of West …

The post NAVASOTA POLICE ARREST SUSPECTS IN SUNDAY SHOOTING INCIDENT first appeared on KWHI.com.