WTAW’s Chelsea Reber visits with Kat Gammon from United Way of the Brazos Valley and Amy Faulkner from Voices for Children.
United Way of the Brazos Valley Update
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Four Men Admit In Brazos County District Court To Taking Copper While Trials Await For Four More Co-Defendants
In January 2023, more than $300,000 dollars of copper was taken from a Union Pacific railyard in Brazos County. Out of eight men who were indicted in district court for engaging in organized criminal activity related to the copper theft, four have been convicted and four are still awaiting trials. The latest sentencing was last Friday (May 1). Online court records shows 32 year old Rafael Romero Jr. of Bryan reached a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office where a ten year sentence also covers pleas in separate cases of unlawful possession of a gun and possession of a controlled substance. In January, 27 year old Jeffrey Neblett Jr. of Bryan was sentenced to 25 years as part of a plea agreement where he also admitted to five felony and three misdemeanor crimes that took place between June of 2021 and June of 2023. Those convictions included armed robbery, family violence assault, burglary of a habitation, and four counts of illegal drug possession. Also pleading guilty for taking part in the copper theft, 28 year old Tela Williams of College Station was sentenced to 15 years and 27 year old Arnoldo Romero of Hempstead was sentenced to 40 years. All four still awaiting trials for organized criminal activity associated with the copper theft are out of jail on bond. Three of the four also have pending trials in unrelated cases. 36 year old Felipe Tello Jr. of Bryan has cases going back July of 2021. Three felony cases includes possessing controlled substances. Ten pending trials on misdemeanor charges includes three DWI’s and six cases involving driving without a license. Another man, 27 year old Sergio Bernal of College Station, is awaiting trials on three misdemeanor charges of driving with an invalid license and one misdemeanor charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon and possessing marijuana. Those cases involve incidents that took place in 2024, 2025, and in January and March of 2026. 31 year old Alejandro Nicholas Gonzalez of Bryan is awaiting trial in a separate case of possessing a controlled substance in February 2024. And awaiting trial for only the copper theft is 25 year old Evan Ross of Bryan.
City Of Bryan’s Renovated Travis Field Stadium Will Be Ready For The Start Of The First Season Of Yard Dogs Baseball
The city of Bryan’s Travis Field stadium, which has had a $700,000 dollar renovation, will be ready for the May 21st opener for the first season of the new Yard Dogs collegiate baseball team. Bryan deputy city manager Hugh Walker says the stadium’s third base party deck has been replaced, the first base party deck has been removed to allow for more seating, and there is a new sound system. On the field, there is a new infield, new pitching mound, and new backstop padding. In addition to the Yard Dogs 30 home game schedule, the stadium is available for rentals during the spring and summer for the first time in decades. Click below to hear Hugh Walker’s visit with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “City of Bryan's Renovation of Travis Field stadium will be ready for the opener of the first season of Yard Dogs baseball” on Spreaker.
Bryan City Manager And Former Mayor Andrew Nelson Returns To Work Following Brain Surgery
Less than a month after the city of Bryan announced city manager and former mayor Andrew Nelson went on medical leave where he would undergo brain surgery, he is back at work. And his return was noted by city council members at the end of the May 5th regular meeting. Leading off was Kevin Boriskie, followed by Marca Ewers-Shurtleff, James Edge, and mayor Bobby Gutierrez. Nelson said he is feeling stronger every day following his surgery. The city manager also participated in the council’s afternoon workshop and before that, a joint meeting with the Bryan Business Council. Click below to hear comments from the May 5, 2026 Bryan city council meeting. Listen to “Bryan city manager and former Andrew Nelson returns to work following brain surgery” on Spreaker.