Infomaniacs: April 27, 2012 (7:15am)

State Prison Board Meets In Bryan

The Texas board of criminal justice (TBCJ), which oversees the operation of the state’s prison system, met last Friday (October 11) in Bryan. The board unanimously approved an organizational restructure, as laid out by executive director Bryan Collier. Click below to hear Bryan Collier’s organizational restructure of the state prison system administration:   Collier and his chief of staff, Jason Clark, had a presentation on the findings of the Texas sunset review commission. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials related to the sunset review commission’s findings of the state prison system. Click below to hear comments from Bryan Collier and Jason Clark about the sunset review commission’s findings of the state prison system.   The TBCJ board heard the findings of an internal job satisfaction survey of state prison corrections officers, conducted by a third party company hired by the state prison system. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials related to the job satisfaction survey of state corrections officers. Click below to hear comments from the state prison system’s Andy Barbee of the job satisfaction survey of state corrections officers.   The TBCJ board heard the findings of efforts to reduce contraband in state prisons. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials related to efforts to reduce contraband in state prisons. Click below to hear comments and questions asked of TBCJ board members about efforts to reduce contraband in state prisons, and staff responses.   Using virtual meeting software, an inmate at the Hamilton Unit in west Bryan received a standing ovation from the TBCJ board after sharing his experiences with the prison system’s peer support recovery program. Click below to hear comments from inmate Scott Michael Flynn.   The TBCJ board also recognized October’s observance of domestic violence awareness month. That included comments from board member and domestic violence survivor Sydney Zuiker of Houston. Click below to hear comments from TBCJ board member Sydney Zuiker.    

Sixth Annual Brazos Valley Gives Fundraiser Is Tuesday

The sixth annual Brazos Valley Gives fundraiser benefiting 198 non-profit agencies in the seven county region is Tuesday (October 15). During the early giving period, as of 11 a.m. Monday 150 organizations received a combined total of more than $258,000 dollars and almost 1,000 thousand hours of volunteer time. Click HERE to be directed to the Brazos Valley Gives website. On Tuesday, gifts can also be delivered at four drive-thru locations: From 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at The Eagle newspaper in Bryan on Briarcrest Drive, From 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Caldwell Civic Center on Highway 21, From 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Navasota Center on Stadium Drive, and From 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Washington County chamber of commerce in Brenham on South Austin Street. News release from Brazos Valley Gives: The Community Foundation announces Brazos Valley Gives is Tuesday, October 15. The Brazos Valley’s sixth annual Brazos Valley Gives Day includes 198 nonprofits that are taking part in this community-wide day of giving. Donors simply log on to brazosvalleygives.org and make a gift to the participating nonprofit[s] of their choice on Tuesday, October 15 from 5:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. For donors who prefer dropping off their gift, four drive-thru locations are provided: – Brazos County – The Eagle at 1729 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. – Burleson County – Caldwell Civic Center at 103 Highway 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Grimes County – Navasota Center at 101 Stadium Drive from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.; and – Washington County – Chamber of Commerce from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at 314 South Austin Street in Brenham. Businesses and organizations are invited to drop-off their donations at the Bryan, Brenham, Caldwell or Navasota drop-off donation sites and capture the moment with a “big-check” presentation and photo opportunity for use on social media! Brazos Valley Gives presenting sponsor is Amarillo National Bank. David Gardner’s Jewelers, Tom Light Legacy and Ray of Hope are the champion sponsors. Bryan Broadcasting, KBTX, The Eagle, Brenham Banner Press, Navasota Examiner, Burleson County Tribune, Madisonville Meteor, KAMU, and Lamar Advertising are partnering with the Community Foundation to ensure the community is aware and ready for the big day. The Bryan/College Station, Washington County, Burleson County and Grimes County Chambers of Commerce are also engaged in promoting Brazos Valley Gives which supports 198 nonprofits from across the 7-county Brazos Valley region. Participating nonprofits are also eligible to win over $50,000 in incentive prizes donated by local businesses and individuals. In addition, over 88 individuals and businesses have volunteered to “CHAMPION” the efforts of their favorite non-profit giving campaign. These individuals are hosting an online Brazos Valley Gives peer fundraiser to support their favorite participating nonprofit. “Our sixth annual giving day is empowering donors across our region to give where they live. Brazos Valley Gives is strengthening our nonprofits, bringing the community together as one,” stated Julie Porter, Co-Chair. Brazos Valley Gives is 18 hours of online giving that brings the region together on one day and as one community to raise critical funding and awareness for nonprofit organizations throughout the Brazos Valley. Powered by the Community Foundation, Brazos Valley Gives provides citizens and businesses an easy platform to support the mission and “good works” of local nonprofit organizations that serve the Brazos Valley. Nonprofits from throughout the Brazos Valley—7 of the 7 counties—are participating as well. Brazos Valley Gives empowers individual donors and business leaders to come together to support causes close to their hearts—and, on this day, everyone can be a philanthropist. This day of giving where you live is being powered by the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley, and all donations will pass-thru directly to the donor’s charity(ies) of choice. The goal for Brazos Valley Gives is $1,500,000. The big day – Tuesday, October 15 — begins at 5:00 a.m. and will continue until 11:00 p.m. Please visit brazosvalleygives.org to see a list of the 198 nonprofit participants or for more information send an email to brazosvalleygives@gmail.com. If you are a local citizen or business interested in helping with Brazos Valley Gives in the future, please call Patricia Gerling, President/CEO of the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley at (979) 589-4305. Let’s all join in as we strengthen nonprofits, empower donors and build community throughout our beloved Brazos Valley. We give where we live!

College Station Police Make An Arrest On A Felony Animal Cruelty Charge

An eight year old Shih Tzu is recovering from multiple fractures in his jaw and multiple fractured teeth. College Station police make an arrest this week (October 9) on a felony animal cruelty charge from the July 12th incident. The dog, named Bryant, is the emotional support animal of a woman who was involved in a relationship with the man who was arrested. The CSPD officer who wrote the arrest report said 27 year old Aaron Henry admitted throwing Bryant to the ground. The officer wrote Henry “mimicked what he did and used one hand in a motion resembling spiking a football”. Henry told officers he threw the dog as the result of “multiple stressors” in his life and not because the dog provoked him. The dog’s owner, who had been staying with Henry after being displaced by Hurricane Beryl, was not present at the time Bryant was injured. The arrest report says the day after Bryant was injured (July 13), the owner took him to the Texas A&M small animal hospital. Because Bryant would not allow his mouth to be opened, an appointment was made for July 16th. On that day, Bryant was sedated and his mouth was wired shut. Bryant had a second surgery on September 25th. The arrest report says vet bills and associated expenses totaled almost $9,000 dollars. Henry is out of jail after posting a $10,000 dollar bond.