Infomaniacs: November 26, 2013 (8:00am)

Free Tax Preparation and Filing Service Offered to Brazos Valley Residents

Brazos Valley residents can utilize a free tax preparation and e-filing service this tax season. Jim Rollins, Site Coordinator for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, said the service is for all Brazos Valley residents, but there are two target demographics. “Taxpayers who are 50 years-old or older and taxpayers who have low to moderate income,” said Rollins. Rollins said Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure you receive all the tax credits and deductions you’re eligible for. “Make sure you have all of your tax documents. All these companies and federal agencies are supposed to have them out to you by January 31st, but some of them come a few days later,” said Rollings. There are three service sites in the Brazos Valley: The Clara Mounce Library in Bryan The Larry Ringer Library in College Station St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brenham Tax-Aide has various operating hours for appointments through April 14th. Click here for more information and to make your appointment. Listen to “Free Tax Preparation and E-Filing Service in the Brazos Valley” on Spreaker.

Texas A&M Undergraduate Enrollment Freeze Does Not Apply to Faculty

Texas A&M President Mark Welsh recently announced a freeze in undergraduate enrollment at the flagship campus for the next five to seven years. Dr. Susan Ballabina, the president’s chief of staff, said that freeze does not apply to faculty. “We have earmarked funding every year to add additional faculty, and we’ve put in place some faculty and staff retention programs because we have to have the appropriate numbers of faculty,” said Ballabina. Ballabina said during the recent student experience study, faculty to student ratios, the need for more advisors, and career counseling services all came up. “That is really why we want to pause for a minute, take a deep breath, and make sure that these students have the same experience that is positive, that leads them to have the same loyalty and allegiance as all of our other former students that came generations before,” said Ballabina. The president’s enrollment freeze announcement also said the pause in growth will “give us time to build the infrastructure and capacity we need now and in the future”.

Local Law Enforcement Assists with Arrest of Man for Reckless Driving and Deadly Conduct

Local law enforcement and fire departments were involved in the search and apprehension of a Millican man last Friday. According to the Navasota Police Department news release, officers responded to a report of a reckless driver on State Highway 6 south. A second caller reported seeing the suspect firing a gun toward a parked car in the Walmart parking lot before fleeing the scene on the feeder road, driving north in the southbound lanes. The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office received information indicating the suspect may have fled onto FM 2154. In response, NPD, DPS Troopers, and Brazos County Sheriff’s Deputies coordinated a search of the area. Officers located the suspect’s vehicle at a residence in Millican, Texas. 29 year-old Charles Medina was found to be under the influence, prompting a response from the College Station Fire Department and South Brazos County Fire Department. Medina was charged with deadly conduct, criminal mischief, and reckless driving.