Ag’s Beat Arkansas

Brazos County Commission Starts The Process Of Relocating 9-1-1 Operations

Brazos County commissioners approve buying a building that was last used as a call center to move 9-1-1 operations of the county and the city of Bryan. The $2.2 million dollar building is located across Villa Maria from Bryan Collegiate High School. County judge Duane Peters says this is a 90 day contract to further inspect the property. 9-1-1 director Patrick Corley says the building, which is twice the size of the space that has been leased since 1988, will take care of present and future demands. Corley says there has had an increase in the number of employees from 27 to 48. Not only is there no more room for additional people, there is no more room for technology. Corley says since 1992, the number of calls has increased from 69,000 a year to 168,000. Corley also says the new location will provide a secure parking area for employees and will meet ADA requirements…two other things that are lacking at their present location in downtown Bryan. Click HERE to read and download the sales contract that was approved at the December 17, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. Click below to hear comments from the December 17, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting, followed by a visit with Brazos County 9-1-1 director Patrick Corley and WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “Brazos County commissioners starts the process of relocating 9-1-1 operations” on Spreaker.

Prison For A Home Health Worker Who Starved Her Aunt To Death

A home health worker is going to prison for starving her disabled aunt, which resulted in her death. A news release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office says in July 2019, College Station police discovered the 52 year old victim was also “shockingly dehydrated”. In October 2024, a jury convicted the niece of injuring her aunt, who could not take care of herself due to mental illness. On Tuesday (December 17), the trial judge sentenced 40 year old Latasha Nowlin of College Station to 20 and a half years in prison. Prosecutors say the victim’s weight was 60 pounds the month before she died. News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office: Latasha Nowlin has been sentenced to 20.5 Years in Prison for neglect of a disabled person, her aunt Jacqueline Reed, which resulted in her death. Police were called out to the home of the defendant and the victim on July 14, 2019. There, police and EMS found the victim, 52 year old Jacqueline Reed, starved and shockingly dehydrated. Reed had been left principally in the care of the defendant, a home health worker with years of experience. According to the testimony of Reed’s attending physician, it is conservatively estimated that Reed had been denied any fluids for a period of at least a week if not longer. Reed had long suffered from mental illness and could not care for herself. Reed’s weight had fallen to 60lbs due to starvation. Reed would pass away the next month while in hospice care. College Station Police Department detectives conducted the investigation and interviewed the defendant. When asked what the defendant did about the smell coming from Reed’s room, the defendant said that she lit candles. Police also found towels stuffed un-der Reed’s door when they first arrived. The defendant was ultimately charged with the offense of Intentional or Knowing Serious Bodily Injury to a Disabled Person by Omission, a 1st degree felony. A Jury convicted the defendant of this offense on October 9, 2024 after a three day trial. A punishment hearing was conducted on December 17, 2024 in the 361st District Court where the defendant was sentenced to 20.5 Years in prison. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank all Jacqueline’s healthcare workers who treated her with dignity and respect when she was finally taken to the hospital on July 14, 2019. The good work and testimony of Jacqueline’s attending physician was particularly indispensable at trial. Statement from assistant district attorney Kevin Capps: “Jacqueline suffered needlessly and profoundly due to the extreme neglect of a family member who certainly knew better. The defendant’s shocking indifference led directly to Jacqueline’s death. The defendant’s prison sentence is well justified.”

Bryan/College Station Chamber Of Commerce Announces Speakers At The Annual Economic Outlook Conference And Invites Participants In Their Annual Legislative Survey

This week’s Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce update on WTAW included invitations to two annual events. The chamber’s community liaison, Royce Hickman, says tickets are now available for the annual economic outlook conference. Speakers for the January 22nd event includes state comptroller Glenn Hegar and Dr. Jim Gaines of the Texas A&M real estate research center. Click HERE to be directed to information about the B/CS chamber’s annual economic outlook conference. Hickman also invited participants in the chamber’s annual legislative survey. Those results will be used in composing the chamber’s legislative action plan. Click HERE to be directed to the B/CS chamber’s legislative survey. Click below to hear comments from Royce Hickman, visiting with Sean Burnett on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs December 17, 2024: