Kevin O’Connor Kommentary for October 3

First Friday Preview with Destination Bryan

Caden Jones, Special Events Coordinator, visits with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber about this month’s First Friday in Downtown Bryan and more during his visit on WTAW. Listen to “First Friday Preview with Destination Bryan” on Spreaker.

Texas A&M System Board of Regents Approve Player Development Center at Blue Bell Park

The Texas A&M System Board of Regents approve a player development center at Blue Bell Park to be built this year. Athletics Director Trev Alberts, who gave the presentation at Thursday’s meeting, said this is new Aggie Baseball Head Coach Michael Earley’s number one priority. “As you’re aware, we have some pretty good athletes in our baseball program now, and Coach Earley feels like this is his highest priority to be able to help keep, maintain and recruit the best athletes in the country,” said Alberts. Alberts says the facility includes new batting cages, a pitching lab, strength and conditioning spaces, team meeting rooms, sports medicine facilities, and new locker rooms. “In addition, the project will replace the existing field lighting and playing field at Olsen Field,” said Alberts. Alberts said approval allows them to start on this phase of the entire Blue Bell Park project immediately, with improved stadium amenities to come during FY 2026. This phase of the project is $28.3 million of the $80 million total renovation project of Blue Bell Park. Click below to hear Trev Alberts’ presentation and Regent’s commentary: Listen to “Texas A&M Athletic Director Trev Alberts Presents New Player Development Center at Blue Bell Park” on Spreaker.

Texas A&M Forest Service Awards $951,000 to Landowners for Prescribed Fire

The Texas A&M Forest Service recently awarded $951,000 to landowners to conduct prescribed fires this year. According to the forest service’s news release, prescribed fire is a strategic land management tool that uses low-intensity fire on a specific area of land to achieve set goals. Prescribed fire is the most effective and efficient land management tool for decreasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels. The funding will treat more than 35,000 acres and burns are typically conducted from January through June. News release from Texas A&M Forest Service: Texas A&M Forest Service awarded over $951,000 to 168 landowners to conduct prescribed fires this year. This funding will treat 35,138 acres. Prescribed fire is a strategic land management tool that uses low-intensity fire on a specific area of land to achieve set goals. Prescribed fire is the most effective and efficient land management tool for decreasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels. “Over the past 10 years, our prescribed fire grants have treated over 100,000 acres helping reduce the risk of wildfire,” said Karen Stafford, Texas A&M Forest Service Community Resiliency Coordinator. “Our prescribed fire grants prioritize wildfire mitigation and emphasize protecting homes, communities and natural ecosystems.” Texas A&M Forest Service offers four grants to landowners to complete prescribed fires on private lands across the state, each with unique goals. Residents in the Panhandle and West Texas are eligible for the State Fire Assistance for Mitigation – Plains Prescribed Fire grant. The remaining available grants focus on East and Central Texas and include the Community Protection Program grant, State Fire Assistance for Mitigation – Central and East Texas grant and Neches River and Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration Program – Prescribed Fire grant. Each program reimburses landowners up to $30 per acre, for a maximum of 800 acres per recipient. Applicants apply in the fall and are notified of their grant award between October and December, depending on the grant. Once contracts are signed, the burns are typically conducted from January through June. “While Texas A&M Forest Service proudly conducts prescribed burns on public lands as part of our conservation education efforts, we do not conduct the burns in these grant programs,” said Stafford. “Prescribed burns through these grant programs are conducted by a private or commercial Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager.” The Texas Department of Agriculture oversees the licensing program in Texas and having a certified and insured manager conduct the burn provides liability protection for the landowner and ensures best practices are being followed. It also certifies that prescribed fires being conducted in tandem with this program are done so safely and take into account all ecosystem factors. Following the burn, management goals and the ecosystem are monitored by Stafford and her team. “Prescribed burning in Texas is most often conducted in the winter or spring during mild weather conditions,” said Stafford. “Within a few weeks, these sites will show green shoots of new growth and by the end of the growing season native grasses, wildflowers and more palatable browse have replaced the overgrown brush and litter, all of which will increase wildlife value and make for the beautiful Texas landscape we all love.” The Texas Longleaf Conservation Assistance Program, an additional Texas A&M Forest Service forest conservation assistance program for East Texas landowners, is now accepting proposal applications. Prescribed burning is considered a conservation method and is eligible under this grant. For more information on prescribed burning, burning safety, benefits and more, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/PrescribedBurns/. For more information on grants provided by Texas A&M Forest Service and partners, visit https://texasforestinfo.tamu.edu/fundingconnector/.