Crowded Hallways at Gonzales ISD Investigated

The Gonzales Inquirer

• After a video showing Gonzales ISD students crowded in a hallway was shared online, the district has issued a statement saying the incident is being investigated. “We became aware of the situation,” GISD Director of Public Relations Robin Trojack said. “It was reported to have taken place after students were transitioning from lunch. Administration was informed immediately and the situation was investigated to ensure students wear masks as well as videos are not taken as that can result in a FERPA violation. Face-mask usage and physical distancing are encouraged at all times.” The six-second video, which was shared on Facebook, is captioned “yea i think we’ll get sick,” and shows many students shoulder-to-shoulder in a hallway. It was shared by a concerned parent who said the video was taken at Gonzales High School.

The Banner-Press

• The city of Brenham will soon have residents advising their local police department. The Brenham Police Citizen Advisory Board, established under the direction of Chief of Police Ron Parker, was created to act as a community resource for the police chief in the formation of strategies, development of community policing concepts and programs, to serve as an advisory body on certain police matters, fostering and enhancing public transparency and trust and increasing public awareness. The board is not a review board of specific police actions, whether internal or external, but simply is a forum for potential discussions.

• Buccaneers may play a role in bringing a COVID-19 vaccine to the public through an apprenticeship program by FUJIFILM, a company tasked with making the vaccine. According to Vice-Chancellor of Health and Human Sciences, Technical Education and Community Programs Jay Anderson, Blinn’s biomedical technology program has entered a partnership with FUJIFILM to assist in making the vaccine. Blinn has trained 191 FUJIFILM employees with a total of 4,886 hours of contact training. FUJIFILM human resources will continue to reach out to seek Blinn candidates and hire graduates of the biotechnology laboratory sciences department.

Lexington Leader

• The City of Lexington announced its intent to submit a Texas Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) application for a Downtown Revitalization grant, requesting of up to $500,000. Their announcement indicated that if awarded the grant, the City intends to install ADA compliant sidewalks and lighting downtown. There are four other grants the City has either received and/or is in the process of making an application. In June the City had been awarded a $300,000 Texas CDBG for sewer improvements. Another Texas CDBG grant, if awarded, will help make improvements to the drainage system and the City is in the early stages of an application for a new water well. The City has also applied with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to build affordable homes for lowincome families.

Hallettsville Tribune-Herald

• Lavaca County Emergency Management is proud to share that “text to 911” capabilities are available in Lavaca County. Text to 911 is a resource for those who are unable to safely make a voice call to 911. If a reporting party is unable to speak safely while a crime is in progress or must remain quiet, Text to 911 is a viable alternative to calling 911. Text to 911 can also be the first contact option for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or those with other speech impairments. Reporting parties should be ready to give their location and describe the type of emergency they have when asked by the dispatcher. Texts to 911 should use simple words and no abbreviations, emojis or pictures. Dispatchers prefer to speak to reporting parties whenever possible and may ask if they can call the reporting party or if the reporting party can call 911. Texts to 911 come with some challenges and limitations. Location coordinates received by the dispatch center may not be as accurate as it can be with a voice call to 911. Texts to 911 may receive a bounce-back message if the cell phone is roaming or lacking proper cell coverage.

Yoakum Herald-Times

• After waiting for more than two years in jail, a Yoakum man accused of killing his wife in 2018 has pleaded guilty and received a five-year sentence. Daniel Dwayne Brazil Jr., 56, was sentenced on July 30 after pleading guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, according to court documents. Brazil was indicted on a first-degree murder charge months after his wife Salemeeh Paulton, 38 of Yoakum, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on an isolated gravel road in De-Witt County. The plea agreement Brazil accepted sentenced him to five years imprisonment with credit for 863 days already served. That time served reduces Brazil’s sentence to a little more than two years in prison.