City of Brenham Settles Lawsuit Filed Against Former Employee
The Brenham Banner-Press
• The City of Brenham has settled a lawsuit filed against the city by a former employee. On Feb. 26, the city resolved the case brought forth by Donald Guyton through mediation, with the city agreeing to pay $20,000 to bring an end to the case. The civil case was filed on April 17, 2020, in the U.S. District Court in Austin. According to online court documents, the nature of the suit was job discrimination due to race. City Manager James Fisher said after a thorough investigation of the facts of the case, the city determined it “had not acted improperly.” However, he also said the settlement of the case is “in the best interest of the city,” allowing staff to focus their time and resources on serving Brenham citizens. Guyton, who is African-American, was employed by the city from approximately Nov. of 2010 through Sept. of 2019, according to online records. Guyton was a maintenance worker in the Public Works Department, and his title at the time of his termination was Parks Electrician.
• At the Feb. 25 council meeting the letter of support for the low-to-moderate income housing development, Sandy Point, had been rescinded by Brenham City Council by a vote of 6-1. A large group of concerned citizens came to voice their opposition to the letter of support for a development of 27 single-family homes for affordable renting located on 9.01 acres of land on Pecan St. Brenham Mayor Milton Tate fears that an abundance of affordable housing in Brenham is bringing people into the town and not serving current residents. Some citizens called the development “a flagrant waste of money” and others were worried about traffic concerns, increased crime, and property values decreasing. The item first came before the city council on Feb. 4, another reason many citizens felt this was not enough time to weigh the pros and cons of the housing development.
The Navasota xaminer
• At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday Navasota PD officers were dispatched to a train versus pedestrian accident. The victim, 71-year-old Blanch Steward from Navasota, is in critical condition. According to Chief Shawn Myatt when the train was attempting to stop it damaged some knuckles. “We have been told it may be several hours before it is repaired,” said Myatt. Mr. Steward is vision impaired and lives near the railroad tracks. Myatt stated, “It is believed he left his home and, not realizing it, wandered onto the tracks.” The train was blocking most of the crossings inside the city limits with the exception of Courtney Rd.
The Colorado County Citizen
• When the frozen water pipes exploded in the Columbus Dollar General store located at 1400 Walnut St. during the winter storm on Feb. 18, the store and its contents were bathed. City officials estimate the water spewed 24-36 hours before it was detected. The unprecedented arctic freeze caused an unmetered pipe, which is designed for maximum water flow during a fire within a structure, to burst at a sprinkler head located in Dollar General’s store communications room. A second sprinkler located in the restroom activated as a result. Columbus Code Enforcement Officer Richard LaCourse reported extensive damage to the rear of the store, especially in the stock area and the office. “Water was about two inches deep flowing throughout the store when it was discovered,” LaCourse said. A Columbus Police officer on routine patrol noticed water flowing out of the front door of the building at around 2 a.m. The riser room for the sprinkler system is located in the old Bealls Store next door and was inaccessible for an extended period of time. It will take about two months to completely reopen. Because of the amount of damage to the building and the condition of the store, the fire marshal and code enforcement officer will require a full inspection before the store can open. The Sealy News
• A Houston man charged with murder in the shooting death of a Sealy man has been indicted by the Austin County Grand Jury. Dominique Riston, 27 years old, was indicted last week in connection to the death of 36-year-old George Aguinaga. Investigators found Aguinaga dead with a gunshot wound at his home on Frydek Rd. in Sealy on Nov. 15. A felony murder warrant was issued for Riston’s arrest after an investigation by the Sealy Police Department and the Texas Rangers. He was taken into custody on Dec. 4 by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force. Riston remains at the Austin County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Yoakum Herald-Times
• On Feb. 22 the DeWitt County commissioners received recognition from the National Weather Service for DeWitt County becoming storm ready. DeWitt County was one of the 57 counties in Texas to receive the recognition.