LOOKING BACK: KWHI’S TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2021

  

As we turn the corner and head into 2022, KWHI is taking a look back at some of the biggest stories to cross the KWHI news desk in 2021.

KWHI based this list of top stories on how much interest they received online and how long their respective storylines played out through the year.

Here are our top stories of 2021, in no particular order:

COVID-19: The pandemic that swept through the world in 2020 continues to affect people everywhere, but there are now more tools available to help fight off the coronavirus.  The opening of a Regional Vaccination subHUB at the Washington County Expo in January was part of a wide rollout of vaccines for certain age groups, and tens of thousands of people across Texas came to the subHUB to get vaccinated.  Eventually, vaccines became available for all adults and some children, but the political discourse surrounding them, facemasks and the pandemic as a whole grew even stronger as the year progressed and will certainly continue this year.

WINTER STORM URI: While the snowfall in January was a welcome sight, the freezing conditions brought about by the winter and ice storm in mid-February turned life into a nightmare for residents across Texas.  The storm blanketed the state in snow and crippled the state’s power grid, leaving many with no electricity.  In addition, few had access to water after widespread water line breaks, while ice on roadways made traveling extremely hazardous.  While the weather improved in about a week’s time, the effects of the storm are still being felt in some areas, as the City of Brenham is working through litigation after being charged with an $8 million gas bill.

FIRING OF RICKY BOEKER & TERMINATION OF JAMES FISHER: News broke in March that the City of Brenham was in talks with Fire Chief Ricky Boeker about early retirement options.  It soon became known that the decision to retire was not Boeker’s own, as his daughter released a statement to KWHI saying City Manager James Fisher wanted to go into a different direction with leadership, but he did not provide a specific reason for the decision otherwise.  Fisher put out his own statement shortly after, expressing concerns about the fire department’s personnel model and its ability to respond to incidents.  Roughly a week later, Boeker was abruptly fired.  Documents made available by the law firm representing Boeker showed that he had made Fisher aware several years back of priorities and necessities for the fire department to improve.  Several months later in September, the Brenham City Council voted to terminate Fisher’s contract, effective immediately.  Currently, the fire chief and city manager positions are occupied on an interim basis by Roger Williams and Carolyn Miller, respectively.

DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN BURTON: One afternoon in early May, a random drive-by shooting occurred at the Burton Short Stop convenience store, seriously injuring a Burton man.  The next day, an Amber Alert was issued for a missing child out of Austin who was last seen that morning at the business.  It was later discovered that there was a direct connection between the shooting and the missing child, the son of the suspected shooter.  The suspect, Joshua Christopher Crowley of Round Rock, was found and arrested in Harris County, while his son, Wyatt Crowley, was reunited with his mother.  Joshua Crowley remains at the Washington County Jail on numerous assault charges.

CHANGEUP ON LOCAL CITY COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARDS; BURTON BOND PASSES: Voters in Washington County had several elections of note to participate in last year, starting in May with multiple races for the Brenham City Council and Brenham and Burton School Boards.  After all of the ballots were counted, the council and both school boards came out with a different make-up.  A few months later in November, Burton ISD voters approved a $43.8 million bond measure that will be used to upgrade and renovate facilities across the school district.

RECORD-BREAKING FAIR SEASON: After a year in which many county fairs either used a limited format or were cancelled outright, 2021 marked the return of fair staples like carnivals and entertainment.  Many people were eager to get out and support their local youth, and it showed, as new individual and overall sales records were set at several fairs around the area, including in Washington County.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE PASSES: Work on an ordinance to protect historic landmarks and buildings in downtown Brenham concluded in 2021 after beginning in 2019.  The ordinance institutes a city approval process for certain alterations to downtown building exteriors.  The Brenham City Council approved the ordinance in July, after a lengthy public hearing in which roughly 30 people gave their thoughts on the item.  In the months to come, the members of a Historic Preservation Board were selected, who will be responsible for reviewing major alteration requests.  A Historic Preservation Office consisting of the Tourism and Marketing Director and Main Street Coordinator will enforce the guidelines of the ordinance.

ACCOLADES FOR LOCAL EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: Students around the area enjoyed great success in their extracurricular programs throughout the year.  The Brenham High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC program placed first at the MCJROTC Nationals in May.  The Burton FFA Livestock Judging Team, after winning first place at the state competition in April, went on to claim Reserve National Champion at the National FFA Convention and Expo’s Livestock Contest in Indianapolis in October.  The same four team members were a part of the Washington County 4-H Livestock Judging Team, who placed third at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Kentucky in November.  Meanwhile, Bellville FFA’s Ag Sales Team took second place at the National FFA Convention and Expo, and the Bellville FFA Chapter earned three state titles at the State FFA Leadership Competition in Huntsville in December.

LOSING LOVED ONES: 2021 was a year of sorrow, as many from the Washington County community passed on.  Figures like “The Sports Doc” Ed Pothul, Dr. Robert Stark, Leon Thiel, John Hermann, Lee Gaskamp and Booker T. Hogan, Jr. were just a few of the community members who passed away last year.

BICYCLISTS HIT IN WALLER CO.: In September, a group of cyclists was struck by a pickup truck driven by a teenager near Waller.  Several of the cyclists were seriously injured after the driver, according to witnesses, drove into them while attempting to blow diesel fuel smoke onto them.  The driver was not immediately arrested, sparking criticism of the Waller Police Department’s handling of the investigation by the public and even the Waller County District Attorney’s Office.  In November, the driver was arrested and charged, but his case remains ongoing.

TROUBLES AT BRENHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT: Matters involving the Brenham Municipal Airport frequented local headlines in 2021.  Discussion was held for several months on leasing the terminal building at the airport, but little progress was made until late in the year. Meanwhile, after several contentious meetings of the Airport Advisory Board, the City of Brenham chose to dissolve the board and look for an airport liaison to serve in its place.  In November, a proposal for a skydiving operation and a new restaurant at the airport came before the city council, and both were approved.  However, while Dreamliner Diner is now open for business, the managing partner of Skydive Freedom said the hangar owner who intended to lease her hangar for the skydiving “felt threatened” by people at the council meeting who voiced concerns about the operation.  The hangar owner later said she was not under duress or threatened, and that she made a decision that she felt was in her personal best interest.

BURTON PANTHERS CLAW WAY INTO REGIONAL FINALS: Heading into the last week of the season, it seemed all but certain that the Burton Panther football team would claim the district title.  However, the team was suddenly forced to forfeit seven wins after a ruling from a UIL committee that determined a player was ineligible, due to what Burton ISD Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy called “clerical errors” with the student’s address on their athletic participation form.  Burton was forced into a must-win situation and needed help to get into the playoffs, but they not only made it in, they had several convincing victories on their way to an appearance in the regional finals against Falls City.  The Panthers ultimately fell short in their bid for a title, but they finished in their playoff bracket as one of the top eight teams in the state.

What do you think were the top stories of 2021?  KWHI invites you to join in the discussion in the comment section below.