LOOKING BACK: KWHI’S TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2023

  

As the new year begins, KWHI is taking a step back to remember some of 2023's biggest moments.

Our list of top stories is based on how much interest they received and how much discussion they sparked, as well as how long their storylines played out through the year.

Here are, in no particular order, our top news stories of 2023:

NEW LOCAL LEADERSHIP ARRIVES, AND MORE ON THE HORIZON:

2023 saw a changing of the guard for the City of Brenham. Longtime mayor Milton Tate opted not to seek re-election, meaning the city would have its first new mayor in 20 years. The May election resulted in councilmember Atwood Kenjura winning the seat and taking on the role. Meanwhile for the City of Burton, Karen Buck was elected as its new mayor, succeeding mayor pro tem Nathan Kalkhake and former full-time mayor David Zajicek. Elsewhere, a hotly contested election for the Brenham School Board led to three new members winning seats -- Bonnie Brinkmeyer, Archer Archer and Kyle Hafner -- and incumbent Kelvin Raven narrowly retaining his position. All three incumbents in the Burton ISD election kept their spots on the school board, those being Dean Fuchs, Misty Lucherk and Donna Putnam. On the Blinn Board of Trustees, Diane Kruse Kettler was elected to fill the seat of outgoing member Douglas Borchardt. A loaded ballot will come before voters in Washington County's primary election in March 2024, with numerous county seats drawing multiple candidates. On the non-elected side, the City of Brenham will seek to name a new city manager after the announcement of Carolyn Miller's upcoming retirement in March, and a new fire chief following the resignation of Roger Williams.

BRENHAM ISD

The aforementioned trustee election was part of an eventful and sometimes controversial year for Brenham ISD. Much discussion was held about the creation of a school district police force and dropping the Texas Association of School Boards, but neither item fully materialized. There was, however, a great change in operations after the district chose to take transportation and substitute services in-house, along with decisions later in the year like choosing to move accelerated learners at the Pride Academy from the Community Education Building to the high school campus. As more information about the district's declining financial situation came to light, community concerns grew, and numerous residents came to board meetings to voice their worries about the direction of the district, both administratively and academically. Meetings were dominated by conversations about transparency and openness, student achievement, discipline and even the types of books available in school libraries. The district is now in a transitional phase after the retirement of superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin and the resignation of chief financial officer Thad Lasater; those two respective roles are now held on an interim basis by Clay Gillentine and Robert Lindemann.

MURDER IN BRENHAM

Brenham was not immune to instances of crime last year, but none had more gravity than a fatal shooting that sparked after a large fight at a birthday party on Tom Green Street on April 1, 2023. 17-year-old Marquise Williams of Waller County was killed, and another unidentified victim was taken to the hospital and later released. A month and a half after the shooting, Brenham police announced that a 16-year-old juvenile, a resident of Washington County, had been charged with murder in the incident and was in custody of the juvenile justice system.

HOUSING DEBATE CONTINUES

In what has turned into a yearly conversation as of late, the Brenham City Council met on February 16, 2023 to consider the future of a tax-credit housing project. In this instance, the council voted 5-2 to reject a resolution of support for Brenham Junction, a mixed-income community housing development that was proposed on Highway 290, west of Westwood Lane, and would have included a mix of units that were either bound to tax credits or full market rate. Dialogue on the availability of affordable housing in Brenham has continued for several years as the area's population grows, with an alternate solution presented to the council on October 19 following discussions by a housing task force. However, that solution, which would have allowed duplexes and twin homes on lots of at least 7,500 square feet in areas that are zoned R-1 as long as they receive specific use permits from the council and Planning and Zoning Commission, was tabled by the council for further review.

HOHLT PARK INVESTIGATION

A tragic ordeal for a young couple was at the center of an investigation by Brenham police after the remains of a human fetus were found at Hohlt Park on January 22, 2023. Witnesses told investigators they saw two people walking out of the woods, one with a shovel. Police searched and discovered the remains inside a shallow grave. Soon after investigation began, it was revealed that the people involved in the incident had sought care at Baylor Scott & White to deliver their baby, who was stillborn, prior to going to the park. The Washington County District Attorney's Office later announced that no felony offense was committed, and as such, no further action by them would be taken.

DRAG SHOW CREATES STIR

A controversial event at Floyd's Lounge on February 18, 2023 led to considerable discussion about free speech and the rights of private businesses. The Drag Brunch at Floyd's drew large crowds both inside the establishment and on the streets of downtown, with supporters and opponents of the event gathering to demonstrate or protest. The event remained peaceful, though the conversation was not done; at the Brenham City Council's meeting on March 2, several came forward in vocal disapproval of having allowed the event to go on and prevent further ones like it in the future. The comments came despite the city saying it does not have the authority to regulate events held by private businesses or organizations unless they violate laws or ordinances, endanger citizens or otherwise necessitate action due to other public health or safety reasons.

BURTON SHORT STOP SHOOTER FOUND NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY

A high-profile criminal case dating back to May 2021 came to a close two years later. A hearing was held in mid-July 2023 for Joshua Christopher Crowley, who was accused of committing a drive-by shooting at the Burton Short Stop that sent a Burton man to the hospital with serious injuries. After testimony from the victim, Bradley Locke, as well as a Texas Ranger and a licensed psychologist, Crowley was found to be "not guilty by reason of insanity". The psychologist testified that Crowley had voices in his head telling him that people were out to get his 4-year-old son, who was with him at the time of the shooting and was at the center of an Amber Alert before being reunited with his mother.

EMPLOYEES WALK OUT AT TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR'S OFFICE

Visitors to the Washington County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office were greeted with long lines after several office employees suddenly quit in late August. The abrupt departure left just Tax Assessor-Collector Cheryl Gaskamp to handle the main duties, while employees from other offices chipped in to answer phone calls. No official details were provided as to the reason for the exodus, but the county spent the next several weeks working to return the office to normal staffing levels and operations.

STEVE WESTBROOK RESIGNS FROM SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS AMID ACCUSATIONS

The Texas Attorney General's Office launched an investigation in November into the executive director of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas (SAT), Steve Westbrook of Brenham, and accusations involving the misappropriation of an undisclosed amount of organization funds. Westbrook resigned from his post in lieu of termination, agreeing to surrender his peace officer's license, stop receiving compensation, and pay full restitution as determined by an outside audit. SAT President Larry Smith said the amount of money appeared to be “significant” and that the alleged offense occurred over a long period of time.  No new information on the investigation has been released since the initial announcement.

RECORDS BROKEN AT WASHINGTON CO. FAIR

2023's Washington County Fair was one to remember in many ways, especially for the youth livestock exhibitors. The Junior Livestock Auction alone hit an unofficial record total of $1.24 million, with eight individual records falling for grand and reserve champions, and even more was raised when combining the auction with Saturday’s commercial steer, commercial heifer, colt and country creations auctions. Fair queen ticket sales also broke records, both collectively and for the top selling candidate -- and 2023 queen -- Katie Seeker.

CONTINUED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN BRENHAM

2022 saw the first stores in the Brenham Crossing shopping center open to the public, and 2023 continued that progress with the opening of retailers like Burlington and Ulta. Some of the biggest excitement of the year came when Academy Sports + Outdoors and Chick-fil-A, two businesses that sat at the top of many residents' most-wanted lists, arrived in September and December, filling parking lots with lines of cars.

What do you think were 2023's top headlines?  What do you think will be the biggest stories of 2024? KWHI encourages you to join in the discussion below in the comment section.