Latest news with #TrinityValleyCommunityCollege
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
Sister of missing Texas woman Brandi Wells continues to seek answers in her case after nearly 20 years
The memories of celebrating the Fourth of July in 2006 stand out to Samantha Rodriguez. She was only 17 years old then, but the holiday was one she spent with her half-sister, 23-year-old Brandi Wells. They attended a party called the '4th of July Jubilee,' hosted by the city of Schertz, Texas. There was food and fireworks, but most important was the time they spent together — something they didn't often get to do since they lived in different parts of Texas. 'It was at the city park. You know, like after hours for the fireworks. She had gone there, and she was hanging out with some guy,' Samantha laughed. 'But we were hanging out.' Samantha told Dateline that a little over a month later, she learned Brandi was missing. ''What do you mean she's missing?'' Samantha remembered thinking. 'I had just seen her, and 30 days later, it seems I was getting a phone call saying that she was missing.' It was the first week of August 2006. Brandi was just weeks away from starting classes again at Trinity Valley Community College in Brownsboro, Texas. She wanted to become a teacher. But first, she visited her mother in Tyler, Texas. On the evening of August 2, she went out to meet some friends. 'She came in, she changed clothes, and said she was going to the club with some friends,' Brandi's mother, Ellen Tant, told NBC affiliate KETK. She assumed Brandi was going somewhere in town. Little did she know that Brandi was heading to Longview, about 45 minutes away. According to KETK, security footage shows Brandi entering a nightclub called Graham Central Station — now Electric Cowboy — around 10:36 p.m. and checking in at the counter. People inside would later tell police that Brandi was asking for money for gas. She was inside the club for nearly two hours and was seen on tape walking alone out toward the parking lot around 12:30 a.m. The night she went missing, Brandi was wearing a dark, floral-print tube top, rust-colored pants with strapless high-heeled sandals, according to TheDoeNetwork. A few hours after she left the club, a black 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe with Texas plates was found abandoned on the side of Interstate 20. It wasn't until days later that police connected the car to Brandi Wells. According to KETK, Brandi's purse and a gas can her family believed did not belong to her were found in the trunk. They also reported that the driver's side seat of the car had been adjusted for someone taller than Brandi, but because it took days to link the car to her disappearance, authorities didn't know if that happened before or after the car was abandoned. Dateline reached out multiple times to the Longview Police Department to discuss Brandi's case, but has not received a response. At just 17 years old, Samantha could hardly comprehend the thought of her sister's disappearance. 'I was almost dismissive of it. It was the first tragedy I had ever experienced,' she said. 'Tragedies only happened in movies, and I was so not believing it.' Samantha says Brandi was an incredibly bubbly, carefree, and trusting person. She remembers when she and Brandi were both living in San Antonio, Brandi would pick her up so they could go shopping and try on clothes together, or go to the movies and CD stores — do sisterly things. Of course, there were things they couldn't do together, due to their age difference. One thing, in particular. ''I can't wait until you're old enough and we can go clubbing together,'' Samantha recalled Brandi telling her. 'And so that's one of the things I think about, because that's how she went missing.' Samantha says Brandi's disappearance has made her more vigilant in her own life. 'Whenever I was going out to dance halls in San Antonio, I made it a point to talk to all the bar [staff] and bouncers. I didn't want to be somewhere that people did not know who I was,' she said. Grown now, with a husband and three children, Samantha still maintains that vigilance. She keeps a window-breaking device in her vehicle and a flotation device in her trunk. And she has her phone set up — with authorities in mind. 'I keep my husband's phone number right on my screen so all you have to do is press the power button,' she said. 'I've almost become a very paranoid person about safety.' Samantha is now studying to become a teacher — just as Brandi was when she disappeared. It makes her feel connected to the sister she didn't get enough time with. 'Being given a sister, when you've never had one before — it's like getting a puppy for the first time,' Samantha said. 'I was so giddy about just having a sister.' Today, she is just hoping for answers. Brandi was around 5' tall and weighed 125-130 lbs. at the time of her disappearance, with blonde or strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes. She would be 42 years old today. If you have any information about Brandi's disappearance, please contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TVCC offering grants for free business training
Businesses with fewer than 100 employees can take advantage of a grant awarded to Trinity Valley Community College to train the workforce in Palestine. Through the Skills for Small Business Grant, companies can receive up to $1,000 per employee to train staff members, and up to $2,000 for employees who have been with the company for fewer than 90 days. Employees can receive training at no cost to the organization. 'The Skills for Small Business Grant is designed to support companies that usually don't have the budget to pay for training,' said Richard Crosby, associate vice president of workforce education at TVCC. 'Investing in employees can support retention while giving them the skills they need to succeed in their jobs.' Crosby said TVCC has received $44,000 in grant funds to cover employee training costs. Of that, $10,000 needs to go toward training early childhood education professionals. Training can start at any time and isn't limited to the standard school calendar. "TVCC is an incredible resource for the city of Palestine, and it's just one of many organizations supporting business owners in the region," said Christophe Trahan, director of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation. Companies can apply through the Texas Workforce Commission Crosby said business owners and human resources teams that want to receive free training for employees can apply for this grant through the Texas Workforce Commission. Click 'Apply Now' under the Resource section and complete a form that describes the types of training you need. Make sure to list TVCC as your education provider so the college is aware you need training services. If TWC approves your application, it will send TVCC a list of employees who need to be trained and the types of training they need. Each employee doesn't need to receive $1,000 worth of training. Many TVCC training programs cost around $500. OSHA 10 training costs less than $100, and OSHA 30 training costs around that much. 'We're trying to find programs that support as many industries as possible so this grant money helps the maximum number of companies in Palestine,' Crosby said. 'If a company asks about a specific type of training, we'll see what we can offer.' Employees can attend training sessions in person at the Palestine campus off Hwy. 19 or participate in online and hybrid coursework. Crosby said TVCC can also develop programs where staff members visit your workplace to lead the training. 'Sometimes it's easier for one person to drive across town to a company instead of asking 15 employees to travel to attend the training,' he said. 'We'll find a way to make it work for you.' Training reintroduces employees to the education environment Crosby said some employees only want enough training needed to do their jobs, but other employees might use this grant program to begin their education journeys. He said they can meet with TVCC instructors and advisors to learn about potential degree pathways and opportunities to learn while working full-time. Basic employer-provided training programs can reintroduce employees to the classroom and dust off their study skills. Crosby said this can give them confidence in their learning skills moving forward. 'Training is essential,' he said. 'It builds confidence for the employee in their current job and in the learning process itself. Getting a taste of training can lead them down the path of a certificate or degree. 'An interest in education and knowledge advancement also helps employers. This better prepares employees to advance in their careers or change jobs within the company. It gives local businesses a more qualified talent pool to hire from.' The TVCC grant is good for economic development According to Crosby, once TVCC fully expends the Skills for Small Business Grant, it intends to apply for more. 'Training Palestine employees only benefits the local community and sets several industries up for success in the future,' Crosby said. There's a lot of entry-level skills needed in the Palestine area to get people into the workforce. Some higher-paying jobs require specific skills, but they're not hard to attain, they just need training.' Crosby used computer literacy as an example. 'Employees don't need specific computer degrees to prove they have these skills; the right training programs will suffice,' he said. 'Upskilling the workforce allows companies to hire locally, which means more employee salaries stay within the community. This can spur economic growth. When one company hires and trains Palestine residents, nearby businesses benefit from those workers spending their paychecks. This investment also leads to better infrastructure and resources through local tax collection.' Crosby said TVCC has seen a lot of interest from businesses who want to use this grant. 'The college wants to reach as many companies as possible with these funds. The more companies participate, the more value TVCC provides,' he said. 'We are a community college and the word community should resonate with everyone. This grant is an opportunity to be part of the community and give back to it.'
