Othal Brand and Agent Torres are Featured Speakers

Border Crisis to Be Topic at GOP Women's Luncheon
The Republican Women of Kerr County will host their general luncheon meeting from 11:15 A.M. to 1 P.M. Friday, May 17th in the North Ballroom at the Inn of the Hills, 1001 Jct. Hwy.
The speakers for the event will be Othal Brand, Jr. President of Hidalgo County Water Improvement District 3 and private business owner in McAllen, Texas; and U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Charge Clara Reed Torres from the Laredo Sector.
Othal Brand, Jr. graduated from McAllen High School in 1971 and later from Texas Christian University in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.  Mr. Brand is the son of Othal Brand, Sr., a World War II Marine veteran and businessman who owned and operated Griffin & Brand, the largest fruit and vegetable grower in the state at one time, and who also served his community of McAllen as mayor for 20 years. 
After serving as Vice President of his father's company for many years, Mr. Brand established himself in the internet communications industry as owner/president of Rioplex Wireless, currently operating as O.E. Investments, Ltd. He also serves as president of Hidalgo County Water Improvement District 3 which manages the Rio Grande pumping station that provides the major portion of drinking water for the city of McAllen. It is through this position that Mr. Brand has experienced first-hand up-to-date horror stories of dealing with border security and the illegal immigration crisis. 
Also speaking will be Patrol Agent in Charge, Clara Torres from the Laredo Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol.   With more than 25 years of service, Agent Torres has served as an Acting Assistant Chief Patrol Agent in charge of specialized programs including San Antonio, Dallas and Freer Border Patrol stations as well as the Laredo Sector Public Affairs office. She has developed operational plans to support the Office of Intelligence, was instrumental in the establishment of the South Texas Border Intelligence Center, participated in the planning and establishment of the Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Intelligence Center and served on details with the Office of Intelligence in Washington, DC and participated in interagency operations with DEA, FBI and HSI. The Laredo Sector has served the Southwest Border and Laredo since 1924, covering 110,000 square miles and 116 counties whose stated mission is to prevent terrorist and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, as well as to prevent illegal aliens, smugglers, narcotics, and other contraband from entering the country. In 2014 Agent Torres was inducted into the City of Laredo Women's Hall of Fame in the law enforcement category. 
Reservations are due by 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14th. The cost of the luncheon is $16 per person, payable by check or cash. To RSVP please email rwkcreservations@gmail.com or call Betty Keese at 830-2578747