Kevin O’Connor Kommentary May 16

Bryan Police Arrest A Bryan High Student After A Gun Was Found In His Backpack

A student at Bryan High School is arrested after a gun was found in his backpack. Bryan police and Bryan ISD officials say no threat was made against the school. According to a BPD news release, the student was taken to the juvenile detention center on charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon in a prohibited place and a terroristic threat. According to a message sent by Bryan High’s principal to families and employees, the student had the weapon in their backpack while in a classroom. The principal said the student was immediately removed from the classroom and arrested. News release from Bryan police: On September 18th, 2024 at approximately 11:00 am, the Bryan Police Department’s School Resource Unit was contacted by school administration located at 3450 Campus Dr. of a juvenile student who was in possession of a handgun. SRO’s along with school administration immediately responded and addressed the situation. SRO’s and school administration contacted the juvenile suspect. Through investigation, the handgun was located and secured by the SRO Unit. The juvenile suspect was placed under arrest and transported to the Brazos County Juvenile Detention Center and booked on Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon in a Prohibited Place and Terroristic Threat. This investigation is active and ongoing at this time. Bryan ISD provided to WTAW News, the following message sent by the BHS principal to families and staff: BHS Families, I believe it is important to inform you of a situation on our campus, even if your child may not have been directly impacted. Earlier today we received information that a student was in possession of a weapon on campus. School administrators and school resource officers from Bryan Police Department responded immediately, and the situation was quickly addressed and investigated. No threat was made against the school. However, we did discover through the investigation that the student had a weapon in his backpack while in the classroom. The student was immediately removed from the classroom and arrested. As you know, Bryan ISD takes any report of this type of threat to our staff and students seriously and works closely with local law enforcement to investigate and take appropriate action. We encourage our students and families to report any safety concerns immediately and to also use our B-Safe App. Bryan ISD student and staff safety will always be our top priority.

TxDOT Announces Wrapping Up The Harvey Mitchell Parkway Expansion Project

Seven and a half years of road construction on Harvey Mitchell Parkway in College Station is coming to an end. The TxDOT Bryan district office announces Thursday (September 19) after the morning commute, left turn lanes at several intersections will be opened. Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., there will be intermittent traffic stoppages on Harvey Mitchell to allow construction workers to move traffic devices to open left turn lanes at George Bush, Luther, and Holleman. The TxDOT news release says this is the final configuration of the $47.6 million dollar highway project between Raymond Stotzer Parkway and Wellborn Road, which began in March 2017. Click below to hear comments from Bob Colwell of the TxDOT Bryan district office, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “TxDOT Bryan district office announces wrapping up the Harvey Mitchell Parkway expansion project” on Spreaker.   News release from the TxDOT Bryan district office: The ongoing Harvey Mitchell Parkway (FM 2818) improvement project has reached another construction milestone which will result in a change to traffic patterns. Thursday, September 19th, the intersections will undergo a change in operations where the left turn lanes that were previously under construction will be opened at George Bush, Luther and Holleman. The necessary changes will be accomplished after morning peak starting around 9 am and completing by 3 pm. This is the final configuration of the FM 2818 project. Drivers should avoid travel in this area, if possible, during these time periods. Those who must travel through the work zone should expect delays and intermittent traffic stoppages as crews adjust traffic devices and make certain the route is ready to be opened to traffic. TxDOT appreciates everyone’s cooperation and patience throughout this traffic change and the duration of the project. This effort is part of the overall 3.2-mile project being constructed by TxDOT’s contractor, Knife River Corporation, at a total construction cost of $47.6 million.

Bryan City Council Awards A Construction Contract And Starts Condemnation To Acquire Property To Build A New Sewer Lift Station

The Bryan city council approves going to condemnation to acquire easements to build a sewer line and lift station covering areas south and east of the RELLIS campus. That action was taken during a special council meeting on Tuesday (September 17), along with awarding a $5.6 million dollar construction contract. The project is time sensitive, according to city documents, because in order to use federal pandemic grant money there has to be a construction contract by the end of 2024. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan related to starting condemnation. Click HERE to read and download the condemnation resolution that was approved at the September 17, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of Bryan about the sewer lift station construction contract that was approved by the council. Before the council’s unanimous votes, one of the property owners affected by the condemnation action tells the council that city staff is “dysfunctional”. Alfred Smith, who said he is in the land business and deals with easements, says he has attempted for four years to reach an agreement with the city. The council or city staff did not respond to Smith saying that the city is not going to take care of controlling sewage odor and that the city plans to remove three oak trees that are 200 years old. Councilmembers had other questions. Councilwoman Marca Ewers-Shurtleff asked public works director Jayson Barfknecht “Has your office made every good faith attempt that they can make to reach some kind of compromise in this case?” Barfknecht told Shurtleff “I think we’ve done a really good effort to try and meet with the property owners and meet with their attorneys to try to reach an agreement.” Click below to hear comments from the September 17, 2024 Bryan city council meeting. Listen to “Bryan city council awards a construction contract and starts condemnation to acquire property to build a new sewer lift station” on Spreaker.