Kevin O’Connor Kommentary July 23

Bryan City Council Special Meeting To Approve Another Change Order In The Reconstruction Of South College Next To Midtown Park

Motorists won’t have access to South College Avenue in Bryan between Villa Maria and Carson until the end of 2025. What was originally a construction period of 360 days, has grown to 509 days. The Bryan city council held a special meeting Thursday (April 25), in part to approve a fourth change order in what is now a $15.6 dollar project that replaces the street and utility lines. The contract price was reduced by almost $304,000 dollars with the elimination of a continuous median. City documents say the delay is due to Optimum and Frontier having to move fiberoptic lines to their correct locations. And the city’s background information also says the general contractor is pursuing $1 million dollars in damages against Optimum and Frontier for delays caused by their incorrect installation. Click HERE to read and download background information about the change order that was approved at the Bryan city council special meeting on April 25, 2024. Click HERE to read and download a summary of the change order approved at the Bryan city council special meeting on April 25, 2024. Click below to hear comments about the amended contract from Bobby Gutierrez, visiting with Scott DeLucia on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs April 24, 2024:  

Brazos County Sheriff’s Arrests Follows A Vehicle Chase And A Foot Chase

A Bryan man is in the Brazos County jail after he was arrested on eight warrants from four counties and leading multiple law enforcement officers on a chase of approximately 40 miles. The arrest report from a Brazos County sheriff’s deputy says Tuesday night’s chase (April 23) involving 40 year old Kristofer Wingate began in the area of Texas and Villa Maria. The pursuit went east, over the freeway down Boonville Road and Highway 30, then south on Bird Pond Road, through College Station’s Foxfire neighborhood, then north on the freeway back into Bryan, then west on Highway 21 into Burleson County. The chase ended near Cooks Point on Farm Road 1362 near Highway 21. Wingate remains held as of April 25th on a new charge of evading arrest, three warrants from Grimes County, two from Brazos and Waller counties, and one warrant from Burleson County. Online jail records show Wingate is held without bond on two Waller County warrants charging him with deadly conduct by discharging a firearm, the Burleson County warrant charging him with family violence assault, and a Grimes County warrant charging him with possession of a controlled substance. Bonds on the other charges totals $249,000 dollars. A Brazos County sheriff’s deputy who sees a pickup following another vehicle too closely on Highway 21 near the Brazos River at two in the morning on Tuesday (April 23) gets the truck to stop. After that, the deputy’s arrest report says the driver gets out and runs into a field. The driver stops after running 50 to 75 yards when he is tased by the deputy. That leads to a 34 year old Bryan man going to the Brazos County jail for the 34th time in 16 years. Felipe Tello Jr. was charged with DWI, driving with an invalid license with a prior conviction, evading arrest with a prior conviction, and threatening the deputy and two jail officers. At the time of this arrest, Tello was awaiting trials in seven criminal cases dating back almost three years on two felony and five misdemeanor charges. Tello remains held as of April 25th in lieu of bonds totaling $33,000 dollars.

July 4th Fireworks Show In Kurten Has A New Host

Brazos County volunteer fire district two (VFD 2) announces a new host for the July fourth fireworks show it had hosted for 20 years. An area business, Savage Outdoor and Defense, will host the show and its family friendly events at the Kurten community center. Businessowner Shane Savage says proceeds from sponsors, vendors, and food trucks after operating costs will go to the fire district, the Brazos County first responders association, and the National Wild Turkey Foundation. Savage says he, his employees, and his business are donating their time and resources. There will be no admission charge. A VFD 2 spokesman says they will serve the event in a fire suppression and EMS role. News release from Savage Outdoor & Defense: For the first time ever, Savage Outdoor & Defense will be hosting the 21st Annual Kurten Fireworks Show. The show will be held on July 4th, 2024 at The Kurten Community Center located at 13055 E State Hwy 21, Kurten, TX, 77862. Savage Outdoor & Defense is a public outdoor shooting range and firearms instruction company located just outside of Bryan. We have been serving the greater B/CS community through various events, training, and use of our range since 2020. We are the new host of this event and we are very excited to continue this longstanding tradition. We are excited to invite you out to the 21st Annual Kurten Fireworks Show. This family friendly event will be fun for all ages. Our event is 100% free to the public and all proceeds, in excess of operating costs, will be donated to 3 local charities. The National Wild Turkey Federation: The Brazos County District 2 VFD, and the Brazos County First Responders Association. Myself, my company, and my employees will not make any money from this event. All our time, resources, and effort will be donated so that we can continue this event that means so much to our community. The event offers residents in the greater B/CS area the opportunity to come out and share in the comradery of Independence Day while enjoying a family centric event. The event will include food trucks, yard games, vendors, adult and kid activities, raffle prizes, and, of course, the best fireworks show in the area. We are seeking your help to raise awareness, locate and secure sponsors, vendors, and food trucks to help us to fund and put on this family-friendly community centric event. All proceeds, in excess of operating costs will go directly to the 3 charities listed above. The gates will open @ 5PM, the raffle will take place @ 8:30PM, and the show will begin @ 9PM. On-site parking will be free to the public but is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. To learn more about this event, and us, please check out our website @ Savageoutdoordefense.com/events. I can be reached by call/text at (979)-429-3414 or, I can also be reached via email at info@savageoutdoordefense.com.