Lina Adams of the Destination Bryan tourism office visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver about July activities that includes First Friday, fireworks, the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History’s annual butterfly release, and the opening weekend of Harvest Fest at Messina Hof winery.
Listen to “Destination Bryan update for July 2026” on Spreaker.
There is a new commanding officer at the Bryan/College Station Salvation Army. Major David Swyers moved here from Galveston. His biography from the Galveston Salvation Army says he is a third generation officer who has served 26 years at four locations in Texas and in three other states. Swyers posted on the B/CS Salvation Army Facebook page on Thursday (July 2) that electric fans are still needed to assist residents dealing with the summer heat. Fans and financial donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Army on Cavitt Avenue in Bryan. Click below to hear David Swyers comments from the B/CS Salvation Army Facebook page.
A Bryan man returns to the Brazos County jail for the 59th time since January of 2009. The arrest of 34 year old Mercellious McGee comes after a court appearance in December 2025 where he pleaded guilty to 21 misdemeanor and one felony crime. McGee is being held on no bond on charges from June 16th for evading arrest with prior convictions and for possessing more than 14 pounds of marijuana. He is also charged with violating probation from last December’s conviction for another evading arrest and another marijuana possession charge. The arrest report from Bryan police says undercover officers and a DPS trooper picked up McGee near Sadie Thomas Park on June 25th with five and a half ounces of marijuana. Bonds on the charges from the June 25th arrest totals $75,000 dollars.
Texas A&M president Susan Ballabina’s newest online message includes a leadership update. A search committee has been named to help select A&M’s next provost, who is the university’s chief academic officer. Another search committee has been formed to help select the next dean of the college of education. July 1st was the first day for the interim dean at that college. John August is the former dean of the college of veterinary medicine. Dr. Ballabina also provided an update on her review of A&M’s health science center. She has what she calls a strategy and business services team that is targeting a completion date of their work of August 1. Ballabina also shared three priorities that she recently gave to her senior leaders. The first priority, “restore trust” is defined as providing steady leadership, strengthening relationships with internal and external stakeholders through transparency and engagement, and building confidence in A&M through decisions that advances the university’s mission and reflects core values. Second is turning challenges into opportunities is defined as tackling complex issues, drive operational excellence, reduce bureaucracy and executing on big ideas. Third is celebrate and innovate, which is defined as leveraging the momentum of A&M’s 150 year history to honor the university’s past while advancing a shared vision for the future. Ballabina says she will expand on her three priorities as the A&M’s sesquicentennial year continues.
Bryan Broadcasting Corporation