Infomaniacs: July 31, 2017 (8:00am)

Bryan High School Freshman’s Eagle Scout Project Includes A Statue Outside The Bryan Police Department

A Bryan High School freshman is raising money for an Eagle Scout project recognizing law enforcement. 15 year old Roman Smith has received permission from Bryan police to place a statue outside BPD headquarters in downtown Bryan. And Roman has enlisted Navasota sculptor J. Payne Lara, who has created statues for the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial, to create a statue of his godfather. Beaumont police officer Bryan Hebert died in the line of duty in July of 2011. Additionally, Smith and fellow members of Boy Scout troop 159 at the Bryan American Legion have built benches to be used by officers training at the local law enforcement academy next to Twin Oaks Landfill. Fundraising continues for the statue through Roman Smith’s GoFundMe account. And he has organized a pancake dinner the evening of Tuesday, April 21st, at the Bryan American Legion. Click HERE to be directed to Roman Smith’s Facebook page with more information about the April 21st pancake dinner fundraiser. Click HERE to be directed to Roman Smith’s GoFundMe page. Click below to hear comments from Roman Smith, his mother Chanika Smith, and Bryan police officer Seth Waller, all visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver. Listen to “Bryan High School freshman's Eagle Scout project includes a statue outside the Bryan Police Department” on Spreaker.

College Station City Council Approves A Change In The Design Of Rebuilding Rock Prairie Road East

The College Station city council unanimously approves changing the design of about one-half mile of rebuilding Rock Prairie Road between Town Lake and Fitch. Project manager Raquel Gonzales says moving the road by nine feet to avoid acquiring additional right of way, relocating a natural gas line, and bypassing a pond will not result in motorists dealing with a jog. City documents say the cost of the design change is $92,406 dollars and will add 90 days to finish the design. But that is compared with keeping the original design, which city documents says requires buying property and relocating natural gas lines. Acquiring the land would take between one and two and a half years and at a cost of $174,000 dollars. Relocating the natural gas lines has an estimated cost between $500,000 and $1 million dollars and take one and a half years. Click HERE to read and download background information from the city of College Station. Click below to hear comments from the March 26, 2026 College Station city council meeting. Listen to “College Station city council approves a change in the design of rebuilding a section of Rock Prairie Road East” on Spreaker.

Brazos County Commissioners Receive An Activity Update At The Public Defender’s Office

Now in its fourth year of operation, the head of the Brazos County public defender’s office shared an activity report at the last county commission meeting, representing two new groups of clients. Nathan Wood brought up two new divisions that started in the 2026 fiscal year last October first…defenders who represent juveniles and clients with mental health issues. During the first quarter of FY 2026, the public defender’s office had two lawyers who are each handling 129 felony criminal cases and three lawyers who are each handling 89 misdemeanor cases. Wood compared that workload with those of other defense lawyers who are assigned cases by Brazos County judges. Click below to hear Nathan Wood’s report during the March 24, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County Commissioners receive an activity update at the Public Defender's office” on Spreaker.