Kevin O’Connor Kommentary April 28

Brazos County commissioners approve a burn ban at Tuesday’s meeting (March 11). The 30 day ban can be cancelled early if it rains. County judge Duane Peters noted “a lot of times that happens, if we pass one (burn ban) we get the rain in the next day or two, so it would be a good thing.” The commission’s unanimous vote follows a report from emergency management coordinator Jason Ware that the drought index is on the high side in the north and east portions of the county. Ware also said two of the four county’s rural fire chiefs asked for the ban, one supports it, and one asked to continue monitoring conditions. Commissioners were also told there were no wildfires in Brazos County the prior seven days, something Ware attributed to last week’s request to not do outdoor burning. The burn ban applies in Brazos County outside of city limits. Click HERE to read and download the burn ban approved at the March 11, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Click below to hear comments from the March 11, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Burn ban returns to Brazos County” on Spreaker.

A more than two year investigation by Bryan police into missing money from the Brazos Valley Softball Umpires Association results in the arrest of a former president. 46 year old Shad Collins of Bryan was arrested last Friday (March 7) on charges of taking more than $15,000 dollars during a four month period in 2022. The BPD arrest report says Collins, who had check writing authority, paid a property management company more than $2,500 dollars, paid $1,300 to U-Haul, and more than $1,200 at Walmart to pay an unknown bill. The arrest report says the umpires association board notified BPD in January 2023 that their yearly audit revealed missing deposits from vendors and checks paid to Collins that could not be explained. That’s after the association’s bank issued notifications for non-sufficient funds. The arrest report also says Collins was removed as the association’s president in late 2022. Collins, who was arrested on a felony theft charge, remains jailed as of March 11 in lieu of a $30,000 dollar bond.

College Station residents are invited to participate in the development of the city’s next five year plan to spend federal money on programs benefitting those in low and moderate income categories. From a city video, Raney Whitwell at the community services office says the city receives a historic average of $1.5 million dollars a year. Whitwell says the federal money can be spent on housing, social services, and public facilities that includes parks and streets. An online survey is available through March 21st. Click HERE to be directed to the online survey in English. Click HERE to be directed to the online survey in Spanish. A public hearing has been scheduled for March 18th at 6 p.m. at College Station city hall’s Bush 4141 room. Staff then takes the public input to draft recommendations that will be presented at another public hearing this July. Then the city council will take final action. Click below to hear comments from Raney Whitwell during an interview posted at blog.cstx.gov: