Kevin O’Connor Kommentary December 3

Construction Contract Awarded To Rebuild A Portion Of College Station’s William D. Fitch Parkway

The College Station city council at its last meeting (October 24) awarded a $5.6 million dollar contract to rebuild William D. Fitch Parkway from Highway 30 to Tonkaway Lake Road. Click HERE to read and download project information that was approved at the October 24, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Before the council’s unanimous vote, came a discussion about using asphalt and not concrete pavement. Capital projects director Jennifer Cain explained what steps were being taken to prevent Fitch from winding up like Rock Prairie Road, which was initially rebuilt with asphalt several years ago but is now being rebuilt with concrete. City manager Bryan Woods says it is a council policy decision on the type of pavement. Woods and Cain explained the process that led to using asphalt on this project. Cain also said asphalt will be used when Fitch is rebuilt from Tonkaway Lake to Rock Prairie Road. She also said this section was not being rebuilt now because the city is still acquiring easements. Once construction starts, the project is expected to take ten months to complete, weather permitting. Click below to hear comments from Jennifer Cain and Bryan Woods from the November 6, 2024 College Station city council meeting.  

A Bryan ISD School Board Member Is Interested In Adding Academic Assistance During School Vacation Periods

Bryan ISD school board members have started talking about composing the calendar for the 2025-26 school year. During Monday’s meeting (November 4), board member David Stasny asked about the possibility of providing during school vacation periods, giving students an opportunity to catch up academically, which would also provide additional pay for interested teachers. Associate superintendent Barbara Ybarra says the teacher who sees the student every day is the best person for helping the child. Board members were told that parents of Bryan ISD students will be getting calendar surveys in December. Click below to hear comments from David Stasny and Barbara Ybarra during the November 4, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.   Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the November 4, 2024 BISD school board meeting about the development of the 2025-26 school year calendar.  

Local Arrests For Forgery At A Local Dealership, Taking Asphalt From TxDOT, And After A College Station Police Officer Is Assaulted

Bryan police arrest a Houston man who tried to buy a $70,000 dollar vehicle with a forged check written for $40,000 dollars. A representative at a local dealership contacted three branches of the bank identified on the forged check to get confirmation. The BPD arrest report says the 64 year old man was going to get paid $500 dollars by two men named “Lou” and “Jonesy” when he delivered the vehicle. 64 year old Edward Amerson, who was arrested October 30, was released from jail November 6 after posting bonds totaling $18,000 dollars. Three men from northwest Harris County are caught scooping asphalt from a Texas department of transportation materials yard between College Station and Millican into a 20 foot utility trailer. The men, from Hockley, were arrested by a Brazos County sheriff’s deputy for misdemeanor theft for taking an estimated $1,200 dollars of asphalt. Among those watching the theft were a Navasota police officer and a DPS trooper. Released from jail after posting $5,000 dollar bonds were 41 year old Julian Guzman-Melendez Sr., 25 year old Jesus Guzman-Melendez, and 19 year old Julian Ruben Guzman-Melendez. One of three College Station police officers responding to a domestic violence assault was hit and scratched by the suspect. The CSPD arrest report says this was after officers fired tasers. The suspect complied after being ordered at gunpoint to lay on the ground and not move. 41 year old John Claude Griffin was taken to jail on charges of assaulting a public servant, resisting and evading arrest, family violence assault, and public intoxication. He remains held as of November 6th in lieu of bonds totaling $16,600 dollars.