Kevin O’Connor Kommentary January 18

College Station ISD And Bryan ISD Explain Why Schools Were Closed Wednesday

College Station and Bryan ISD school officials decided Tuesday afternoon to cancel classes Wednesday (January 22). It was the second consecutive day classes were cancelled due to winter weather. Both districts announced classes would resume on Thursday. Both districts also announced enough days were built into the school calendar that there will be no makeup days. That includes CSISD’s Pebble Creek elementary, which was closed two days in December after flooding inside the building. The announcement from CSISD communications director Austin Dunson pointed out that a significant number of employees do not live in the district. Dunson told WTAW News employees drive up to 60 minutes each way. Dunson said they considered but decided against a later start time in CSISD. But a delayed start would not have alleviated the need to staff classrooms, bus routes, and lunchrooms, as many of those employees would have needed to report to work while road conditions may be unsafe. Click below to hear College Station ISD’s Austin Dunson, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver: Listen to “College Station ISD And Bryan ISD explain why schools were closed Wednesday” on Spreaker. College Station ISD statement issued January 21, 2025: Due to icy road conditions in certain areas in and around the B/CS area, all CSISD schools will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution, considering a significant portion of our employees live outside of CSISD boundaries. With freezing temperatures expected tonight through late Wednesday morning, we are anticipating icy road conditions to make travel difficult for those employees traveling from outside the district, impacting our ability to adequately staff bus routes and classrooms. A delayed start would not alleviate these challenges, as many of these employees would need to report to work while road conditions may be unsafe. We will resume normal school operations on Thursday, Jan. 23. Please stay safe and warm! Bryan ISD statement issued January 21, 2025: In light of current winter weather alerts and potentially hazardous road conditions, out of an abundance of caution, all Bryan ISD schools and facilities will be closed on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. All Bryan ISD extracurricular activities will be canceled. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 23rd, following our regular schedule. Stay warm and safe! Due to surplus minutes included in our daily schedule, we will not be required to make up this missed day of school.

Arrests In Three Gunfire Incidents Reported To College Station Police

Arrests are made in three separate gunfire incidents reported to College Station police. CSPD’s SWAT team responded last Friday (January 17) at three in the morning near Anderson and Park Place, where three people said they were shot at but not hit. That suspect, a 20 year old from Bryan, went to jail for the seventh time since November 2024 and the 17th time in 20 months. Frederick Hall III was also arrested on six warrants for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic crimes dating back to April of last year. As of January 22nd, Hall remains jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $402,000 dollars. A College Station man has been in jail since last Tuesday (January 14) following his arrest on warrants related to gunfire and evidence tampering last November. Arrest reports from College Station police say 27 year old Kelton Hodrick-Swain and a second man who has not been arrested are accused of assaulting a juvenile who sustained a fractured skull and a black eye after being struck with a handgun. This happened in an apartment where investigators learn drugs are sold and where Swain is accused of firing a gun. Swain remains held in lieu of bonds totaling $130,000 dollars. And College Station man was arrested Sunday (January 19) for firing a gun into the balcony of his second floor apartment in August of 2024. No one was injured, and the bullet did not appear to make through to the first floor apartment. 44 year old Randall Childress told College Station police according to the arrest report he thought the safety on the gun was engaged when he dropped the gun and tried to catch it. Childress is out of jail after posting a $4,000 dollar bond.

College Station City Council Creates A Council Appointed Tourism Committee

The College Station city council forms another citizens advisory committee. A six to one vote creates tourism committee whose members are appointed by the council This replaces a committee whose members were appointed by the city manager. Some of the members of the new 11 member body will represent many of the same interests as the former group. Chief development officer Michael Ostrowski said members will be sought as soon as possible. They will be asked to assist in a tourism strategic plan and how hotel occupancy tax money is spent. William Wright voted against the new committee. Click HERE to read and download the ordinance that was approved at the January 9, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the January 9, 2025 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from the January 9, 2025 College Station city council meeting.