Kevin O’Connor Kommentary March 21

Construction Starts On Widening Highway 105 Portion Of The Aggie Expressway

The Texas department of transportation (TxDOT) Bryan district office announces the start of widening the Highway 105 portion of the “Aggie Expressway” east of Navasota. TxDOT social media the widening will add turn lanes at selected intersections along 105 between Highway 6 and near the FM 362 intersection. Completion of this six mile project is expected in August 2026, weather permitting. The TxDOT project website says widening 105 to four lanes is currently planned to start in 2029. In addition to a four lane divided highway, there would be interchanges at 105 and Highway 6 and an overpass at 105 and FM 362/Grimes County road 412. Click HERE to be directed to the TxDOT website containing more information about the Highway 105 project.

Brazos County Commissioners Adopt A Policy On How To Pay For Groundbreaking And Similar Events Involving County Owned Buildings

Brazos County commissioners adopt a policy to pay expenses when there is a groundbreaking, open house, or ribbon cutting of a county owned building. The county’s chief of staff Ed Bull said the subject came up during discussion of the future ceremonial groundbreaking of the medical examiner’s office. Bull also said the contractor in charge of the medical examiner’s project has budgeted money for the groundbreaking. County auditor Katie Conner said those outside the county who want to contribute paying for those events will have to complete a donation form and present it to commissioners for adoption. Following the discussion, there was unanimous approval to pay expenses from a budget item titled commissioners court events and funds. A written version of the policy was not part of materials associated with the county commission’s adoption at their November 26th meeting. Commissioners approved what the agenda said was “Approval of the expenditure of funds for recurring costs of consumables and rentals as well as one-time costs and future replacements associated with Groundbreakings, Open Houses, and Ribbon Cuttings of County Owned Buildings which will cover the event and those in attendance. The Brazos County Commissioners Court finds this serves the public purpose of providing notice to citizens and other governmental entities of the future services that will be provided within the community and recognizes the hard work and partnerships of the employees and officials within the county involved in the project. This expenditure approval is limited to Commissioners Court Events and Funds.” Click below to hear comments from the November 26, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County Commissioners adopt a policy on how to pay for groundbreaking and similar events involving county owned buildings” on Spreaker.  

Arrests For Entering The Texas A&M-Texas Game Without A Ticket And Illegal Ticket Sales

Texas A&M police arrested one man for selling two fake tickets for the A&M-Texas football game for $900 dollars and throwing away five more fake tickets. This happened near Pickard’s Pass, which is the tunnel going under Wellborn Road by Kyle Field. 57 year old Bruce Suares of Inglewood Texas remained in jail as of December 2nd in lieu of bonds totaling $14,000 dollars. The arrest report said the officer recognized the tickets as fake because the back of the tickets contained University of Texas logos. Texas A&M police arrested a New Jersey man for attempted theft and criminal trespassing related to selling fake tickets. The arrest report says 28 year old Velasquez Naranjo pushed his way through the ticket gate to enter the stadium. He was followed by two women who told the arresting officer they paid $250 dollars apiece to Naranjo to get into the game using SEC wristbands as tickets. The money was returned to the women. The arrest report also says Naranjo had a two way radio, which led officers to believe he was working with other individuals who were scamming other people wanting to get into the game. Naranjo is out of jail after posting bonds totaling $4,000 dollars. During Saturday’s game, Texas A&M police arrested two men after getting in the game without tickets. The arrest report said they used fake construction credentials and were wearing reflective vests, hard hats, safety glasses, and protective gloves. 22 year old Julian Carreon of St. Leon and 21 year old Logan Scalise of College Station were charged with criminal trespassing. Carreon is out of jail after posting a $3,000 dollar bond and Scalise is out of jail after posting a $2,000 dollar bond. After the game started, Texas A&M police arrested a Grand Prairie man who got into the game without a ticket. 22 year old Oriobose Akharoh, who was charged with criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, was released from jail after posting bonds totaling $8,000 dollars.