Kevin O’Connor Kommentary May 10

More Equipment Coming To College Station’s Fun For All Playground And Questions Answered About Issues With Existing Equipment

Another feature is coming to College Station’s Fun For All playground at Central Park. That’s after city council members at its July 25th meeting approved spending almost $253,000 dollars for equipment targeted for ages two to five. The new equipment will include a swing set, play structure, shade cover, fall zone, and two communication boards. Funding comes from donations to the playground project. Background information presented to the council says “inclusive play has been the goal of this effort from the beginning and these amenities will further enhance the desired outcome of equitable, barrier-free play.” While there were no council comments about this purchase, councilwoman Elizabeth Cunha asked about issues with some of the playground’s current equipment. Parks and recreation director Kelsey Heiden said the equipment issues cited by Cunha are covered by warranties and the city does not face additional maintenance costs. Heiden also said city staff is working on a solution to fix flower mulch beds that washed out from runoff caused by the park’s splash pads. Click HERE to read and download background information presented during the July 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from Elizabeth Cunha and Kelsey Heiden during the July 25, 2024 College Station city council meeting.  

Brazos County Commission Approves Voting Locations Without The Uproar From Two Years Ago

Two years ago, Brazos County commissioners came under fire when election day voting sites did not include Texas A&M’s memorial student center (MSC). At the commission’s July 23rd meeting, the MSC on the location list for election day and early voting. Commissioner Nancy Berry provided the only comments prior to the unanimous vote, thanking the elections office for finding locations. Click below to hear comments from Nancy Berry during the July 23, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.   Brazos County will have five locations during early voting and 28 voting centers on election day. Click HERE to read and download Brazos County early voting location sites. Click HERE to read and download Brazos County election day voting center locations.

Arrests Of A Crime Stoppers Featured Felon, A Victorious Soccer Player, An Accused Shoplifter, And Someone Accused Of Taking Homebuilding Materials

The 20th time that a College Station man is booked in the Brazos County jail, it’s thanks to a tip to Brazos County Crime Stoppers. 27 year old Jonas Lewis Jr., who was a Crime Stoppers featured fugitive, was caught last Friday (July 26) less than three hours after public assistance was requested. Lewis is held on a charge of evading arrest on July 13th. Bond was set at $100,000 dollars. Online court records show Lewis is awaiting four trials, including two for D-W-I that took place in March and September of 2023. And court records also show Lewis is wanted for violating probation from a ten year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2021 to possessing a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Gunfire followed a soccer match in far west Bryan Sunday afternoon (July 28). No one was struck by two shots that were fired. Five Bryan police officers responded to the soccer field off Sandy Point Road near the Hamilton Unit prison. The suspect told officers he fired the gun for celebrating a win. 22 year old Marlon Posas-Ponce of Caldwell was arrested for firing the gun and public intoxication. Jail records also show he is being held for immigration authorities. College Station police respond Saturday (July 27) to the report of a manager at the H-E-B store at Jones Crossing getting punched by a shoplifter. The CSPD arrest report says it took three officers to place the suspect in custody. 30 year old Christopher Jason Edwards was arrested for robbery, assaulting an officer, evading, and resisting arrest. A Houston man was held in the Brazos County jail for immigration authorities for the third time in 11 years. That follows an arrest on unrelated charges. The arrest report from Bryan police says an officer on patrol Saturday (July 27) during the noon hour spotted a white van that matched the description involved in construction site thefts. 44 year old Victor Garcia-Rivera was arrested for misdemeanor theft of materials from a new home construction site and a Bryan municipal court warrant. As of July 29th, online records show Rivera was transferred from jail to an unidentified agency.