Kevin O’Connor Kommentary October 26

College Station City Council Gets No Offers To Buy The Former Macy’s Store Building

It’s back to the drawing board for the College Station city council on the future of the former Macy’s store building. Councilman Mark Smith, visiting on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs, says they received no offers to buy the building and surrounding parking area. Smith says they are open and willing to talk with the owners of Post Oak Mall and anyone else who is interested in redeveloping the mall. The council purchased the property for $7.3 million dollars in September of 2022. The city of College Station sent WTAW News the following statement: Although the initial request for bids did not result in formal submissions, we’re encouraged by the ongoing interest several parties have expressed in the former Macy’s property. Before releasing the request for bids, the City engaged in preliminary discussions with a potential buyer interested in redeveloping the site. The sale of municipally owned property must adhere to a formal process that ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all interested parties. In addition to a bidding process, retailers and developers can acquire property through private negotiations, partnerships, or broker-led transactions. The City recognizes the property’s critical importance and potential as a transformative catalyst for economic growth and revitalization in the surrounding area. We’re committed to pursuing all viable opportunities while ensuring a process that maximizes the property’s potential and aligns with the long-term vision for the community. Click below to hear comments from Mark Smith on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs January 17, 2025:  

ERCOT Board Chairman Bill Flores Of Bryan Visits The Infomaniacs

Retired congressman Bill Flores of Bryan, who chairs the board of ERCOT, visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia about ERCOT’s purpose, monitoring generation, demand, what they learned from Winter Storm Uri, what Trump’s administration means for America’s energy, energy and fuel sources, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs on Monday, January 20, 2025. Listen to “ERCOT Chairman Bill Flores on The Infomaniacs” on Spreaker.

UPDATE: Funeral Arrangements Announced For Fallen Navasota Police Sergeant

The city of Navasota has announced funeral arrangements for fallen police Sgt. Mark Butler. Visitation will take place Thursday (January 23) from 5:30 until 8:30 In Navasota at Nobles Funeral Home. The funeral service is Friday (January 24) at noon at Central Church in College Station, followed by a reception in Navasota at the VFW. The Brazos County sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page that deputies have been working patrol in Navasota. The department of public safety (DPS) on Monday (January 20) identified the wrong way driver who died after their SUV struck Butler’s SUV head on last week. 59 year old Kimberly Lannigan of Colorado Springs, Colorado also died. The DPS news release also stated that Sgt. Butler had turned on his SUV’s siren and emergency lights. News release from the city of Navasota: The Navasota Police Department and the City of Navasota invite the community to join in honoring the life and service of Sergeant Mark Allen Butler. Funeral arrangements have been finalized to allow family, friends, and the community to pay their respects. Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Nobles Funeral Home. A public visitation will be held from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Central Church Bryan-College Station, located at 1991 FM 158, College Station, TX 77845. The law enforcement procession will depart from Navasota and is expected to arrive at Central Church around 10:00 AM. Services will begin at 12:00 PM, with a reception to follow at the VFW in Navasota, where the community is welcome to gather and reflect on Sergeant Butler’s legacy A private burial will be conducted at the National Cemetery in Houston at a later, undisclosed date and time. Sergeant Butler, a dedicated public servant, exemplified commitment and courage throughout his career with the Navasota Police Department. He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to protecting and serving the residents of Navasota. Update January 16, 2025: A head on crash in Navasota that killed a Navasota police officer and a wrong way driver began with the wrong way driver attempting to elude College Station police. A CSPD Facebook post says on Wednesday afternoon (January 15), their officers were trying to stop a person who was accused of attempting to cash a fraudulent check at a bank on Rock Prairie Road west of the freeway. CSPD ended its pursuit when the suspect starting driving south in the northbound lanes of Highway 6 near Millican. The head on collision with the wrong way driver and the Navasota officer was on the north side of Navasota near the FM 3090 exit. The officer who was killed, Mark Butler, had been with the department since June 2021 and was promoted to sergeant last October. The name of the other driver has not been released. The city of Navasota has announced the city and Citizens State Bank, have established the Mark Butler Memorial Fund, to provide support to his family. Donations can be made at Citizens State Bank branches in Navasota, Brenham, Burton, Somerville, Caldwell, Snook, and Deanville, or by mailing a check to the City of Navasota at P.O. Box 910, Navasota, TX 77868 (payable to the Mark Butler Memorial Fund). The city also announced a candlelight vigil will be held Thursday (January 16) starting at 6 p.m. outside Navasota city hall. Original story, January 15 2025: A Navasota police officer is killed by a wrong way driver. A city of Navasota spokeswoman says Sgt. Mark Butler served in the military before joining the police department in June 2021. Butler was promoted to sergeant in October 2024. The department of public safety (DPS) says Butler was driving his patrol SUV on Highway 6 when it was struck head on by an oncoming SUV. The other driver, who also died, has been pursued by College Station police. The identity of the other driver will be released after family members are notified. A DPS spokesman said the crash, which took place Thursday (January 15) around 3:15 p.m., closed the highway until approximately 9 p.m. News release from the Texas department of public safety: Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash on state Highway 6 approximately .70 miles north of Farm-to-Market 3090. The preliminary investigation indicates that on January 15, 2025, at approximately 3:15 p.m., the College Station Police Department was actively pursuing a female suspect driving a 2023 Black Jeep Wrangler while southbound on SH-6 in Brazos County. During the pursuit, the Jeep exited SH-6 at Farm-to-Market 2154. The driver turned eastbound on FM 2154 and then turned southbound in the northbound lanes of the service road of SH 6, where the College Station Police Department terminated the pursuit. The Jeep continued southbound, entering an exit ramp onto SH-6 northbound lanes and began traveling south, against the flow of traffic. The Jeep traveled into Grimes County where a 2023 clearly marked Navasota Police Department Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound on SH 6 when the Jeep struck it head-on. The driver of the Chevrolet, Sergeant Mark Butler with the Navasota Police Department, was transported to CHI St. Joseph Hospital – Grimes Hospital – Navasota, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The driver of the Jeep was pronounced deceased on the scene, her identity will be released pending identification of the driver and notification of kin. The Texas Highway Patrol (THP) District Crash Reconstruction Team with the assistance of the State Crash Team is conducting this ongoing investigation. No additional information is available for release at this time. News release from the city of Navasota: This afternoon, the City of Navasota and the Navasota Police Department suffered a devastating loss as one of our officers tragically passed away in the line of duty. At approximately 3:30 p.m., the officer was involved in a vehicle accident during a pursuit of a suspect. Despite the heroic efforts of first responders, the officer succumbed […]