Texas A&M Seeks Models for War Hymn Memorial

Texas A&M’s president provides an update on his assessment of the Corps of Cadets. Mark Welsh’s website post includes tasks to be completed by the new corps commandant in May and June, before the new commandant officially starts August 1. That includes restructuring the size of cadet units starting this fall to make them more balanced, assisting the president in clarifying the role of the corps board of visitors, and prepare updated budget projections and requests for the next academic year. After the new commandant is officially on the job, the president identified two projects for this August. One is implementing a new cadet chain of command that will be completed by December 15th. On August 31st, the president says the commandant will present a concept plan to replace Duncan dining hall, replace the Trigon military science building, and build a new cadet life center. The president also says the commandant will complete or has completed five other tasks. They are recruiting and maintaining a corps size of 2,550 members, not using external consultants for recruiting for at least two years, establishing a firm policy for the cadets use of the dining hall for meals associated with formation and march in, and ensuring each corps advisor is evaluated annually, to include cadet input and receives ongoing training.

Bryan police and fire responded Friday morning (April 18) to the report of a pedestrian who was struck by a truck on William Joel Bryan west of the freeway. A BPD spokesman says the pedestrian, who is in critical condition, attempted to cross the road at a non designated location when they were struck by a westbound truck. A Bryan police officer witnesses a motorcyclist losing control, sliding through an intersection and crossing into oncoming traffic where they were struck by an oncoming pickup truck. This happened Wednesday (April 16) during the afternoon commute at Villa Maria and Cavitt. A BPD spokesman says the motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was hospitalized with multiple critical injuries. Investigators believe speed was a factor in the collision that closed Villa Maria between Texas and South College for three hours.

A Grimes County man was arrested by College Station police after CSPD’s SWAT team rescued a woman and several children. A CSPD spokesman confirms the arrest of 42 year old Rodney Williams Jr. of Bedias from the Thursday night incident (April 17) at an apartment off Southwest Parkway between Welsh and Wellborn. CSPD posted on its Facebook page that the woman, who was assaulted, was treated for minor injuries. An undisclosed number of children were not injured. Jail records show Williams was charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a warrant accusing him of violating probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief that took place in 2018. As of April 18, Williams remains jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $124,000 dollars.