Bryan’s Recent Events: A Closer Look
Driving High: Marijuana Bust on the Freeway
In a surprising turn of events on the freeway, a 37-year-old man found himself in hot water after a routine traffic observation quickly escalated into a significant drug bust. Police reports indicate that Christopher Paul Young Jr. was seen driving too closely to another vehicle. Little did he know that his decision to hit the gas, accelerating to a staggering 90 miles per hour, would lead to trouble. The pursuit ended when he exited the freeway and parked in a convenience store lot off Woodville Road.
As the officer approached Young’s vehicle, a strong whiff of marijuana wafted through the open sunroof. This prompted a thorough search of both Young and his car. What the police found was substantial: nine bags of marijuana weighing a total of 9 pounds and 7.55 ounces were stashed away in a trash bag in the backseat. Additionally, over $10,000 worth of the green stuff was discovered in Young’s pants pocket along with a vape pen containing THC.
This incident isn’t Young’s first brush with the law. He was already out on bond, awaiting trial for a previous controlled substance charge from July 2023, and had recently seen his 30th jail booking since September 2006. After posting $20,000 in bonds, he now faces even more serious charges, including *felony possession of marijuana*.
Election Fever: Early Voting Success!
In other news, early voting in Brazos County is bringing in some impressive numbers! As of November 4th, a whopping 54% of registered voters have cast their ballots, which translates to a striking total of 71,761 ballots out of 133,382 registered voters.
The most popular voting center has been the College Station Utilities training facility, welcoming around 22,000 voters. With 28 voting centers set up across Brazos County for election day, voters are encouraged to take a detour to lesser-used centers to avoid those long lines. And don’t worry! If you’re in line by 7 p.m. on election day, you’ll still be able to vote.
Remember to tune in for exciting election night results and interviews, as local officials share their insights about the ongoing election.
Good Neighbors: Texas A&M’s Initiative
Changing gears, let’s head to College Station, where the local city council has been in the loop about a new initiative from Texas A&M’s office of off-campus student services. During the recent council meeting on October 24th, assistant director Jaclyn Upshaw-Brown presented the new “Good Neighbor Network”. This program is designed to help property managers promote their housing while adhering to certain requirements, and it certainly caught the eye of councilmembers, including mayor John Nichols.
Additionally, questions arose regarding enforcement of the city’s housing occupancy regulations, along with support for students facing landlord issues. Look out for more presentations from A&M representatives at their upcoming discussion with the board of regents!
College Station ISD: Encouraging Attendance
Lastly, in an effort to boost student attendance, College Station ISD’s administration is prompting campus principals and teachers to step up their game. The school board was informed about a creative financial incentive encouraging improved attendance numbers.
Currently, the percentage of CSISD students missing more than ten school days a year has risen alarmingly from 7% pre-pandemic to almost 11% last year. The administration revealed that any student missing two days a month could lose as much as one and a half years of education before graduation – quite alarming!
Under Assistant Superintendent Penne Liefere, the plan aims to gather vital information about students and see how they can help with attendance. Notably, schools with 1,000 students could earn up to $30,000 through this attendance initiative.
With a mix of excitement and concern in Bryan, this city is buzzing with events that are shaping its future. Whether it’s legal troubles, civic participation, supportive initiatives, or educational goals, there’s never a dull moment in this Texan community!
