In Bay City, Tenaris is hosting 27 industrial maintenance leaders from 10 countries for a two-week hands-on training. The global pipe manufacturer launched its first U.S. “Maintenance School” at its seamless pipe facility, focusing on predictive maintenance and safety. Company leaders say the sessions help prevent costly shutdowns and keep operations running efficiently. Visitors from … Read more
El Campo City Council will consider a $400,000 incentive to help Western Smokehouse Partners rebuild the old Junior’s Smokehouse site on Frank Stubbs Drive. The Missouri-based company plans to invest more than $17 million to demolish the existing building and construct a modern 60,000-square-foot smokehouse in Meisel Industrial Park. To qualify for city funding, the company must add 15 new jobs each year on top … Read more
Wharton ISD is working to turn things around after the Texas Education Agency downgraded the district’s accreditation to “Accredited–Warned.” The notice came after back-to-back “F” ratings in academics and finances. Superintendent Oduwole says the district has already raised its academic score to a “D,” aiming for a “C” this year. Financially, WISD cut $1 million … Read more
Police say an early Thursday morning fight in Wharton ended in a deadly stabbing. Officers were called around 3 a.m. to a home on Martin Luther King Boulevard, where they found 53-year-old Jerald Jackson unresponsive in a nearby grassy area. Investigators say Jackson and 51-year-old Quinton Farris got into an argument over a woman before … Read more
Bay City’s boys basketball team pulled off a dramatic 56-49 comeback win last Friday night at Columbia, locking down another playoff spot under first-year head coach Lionell Robertson. The Blackcats trailed early but stormed back behind steady defense and clutch shooting from juniors Brayden Ellis and Kemarion Wiggins. With the victory, Bay City completed a … Read more
The Lower Colorado River Authority is studying land northwest of Eagle Lake in Colorado County to see if it’s fit for a major new reservoir. The site, already owned by LCRA, spans about 2,000 acres and could add more than 13 billion gallons to Central Texas’ water supply as demand grows. If built, the reservoir … Read more
Strong winds and soaking rain powered through Wharton County last Saturday night, knocking out electricity and tossing debris across Wharton and El Campo. Nearly an inch of rain fell in most areas, with gusts snapping trees and power lines. A trailer on County Road 134 was destroyed, and several sheds and carports were flipped or … Read more
East Bernard’s May election season will be quiet this year, with no contested races across city, school, or water district ballots. Mayor Lance Rejsek and Alderman Richie Domel will keep their seats, while Rebecca Vacek-Schmidt joins the City Council as the only newcomer. All three East Bernard ISD trustees—Ryan Traweek, Chris Young, and Ruth Ellen … Read more
Wharton County Junior College’s Drama Department brings “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” to the Horton Foote Theatre tonight through Saturday, with free shows each night at 7. The play, set in a 1960s mental hospital, explores freedom and defiance against authority. Instructor Jami Hughes says the production showcases a strong group of local talent … Read more
A new air medical base is set to open in Bay City by the end of the month, bringing faster emergency air transport across the Texas Gulf Coast. The base, called Allegiance Air 2, will operate from Bay City Municipal Airport through a partnership between PHI Air Medical and Allegiance Mobile Health. Crews will now … Read more