Wharton County leaders voted Monday on hiring veteran attorney Overzenia Ojuri to lead a new regional public defender’s office serving Wharton and Matagorda counties. Ojuri, a Roswell, New Mexico native with 35 years of experience, currently heads the mental health division in Fort Bend County’s public defender office. She was unanimously recommended by an oversight … Read more
Bay City honored its next generation of leaders last Thursday, as the Chamber of Commerce and partners celebrated the third annual “Leaders Under 40.” Warren Robicheaux, CEO of Matagorda County Medical Center, praised the teamwork behind the event, with support from Vibrance Health, the City of Bay City, and the Bay City Tribune. Seventeen young … Read more
A large coastal wildfire is burning across more than 500 acres of grassland east of Highway 60 in southern Matagorda County. Emergency crews say no homes or buildings are threatened, and no evacuations have been ordered. Volunteer firefighters from across the county are working together to contain the flames while county leaders monitor the scene. Judge Bobby Seiferman … Read more
El Campo celebrated a big milestone last Thursday as shovels hit the ground for a brand-new Hutchins Elementary. The $81 million bond project will replace the school’s aging 1960s buildings with two new classroom wings, a gym, and offices built behind the current campus. When finished, Hutchins will serve third through fifth grades, giving students … Read more
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