After six years of police work, Jackson County K9 Hunter is enjoying a well-earned retirement. The 8-year-old Dutch Shepherd has worked with Sgt. Dakota Smith since ’20, tracking suspects and helping seize more than $1 million in drugs. Smith noticed Hunter slowing down, and arthritis plus a bowel condition made it time to rest. Now, … Read more
The Bay City Police Department is hiring a new detective, offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus and the chance to serve in a growing community. Applicants must be TCOLE certified with at least three years of full-time experience. The role includes a four-day work week, competitive pay, health benefits after 60 days, and paid holidays. Officers … Read more
Boling senior shortstop Parks Macek is starting his final high school baseball season with big recognition. He’s been named to the Texas High School Baseball Class 3A Region III “Players to Watch” list. The longtime Bulldog standout, now committed to Dallas College, has stacked up district and academic honors since his freshman year. Last season, … Read more
El Campo city leaders are gearing up to revisit their garbage contract, and a hometown business wants a seat at the table. Jim Jack Phillips with Trust Waste Solutions urged the council for a chance to submit a proposal, noting his company’s deep local roots. The city’s current trash service is handled by Texas Disposal … Read more
A Wharton County grand jury has indicted a 29-year-old East Bernard woman in connection with a deadly drunk driving crash. Courtney Michelle Smith is charged with intoxication manslaughter and manslaughter in the October ’25 death of 25-year-old Citlali Perez Hernandez. Investigators say Hernandez was walking along Dill Street near College when Smith’s Toyota Camry hit … Read more
Shoppers across Wharton County helped boost local budgets with stronger sales tax rebates this month. Money returned from November shopping shows El Campo, Wharton, and most nearby towns saw increases, while East Bernard was the only community reporting a drop. Wharton County led the region with nearly a 14 percent jump in rebates from last January. Wharton’s … Read more
Matagorda Bay oyster reefs are closed again after Texas Parks and Wildlife found too few legal-sized oysters in recent surveys. The shutdown, which began last week, affects the TX-19 harvest zone and sidelines both local watermen and weekend pickers. Only 11 of Texas’s 34 public reefs now remain open. Officials say back-to-back storms, heavy freshwater … Read more
City crews in Palacios have fixed a broken water main at Tenth and Humphrey Avenue, but a boil water notice is still in effect for the entire town. The state says bacteria could’ve gotten into the lines when system pressure dropped overnight. Until further notice, everyone should boil tap water for two full minutes before … Read more
A Hallettsville man will spend 80 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of major drug charges, according to the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said 44-year-old Duncan Todd Davis was arrested in February of ’25 when a regional drug task force raided his home, finding cocaine, meth, marijuana, cash, and a gun. … Read more
East Bernard celebrated its student athletes recently with the school’s first-ever Fall Athletic Awards Ceremony at Riverside Hall. The event honored standout performances across football, volleyball, and cross country. Senior Daniel Breitenwisher, Justin Kurtz, Lauryn Locke, and sophomore Samantha Fryer earned the Fighting Heart Awards in cross country. Football honors went to seniors Ty Grigar … Read more