News Staff Kindergarteners at Van Vleck Elementary kicked off Thanksgiving early last Friday with a creative Turkey Parade, featuring handmade “floats” crafted from decorated potatoes. Held in the school parking lot, the festive event delighted fellow students and parents. Superintendent Christie Dement praised the parade, humorously calling it better than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The event … Read more
El Campo ISD employees will receive a $1,500 retention bonus this December, thanks to a unanimous school board vote. The bonus, aimed at showing appreciation for staff, follows the district’s recovery from a $1.1 million budget shortfall caused by a Central Appraisal District error. With the Texas Education Agency reallocating missing funds, the district will … Read more
The holiday spirit is in full swing in Wharton as the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture prepares for its 44th annual Christmas parade tonight. New Chamber president Karen Smith is leading the event for the first time, following the retirement of longtime president Ron Sanders, who served for 17 years and will be honored as … Read more
Bay City Fire Marshal Dan Shook is urging residents to stay safe as home fires spike. He highlighted that candles, space heaters, cooking mishaps, and dry holiday greenery are major fire risks. Shook advises keeping candles away from anything flammable and using glass jars with lids to extinguish them safely. He also recommends space heaters … Read more
El Campo’s City Council will decide tonight whether to allocate $5,275 from hotel/motel tax funds to cover the Chamber of Commerce’s rental of the Civic Center for the annual Christmas Mall. The event, set for Dec. 7-8, attracts regional shoppers and spikes local sales tax revenue. Other agenda items include approving an ambulance order to … Read more
Residents of Matagorda are gearing up for Thanksgiving with the annual 5K Turkey Trot. Participants are asked to bring non-perishable food or essential items, which will support the United Methodist Church Food Pantry. The fun, non-competitive run kicks off at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning at Matagorda Beach. Runners and walkers, including kids and leashed … Read more
A Thursday morning fire in El Campo destroyed a mobile home on Pinchot Street, displacing three adults but causing no injuries. The blaze, traced to the furnace, quickly spread through the ductwork, heavily damaging the east side of the 1990-built trailer owned by Jose A. Murillo. Fire Chief Jimmy George Jr. reported that residents heard … Read more
Bay City police arrested a 32-year-old Angleton man after a chaotic theft and car chase on Tuesday afternoon. Detectives at Walmart for an unrelated case were alerted by staff about a theft in progress. The suspect, Brandon Land, reportedly ignored commands, fled in his vehicle, and struck an officer’s parked truck during the pursuit. The … Read more
The Wharton High School tennis program showcased another stellar season, clinching their 10th consecutive district championship by defeating unbeaten rival Bellville 11-8. In the playoffs, Wharton dominated Austin Travis 11-0 in bi-district and swept Sweeny 19-0 to secure the area title. Their season ended in the regional quarterfinals with a hard-fought 10-5 loss to Caldwell. … Read more
An El Campo family faces serious prison time after being indicted for an alleged armed robbery tied to a dispute over a window air-conditioning unit. The August 22nd incident escalated hours after the purchase, leading to threats at gunpoint that left two people fearing for their lives. Richard Bustamante Sr., 55, Hope Bustamante, 53, Richard … Read more