News Staff Wharton County girls are stepping into new territory with Scouting America’s first all-female troop. Troop 117 launched in August so local Cub Scouts could keep advancing without leaving the county. The troop meets twice a month at First United Methodist Church in Wharton and plans its first camping trip at Brazos Bend State Park later … Read more
Matagorda County faces higher diabetes rates than most of Texas, ranking seventh locally for related deaths. To fight the trend, the Matagorda Regional Medical Center Wellness Center and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension hosted a free “Lunch and Learn” in Bay City recently. Guests sampled healthy dishes during live cooking demos and learned easy ways to … Read more
Wharton County is moving forward with a new Regional Public Defender’s Office after county leaders unanimously accepted a nearly $2.2 million state grant. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission award will let Wharton partner with Matagorda County to provide legal counsel for people who cannot afford an attorney. County Judge Phillip Spenrath said the grant will … Read more
Two Jackson County horse theft cases ended with quick recoveries thanks to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and local law enforcement. Special Rangers Nathan Hale and Robert Fields helped Ganado Police find three stolen horses in Victoria County and another in Brazoria County. Elizabeth Marie Jameson, 56, and Hayden Morton, 17, were arrested … Read more
El Campo City Council voted 6-0 to use the City Development Corporation’s funds instead of tax dollars to replace failing sewer lines between North Mechanic and Washington streets. The $228,000 project will protect wastewater service to key local businesses such as Zoya Shopping Center, Dr. Anderson’s Dental Practice, Home Away From Home Day Care and … Read more
Deputies say a domestic dispute in Louise turned violent Monday morning, leaving a man hospitalized and his wife behind bars. Wharton County deputies and El Campo EMS rushed to a home on Fourth Street around 11 a.m. Authorities say 42-year-old Melanie Rae Bell shot her husband in the back with a 9-millimeter handgun after an … Read more
Bay City Police are investigating a serious hit-and-run that left a 71-year-old woman critically injured early Saturday morning. Officers found her lying in the median of the 1800 block of Palm Village around 2:25 a.m., with belongings scattered nearby. Police believe she was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. She was first taken … Read more
Matagorda County farmers and ranchers can get hands-on training in soil conservation at the upcoming Soil Health Field Day on October 16th at El Maton National Hall. Organized by the county’s Soil and Water Conservation District, the $25 event starts at 8 a.m. and includes farm tours, lunch, and three education credits. Attendees will visit … Read more
Wharton County Junior College’s Manufacturing Technology Program is getting a major upgrade with $36,000 worth of hydraulic equipment donated by Tenaris in Bay City. The equipment lets students train with the same tools used in local industries, boosting job readiness after graduation. Tenaris has supported WCJC since ’15, contributing more than $1 million in funding, … Read more
Bay City’s Blackcats are chasing their first 4-0 start since ’04 as they head to Sealy Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Coach Robert Jones’ team has fought through tight wins over Sweeny, Edna and Columbia, including last week’s 28-20 victory. The Blackcats’ defense sealed the deal in the second half, but Jones says … Read more