Rail crossing repairs bring shutdowns

El Campo drivers needing to cross the Kansas City Southern railroad tracks may need to find an alternate route starting tomorrow. Seven local streets that intersect the KCS line will be closed at some point from Thursday, Oct. 13th. through Friday Oct. 21st for track maintenance. Only one intersection will be closed at a time … Read more

Thames praises Ferdinand hire as exciting

The decision of Mike Ferdinand to return to Matagorda County to his post as executive director of the Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation is being hailed as “exciting” by the Bay City Chamber of Commerce president Mitch Thames. Jessica Russell, who has been serving interim executive director at MCEDC, made the announcement last week of … Read more

County enacts burn ban due to conditions

Due to ongoing drought conditions, Matagorda County Commissioners have enacted a burn ban back in effect until further notice as of Monday, Oct. 10. The decision was announced during Monday’s meeting of commissioner’s court. County officials pointed out that the county has experienced dry conditions. With rain chances coming in the next week, county officials … Read more

Football star gives back to area youth

For more than a decade, El Campo Ricebird senior running back Rueben Owens the second has been carrying the football and scoring touchdowns. While he’s still doing that on Friday nights, hours later Owens is calling plays for El Campo’s Bantam youth league football team on Saturday nights. Owens could be doing literally anything in … Read more

Israel named to state board

Tina Israel has been elected to represent the Bay City Main Street Program and the city of Bay City as a Board Member for Texas Downtown. Texas Downtown was founded in 1985 to connect and serve downtown professionals and champions. Their members are dedicated to downtown development and revitalization. Tina’s term will begin January 1st, … Read more

Levee meeting scheduled for Oct. 17

The City of Wharton will host a public engagement meeting regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Flood Reduction Project – Levee – Lower Colorado River Phase 1 Construction for the City of Wharton. Wharton city staff and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on … Read more

One-vehicle rollover turns corny

Deer corn was spread across 7th Street after a one-vehicle accident Oct. 7th near Chester’s Chicken for what was reported as a rollover accident. Upon arrival, police saw a Sutherland’s truck on its side and bags of corn on the road. The driver had been traveling eastbound on 7th, when he tried to stop for … Read more

Groups join forces to spread Halloween awareness

This Halloween holiday, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is teaming up with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Watch UR BAC program to spread awareness on the fentanyl epidemic spreading across our state. The Drug Enforcement Administration warns the public of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability … Read more

Operation Lone Star successful

Two stolen vehicles, three confiscated firearms and five drug seizures marked the two-day Operation Lone Star with Wharton County Sheriff’s deputies taking place in Refugio County last week. The effort, about 100 miles to the southwest of it’s normal patrolling grounds, targeted illegal operations stemming from human trafficking or border incursions. Deputies from Goliad, Bee, … Read more

Police department plans to use drones

The Wharton Police Department is heading skyward for its next level of law enforcement equipment. Chief Terry Lynch and Lt. Ariel Soltura were recently certified by the F-A-A as drone pilots and Lynch is hoping to purchase a pair for his department. The drones save time and manpower when it comes to assessing the scene … Read more