News Staff Harmful algal blooms have invaded the Gulf Coast, from Galveston to Brazoria County, and are spreading southwest due to ocean currents. Matagorda County should expect potential Red Tide impacts, warns Bryan Frazier, Brazoria County’s Parks Director. These blooms release toxins, leading to fish kills and harming marine life. Dead fish have been reported along the … Read more
A Boling man, Ryan Cruz Reyes, is the latest suspect arrested in the theft of holy items from St. Robert’s Catholic Church in El Campo. The investigation is ongoing, and there may be more arrests. The stolen church tabernacle and sacred items were found damaged in a field. It seems the thieves had hoped for … Read more
Wharton County has experienced a larger-than-usual cricket emergence following recent rainstorms. These insects appear after long periods of drought, mate, and die off. Crickets tend to swarm in dry springs and summers, with the most significant numbers in August and September after a summer drought breaks. While they won’t breed indoors, they can damage clothing … Read more
Edna ISD recently bought land for a new sports complex, sparking a bond proposal. The complex offers control over athletic facilities, extra parking for big events, and safety improvements. The bond is solely for capital improvements, not salaries. Edna ISD already excels in career and technical programs. Property values and construction costs are factors, but … Read more
A 30-year-old man, Nabeel Ahmed, has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2022 murder in Needville. Ahmed was convicted of murdering an acquaintance after a night of drinking and arguing. He intentionally ran the victim over with his truck, then fled, even bragging about it on social media. During the trial, evidence of … Read more
Wharton County has lifted its outdoor burning ban, but don’t start any fires just yet, especially if you’re in El Campo or Wharton city limits. Recent heavy rains moved the area out of wildfire danger on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. Be cautious; the grass isn’t fully recovered. Rural residents should use screened barrels for burning … Read more
The Matagorda Regional Medical Center Foundation is hosting “PULSE…A Bavarian Experience” — an Oktoberfest-themed fundraiser to upgrade the Cardiac Patient Monitoring System at the medical center. Join the fun on October 7th at 6 p.m. in the outdoor Biergarten with Shiner Bock and more. Enjoy a Stein Hoist competition, live polka music, German cuisine, and … Read more
A former Tenaris employee, Eddie Richardson, won a landmark judgment of over $1 million last Thursday in a religious discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination lawsuit. The award includes $11 thousand in back pay, $425 grand in compensatory damages, and $750 thousand in exemplary damages. According to Richardson’s lead counsel this is one of the biggest … Read more
El Campo City Council approved $450 thousand dollars for vital road and excavation equipment for Public Works. A new $387 thousand dollar Caterpillar will replace an aging Gradall. They’ll finance it through First Financial Bank at 5%. Councilman Ward questioned alternate funding sources. They chose Caterpillar over Gradall XL3300. They also approved almost 65 thousand … Read more
The mother of one of the El Campo men accused of stealing sacred items from St. Robert’s Catholic Church was arrested on Monday. Sandra Rivera Hedges, 61, was charged with tampering with evidence. She’s the mother of Thomas James Graham, who was arrested earlier for theft and tampering. Hedges took stolen items from her son’s … Read more