News Staff Wharton City Council approved a temporary occupancy for a new storage facility on FM 1301, allowing it to fill units before completing a required detention pond. The owner expects the pond to be finished by September, with full completion by January. Due to limited contractors, the pond’s construction is delayed. The council granted a 90-day … Read more
El Campo’s school board is waiting for certified property values from Wharton County, pushing the district against Thursday’s tax rate deadline. Superintendent Bob Callaghan mentioned delays due to a needed letter from the solar farm. Finance Director Demetric Wells is using last year’s rates to estimate the budget. The current tax rate is .7575 per … Read more
Jeepin’ Fest kicks off this weekend at the Civic Center in Aransas Pass. The event features jeep competitions like the dirty jeep contest, best in show, and a hot dog hanging contest. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with food trucks and vendors from across Texas. Last year saw 1,000 … Read more
Tommy Psencik, Edna High School class of ’81, is returning as the defensive line coach for the upcoming football season. After retiring as Hallettsville’s Athletic Director last year, Psencik is excited to be back in Edna, fulfilling a long-time dream. He has fond memories of his time in Edna and is eager to contribute to … Read more
Three weeks after Hurricane Beryl, Wharton County is still recovering. Over 75,000 square yards of debris have been collected, with rural residents burning additional brush. Cities like El Campo and Wharton are making multiple debris collection passes. Heavy rains have slowed progress, but efforts continue. Damage estimates are still pending. Full recovery may take months.
Disaster recovery centers are now open at the Wharton Civic Center and soon in El Campo to help with Hurricane Beryl recovery. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers loans to businesses, homeowners, and non-profits. Businesses can get up to $2 million, homeowners up to $500,000, and renters up to $100,000. The deadline for physical damage … Read more
Joe Cunningham, 59, from Victoria, was arrested on July 21st after fighting with police. He was stopped for riding a bike without a headlight and had a warrant for an expired license. Cunningham resisted arrest, leading to a struggle. Police found stolen credit cards, drugs, and paraphernalia in his bag. He faces multiple charges, including … Read more
Lothario Lamont Pratt Jr. and Sr. from El Campo pleaded guilty to stealing over $100,000 in soda from a local distributor. Instead of jail time, they received five years of deferred probation. They were caught on video taking sodas from the warehouse. Both must pay restitution, perform community service, and take an anti-theft course. They … Read more
A new mural at Flag City Pawn Shop in Edna honors U.S. veterans and the city’s nickname. Owner Tommy Pesek hired muralist Kathleen Thiele to depict the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising. Pesek, whose father and friends served in the military, feels veterans are often overlooked. The mural features a 3-D metal flagpole and is being … Read more
In Cookeville, work has started on new gateway monument signs at the I-40/Jefferson Avenue exit. Trees were cleared after T-DOT gave the go-ahead, and construction began on July 22nd. The limestone signs with bronze artwork should be ready by December. Traffic disruptions are being minimized. The City Council is considering an agreement with Cracker Barrel … Read more