News Staff The Wharton County Republican Party has opened its headquarters and gift shop at 1913 West Loop in El Campo. Open 9. to 5 Monday-Friday until November 1, the shop offers Republican items. The party meets at 6 p.m. on August 6 at the headquarters. The voter registration deadline is October 7th. Election Day is November … Read more
In May of ’22, a Victoria ambulance collided with a Chevy Traverse near Spring Creek, sending the ambulance into a pond. Frank and Betty Roeder, in the Chevy, were hospitalized; Frank later died. DPS blamed the ambulance driver for speeding and poor maneuvering. Though criminal charges were suggested, a grand jury decided against it. The … Read more
Knowing your location when calling for help from a cell phone is crucial. Emergency responders need accurate info from the first call. When dialing 9-1-1, callers should provide their address, cross streets, landmarks, phone number, incident details, and the condition of those involved. Accurate information helps determine the needed emergency response. Residents should post their … Read more
An attempt to serve misdemeanor warrants in El Campo led to a nearly hour-long car chase last Wednesday night. The driver, Rene Reyes, fled from the 200 block of South Wharton to the 100 block of East Correll before stopping. April Nicole Montoya, 30, was a passenger and arrested for violating a promise to appear … Read more
Victoria County Commissioners approved a deal with the City of Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation to add up to 25 new Saturday flights by Skywest Airlines at Victoria Regional Airport. The county and the corporation will split the $250,000 cost. County Judge Ben Zeller said this will increase weekend flight options and improve service for … Read more
On Tuesday, 46 year old Mark Anthony Fernandez Jr., from Victoria, was convicted of four counts of child sexual abuse. He received three 99-year prison terms and one 20-year term, all to be served consecutively. The Victoria Police Department’s investigation led to his indictment in February of ’23 for crimes committed in ’21. The charges … Read more
Earlier this month John Gutierrez was mowing his lawn in Victoria to prepare for Hurricane Beryl when he was attacked by a swarm of bees. After feeling stings, he tried to escape but was stung around 350 times. Denise Kruppa, who lives nearby, noticed him and called 9-1-1. Gutierrez spent several days in the ICU. … Read more
Wharton County Judge Phillip Spenrath announced that the county needs a new jail soon. This decision could affect property taxes due to a revenue deficit caused by a solar farm valuation error. Spenrath emphasized the urgency, stating taxes might need to be raised by six cents per $100 of appraised property value over 20-25 years … Read more
A murder trial started Monday in Calhoun County for Blake Michael Downs, charged with the shooting death of his 19-year-old friend, Coewin Boerm in ’22. The incident occurred in a detached garage at Downs’ home on Holloman Road, after a night out together. Calhoun County Sheriff B.J. Vickery stated it was intentional, with alcohol involved. … Read more
Last week, the El Campo Branch Library hosted Wild Things Zoofari, featuring a lively spider monkey, a big-eared fox, a colorful toucan, a soft white chinchilla, and a young kangaroo. Zookeeper Courtney Pineda introduced the animals, allowing attendees to touch and learn about them. Wild Things Zoofari offers educational animal programs across Texas for private … Read more