News Staff 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
Speedy Stop is hosting its 23rd annual fishing tournament for kids aged 2-12 on August 10th at the Port O’Connor Community Center. Registration is free, and the first 500 kids get a snack pack, t-shirt, and school supplies. The event supports Folds of Honor, providing scholarships to military and first responder families. There will be … Read more
Donna Grissom, the new principal of Sivells Elementary in Wharton ISD, has dedicated nearly 40 years to education. She studied at the University of Northern Colorado and taught in England. After a 10-year break to raise her children, she continued teaching and tutoring. Grissom moved to Wharton in ’03 and has been an assistant principal … Read more
In El Campo, a 42-year-old woman found over a gram of cocaine in her mailbox on Acosta Street last week and reported it to the police. The day before, more than a gram of meth was discovered on the floor of the El Campo City Hall lobby. Police haven’t connected the two incidents yet. Anyone … Read more
Lizbeth Medina left a lasting impact on her classmates. Her passing last Christmas deeply affected the community, especially the class of 1983 who recently reunited. In her memory, they established the Lizbeth Medina Memorial Scholarship Fund to help underprivileged students join cheerleading. R Bank donated $500, and Chad and Kim Stary added $2,500. Local cheerleaders … Read more
The El Campo City Council voted 4-2 to refund $1,050 in fees to Little League for using Legacy Park for the Texas East State Softball Tournament. The event, which draws thousands, had its fee waiver request delayed by Hurricane Beryl. Despite paying the fees, Little League sought reimbursement. The council had previously waived $2,000 in … Read more
In Victoria County, two sets of twins serve in the Sheriff’s Office. Identical twins Esau and Jacob Lopez joined eight years ago, while fraternal twins Omar and Oscar Garcia joined out of love for the job. Omar, a sergeant, and Oscar, a K-9 deputy, both pursued law enforcement inspired by respect for the badge. Despite … Read more