News Staff Due to expected severe weather from Tropical Storm Beryl, the El Campo City Council has canceled the meeting scheduled for today to ensure the safety of the Council, staff, and citizens. Meanwhile, all City of Bay City facilities will be closed as well. City management is monitoring the weather to determine services for Tuesday.
Wharton city employees want to move the municipal court out of the police department. They requested $1.5 million for a new courthouse. The Assistant City Manager emphasized the need for a new building due to space issues. They also want to renovate City Hall for better office space and add a shower for staff during … Read more
The El Campo City Council will discuss a $8.5+ million dollar bond for sewer line repairs on Wharton Street and Town & Country Drive. Heavy January rains caused emergency repairs on the 80-90 year old sewer line. The council will also revisit an almost $238,000 dollar project to replace Friendship Park restrooms. The meeting is … Read more
Wharton City Council denied CenterPoint Energy’s rate increase request, which would have generated $60 million in revenue. The city argues the increase needs further review. The council also denied a parking variance request from A2J Holdings for a new development. City Planning Director Gwyneth Teves stated the existing parking is sufficient and raised concerns about … Read more
Wharton County bought a truck and trailer last week. The purchases, just under the $50,000 limit, included a $44,600 belly-dump trailer from Alamo City Trailer Sales and a $47,500 Chevrolet 2500HD truck from Gunn Chevrolet. Both vendors are not part of an approved purchasing group, so future buys may need a bidding process.
The Appelt family gathered for their 60th annual reunion on June 2nd at Appelt’s Hill Hall. Highlights included a children’s petting zoo, a group photo, and gift bags. A meal of sausage, stew, and sides was served by Tommy Macha’s team. The event featured the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and a moment of silence … Read more
Residents should prepare for Category 5 Hurricane Beryl, heading towards the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Expected to hit the Yucatan Peninsula early today with 165 mph winds, Beryl is the strongest storm this early in the season. It may weaken to a tropical storm after crossing the Yucatan, then hit Mexico again near the Texas … Read more
Darrell Jackson, 23, was fatally shot in the back outside a home on Lundy Street in El Campo last week. The shooting followed a family dispute with 37-year-old Jeremy Holloway on June 26. Police are still investigating the motive behind the argument. Holloway, Jackson’s girlfriend’s stepfather, fled to Columbus but was arrested without incident after … Read more
Naveed Rasheed Shike, 38, from Sugar Land, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids and failure to appear in court. He was caught with over 1,400 packages of the drug in 2016 and fled to Pakistan in 2019. Shike was arrested in January after a high-speed chase. His … Read more
July is the time to celebrate Bay City’s community spirit, thanks to parks and recreation. Mayor Robert Nelson has declared July as Parks and Recreation Month, honoring the dedicated professionals and volunteers who maintain our parks. These heroes not only preserve our green spaces but also bolster community health and unity. This month, let’s appreciate … Read more