News Staff A Wharton County family’s history is now officially recognized with a new Texas Historical Marker at the Roberts Family Cemetery on County Road 125. More than 30 descendants gathered recently to honor Emanuel and Hannah Roberts, whose land dates back to 1893. Family historian April Frazier spent over 20 years researching records to confirm their … Read more
Wharton County Junior College is rolling out new science courses this fall to give non-science majors more options. Starting in Fall 2025, students can take Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Environmental Biology with an optional lab, and Human Biology. These classes are designed to meet degree requirements while offering flexibility for students outside of STEM. Human … Read more
El Campo homeowners could face higher tax bills next year after City Council voted 4-0 to set the levy ceiling at 49.144 cents per $100 of value, up from 46. Officials say the change isn’t technically a tax hike but is needed as sales tax revenue falls short. City Manager Courtney Sladek said the city … Read more
The murder trial of babysitter Angel Nicole Castro is nearing its conclusion in Wharton County, but not without drama. A juror was dismissed last week after posting online about disturbing evidence in the case. Castro is accused of killing 19-month-old Roselynn Coates in El Campo in ’21 while the child was in her care. The … Read more
Bay City Council has approved new disaster debris contracts to strengthen emergency response. Partnering with Matagorda County and Palacios, the city named Galveston-based DRC Emergency Services as its primary contractor, citing decades of experience in hurricane recovery. Aftermath Disaster Recovery and Dynamic Group were selected as backups. Officials stressed no costs will occur unless a … Read more
The Wharton ISD school board remains stuck at six members after failing to appoint a replacement for longtime trustee Sherrell Speer, who resigned in June. Two candidates, Judd Perry and Robert “Griff” Vandagriff, split the board evenly last Thursday night, with neither securing enough votes. The stalemate leaves the board short-handed as the new school … Read more
Bay City has officially joined the latest national opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, ensuring the community remains eligible for potential funding to fight addiction. City Council ratified Mayor Robert Nelson’s earlier signature last week, keeping Bay City in step with other Texas municipalities ahead of the national deadline. Like last year’s … Read more
More than four years after a teenage girl’s body was found near Hungerford, Wharton County officials have identified her as 16-year-old Yeimy Beltrand. Investigators say she was shot in the head three times in April of ’21 and left on County Road 225. Her boyfriend, 27-year-old Luis Omar Beltran-Mendoza, is now charged with murder after … Read more
Wharton ISD wrapped up its summer hiring by naming Courtney Carter as principal of Wharton Junior High and DeWayne McCurdy as assistant principal at Wharton High. Carter, a familiar face in the district, has served as assistant principal since ’23 and previously coached volleyball and track. McCurdy joins from Houston ISD with 15 years of … Read more
El Campo’s new Litter Walk Club is turning trash pickup into a community workout. Organized by Keep El Campo Beautiful, the once-a-month walks target litter-heavy streets and ditches. Volunteers meet at rotating locations, grab city-provided cleanup gear, and spend about an hour walking, talking, and collecting trash. The first event kicked off July 15th, and … Read more