News Staff After 40 years leading United Ag, Jimmy Roppolo is set to retire June 30 in El Campo. Raised on a cotton farm near Waco, Roppolo was no stranger to hard work or tough times. A lecture at Texas A&M sparked his passion for farm co-ops, driving him to help producers gain economic strength through shared … Read more
Wharton County Junior College honored President Betty McCrohan with a reception on Saturday as she prepared to retire after 24 years of leadership. The event took place in the Hutchins Memorial Conference Room in Wharton and was open to the public. McCrohan, who joined WCJC in 1989 and became president in ’01, expanded the college’s … Read more
Bay City High School’s football program has a rare leader behind the scenes — Cierra Bernard, one of Texas’ few female directors of football operations in high school football. Starting three years ago simply helping film games, Bernard now manages recruiting, media, camps, and team logistics, all while teaching English. Her experience includes college and … Read more
Matagorda County has officially been named the Birding Capital of Texas through ’35, thanks to a resolution backed by local leaders and the Texas Legislature. With over 26,000 acres of protected land and top national rankings in bird counts, the county has earned its reputation. Sites like Big Boggy Refuge and Mad Island Marsh support … Read more
El Campo city leaders are tightening budgets as sales tax revenue drops, aiming to protect key services like police, EMS, and infrastructure. Three new paramedics will be added without raising property taxes. Utility fees may rise to support major projects. While raises aren’t funded yet, they’re still possible. Despite financial pressure, over $35 million in … Read more
Near Wharton in Stafford, fierce winds struck early Thursday, destroying Rolando Lopez’s weekend cottage on Everett Lane. Lopez had been renovating the uninsured home when it was swept off its foundation. Across many county roads, about 20 homes suffered damage, including five with roofs torn off. Wharton volunteer firefighters rushed to help, but no injuries … Read more
Matagorda County declared a state of disaster Thursday morning after heavy storms dropped up to seven inches of rain, causing severe flooding and power outages. The hardest-hit areas—Palacios, Blessing, and La Ward—saw flooded roads and overflowing creeks forcing closures on State Highway 35 and FM 1862. Over 4,000 residents faced power outages with crews working … Read more
A Bay City man was arrested after a high-speed chase last Monday night ended in a head-on crash in Matagorda County. Ernest McCullough, 45, of Bay City, was spotted driving 86 mph in a 50 mph zone on Highway 71 near Danevang. When deputies tried to stop him, he fled east on FM 2431 into … Read more
Just after midnight Friday, Tyree AME Church in Bay City went up in flames. A driver saw fire on the roof and called 911. Firefighters arrived quickly, but the blaze had already spread through the attic. Crews kept it from reaching the nearby parsonage and worked for hours to put out hot spots. The church … Read more
A birthday celebration hit a snag when Bravo Party Center abruptly closed its doors due to a lease dispute. Victoria’s Kiana Canales, who booked the venue last year for a joint party with her mother, lost her $475 deposit and her party location. The venue posted a notice about lease issues, and the owner says … Read more