El Campo police say they are closing in on a suspect after a man was killed in a hit-and-run on West Fifth Street over a week ago. Officers were called after a resident spotted 50-year-old Jose Olvieda lying in a ditch. First responders later learned he had been hit by a blue Ford pickup that … Read more
East Bernard is gearing up for a tough playoff test tonight as the Brahmas face the Poth Pirates at Victoria’s Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 7. Poth has knocked East Bernard out of the playoffs three straight times, and the Brahmas hope to break that streak by running the ball and outmuscling the Pirates. Poth … Read more
Governor Greg Abbott announced that Formosa Plastics will expand its Point Comfort site in nearby Jackson County with a new C6 production facility. The project brings $150 million in investment and qualifies for the state’s JETI program, which cuts the company’s school district property taxes in exchange for jobs and capital spending. Local leaders say … Read more
Wharton County Junior College is launching a community push to help local students facing food and supply shortages. On Dec. 2nd, all four campuses — Wharton, Bay City, Sugar Land and Richmond — will host an all-day donation drive for the WCJC Homestead food pantry. Drop-offs run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pantry … Read more
Wharton County leaders moved last week to boost safety for local law enforcement. Commissioners agreed to apply for two state and federal grants that would upgrade patrol vehicles and protective gear. The county hopes to secure funding for 16 bullet-resistant windshields, including new ones for constables arriving next year. The sheriff says this would make … Read more
El Campo High School is celebrating another major honor as Assistant Principal Jeff Orsak has been named Region 3 Assistant Principal of the Year. It marks the second straight year El Campo ISD has earned the title. Orsak, a Navy veteran with deep Ricebird roots, is known for building strong relationships with students and keeping … Read more
El Campo is preparing to ramp up its “zombie road” program after council members approved buying a larger machine to rebuild worn-out streets. City leaders say the effort has already saved taxpayers more than $4 million since ’19 by grinding old pavement and reusing it on site. Public Works crews have rebuilt more than seven … Read more
In Boling, parents were on alert Monday after a text message shared among Iago Junior High students sparked concern about a possible threat. Boling ISD quickly notified families and brought in extra Wharton County deputies as a precaution. Officials say three students received a message from an unknown number, but no direct threat was made. … Read more
Wharton County deputies and El Campo Police quickly shut down a Sunday burglary near U.S. 59, arresting one suspect and recovering meth, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. A second suspect was tracked down after running into nearby woods. Later that weekend, a late-night traffic stop in El Campo uncovered more than four grams of cocaine, leading … Read more
A loose pony caused a scare in Port Lavaca last week after drivers spotted it wandering along a busy roadway. Locals quickly flooded social media urging someone to call authorities before an accident happened. Minutes later, that warning became real for Barbara Cooke and her children as they headed home from a local football game. … Read more