Sean Franco, a welding instructor and Army veteran at Wharton County Junior College, earned national recognition by receiving the 2023 Excellence in Welding Award for veterans from the American Welding Society (AWS). He was chosen by the AWS Welding Equipment Manufacturers Committee for his exceptional dedication to promoting welding. Franco, who served two tours in … Read more
Victoria College was recently honored by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change for its commitment to student success through the Caring Campus initiative. It’s one of five Texas colleges chosen for this program, thanks to a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation. With guidance from IEBC, Victoria College formed a committee and a working group to … Read more
Early Sunday morning, the Wharton Police responded to a shooting incident on Jefferson Street in Wharton. Jaylon Tolbert, a local resident, was critically injured, shot multiple times while in his car, and was airlifted to Houston. The investigation points to Zane Laitkep, also from Wharton, as the alleged shooter. A warrant for aggravated assault with … Read more
Get ready to celebrate El Campo’s heritage at Alamo Park on Saturday. Everyone’s invited to this day-long party, and it’s absolutely free to enjoy live bands and explore various booths at El Campo Prairie Days. You might find that irresistible “must-have” item or savor mouth-watering aromas from food booths offering burgers, fried chicken, corn in … Read more
Bay City’s trash pick-up costs are on the rise due to a new contract with GFL. The previous ten-year contract expired, and the only bid for a new one came from GFL, but at a significantly higher price. City officials managed to negotiate the costs down, but residents will still see an increase in their … Read more
If you’re looking for work, the Animal Control Officer job in Bay City is open for applications. Duties include enforcing city ordinances and regulations for animal control, responding to various situations. The officer captures and impounds animals, investigates complaints, and deals with issues like cruelty and neglect. They educate the public on animal control rules … Read more
El Campo ISD won’t need an extra police officer for Northside and Myatt elementary schools. Superintendent Bob Callahan secured a waiver from a state law requiring officers on every campus. They currently have four School Resource Officers (SROs) covering five campuses through an agreement with the city council. Adding another officer would mean reassigning one … Read more
A 20-year-old man from Rio Hondo was arrested on Tuesday by the Victoria Police Department on suspicion of fraud, use, or possession of identifying information involving less than five items. The arrest took place around 8 a.m. at the 500 block of East Rio Grande Street following a reported disturbance. Joaquin Mendoza Jr. was found … Read more
Dawn Allison, the current Wharton County District Attorney, has announced that she will not seek re-election next year. She cited family as the reason for her decision, specifically her three grandchildren aged 6, 8, and 10. Allison expressed her desire to retire and spend more time with her family after her term ends on December … Read more
A 66-year-old man was found dead in a vehicle behind Hidden Pleasures Boutique and Smoke Shop on Wednesday morning. The Victoria Police Department received a welfare concern call around 10:50 a.m. from a business located in the 1200 block of East Mockingbird Lane. A passerby noticed a white vehicle parked against a fence in the … Read more