Thanks to revenue from solar farms, Wharton County residents won’t see an increase in the county portion of their tax bills unless their home values have risen. County commissioners voted 5-0 to lower the tax rate to 35.239 cents per $100 of taxable property. The new budget includes pay raises for county employees and additional … Read more
Bay City is preparing to demolish Valiant Park Pool, with bids going out after August 30th. Interim Parks Director Kelly Penewitt stated that the pool will be taken down to grade level, making future development easier. The city extended the pool’s closure to July for the Aquacats team. The city is awaiting solutions from local … Read more
A local motorcyclist tragically lost his life following a Sunday evening crash that briefly shut down traffic in Bay City. The accident occurred near Avenue F and Golden Avenue around 9 p.m. when a Dodge Ram pickup failed to yield while turning left, colliding with the oncoming motorcycle. Emergency services rushed the severely injured motorcyclist … Read more
Bloomington is getting two full-time sheriff deputies to enhance safety in the area. The Victoria County Sheriff’s Office aims to have a stronger presence and reduce crime. Instead of shuttling deputies between Bloomington and Victoria, the county will fund one position, and the sheriff’s department will cover another. The first deputy will be stationed at … Read more
East Bernard’s newly elected mayor, Lance Rejsek, faced a significant challenge just 41 days into his term when Hurricane Beryl hit. A lifelong resident, Rejsek took office after the previous mayor, Marvin Holub, retired. Without a pre-existing debris cleanup contract, Rejsek is now focused on improving the city’s storm response. His local roots and commitment … Read more
A Bay City man, Christopher Devon King, will serve 25 years in prison for robbing two El Campo stores at gunpoint in January. Surveillance images captured King brandishing a handgun at clerks in Ritz Drive Inn No. 1 and The Shot Spot. He fled with small amounts of cash, and evidence led authorities to a … Read more
A second FEMA Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Matagorda County for residents affected by Hurricane Beryl. The new center is in Palacios at the Education Pavilion on South Bay Blvd. It operates Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Bay City location remains open as well. The deadline to apply for … Read more
Matagorda County has won a 2024 County Best Practices Award from the Texas Association of Counties for its Youth Leadership program. This initiative, which began in the last school year, involved 17 high school students from across the county, introducing them to local government and community roles through field trips and discussions.The program aims to … Read more
The Wharton City Council met Monday to discuss extending a contract with HDR Engineering Inc. for continued land acquisition to expand the city’s levee and channel. The current contract had expired on June 17th. Also on the agenda were approvals for a Retro 5K Run at Guffey Park, including fee waivers and street closures, and … Read more
Farmers in Wharton County are relieved that Hurricane Beryl didn’t cause as much crop damage as feared. However, the storm’s impact on corn and cotton fields could still have lasting consequences. Some farmers faced challenges due to knocked-over corn stalks and wet fields preventing harvest. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agents estimate that up to 25% … Read more