A beach project in Matagorda aimed at easing traffic congestion has gained attention across Texas. Precinct 2 Commissioner Mike Estlinbaum, with grant funds, secured approval to place heavy haul mats over 300 feet of sandy beach entrance during unfavorable conditions. The plan, tested in spring of ’23, received over $130,000 through the Coastal Management Program. … Read more
El Campo’s political season kicked off last Wednesday as the filing period opens for four district council seats. Incumbents include Steve Ward (District 1), Tom Coblentz (District 2), David Hodges (District 3), and John Hancock Jr. (District 4). Low voter turnout marked the ’23 election, with only 411 of 4,606 registered voters casting ballots across … Read more
El Campo police responded to gunfire Friday night in the 800 block of East Jackson, where no injuries were reported. Based on witness statements, they stopped 33-year-old Kimberly Poindexter of Eagle Lake at a nearby intersection. Officers found narcotics, including 20 suspected Adderall pills, and a .45 caliber Glock in her car, though no ammunition … Read more
Bay City Library is hosting its first Winter Reading Challenge, featuring Pokémon characters. The challenge encourages patrons to read for 16 hours to win prizes, ending on January 31st. Communications and Cultural Arts Director Samantha Denbow hopes the challenge boosts literacy among all ages. Children’s Specialist Pamela Burrell highlights the educational benefits. The event wraps … Read more
In Wharton, Daveon Marqui Allen, 29, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Friday and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. This replaces his original life sentence for the November of ’21 murder of Larry Joe Guerra. A new trial was granted due to ineffective legal representation. Allen’s lawyer praised the decision, while the prosecutor … Read more
Six years after Tamira Jean Stone, a 33-year-old mother of three from Wadsworth, was found dead in her car on New Year’s Eve, her family continues to seek answers. On December 30 of ’18, Stone went missing. Her body was discovered the next day in her car on FM 521. The cause of her death … Read more
A new Texas law aims to keep children out of the court system by identifying at-risk youth and planning to prevent future offenses. Matagorda County has already been using these diversion tactics for a long time. The law required every court in the state to have a youth diversion plan in place by the end … Read more
Wharton County begins the new year with nine pending murder cases, with families of five victims awaiting justice. Newly sworn-in District Attorney Mark Racer faces a busy year, including decisions on high-profile cases like Daveon Marquis Allen, sentenced to life for a Thanksgiving robbery-turned-murder. Allen seeks a retrial, claiming inadequate representation. Nathaniel Ford Allen, charged … Read more
The I-69 upgrade in Wharton County is a major infrastructure project promising safer travel and a stronger local economy. Supported by significant Texas Department of Transportation funding, construction spans multiple phases, with some sections already in progress. Notable improvements include a six-lane highway with modernized interchanges, safer overpasses, and new frontage roads. Current work, like … Read more
Bay City police arrested a 19-year-old man Wednesday after he stole a car left running at a gas station and led officers on a low-speed chase, ending in a ditch. The blue Mazda, stolen on 7th Street, was tracked using GPS and spotted near an AT&T store. Officers tried to stop the car, but the … Read more