Shelby Park Rebuild Coming

The Edna City Council approved a $275,000 bid from BLS Construction to rebuild the Shelby Park concession stand and restrooms, destroyed by a tornado last September. The project, funded by donations, grants, and $50,000 from the city, aims for completion by January 1st. Additionally, the city approved a 15% increase in employee health insurance for … Read more

Ganado Townhall Players Present

The Ganado Townhall Players are ready to present “Persephone Rules” after eight weeks of preparation. Directed by Robin Donalson and Shelby Graves, the play features talented kids aged 11 to 17. This 90-minute comedy explores Greek mythology. Performances are happenoing Friday thru Sunday, with tickets priced at $30, including a meal. Tickets can be purchased … Read more

Safety Seat Check Event

Jackson County Hospital District hosted a free Child Passenger Safety Seat Check Event last Saturday at their main entrance. The event aimed to enhance child safety in vehicles, with trained officers inspecting seats for defects, expiration dates, recalls, and proper installation. Parents were encouraged to bring their children for a custom fit. Inspections took about … Read more

Avoided Major Damage

Wharton and El Campo avoided major damage from Hurricane Beryl’s landfall. El Campo faced minor issues at a water treatment plant and lift stations, including a generator failure and a burned-out blower. Despite these, operations continued smoothly. The city’s service center had some windows knocked out and an air-conditioning fuse burned out. Wharton reported no … Read more

Victoria to Raise Wages

Victoria is working to raise wages for all city departments, including police and fire, through a new pay program. Due to retention issues and rising living costs, the city has invested $5 million in wages and benefits over four years. The proposed plan aims to increase wages by $3.2 million over two years, with a … Read more

Supplies Donated Today

Today at 1 PM, El Campo Civic Center parking lot will distribute water and nonperishable items donated by Goodfellow Air Force Base due to Hurricane Beryl. Supplies are limited and will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. The city expresses gratitude to the Air Force Base for their support.

Mobile Kitchen Supports Communities

H-E-B announced it is deploying a mobile kitchen to support communities affected by Hurricane Beryl. The kitchen, first sent to Sargent, served hot meals in Matagorda County until Monday evening at the First Baptist Church of Sargent. H-E-B plans to serve 21,500 meals and has also supported other storm-impacted areas with cooling centers, water, ice, … Read more

A Student Hero

Alexis Grace Gibbens, a recent Van Vleck graduate, was named a student hero by the State of Education Board for her community service. She founded SR’s to Seniors, aiding local senior citizens, and coached the Aquacats Swim Team. Gibbens, also the Class of ’24 Salutatorian, credits her community for her service mindset. The Van Vleck … Read more

City Council Doings

The Victoria City Council is set to nominate a new member for the Central Appraisal District board after Jodie Sandoval’s resignation. Each taxing entity can nominate a candidate, and the board will choose one. The council will also award a $7.3 million contract to Clark Construction for the Tanglewood Phase 1 Street Reconstruction Project, which … Read more

New Emergency Management Coordinator

Wharton County commissioners hired Andy Kirkland as a part-time deputy emergency management coordinator on Friday. Kirkland, with 25 years of experience, will assist Russell McDougall. The county praised its disaster response and extended the disaster declaration. Debris cleanup will occur in three phases, with burning prohibited in city limits. The county reported $191,200 in damages.