Wharton County leaders have approved the ’26 budget and ’25 tax rate, keeping with an 18-year streak of not raising property taxes. The new rate is slightly lower at 34.5 cents per $100 of value, dropping the average homeowner’s bill by about $13. Rising property values helped the county balance a $39 million budget without … Read more
El Campo City Council has approved $100,000 to help upgrade the Northside Education Center auditorium, part of the ongoing renovation of the city’s oldest school campus. The money will cover new audiovisual equipment and lighting, creating a modern space for workforce training, business programs, and community events. The Northside campus already houses the library, Boys … Read more
The El Campo Ricebirds aim to stay perfect at 3-0 when they travel to Fort Bend Dulles tonight for a kickoff at 7. The Vikings enter 0-2 after setbacks to Houston Westbury and Alvin, while El Campo crushed them 56-0 last year. Dulles, led by senior running back Cameron Campbell and first-year starting quarterback Christian … Read more
A Wharton man is in the hospital after a late-night police chase ended in a violent crash last Saturday. Police say 41-year-old Zealous Mayberry was first reported banging on a door and stealing car keys on Briar Lane. When officers tried to stop him, he sped off, hitting two parked cars and nearly ramming patrol … Read more
A tragic weekend in Wharton County left one child dead and two others injured in separate accidental shootings. In Louise, deputies say a five-year-old girl was killed and her mother, Chelsea Powell, wounded when a relative’s new firearm discharged in the Short Stop parking lot Saturday afternoon. Hours later, a 17-year-old dove hunter was airlifted … Read more
The Boling Bulldogs shocked fans Friday night, falling just short against defending champion Ganado in a 28-27 thriller. A last-second 36-yard field goal bounced off the upright, sealing the tough loss on Bulldog Field. Boling’s offense piled up 412 yards, including a 126-yard rushing night from Jayden Salinas, while quarterback Jace Urbanek threw for 122 … Read more
Palacios ISD kicked off the new school year with the grand opening of the Shark Shack in downtown Palacios. The student-run shop at 205 4th Street features unique items crafted by students in the high school’s Career and Technical Education program and the Exceptional Pals group. All sales go back into the school’s programs, giving … Read more
Bay City is set for a night of laughs as Movie Bowl Grille hosts Comedy Night on Friday, Sept. 20th. The show will be led by Lake Jackson’s own Chad Rousseau, bringing his local hosting style to the stage. Houston comic Patrick Eady, known for sharp storytelling, will add to the lineup before headliner Jeff … Read more
The capital murder trial of Fernando Colin Acosta Jr., accused in the 2021 killing of Victoria mother Amanda Johnson, has been delayed yet again. Jury selection was set to begin this week in Matagorda County, but prosecutors requested a continuance, citing a scheduling conflict with a key firearms expert. Johnson’s family and the Victoria community … Read more
Matagorda County’s new congressman, Michael Cloud, is pushing to make September 12th the National Day of the Bible. Cloud introduced the resolution in Congress, noting the date marks the 1782 approval of the first English Bible printed in America. He says the move honors the Bible’s role in U.S. history and its influence on the … Read more