Dinner Theatre Production

Community Actors of South Texas is kicking off its annual season with Night on Broadway: A Traveler’s Tale, a dinner theatre production running Jan. 23–Feb. 1. Directed by Kara Cowart, the show mixes Broadway hits, country tunes, and classics like “Life is a Highway” and “Route 66” in a treasure-hunt-inspired storyline. Catered by Fat Grass … Read more

Deed Fraud

Wharton County has approved a new alert service to combat deed fraud, joining other counties in the effort. Deed fraud involves illegal manipulation of property documents to transfer ownership without the real owner’s consent. The program will alert property owners if their registered information is used in another document, allowing them to verify its legitimacy. … Read more

Van Vleck ISD’s New Police Chief

Stephen Jimenez, a seasoned law enforcement officer with nearly 20 years of experience, was sworn in as Van Vleck ISD’s new police chief during the school board meeting Monday night. Replacing longtime chief Fred Wesselski, Jimenez brings expertise from roles including narcotics detective, K9 officer, and SWAT commander. His career spans service at Wharton PD, … Read more

MLK March This Weekend

The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship march will start at the Wharton County Courthouse and end at the Boys & Girls Club of Wharton. Mozelle Stephens, who began the march in ’82, will be present. The event honors King Jr. with a monument placed in ’84. The scholarship program, started in ’87, awarded $11,900 to … Read more

Colder Temps Coming

A colder blast is heading for the Houston-Galveston region this weekend, with freezing temperatures as low as 27 degrees and wind chills down to 18 expected from Sunday into next week, according to the National Weather Service. Matagorda County officials warn this front could bring the area’s first Hard Freeze Warning of the year, urging … Read more

Steak Theft Chase

A 61-year-old Palacios man was arrested Monday night after a high-speed chase through Matagorda County, sparked by the theft of eight ribeye steaks from a Bay City Walmart. Officers responded around 6 p.m. and pursued Timothy Wright in a white Nissan Frontier after he fled. The chase reached speeds of 100 mph, ran through fields, … Read more

Tornado Debris Cleanup

Brazoria County started tornado debris cleanup on Monday following the Dec. 28th EF-2 tornado that left an 8.78-mile path of destruction, killed one person, and injured several. Residents were asked to sort debris into categories—appliances, vegetative waste, and construction materials—and place it by the roadside without blocking ditches. Appliances will be collected separately on a … Read more

Apartment Complex Fire Response

A fire broke out last week at an apartment complex on Cornwall Drive in Victoria, prompting a swift response from firefighters and first responders. The blaze was contained to one unit and quickly extinguished, but smoke damage affected several residents. Four people were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. All residents were evacuated, … Read more

Heavy Haul Mats

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

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