Western Smokehouse Partners, the new owner of Junior’s Smokehouse in El Campo, plans a $17 million jerky plant in Meisel Industrial Park. To move forward, the company needs city council approval this evening to abandon part of a utility easement on Frank Stubbs Drive. City staff says dropping it won’t affect future utilities. The expansion … Read more
Wharton County voters joined others across House District 85 in picking a new Republican nominee for state representative. Former Flatonia mayor and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dennis “Goose” Geesaman scored a solid win over incumbent Stan Kitzman, carrying Wharton County by about 700 votes. Geesaman called it a true grassroots victory as he thanked … Read more
Matagorda Bay has reopened for oyster harvesting starting today. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says part of the bay—known as harvest area TX-14— opened again at 12:01 this morning. Biologists found oyster numbers have bounced back to meet state standards for a sustainable harvest. The agency closes and reopens coastal reefs based on regular testing … Read more
RWE expanded its renewable footprint last year, bringing 15 new wind, solar, and battery projects online nationwide — including the new Peyton Creek II wind farm in Matagorda County. The 243-megawatt project nearly doubles RWE’s presence along the Texas Gulf Coast. The company says last year’s expansion added about 2 gigawatts of generating capacity and … Read more
The 13th Court of Appeals has ruled that former El Campo Police Sergeant Freddie Douglas’ racial discrimination claim can only be argued in writing. Douglas, fired in December of ’23 after an arrest he was later cleared of, says his termination was racially motivated. El Campo city attorneys insist it was for policy violations. Douglas—now … Read more
Wharton’s City Council will host a busy night at City Hall this evening. City Manager Joseph Pace meets with council members at 5:30 for a special session to outline future city projects and gather input on next steps. The regular meeting follows at 7, with members considering new parking along Speed Street for the redevelopment … Read more
Cobra trombonist Trevor Ledbetter of Industrial High School has once again earned statewide recognition, making the annual Texas All-State Band. Competing in the tougher 4A division, Ledbetter ranked second chair tenor trombone out of more than 10,000 students statewide. The Inez native previously made the last year’s All-State Concert Band and continues to perform with … Read more
Wharton celebrated hometown success last week as locals packed the Wharton Civic Center for the Chamber of Commerce’s 107th annual banquet. Karen Schulz of Schulz Insurance was named Businessperson of the Year for more than four decades of dedication to her neighbors. Wayne Waters earned the Community Service Award for his quiet care of the … Read more
El Campo is gearing up for a big day of hometown competition as Ricebird Stadium hosts the 62nd annual Ricebird Relays today. Six schools — including Industrial, Navarro, Needville, Rosenberg Terry, and Wharton — will join El Campo for the long-running track and field meet. Field events start at 2:30 p.m., and the 3200-meter run … Read more
Wharton County commissioners will decide Monday whether to borrow $74 million to build a new county jail. State regulators say the 30-year-old jail is too small, and a waiver allowing extra beds runs out in May. If the county doesn’t expand, it could be forced to send inmates elsewhere—at $80 a day each—costing more than $3 million … Read more