The first defendant convicted in the ’21 ambush killing of Wharton’s Shane Singleton in El Campo is now challenging his life sentence. Brandon Rene James, who was 17 when prosecutors say he pulled the trigger, is asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to hear his case after a lower court upheld his conviction in … Read more
A Texas Game Warden in Matagorda County broke up an illegal gillnetting operation after a local tip came in through the Operation Game Thief line. The warden watched a man in a motorized canoe set and pull a gillnet in a creek that feeds Matagorda Bay, then stopped him at shore. The gillnet, cast nets … Read more
A Red Flag Warning now covers Wharton, Jackson, Matagorda and Colorado counties from until 7 p.m. today as strong north winds and bone-dry air raise fire danger. Gusts could hit 40 miles per hour and humidity may fall below 20 percent. The National Weather Service warns that any spark could spread quickly and urges residents … Read more
A new book is giving Ganado football fans a chance to relive the town’s storybook ’23 state title run. Ganado graduate and unofficial team historian Clint Hensley partnered with veteran Texas football writer Chris Doelle to publish “Friday Night Warriors.” Instead of just stats, the book highlights a century of Ganado football pride and the … Read more
The playoff race tightens in El Campo Friday as the Ricebirds host Calhoun in a must-win district game. Both sit 2-1 in league play, meaning the winner stays in the hunt for a district title and the loser shifts to playoff survival mode. El Campo’s run game stayed dangerous even in last week’s loss to … Read more
Eddie, a 14-year-old cat that disappeared after crawling into a hotel wall during a New York-to-Texas trip, is finally on the road back to El Campo. Erie Humane Society staffer Brian Carroll left Monday morning on a planned multi-day drive to personally reunite Eddie with his owner. The rescue effort was crowdfunded within a few … Read more
Wharton County is moving forward on a regional public defender office that will serve low-income residents in both Wharton and Matagorda counties. Commissioners appointed a seven-member oversight board that will hire leadership, set structure and monitor budgets. The office is backed by a $2.2 million state grant that covers first-year startup costs as opposed to … Read more
Bay City’s top economic recruiter is stepping down. Jessica Russell is leaving the Bay City Community Development Corporation after seven years. Her work helped land Schulman Movie Bowl and Grille, new neighborhoods and major employers like HIF and Roehm America in Matagorda County. She also led the deal to finally build the Regional Aquatic Center. … Read more
Matagorda County will soon see a major boost to emergency response after FEMA released more than $2.7 million from a Hurricane Harvey grant. The money will buy 13 new patrol vehicles for the sheriff’s office and help 12 volunteer fire departments each buy a new truck. Each fire department will pay a small match. County … Read more
El Campo is turning Evans Park into a dinner spot tonight with its Downtown Dinner event. From 5 to 9 p.m., fifteen food trucks will set up with full meals, desserts and drinks that locals do not usually see in Wharton County. Seating in the park will be limited, so people are encouraged to bring … Read more