Israel named to state board

Tina Israel has been elected to represent the Bay City Main Street Program and the city of Bay City as a Board Member for Texas Downtown. Texas Downtown was founded in 1985 to connect and serve downtown professionals and champions. Their members are dedicated to downtown development and revitalization. Tina’s term will begin January 1st, … Read more

Levee meeting scheduled for Oct. 17

The City of Wharton will host a public engagement meeting regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Flood Reduction Project – Levee – Lower Colorado River Phase 1 Construction for the City of Wharton. Wharton city staff and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on … Read more

One-vehicle rollover turns corny

Deer corn was spread across 7th Street after a one-vehicle accident Oct. 7th near Chester’s Chicken for what was reported as a rollover accident. Upon arrival, police saw a Sutherland’s truck on its side and bags of corn on the road. The driver had been traveling eastbound on 7th, when he tried to stop for … Read more

Groups join forces to spread Halloween awareness

This Halloween holiday, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is teaming up with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Watch UR BAC program to spread awareness on the fentanyl epidemic spreading across our state. The Drug Enforcement Administration warns the public of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability … Read more

Operation Lone Star successful

Two stolen vehicles, three confiscated firearms and five drug seizures marked the two-day Operation Lone Star with Wharton County Sheriff’s deputies taking place in Refugio County last week. The effort, about 100 miles to the southwest of it’s normal patrolling grounds, targeted illegal operations stemming from human trafficking or border incursions. Deputies from Goliad, Bee, … Read more

Police department plans to use drones

The Wharton Police Department is heading skyward for its next level of law enforcement equipment. Chief Terry Lynch and Lt. Ariel Soltura were recently certified by the F-A-A as drone pilots and Lynch is hoping to purchase a pair for his department. The drones save time and manpower when it comes to assessing the scene … Read more

TEA names Scott as top security officer

John P. Scott is the new Chief of School Safety and Security within the Texas Education Agency. Following the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed TEA to create the position of Chief of School Safety and Security within the agency to serve as a recognized expert on school security … Read more

Mother sentenced in death of daughter

Lauren Kay Dean pled guilty to murder and second-degree felony child abandonment last Wednesday, Oct. 5th. In exchange for the death penalty off the table and to avoid a jury trial, Dean accepted a plea bargain for life in prison and 20 additional years to be served concurrently. Dean was charged with capital murder of … Read more

Police struggle to hire help

Law enforcement agencies are struggling to hire and keep good officers. According to Wharton Police Chief Terry Lynch they used to have 20 people standing in line for one position– now you have departments competing against each other to recruit for that one officer, because the applicants have become fewer and fewer over the years. … Read more

Ricebirds declaw Blackcats

The El Campo Ricebirds needed some offensive tricks and a couple of defensive turnovers to stop a competitive Bay City Blackcats at home Friday night. El Campo senior running back Rueben Owens had three touchdowns, one coming as a passer. Ricebird junior Jake Samaripa made some big plays on defense, including scoring the games only … Read more