Local News

Matagorda County Commissioners approved the 20-23 county budget including setting the maintenance and operation tax rate, the interest and sinking tax rate and the overall 20-22 property tax rate during Monday’s meeting.

With another harvest mostly complete, rice production seems to have held strong, but rising costs keep the squeeze on local producers and a second crop might be out of reach for producers. Texas is traditionally in the top five in rice producing states, with Texas’ five-year average sitting at 178,000 acres. Wharton County producers reported … Read more

The Wharton Police Department shared on its Facebook that 47 year old Chadwick Lewis Allen of Wharton is wanted for the alleged offense of Aggravated Robbery. Allen is allegedly responsible for the aggravated robbery at Svatek’s convenience store on North Alabama Rd.) which occurred on Tuesday, August 23rd. The department says if anyone knows his … Read more

ECISD trustees will vote on setting the district’s tax rate and review security upgrades on campuses today. El Campo trustees are considering lowering the tax rate for the fourth year in a row. Under this proposed rate, a home with a final taxable value remaining at $100,000 would see a tax bill of $1,052.70.

El Campo citizens will be providing $180,000 in funding to community service organizations ranging from the museum to a spay/neuter program. City council authorized the expenditures yesterday as budget talks for the upcoming fiscal year continue. All but two of the nine non-profit organizations receiving support have received funding for the last five-plus years. The … Read more

The results are in for the 2022 Best of Wharton County Contest! Winners are beginning to be notified! If you were nominated, please be on the lookout for your results email. The winner’s magazine will be coming soon in September as well! Thank you to all of the voters of Wharton County for your participation!

Governor Greg Abbott yesterday invited communities in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, and from across the state to participate in a Film Friendly Texas Workshop on Wednesday, October 5th, in McAllen. The workshop, hosted by the Texas Film Commission, is open to community representatives statewide interested in learning about the media production industries of … Read more

If you live in the city of Wharton, your sewer, water and trash collection rates are going up. The 10% increase for water and sewer and 7% increase for trash were approved by the council as they set the date of Sept. 12th for a public hearing on the 2022-23 budget. The 10% rate will … Read more

Mrs. Sam Wortham, Assistant Principal of El Campo Middle School with El Campo ISD, has been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals as a Region 3 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year. As a Region 3 winner, Mrs. Wortham is eligible to compete for the state title of Texas Assistant Principal … Read more

The City of El Campo’s self-styled Mosquito Assassins started making their rounds again Thursday night. The recent downpours have hatched a new crop, according to City Public Works Director Kevin Thompson. Using two trucks, the department can cover about half the city each night. Larvacides are being put out as well to help keep populations … Read more