Three weeks after Hurricane Beryl, Wharton County is still recovering. Over 75,000 square yards of debris have been collected, with rural residents burning additional brush. Cities like El Campo and Wharton are making multiple debris collection passes. Heavy rains have slowed progress, but efforts continue. Damage estimates are still pending. Full recovery may take months.
Disaster recovery centers are now open at the Wharton Civic Center and soon in El Campo to help with Hurricane Beryl recovery. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers loans to businesses, homeowners, and non-profits. Businesses can get up to $2 million, homeowners up to $500,000, and renters up to $100,000. The deadline for physical damage … Read more
Joe Cunningham, 59, from Victoria, was arrested on July 21st after fighting with police. He was stopped for riding a bike without a headlight and had a warrant for an expired license. Cunningham resisted arrest, leading to a struggle. Police found stolen credit cards, drugs, and paraphernalia in his bag. He faces multiple charges, including … Read more
Lothario Lamont Pratt Jr. and Sr. from El Campo pleaded guilty to stealing over $100,000 in soda from a local distributor. Instead of jail time, they received five years of deferred probation. They were caught on video taking sodas from the warehouse. Both must pay restitution, perform community service, and take an anti-theft course. They … Read more
A new mural at Flag City Pawn Shop in Edna honors U.S. veterans and the city’s nickname. Owner Tommy Pesek hired muralist Kathleen Thiele to depict the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising. Pesek, whose father and friends served in the military, feels veterans are often overlooked. The mural features a 3-D metal flagpole and is being … Read more
In Cookeville, work has started on new gateway monument signs at the I-40/Jefferson Avenue exit. Trees were cleared after T-DOT gave the go-ahead, and construction began on July 22nd. The limestone signs with bronze artwork should be ready by December. Traffic disruptions are being minimized. The City Council is considering an agreement with Cracker Barrel … Read more
The Wharton County Republican Party has opened its headquarters and gift shop at 1913 West Loop in El Campo. Open 9. to 5 Monday-Friday until November 1, the shop offers Republican items. The party meets at 6 p.m. on August 6 at the headquarters. The voter registration deadline is October 7th. Election Day is November … Read more
In May of ’22, a Victoria ambulance collided with a Chevy Traverse near Spring Creek, sending the ambulance into a pond. Frank and Betty Roeder, in the Chevy, were hospitalized; Frank later died. DPS blamed the ambulance driver for speeding and poor maneuvering. Though criminal charges were suggested, a grand jury decided against it. The … Read more
Knowing your location when calling for help from a cell phone is crucial. Emergency responders need accurate info from the first call. When dialing 9-1-1, callers should provide their address, cross streets, landmarks, phone number, incident details, and the condition of those involved. Accurate information helps determine the needed emergency response. Residents should post their … Read more
An attempt to serve misdemeanor warrants in El Campo led to a nearly hour-long car chase last Wednesday night. The driver, Rene Reyes, fled from the 200 block of South Wharton to the 100 block of East Correll before stopping. April Nicole Montoya, 30, was a passenger and arrested for violating a promise to appear … Read more