DA wants quick decision in murder case

With selected jurors left waiting, the Wharton County District Attorney’s Office asked the 13th District Court of Appeals to quickly decide on what an accused killer’s defense team should be entitled to. Until justices rule on requests for ballistics and DNA testing, however, Robert Allen Satterfield’s capital murder trial has been placed on hold. Satterfield … Read more

Accident results in two fatalities

A two vehicle accident that occurred at Hwy 172 and CR 482 on December 21st, resulted in two fatalities. Jackson County first responders arrived on scene to find two people deceased, one person trapped in a vehicle, and the other vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office determined the accident was a … Read more

Police patrols looking for DWIs

Ring in the new year, but not by driving drunk. Law enforcement agencies from the city police departments to state troopers will be out in force hunting for drunken drivers. Paramedics and firefighters, however, will also be ready to roll when the inaudible words of “I’m fine” turns into a collision. The safest way to … Read more

Pipe break shuts down El Campo pool

El Campo residents looking to swim will have to wait as the Christmas cold snap has closed the Aquatic Center until further notice. The freezing weather burst a pair of pipes in the structure, a small spigot and the inflow pipe to the women’s showers. The aging structure’s thin metal walls have been a source … Read more

Live Christmas trees pickup

Live Christmas trees — ready to discard can be sat curbside in El Campo, but don’t expect to add a few extra bags of packaging. The dump won’t be open Saturday, either for those wanting to get a jump on that “clean up” resolution. People with more than a polycart full will have to call … Read more

House fires

Firefighting volunteers braved brutal cold Friday battling two home fires that ruined residents’ holiday hopes. Neither blaze caused any injuries. One traced to an electrical issue in a vehicle parked nearby, the other to an electrical heater. Firefighters also responded to six other calls for help between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; one involving carbon … Read more

Davevang Post Office

Work continues on the Danevang Post office, currently on the electrical systems for the building. The United States Postal Services closed the office almost a year ago citing concern over power outages. No official notice has been posted by USPS as to the renovation schedule on the station. No timetable updates have been made available … Read more

City growth on horizon

Tax base growth, residential and commercial, officials say, should help El Campo as the city moves into 2023. Home starts are on the rise from several single family home subdivisions along with a major apartment project set to break ground in the first quarter of 2023. Building starts make it easy to be optimistic despite … Read more

TWIA to discuss loss costs

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s Actuarial & Underwriting Committee will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. to discuss and make a recommendation to the Board for determining the Association’s statutorily required 1:100 probable maximum loss or PML for the 2023 storm season. The 1:100 PML establishes the minimum amount of reinsurance needed to … Read more

Sidewalk project

On January 2nd the Texas Department of Transportation will start the project to install curb ramps, sidewalks, and miscellaneous pedestrian elements on SH 35 from Bayou Drive to 12th Street in Bay City. Ti-Zack Concrete, Inc. out of Le Center, MN was awarded the contract with a bid a little over $2.85 million dollars. Construction … Read more