Texas’ school bond guarantee program funding is running low, meaning potentially higher interest rates for school districts and higher taxes for residents for future projects. Voter-approved future school bonds, generally done for larger projects, are re-paid via tax dollars, recorded in the district’s Interest and Sinking tax rate. El Campo ISD currently has a tax … Read more
El Campo’s recently received $23,633 grant is large enough to help save a life. From the Lower Colorado River Authority Community Development Partnership Program, the grant dollars, along with a $5,908 city match, are buying an automated external defibrillator for one El Campo EMS command vehicle and making it possible for all three to transmit … Read more
After being a constant on the Matagorda County landscape for the past decade, Matagorda County Judge Nate McDonald is stepping away from his office and the public spotlight at the end of this month. McDonald served as county judge for Matagorda County for the past 16 years but now there is a new challenge in … Read more
The Matagorda County Sheriff ’s Office presented 68 bikes to children from across the county on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 22. ACE Hardware donated the bikes to the Matagorda County Sheriff ’s Office earlier this fall. The Sheriff ’s Office wants to make it clear that ACE Hardware is the true hero of the … Read more
In its ninth year, Wharton Police Department’s Blue Santa program delivered a record 1,004 kids with Christmas gifts. After several weeks of collecting toys and other donations from the community, Blue Santa and his elves spent last Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons delivering gifts and goodness throughout the community. The Blue Santa Program has become a … Read more
An attempted arson was foiled by the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department last week. The small structure fire was reported at 511 Lundy and firefighters were on scene five minutes later. “The fire was extinguished quickly with portable water extinguisher. There was minimal damage to the house. People were in the home and unaware that … Read more
The Wharton ISD Board of Trustees granted a 10-year tax break to a proposed wind farm during the board’s Dec. 15th meeting. The appraised value limitation – often referred to as Chapter 313 agreement – was granted following a public hearing at which no one commented. The agreement with Lane City Wind, LLC, is similar … Read more
El Campo senior running back Rueben Owens — a five-star prospect and the country’s No. 1 running back recruit — put pen to paper Wednesday morning, signing to play college football for the Texas A&M Aggies. Owens — who had previously committed to Texas in 2021 and later flipped to Louisville in June 2022 — … Read more
El Campo ISD trustees unanimously approved the first campus Guardian plans Dec. 14 following a two-hour closed session, furthering efforts to allow employees to carry firearms in some not yet outlined capacity. The district has not responded to a request for information about what background checks or other criteria will be used to determine how … Read more
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation, in partnership with Wharton County Junior College, announced that Phillips 66 has donated $10,000 toward vocational scholarships for the current academic year. The purpose of the scholarship is to help cover tuition costs for female, first generation, and/or financial need based students enrolled in electronics engineering technology, nuke power … Read more