El Campo City Council shut down plans last week for a legal marijuana dispensary on the West Loop. The business needed a special permit to open but council unanimously refused, citing safety and location concerns near a church and the Breakfast Nook. City police told council the products could still impair drivers and lead to … Read more
Matagorda County officials have put a county-wide burn ban in place due to heat and drought, and it applies to both city neighborhoods and rural areas. The ban blocks all outdoor burning with no exceptions and could bring fines if ignored. Local emergency officials say the dry heat has pushed wildfire risk across Southeast Texas … Read more
Matagorda County’s volunteer fire crews are getting a major boost as part of a record statewide investment in rural firefighting. The Texas A&M Forest Service is sending more than $825,000 in new equipment to four departments here. Van Vleck and Palacios will each get a $300,000 water tender. Markham will receive a $165,000 brush truck, … Read more
Wharton County voters are gearing up for Election Day with 17 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Early voting runs October 20th through 31st, giving residents plenty of time to cast their votes at sites in Wharton, El Campo, and East Bernard. Polls will be open weekdays from 8 to 5, and extended hours until … Read more
Wharton teens are getting a close-up look at life as a first responder. The Wharton Volunteer Fire Department, Wharton EMS, and Wharton County Junior College are teaming up for the first NextGen Responders Night, happening next Tuesday evening at the Wharton Fire Station on North Fulton Street. The event will feature hands-on demos, rescue simulations, … Read more
El Campo residents are stepping up to clean up their community through the city’s new “Litter Walks” program. The effort, led by Keep El Campo Beautiful, invites volunteers to spend just one hour collecting trash alongside city leaders. Councilman Thomas Coblentz says the walks may be hot and tiring, but they’re worth it to keep … Read more
A Bay City mother is turning heartbreak into advocacy after losing her daughter to domestic violence. In March, 32-year-old Kristen Chavez was brutally killed by her husband, Chance, who’s now jailed on a $500,000 bond awaiting trial. Her mother, Laura Bell, says Kristen was a bright, ambitious woman who dimmed herself to fit his control. … Read more
Bay City Lions Club crowned Marin Bolton the ’25 Rice Festival Queen. Bolton, who also won Best Evening Gown, topped a field of 26 contestants. Joining her court are Kella Beyer, Ansley Kubecka, Savannah Remmy, and Layla Perez. Remmy also earned Miss Photogenic, while Penelope Maldonado was named Miss Congeniality. In the younger divisions, Natalia … Read more
A Wadsworth family is leaning on faith and community after losing nearly everything in a weekend house fire. Assistant Fire Chief Steven McClelland, his wife Marina, and their three young children escaped unharmed, but flames destroyed their home, belongings, and several pets. Friends have since rallied support, raising more than $10,000 through GoFundMe. McClelland, known … Read more
A convicted El Campo child abuser is asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for a new trial after a lower court upheld his 25-year sentence. Forty-five-year-old Adam Dave Abelar was convicted last year for choking and beating a child with a belt. His appeal claims his trial lawyer failed to object to testimony from … Read more