Bay City residents can weigh in on the city’s proposed property tax rate during a public hearing Sept. 16th at 5 p.m. at City Hall on 5th Street. The proposed rate is $0.55772 per $100 valuation, slightly lower than last year but still above the no-new-revenue rate. Rising property values mean most homeowners will pay … Read more
El Campo’s Ricebird Stadium will debut major upgrades Friday for the home opener against Bryan-Rudder. A new 28-by-34-foot video scoreboard, 50% larger than the old one, is now in place after delays from weather. The $504,960 project includes sponsor panels and was partly funded by a $150,000 donation from Prosperity Bank. The district also replaced … Read more
A Wharton High School student is facing a felony charge after allegedly threatening staff during a suspension meeting last week. Police say 17-year-old Ezekiel Bowsier told staff he would get his cousin and a gun, which could force a lockdown. Officers quickly responded, searched him for weapons, and made an arrest. No one else was … Read more
Wharton Police credit high-tech Flock cameras for stopping a major crime Saturday. The system flagged a stolen car near U.S. 59 and County Road 229. Officers tried a traffic stop, but two men ran, leaving the car and a stolen gun behind. With help from Texas DPS, police arrested 18-year-old Dontre Malik Brown of Bay … Read more
An off-duty Bay City officer stopped a theft last week on 7th Street. Officer Cody Janssen had just finished a 12-hour shift when he saw a man dragging an air conditioner from an empty business. Police say 36-year-old Desmond Randle ditched the unit when officers arrived but was arrested nearby. He now faces felony theft … Read more
El Campo High School kicked off its first blood drive of the school year recently, collecting 129 units for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. The event was organized by HOSA Future Health Professionals, led by teacher Kaydi Kacer. Last year, El Campo ranked among the state’s top 10 schools for donations, with 430 units … Read more
Bay City Blast is set for October 25th at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds, promising an evening of wrestling and live music. The Bay City Lions Club and Rice Festival teamed up to bring back 360 Pro Wrestling, starting at 5 p.m. Fans can expect family-friendly matches, including a Texas Heavyweight Title defense tied to the … Read more
An El Campo camper fire on Becky Street left two people shaken but safe last week. Firefighters say the blaze started near the back wall of the camper parked next to a small house. Occupants woke to popping sounds and escaped unharmed. Crews battled the flames for 19 minutes, preventing further spread. The cause remains … Read more
Rice farming in Matagorda County is shrinking fast as drought limits water from the Colorado River. The Lower Colorado River Authority often cuts irrigation supplies when lake levels drop, leaving farmers without water for seasons at a time. At its peak, the county grew 55,000 acres of rice; today, it’s down to about 10,500 acres. … Read more
Bay City may soon tighten its animal rules. A proposed ordinance would limit homes to five pets total and require all dogs and cats over six months old to be microchipped. Owners with more pets can apply for a one-time exemption by January 1st. Unaltered pets would need an annual breeder permit, and transferring animals … Read more