Wharton County is on the rise, with I-69 expanding and national chains setting up shop closer than ever. Once, residents had to drive to Houston or Victoria for big-name businesses, but now, places like Home2Suites by Hilton in El Campo signal rapid growth. Wharton and El Campo offer strong incentives to attract new businesses while … Read more
Louise Middle School’s Robotics Team, consisting of 11 students, will compete at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition in Texas City on Saturday. The team, led by science teacher Kole Kopnicky and director Denise Weber, will compete in a timed contest where student-built robots shoot balls into a goal. This marks the team’s second in-person event. … Read more
El Campo and East Bernard saw significant drops in their sales tax rebates for January. El Campo’s rebate fell by nearly $120,000, a 23.76% decrease from the previous year. Despite the conservative budget, City Manager Courtney Sladek urged locals to shop locally to help stabilize the economy. Wharton saw a minor increase of 0.96%, receiving … Read more
The Edna ISD Board of Trustees extended Superintendent Robert O’Connor’s contract through ’26 during their recent meeting. January is when most districts review superintendents, followed by campus administrators in February and faculty in March. Trustees also reviewed academic reports, financials, and governance policies, held a public hearing on Texas Academic Performance Report data, and approved … Read more
El Campo police are searching for two suspects who robbed an elderly man of $100 on Alamo Street last Friday afternoon. The victim was walking home when the suspects approached and took his money, but he was not seriously hurt. Police say the suspects were unarmed. The robbery happened around 2:40 p.m. in the 100 … Read more
Carrie Fromme, a 23-year-old Lynn Group employee, plans to run for 24 hours straight in Cat Spring to raise funds for a village in La Ceiba, Honduras. The Lynn Group is building homes with clean water and sanitation for locals living in dire conditions. Inspired by her visit to La Ceiba, Fromme aims to highlight … Read more
In Wharton, Police Chief Terry Lynch faced undisclosed disciplinary action. The Wharton County Leader-Journal filed a Freedom of Information request to learn more. City Manager Joseph Pace and Chief Lynch haven’t commented on the matter, nor did Pace return calls. The city confirmed Lynch was on administrative leave but is back on duty. The Texas … Read more
Hackers hit Matagorda County’s computer systems early Friday, encrypting files and disrupting county services in a ransomware attack. Officials say no personal data appears compromised, but all county computers are being examined. Authorities, including state and federal agencies, are investigating, and a disaster declaration was issued. The county is working with cybersecurity experts to restore … Read more
Two Victoria men are behind bars after an early morning robbery at the Vista Sol Apartments on Sam Houston Drive led to a swift police response. Officers stopped a vehicle tied to the crime, but the situation escalated when one passenger bolted on foot, prompting a brief chase before his arrest. Jerry Ross, 21, and … Read more
El Campo Police are asking for help identifying a suspect shown in a photo on it’s social media page. Tips can be shared by calling Sgt. Whitley or anonymously through the P3 website at p3tips.com. West Wharton County Crime Stoppers also accepts anonymous tips, and you must follow up with them to claim any reward. … Read more