A woman in Bay City narrowly escaped a robbery attempt last week. While sitting in her car on Elm Street near 29th, she was approached by a man wearing all black, including a hoodie, ski mask, and pants. He pointed a gun at her and demanded she hand over her phone. However, the woman remained … Read more
Three women from Wharton County were honored recently at the Texas Probation Association Conference in College Station. Billie Jean Bram, chief juvenile probation officer, earned top state recognition for starting a school for expelled teens. Brenna Bubela, with adult probation since ’97, received an award named after her former boss, Roxane Marek. Karma Chambless, head … Read more
A vehicle fire destroyed a new truck at the Bay City Walmart on Good Friday. The fire started shortly after the truck, a black GMC Sierra, was parked and its owner entered the store. The Bay City Fire Department responded quickly, but the $65,000 vehicle was a total loss. Fortunately, no one was injured and … Read more
Bay City voters will head to the polls on Saturday for the city’s general and special election. The ballot includes mayor and city council races, plus three proposed charter amendments. Incumbent Mayor Robert K. Nelson and council members Bradley Westmoreland and Blayne Finlay are running unopposed. The only contested race is for City Council Position … Read more
Wharton County Junior College’s Cosmetology program, offered in Wharton and Richmond, trains students in just 11 months for careers in hair, skin, and nail care. The program, led by longtime instructor Jacqueline Kuehn, combines classroom learning with hands-on salon experience open to the public. Graduates are eligible for state licensing exams and enter a growing … Read more
Bay City’s daytime population has jumped from 49,000 to 82,000 in just seven years, driven by industrial growth and business-friendly planning. With only 17,561 full-time residents, the city now supports thousands more workers, visitors, and commuters each day. Six new subdivisions are underway, major employers like Roehm are expanding, and new businesses are filling out … Read more
A 33-year-old Wharton man, Willie Fisher, died Sunday night after crashing his motorcycle on Highway 60 in Hungerford. Fisher lost control on a sharp curve near Mulberry and Live Oak around 7 p.m. He wasn’t wearing a helmet and hit a concrete barrier. Wharton EMS took him to OakBend Medical Center, where he died. DPS … Read more
El Campo’s new ordinance limiting where for-sale vehicles can be displayed is already under review just two weeks after approval. The rule targets businesses without car lot permits, but charity raffles are exempt. A proposal to waive permit fees failed, with city officials defending the $250 cost. The ordinance is part of a broader push … Read more
A small fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in the PlayPlace area of the Bay City McDonald’s on 7th Street, which was closed for construction. Fire crews responded quickly, but workers had already put out the flames with an extinguisher. The fire caused about $5,000 in damage while crews were on lunch break. No one was … Read more
Early voting starts Tuesday in El Campo and Wharton, with extended weekend hours funded by El Campo ISD. Voters will decide on El Campo ISD’s record $81 million bond proposal, focused on rebuilding aging school facilities. The bond is the only item on the ECISD ballot. Several city council and school board races are also … Read more