Wrongful Termination Lawsuit

A former El Campo police sergeant, Freddie Douglas, is suing the city for wrongful termination and discrimination. Douglas was fired in December ’23 after being arrested on a rape charge, though a grand jury later declined to indict him. His lawsuit claims the firing was racially motivated, tied to his questioning of how thefts at … Read more

El Paso Shooter Arrested

A man from El Paso, Jorge Maldonado, was arrested in Bay City after allegedly shooting his coworker, Joshua Galindo, during an argument at Scottish Inn and Suites on Seventh Street. Police were called late Monday night, and Maldonado admitted to the shooting. Galindo was found with two gunshot wounds, later dying after being airlifted for … Read more

Crewmen and Pilot Honored

Two AEP crewmen and a Westwind pilot were honored at Bay City’s Regional Airport for saving a Blessing’s man after Hurricane Beryl. On July 8th, Edward Gurecky fell off his utility vehicle, hitting his head and lying unconscious in his driveway. His wife was unaware of the accident. A passing helicopter with AEP crewmen Ronald … Read more

Hurricane Beryl Cleanup Ending

The Texas Department of Transportation is wrapping up its Hurricane Beryl cleanup by next Tuesday, September 24. TxDOT’s contractor, hired to speed up the process, will stop picking up debris after this date. Coastal areas hit hard by the July storm have seen extensive debris removal, with over 24,000 cubic yards cleared so far, with … Read more

Wharton Firefighter Tribute

Wharton is grieving the loss of 46-year-old firefighter Juan “John” Delgado, who passed away in his sleep last Friday. A welder by trade, Delgado dedicated over 30 years to volunteering with fire departments in Wharton, Kendleton, and Boling, earning Fireman of the Year in 2019. He was deeply passionate about firefighting and his family. Delgado … Read more

18 Wheeler Crash

A Brazoria County Animal Welfare officer collided with an 18-wheeler while turning onto FM 1459 from Highway 35 around 1:27 p.m. Monday. The crash caused the 18-wheeler to overturn, trapping the driver inside. Emergency crews used heavy equipment to free the driver, who was airlifted to a Houston hospital. The officer was taken to a … Read more

Potential Property Tax Increase

El Campo residents and business owners are once again facing a potential property tax increase, just a week after a previous hike was rejected. The city council voted 5-2 to propose a new rate of 46.592 cents per $100 of property, slightly lower than the original proposal. The increase is driven by rising city debt, … Read more

Under-the-Wire Fly-In

The 35th Annual Under-the-Wire Fly-In will take place this weekend at Flying V Ranch in Louise. Named after the power line once on the property, the event started in 1989 with just 12 planes and now features around 150. Organized by Robbie Vajdos, a lifelong Stearman plane enthusiast, the weekend will include a flyover before … Read more

Student Detained

A 17-year-old Tidehaven High School student from Bay City, Brooke Roebuck, was detained after an online threat led to a school lockdown. Local law enforcement and multiple agencies quickly responded, securing the campus and confirming no weapons were found. Roebuck was charged with making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, and released on a $1,000 … Read more

Stray Pet Outreach Team

Wharton County’s Stray Pet Outreach Team (SPOT) is in urgent need of community support as it faces financial strain. With rising care costs and over 80 animals in foster homes, SPOT has paused new intakes and aims to raise $25,000 to keep operating. President Christine Stransky will step down this month after 16 years, adding … Read more