A $250,000 business remodeling and installation of two solar panels led construction activity here during the month of March when 20 construction permits totaling $448,808 were issued by the City of Vernon, contributing to a year-to-date construction total of $654,957 for the first three months of 2019. Both the March and year-to-date totals are well…

Ten Vernon High School students placed in events during the High School District Academic UIL Contest on Wednesday, March 27 in Burkburnett with five members of one team and another student advancing to the regional contest scheduled for April 12-13 in Lubbock. Rachel Roth placed third in copy editing to advance to regionals. Also advancing…

Several prison and probation sentences were handed down over the last few days during proceedings of the 46th Judicial District Court of Wilbarger County. Felony DWI James Valdez, 50, of Vernon, was sentenced to four years in prison following his plea of guilty to felony driving while intoxicated. On August 5, 2018, Vernon police were…

DNA evidence gathered from blood at a crime scene led to a Vernon burglar’s conviction this week in the 46th District Court. William Austin Young, 19, of Vernon, was sentenced to probation for a period of five years and ordered to complete a term of confinement in an intermediate sanction facility by Judge Dan Mike…

State Rep. Drew Springer has introduced legislation that, if passed, would allow Wilbarger County to tax hotel stays in the County. That legislation prompted a protest from local hotel owners at Tuesday night’s Vernon City Commission meeting. Joe Rogers, owner of the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express, presented a petition to the commission asking…

Directors of Wilbarger General Hospital unanimously approved the hospital district’s fiscal year 2017-2018 audit report for which the bottom line was a deep financial loss compared to the previous year. The action was taken during a monthly business meeting on Tuesday. See the online edition for details

The Wilbarger County Commissioners’ Court met on Monday, accepting a donation from a wind mill project. County Auditor Sid Beebe said the county received around $10,200 from a wind mill company and the commissioners needed to approve a budget amendment so it could be used to purchase a sound system for the Wilbarger Auditorium. See…

The commission was divided on the purchase of a new pickup for use by Code Enforcement/City Hall, and ultimately voted 3-1 with Pam Gosline having to vote as mayor pro tem to approve the purchase. The item had been carried over from last month when the commission had been presented with a low bid, and…

The City of Vernon will hold its 5th Annual Citywide Clean Up Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at the old Gibson’s Discount Center parking lot on Expressway 287. The city and Progressive Waste will provide a large trash container at the site. Volunteers will be at the site to help…

The Vernon Police Department is advising residents to obey the law on handicap parking spaces and fire lanes. “We are beefing up enforcement,” Chief Randy Agan said. “If you do not have a handicap sticker you will receive a ticket.” Police Captain Wayne Hodges said several citations have already been issued and the fines are…