City commission proposes lower tax rate
The Vernon City Commission held a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11 and proposed a property tax rate for 2020. City Manager Marty Mangum, in a memo to the commission, said that the budget anticipates a tax rate of $0.52422 per $100 in valuation, down from the current $0.56471. The commission approved Mangum’s recommendation on…
Read MoreSolar project asks county for tax abatement
The Wilbarger County Commissioners received a request for a tax abatement for a solar power generating complex. The request was part of Monday’s county commission meeting. After meeting with company officials in closed session for nearly an hour, the commission reconvened in open and voted to table action until September. Eric Clifft, project manager of…
Read MoreFirst Covid-19 death reported in Wilbarger County
Texas’ new way to count Covid-19 data revealed that there has been a coronavirus-caused death in Wilbarger County. On July 27 Texas DSHS began reporting COVID-19 fatality data based on death certificates. A fatality is counted as a COVID-19 fatality when the medical certifier attests on the death certificate that COVID-19 is a cause of…
Read MoreAdams Creek Solar Project taking shape
Representatives from the proposed Adams Creek Solar Project met with the Vernon College board of trustees last week. The solar project is planned in eastern Wilbarger County under development by Savion. The company requested a tax value limitation agreement with the Harrold ISD in February and is expected to ask tax breaks from other county…
Read MoreCounty discusses new hotel tax
The Wilbarger County Commissioners Court met on Monday to discuss whether to enact a 2 percent hotel occupancy tax, the authority to enact it was authorized by the state legislature in SB 3127 last session. The matter was ultimately tabled. Three members of the public spoke against implementing it and one spoke in favor of…
Read MoreVISD holding special meeting on Thursday
The Vernon Independent School District board of trustees will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration building boardroom. The only action item on the agenda is approval to purchase more Chromebooks. The board has previously discussed the need for the computers in case the district has to…
Read MoreCattle truck wreck causes fireworks stand explosion
First responders and private citizens were pressed into action following an accident which set off an explosion rocking the south part of Chillicothe during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers stated a semi, hauling a trailer full of cattle, was northbound on U.S. 287. The 18-wheeler drifted across the…
Read MoreIndictment in Federal two-state drug investigation
The Wilbarger County Grand Jury recently met and returned more than 40 indictments, including one stemming from a federal investigation into a two-state drug ring. Steven Anthony Mitchell was indicted for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Mitchell was arrested on Sept. 19, 2019 in Vernon. On that date five…
Read MoreGovernor Abbott Establishes Statewide Face Covering Requirement, Issues Proclamation To Limit Gatherings
Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions. The Governor also issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings…
Read MoreFree Covid testing on Wednesday
Mobile COVID-19 testing is coming to Vernon this week. This will be the third time the mobile clinic has been in Vernon. Texas Health and Human Services will be operating the testing at the Carnegie Library, 2810 Wilbarger Street, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m Wednesday, June 17. Call 512-883-2400 or visit txcovidtest.org…
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