Local News
Wilbarger General Hospital board to consider three resignations, replacements
The Wilbarger County Hospital District board will consider accepting three board members’ resignations and appointing replacements when it meets Oct. 1. The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the conference room at Wilbarger General Hospital, 920 Hillcrest Drive in Vernon. The agenda lists separate actions to accept resignations for Places 2, 4 and 5,…
Read MoreMSU Texas, Vernon College Sign Articulation Agreement to Strengthen Transfer Pathways
Midwestern State University Texas and Vernon College will formally recognize a new articulation agreement during a ceremonial signing at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Joe Chat Sumner Conference Room at Vernon College Century City Center. The agreement reaffirms the institutions’ shared commitment to student success and creates seamless pathways for students transferring from Vernon…
Read MoreNOAA outlook favors wetter late fall for Texas
Texas could see a shift in its weather pattern later this fall as a strengthening El Niño begins to exert more influence on the southern Plains, according to new NOAA forecasts released Thursday. The Climate Prediction Center’s Sept. 17 outlook gives much of Texas about a 40% to 50% chance of above-normal precipitation during the…
Read MoreVernon seeks 20% water-use reduction under Stage 2 drought measures
The City of Vernon is asking water customers to voluntarily reduce their use by 20% under Stage 2 conservation measures after reporting a static aquifer level of 37.82 feet. Stage 2, classified as a moderate water shortage condition, is triggered when the static aquifer level reaches 38.5 feet or when low aquifer levels result in…
Read MoreVernon adopts $31.88 million budget, lowers tax rate
Vernon city commissioners adopted a $31.88 million budget and lowered the city’s property tax rate by one cent Sept. 15, but the spending plan is expected to raise $219,931 more in property taxes than last year’s budget. The adopted rate is 52 cents per $100 of taxable value, down from 53 cents. The rate includes…
Read MoreSabey nearly doubles its Oklaunion land holdings
The paper trail surrounding Sabey Data Centers’ proposed North Texas campus has grown considerably stronger, but it still points to pre-development rather than construction of a data-center building. The July 21, 2026, certified Wilbarger County appraisal roll identifies NPDC LLC/Sabey Corporation as owner of three tracts along FM 2897 totaling 1,245 acres. The largest is…
Read MoreGoogle gives Vernon $4.5 million for water-line replacement
Google will contribute $4.5 million to the City of Vernon to replace an aging water pipeline, making Vernon the first Texas community to receive funding through the technology company’s new $10 million community water infrastructure commitment. Google announced the investment Tuesday, Sept. 1, saying the project is intended to reduce water loss and strengthen the…
Read MoreWilbarger County returns to extreme drought after brief summer improvement
Wilbarger County has returned to extreme drought as persistent heat and a lack of widespread rainfall erase much of the improvement that developed during late spring and early summer. The U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday, Aug. 27, places Wilbarger County in D3, or extreme drought. The weekly map reflects conditions through Tuesday, Aug. 25. D3…
Read MoreIs there a second hyperscale data center on the horizon?
Sabey Data Centers is not a technology company in the traditional sense. It does not manufacture computers, operate a social-media platform or sell artificial-intelligence software. Instead, the Seattle-based company develops, owns and operates the specialized buildings where large customers place and run their computer systems. Sabey provides the land, buildings, electrical infrastructure, cooling systems, security,…
Read MoreSecond wastewater plant permit for Platon Investments LLC pending approval
A second wastewater treatment plant proposed by Platon Investments LLC in Wilbarger County would be designed to serve a new industrial site with approximately 440 full-time employees, according to a newly released 204-page application filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The proposed plant would have an average design capacity of 20,000 gallons of…
Read More