Local News
Governor Abbott announces Third Special Session date and agenda
Governor Abbott, on Tuesday, issued a proclamation announcing that he will convene a third special legislative session at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021. The proclamation identifies 5 agenda items for the third Special Session. “The Texas Legislature now has the opportunity to redraw legislative and congressional districts in accordance with the new census…
Read MoreTwo file for VISD special election
The whirlwind week-long filling period for the special election for a seat on the Vernon Independent School District board of trustees ended Wednesday with two candidates. One candidate is Leah Saylor, interim Chief Nursing Officer at Wilbarger General Hospital, and has been at WGH for the past 11 years. The second candidate is Sjohonton Fanner,…
Read MoreHouse fire suspected to be arson
Vernon emergency personnel responded to a fully engulfed structure fire on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at around 5:45 p.m. in the 2700 block of Olive Street. A fire investigator is expected on scene later this week to investigate the fire, which is being called suspicious. See more information in Wednesday’s print edition.
Read MoreBandits steal truck, use it to break into bank ATM
Crooks staged a brazen burglary of the ATM at Pilgrim’s Bank, located in the 900 block of Hillcrest, early Sunday morning. An alarm at the bank was triggered at 6:08 a.m., and records show that officers were on scene within three minutes. When officers arrived they found someone had ripped open the front of the…
Read MoreCounty facing big deficit, works on budget
Wilbarger County is facing a loss of more than $600,000 from this year to next year, due in large part to a drop in expected property tax revenue after the AEP powerplant in Oklaunion shut down. “Somewhere, we’ve gotta knock about $615,000 out of this budget,” County Judge Greg Tyra told the Wilbarger County Commissioners…
Read MoreSWRE holding ‘drive-thru’ annual meeting
Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the area, Southwest Rural Electric Association, Inc. (SWRE) has transitioned the membership meeting set for Thursday, August 19, at Wilbarger Auditorium in Vernon, to a Drive-Thru Annual Meeting. Registration will take place from 5 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. SWRE members will be able to participate without leaving…
Read MoreSummer’s Last Blast features lots of cars, great music
Summer’s Last Blast is set to get underway with activities beginning on Thursday, Aug, 12, and concluding with the cruise itself on Saturday, Aug. 14. Jim Gryseels, president of the Vernon Street Machines and Classics Association, hosts of Summer’s Last Blast, said he was pleased with the turnout last Saturday night for the Mini Cruise.…
Read MoreMan arrested in killing of horses
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol arrested Trenton Ray Wilson, 32, on two felony warrants outside of Woodward, Oklahoma on Highway 34, at around 7:45 a.m. last Tuesday, August 2. Wilson was booked into the Wilbarger County Jail on Aug. 5 on two felony charges — burglary of a habitation and criminal mischief with a firearm/death of…
Read MoreAnother child victim comes forward accusing AG pastor of abuse
Daniel Walker Vernon Record A new victim has come forward, accusing former Vernon First Assembly of God Pastor Brian Pounds of illegal sexual behavior with a child. The allegations were unsealed Friday and a new charge of sexual assault of a child was added to Pounds, who is currently being held in the Wilbarger County…
Read MoreCovid on rise in Texas: Governor asks for help, local hospital CEO concerned
Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday a series of actions the State of Texas is taking to mitigate the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will be utilizing staffing agencies to provide medical personnel from out-of-state to Texas health care facilities to assist in COVID-19 operations. The…
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