National News
Texas A&M AgriLife peanut sheller to be unveiled Monday
A new $1 million-plus peanut sheller at Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed in Vernon will be unveiled Monday. Vernon Business Development Corporation managing consultant Rick Hardcastle announced the ribbon cutting as part of the BDC meeting, last week. The sheller was installed, in part, thanks to BDC funding of the project. Texas A&M AgriLife and…
Read MoreGovernor 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 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…
Read MoreNew solar project coming to Wilbarger County
The Wilbarger County Commissioners Court learned of a new solar energy project planned for Wilbarger County. Orsted is planning to set a 400 megawatt producing solar power farm in southern Wilbarger County. Jordan Shontz told the county commissioners that the project will be on the Wilbarger Estate “tucked in next to the wind project.” It…
Read MorePrison for man who tried to rob pharmacy with a bomb
Richard Vernon Fox, 38, of Helena, Montana, was sentenced to five years in two separate cases following his plea of guilty to robbery and evading arrest with a motor vehicle. On May 5, 2021, Vernon police were dispatched to Family Pharmacy in reference to a male subject who had passed a note through the drive…
Read MoreJail limiting intake due to medical outbreak
The Wilbarger County Jail has had limited its intake of prisoners over the past two weeks due to a medical issue. “Due to HIPAA we can’t discuss the nature of the medical issues,” Sheriff Brian Fritze said, declining to confirm or deny if the medical issues were related to Covid-19. The Texas Department of Health…
Read MoreAssembly of God pastor arrested
Brian Keith Pounds, pastor of Vernon’s First Assembly of God, was arrested Friday, July 16, 2021 on a felony charge of sexual assault of a child. Pounds was reportedly taken into custody at around noon at a Wichita Falls hospital by Texas DPS Rangers. Pounds was booked into the Wichita County Jail on a Vernon…
Read MoreSen. Perry holds town hall
Senator Charles Perry held a town hall meeting in Vernon earlier this month, in advance of the special session. The town hall was held at the Wilbarger Auditorium was attended by about 40 people. The state representative was also planned to be at the town hall, but he did not attend. Sen. Perry discussed that…
Read MoreA night of remembrance
A large group gathered on the track area at Wilbarger General Hospital to recognize and remember friends and family who had died of Covid-19 during a “Vernon Remembers” event held at sunset Monday evening. The event, hosted by the hospital, opened with the welcome by hospital CEO Tom Siemers. Pastor Early Williams gave the opening…
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