National News
Vernon approves joining Opioid Settlement
The Vernon City Commission approved participating in the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement Allocation Term Sheet. The action came as part of Tuesday night’s regular meeting for October. City Manager Marty Mangum said that after years of lawsuits, a settlement had been reached in ongoing opioid litigation brought against three pharmaceutical companies. The…
Read MoreNo vaccine requirement for Wilbarger General Hospital staff, yet
Wilbarger General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Tom Siemers told WGH directors that the federal government has required that healthcare workers be vaccinated. However, the Texas governor has an executive order “that we cannot require that.” He said that the federal order has been delayed to December. “Honestly it is going to end up in…
Read MorePrefix required on 940 calls
Prefix required on 940 calls Residents in the 940 area code will be required to dial 10 digits when making a local phone call. People with seven Texas area codes will be required to dial 10 digits (the area code and the telephone number) for all local calls starting Oct. 25. According to the Public…
Read MoreHuge wind farm on Waggoner Ranch comes online
Ørsted has completed the 367 MW Western Trail Wind Farm located on the Waggoner Ranch in Wilbarger and Baylor counties. It is the company’s largest onshore wind project, and it brings Ørsted’s total onshore capacity to over 2.8 GW of wind, solar, and battery storage in operation. The project has secured long-term power purchase agreements…
Read MoreTexas 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…
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