As we approach a New Year, today’s column looks back at some of Wharton County’s many 2022 accomplishments.

You swear you can see the smile as she moseys up to yet another person, just to say hello or perhaps offer of support, one step, one block at a time.

Wharton County’s current 2022 annual operating budget provides for $26.7 million in expenditures. Your elected precinct commissioners would prefer to spend all of these funds on local law enforcement, paving roads, and clearing more ditches but the Texas constitution gives Austin legislature…

When new British Prime Minister Liz Truss suggested lowering the United Kingdom’s highest tax rate from 45 percent to 40 percent, along with a 1 percent reduction in the income tax rate for all taxpayers, the bond markets and the central bankers around the world went stark raving mad.

Life changes all the time. Nothing is permanent. The only constant is change.

On Sept. 26, Wharton County Commissioners Court adopted the 12th consecutive balanced budget utilizing the county’s lowest property tax rate in more than 15 years.

Life is one day at a time. You don’t have tomorrow. You hope for tomorrow, but it’s not guaranteed. We plan for tomorrow. We save for tomorrow and look forward to tomorrow.

Just in time for the heat of the election season, a federal agency called the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has announced it will no longer allow betting on political and election outcomes.

Across the state, Texans are keeping a closer eye on their government. They’re asking questions and demanding information. There’s a renewed awareness of our transparency laws.

People who have lost their houses, cars and everything they’ve worked for all their lives may feel like giving up. Some do. After thirty or forty years they don’t feel like they have it within them to rebuild and try again. Some have no choice but to live the life they’ve been handed. Financ…

It’s budget time for most taxing entities and businesses operating throughout our great Lone Star State. Today’s column shares important and hopefully interesting information and statistics being used by local elected officials to plan Wharton County’s upcoming 2023 annual operating budget.

What or who is important to you? The recent devastating flood in eastern Kentucky reminds us all that life can be swept away in a moment.

Somewhere just west of Rosenberg Saturday, a minor miracle occurred, followed almost immediately by the realization that it’s truly amazing how quickly you lose knowledge you don’t use.

Being engulfed in a literal ring of fire offers a hard-to-ignore clue that your day may not be going to plan.

Let’s all try to spend today, and the rest of our lives, more wisely. With rising inflation, we’re all having to spend our hard-earned paychecks with care.

America is a country of high ideals. Our Founding Fathers wanted their experimental republic to be a Country of Laws as opposed to the countries of men that they knew too well in Europe and around the world. They saw the failures of a despotic monarchy, enabled by a parliament motivated by g…

Blue ribbons, funnel cakes and mutton busting are all on tap for the 46th Annual Wharton County Youth Fair and Exposition slated for this coming April 22-30.

Feb. 28 will be a time of celebration and mixed emotions as one of Wharton County’s most liked, recognized, trusted and dedicated public servants will be calling it a day and heading off into retirement.

“Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.”

Buying almost anything today is expensive because of the current supply and demand. Prices are too high on everything. Inflation is going through the roof.

The year was 1967. Korean War was old news, McCarthy hearings had ended, but fear of the USA being attacked from the sky via newest H-bomb or nuclear missiles, and the movie “Dr Strangelove” were a reality.

With every new year comes new challenges to overcome, adventures to take, and for all Texans – new legislative districts courtesy of redistricting.

We celebrate the anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccines this winter — and progress in controlling the virus. With vaccines readily available and recommended for everyone age 5 years and older, more people are traveling and returning to school and work.

What is the Texas way of life?

When the term “crude refinery” is said out loud, thoughts become very negative with images of flares, plumes of smoke and the emission of pollutants. I, too, had these visions and thoughts which lead our team to develop a crude refinery which significantly reduces and eliminates these issues…

There has been a buzz around Wharton County about a very exciting new refinery project that has the potential to bring many good paying jobs to our region. New job opportunities should translate into new families moving into our communities, schools and churches.

You just stopped off for a pizza and a liter of soda on your way home from work. As you sit down to eat, you reach for a paper napkin and grab a plastic cup and fill it with ice. Once you have eaten ... Do your empty containers go into the trash bin or the blue recycling bin?