MILAM SHELTER-IN-PLACE EXPIRING FRIDAY

Milam County Commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday morning to end the county's Shelter-In-Place order, effective at 12:01 a.m.. Friday (May 8).  That brings the county in line with an executive order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott. who had allowed the state order to expire.

IT'S GOOD NEWS

  County Judge Steve Young said Thursday morning all the COVID-19 test rest results from last week's testing in Milano have now been completed, and no new positive cases were found.   The county had been waiting for a week for the final 25 results from the April 29 testing.

37 TESTED IN MILANO DURING COUNTYWIDE EVENT

  There were 37 persons tested for COVID-19 during a countywide testing session Wednesday at the Milano Volunteer Fire Department.   Results are expected by this weekend.   County Judge Steve Young said, due to the testing, the number of Milam COVID-19 cases is expected to increase.

SOME BUSINESSES REOPENING WITH RESTRICTIONS

  Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing some businesses to re-open Friday, including restaurants. The governor said, however, in Phase I of the reopening restaurants may only have 25 percent of capacity at any one time.

CAMERON DAIRY QUEEN CLOSED AFTER EMPLOYEE TESTS POSITIVE

The Cameron Dairy Queen is closed until April 29 after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.   County Judge Steve Young said the employee is the previously-announced ninth COVID-19 positive test in the county.

THIRD OF FOUR DEFENDANTS GETS 18 YEARS IN HACKER MURDER

John Wayne Stewart received an 18-year sentence for his role in the 2017 beating death of Emily Hacker Thursday in 20th District Court.    Stewart was the third of four defendants to be sentenced in Hacker's death.

WHINSTONE: UP TO 200 JOBS, NEW FACILITY AT ALCOA

  Whinstone USA, whose interest in the former Alcoa Rockdale Operations, was the topic of a July Reporter article, will hold a formal groundbreaking next week as it begins to construct a major data center.

BBQ Finals: Brett's vs. Snow's

      Texas is 801 miles from north to south and 762 miles from east to west but, according to readers of Texas Monthly magazine, the best barbecue in this barbecue-crazy state is either in Rockdale or 18 miles away in Lexington.