Mail carrier retiree story ‘brought tears’
Dear editor
What a wonderful article you wrote about my daughter, Rebecca, and her dad, on their life as city letter carriers (Reporter, June 6).
They were both dedicated and cared for their patrons.
They also made many lifelong friends during those years.
You brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart with your personal and caring article and I want to thank you.
A proud mom and widow,
Roberta Pounders
522 Wilcox
Rockdale
Congrats for recognition in national magazine
Dear editor
Congratulations to Reporter Editor Mike Brown for the recognition he received from National Review Senior Editor Jay Nordlinger in the magazine’s June 24 edition.
We are fortunate to have Mike in Rockdale at the Rockdale Reporter.
He has been a blessing to all of us and I wish him continued success.
Sincerely,
Gerry Offield,
403 Hazel
Rockdale
Remembers D-Day vets on the ‘McVoy corner’
Dear editor
Regarding the late Adolph McVoy landing in the second wave on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 (Reporter, June 6).
If you want to see how violent and bloody that first day was, just watch the first part of the movie “Saving Private Ryan.”
Anyone who could survive that landing has to be called a hero in my book. What a proud moment in history.
This was not Mr. McVoy’s only battle. He went on to fight in many battles across Europe including the Battle of the Bulge.
One time I had the honor of sitting on the bench with three D-Day survivors outside Mr. McVoy’s feed store.
They were McVoy, member of the “Big Red One”; Earl Holbert, a parachutist with the 101st Airborne; and Les Docking a British sailor who was on a ship that escorted the Americans across the English channel to Normandy.
What an honor it was to listen to their stories.
Mark Brady
I-14 will give counties chance for 5G service
Dear editor
Historically, cell phone networks were built-out in urban areas and along significant highways.
Madison, Brazos, Robertson, Milam, Bell Counties are strategically located in central Texas. Let’s collectively use our local segment of proposed I-14 for getting 5G built-out as quickly as possible between I-45 and I-35.
Instead of gaps in service, seamless communications capabilities are needed along this “forts to ports” thoroughfare. With precious few new interstate highways under construction, this is a great opportunity to develop best practices blending old and new transportation and communications corridors.
Texas A&M, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Texas A&M – Central Texas, TEEX, TSTC, Blinn, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc. might join forces with various local governments. Use this five-county stretch of under-development highway as a laboratory. Develop a template that could be used in other parts of America.
The Trump Administration and the Federal Communications Commission recently announced a 10-year, $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Let’s work together regionally to use some of that money to improve local communications capabilities.
5G is important to us personally as consumers. It will enable existing businesses to expand. It is also important since future economic developments will likely follow emerging digital networks and highways.
The Brazos Valley Council of Governments is already installing a COG-NET fiber loop that will initially link health care and public service facilities in a multi-county region. That, however, is just one small step in helping locals avail themselves of Information Age technologies.
Enhanced economic development is a selling point for proposed I-14. Vehicle flow is the primary goal. Information flow should be a secondary goal to serve military communications needs as well as help our area bridge the digital divide.
William Kent Brunette
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