Looking back...

100 YEARS AGO...

H.C. Meyer, president of the East & West Texas Highway Association, called a meeting to be held in Palestine. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the building of this leg of the highway. A delegation from the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce was to attend.

Mr. C.F. Drake of Weatherford arrived in Rockdale and accepted the position of executive secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Drake, a newspaperman, was a man “ripe with experience in this work,” having successfully conducted a number of similar organizations, his last being in Weatherford.

The price of bread was down to 10 cents a loaf in Rockdale, as was noted by the advertising columns.

Rev. B.F. Logan of Austin accepted the pastorate for the Rockdale Presbyterian Church.

FORTY YEARS AGO...

A 21-year-old Rockdale man remained in county jail in lieu of $100,000 bond and facing a charge of aggravated sexual abuse (two counts) in connection with two sex crimes which occurred in Rockdale in recent weeks.

Milam County Commissioners Court, County Judge Phil Smith and Milam County Tax Assessor-Collector Valter White were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by disgruntled taxpayers seeking to overturn the newly created Central Appraisal District.

The Rockdale City Council amended its subdivision ordinance to create a separate set of requirements for subdivisions of large tracts of land located inside the city limits. Action came during a meeting in which the council also okayed the purchase of property for a new senior center, named a city park for Julius Moultry and approved plans on projects.

The annual Christmas Roundup program, spreading Christmas cheer to needy families during the holiday season, had started, according to John Shoemake.

TWENTY YEARS AGO...

Look out, here it comes It’s TAAS II. Rockdale ISD trustees got an “advance warning” that the “sequel” to the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test, which pretty much governs curriculum in Texas schools, is on the way and will definitely be “meaner” and “leaner.”

Four Rockdale-area homes were set to open to the public as the Chamber of Commerce sponsors the first-ever holiday home tour.

City Council members okayed a proposed $85,805 tourism budget submitted by the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce.

On the day when a Little River dam and reservoir was officially proposed as part of Texas’ long-range water conservation plans, a group of land owners opposed to the project gathered to plan strategy in their fight against it.

TEN YEARS AGO...

Blackhawk Health Care’s new owner purchased the failing business to keep it from closing Rockdale’s Richards Memorial Hospital. “You’re not going to do that to Rockdale,” were Kevin Owens’ words to the former Blackhawk owner, after the health-care group closed Bastrop Lakeside Hospital Nov. 19.

Pam Kaufmann, principal in the Rockdale ISD for the past five years, was named the district’s new assistant superintendent for instruction and administration by school trustees.

A 26-year-old Madisonville man was jailed for his part in the April 28, 2009, theft of $12,000 from Rockdale Brookshire Bros.

A high-tech counterfeiter had produced phony $100 bills that can fool many detection devices, but not the human eye. Lt. J.D. Newlin of the Rockdale Police Department said merchants had lost $600 with phony bills being passed in Rockdale and Milano during the past week.