Looking back...

100 YEARS AGO...

Rev. B.B. Blaylock, a former pastor of Rockdale Baptist Church, and one of the most popular ministers Rockdale has ever known, was set to begin a series of revival services, preaching his initial sermon on Sunday.

Attention was directed to the ad of Maxie’s Theatre. Manager Max Farrari joined the nationwide movement of picture shows to give a benefit performance for the starving children of Europe. Every cent of the proceeds was to go to the European Relief Fund.

With an accumulation of three week’s unfinished business, the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce was in session Tuesday night.

Saturday was W.D. Turner’s regular hog day and the farmers brought in and sold almost three carloads of porkers. Mr. Turner reported the farmers culled their herds quite closely on account of a feed shortage.

FORTY YEARS AGO...

Milam County commissioners would soon be calling for bids for a county bank depository and County Judge Phil Smith wasn’t looking for a repeat of the controversy generated over depository bids two years ago when the county switched from a fivebank system to a one-bank one to increase dividends.

Most of a human skeleton was found near a creek in the upper northeast part of the county when two men were out setting traps on Little Pond Creek. They found a skull and other bones, sheriff’s deputies said.

The first work on a water and sewer line replacement under the city of Rockdale’s $1.5-million Community Block Grant was expected to begin in early February.

Walter Pond was named assistant principal at Rockdale High School and Cathy Ormsby dean of students by the Rockdale School District board of trustees. The board also voted to hike the price of school lunches by 10 cents so lunches at the high school would now cost students 85 cents.

TWENTY YEARS AGO...

Milam County commissioners in a 3-2 vote approved a new 911 addressing system as presented by the Central Texas Council of Governments.

Two Rockdale convenience stores drew misdemeanor citations from the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission recently for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor during a TABC “sting” operation.

Rockdale High School’s Junior Engineering and Technology flew high in recent statewide competition with the varsity team finishing eighth in state rankings of varsity squads and the JV team ending up third in the statewide JV ranks.

Poised on the edge of battling their way into the District 18AAA playoff picture, the Rockdale Tigers were stunned by arch rival Cameron 55-39.

TEN YEARS AGO...

It takes a village....to promote a village. That was the under riding theme of Rockdale’s first-ever “economic summit” which drew about 50 community leaders to the Patterson Center Thursday. The topic was Rockdale, how to promote it in order to attract new businesses to the area in the wake of Alcoa’s closing.

If you thought you saw the comic book hero Captain America walking down US 79 through Rockdale Monday, don’t call your doctor and change your medication. You did. Allen Mullins, a 28-yearold Georgia native, was on a mission to walk to all 48 state capitals in the contiguous United States to raise attention to veterans issues, particularly homeless veterans.

Milam County’s rural outdoor burn ban was re-instated after chiefs of the county’s two largest volunteer fire departments requested action from County Judge Dave Barkemeyer.

The Municipal Development District was to hear updates on a truck stop, civic center, sports complex, convention center, indoor pool, YMCA, business park relocation, airport expansion, distribution centers, market place, tractor supply and distribution, welcome signs, website and promotional items for business leads.