Looking back...

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO

100 YEARS AGO...

The complete faculty for the 1921-22 session of the Rockdale Public Schools had been elected. The board felt that it had selected teachers that will give students of the schools one of the most enjoyable year’s work it ever has had.

Mickie posted in his column from Mineral Wells that is was 1900 ’n nearly melted. So I just guess it is hot over there.

The farmers have had another week of sunshine and if it does not rain this week they will get their cotton all worked out that they are going to work, but there is a lot that won’t get worked out.

Roses 25 cents per dozen. Not less than four dozen delivered. If possible phone order in the day before the flowers are wanted. Phone 270.

40 YEARS AGO...

Rockdale City Council members took the first step toward annexing a large section of land north of the city limits including the new junior high school

A Fifth Street home was gutted by fire and the dwelling sustained “major structural damage,” according to Fire Chief Ralph Walters

Jury duty in Milam County may soon be decided by computer instead of the “jury wheel” method. Commissioners approved the computerization of jury selection at their meeting.

Rockdale and Taylor locked horns again, this time in baseball, and when the smoked cleared Manager Frank Ramirez’s All-Stars were the champions of the Babe Ruth League 14-15-yearolds District Two.

20 YEARS AGO...

Two public hearings concerned with Alcoa’s Three Oaks Mine road relocation plans were set for upcoming weeks in Lee and Bastrop counties.

Milano school officials stood by their original plans to build a high school without a bond election, even though they have known for almost a year that they won’t get state funds, originally earmarked to pay for 70 percent of the project

Even though it had been a relatively mild summer by Rockdale standards, the heat claimed its first Milam County victim. A 55-year-old woman’s autopsy revealed that her death was due to heat stroke.

Another Rockdale Jubilee Days Rodeo had come and gone, and it was again proclaimed a major success.

10 YEARS AGO...

With 5-1/2 months left before sweeping new standards on power plant emissions—which many analysts believe target lignite coal itself—would go into effect, Luminant pondered its alternatives. Texas was a last-minute addition to EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The state was ordered to cut SO2 emissions by 25 percent, beginning Jan. 1.

Nobody expected this summer’s air conditioning project at the elementary gym to yield a little “cultural archeology.” Workers getting into access areas high above the gym stage found a “hidden” room containing athletic equipment, mostly shoes worn by the Tigers almost certainly a half century ago.

A high temperature of “only” 99 stopped July’s string of consecutive 100-degree days at 15. It was back up to 102 the following day and highs the next two days also topped the century mark.

From Thorndale to the world. Former Bulldog star Brandon Irwin was selected to represent the United States on a NCAA Division III all-star team. The 6-foot-3 guard traveled nine days through Italy and the Czech Republic. “I was really proud to wear USA across my chest,” Irwin said. “Everywhere we went we were treated like rock stars, especially in the Czech Republic.”