JUDGE’S COMMENTS
Iappreciate The Rockdale Reporter for giving me the opportunity to address the issues our county faces in the paper.
The Reporter has been in business since 1873 and has been owned by the Cooke family since 1911.
Over the years The Reporter has done an outstanding job to provide professional journalistic coverage of the events of the County.
I go to church with Bill and Peggy Cooke and they are two of the finest people I know. Further, they exemplify the resilient attitude that is so prevalent in this, the best county in the state.
The Cooke family is but one example of the greatest asset of our county—the people.
We have a lot of great assets in the county, including the power grid, water and transportation, but the greatest asset is our people.
What I hear and see over and over is the idea that we are going to make it here. And that, my friends is true —we are going to make it.
We are not the only county in the state to lose a coal-fired power plant. It has happened all over the state.
Coal fired energy is simply no longer cost effective. The way of the future is gas and solar.
We are not the only county in the state to lose a hospital as many, many rural hospitals have closed as they too are not cost effective.
So, these issues are not just Milam County issues. Nevertheless, they hurt our pocketbook and take a toll on our spirit.
But our county has survived all of that and we are moving ahead.
Business has and will continue to come to the county. It will not be one huge aluminum plant, but many different smaller businesses that will take advantage of the power grid and the space at the old Alcoa site.
We will have another medical clinic in Rockdale soon and in the meantime, we have Scott & White in Cameron, Temple, Taylor, College Station and Round Rock.
What makes this the best county of the 254 counties in the state?
The people of Milam County. Why? Like the Cooke family, they are resilient survivors!
They have seen some tough economic things happen, but they are still here. Not only are they here, but they are here to stay and moving ahead!
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