Columns & Opinions

Make Milam County stronger: shop local

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 16:12

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just over the horizon, I felt it appropriate to pull this old article out of mothballs and restate an important concept – Shop Local! Many of you know that the Nurse and I make a huge deal of shopping local.

‘All about me’ poster by Malaya Gauna, a seventh-grade Art I student in Rockdale Junior High School.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 16:12

When the City of Rockdale started putting flags up in downtown for special occasions like Presidents Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day, we got our flag out and set it up in front of The Reporter.

Veterans Day

News Staff

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 16:12

(Editor’s note: Be sure not to miss RISD’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday, November 11 in the RHS competition gym starting at 10 a.m.

THEY REALLY SAID THAT?

News Staff

Wed, 11/05/2025 - 16:12

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop

Don’t pick it up! Five-second rule disproved

Editor’s Corner Mike Brown

Wed, 10/29/2025 - 10:24

(Judge Whitmire is on vacation this week. Here’s a column from Mike Brown from 2012.) In the continuing headlong decline of civilization, we now have new evidence that one of humankind’s most necessary qualities— a sense of humor—is in grave danger. This is not a parody, by the way.

Fall back

News Staff

Wed, 10/29/2025 - 10:24

Plan on a glorious extra hour of sleep as most of America “falls back” into standard time. But make sure to get outside for some morning sun, too. It’ll help your body clock reset faster. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m.

‘All about me’ poster by Ryan Skrhak, a seventh-grade Art I student in Rockdale Junior High School.

Ode to my best friend and sister, Kathy

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 10/29/2025 - 10:24

Tuesday was my sister Kathy’s happy heavenly birthday, and I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately. I remember she always told me she was a Libra on the zodiac, and I only found out she was really a trueblue Scorpio after she died. And that’s who she was as a person.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

News Staff

Wed, 10/22/2025 - 15:01

Dear editor, An HEB initiative in collaboration with Texas Master Naturalists is promoting pollinator conservation. Texas pollinators are bees, moths, humming birds, bats, flies, butterflies and beetles.

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Exceptions for Milam County’s burn ban

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Wed, 10/22/2025 - 15:01

As many people in Milam County know, there has been a burn ban in place since September 28. When we put a burn ban in place, we don’t do it lightly.

‘All about me’ poster by Sheila Torres, a seventh-grade Art I student in Rockdale Junior High School.

Trick or treating, a coat drive and jokes

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 10/22/2025 - 15:01

Last Friday I called around to all of Rockdale’s churches to find out which ones were offering Trunk or Treat or Fall Festival celebrations. I put a list on the front page, so you’ll know where to take the kids in addition of going door to door.