Columns & Opinions

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

News Staff

Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:36

Dear editor, I enjoy weekly The Reporter and all your columns, but this last week pastor Ken Ansell’s column, the basketball one, was about as good as seeing Mendoza score the winning touchdown. I hope he will publish a collection of his writing in book form. Talk about scoring a 3 pointer. He did!

Dear editor

News Staff

Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:36

Dear editor, On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Lisa Riggs served her last day as the Director of the Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.

‘Name bug’ artwork by Brant Hutton, an eighth-grade Art II student at Rockdale Junior High School.

Arrest the weather-predicting rodent

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:36

Well, it would seem that the Pennsylvania weather-predicting rodent saw his shadow on Monday which means six more weeks of winter weather, but I’m not convinced. My weather app shows that this week more normal daytime temperatures are coming, even though it’ll be cold overnight.

Future projects – South County Annex

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:36

This week wraps up my series on the building committees and the planning efforts underway to prepare for the future needs of our county.

LOOKING BACK

News Staff

Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:36

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO 100 YEARS AGO The high wind that accompanied the rain several days ago, blew down several sheds and outhouses but did no serious damage, although lightning struck a tree on the farm of H. Keith near Davilla and completely demolished it.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

News Staff

Wed, 01/28/2026 - 10:05

Dear editor, I’m Robert Salter, and I’m running for Texas State House District 17 as a Democrat in the March 3 primary. I’m a seven2th generation Milam County resident and eighth generation Texan, living on land my great-great-grandparents acquired in the late 1800s.

‘Ancient Egyptian tomb’ artwork by Kendra Carcamo Alvarado, a sixth-grade Intro to Art student in Rockdale Junior High School.

We survived the winter wonderland

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 01/28/2026 - 10:05

We sur v i ved the snowpocalypse (or sleetpocalypse) at our house, and I hope all of our readers did too. I was pretty shocked when I looked out the window on Saturday morning to see all the ice. It was raining when I went to bed Friday night, but I still wasn’t expecting it.

Future projects — justice building

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Wed, 01/28/2026 - 10:05

Last week I wrote the first of three articles intended to discuss the three building committees that were formed late last year to address the future building needs of the county. I think it is important to reiterate that these projects are just that — future projects.

The Fed

News Staff

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 10:53

Dr. Perryman explains why an independent Fed is important An independent US monetary authority is imperative for economic growth, prosperity, stability, and -- indeed -- sustainability. Period.

‘Ancient Egyptian tomb’ artwork by Charlee Sisemore, a sixth-grade Intro to Art student in Rockdale Junior High School.

Ashley Karl has more jokes for you

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 10:53

Ashley McKee Karl always has jokes. The other day I went over to a nearby CVS Pharmacy. When I got there, I went straight to the back of the store to where the pharmacist’s counter is located. I took out my little brown bottle along with a teaspoon and laid them both onto the counter.