2018: Bitmain came to town and the hospital left.
There was much more to the year just past but those two stories, each packing a punch in very different ways, represented the highest high and lowest low of the year for the Rockdale area.
It was quite a year. Rockdale got a new football field and said farewell to a beloved sheriff.
There were continuing stories. Rockdale city government, and its residents, continued to grapple with red water issues and, as the new year dawned, some big decisions loomed ahead.
The community entered 2018 thinking a series of capital murder trials were just around the corner.
They didn’t materialize in 2018 but, sadly, another capital murder case did, this one involving a 20-month-old child.
BITMAIN—It was obvious through late spring something big was going on at the vacant Alcoa smelter, which cranked out its last metal in 2009.
There was. On July 26, The Reporter let everyone know what it was.
Bitmain, the world’s largest cryptocurrency firm, was repurposing the former smelter for use as a “mining” operation.”
But it’s not the kind of mining which used to happen at Sandow and Three Oaks. This kind is done electronically as computer experts attempt to generate revenue by putting together “blockchains” of data.
First up will be “bitcoins” and Bitmain says other kinds of crptocurrencies will follow.
The new industry is expected to hire between 300 and 500 and provide major economic opportunities for a decade and beyond.
Two weeks later the speculation began that other businesses were on the verge of locating at the former Alcoa Rockdale Operations.
That hasn’t happened yet but 2019 could have prospects for being an equally important year for the area economy.
HOSPITAL—Rockdale’s hospital began life as Richards Memorial Hospital in December, 1974, and ended it as Little River-Rockdale Hospital in December, 2018.
In September, Little River Health Care (LRHC) laid off a number of employees and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, announcing it intended to reorganize and keep open the hospital, two Rockdale clinics and facilities in other communities.
By December, circumstances went from bad to grim, then grave.
LRHC changed its bankruptcy from Chapter 11 (reorganize) to Chapter 7 (liquidate) and closed its facilities.
Reason given was failure to find a larger health care group to step in, affiliate with the local provider and keep facilities open.
But. Rockdale Hospital District directors and health care leaders here have remained adamant it’s not the end of health care in Rockdale and are working toward establishment of a clinic and emergency care facility sometime in 2019.
HELLO, GOODBYE—
In February, the Rockdale ISD announced it would construct a new, $5-million football field and do it without a tax increase.
Rockdale’s first new football facility in more than 80 years went up over the spring and summer.
On a perfect fall evening in late September, 500 excited sports fans flocked into the new facilities with big smiles on their faces.
A week later the defending state football champ-i0n Tigers hosted Manor New Tech and a new era was underway.
Sadly a new era also began in the Milam County Sheriff’s Department.
Longtime Sheriff David Greene sustained a massive heart attack June 26 while on a family vacation in Oregon.
Against all odds he struggled to survive for 24 days but finally succumbed July
20.
He returned home to Milam County in a massive display of affection along roads in several counties was buried after a funeral that drew more than 1,000 persons, including hundreds of law officers, in Belton’s Bell County Expo Center.
WATER—A front-page headline in the first Rockdale Reporter of the year read: “City to tangle with red water again in 2018.”
That proved to be prophetic.
With water leaks almost every week, by September City Manager Chris Whittaker was terming the city’s water system “failing.”
The problem got worse when, following a citizen complaint, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) ordered the city to install expensive equipment to correct a pH imbalance.
At year’s end the city was considering huge water and sewer rate increases to fund a $48-million-plus overhaul of the entire system.
CRIME—There were no capital murder trials in the Emily Hacker case in 2018 as delays have now pushed those court dates well into 2019.
But Rockdale had another capital murder case to deal with at year’s end as Shawn Vincent was arrested and indicted for the death of 20-month-old Patricia Ann “Annie” Rader in December.
Prosecutor Bill Torrey said he would seek the death penalty.
MONTH-BY-MONTH
Here’s a month-by month rundown of some of 2018’s top news stories as covered in The Reporter:
JANUARY—The power was turned off to Luminant’s two Sandow Power Plant Units at the Three Oaks Mine. The company was in the process of laying off over 300 employees, not counting numerous subcontractors....County Judge Dave Barkemeyer rejected a request by the City of Rockdale to reclaim some or all of a half cent sales tax that the county has been collecting for three decades....Rockdale did not “make the cut” in the short list to land Amazon’s proposed multi-billion-dollar second headquarters....Two former employees of the Milam County Tax Office faced criminal charges in connection with what investigators said were altered documents.
FEBRUARY—Rockdale’s Juvenile Justice Center got a new owner, Youth Opportunity Investments and resumed accepting inmates....About 500 persons packed the KC Hall for a banquet celebrating Rockdale’s 2017 state championship.
MARCH—The Rockdale ISD announced it was planning a new, $5-million football field without a tax increase. The biggest facilities change in 84 years of RHS athletics, the field was to be rotated 90 degrees to run north and south rather than east and west....Steve Young defeated former Milam County Judge Dr. Frank Summers to win the Republican nomination for county judge to replace Dave Barkemeyer who did not seek re-election. Young was to face Democrat Jared Melde in the general election in November....Other winners in contested races were: Linda Acosta, county treasurer; Donald Shuffield, Pct. 2 Commissioner; Greg Hoelscher, Pct. 1 J-P; Sam Berry, Pct. 2 J-P....A scammer hit the Rockdale ISD and appropriated data from about 350 W-2 forms....Winners at the annual Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet: Bob and Geri Burnett, citizens of the year; Pat and Charlie Watson, outstanding citizens; Brookshire Bros., business of the year; Milam County Child Protective Services, organization of the year; Betty Backhaus, ambassador of the year....The Milam County Sheriff’s Department seized $830,000 in cash answering a “parked car in the middle of the road” call to FM 1712. It was the largest cash seizure in county history.
APRIL—A former Milam County Jail inmate sued 10 individuals and Milam County as an entity, claiming he had been mistreated during a 2016 stay in the facility....More than 50 Rockdale High School students helped out in the annual Earth Day activities throughout town.
MAY—Former Milam County Treasurer Donna Orsag was assessed probation, a fine and restitution after an open plea to the court involving cash taken from a fund in the treasurer’s office....Winners in contested Rockdale city and school elections: Richard Coppedge and Jason Barcak for open seats on the city council and incumbent school trustee Julia Cardona...Highest-profile loser was a Thorndale ISD bond package proposal for a new high school and other changes to facilities....A settlement avoided a lawsuit against the City of Rockdale by a local church in connection with the placing of a water line 26 years ago....Troy Zinn was elected president of the Rock-dale ISD School Board....Hailey Wilson was valedictorian and Trinady Joslin salutatorian of the 99-member RHS graduating class of 2018.
JUNE—Milam County officials filed answers to the civil rights lawsuit filed by a former jail inmate....A $3.9-million price tag was placed on a proposal to renovate and restore the former City Hall, now being used as a police station....Famed African-American cowboy Bill Pickett was honored in a ceremony to place a storyboard in downtown Rockdale near the place he invented the rodeo sport of bulldogging in 1903....Milam County Deputy Sheriff Michael Heath was indicted for criminally negligent homicide in connection with the May 2 collision in Cameron which took the life of a Cameron civic leader....Katrina Douglas, former Milam jail captain was assessed probation and ordered to pay restitution after submitting an open plea to the court in connection with a theft charge.
JULY—A 22-year-old Rockdale woman died in a hanging incident in the city jail. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident....Ken Esten Cooke and Christine Granados were named co-publishers of The Rockdale Reporter....In an exclusive, The Reporter broke the story that cryptocurrentcy giant Bitmain was renovating the former Alcoa smelter to use as a “blockchain mining” industry. Bitmain is expected to bring 500 jobs to the area....Ground was broken on the $6.5-million, 84-bed Rockdale Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, expected to bring 100 jobs to Rockdale....Milam County Sheriff David Greene died in an Oregon hospital, 24 days after sustaining a massive heart attack while on a family vacation. Commissioners named Chief Deputy Chris White to replace him until an election could be held....Rockdale recorded a high of 111, two degrees short of its all-time high temperature in September, 2000.
AUGUST—With debts mounting, Little River Health Care—manager of Rockdale’s hospital and clinics, along with facilities in other locations—laid off a substantial number of employees and filed for bankruptcy. LRHC officials said they intended to work out a reorganization plan and remain open....Plummeting industrial values lowered the Rockdale ISD’s tax base by 35 percent. Milam County’s tax base was down 11 percent....With construction on the new stadium delayed by weather, the Rockdale ISD moved the first Tiger home game to Taylor and delayed the home opener until Oct. 5....Dr. John M. Weed retired after a 44-year medical career in Rockdale. A reception was held in a packed Patterson Civic Center....Milam County commissioners okayed a tax abatement agreement for the Bitmain cryptocurrency mining operation....Heat was said to be the cause of the death of a construction worker at the new football field site....A public meeting to gauge support for a proposed Sumuel Park splash pad, which had been put on hold due to economic concern, drew a crowd of 80, most of whom expressed strong support for the endeavor. The council later re-instated the project.
SEPTEMBER—The Texas Sunset Commission voted 11-0 to reject a plan which would have closed driver’s license renewal offices in Cameron, Taylor and 85 other offices throughout the state....Citing leaks, century old pipes and continuing red water problems, City Manager Chris Whittaker termed the city’s water system “failing.”....Gameplan Studios in Austin announced plans to expand its movie studio business to Rockdale. The studio had purchase property near I.O.O.F. Cemetery.... New Rockdale Reporter employees were Cassidy Paschall (ad sales) and Wynton Thomason (sports).
OCTOBER—Rockdale’s first Fall Music Festival downtown was a spectacular success with events focused on the Kay Theatre, Wolf Park and the International & Great Northern Depot-Museum....Destiny Arnold was crowned 2018 Miss Rockdale Fair Queen....Final totals from the 1015 Rockdale Fair: Livestock auction, $333,991; commercial heifers, $275,725; ag mechanics auction, $9,653; baked goods auction, $13,031; grand total, $632,400.
NOVEMBER—A Milam County Grand Jury no-billed (refused to indict) six current and former sheriff’s department employees over allegations made by a former prisoner.....Republican Steve Young won the Milam County Judge race, out-polling Democrat Jared Melde 5,418 to 2,513. It was the only countywide general election race although Milam voters did reject a proposition which would have given commissioners authority to increase taxes up to 30 cents for flood control and roads projects....The big story in Milam County elections was turnout, 53.5 percent surpassing the county’s record for “mid-term” balloting....Rockdale’s beleaguered water system was incurring even more expense after a citizen complaint resulted in a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality order to alter city water’s pH balance.... Brooks Haven Supportive Housing, a 30-unit complex in two east Rockdale locations, cleared a major administrative hurdle.
DECEMBER—In a not-unexpected—but nevertheless shocking,— move. Little River Health Care closed Rockdale’s hospital and clinics. However, hospital district officials remained optimistic some form of health care facilities would continue to serve Rockdale....Police charged 30-year-old Shawn Vincent Boniello with capital murder in the death of 20-month-old Patricia Ann “Annie” Rader. Prosecutor Bill Torrey said he would seek the death penalty....The city council discussed preparing the way for major water and sewer rate increases to combat the town’s “failing” water infrastructure....Logs to Lumber, a woodworking business on east US 79 was destroyed by fire.... Ford Motor Company filmed a Super Bowl commercial at three Rock-dale-area locations....Roxli Doss, an 11-year-old who was the subject of a community benefit in the KC Hall, was pronounced cancer-free, baffling some of the nation’s top physicians....A Rockdale man was arrested on child pornography (possession charges) after a five-month investigation by the Texas Attorney General’s office....Rockdale Reporter publisher emeritus John William “Bill” Cooke was selected for the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame.
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