In it for the long haul

As it has become increasingly obvious, the battle against COVID-19 is a marathon, not a mile run, Rockdale and Milam County residents are becoming used to their new routines. Some of the week’s developments: • It looks like school classes are over for 2019- 2020.

Drive-up Easter

It was the most unique Easter in Rockdale history Sunday with social-distancing order in place. First Christian Church held a “drive-up” services, totally within the guidelines set down by county commissioners and Gov. Greg Abbott.

Coping with COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic situation is affecting many places in the county, some obvious and some not quite as obvious. Country Meadows Clinic in Thorndale, which is testing the public for the disease, has recently installed a new testing booth at the facility.

Local women die in FM 487 crash

Two Rockdale woman died last Wednesday afternoon as the result of a tw0-vehicle accident on a rural road northwest of town. According to the Department of Public Safety, 37-year-old Kymber Barton was pronounced dead at the scene of the 11:56 a.m. collision by Justice of the Peace Gary Northcott.

Scary storm fells trees, twister not confirmed

As if Rockdale residents didn’t have enough reasons to be anxious. A frightening looking thunderstorm rumbled through town on Thursday afternoon, blowing down trees and briefly turning many streets into streams.

Dear reader: the newspaper needs your help

As the longest-serving news source creating original content for our community, we are finding ourselves needing to reach out and ask for your support to continue our mission.

On Easter memories and hair mishaps

Even though many of us did not get to have the Easter we had originally planned, I hope everyone had a nice one. It was much quieter at our house than it normally would have been since it was just Mom, Dad and me.

We must all keep up the fight in Milam County

Now is not the time to let our guard down. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation now projects that the number of confirmed death cases in Texas will peak on April 24 with 2,042 cases. This is about 10 times the number of death cases we currently have in the state.

Looking back... Through The Reporter Files

100 YEARS AGO.... A Milam County jury handed down a two-year sentence after it found E. L. Ramsey guilty of the murder of A. Teagel Sr. in Thorndale. There was a new venture in the Tracy Oil Field.

Not this year

Except for back-yard gatherings of families sheltering-in-place, these were about the only Easter eggs to be found in Rockdale this spring. Large, public hunts were not held due to the COVID-19 Social Distancing order. That meant no hunt at Fair Park.