QUICK LOOK

City, county continue 2019 tax hearings The City of Rockdale and Milam County Commissioners will hold meetings during the rest of the month to accept public comments on their respective tax rates and budgets. Rockdale City Council members will hold the second of two hearings at 5:30 p.m.

Plea: ‘Don’t tax (only) us’

Speakers at Thursday’s public hearing on health care and hospital district taxes covered a variety of issues but the consensus was clear. They want certain kinds of health care but don’t want more property taxes.

GETTING CLOSER

Work continues at the new splash pad in Sumuel Park. Walkways and other concrete for the facility were poured on Monday. The circular splash pad itself was poured last month. City Manager Chris Whittaker said electrical work is next for the project that’s been long-awaited by east-side residents.

RISD drops tax rate 4 cents

As expected, Rockdale RISD school trustees on Monday dropped the school district tax rate just over four cents. Board members, meeting in regular session in the Central Administration Building, okayed a $1.3183 tax rate. That’s down 4.165 cents from the current rate of $1.36. “It’s actually even .

Second 50-year term in murder

CAMERON—A 32-year-old Caldwell man has become the second person to receive a 50-year prison term in connection with the 2017 beating death of 34-year-old Emily Hacker in Rockdale. Edward Brannon Barry received that sentence Friday from 20th District Judge John Youngblood.

Solid ‘B’ for Rockdale ISD in annual ‘report card’

The Rockdale ISD got a nice back-to-school “present” last week as the Texas Education Association issued its annual accountability ratings. Ratings are now identical to student report cards, A-F, with numerical “grades” corresponding with the familiar letter grades.

WATER SUMMIT

The Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District (POSGCD) hosted the annual water summit last Wednesday before a full house in the Caldwell Civic Center.

Sunday crash fatal to Rockdale man

A 38-year-old Rockdale man died Sunday night in a highway accident south of Rockdale on US 77. According to the Department of Public Safety, Jason Kelley was pronounced dead at the scene, 5.8 miles south of Rockdale by Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Andy Isaacs.

More ‘junkyard’ charges result in arrest of property owner

CAMERON—The owner of what has been ruled a “junkyard” on East Cameron Avenue in Rockdale was back in court Monday, where he was convicted in a jury trial and then taken to jail.