Hemp effort picks industrial park

A pair of entrepreneurs who plan to bring an industrial hemp industry to Rockdale have selected a site in the Rockdale Industrial Park. And its CEO says the facility could be up and running as soon as September.

SUMMER FUN

—What better place to be in a Texas July than watching a movie in air conditioned comfort. The Kay Theatre hosted showings of “Sing” on Friday, enjoyed (obviously by youngsters in the morning and by all ages in the evening. There’s another movie scheduled this Thursday.

Bitmain powers up, temporary jobs offered

The power went on at Bit-main’s cryptocurrency mining operation at the former Rockdale smelter Friday morning. Bitmain is now accepting employment applications for some temporary jobs at the Central Texas Workforce Center-Rockdale.

Murder sentence sessions scheduled

Two persons who made an open plea to the court in April to the 2017 beating death of Rock-dale resident Emily Hacker will learn their fates over the next two weeks. John Young-blood, 20th District Court Judge, is scheduled to sentence Candice Nicole Jones, 32, of Rock-dale, on Thursday.

Summer interns work on marketing

Rockdale’s City Hall has two new faces this summer with marketing interns Sonja Rubio and Jason Winkler at the offices. “I was able to hire two interns for the summer,” said Curah Beard, Marketing Director for the City of Rockdale.

RIBBON CUTTING

—Rockdale Chamber of Commerce officials recently held a ribbon cutting for Cooper Tire, located at 1006 E. Cameron (US 79). Business owners and employees were on hand along with Chamber representatives.

No county tax increase forecast

CAMERON—It appears there will not be a county tax increase from the current 73-cent rate in the 2020 budget, even though some salary increases will be proposed. “Things are looking up,” Milam County Judge Steve Young said, after Monday’s final budget workshop.

NEWSBRIEFS

New student signup ahead in Rockdale ISD The Rockdale ISD has announced dates for new student registration for the 2019-2020 school term. New students may register, at all four campuses during these dates and hours: • July 31—8 a.m. to 12-noon, 1 to 4 p.m. • Thursday—10 a.m. to 12-noon, 1 to 6:30 p.

Trustees eye 2019-20 term

Rockdale Independent School District’s board of trustees met Monday in regular session and discussed changes going into the 2019-2020 school year.

Abandoned dogs rescued by police

POLICE REPORT Rockdale police rescued what they said were three dogs left abandoned by their owners in two incidents during the week. Lt. Stephen Goodrich said police found two unattended dogs in a room at the Budget Inn.