CTFB visit set Thursday at KC Hall parking lot
The final Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) Mobile Food Pantry distribution of July in the KC Hall parking lot will be held on Thursday, according to Rockdale Christian Services Chair Pam Warren.
Distributions are held the first and third Thursdays of each month. Hours are 9 to 11 a.m.
“As with previous distributions, this will be a drivethrough model with the clients remaining in their vehicles to maintain social distancing,” she said.
Volunteer helpers must wear masks.
Warren said there would be no public restrooms available at Thursday’s distribution.
Commissioners press on with hospital plans
CAMERON—Milam County Commissioners, meeting Monday in the county courthouse, took steps to continue their acquisition of Cameron’s former hospital.
County Judge Steve Young said an appraisal in connection with the plans is expected to cost about $15,000. He said it is hoped renova
He said it is hoped renovations on the former hospital professional building, which is to be used as an urgent care center, can begin about Aug 1.
The main building is to be used as a “one stop center’ for a number of Milam County offices including the county clerk, tax collector, prosecutor, veterans assistance office, constables, Texas Agri-Life Extension Service, adult probation, juvenile probation, constables, Bea’s Kitchen, The HOP transportation and others.
Young told commissioners he was “encouraged” that the county will get $5.5-million for the renovation as requested from the Economic Development Administration.
In other business, commissioners:
• Honored the Milam County Historical Association for receiving a Distinguished Service Award.
• Okayed state grant funding of $538,000 for road maintenance.
• Endorsed $1,570 in Hill Country Community Action Association for home-delivered meals.
Food Pantry closing for rest of month
Rockdale Christian Services Food Pantry, which had been scheduled to be open on Thursday and Friday, will instead close for the remainder of the month.
“We have made the difficult decision to close during the month of July to protect our volunteers and community from the risk of COVID-19 exposure,” Pam Warren, RCS president, said.
Fire calls listed for area volunteer departments
Fire calls dispatched from the Rockdale Police Department during the past month included:
• 2:59 a.m. Thursday, railroad tie on fire, Union Pacific track, US 79 at County Road 434, Thorndale VFD.
• 5:05 a.m. Thursday, small fire on Union Pacific Railroad tracks across from Nat’s, Milano VFD.
• 7:22 a.m. Thursday, small fire on Union Pacific Railroad tracks, 2500 block of West US 79, west of Rockdale, Rockdale VFD.
• 3:03 p.m. Thursday, power lines down on CR 364, small fire, Milano VFD.
• 12:07 a.m. Friday, small fire near previous call off CR 364, Milano VFD.
• 6:42 a.m., gas leak, 300 block of Fourth Avenue, Rockdale VFD, police and Atmos Energy. • 7:03 a.m. Sunday, hay
• 7:03 a.m. Sunday, hay bales on fire, one mile north of Thorndale, FM 486, Thorndale VFD.
• 12:03 p.m. Monday, gas leak, 1700 block of Pecos, Rockdale VFD. (See photo, page 3A).
Stash Your Trash may be re-scheduled by city
The annual spring Stash Your Trash event in Rockdale, which was canceled earlier this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, may be rescheduled later in the year, according to City Manager Barbara Holly.
She also said Waste Connections, the city’s trash pickup service, has advised it is staying in Phase Two—relatively low-impact on customers—rather than returning to the more restrictive Phase Three under which it operated in April and May.
“Normal service is in effect for Phase Two,” she said. “But if it goes back to Phase Three, we will request the return of a self-service dumpster at the Mill Street Yard (location of the downtown water tower).”
“This would be accessible to Rockdale residents during regular business hours for overflow household trash only,” she said.
Holly cautioned that although normal trash collection services are in effect during Phase Two some delays may still occur due to staggered times of personnel assigned by the collection company.
Thorndale City okays increases in rates
THORNDALE—City council members in Thorndale, meeting last Wednesday in regular session, okayed ordinances increasing water and sewer rates and appointed a new city council member.
James Davis was named a new council member to fill the unexpired term of Stephanie Churchman.
Churchman’s resignation was accepted at the meeting.
In other business, the council:
• Okayed Donald Allman as city auditor.
• Approved a water rights lease agreement.
• Okayed a speed bump for Weise Street.
CITY HALL CLOSED— Council members were advised City Hall is closed until Monday due to the COVID-19 situation.
For water/sewer problems call Keith Kiesling at 512- 269-9143. For City Hall and billing questions call Stacy Irwin at 512-269-7953.
Social distancing goes into effect for band
Summer band practice gets under way Monday for the RHS Big Blue Band and it’s no surprise there will be some changes.
Director Adrian Acevedo said summer band activities are only for those students participating in fall marching band.
He said the band hall will not be open for students to congregate before or after school.
“Every day the band will meet outside on the practice field,” he said. Student “expectations” include:
• Abide by social distancing.
• Do not share anything or make contact with anyone before, during or after practice.
• Use hand sanitizer (provided) and wash hands frequently.
• Abide by arrival and departure procedures as directed.
• Upon arrival, students will receive instructions as to where to place their belongings.
• At the conclusion of practices, students will be dismissed at different times to place their belongings in lockers and leave the building.
See full summer schedules on page 2B.
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