It’s usually the second busiest time of year in Rockdale, behind only the holiday period stretching from mid-October through December.
April and May that is.
But this year those two months are virtually barren of many events which have been highlights of the year for a large number of residents.
You know the reason, of course. It’s COVID-19.
Saturday night’s Junior-Senior Prom was postponed, joining a long list of events which have either been canceled or postponed.
Many others are in jeopardy as April prepares to ease into May, a month chock full of end-ofschool year activities.
Here’s a partial list of what’s missing, or already been missed, just in April and May:
• Earth Day has turned into “Earth Hours.” Many activities were scheduled around the actual Earth Day April 22 (Wed. 22), but the effort relies heavily on students and schools are closedfor the remainder of the term.
Dave Melton, organizer, said the observance will take new forms throughout the year with “quarantine teams” already at work. See page 5A.
• The annual Spring Stash Your Trash Day, which would have taken place April 25 at Fair Park has been postponed to a later date.
That’s where city residents can bring large items and tree limbs for disposal.
• The Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fund-raiser/prize giveaway night at the KC Hall, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed to Aug. 29.
• Alpha Tau Delta sorority’s annual Dewberry Run, and Children’s Run was to have been held May 3. It has been canceled.
• Rockdale, and area, city council and school board elections—and a couple of special elections—have been postponed to the general election day, Nov. 3.
The special elections will ask Rockdale voters whether they want to expand the boundaries of the Rockdale Hospital District to those of the Rockdale ISD and whether the city should convey Fair Park to the Rockdale Fair Association.
• April 24-26 would have been the annual visit of the South Texas Longhorn Association to Fair Park, but it wouldn’t have happened even without COVID-19.
The longhorn group, saying it has outgrown Fair Park, moved the annual event to Llano.
Where it was, of course, canceled.
• In 2019 a highly-successful moot court, pitting students from county high schools in realistic “trial” situations was held the last week of April in the Milam County Courthouse.
The 2020 event has been, at the very least, postponed, according to County Judge Steve Young. “Maybe this fall,” he said.
• Easter-time events which have already gone by the boards included the Rockdale Ministerial Alliance’s noon Holy Week services and the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce’s giant Easter Egg Hunt at Fair Park.
• In jeopardy, or emerging in a different form, are many end-of-school events including banquets, the parade of bands, RHS Awards Ceremony and, of course, graduation for the Class of 2020.
It’s scheduled for May 29.
MARC RIDE CANCELED—The 19th annual MARC Ride, to benefit the Milam Adult Resource Center, has been canceled.
That event was to have been held June 13, beginning and ending at The Ranch.
Charles Starr, organizer, said Summer Camp and Dream Week for MARC consumers has also been canceled.
“This is probably the best thing we can do without trying to push it out to another date and having it be a flop with everything else going on,” Starr said. “We will come back bigger and stronger next year.”
He noted donations may still be made to MARC at 1705 Pecos, Rockdale, TX 76567, or call Starr at 512- 540-2561.
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