Columns & Opinions

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Looking back...

News Staff

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 11:50

100 YEARS AGO County Engineer Mitchell was here from ae3ron Tuesday looking into the matter of removal of poles of the Texas Power and Light Company’s high line from the new highway right-of-way west of town.

Self-portrait drawing by Kacy Brown, a 2025-26 eighth-grader in Art II at Rockdale Junior High School.

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An injury and a very old dog

Kyle Cooke

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 11:50

We are keeping Noelia’s very old dog, Che s t e r, f o r a while. He will lie in bed for two full days and then he wants to go for a walk on the third day. Saturday was the third day, so we went walking.

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Grant changes

News Staff

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:38

Rockdale MDD Board of Directors voted in May to rename its f lagship grant program to the Business Investment Incentive Grant (BIIG). “The MDD created the façade grant years ago and recently expanded it,” said RMDD Executive Director Jim Gibson.

Self-portrait drawing by Ariana Mora Romo, an eighth-grader in Art II at Rockdale Junior High School.

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We had a very newsy weekend

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:38

We h ad anot he r house full of people last weekend at our annual shrimp boil that we use to celebrate both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Everything was delicious and we ate too much as usual. Niece Kennedy was there with her fiancé, Derek Hsu.

Reform in Texas Appraisal Districts

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Reform in Texas Appraisal Districts

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:38

This week, I’ll be meeting with a group of judges from House District 17 to discuss priorities for the next legislative cycle and the issues we believe need to be addressed.

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LOOKING BACK

News Staff

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:38

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO 100 YEARS AGO Friday evening, May 28th, will see the close of a very successful session of Rockdale Public School, when 42 seniors, the largest class in the history of the institution, will be graduated from the local high school.

The wedding luggage

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The wedding luggage

He Told Me To Tell You That Ken Ansell

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:38

The Blonde and I were high school sweethearts, and we could not wait to be married, to be grown up - whatever that meant in 1982. Next to Jesus she is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Stay where God put you

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Stay where God put you

Hidden In Christ With God Greg Nichols

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:38

Aclose friend recently shared with me a dream he had the night before. (This is true.) He dreamed he was floating down a river into the sea. He told God that he was tired of this and wanted to be somewhere else.

Self-portrait drawing by Jacie Hartley, an eighth-grader in Art II at Rockdale Junior High School.

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A busy weekend in Rockdale

Kyle Cooke

Wed, 05/13/2026 - 10:33

We had a nice weekend with lots of visitors for Mother’s Day and lots of food, of course. Ken and Christine put their house up for sale in Fredericksburg and are doing some traveling since they haven’t heard anything about the jobs they’ve applied for.

JUDGE’S COMMENTS

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Rural Texas must have a voice in Austin

Bill Whitmire

Wed, 05/13/2026 - 10:33

As we move closer to the 2027 legislative session, there are several key issues already taking shape. Next week, I will have the opportunity to sit down with the House District 17 judges, along with our State Representative, Stan Gerdes.