Columns & Opinions

Poetry that has changed my life

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Poetry that has changed my life

Hidden In Christ With God Greg Nichols

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 09:56

As the new year is upon us, may I share with you two pieces of poetry that have always blessed and challenged my perspective on life and the meanings life may have. The first was composed by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Bless our emergency responders

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Bless our emergency responders

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 09:56

Ihad intended to open the 2026 newspaper article season with a recap of the 2025 year in county government; and I actually already wrote the article last week, but then something happened.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

New Year’s resolutions

News Staff

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 09:56

To deepen your New Year’s resolutions, make them specific and meaningful (your “why”), break them into small, actionable steps, track progress with a journal, find supportive accountability partners, and build them into daily habits, forgiving slip-ups along the way for real, lasting change.

‘Ancient Egyptian tomb’ artwork by Marshall McQuinn, a sixth-grade Intro to Art student in Rockdale Junior High School.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

The birth of Jesus and a few other births

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 09:56

We had such a nice Christmas with almost all family members present. We had 10 at every meal and boy did we feast. Our family is more about food than presents these days. Daniel Willie gave us two smoked turkey breasts and smoked is mom’s favorite. We enjoyed that.

Good luck food for 2026

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Good luck food for 2026

Kyle’s Kitchen Kyle Cooke

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 09:56

I’m giving you a fairly standard black-eyed pea recipe so you’ll have good luck in 2026. The most important part, in my opinion, is to use some sort of smoked meat: ham hocks, sausage, turkey necks, ham, slab bacon, etc. It just needs to be smoked.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Looking back...

News Staff

Tue, 12/23/2025 - 11:24

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO 100 YEARS AGO A most fitting entertainment, appropriate to the Christmas season, was the dinner party given by Mr. And Mrs. W.E. White last Friday evening to the “Ye Merrie Wives” and a few additional guests.

Christmas in Milam County

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Christmas in Milam County

Judge’s Comments Bill Whitmire

Tue, 12/23/2025 - 11:24

Christmas in Milam County has always been about more than decorations and gifts. It is a season defined by community, tradition and the quiet strength of small towns that know how to come together when it matters most.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Santa Claus

News Staff

Tue, 12/23/2025 - 11:24

Once upon a time, long before the jolly man in red with a belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly, there was a kind-hearted bishop named Nicholas. His story begins in a small town called Myra, which is now part of modern-day Turkey.

‘Ancient Egyptian tomb’ artwork by Niobe Silva, a sixthgrade Intro to Art student in Rockdale Junior High School.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Our annual tamalada was a lot of fun

Falling Far From The Tree Kyle Cooke

Tue, 12/23/2025 - 11:24

We had our annual tamalada at Noelia’s house on Saturday night with a special guest: my friend Antoinette “Toni” Martinez, who had never been to a tamalada. And in case there are any readers who don’t know what a tamalada is, it’s a party where you make tamales.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Holiday grief

News Staff

Wed, 12/17/2025 - 10:46

Local pastor on finding hope in grief during the holidays E arly the summer of 2010 my grandmother and I decided that my birthday that year would be extra significant. We shared a love of the classic Thanksgiving meal: turkey, all the sides, and a slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.