Early deadlines for next paper

With the July Fourth holiday there will be some significant deadline changes for next week’s Reporter. It will come out Tuesday, July 2, instead of the normal Wednesday. It will still be dated for the usual Thursday, July 5. All deadlines are moved up one day.

‘Spirit of 76’ (cookers) in Thorndale

One weekend away from the Fourth of July, it seemed appropriate there were 76 entries in the 28th annual Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department Barbecue Cookoff over the weekend. Taylor’s Czexicans won top honors, compiled from results of all categories. Pitmaster was Terry Skrhak.

We’re in his vision

ASt. Louis firefighter tells about battling a four-alarm fire that was destroying a big, two-story home in that city. Everyone in the family had made it out to safety when suddenly without warning the smallest boy remembered something he had forgotten.

ROCKDALE CHRISTIAN SERVICES

RCS food pantry Rockdale Christian Services operates a food pantry at 224 West Cameron Avenue, open 10 a.m. until noon weekdays. Donations of non-perishable food items are welcome, especially one-pound bags of rice, pinto beans, macaroni and cheese, canned soups and peanut butter.

CHURCH NEWS

The Reporter welcomes news of special events at local area churches. Email bill@rockdalereporter.com or fax to 512-446-5317. Liberty homecoming, cemetery meeting Sunday The annual Liberty Homecoming and Cemetery Association meeting will be held Sunday, July 1, according to Judy York, secretary.

St. John’s to welcome new pastor Sunday

St. John’s United Methodist Church will welcome a new pastor Sunday, Rev. John Sea-ton. His wife Reagan, also a Methodist minister, will pastor churches at Lexington and Blue. Their sons are Joshua, 8, and James, 6.

God pushes us out of our comfort zone

I’m a fan of the comfort zone. It’s one of the struggles man has with God. What I mean by that is God is always pushing me out of my comfort zone because He knows it leads to complacency.

ROYALTY

—Here’s the new Miss Thorndale (Ashton Kiesling, at center) and her court from Thursday’s Thorndale Revue which began the Thorndale Barbecue Cookoff.

MEADOWBROOK BIBLE SCHOOL

—Meadowbrook Baptist Church hosted Vacation Bible School last week, with the theme “Lifeway’s Game On.” Forty-one children attended along with 33 adult and teen volunteers.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Reporter welcomes news of special events from area organizations. Email bill@rockdalereporter.com or fax to 512-446-5317. Alcoa Retirees to meet at Thorndale VFW hall Next meeting of the Alcoa Retirees organization will be in Thorndale at the VFW Hall at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept.