Look up, look down, all around in Austin

Editor’s note: Here is an entertaining, educational and relaxing way to spend a few hours in the state’s capital. There are a lot of things to see and do in nearby Austin and these three places put together would make for an interesting day in the big city.

Texas House Democrats leave Austin creating lack of quorum in the Capitol

Most of the Democrats in the Texas House branch of the legislature left Austin for Washington, D.C., where they landed Monday night. The Democrats left to deny the House a quorum in an effort to keep the Republican’s bid to pass legislation dealing with voting requirements in the state.

City Council takes steps to annex Industrial Park into city limits

Monday night in City Hall, Rockdale City Council members approved the first reading of an ordinance that would put a little over 55 acres inside the city limits.

Digging a Waco day trip

The Mammoth National Monument in Waco is the only recorded site of a nursery herd of Pleistocene mammoths in the country, according to the National Parks Service. It is a few miles from downtown Waco on Steinbeck Road.

Farmers’ Market is now every Saturday morning

The Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is holding a farmers’ market on the grounds of the of the historic Coffield Stone Tree House at 1203 W Cameron. The market is held each Saturday from now until the end of October. The hours are 8 a.m. to noon.

Yard of the Month looking for contenders

Spring is upon us, and Rockdale Earth Day is looking for yards in the community, to consider for “Yard of the Month.” The program will be implemented for this month and the next two months of the year.

Police make 5 felony arrests

Police made five felony arrests over the past week with one being a 43-yearold man from Austin. Officer Jeremiah Harden made the arrest July 7 at 9:15 a.m.

RISD school board makes 2 hires

The Rockdale Independent School District board of trustees on July 5 approved the hiring of Sarah Scott as assistant principal at Rockdale Junior High School for the 2021-2022 school year.

Bill would benefit school retirees

Retired public school teachers, administrators, and staff would get a 13th check this year under a bill approved unanimously by the Senate Finance Committee last week. SB 7, by Sen.

Survey: Drinks with pals after work on decline

Having a couple drinks with colleagues after a long day at the office used to be ritual for many Americans prior to the pandemic.