Milam County will be at 50% capacity Wednesday because of COVID-19

As of Wednesday businesses in Milam County will be required to reduce their current occupancy rate from 75% to 50%. Bars will be required to close. Milam County has become an area of “high hospitalization” as defined by Governor Abbott’s Executive Order 32.

Milam appraiser is leaving office

Milam Appraisal District Chief Appraiser, Dyann White, a resident of Rockdale, is set to leave effective Jan. 4, 2021.

Holiday closings

Here are closings for New Year’s Day: • City Hall and the City Library will be closed Friday. • County offices will be closed Friday • Post office will be closed Friday. • Banks and the credit union will be closed Friday • The Rockdale Reporter will be closed Thursday and Friday.

COVID-19 vaccine supply arrives in city

Around 0ne hundred doses of the Moderna vaccine arrived in Rockdale at the One Stop Clinic on Tuesday. The Milam County Health Department will begin giving shots to healthcare workers Thursday in Cameron, health officials said Tuesday.

County positivity rate at 30 percent

The COVID-19 positivity rate is at 30 percent in Milam County. However, the vaccine is here and while the vaccination is not mandatory, officials are “strongly recommending” people get a shot. THE NUMBERS—COVID-19 cases this week have been measured Wednesday to Tuesday.

Residents, businesses can help Milam County get more connected

There is still plenty of time to get connected by filling out a form about improving internet service in Milam County.

President signs COVID bill

Six days after both sides of the Capitol overwhelmingly came together to pass a COVID-19 relief package, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law Sunday. The House approved it Dec. 20 on a 359-53 vote and sent it on to the Senate where it passed 92-6 on Dec. 21 before midnight.

Rockdale, Milam stay ahead of last year’s sales tax rebates

In November both Rockdale and Milam County continue to outpace last year’s sale tax rebate numbers despite the otherwise depressing effects of COVID-19 on the economy. Rockdale tallied $67,559 in sales tax returns from the state comptroller’s office, while Milam County received $89,973.

Hearing planned for water district

The Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 to get public comments on the proposed Desired Future Conditions for the area aquifers that were recently adopted by Groundwater Management Area 8 under 36.108, Texas Water Code.

NEWSBRIEFS

Sam Houston State Fall 2020 graduates The following area students received degrees during the 2020 Fall semester at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Brenten Drummond, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Fredrick Henderson, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, both of Rockdale.