West joins Abbott, Huffines in governor’s race primary

Ex-Texas GOP Chairman Allen West announced on Independence Day that he is running for governor, challenging incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott in the Republican primary. Abbott now will face West and former state Sen. Don Huffines in the 2022 primary.

Abbott lays out agenda for special session that begins Thursday

Gov. Greg Abbott gave legislators their agenda Wednesday the day before the start of the special session he called for last month.

DPS to beef up patrols over holiday

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be increasing the number of Texas Highway Patrol Troopers on the road from Friday, July 2, through Monday, July 5, as part of Operation CARE (Crash Awareness Reduction and Effort) and Operation Holiday.

Holiday closings

Since July 4 is on a Sunday this year local, county, state and federal offices will be closed Monday, the day after the July 4 holiday, in commemoration of the event. Area banks will also close Monday. The Rockdale Reporter office will be closed Friday for the holiday.

County grants abatements for solar projects

Milam County commissioners voted to create reinvestment zones and to adopt tax abatements for four proposed solar energy projects around the county Monday after a public hearing on the matter in the county courthouse.

Crop tour 2021

Photo left and bottom left: The annual Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension crop tour was last Friday with discussions on corn and grain sorghum, replicated agronomic cotton evaluation trials and integrated weed management on acreage in Milam County.

Depot in Rockdale offers adventures right in town

Editor’s note: This is another in The Reporter’s occasional series of day trips two hours or less from Rockdale: Sometimes day trips are no farther than your own backyard or, well, maybe a little farther like just downtown.

New MDD executive director starts July 6

After months of no director, litigation and an interim director, the MDD board of directors announced Monday at a meeting it has named a new director who will start work July 6.

Rockdale adding Code Red to emergency notifications

Many Rockdale residents have noticed that around 6 p.m. every day there is no sound of sirens going off and there hasn’t been since the winter season. That is because the four sirens aligned along US 79 that used to ring out tests or warning have been silenced for now.

Keep God first

I have shared that Christianity is not easy. Jesus told us in Matthew 7:14 that the “way is hard.” It ought to be the hardest job you’ve got but I also think that we make it harder than it has to be. Let me give you an example. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “...seek first the kingdom of God...