Black-eyed peas and special dessert for 2021

It is hereby decreed by the authority invested in me that you have to eat blackeyed peas on New Year’s Day and I don’t want to hear any bellyaching about it. I don’t think enough of you ate them last year because…2020. So I’m going to tell you how I make and eat them.

GAUSE NEWS

Happy New Year! I’ve always said the older you get the faster time passes and, believe me, that is a true statement! Our family gathered at the Coopers Christmas Day and had a wonderful time as we always do. Lots of visiting and plenty of good food to eat. We are very blessed.

COVID-19 vaccinations have arrived

I am happy to report that the COVID-19 vaccine is now in Milam County. We received our first shipment of 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday in Rockdale. The Milam County Health Department has begun administering the drug.

Brookshire Brothers has forms to fill out for vaccine, so do not call

Brookshire Brothers has been overloaded with calls about the COVID-19 vaccine. The pharmacy's waiting list is already longer than the first round supply of shots can can handle. So do not call the pharmacy there. Instead print this form, fill it out and take it to Brookshire Brothers on U.S.

COVID-19 positivity rate at 30 percent

There were 74 individuals tested in Thorndale with 36 positive results. That was the most people tested tested in Thorndale in a single day.  In the past 29 days of testing 1,268 individuals have been tested with 382 positive results, with an overall positivity rate of 30%.

49 COVID-19 positives found in Rockdale

Ninety-six individuals were tested in Rockdale and forty-nine were positive, which is a 51% positivity rate. In the past 28 days of testing we have now tested 1,194 individuals with 346 positive results, with an overall positivity rate of 29%.

MDD board fills offices

The Rockdale MDD board, meeting the first time since a judge shut it down last month, hired the Central Texas Council of Governments at a special meeting Monday night to be the interim manager for the Municipal Development District.

Holiday closings

Here are closings for Christmas: • City Hall and the City Library will be closed both Thursday and Friday. • County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. • Post Office will be closed Friday. • Rockdale Federal Credit Union will close early Thursday and be closed all day Friday.

COVID-19 takes 11th Milam County life

COVID-19 took another Milam County resident last week lifting the county’s death toll to 11. The county’s positivity rate is up to 27% while the county’s number of cases has returned to its record high. There are currently 142 cases in the county.

Christmas by night and day

The two photos show a Rockdale house in the 400 block of San Gabriel Street adorned for the Christmas season. The homeowners went all out decorating with lights, stars, snow men, snow flakes, wreaths and bows, a big toy soldier and, of course, Santa Claus.