Milam County COVID-19 deaths now at 11

A Milam county resident has died from COVID-19. "This makes the eleventh death since the pandemic began. This is a grim reminder of how fatal the virus actually is. Please be careful; wear your mask, keep your distance and wash your hands," County Judge Steve Young said in a news release.

Rockdale OKs equipment buy

The Rockdale City Council voted to purchase an asphalt zipper for the city at Monday night’s meeting in City Hall. The asphalt zipper makes quick work of repairing asphalt roadways.

Burn ban

The Milam County Commissioners voted to set a burn ban throughout the county at a meeting Dec. 14 in the Milam County Courthouse. The ban is in effect until further notice.

School holidays start on Friday

Schools in the Rockdale, Milano, Thorndale and Gause ISDs will end classes for the holidays Friday, according to the districts’ calendars. • Rockdale ISD students will return to class Jan. 5. • Thorndale ISD students will return Jan. 4. • Milano ISD students will return Jan. 5.

Students protest ‘racist’ incident at Rockdale High School

Students, some holding BLM signs, stood on the front steps of Rockdale High School, Friday morning in a misty rain to protest an incident at the school that ignited Facebook and Snapchat on Thursday night and into the next morning.

Rockdale, others battle grass fire

A spark from a welder’s torch accidentally set off a blaze that then burned more than 150 acres just outside of Rockdale between County Roads 334 and 326 on Thursday afternoon, according to Rockdale VFD Chief Ward Roddam.

COVID-19 claims 10th life; cases keep rising

COVID-19 took the life of another person last week bringing the count up to 10 in Milam County. The number of active cases did drop in the past week, but the positivity rate is still a quarter of the county residents overall.

Street Ministry brings aid, opens new store to help funding

Jason Hale, a retired youth minister and teacher, founded Street Ministries in 2018 with the goal of helping the homeless get back on their feet and others facing temporary set backs to stay on their feet.

Fishing for souls

When we lived in Denver a million years ago (before my call to the ministry) I became intrigued with fly fishing. We would drive to the mountains and see guys fishing in creeks by the road. Romantic to say the least.

Dips, appetizers for your Christmas dinner

Noelia and I were doing some Christmas food planning recently and we decided to have one meal of just appetizers. A Dip-mas if you will. I think we’ll make a charcuterie board, stuffed jalapeños (one of Noelia’s family recipes), stuffed mushrooms and this crab dip.