News

Clinic: 16.9-cent tax rate eyed

Rockdale’s going to get a new clinic. Rockdale may get a “new” property tax, too. Members of the Rockdale Hospital District met Monday and voted unanimously to propose a 16.9-cent property tax to fund the district’s share of the new HealthPoint/CHI-St.

Dispatched

A trip to a Rockdale store for the police department’s dispatcher administrator turned into something much bigger last week, ending with the arrest of two men and the seizure of cash, drugs and weapons. Ofc.

50-year sentence for first defendant

CAMERON—The first of four defendants in the 2017 murder of Emily Hacker in Rockdale received a 50-year sentence Thursday in 20th District Court. That’s what the prosecution had sought for 32-year-old Candice Nicole Jones of Rockdale.

Thorndale raid nets stolen items Sunday

One person has been charged and at least two more arrests are anticipated after the Milam County Sheriff’s Department broke up what they termed a “major theft ring” in Thorn-dale.

STEELWORKERS PICNIC

STEELWORKERS PICNIC—There was lots of food and fellowship Saturday when United Steelworkers Local 4895 held its annual picnic at The Ranch.

Boniello hearing, trial dates slated

Pre-trial hearing and trial dates have been rescheduled in the capital murder case of a 20-month-old Rockdale girl. Shawn Vincent Boniello, also known as Shayla Angeline Boniello, is charged in connection with the death of Patricia Ann “Annie” Rader on Dec. 3, 2018, in a San Gabriel Street home.

NEWSBRIEFS

Three injured Saturday in Gause highway crash GAUSE—Three persons were taken to a hospital Saturday night after a two-vehicle collision in Gause. State Trooper Michael Tice said the accident occurred at 9:40 p.m. at the intersection of US 79 and FM 2095.

15 sentenced in district court

CAMERON—Fifteen persons were sentenced recently in 20th District Court, according to Prosecutor Bill Torrey. He listed case dispositions as follows: • Charles Glenn Bradford, 21, Rockdale, three-year prison term after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with deadly weapon.

Two accidents in week

Rockdale Police made a couple of arrests last week after a dispatcher supervisor spotted a couple of suspected shoplifters at Tractor Supply. (See story and photo, page 1A). ACCIDENTS–Police investigated a pair of accidents during the reporting period. According to police, at 9:18 p.m.

WORK DAYS

WORK DAYS—The Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department had a couple of preventative maintenance work days during the past week at the RVFD Fire Station, corner of Wilcox and Bell.