News

The 5th annual Mardi Gras bash will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at Simon George Hall, 401 S. Karnes, in Cameron. 

The event, which will start at 6 p.m., will include a Cajun food dinner, auctions including a gun raffle and activities for the kids. Adult tickets are $10 and children under 18 are $5. 

Tickets may be purchased at the Milam County Extension Office in Cameron, the Rockdale Reporter, and Rodenbeck Farm & Ranch in Thorndale.

Organizers of this year’s Mardi Gras Bash have announced some of this year’s auction items which include an aerial tour of Cameron in a Cessna 182 donated by Ranspot-Cobb Flying Service. Other items include a prime rib dinner for 15 donated by Jerry and Agnes Kostroun, a Spider-Man V6 Power Wheels toy and a box of Black Label Cigars worth $250 donated by Stephanie Varga. 

A severe storm with high winds raced through Milam County overnight leaving several without power and multiple downed powerlines and debris across the county.

Cameron residents on the north side of town are still without power after high winds knocked down and tree and power lines near the Arlidge Storage Units along Highway 77.

A Tornado Warning was issued about 1a.m. on Feb. 20.

Power was out for the entire town of Thorndale this morning with some debris being reported. 

According to MIlam County Sheriff David Greene Facebook page several roads throughout the county are closed due to storm damage.

There are power lines down all over the county with some being reported on the highways. Please avoid any traffic on our roads unless absolute emergency.

These areas are currently closed:

- 486 south of 486-487 intersection is closed due to down power lines.

- 908 around Apache Pass is closed

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

Milam County Commissioners reinstated the burn ban for the county during their meeting Feb. 13.

Commissioners approved the request from Cameron Fire Chief Henry Horelica due to the extensive amount of dry grass in the county. He said there have been several grass fires due to people burning trash and things over the past several weeks.

“Even with a significant amount of rain here in the county, there is an extensive amount of dry grass in Milam County,” he said. 

Agricultural and property clearing burns are permissible upon contacting and approval of the local fire department. Outdoor burning of trash is permitted in appropriate covered containers. 

Horelica said the fire chiefs will revisit the ban in six weeks or so after the grass has started to get greener.

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit between Milam Appraisal District and Luminant.  

The settlement agreement places the taxable value of two disputed units at $315 million for the tax years of 2015 and for $290 million for the tax year of 2016.  Although it was not part of the lawsuit, the Appraisal District and Luminant have agreed on a taxable value of $280 million for 2017.

“The only good news in this is that the county and Rockdale School District can now move forward knowing how much ad valorem tax revenue we can expect, rather than having to guess at what is going to happen,” Milam County Judge David Barkemeyer said. “The bad news is that in one swift action the county lost some 10 percent of its tax base with no way of recovering this in the near future.”

The Milam Community Theater celebrated 25 years of live theater in the county at its annual gala on Feb. 11. Guests enjoyed a catered meal, dancing and the opportunity to bid on several auction items throughout the night. MCT’s new season will kick off in April with “Don’t Dress for Dinner” on April 8, 9, 15 and 16. You can still get season tickets online at milamcommunitytheater.com.

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager 

Filing has started for the May 6 city and school elections. Four city council places and two school board positions are up for grabs in Cameron.

According to City Secretary Amy Harris, five people have filed for places on the city ballot. 

Incumbents Melissa Williams, At-Large, Robert Davis, Ward 3, and Vergie Hardeman, Ward 5, have filed for their current places on the council. Daniel Willie has filed for Ward 1 on the council, currently held by Maurice Goza. Mirl Forrest has filed for Ward 5.

Anyone wishing to run can stop by City Hall at 100 South Houston Avenue and pick up information.

Positions held by James Burks and Daniel Willie are up for election. Incumbent James Burks has filed for re-election.  Robert Welsh, Roy Martinez, and Jenny Gebhart have also filed to run.

By Lindsey vaculin

General Manager

The Cameron City Council took action to begin looking for a Director of Development and Tourism in an agreement with the Cameron Chamber of Commerce, Cameron Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Board during its meeting on Feb. 6.

“This is something we are trying to create with the Economic Development Corporation, the Tourism Board, the City of Cameron and the Chamber of Commerce,” Cameron City Manager Rhett Parker said. “This would be a position as tourism director and retail director for the City of Cameron. This person would work hand-in-hand with markets to promote retail development in Cameron and be the Chamber of Commerce manager as well as tourism manager and work with CEDC for retail development.”

The City of Cameron terminated Police Chief Randy Dixon during its regular meeting on Feb. 6.

Council went into executive session to discuss personnel matters concerning the police chief and upon returning voted unanimously to terminate Dixon's employment with the city effective immediately.

City Manager Rhett Parker said that the city is going in a new direction at this time. No other explanation was given. 

Dixon said he had no comment. He was hired as Police Chief in 2011.

The council took no action to name an interim chief, but the process to replace Dixon is expected to begin immediately.

The community is invited to baseball games, family activities and a ceremonial first pitch of the 2017 season at The Yards of Cameron of Feb. 18.

 Cameron will host the second annual Opening Day at The Yards of Cameron. Opening Day is about bringing people together to play and enjoy baseball and family fun. 

 Activities start at 9 a.m. with a special guest first pitch followed by a chance for kids to get out and Run the Bases on the C.H. Yoe High Baseball field.  

More fun for kids and adults alike with a youth Wiffle Ball Tournament following Run the Bases. Everyone can step up to bat in a Home Run Derby following the tournament.

 The Home Run Derby is a great warm up to the Yoemen Alumni game starting at noon.   

The Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon with music by Jerry Bethel.  

Calling all interested growers and vendors. An organizational meeting for a Milam County Regional Farmers Market is set for Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. in Founders Hall at The Yards of Cameron.

 Milam County and surrounding areas have many growers from organic produce to lamb and of course beef. 

Ginger Watkins, executive director of the Cameron Industrial Foundation said the Milam County region is primed to host an outstanding and visible market at The Yards of Cameron. The market hopes to draw from major farms to smaller backyard growers throughout the county and area.

Watkins said the physical structure is in place with the 44 Farms Farmer’s Market Pavilion which is front and center at The Yards of Cameron.  The Yards of Cameron is new, clean and attractive with ready to go amenities such as: ample parking, public restrooms, electricity and water in the Pavilion. It is also easy to access with major highway exposure.