News

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager 

The City of Cameron’s water projects are moving along.

Cameron City Council members heard an update from Tommy Valle with Kasberg, Patrick and Associates on where the projects stand during its meeting on Dec. 19. 

“I’m just here to give an overview of the water projects,” Valle said. “With the DWSRF on the drinking water side – the water plant – the engineering feasibility report was submitted two weeks ago to Water Development Board.” 

Valle said verbal approval for the project has been given and funds can be released now.

Valle outlines six potential projects on the water side for the council. 

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

The Cameron Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the 2015-16 financial audit and heard a report about YHS fall benchmarks during its meeting Dec. 12.

“I’m glad to report good news,” Steve Niemeier with Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin and Niemeier said. “We found nothing improper or in appropriate. The district is doing a good job.”

Niemeier said that CISD had some advantages this year due to an increase in enrollment and the subsequent ADA funding that came with that.

“When you compare to last year the advantages the district had were due to the increase in ADA this year,” he said. “The ADA increased pretty smoothly throughout the entire district there wasn’t a need to add new positions. As a result you had a lot better results. You had a positive in your general fund of $320,000 excess of revenue over your expenses.” 

Cameron ushered in the holiday season Saturday night at the Cameron Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade. The theme for the night was “The Polar Express.

The Christmas season will kick off in Cameron this week with several events throughout the weekend.

The Cameron Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 10. The deadline to participate is Friday at 4 p.m.

Line-up will be at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Orchard Street and Main Street. The parade will begin at 5 p.m.

Entries will be judged on the corner of Houston and First Street. No candy, gum or treats will be thrown during the parade.

The theme of this year’s parade is Polar Express.

Grace Church will host the Grace Christmas Wonderland Trail of Lights today through Saturday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. each night.

“We want to give families and friends an event they can enjoy completely free of charge, no strings attached,” Melissa Boyer with Grace Church said. “Our hope is that families and friends from surrounding communities are able to enjoy the experience and beautiful light displays.”

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

Family members of those lost to violent crime and service members lost in action gathered to remember loved ones during the Tree of Angels ceremony on Dec. 6.

Guest speaker Sondra Andrews of Cameron, mother of fallen soldier Second Lt. Darryn Andrews, reminded everyone of the power of forgiveness during the event held at the Milam County Museum.

“For some folks this is a horrible time of the year missing loved ones who have been lost,” Judge John W. Youngblood said. “This goes a long way in showing our support for those folks. This is a wonderful thing.”

The names of lost service members were read and the Meadowbrook Baptist Church performed special music before Andrews spoke.

Cameron has a Heisman hopeful.

Former Yoemen standout and current wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners Dede Westbrook is one of the five finalists for the Heisman.

Westbrook joins teammate OU quarterback Baker Mayfield, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Michigan linebacker/defensive back Jabrill Peppers and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson finalists for college football's most prestigious individual award. The winner will be announced Saturday during a 7 p.m. CT ceremony at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square that will air live on ESPN.

The holiday season will officially kick off in Cameron on Dec. 10 with the Cameron Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade.

Anyone who wants to participate still has time to sign up. The deadline is Dec. 9 at 4 p.m.

Line-up will be at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Orchard Street and Main Street. The parade will begin at 5 p.m.

Entries will be judged on the corner of Houston and First Street. No candy, gum or treats will be thrown during the parade.

The theme of this year’s parade is Polar Express.

You can pick up entry forms at the Chamber office at 102 East First Street in Cameron. For more information, call the Chamber at (254) 697-4979.

The high chance of rain on Saturday has forced area towns to move their Christmas Parades to Dec. 10.

Per the Milano City Secretary, due to the high chance of wet weather, the Milano Christmas Parade will be moved to Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a.m. The free community meal is still on for THIS Saturday (Dec. 3) at 11:30 a.m. at the Civic Center. There will be plenty and all are welcome. Serving will go on for a while, as lots of food is being prepared.

The Thorndale Chamber of Commerce will also delay its parade until Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

The Milam County and District Attorney’s Office will sponsor the Tree of Angels ceremony on Tuesday,  Dec.  6,   at   6   p.m.,   at   the   Milam   County   Museum located at 112 West First Street in downtown Cameron.  

The Tree of Angels program is celebrated each year across Texas and enables survivors of violent crime and victims’ families to place an angel ornament on a special Christmas tree in support of or in memory of their loved one.  

This tradition was started in 1991 in hopes that the blessings of the holiday season would comfort the victims and their families during this difficult time.

Members of the armed services and law enforcement will also be remembered and honored. All military and law enforcement families are invited to attend and place an angel on the tree in honor of or in remembrance of their loved one.

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

The holidays are upon us and Grace Church in Cameron will light up a new tradition.

Grace Church will host the Grace Christmas Wonderland Trail of Lights is set for Dec. 7-10 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. each night.

“We want to give families and friends an event they can enjoy completely free of charge, no strings attached,” Melissa Boyer with Grace Church said. “Our hope is that families and friends from surrounding communities are able to enjoy the experience and beautiful light displays.”