Lifestyle

The first and second grade students at Ben Milam Elementary participated in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Math-a-Thon in February.  The participating students raised $2574.10 for the patients of St. Jude.  Top fundraisers for the event included Megan Rubac, $500, Avery Garret, $186, Bailey Anderle, $175, Tessa Cox, $150, Jesssilyn Henderson, $140, and Alexander Gomez, $125.  These students received an additional prize. Coordinator for the event was Ramona Fincher.

Seats are still available at Milam Community Theater’s “Night On the Town” dinner theater performance of the popular Agatha Christie mystery “The Unexpected Guest.”
The MCT season kicks off April 2 at the Williams Event Center in Cameron with a reservation-only catered prime rib dinner, followed by the performance. Tickets for the event are $35.
“It has to be one the last great bargains!” said Randy Leo, MCT president. “Quality live theater and a fantastic prime rib dinner for $35 is a steal. ‘Night on the Town’ is extremely popular with local theater goers and the response has been overwhelming. There are only a few seats left,” he added.
Doors open April 2 at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. To reserve seats at the dinner theater, contact Monica Schiller at 254-482-1575. Reservations will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 28.

Members of the Milam County 4-H Shooting Club participated in events for March Madness in Travis County and brought home many medals from several categories. Those winning top honors were:
Junior: Kaylee Veit, third place Air Pistol Silhouette
Intermediate: Addie Reisner, third place 22 pistol bulls eye; third place air pistol bulls eye; Kevin Junek, second place air pistol bulls eye; second place precision air rifle; Corbin Preusse, first place small bore pistol silhouette, first place archery compound; and Dawson Warren, second place archery compound
Senior: Paxton Reisner, first place pistol bulls eye, first place small bore pistol silhouette, second place hunter pistol silhouette; and Corey Preusse, first place pistol bulls eye, first place archery compound.

Three Milam County 4-H Horse Judging teams competed at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last week. Ann Warrick placed 20th individually out of 138 contestants. The team of Ann Warrick, Colby Barton, Joseph Barbo, and Sydney Vaculin placed 15th. Their next competition is the district contest April 16 in College Station. 

Hope Lutheran plans Holy Week services

A foggy night, a lost traveler and murder set the stage for intrigue and suspense in Milam Community Theater’s production of Agatha Christie’s “The Unexpected Guest.”
“We are truly fortunate to have such a fabulous group of seasoned actors,” said MCT President Randy Leo. “Veterans of the MCT stage, Janice Cowan, Dustin Owens, Martha Lee, Chris White, Clayton Owens, Mona Butala, Jack Terhune and Bobby Schiller are cast in this show. And, after a long absence, we’re thrilled to have Liz Lewis and John Nelson once again performing with us,” he said.
“Also, returning to the director’s chair is Melanie Reed,” Leo said. “Melanie is no stranger to the stage but just started directing a year ago with the MCT production of ‘Twelve Angry Men.’ “Melanie brings a passion and vision to ‘The Unexpected Guest’ that promises to make it a fantastic show.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Buffalo Soldiers program celebrates its 20th anniversary during Black History Month with living history events at three Texas state parks.
The Buffalo Soldiers will set up camp from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cedar Hill State Park near Dallas on Feb. 13, Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center near Houston on Feb. 20 and Blanco State Park between Austin and San Antonio on Feb. 27.
The Buffalo Soldiers open house events will include hands-on interpretive activities for families and visitors of all ages that center around daily life for soldiers and civilians on the Texas Frontier during the late 1800s. Activities will include animal tracking lessons, cane pole fishing, a frontier baseball game, Buffalo Soldier and Native American history lessons, a cooking camp and more.

Cameron Nursing & Rehab was proud to help celebrate a special birthday this week. Agnes McKittrick celebrated her 106th Birthday on Sunday, Jan. 24.

McKittrick, born in 1910, has been a resident at Cameron Nursing & Rehab since 2009. She was joined in the celebration by her “baby sister” Martha Stuhff, who recently turned 90. Mrs. Stuhff said she was thrilled to fly in from Nevada to celebrate this day with her sister.

Residents and staff, including Mary Mowdy (Center), gathered to wish Mrs. McKittrick a very happy birthday and hope to get some secrets from the sisters.

The El Camino Real Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists is planning a series of weekly training classes for new members starting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and going through the end of March. Most of the classes will be scheduled from 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays in Milano with a few field trips on Saturdays. The entry deadline has been extended until the first day of class. Those interested in attending may contact Dorothy Mayer 254-482-3235 or Barbara Cromwell 512-826-1189.
“We are very excited to be able to offer a new training class with presentations from experts in various fields of science and nature,” said Master naturalist Don Travis. “For example, there will be classes on Entomology, Herpetology, Biology, Ornithology, Mammalogy, and Ecology, to name just a few.”

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Bash benefitting the Christine Holcombe Memorial Scholarship Foundaiton is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Simon George Hall, 401 S. Karnes, in Cameron. Tickets to the event featuring a Cajun food dinner, auctions and activities for the kids are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 18 years. Tickets are on sale at the Cameron Chamber of Commerce, Milam County Extension Office in Cameron, The Rockdale Reporter, and Rodenbeck Farm & Ranch in Thorndale.

The foundation honors the memory of the late Christine Holcombe, longtime Milam County Extension Agent. Over the past three years $41,000 in scholarships have been awarded to Milam County residents who are currently in college.