News

Beginning Friday, July 19, Union Pacific Railroad Company will close SH 36 at the railroad underpass in Milano. 

This closure is necessary for UP to repair bridge beams damaged from and over height strike that occurred on Tuesday, July 10.  

Traffic will be detoured along south US 79 to Hearne where it will follow US 190/SH 6 south to Bryan.  There the detour will turn onto SH 21 toward Caldwell.  This closure is estimated to last 10 days.

Changeable message boards have been placed to notify motorists of this closure and detour.  UP thanks everyone for their patience during this closure.

For more information, contact Bobby.Colwell@txdot.gov or (979) 778-9764.

The community has gathered together to raise funds to off-set the expense of getting Sheriff David Greene back to Milam County.

Deputy Chief Chris White said there will be some costly adjustments Greene will face while on his road to a full recovery from the heart-attack he suffered on June 26. 

White said two donation accounts have been created to assist the Greene family with the growing expenses and perceived costs. One is a Go Fund Me account, the other is a bank account at Classic Bank.

A link to the Go Fund Me account is on at least three Facebook accounts, David Greene, Janell Greene and Chris White, there will be others as the link is shared. 

For anyone wishing to donate off-line the account at Classic Bank is under the name Sheriff David Greene Benefit. 

White said based on what we have been told by the doctors, the sheriff’s road to recovery is going to be a long, hard road.

Parents dropping off the children will see new drop off signs around Cameron ISD schools when classes return Aug. 15.

New signs went up July 2 for parents and citizens to take notice before the new school year begins.  

The City of Cameron approved a No Drop Off ordinance in May, which means parents will have to use the designated school drop off points beginning in August. The Cameron Police Department will be monitoring and issuing citations to those who violate the ordinance.  

The ordinance states that the operator of any motor vehicle or other conveyance shall not stop, stand, park, or leave standing an attended or unattended motor vehicle or momentarily pick up or discharge a passenger on any portion of a street, roadway, or highway described below provided signs are posted indicating the prohibition.

Yoe High School Principal Joe Oliver is resigning his position due to health issues. 

“Joe is a true Yoemen and will be missed tremendously by his students, parents, colleagues and the entire Yoe Nation,” Cameron ISD Superintendent Allan Sapp said.

Sapp said Oliver has made an enormous impact on Cameron schools in two different stints. His first service was as a coach and teacher from 1981-1984. He has served as the Yoe High principal since January of 2017. 

Prior to coming to Cameron in 2017, Oliver had served several districts in the capacities of superintendent, principal and athletic director and coach/teacher.   

Sapp said Cameron ISD has posted the high school principal vacancy on the district website as well as the Texas Association of Schools Administrators.

Milam County Commissioners approved the next step in the historical commission’s attempt to name seven sites in the county to the National Register of Historic Places.

Commissioners approved the selection of GTI Environmental, LLC to prepare the nominations of the sties as part of the $50,000 National Park Service Grant the Milam County Historical Commission received earlier this year.

The seven sites that will be submitted for the register are: The Conner Swales Site, The Baumann Village Site, The Bird Point Heaven Village Site, The Wise Village Site, The Rancheria Grande Archaeological District, The Rancheria Grande Site, and San Xavier Mission Archaeology District.

The Yakesch family was all decked out in red, white and blue for Milano’s annual 4th of July parade last week. Kaden (left) was awarded third place and Kylie (in wagon) and Kamri won first place in the walker/bicycle division.

Milam County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Heath has been indicted for his role in the death of Pastor Earnest Taylor.

Heath, 42, of Copperas Cove, was indicted for criminally negligent homicide after the fatal crash in Cameron in May.

Heath — currently on medical leave from the Milam County Sheriff’s Office — is also the subject of an internal investigation by the department. Heath was hurt in the accident and is still recovering.

At around 9:35 p.m. on May 2, Heath’s Chevrolet Tahoe struck a Dodge Ram, driven by Earnest Taylor, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 and North Orchard Avenue.

Taylor, age 70, died at the scene. Taylor’s wife, Shirley Taplin Taylor, suffered serious injuries.

Heath was indicted by a Milam County Grand Jury on June 21.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is still investigating the crash because it involved a law enforcement agency. 

Milam County Sheriff David Greene remains in the hospital after suffering a heart attack while on vacation in Oregon earlier this week.

The Sheriff is in the hospital in Portland, Oregon, and undergoing treatment. He is in critical but stable condition. 

Milam County Commissioners reapproved a contract for ambulance services and honored the Milam County Historical Commission during a meeting on June 25.

Commissioners approved a five-year extension on a contract with AMR for ambulance services in the county.

Judge David Barkemeyer said that the Milam County Coalition of Cameron, Rockdale and AMR has been in existence since 2005 and they are always looking at what is the best thing for the county to do for ambulance services. He said that at this point in time a five-year extension - the same as it has been in the past – is what is best.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Milam County will host its annual Crops Tour on June 29.

The tour will visit plots and discuss current issues related to row crop production in the county.  Cost will be $10 per person attending.  Registration will begin at 7-7:30 a.m. at the Milam County Extension Office, 100 E. 1st Street in Cameron, and will depart for the tour from there.

This year’s speakers will be Dr. Gaylon Morgan, State Extension Cotton Specialist discussing Milam County’s replicated cotton variety trail and current topics in the cotton industry; Dr. Ronnie Schnell, State Extension Specialist for Corn and Sorghum discussing both replicated Corn and Sorghum variety trails Planted in Milam County and current topics in the feed grain industry; Dr. Clark Neely State Small Grain Extension Specialist will be discussing the benefits and processes of haylage production in Central Texas.