News

Cameron ISD will host area first responders in a meeting and tour of facilities on Aug. 1 in an effort to ramp up collaboration between them and the school district to keep students safe.

Yoe High Assistant Principal Brian Stork told Cameron Independent School District Board of Trustees members about the meeting and ongoing efforts to keep students safe while they are on campus during the board’s meeting on June 11.

Stork said the event will gather all first responders including Cameron Police, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Cameron Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, Emergency Management and EMS to give them the chance to hear about CISD’s plans should there be the need for their response in an emergency situation. They will also be able to tour the district’s facilities to get a first-hand look at what they will be dealing with.

The Cameron Economic Development Corporation, City of Cameron and Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of a Façade Grant program for buildings in the Business and Commercial Districts of the City in April. 

An application deadline of July 16 has been set for this year’s program funding. All businesses interested in making improvements to their building façade are encouraged to submit an application by July 16.

The program is an initial effort to assist existing businesses in making improvement to their buildings exteriors. A fresh coat of paint, new windows, signs, awnings and more go a long way to telling customers that a business is a growing and going concern interested in creating a positive customer experience. 

Milam County’s fire departments and the Child Protective Services Board will get $24,000 in donations thanks to a seizure made by the Milam County Sheriff’s Department earlier this year.

County Commissioners approved the donations from the Milam County District Attorney’s Office’s forfeiture fund during their meeting on June 11.

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Nuttall presented  District Attorney Bill Torrey’s proposal to make the one-time donations from the District Attorney’s special forfeiture account. The Cameron, Rockdale, Milano and Thorndale Fire Departments will get $2,500; the Buckholts, Burlington, Minerva, Gause, Davilla and Black Jack Fire Departments will receive $1,500; and the Milam County Child Protective Services Board will receive $5,000.

Milam Community Theatre Camp will present “Big Bad” - a play by Alex Strum. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings, June 15 and 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Cameron City Park. The performance will be held at the Williams Event Center in case if inclement weather. The community is invited to bring a picnic blanket or chairs and enjoy the show. Cast members include: Allyson Page, Molly Moody, Piper Pounders, Hannah Higginbotham, Lily Brunson, Brooklyn Wright, Samara Carroll, Dixie Carroll, Addison Boyett, Jadon Moody, Jacie Hartley, Harrison Otto, Sierra Higginbotham, Kalib Teetz, Maggie Lee, Samantha Flores, Samuel Flores, Jesse Flores, Jadyn Parker, Cheyenne White, Lilah Reynolds, McKenzie Reynolds, Adyson Parker, Shelli Higginbotham, Seth Higganbotham, Shellsea Musto, Jace Lasher, Maddie Lasher, Kenley Harris, Kylie Reynolds, Maddie Lasher, Jasmine Otto, Julian Higginbotham, and Molly Moody.

Fourth of July events will return to Cameron this year.

The Cameron Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a 4th of July Celebration on July 4 at Ledbetter Park from 6-8:30 p.m. The annual event switches back and forth between Cameron and Rockdale.

There will be fun and games for all ages, activities, and food trucks including Hecho En Texas and snowcones. Pay $5 for a wristband to play all games and attend the magic show presented by David G. Wonder.

The event will also feature an apple pie eating contest (open to the first 15 people who sign up), watermelon spitting contest, and July 4th themed singing contest.

Live music by the Communities in Concert band will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last until the fireworks begin. The band will play the “1812 Overture” during the fireworks show.

Yoe High’s Class of 2018 bid farewell to one chapter of their lives and moved on to the next at commencement ceremonies June 1 at Yoe Field. Above, classmates sing “On Yoe High.” 

Cameron Junior High’s cowgirls and cowboys came out on top at the Texas Junior High Rodeo State Finals in Gonzales the week of May 27 through June 2.  

Cameron was very blessed this year to have seven junior high competitors qualify for the Texas Junior High Rodeo State Finals.  These competitors were Mason Vaculin, Brooklyn Balch, Ann Warrick, Curtis Todd, Connor Barton, Corley Callahan and Macie Vaculin.  

The most coveted awards are an event state championship and an all around championship.  Two of these competitors achieved this.

Brooklyn Balch won the goat tying state championship, third place pole bending champion, and second place ribbon running champion.  She also won the most sought after award, the Texas Junior High Rodeo State Champion All Around Cowgirl. She will be representing Texas at the National Finals in three events.  

n By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

Milam County Commissioners are taking steps to prevent future money situations in the county during a meeting on May 29.

Milam County Commissioners approved a resolution requesting a constitutional amendment to dissolve the position of treasurer in Milam County. The motion passed 3-2 with County Judge David Barkemeyer and John Fisher voting against and Donald Shuffield, Richard “Opey” Watkins and Jeff Muegge voting for.

Barkemeyer said the resolution will go to state elected officials and be placed on the ballot for a statewide constitutional amendment in November 2019. The amendment will have to be approved by a majority of Milam County voters. 

A new water conservancy program aims to help landowners with the conservation of groundwater in Milam and Burleson counties.

The Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District announced May 25 it is forming the Post Oak Savannah Aquifer Conservancy Program to create a legacy of stewardship for landowners. This will enable landowners in the District to commit their groundwater resources into a long-term conservation program. POSGCD is empowered by the State of Texas to preserve, conserve, and protect groundwater resources in Burleson and Milam Counties. The conservation program will allow most landowners in the two counties to partner with the district in its mission to conserve the aquifers in this area. 

The Texas Department of Transportation’s contractor opened FM 485 at the Cow Creek Bridge on Friday, May 25.  The Cow Creek Bridge is located approximately 0.3 miles east of the intersection of FM 485 and FM 2269

This $669,000 project was to replace the existing bridge structure on FM 485 at Cow Creek.  This project is contracted to Knife River Corporation, out of Waco, Texas.  This project began on January of 2018.

TxDOT and their contractor appreciate everyone’s patience during this bridge work.