News

The award winning Yoe High Band will get to perform the National Anthem at the Texas Rangers game next month. 

The Yoe High Band is set to perform the National Anthem at the Rangers game at the Ballpark in Arlington on May 26. The band will perform around 2:45 p.m. with first pitch around 3 p.m. 

Upper deck tickets are available near the band by going online at groupmatics.events/chyoe

Former Milam County Treasurer Donna Orsag was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication probation for tampering with evidence on May 1 in 20th Judicial District Court.

Orsag, 57, of Cameron, had pled guilty to the court on March 13, 2018, to a third degree felony for tampering with evidence. She resigned her position in September after allegations of theft in her office by the Milam County Sheriff’s Office.

Orsag was placed on five years deferred adjudication probation with standard conditions of probation, was ordered to complete 600 hours of community service and to pay a $10,000 fine. Orsag paid $12,088.20 - $9,703.20 for restitution of the cash taken from Bea’s Kitchen and $2,385.00 to Milam County for the expense of the audit.

Cameron residents will decide several races for city council on May 5.

A special election for the Ward 3 council spot will see a three-way race between Kyle Deal, Kyle Nuttall and Will Sanders. The spot has been vacant since Robert Davis left the council in September of 2017.

Lekethia “Keke” Sims will face incumbent councilwoman Rose Mondrik for the Ward 4 seat.

Incumbents Mayor Connie Anderle and Ward 2 councilman Robert Schiller have no opponents and will reclaim their spots on the council

Early voting began this week at City Hall and will continue today and tomorrow between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. It will continue on Monday, April 30, through Tuesday, May 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day May 5.

The Cameron Herald asked the candidates in contested races to let us know a little more about themselves in a question and answer format.

Ward 3 

Milam County Commissioners accepted the resignation of County Clerk Barbara Vansa and named Jodi Morgan to the position during their meeting April 23.

Vansa is retiring after 33 years with the County Clerk’s office. There will be a reception to honor Vansa on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the County Clerk’s Office.

Morgan will take over the office effective May 1. She was elected to the position in March, but due to there being no contested race for the position in November will take over now.

Commissioners also decided to cover Dr. Stuart Yoffee in the case John Robertson filed against the county earlier this month. Yoffee will be covered by the Allison Bass Law firm with the retainer deal, the county will have to cover out of pocket the fees to cover Mr. Yoffee. 

Four outstanding educators were surprised on Tuesday morning by being named Teachers of the Year for Cameron ISD.

CISD administrators and family members of the teachers surprised each one in their classrooms throughout the morning.

Ben Milam first grade teacher Lindy Wagner was honored as Teacher of the Year for her campus. Wagner is completing her second year at Cameron ISD.  She has been teaching for 18 years.

Cameron Elementary fourth grade teacher Angela McAnulty was honored as Teacher of the Year for her campus.

McAnulty is completing her fourth year at Cameron ISD. She has been teaching for 14 years.

Cameron Junior High sixth grade teacher Amy Morgan was honored as Teacher of the Year for her campus. Morgan is completing her 27th year at Cameron ISD.  She has been teaching for 34 years.

Milam County residents may hear a few extra sirens and flashing lights tomorrow, April 26, as the county takes part in an active shooter scenario at Ledbetter Park tomorrow.

According to County Emergency Management Coordinator Susan Reinders area hospitals are needing to test several of their capabilities as well as procedures in emergency management.  

She said a CodeRED alert message was sent out Wednesdy morning advising the community of this event and that additional sirens and flashing lights would be in action tomorrow morning as the first responders would be testing equipment, response and resources during the morning exercise.

Business leaders and school personnel got together to build school to industry pathways on April 6 in Rockdale during a workforce preparation program aimed at giving businesses the chance to see what area school district’s offer through their Career and Technical Education or CTE programs.

The program, put on by the Rockdale Municipal Development District and Cameron Industrial Foundation with the Milam County Economic Development Partnership, offered area business owners the chance to hear about the CTE programs in Cameron, Rockdale, Milano and Thorndale ISDs.

“We are hoping to start a process of change here in Milam County,” Dr. John Weed with the Milam County Economic Development Partnership said. “We wanted to tell you that. Some time this year there will be an announcement about new industry coming to the county.”

Weed said that just because industry comes, business and people might not come.

Area mayors and county officials along with Child Protective Services proclaimed April Child Abuse Awareness Month with proclamations. Pictured from left are District Judge John Youngblood, Cameron Mayor Connie Anderle, Sonia Vega-Perez with CPS, County Judge David Barkemeyer, Buckholts Mayor Terrie Eaton, Jeanie Weed with CPS and District Attorney Bill Torrey.

A growing tradition in Cameron will return to Ledbetter Park on May 4 and 5.

The Cameron FunFest and BBQ Shootout will offer the community a weekend of fun events.

The event is in its fourth year and this year will feature more than 60 cook-off teams from as far away as Waller and the Austin area. 

Cook-off events will begin Friday night with events for margaritas, salsa, and chili. There will be live music throughout the cook-off areas and a bounce house area with inflatables for the kids to enjoy, along with arts and crafts.

Saturday morning will kick off with the Beer and Brat Trot 5K at 8 a.m. You can register at www.beer-brat-trot-2018.eventbright.com or register the morning of the event. A Root Beer and Hot Dog Trot 1K will be offered for the kids. Prizes for largest group, wildest costumes and overall winners will be awarded.

One hundred and nine 4-H and FFA exhibitors qualified for this year’s premium sale at the Milam County Junior Livestock Show on March 24. Sale proceeds for the 2018 show were $302,752.

Thorndale 4-Her Trayle Schroeder won Grand Champion in the steer show with his medium weight steer, while Cameron 4-Her Shawn Leifeste took Reserve Champion honors with his medium weight steer. 

Cameron 4-Her Kenan Mingus won Grand Champion honors in the swine show with her heavy weight swine. Thorndale 4-Her Hadley Meadors won Reserve Grand with her medium weight swine.

Thorndale 4-Her Hadley Meadors won Grand Champion in the lamb show with her light weight lamb. Thorndale 4-Her Kinley Meadors won Reserve Champion with her heavy weight lamb.

J.W. Hollas of the Cameron 4-H won Grand Champion in the poultry show with his broilers. Reserve Champion went to Alfred McDaniel of the Thorndale 4-H with his broilers.