News

The Cameron Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet on Feb. 22 honoring outstanding business and community members. Volunteer of the Year went to Bob Yates. Organization of the Year went to the Milam Community Theater. Business of the Year went to Courtney and Jeremy Renaud with the Bling Box. Chamber Members of the Year were Micah Holcombe and Lindy Sanders. Citizens of the Year went to the members of Feeders of the Lambs.

The hands and feet that help the hurting and enrich the educational experience for children have additional resources thanks to the Brookshire Brothers Charitable Foundation. 

The regional grocer’s 501©3 annually bestows grants to organizations that successfully apply for funds for their programs of work. This is in addition to what the company and its 6,000 employee-owners give in donations throughout the year.

On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Brookshire Brothers Charitable Foundation awarded more than $100,000 in grants to 22 non-profits and six education foundations across its market. 

The grants give organizations the resources they need to continue living out their mission of serving those in need. Trustees and company executives presented funds to the recipients at the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas.

There are several contested races for Cameron City Council in May after filing ended Feb. 16.

Will Sanders filed to run for the Ward 3 spot on council on Feb. 16 making it a three-person race. Sanders will face Kyle Nuttall and Kyle Deal. 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 also filed for their current spots on council with no opponents.

Places open on the council are mayor, Ward 2, Ward 3 and Ward 4. 

Cameron ISD has three open spots on the CISD Board of Trustees. 

Incumbents Franci Denio and Greg Hoelscher and newcomer Michael McAnulty filed unopposed for three spots on the Cameron ISD school board.

Elections will be held on May 5.

A Friday two-vehicle wreck in Cameron has claimed the life of a child. 

According to Cameron Police, 10-year-old Jayla Rider of Cameron died Monday in a Temple hospital due to injuries sustained in Friday’s accident at the intersection of 6th and Travis in Cameron. 

Rider and another child were passengers in a car driven by Penny Taylor of Cameron which collided with another vehicle driven by Oran Ray Roberts of Oklahoma. 

The wreck blocked the northbound lanes of US 77 and backed up traffic Friday afternoon. Traffic was cleared around 5 p.m. Friday.

Both children sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital. Neither driver was hurt.

Masons Andy Holcombe and Casey Stanislaw serve food during the San Andres Masonic Lodge’s annual Fish Fry on Feb. 18 at Bea’s Kitchen in Cameron. The event also featured a silent auction to raise funds.

Early voting for the March 6 primary will begins today and Milam County voters will find an updated experience at the polls.

New voting equipment featuring a tablet and touch-screen will streamline the voting process. They are also lighter and easier to store and move around.

County Commissioners approved an agreement to purchase the new voting equipment for the county during a meeting on June 26.

The agreement with HART Intercivic cost the county $381,749 for the equipment.

Early voting for the primary elections will begin Feb. 20 and run until March 2. Election day is March 6.

The Cameron Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the contracts of three administrators during a meeting Feb. 12.

Contracts for Assistant Superintendent Susan Pommerening; campus principals Joe Oliver, Wendy Mahan and Terry Dawson; assistant principals Brian Stork, James Henderson, Laci Rasberry and Beau Sanchez; and Athletic Director Tommy Brashear were approved by the board.

Superintendent Allan Sapp discussed the possibility of opening Pre-K to all students during his report to the board. Sapp told the board he did a study of what it would look like to allow all 4-year-olds to attend Pre-K. He said with the numbers now, the district would inherit 20 more students next year and that there would be no need for more staff. He said there would be a need for an additional $19,000 in expense to the district. The additional cost to add all 3-year-olds would be a lot higher. The board will discuss the topic at its next meeting on March 19.

Buckholts ISD will remain open for another year according to Superintendent Nancy Sandlin.

Sandlin said in an online statement that the original agreement with Texas Education Commissioner Michael Morath in January 2017 stated that Buckholts ISD would be given a two-year abatement. Sandlin said the district has completed its first year and made great strides toward meeting standard. 

Sandlin said that Morath has assured Buckholts ISD he will honor the agreement and that they will receive the second year of abatement. The district expects a letter confirming that in the coming days. 

Sandlin said it is now up to Buckholts parents and the community to encourage students to study, make their grades, and take the STAAR and EOC tests seriously.

Students at Ben Milam Elementary got to experience Dinosaurs Live on Feb. 12 in the school gym. Students got up close and personal with their favorite dinosaurs and participated in dinosaur-themed activities. The event was sponsored by the BME PTO.

The Cameron Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet will feature a Texas TV personality as speaker.

Chet Garner from The Day Tripper TV series will serve as guest speaker.

“We are all excited about Chet Garner from The Day Tripper coming to our town as guest speaker for the Cameron Chamber of Commerce Banquet,” Cameron Tourism Director Melanie Reed said. “The Chamber’s direction this year is a revitalization of downtown, we feel like Chet is an energetic and dynamic speaker to kick start this direction.”

Reed said Garner will visit Cameron prior to the banquet and bring some energy and uplifting ideas for the Chamber’s direction.

“We have a great town, great historical museum district to promote, many assets and resources to capitalize upon,” Reed said. “Please come join us and enjoy Chet Garner, you will be entertained.”