News

n By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

The Cameron Economic Development Corporation is moving ahead with the demolition of the Milam Motel.

The EDC awarded a contract for asbestos abatement and removal to AAR Inc. in the amount of $49,289 during its meeting July 7.

Watkins said the abatement will be completed within 18 business days and they will begin some time in August.

The EDC also voted to go out for bids on the demolition of the Milam Motel including demolition of the structure and all concrete and paving.

The EDC approved an asbestos survey for the Milam Motel during its March 23 meeting.

Cameron Industrial Foundation Executive Director Ginger Watkins said sales tax income is below last year’s income in the City of Cameron.

The artisans, crafters and growers of the Milam Regional Farmers market are celebrating Christmas in July with a special Christmas shopping event on July 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

Bring your shopping list or just come to find that inspired gift for the hard to shop for person on your list.  The Milam Regional Farmers Market has the special and unique items to complete your Christmas shopping list early this year.  

What? July is too early to shop for Christmas, well that’s okay too, your next birthday, wedding, shower or special event gift can be found at Christmas in July at the Milam Regional Farmers Market, too.

 Buy a toy or bring a new toy for the Milam County Brown Santa.  A toy collection box will be onsite for the 2017 Brown Santa program.

The Milam Regional Farmers Market is hosted under the 44 Farms Farmers Market Pavilion at The Yards of Cameron, 301 Adams in Cameron.  

Judge Barkemeyer presented The Texas Historical Commission’s Distinguished Service Award to Geri Burnett and the members of the 2016 Milam County Historical Commission on July 10 at the Commissioner’s Court meeting. Above, Lynn Young, Geri Burnett and Judge Barkemeyer.

Cameron may have a police chief soon. 

The City Council moved to allow City Manager Rhett Parker to begin negotiations with a Police Chief candidate during a meeting on June 28.

Council has not released the name of the candidate at this time.

In May the City selected Waylan Rhodes as the sole finalist for the position, but he backed out choosing to stay at his current position just days after accepting. Council has been looking to replace former chief Randy Dixon since he was terminated in February.

The City Council also held its regular monthly meeting on July 3.

During the meeting council heard from Public Works director Jerald Brunson about violations concerning wastewater from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Brunson said the city received a violation during the recent rains due to the high amount of rain coming through the storm drains and the sewer overflowing.

A free Movie Night In The Park featuring Disney’s “Moana” will be held July 13 from 8:30-10 p.m. at Cameron City Park. 

The event is sponsored by Sissy’s Saddle Shop, Working for Cameron, Sonic Drive-In and Cameron Chamber of Commerce. Free popcorn, hot dogs and drinks, while supplies last. 

Bring a lawn chair and a blanket! Enjoy the Night! 

Contact Melanie Reed at (254) 697-4979 with questions.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Milam County will hold its annual Crops Tour on July 7.  The tour will visit plots and discuss current issues related to row crop production in the county.  

Cost is $15 per person attending. Registration will be from 7-7:45 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 trial 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; wrapping up the morning tours will be James Jackson, Central Region, Extension Range Specialist discussing weed and brush management and looking at a yearlong mesquite control result demonstration. 

A Cameron favorite will come back to life this Fourth of July.

Cameron’s Old Town Cameron model will hold a Grand Re-Opening on July 4 in the old J.C. Penney building on the downtown square in Cameron.

Several years ago, Cameron resident John Johnson donated his miniature model of 1940’s Cameron downtown and surrounding area with an HO gauge railroad to the Milam County Museum.  The 18-by-40-foot rendering of Cameron, includes the County Courthouse, which Johnson and his wife Frances took 35 years to construct.  The massive town and railroad structure has been moved three times and had lost some of its structural integrity. Local volunteers have been putting the pieces together, refitting, upgrading and cleaning it over the past few years.

Over the past two months, Johnson has been reunited with his creation. Milam County retired teacher Jamie Larson has been working alongside him.  

The Milam County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two deaths in the county.

On June 21, Milam County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 200 block of County Road 346 in reference to a medical call.  

According to the MCSO, upon arrival it was determined that an unresponsive Bruce Bode of Milano was discovered by family members inside the living quarters of a trailer at that location.  Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Sam Berry performed an inquest and ordered an autopsy of the body.  

With no clear indication at the scene to give a cause of death, deputies must wait for the results of the autopsy.

Chief Deputy Chris White said he did receive preliminary information that indicated that there was no evidence of injury that would lead investigators to believe foul play, however a final report including toxicology reports could take between 10 and 12 weeks. 

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

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

The new units feature a tablet and touch-screen voting. They will streamline the process. They are also lighter and easier to store and move around.

The Texas Secretary of State may soon decertify the equipment the county currently uses, but there is no date set for that.

Texas required counties to buy electronic voting machines in 2005. That is when Milam County purchased the current equipment it uses for voting.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension hosted Fun Day Camp on Friday, June 16, at Bea’s Kitchen in Cameron. Children ages 5-8 enjoyed rock painting and other fun activities along with demonstrations by Milam County 4-Hers on gun safety and other projects.