News

Roadways are closed in Milam County due to the rain last night.

They include: FM 485 a mile or two west of US 77; FM 908 south of US 77; CR 235, CR 335, CR 417, CR 418, CR 408 at Alligator Creek, CR 304, CR 437 at Brush Creek, CR 445 at Brushy Creek; FM 1915 at Big Elm Creek.

By Floyd Ingram, Milam County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

The 38th Annual Central Texas Cow/Calf Clinic will be held Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Milam County Youth Exposition Building, 301 S. Houston St., in Cameron.

This program is presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension of Milam, Robertson, Bell, Burleson, Falls and Williamson Counties. 

Registration is from 7-8 a.m. with the presentations starting at 8 a.m. and concluding at 3 p.m. Three hours of CEUs will be given for Pesticide Applicators License holders. 1-IPM and 2-General.

Please RSVP with the Milam County Extension Office at (254) 697-7045 for a meal count by Monday, Dec. 31. Cost is $20.

A town hall meeting is set over the relocation of a major Bell County highway. 

The Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization and Texas Department of Transportation will host the town hall meeting at 5 p.m. today, Dec. 18, at Rogers High School Cafeteria.

The organizations are seeking feedback from residents regarding proposals to move portions of US190/TX36 from its current route. While a number of proposals are on the board, one would create a 4-lane bypass that would go around the town of Rogers. That bypass would begin in Heidenheimer and rejoin the highway at the Milam County line.

Nearly $63 million in funding is already set aside for the project. Those that wish to have their voice heard or want to ask questions on the proposal should be at this meeting.

Those that cannot attend can send comments through the website KTMPO.org. 

Over 70 floats in the annual Cameron Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade made for a Merry Texas Christmas on Dec. 6. Above, Citizen’s National Bank took home the top prize for best overall float in the parade.

A Rockdale man is in custody for the suspected murder of a 20-month-old.

On Dec. 3 the Rockdale Police Department began an investigation upon receiving a 911 call from the residence. Patricia Ann Rader was pronounced dead at the scene. Shawn Vincent Boniello (aka Shayla Angeline Boniello), 30, was arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the death.

Boniello was arrested and initially charged with abandoning/endangering a child. Bond was denied.

On Dec. 4, after police received preliminary autopsy results, the charge was upgraded to murder.

The Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department, an AMR ambulance crew and a Department of Public Safety trooper responded to the scene along with police to a report of an unresponsive child at 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Ben Milam Elementary students had a chance to meet their favorite book characters and get free books during the annual Book-a-Palooza event on Nov. 29. 

Little River Healthcare will close its facilities in Milam County on Dec. 7.

Employees of Little River Healthcare received a communication on Friday, Nov. 30, stating that services would be discontinued because the deadline of Friday, Nov. 30, passed without a strategic partner to help facilitate a smooth transition in ownership.

LRHC had essentially been on life support since early November when it was rumored that they were changing their bankruptcy status from Chapter 11 (reorganize) to Chapter 7 (liquidate).

The hospital board had been involved in efforts to find a strategic partner to keep the facilities open but the letter stated one had not been found by the afternoon of Nov. 30, triggering the closings.

The City of Cameron Water Department is currently working on the water leak at North Jackson and East 9th Street.

The city said at this time the road is completely blocked and will be until later tonight, which will only be opened to one lane of traffic. Customers in this area may experience low water volume during this repair. 

Also Lamar Avenue between East 6th and East 7th Street will be completely closed for a sewer line repair.

At this time there are barracaides up at 16th and Hoover for a sewer line repair also. The city hopes to have that complete by the end of next week.

Repairs in the area of West 8th and Nolan are completed, but the road is still rough. The city said it should be re-paved within the next week or so.

The Milam County Sheriff’s Office has kicked off its 9th Annual Brown Santa Program and they are collecting toys for the annual charity until Dec. 17. You can drop off donations of new, unwrapped toys at the MCSO at 512 North Jefferson in Cameron. Applications for residents who would like to take advantage of the Brown Santa program are available until Dec. 12 at the MCSO. Pickup and delivery will be on Dec. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Brown Santa account has been set up for monetary donations at Classic Bank. You can also mail in monetary donations to: Attention: Brown Santa/Wynema Adams, 512 North Jefferson Suite A, Cameron, TX 76520.

Cameron ISD will release students this Friday, Nov. 30, at 2:30 p.m. All buses will run their routes an hour earlier than normal. If your student is a car rider, please pick them up at 2:30 p.m.

Superintendent Alan Sapp said, CISD is releasing students and staff early to allow enough time to attend the Yoemen football game in Shenandoah Friday night.

The Yoemen will take on East Chambers in the regional quarterfinals. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Booster Club will be sponsoring a fan bus to the game this Friday. Cost is $25 per seat. You can sign up at the Yoe High School Kiosk during regular school hours. You can also purchase your presale tickets for the game at the YHS Kiosk.