News

The shooting death of a Rockdale man is under investigation by the Milam County Sheriff’s Department.
Just after midnight Wednesday morning, (Oct. 28) the Milam County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a subject who had shot himself in the 700 Block of FM 1712, according to a statement released by MCSO Chief Deputy Chris White.
George “Cody” Tovar of Rockdale was rushed to Richards Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Scott and White ICU in Temple for a gunshot wound to the head.
Tovar’s death at 8:39 a.m. was reported to Sheriff David Greene by Bell County Justice of the Peace G.W. Ivey, who ordered an autopsy. The body was transferred to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Sheriff’s Investigators are examining all aspects of the incident and with the autopsy results, hope to have some clear indication as to whether the incident was accidental, suicide, or criminal,” White said.

Just when it seemed the county budget crisis had been calmed by commissioners court approval of the 2016 budget, at least one of the budget cuts creates a new crisis.

According to County Clerk Barbara Vansa, eliminating a position in her office will create problems in conducting elections.

Commissioners and party chairmen joined Vansa and Tax Assessor-Collector Kolette Morgan in a workshop session this week to discuss the possibility of establishing an elections administrator office.

See this week's edition of The Cameron Herald for the full story.

Another family member has been indicted in connection with the July drowning death of a child.
According to District Attorney Bill Torrey, John Ethan Furnace, 21, was indicted for second-degree manslaughter by the Milam County grand jury last week.
The younger Furnace and  his father, John Earl Furnace, Jr., 48, were caring for three children of Victoria Furnace, when 11 month-old Benjamin Castro drowned in a bathtub at their Rockdale home on July 19.
The older Furnace, grandfather of the children, was indicted Sept. 17 on charges of second-degree manslaughter and state jail felony abandon/endanger a child. The mother, Victoria Katelyn Furnace, 24, was indicted on state jail felony abandon/endanger a child.
Investigators said the grandfather was left in charge of the children when Victoria Furnace and her husband Raul Castro, both residents of Galveston, left them with him at a residence on CR 322 after a visit.

A vocational agriculture teacher at Buckholts ISD was arrested Monday on a Class A misdemeanor charge of official oppression.
After his arrest by Buckholts Police Officer Carlos Paniagua Monday, Steve Alan Gaylord, 62, was booked into the Milam County Jail. He was released a few hours later on $2,500 bond.
Official oppression is a charge under the Texas Penal Code, Chapter 39, Abuse of Office. According to the code, a public servant “acting under color of his office or employment commits an offense if he or she “subjects another to mistreatment or to arrest, detention, search, seizure, dispossession, assessment, or lien that he knows is unlawful; denies or impedes another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power, or immunity, knowing his conduct is unlawful;  or intentionally subjects another to sexual harassment.”

By Josh Pratt, Herald Sports

Due to weather, it took a few days longer to get it in, but the Yoe High School Band will now be heading back to the state marching contest once again.  The band put forth two very strong performances in rain-delayed area competition Tuesday, and the hard work throughout the summer and fall is paying off. 

“The best thing about today, hands down, was the improvement level from this afternoon’s performance to this evening’s performance,” said band director Craig George.  “The band is right on top of our area and will be right on top at state if they can continue to do what they are supposed to do.  I am really excited for the kids.”

The UIL 2A and 3A state marching contest is next Monday, Nov. 2, at the Alamodone in San Antonio.

For the full story, see this week's digital or print edition of The Cameron Herald.

Milam County is part of an area under a flash flood watch until 7 a.m. Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
The area also includes Bell, McLennan, Falls and Robertson counties.
Periods of prolonged heavy rainfall are possible with the heaviest rains expected late tonight and into Saturday morning. Some isolated areas could see eight to ten inches of rain from bans of showers and storms. Another three to six inches of rain is possible Sunday.
Flash flooding and cloud to ground lightning strikes are considered the main threat - there are no indications of high wind activity.
Today’s NWS forecast: Numerous showers and thunderstorms are possible across much of North and Central Texas. While locally heavy rainfall could occur anywhere across the region, the heaviest rain is expected to remain along and southeast of a line from Goldthwaite to Dallas to Paris. 

Update: Saturday's contests have been postponed. The Yoe Band will will be informed when the event is rescheduled.

Editor's note: This weekend's weather forecast of heavy rain throughout Central Texas may impact the UIL marching contests scheduled Saturday. Updates will be posted.

After receiving straight one’s at this past week’s regional marching contest, the C.H. Yoe High School marching band is now set to compete at the area round of competition.

Cameron’s National Night Out event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Milam County Sheriff’s Office, according to Daniel Willie of Standards of Care, sponsor of the event.

Activities from 5 to 8 p.m. will include bounce houses for children, hot dogs and drinks and the opportunity to visit with representatives from all area of Cameron and Milam County law enforcement and first responders as well as other city and county organizations.

Everyone is invited to attend, meet their neighbors and learn about crime prevention.

Texas A&M Forest Service has called in a DC-10 air tanker to help battle the wildfire raging through Bastrop County, where 30 homes have been destroyed.
According to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department, more than 30 homes have been destroyed by a wildfire that began Tuesday, but that 25 percent of it had been contained.
Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster for Bastrop County Thursday after getting a briefing on the fires that have burned more than 4,300 acres and forced the evacuation of about 400 homes.
The tanker called in by the A&M Forest Service can drop close to 12,000 gallons of retardant at a time, spreading a swath three-quarters of a mile long and 500 feet wide. It is also able to divide its load into five separate drops if needed.
The Very Large Air Tanker, VLAT, is coming from the West Coast and headed to the Hidden Pines Fire in Bastrop County, Texas. It is expected to be available Friday morning.

The C.H. Yoe High School Band took their next step towards the state marching contest on Tuesday. The band earned a division one rating at this week’s Region 8 marching contest at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
In terms of judging, a division one rating is the top honor a band can be awarded while a four is the lowest mark. The Yoemen band was one of 12 bands to receive the coveted division one rating, which ensures a spot at the area round contest. The other bands rated the division one were Rice, Rogers, West, McGregor, Bruceville-Eddy, Academy, Troy, Hillsboro, Teague, Blooming Grove, and Clifton. Other bands competing in the contest included Jewett Leon (2), Franklin (2), Mildred (2), Whitney (2), Buffalo (3), and Marlin (4).
The band now advances to the area round marching contest scheduled Saturday, Oct. 24, at Tiger Stadium in Belton. A full preview of that competition will be featured in next week’s edition of The Cameron Herald.