News

Sheriff David Greene today announced his intention to run for re-election to a third term.
Sheriff is among the county positions subject to the 2016 election cycle, Candidate filing opens Nov. 14 and runs through Dec. 14. Primary elections are set for March 1, 2016 when voters will select candidates for the November 2016 general elections.
In a prepared statement released this afternoon, Greene said he will be a candidate in the 2016 Milam County Republican Primary.  The statement follows:
“I have diligently served the people of Milam County for over 38 years, first as your Game Warden, then on to serving the as Constable of Precinct One, and then and currently as your sheriff.
As your sheriff for the past eight years, I have implemented numerous changes to my office. We have seen very positive results from those changes, ones which have helped our office to run smoothly and efficiently while giving back, budget-wise at the same time.

Lady Yoe Volleyball is gearing up for their 6th Annual Dig Pink Event. In the past five years, with help from fans, the Lady Yoe have donated more than $34,000 to breast cancer research.
This year’s goal is $10,000.
T-Shirt sales are happening now through Oct. 6. See any Lady Yoe volleyball player or coach to order a shirt. They are available by pre-order and pre-pay, cash only.
In addition, the team has a slate of Dig Pink events planned throughout the month of October:
Sept 21 - Oct 6: T-Shirt Sales
Oct 8: 9/JV Football vs. Rockdale
Oct 15: JH Football vs. Troy
Oct 16: Football vs. Troy
Oct. 19: JH Volleyball vs. Rogers
Oct. 20: Main Event - Lady Yoe Volleyball vs. Academy
Oct. 30: Football vs. Florence
All proceeds from all events are donated directly to breast cancer research.

By Curtis Chubb, Special to the Herald

The grandfather and mother of a Rockdale child who drowned this summer have been indicted in the child’s death.
The indictments were among those handed down in the Sept. 17 session of the Milam County grand jury.
According to District Attorney Bill Torrey, the grandfather, John Earl Furnace, Jr., 48, was indicted 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.
The arrest warrants were issued after MCSO investigators found discrepancies in details given by John Earl Furnace concerning the July 19 drowning death of 11 month-old Benjamin Castro. Furnace was caring for the child when the incident occurred at a residence on CR 322 near Rockdale.

For the rest of the story, see this week's print or digital edition.

Slow down in the oil and gas industry isn’t taking as large an economic toll in Central Texas as in other parts of the state and nation.
Milam County’s unemployment rate was down again this month and continues at more than a percentage point lower than this time last year.
In addition, most Milam County cities saw sales tax revenues heading back up in August, while the state’s coffers were still feeling the impact of reduced receipts from oil and gas activity.
For details, see this week’s print or digital edition.

Police are looking for a suspect in an early morning assault and theft that left an elderly woman injured.
The incident occurred at about 7 this morning .
According to a statement released by Cameron Police Chief Randy Dixon, an elderly Hispanic woman was walking on Tyson Street near St. Monica’s Catholic Church when a man driving a van stopped, spoke to her, then got out and knocked her down, taking her purse.
The victim suffered injuries requiring emergency room treatment, Dixon said. There were no further details on her condition.
The suspect, described as a heavy set, black male about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, was last seen driving East on Tyson Street in an older model maroon van. No license number was available.
Anyone with information on this crime or may know who this suspect might be is asked to call the Cameron Police Department at 254-697-6574 as soon as possible.

Opening ceremonies for the Remembering Our Fallen memorial wall were held in beautiful weather Saturday morning at VFW Post 2010, one day after the 14th anniversary of 9-11.
A full complement of 1st Cavalry Division members were on hand, including Brigadier General Mark C. Schwartz, Deputy Commanding General for Maneuvers, members of his staff, and the 1st Cavalry Jazz Ensemble.
“Remembering Our Fallen” is a war memorial consisting of individual state exhibits created to remember the country’s fallen in The War on Terror since the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001.

Special ceremonies at 10 a.m. Saturday will commemorate and dedicate the opening of the “Remembering Our Fallen” from Texas exhibit at Cameron VFW Post 2010.
“Remembering Our Fallen” is a war memorial consisting of individual state exhibits created to remember the country’s fallen in The War on Terror since the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001.
Cameron VFW Post 2010 is hosting the exhibit through Sept. 15. Each individual state exhibit includes military and personal photos of our Fallen who called that state home and died from wounds suffered in the war zone while wearing our country’s uniform. Included are tributes to Yoe High School graduates 2nd Lt. Darryn Andrews and Master Sgt. Charles Price, both killed in combat in Afghanistan.
Everyone is invited to attend the ceremonies and view the exhibit. A barbecue meal will be served following the program. The exhibit will be open to the public for viewing through next Tuesday.

At 11 a.m. this morning, law enforcement officers in Milam County joined Gov. Greg Abbott's observance honoring the fallen Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth.
The observance was timed with the beginning of funeral services for the deputy who was shot to death last Friday evening as he was filling his patrol car at a Houston area gas station.
Gathering in the MCSO parking lot on 4th Street at Jefferson, the Milam County Sheriff's Department was joined by fire department members, constables, DPS troopers, justices of the peace, EMS and other law enforcement agencies, first responders and county officials in observing a moment of silence while running their red and blue lights.
Meanwhile, the Cameron Police Department stopped traffic at the intersection of 4th and Travis for the observance. CPD units circled the intersection as an officer stood in the center with a Texas flag.

A $5.587 million project to widen a portion of FM 487 between Rockdale and Davilla is among the 22 Proposition 1 highway projects approved last week by the Texas Transportation Commission.
According to Bryan District Spokesman Bob Colwell, the project to widen FM 487 from CR 402 to just north of CR 235 has been contracted to Big Creek Construction Ltd.  Construction is scheduled to begin after the first of year and will take about 10 months to complete, Colwell said.
Three other projects were also approved for the Bryan District, including two projects in Brazos County and one in Madison County, totaling more than $4.6 million.
Last week, the Transportation Commission approved 22 projects from Proposition 1 funding totaling more than $304 million worth of roadway construction, rehabilitation and restoration for improved safety, mobility and connectivity.