(ROCKDALE)–THE ROCKDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE

DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A NEW FIRE CHIEF AS THE CURRENT

CHIEF HAS RETIRED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AFTER 31 YEARS

WITH THE DEPARTMENT. ROCKDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE

DEPARTMENT CHIEF WARD RODDAM ANNOUNCED IN

JANUARY HIS INTENTION TO RETIRE. HIS RETIREMENT

BECAME OFFICIAL ON APRIL 12TH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

RECOGNIZED VAUGHN WITH A BRIEF CEREMONY AND CAKE

AND PUNCH AT THE FIRE STATION SATURDAY. RODDAM

SAID IT’S A GOOD TIME FOR HIM TO STEP AWAY FROM THE

FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON FAMILY, INCLUDING WIFE

KATHRYNE, 3 DAUGHTERS AND 3 GRANDCHILDREN. HE SAID

HE WAS GLAD TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AND THE SUPPORT

OF THE CITY OF ROCKDALE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

HAS BEEN VITAL TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S SUCCESS.

(TEMPLE)–TWENTY CENTRAL TEXANS INCLUDING

3 FROM MILAM COUNTY ARE FACING FEDERAL DRUG

TRAFFICKING AND FIREARMS CHARGES STEMMING FROM

FIVE SEPARATE BUT RELATED GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS.

THE INCIDENTS INCLUDE 16 CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY

TO POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE.

COUNTY RESIDENTS INCLUDE 50 YEAR OLD WESLEY WARRICK

OF CAMERON, 38 YEAR OLD CARLOS AVILA OF BUCKHOLTS

AND 29 YEAR OLD ALEAH FREITAG OF ROCKDALE.

(UNDATED)–THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 CONTINUES

IN MILAM COUNTY. AS OF FRIDAY, THERE WERE 1402 TOTAL

CONFIRMED P-C-R CASES IN MILAM COUNTY SINCE THE

START OF THE PANDEMIC, 8 ACTIVE P-C-R CASES, 1082

ANTIGEN/PROBABLE CASES, 2 ACTIVE ANTIGEN CASES,

A TOTAL OF 10 ACTIVE CASES IN MILAM COUNTY OVERALL,

3 HOSPITALIZED, A TOTAL OF 186 HOSPITALIZED SINCE

THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, ONE ON A VENTILATOR, AND

THERE HAVE BEEN 46 FATALITIES IN MILAM COUNTY SINCE

THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. 501 INDIVIDUALS WERE

VACCINATED IN ROCKDALE ON FRIDAY.

(CAMERON)–A CAMERON MAN WHO ROSE TO

NATIONAL FAME ON A HIT TALENT SHOW HAS BEEN ARRESTED.

20 YEAR OLD CECIL RAY BAKER, WHO PERFORMED UNDER

THE STAGE NAME CECIL RAY ON THE HIT TELEVISION SHOW

“AMERICAN IDOL,” WAS ARRESTED EARLY SATURDAY

MORNING ON CHARGES OF BURGLARY OF A HABITATION.

(BRYAN)–A WOMAN WANTED FOR AGGRAVATED

ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON OUT OF ROBERTSON

COUNTY WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY IN BRYAN AND

NOW FACES DRUG CHARGES. 50 YEAR OLD TONYA

BAKER WAS ARRESTED BY POLICE AROUND NOON

THURSDAY.