News

ALL SMILES—Everyone was smiling and happy at Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, but especially these three. Mom Kelsey Stanislaw enjoyed the morning with her kids Bentley on the left and Kelbi on the right. Rockdale has more events planned for this weekend like The Lone Star Jazz Party on Saturday at The 1895 (old city hall) with performances by jazz bands Sparky Thomason Quintet, Tommy Howard Trio and Dave Wild Trio featuring Tyrha Lindsey. The Milam Touch of Love fundraiser, also on Saturday, at Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que is from noon to 4 p.m. which will also feature pets available for adoption, live music and Santa will make another appearance there. Christmas at The Kay is on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the historic Kay Theater in downtown Rockdale. Featured performers will be the Communities in Concert Band, the Rising Star Baptist Church Praise Singers, Tami Stockton, Melissa Davis-Shipley and Mona Butala. Attendance is free but you are asked to bring canned goods to be donated to Rockdale Christian Services. For more Breakfast with Santa photos see page 1A, 5A, 6B.

Rotary seeking students for youth program

BIG SUCCESS—The Bad to the Bone Riders held another successful Buddy Oney Toy Run on Saturday raising over $7,000 for Milam County’s less fortunate children. This annual ride, in memory of the late Buddy Oney, benefits the needy children of all Milam County by giving 100 percent of the proceeds to The Milam County Child Protective Services Board, the Milam County Brown Santa Program, Thorndale Cares and the Rockdale Christmas Round-Up. With this year’s fundraising, Bad to the Bone Riders have now given over $100,000 to these organizations over the 16 years they’ve been holding the run. Pictured above are Saturday’s riders along with (front row, L-R) event organizer Cynthia Parker Ferrell; the late Buddy Oney’s daughters, Vickie Oney New and Janet Oney Svrcek; and organizer Neal Ferrell. Not pictured is event organizer Charles Starr.