Author: carol

Milam County data centers are becoming a much bigger part of the local landscape. It was once mostly a story about cryptocurrency mining around Rockdale. But it is quickly becoming a much larger story. Involving artificial intelligence, enormous computing facilities, and major investments. And there are questions about how all of this growth could affect the communities where we live.

For those of us who call Milam County home, these projects are worth paying attention to. They can bring jobs and investment to the area. But facilities of this size also raise questions about electricity, water, roads, and other local resources.

Another Large Data Center Planned for Milam County

One of the projects attracting attention is the planned Freebird data center near Burlington.

According to state filings, the project represents an investment of approximately $470 million and is expected to include about 548,950 square feet of new construction.

That is a substantial development for a rural county like ours.

Large projects can mean construction jobs while a facility is being built as well as permanent positions once it begins operating. They can also increase the local tax base and bring additional businesses and investment into the area.

But Freebird isn’t the only major data center project coming to Milam County.

Artificial Intelligence Is Coming to Milam County

Another enormous project involves OpenAI and SB Energy, which are developing an artificial intelligence data center campus in Milam County.

The planned facility is expected to have approximately 1.2 gigawatts of computing capacity.

To put that in perspective, these aren’t ordinary office buildings filled with computers. Modern artificial intelligence requires enormous amounts of computing power. Thousands of specialized computer systems may operate around the clock, which means the facilities supporting them can require tremendous amounts of electricity.

That is one reason rural areas with available land and access to electrical infrastructure have become attractive locations for these projects.

Milam County happens to have both.

Rockdale Has Already Seen the Beginning of This Change

For people around Rockdale, large computing facilities aren’t entirely new.

The former Alcoa property has already become home to large cryptocurrency mining operations, and we previously wrote about the growth of data centers around Rockdale.

What is happening now, however, appears to be another stage of that development.

Instead of primarily talking about cryptocurrency mining, we are now seeing companies investing heavily in the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

That could make Milam County increasingly important in a rapidly growing technology industry.

What About Electricity?

Electricity is probably one of the first things many homeowners think about when they hear how much power these facilities can consume.

Texas already has a rapidly growing population and increasing demand for electricity. Adding very large data centers to the grid creates another source of demand.

That doesn’t automatically mean our electric bills will suddenly increase because a data center opens nearby. The Texas electrical system is complicated, and many factors affect electricity prices.

Still, the amount of electricity required by large data centers has become important enough that state officials, utilities, and ERCOT are paying close attention to how these facilities connect to the grid and how future demand will be handled.

For local residents, it is a subject worth watching as these projects move forward.

Water Is Another Concern

Water is particularly important to those of us living in Central Texas.

Some types of data centers use significant amounts of water for cooling, while others use cooling systems designed to greatly reduce water consumption.

That makes it important to look at each project individually rather than assuming every data center operates the same way.

In a rural county where many families depend on wells, groundwater, municipal systems, agriculture, and livestock, questions about water use are reasonable ones to ask.

Residents will want to know where a facility’s water will come from, how much it expects to use, and what cooling technology will be used.

Texas Officials Are Taking a Closer Look

The rapid growth of data centers isn’t just getting attention in Milam County.

Texas officials are beginning to look more closely at the effect these enormous projects could have on the state’s resources and infrastructure.

On September 21, Governor Greg Abbott directed state agencies to temporarily halt certain permits involving new data centers while Texas evaluates issues involving electricity and water demands.

That doesn’t mean data-center development in Texas is stopping. It does show, however, that state leaders recognize the size and speed of this new development and the questions that come with it.

What Could This Mean for Milam County?

There are potential benefits.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment can create construction work, permanent jobs, tax revenue, and opportunities for other local businesses.

There can also be challenges.

Large developments can affect roads, electrical infrastructure, water resources, housing, and the character of rural communities. Those effects may not appear overnight, and some may depend heavily on how individual projects are designed and operated.

For Milam County residents, the important thing is to stay informed as the projects develop.

A Big Change for a Rural Texas County

Milam County has changed many times over the years. Agriculture, Alcoa, energy production, cryptocurrency mining, and now artificial intelligence have all played—or may soon play—a role in our local economy.

The newest wave of data-center development could become one of the largest economic changes our area has seen in years.

Whether you live in Rockdale, Cameron, Thorndale, Milano, Buckholts, Burlington, or somewhere out in the country like we do, these developments are happening close to home.

At Driscoll Home Services, we try to keep up with news that could affect the homes, families, and communities we serve throughout Milam County.

We’ll continue watching the growth of these projects and sharing important developments as they happen.

If you live in Milam County and have been waiting for an opportunity to burn brush, leaves or other debris around your property, you’ll need to wait a little longer.

Milam County remains under a burn ban.

The current burn ban went into effect August 13, 2026, as dry conditions and wildfire concerns increased across Central Texas.

With many of us living in rural areas where burning brush and yard debris is a normal part of taking care of our property, it’s important to know when restrictions are in place.

Why Burn Bans Matter

It doesn’t take a large fire to cause trouble when grass and vegetation are dry.

A small pile of burning brush can throw sparks farther than you might expect. Wind can carry those sparks into dry grass, a neighboring pasture or along a fence line, allowing a fire to spread quickly.

Equipment can also start fires accidentally. Mowers, welding equipment, chains dragging on pavement and other activities that produce heat or sparks can become ignition sources during very dry conditions.

That makes a little extra caution around the farm and yard worthwhile even when you’re not intentionally burning anything.

Texas A&M Forest Service – Current Wildfire Status

What Does the Milam County Burn Ban Mean?

A county burn ban generally restricts outdoor burning in the unincorporated portions of the county.

There can be specific exceptions under Texas law for certain agricultural, public-safety, utility and professionally managed prescribed-burning activities. Because the exact restrictions depend upon the county’s current order, residents shouldn’t assume that a particular type of outdoor fire is allowed.

If you’re uncertain, check with Milam County officials before you burn.

Don’t Let a Little Rain Fool You

One good rain doesn’t necessarily mean a burn ban has ended.

Soil and vegetation can remain dry, and county officials determine when conditions have improved enough to lift the restriction.

That’s why it’s better to check the current status rather than assuming the ban is over because your property received some rain.

A Good Time to Clean Up—Just Don’t Burn It Yet

You don’t necessarily have to stop your fall yard and property cleanup.

You can still gather fallen limbs, clear brush away from buildings and fences, and clean up areas around your home. Just keep anything you would normally burn piled safely until outdoor burning is permitted again.

Clearing dry vegetation from around the house can also help reduce available fuel if a grass or wildfire occurs nearby.

Wildfire Preparedness – Protecting Your Home and Property

Check Before You Burn

Burn-ban conditions can change, so always check the current status before starting an outdoor fire.

The Texas A&M Forest Service maintains statewide burn-ban information, while Milam County officials are the best source for the restrictions that apply locally.

We’ll also continue watching local conditions and share important updates when they affect our neighbors.

At Driscoll Home Services, we live and work here too. Our Central Texas News articles are one way we try to keep our customers and neighbors informed about things happening in Milam County and the surrounding communities.

If you live in the Sharp or Davilla area, you may want to check your water service before turning on the faucet for a drink.

Bell-Milam-Falls Water Supply Corporation issued a boil water notice on September 17, 2026. This affects customers in portions of the Davilla and Sharp area.

The notice was issued because of low chlorine residual in the Davilla pressure plane. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires affected customers to boil their water before using it for human consumption.

What Should You Do During the Boil Water Notice?

According to the official notice, water used for drinking, cooking and making ice should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and boiled for two minutes. Allow the water to cool before using it.

Bottled water or water from another suitable source can also be used instead.

The notice also specifically mentions precautions for activities such as brushing your teeth and washing your hands or face. Children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems can be especially vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

What Areas Are Affected?

The official notice lists customers along:

• FM 487 east of Davilla
• FM 1915 south of Little River
• FM 437 south of Val Verde
• County Roads 405, 407, 408, 409, 410, 410A, 411, 414, 418, 418A, 422 and 423
• Davila east of FM 437

Because Bell-Milam-Falls WSC is identifying this as the Davilla and Sharp Area Boil Water Notice, customers in the surrounding area who are uncertain whether their home is affected should check directly with the water supply corporation.

Don’t Assume the Notice Has Ended

A boil water notice remains important until the water system announces that the water is safe for normal use again.

Bell-Milam-Falls WSC says it will notify customers when boiling is no longer necessary and will issue a notice rescinding the boil water notice.

Until then, affected residents should continue following the boil-water instructions.

Help Your Neighbors Know

In a rural community, not everyone sees an online notice right away.

Bell-Milam-Falls WSC is asking customers to share the information with others who may drink the affected water, including people in homes, apartments, schools, nursing homes and businesses.

If you have an elderly neighbor or someone nearby who may not use the internet regularly, it might be worth giving them a call.

For the latest information and, most importantly, the eventual all-clear, check directly with Bell-Milam-Falls Water Supply Corporation.

Driscoll Home Services shares Central Texas News that may affect our customers, neighbors and communities throughout Milam County and the surrounding area.

Residents across Central Texas are being urged to pay closer attention to the risk of rabies after the Thorndale Police Department issued a warning about an increase in rabies reports in Central Texas. Including Milam, Williamson and Travis counties.

The local warning comes as Texas continues to document rabies activity in wildlife and domestic animals during 2026. The Texas Department of State Health Services maintains statewide rabies surveillance data, although its detailed monthly reports currently available online extend only through May.

What animals are most likely to carry rabies in Texas?

For those of us living in rural Central Texas, rabies is something worth taking seriously. Wildlife, livestock, pets and people often live much closer together here than they do in more urban areas.

Rabies can infect any mammal, but in Texas it is most frequently found in wild animals such as skunks, bats, raccoons and foxes. Cases can also occur in cats, dogs, cattle, horses and goats. The virus is primarily spread through the saliva of an infected animal, most commonly through a bite.

That makes rabies especially important for rural families who have dogs and cats outdoors, livestock, chickens or barns and outbuildings that may attract wildlife.

Don’t assume an animal has to look vicious

One of the more important things to know about rabies is that an infected animal doesn’t always behave the way we might expect.

Texas DSHS advises watching for unusual behavior. A wild animal that suddenly seems unusually friendly or tame can be concerning, just as an animal displaying aggression can be. Other warning signs can include difficulty walking, eating or drinking, excessive excitement or unusual behavior. Seeing normally nocturnal wildlife such as skunks or foxes behaving abnormally during the daytime can also be a warning sign.

Protect your dogs and cats

The safest rule is simple: don’t handle wildlife, even if the animal appears harmless.

Keeping pets vaccinated is one of the most important protections against rabies.

Texas requires dogs and cats to receive a rabies vaccination by four months of age, administered by a licensed veterinarian. Pet owners should also make sure boosters remain current.

Outdoor pets can encounter wildlife without their owners ever seeing it happen. A skunk, bat or other infected animal can expose a pet, which can then create a potential risk for the family.

Keeping pets from roaming and avoiding contact with unfamiliar or wild animals further reduces that risk.

Be especially careful around bats

Bats deserve special attention because their bites can be extremely small and may not always be obvious.

Texas DSHS recommends that people not touch sick, injured or dead bats. A possible exposure should be evaluated even when someone isn’t certain that a bite occurred—for example, when a person wakes up with a bat in the room or when a bat is found near an unattended young child.

If a bat may have had contact with a person or pet, don’t simply release it. Contact local animal control or law enforcement so officials can determine whether the animal should be tested.

What should you do after an animal bite?

If you are bitten by an animal that could potentially carry rabies, immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as possible. The animal should also be reported to the appropriate local authorities.

Rabies is preventable when appropriate treatment is given after an exposure. Once symptoms of rabies develop, however, the disease is fatal. That is why possible exposures shouldn’t be ignored or treated as something to simply watch for a few days.

What do the numbers tell us about Milam County?

There is an important distinction between the current local warning and the state’s published statistics.

The Thorndale Police Department’s September warning specifically includes Milam, Williamson and Travis counties. However, Texas DSHS notes that rabies testing varies considerably from county to county. A county showing no positive laboratory results in state surveillance data does not necessarily mean rabies is absent there; it can simply mean no positive samples were reported from the animals that were collected and tested.

For that reason, residents shouldn’t interpret an older or low county case count as meaning there is no local risk.

A little extra caution goes a long way

Most people will never encounter a rabid animal, and there is no reason to be afraid of every skunk, bat or other wild animal we see.

But the recent local warning is a good reminder to use some common sense.

Keep your pets’ rabies vaccinations current. Don’t allow pets to interact with wildlife. Teach children not to pick up or pet wild animals. And if an animal is behaving strangely, give it plenty of room and contact the appropriate authorities rather than trying to handle it yourself.

In rural Central Texas, wildlife is simply part of where we live. Respecting that wildlife—and knowing when to keep our distance—is one of the best ways we can protect our families and our animals.

Driscoll Home Services.

If you live in rural Central Texas, chances are pretty good that you either own animals or have neighbors who do.

Cattle, horses, dogs, cats and other animals are part of everyday life for many of us. That’s why the return of New World screwworm to Texas is something worth paying attention to.

Texas has now confirmed New World screwworm cases in several parts of the state. A recent case involving a working ranch horse in Presidio County is another reminder that animal owners need to know what to watch for.

At this time, Milam County is not listed among the Texas counties with New World screwworm infested zones. There is no reason to panic, but there is a good reason to be informed.

Texas Animal Health Commission.

What Is New World Screwworm?

Despite its name, New World screwworm isn’t actually a worm.

It is a type of fly. The problem begins when the female fly lays eggs in or near an open wound or other opening on a warm-blooded animal.

When those eggs hatch, the larvae feed on living tissue.

That’s what makes New World screwworm different from many of the maggots we normally associate with dead or decaying material. Screwworm larvae can actually burrow into healthy, living tissue and make a relatively small wound much larger and much more serious.

Without treatment, an infestation can cause severe injury and can even kill an animal.

Texas DSHS – New World Screwworm Information.

What Animals Can Get Screwworm?

Cattle are a major concern, but New World screwworm isn’t limited to cattle.

It can affect horses, goats, sheep, pigs and other livestock. Dogs and cats can also become infested.

Wildlife can be affected as well.

That makes this an issue for more than ranchers. Someone with a couple of cows, a horse in the pasture or simply dogs and cats around the house should know what an infestation can look like.

Pay Particular Attention to Wounds

One of the most important things animal owners can do is pay attention to wounds.

A cut from a fence, an injury, a surgical incision or another break in the skin can provide a place for a screwworm fly to lay its eggs.

Check animals regularly, especially if you know they have a wound.

If something that looked like a small injury suddenly becomes larger or doesn’t appear to be healing normally, take a closer look and contact your veterinarian.

What Should You Look For?

An animal with a New World screwworm infestation may appear irritated or uncomfortable.

There may be an open wound or sore that is getting worse rather than better. The wound may have an unpleasant odor, and larvae may be visible in or around it.

Those signs don’t automatically mean an animal has New World screwworm. There are other types of flies and larvae that can be found around wounds.

The important thing is not to try to diagnose it yourself.

If you see larvae in a wound or suspect a screwworm infestation, contact your veterinarian promptly.

Dogs and Cats Need Watching Too

Those of us in the country tend to think about cattle and horses first when we hear about an agricultural pest.

But don’t forget the dogs and cats.

Check pets when they come inside, especially if they’ve been injured or have an open sore. Outdoor dogs and cats deserve particular attention because they naturally spend more time around flies.

If your pet has a wound, keeping it clean and following your veterinarian’s instructions becomes even more important while New World screwworm is present in Texas.

Good Fly Control Can Help

Keeping flies under control around animals is always a good idea.

Keep animal areas as clean as reasonably possible and avoid allowing manure, wet bedding or other material that attracts flies to accumulate.

Animal owners should also practice good wound care and talk with their veterinarian about appropriate fly-control and animal-health measures for their particular animals.

There isn’t one solution that is right for every animal or every property, so veterinary guidance is especially important.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Screwworm?

Early detection is important.

If you suspect New World screwworm in livestock or a pet, contact your veterinarian and the Texas Animal Health Commission as soon as possible.

Don’t simply treat a suspicious wound and forget about it.

Texas animal-health officials are tracking cases because knowing where infestations are occurring is an important part of controlling the spread.

Suspected cases involving wildlife should be reported to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

What Is Texas Doing About It?

New World screwworm isn’t new to Texas.

It was once a serious livestock problem throughout the southern United States before being eradicated from the United States in the 1960s.

One of the most interesting tools being used again today is the sterile insect technique.

Large numbers of sterile male screwworm flies are released into affected areas. Female screwworm flies mate only once. When they mate with a sterile male, the eggs they produce don’t hatch.

Over time, that can dramatically reduce the screwworm population.

Federal and state officials are currently using sterile fly releases along with surveillance, animal inspections and other measures to fight the outbreak.

What Does This Mean for Milam County?

For now, this is a be aware, not be afraid situation for those of us in Milam County.

Milam County is not currently listed as part of the state’s New World screwworm infested zone.

But Texas already has confirmed cases, and the situation can change.

If you own cattle, horses, dogs, cats or other animals, get into the habit of looking them over regularly. Pay attention to wounds. Keep animal areas reasonably clean and take unusual wounds or visible larvae seriously.

Most importantly, don’t wait several days hoping that a suspicious wound will clear up on its own.

Country Living Means Keeping an Eye on Things

Living in Central Texas comes with a lot of benefits, but it also means keeping an eye on our property and the animals that depend on us.

Sometimes it’s a loose fence board. Sometimes it’s a leaking pipe. And sometimes it’s noticing that an animal has a small injury that needs attention before it becomes something much bigger.

New World screwworm is another one of those things we need to know about without becoming unnecessarily alarmed.

At Driscoll Home Services, we’re part of the same rural Central Texas community. We’ll continue watching developments that could affect our homes, properties, families and animals and pass along information when there’s something our neighbors need to know.