Congressman Cloud comes to Cuero

Congressman Cloud comes to Cuero

DeWitt County Today

Ele Chew | June 1, 2025

On Thursday, May 29, Congressman Michael Cloud visited Cuero to understand the needs of the people in DeWitt and Lavaca counties. The visit was graciously organized by the Cuero Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, providing a platform for open dialogue and community engagement.

He represents the U.S. 27th Congressional District, which spans a diverse range of areas including Aransas, Bastrop, Bee, Caldwell, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Victoria. Accompanying Congressman Cloud were his new Chief of Staff, Mark Longoria, and his new District Director, Scott Bauer.

In the morning, the group toured Cuero Regional Hospital and several local businesses. At the hospital, administrators shared the highlights and strengths of the facility, including the Gold Plus rating for their Stroke Program. They also shared the challenges of rural healthcare and nursing homes, pointing out the patient populations, such as pregnant mothers, low-income families and the elderly, that depend on Medicaid, which is scheduled for cuts with the “Big Beautiful Bill” recently passed by the House.

CRH CEO Lynn Falcone said that the cuts in various federal healthcare programs are a concern for the hospital’s bottom line, which is running in the red this year.

“We’re hurting,” she said. “I’m very thankful that we sit in a good financial cash position, and we have no debt at our hospital. But as we go into strategic planning and look at what we are going to face, it’s getting harder and harder to stay solvent, when you know those programs, whether it’s Medicare cuts or the additional sequestration that’s coming out.”

After the hospital, the group visited Anders Auto Supplies, which manages its inventory using traditional catalogs and computers. They also stopped by the Cuero Pecan House, known for local products and baked goods since 2003. Additionally, they explored the new Mad Batter Cheesecakes Bakery, which offers over 160 different cheesecake flavors.

In the afternoon, various county and city officials, along with economic development and community leaders from Cuero, Yoakum, and Yorktown, gathered for the DeWitt County Leaders Roundtable meeting at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum.

County Judge Daryl Fowler addressed legislative threats from subdivision development regulations and discussed the routine operations of road maintenance, highlighting contributions from the oil and gas industry. He spoke about the impact of ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Company on the county’s drilling operations and outlined plans for continued development over the next 18 years.

Commissioner Ryan Varela of Precinct 1 spoke of legislative funding for rural ambulance services, and Mayor Bill Baker noted the 100% volunteer service of firefighters and EMS in Yorktown. Other lively discussions revolved around key issues such as infrastructure, economic growth, education, and crime.

Cuero Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Adams passionately highlighted a common vision among the attendees.
“Everybody in this room is promoting the same thing. We want to keep our towns going. To keep our regions going. We want to keep our values going,” he declared. Several heads nodded in agreement.

Mayor Bill Baker of Yorktown still observed a brain drain with young people leaving Yorktown. However, a reversal of this trend has occurred in Cuero since the COVID pandemic.

“Over the recent years, maybe since COVID. People realize that maybe I don’t have to live in a big city to make a living. I can move back to Cuero. And we’ve had some really good young people that grew up here, professionals that have moved back, bought their businesses back to town,” Adams continued.

“What we need to do is work for our youth. We need to work on our town to make it attractive for the people who grew up here to want to come back here,” Adams said.

“Big town. Small Town. Doesn’t matter. Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure. Infrastructure is a priority for us,” Cuero City Manager Wayne Berger said.

Cuero, Yoakum, and Yorktown shared updates on drilling a new water well, replacing sewer and water lines, and road replacement in Cuero; establishing a new water runout for the industrial park and installing a new 500,000-gallon overhead water tower in Yoakum; and implementing smart, remote-read water meters in Yorktown.

“This technology (remote-read water meters) has been a game-changer for us. It allows us to save time that was previously spent manually checking meters,” Yorktown Mayor Bill Baker said.

The various areas assist one another by lending equipment, as noted by Yorktown Mayor Baker and Yoakum City Manager Michael Mitchell.

“I picked up the phone and called Wayne, saying, ‘Wayne, we’re in a jam,’” Mitchell recalled.

“What are you waiting for? Get over here and pick the sander up,” Berger replied on the phone.

This situation highlights how small towns support each other with just a phone call. Berger chuckled and reminded Mitchell that he was returning a previous favor.

Support goes beyond lending equipment. Teresa Bowe, the City Clerk for Yoakum, who describes herself as a workhorse, trying to keep the wheels turning, praised Cuero Economic Development Director Maggie Cromeens for creating the South-Central Texas Agri-Network.

“Thank you for bringing us all to the table. This regional effort strengthens our ability to pursue economic development, recruitment, and sustainability. We may have a project coming up in Yoakum that may not be the right fit for us, but it could be beneficial for Cuero, Hallettsville, or Gonzales. We want to ensure that opportunities stay within our region because when any of us succeeds, we all succeed. Thank you for your foresight and thank you all for allowing us to be here today,” Bowe said.

Cuero’s Economic Development Director, Maggie Cromeens, has played a key role in attracting new businesses to the area by preparing site-ready locations with essential water, sewer, and electric services available.

Both ISD Superintendents, Dr. Micah Dyer of Cuero and Tom Kelley of Yoakum, expressed their relief as they sent off their 2025 graduates. Dr. Dyer was already wearing a shirt with the number 2026 printed on it.

Superintendent Kelley emphasized the importance of community support for student success.

“It takes a village to achieve this together. We face many challenges, but we are committed to our kids,” he stated.

He also emphasized the importance of career pathways, noting that they are crucial for preparing students to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Similarly, Dr. Dyer boasted of Cuero’s 20 unique pathways to graduation, emphasizing that they are unmatched in the region.

“It’s tight, but we efficiently educate our kids,” Superintendent Kelley said, acknowledging budget limitations.

District Attorney Brian Cromeens discussed the challenges of prosecuting crimes in rural communities and the impact of poverty on crime rates.

“Education is vital, and we are making strides to address crime, especially in schools. I maintain strong communication with superintendents and police departments in Cuero and Yoakum ISD,” he said, adding the implementation of an electronic filing system will improve ongoing dialogue, save significant costs, and enhance efficiency.

Congressman Cloud took notes while listening carefully, asking for specifics about various bills and their potential impact on the community. He highlighted the importance of receiving feedback.

“We are committed to helping you find funding opportunities, so please reach out if you need assistance securing financial resources. Our goal is to support you and identify the resources available to benefit your district,” he mentioned, pointing to the QR code displayed on the screen and in the newsletter.

“We serve as a bridge between the citizens and their government,” he concluded, expressing his gratitude to everyone present, especially to hosts Angie Cuellar, executive director of Cuero Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, and Sara Blain, administrative assistant.