March 2022

Van City Council members heard an introductory presentation from new City of Van Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director Tammy Weidman during the council’s regular monthly meeting March 10. Council members Charles Ryan and Amanda Davis joined the meeting through ZOOM as they were unable to attend the meeting in person.

The Republican Women of Van Zandt County held their monthly meeting on Monday, March 14 at American National Bank in Canton. Cindy Burkett, District Director of the Texas Federation of Republican Women, discussed the process of the conventions and being a delegate. She advised it was a good opportunity to participate in the political process beyond just a vote, and that those who show up decide. The Van Zandt County Republican Party County Convention is scheduled for Saturday, March 26 at the Farm Bureau in Canton. Photo by Faith Caughron

Van Zandt County Pct. 1 Commissioner Chad LaPrade received a surprise March 16 as he was presented with a ‘100 Years of Family Living in VZC’ commemorative certificate from the VZC Genealogical Society during the regular meeting of the VZC Commissioners Court.

Van Zandt County continued what has become a familiar trend last week as the office of Texas State Comptroller announced that six out of seven local cities had posted sales tax revenue gains when comparing against the same calendar month from the previous year.

Van Zandt County track and field programs were well represented in Malakoff last week with athletes from Canton, Edgewood, Van and Wills Point all in attendance at this year’s Tiger Relays. Individual results for local athletes competing in the varsity boys division included: -100: Holden Fletcher, WP, first, 11.09; Austin Hayes, EW, second, 11.44; Tuff Arozamena, Van, fourth, 11.54; Curtis Griffith, Canton, fifth, 11.73 -200: Joseph Roland, WP, fourth, 23.81 -400: Arik Phillips, WP, first, 53.1; Renato Medina, WP, third, 55.03 -800: Arik Phillips, WP, first, 2:07.7; Nathan Allen, WP, second, 2:08.25; Miguel Arce, Canton, third, 2:09.94; Renato Medina, WP, fourth, 2:13.7 -1600: Miguel Arce, Canton, first, 4:54.75; Avery Brown, WP, second, 4:59.59 -3200: Miguel Arce, Canton, first, 10:36.73; Avery Brown, WP, second, 10:49.42; Randall Alaniz, EW, fifth, 13:22.25 -110 Hurdles: Austin Snyder, Canton, second, 15.71; Jacob Elliott, Canton, fourth, 16.01; Reid Johnson, Van, fifth, 17.22; Rocco Foley, Canton, sixth, 17.25 -300 Hurdles: Austin Snyder, Canton, second, 43.25; Rocco Foley, Canton, third, 43.47; Bryce McDaniel, WP, fifth, 49.6 -4x100: Wills Point, first, 44.84; Van, third, 45.53 -4x200: Van, second, 1:35.7 -4x400: Wills Point, second, 3:39.77; Edgewood, third, 3:42.59; Canton, fourth, 3:43.06 -High Jump: Nathan Goodson, Canton, fourth, 5-08 -Long Jump: Joseph Roland, WP, fourth, 18-09.5 -Triple Jump: Ryder Shoquist, Van, first, 38-09.5; Ethan Robertson, Canton, second, 38-07.5 -Pole Vault: Grant McCarver, Canton, first, 10-06; Monty Vandermeer, WP, third, 10-00; Avery Brown, WP, fourth, 9-00 -Discus: Preston Yarber, Canton, first, 156-02.5; Jacob Daniels, WP, second, 122-01; Brayden Hullum, Van, fourth, 116-02.5; Jason Mitchell, Canton, fifth, 107.11.5 -Shot Put: KD Erskine, Van, third, 39-07.5; Chase Buckley, WP, fourth, 36-05.75; Kyle Wilson, WP, fifth, 36-00.5 Individual results for local athletes competing in the varsity boys division included: -100: Kayla Jones, WP, first, 12.61; Kiley Mays, Canton, sixth, 13.85 -200: Kiley Mays, Canton, third, 29.19; Emma Pearson, WP, fifth, 29.72; Baylie Hall, Van, sixth, 29.84 -400: Lexi Taylor, WP, first, 1:04.3; Rockie Collier, Canton, second, 1:05.64 -800: Favor Cantrell, Canton, first, 2:40.99; Amity Hall, Van, second, 2:42.96; Jasmine Chambers, Van, fifth, 2:55.03; Lily Perez, Canton, sixth, 2:56.86 -1600: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 5:39; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 5:51.72; Lana Stapleton, Canton, third, 6:12.19; Abby Clyburn, Van, fourth, 6:21.67; Madison Clyburn, Van, fifth, 6:22.93 -3200: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 12:18.58; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 13:02.27; Lana Stapleton, Canton, third, 13:42.3; Yolanda Galaz, Van, fourth, 17:34.29 -100 Hurdles: Kenna Conner, WP, first, 17.24; Bailey Dykes, WP, fourth, 18.6 -300 Hurdles: Chloe Barton, Van, second, 50.74; Bailey Dykes, WP, fourth, 53.4; Kimber Holley, Canton, fifth, 53.52; Erin Thornton, WP, sixth, 55.94 -4x200: Wills Point, first, 1:57.07 -4x400: Van, first, 4:48.82 -High Jump: Rockie Collier, Canton, first, 5-00; Adyson Horan, Van, fourth, 4-06 -Long Jump: Favor Cantrell, Canton, third, 15-00; Kori Nicklas, Canton, fourth, 14- 10.5; Emma Todoroff, WP, fifth, 14-05; Trinity Ballard, Canton, sixth, 14-05 -Triple Jump: Kori Nicklas, Canton, second, 32-07.5; Emma Welty, Canton, third, 31-07; Bailey Dykes, WP, fifth, 30-11 -Pole Vault: Kaymon Dale, Van, first, 11-00; Hannah Cade, Canton, second, 9-06; Kimber Holley, Canton, third, 9-00; Lauren Potter, Van, fifth, 6-00 -Discus: Virginia Bradway, Canton, second, 89-02.5; Clara Pool, EW, fifth, 76-07.5 -Shot Put: Anna Nicholson, EW, fourth, 30-06.25.

The Edgewood Lady Dogs took to the road March 8, traveling to take on a highly regarded Prairiland Lady Patriots squad in this year’s District 12-3A opener. Prairiland would go on to live up to its pregame hype, limiting Edgewood’s offense to just two hits in a 10-0 shutout win.

The Grand Saline Lady Indians made the short trek to Rains High School on Tuesday night, tangling with perennial power Emory Rains in the District 12-3A opener for both squads. Rains would prevail in the matchup of longtime rivals, using big offensive outbursts in the third and fourth innings to secure the 11-1 win.

With all District 14-4A teams officially eliminated from playoff contention, coaches released their list of Superlative and All-District honorees. Canton, which won its third district championship in as many seasons, doubled up on MVP recognitions with senior Ja’Braylon Pickens and junior Chantson Prox sharing honors.

The Canton ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve the hiring of Heath Ragle for the position of CISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach on March 9. Ragle is a 2001 graduate of Canton High School. Ragle was joined by his family during the board meeting. Photo by Britne Hammons

The Van Vandals played host to Mineola on Tuesday night, looking to build some early season momentum as the start of district play looms just over the horizon. Van would come away with an easy win in the contest, getting a pair of solid pitching performances and timely hitting to score a 7-2 win over the Yellowjackets.