March 2022

The Van Lady Vandals had their hands full last week, clashing with Athens and Brownsboro in District 14-4A play. Van started its week on a winning note, overcoming a shaky night in the field to score an 11-3 win over the Athens Lady Hornets March 25.

The Edgewood Lady Dogs put the finishing touches on the first round of District 12-3A play last week, taking on perennial power Emory Rains and Lone Oak in consecutive games. Edgewood earned a split in the two contests, falling to Lady Cats before bouncing back with a win over the Lady Buffalos.

District 14-4A teams acquitted themselves well on the hardwood this season, with runner-up Canton reaching the Area round of the playoffs and district champion Brownsboro winning this year’s Class 4A State Championship.

The Van Vandals got the bounce back win they needed on Tuesday night, rebounding from a district-opening setback against Athens March 25 with a 14-12 triumph over Brownsboro. Van showed plenty of resiliency in the contest, trailing 11-0 entering the fifth inning.

Athletes representing schools from across the area flocked to Norris Birdwell Stadium in Canton last week to compete in the annual Eagle Relays. Canton finished first overall in the varsity girls division with 153 points, followed by Bullard with 140 points, Quitman with 111 points, Mineola with 74 points, Brownsboro with 67 points, Edgewood with 38 points, Quachita Christian School with 30 points and Grand Saline with two points.

Ag Mechanics projects must be in place, on the grounds by 8 a.m. Monday, March 28, and will be displayed until the completion of the silent auction. The competition begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 28.This year, there are 74 entries in 18 classes. The purpose of the exhibition and competition is to provide an opportunity for FFA and 4-H members to display the projects constructed in agricultural mechanics laboratories or home shops. It is an opportunity to promote the development of skills in agricultural mechanics and to recognize individual and group for their accomplishments. Projects must be built during the school year prior to the fair. Silent auction bids are taken from Tuesday afternoon until the end of the live auction on Friday, April 1. Items may be picked up by Saturday, April 2.

The Junior Livestock Auction is held each year on Friday of the County Fair, and is scheduled for April 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Todd Berry Building. This is the culmination of the exhibitor’s experience with their perspective animal. There are approximately 100 projects in the premium sale based on placing in their competitions. The full set of rules is available at www.vzfair.org. The sale can get lively and frequently we are surprised by exhibitors kissing their animal, pigs and recently a lot of “chicken” dancers. The 2021 sale chicken exhibitor, Maeleigh Houser, was surprised by a friend in a chicken costume assisting her in selling her chickens.

Editorial cartoonist Ben Sargent once penned a masterful sketch of a newspaperman — a skinny, bug-eyed fellow in a baggy suit with a press card in the band of his porkpie hat. The unnamed journalist was depicted in the simple act of entering a dark room at city hall and switching on a light.

Local residents will soon have the opportunity to rid themselves of unwanted trash and appliances with the City of Wills Point and office of Precinct 3 Commissioner Keith Pearson announcing that their annual clean up event will take place April 1-2 in conjunction with the annual Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off.