March 2022

A small margin of votes separated Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 incumbent Sandra Plaster and challenger Don Ashlock as the results of the March 1, 2022, Primary Election were announced.

In the March 20 issue of the News regarding the March 10 Van City Council meeting, it was reported that the council took no action regarding a new ordinance concerning commercial vehicles. Later in the meeting, with further discussion, the council approved the ordinance unanimously.

The Grand Saline Police Department took to social media last week, announcing the arrest of a suspect on a pair of charges including continuous sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography.

A multiple agency effort during a high-speed chase led to the arrest of three people on March 17. According to police reports, a DPS 101 helicopter was in pursuit with the Allen Police Department and other agencies on Interstate 20 eastbound. The suspects inside the white Honda Civic were wanted for felony retail theft. The Canton Police Department was called in to set up spikes on Interstate 20 to intercept the fleeing vehicle.

In 2019, Kaufman County voters put their support behind a bond measure designed to improve existing infrastructure countywide. Another element of those efforts will be unveiled in the coming week with the newly constructed Kaufman County Pet Adoption Center, located at 1904 US 175 in Kaufman, set to open its doors April 5 for a special grand opening/open house event.

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.

The University Interscholastic League’s Lone Star Cup is awarded annually to six high schools, one in each of the six UIL classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A). The award honors the best overall athletic and academic programs in Texas based on their team performance in district and state championships.

Workers began trimming of all 16 trees around the Van Zandt County Courthouse in downtown Canton March 18-19 as well as cutting down four live oak trees. The trees that were cut down were no longer alive. The trees that were cut down will be replaced, according to the VZC Commissioners Court. Photos by David Barber

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.