May 2022

The city of Wills Point will once again serve as the central hub for area Juneteenth activities, playing host to the largest Juneteenth celebration in the area June 18. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

A 50th wedding anniversary celebration will be held honoring Bobby and Mary Williams at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 4. The celebration will be held at Serenity Springs, 3865 Farm-to-Market 858, Ben Wheeler. The celebration is given by their children and guests are asked not to bring gifts.

We are closing out the last week of the school year on a high note. On Monday and Tuesday, May 23 and 24, the kindergarten, first and second grade classes from Grand Saline Elementary took a field trip to the library. They learned how to use their library cards, about the activities we are having this summer, and how to read to win prizes this summer. We are starting out this week with 219 new library card holders in Grand Saline.

Food giveaway set East Oak Street Church of Christ will hold a food giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 4 at the church, located at 508 East Oak Street Edgewood.

Moving to a new school district can present plenty of challenges and anxiety for a high school student transferring to a different town in Texas or even a different country. For five foreign exchange students attending Van High School during the 2021-’22 school year, moving to a school in a different country was just the beginning of many changes in their lifestyles.

The selection process involving the search for a new City of Van administrator led to plenty of discussion May 12 during the regular monthly meeting of the Van City Council. This was the first regular monthly council meeting since March as the April session was cancelled.

Buster Leavell stands before a downed 80-year-old tree after it was felled by strong spring storms on May 15. The tree is located at 32210 State Hwy.

The Wills Point community found itself reeling this week after a major a two-vehicle accident resulted in the death of a high school student and injuries to three others. According to a preliminary report issued by the Wills Point Police Department, local first responders were dispatched in the early evening hours May 17 for a two-vehicle accident in the location of Highway 80 and FM-2965.

During the Van Area Chamber of Commerce Cinco de Mayo Festival at the old Van City Park May 14, chamber award winners were announced. The winners were Tim Perry, ‘Citizen of the Year’; Ernie Burns, ‘Volunteer of the Year’; and Van Family Medical, ‘Business of the Year.’ The awards were presented by Pat Valentine and Mike Bowers of the Van Area Chamber of Commerce.

Miss Texas 2021 Mallory Brooke Fuller visited Wills Point ISD campuses May 11, speaking with high school students specifically about mental health and suicide prevention. Fuller’s journey towards becoming a mental health advocate began in high school after losing a friend to suicide.