December 2022

Mustangs defend home court, win tourney

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sports@vanzandtnews.com The Martins Mill Mustangs played host to some of the top teams from across the area Dec. 15-17, kicking off another installment of the Mewbourn Tournament with games against Redwater, Beckville, New Home and Timpson.
The Martins Mill Mustangs topped a field that included Redwater, Beckville, Texline, Grapeland, Nazareth, New Home, Waskom, Rusk, Joaquin, Lipan, Brook Hill, Tatum, West Rusk, Commerce, Timpson, Rains, Harmony and Chapel Hill to win the 2022 Bryan Mewbourn Invitational. Photo courtesy of the Martins Mill Athletic Booster Club FB Page

Lady Vandals rout Cumberland Academy

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The Van Lady Vandals got their first taste of District 16-4A play this week, kicking off their most important stretch of the 2022-’23 season with a game against Cumberland Academy. Van would deliver a dominant performance in the contest, getting all the offense they would need in the opening quarter on their way to a 66-10 rout of the Knights.
Point guard Mikyla Bachert kept the Van Lady Vandal offense running at a high level against Cumberland Academy Dec. 13, dishing out eight assists in a 66-10 rout of the Knights. Photo by Liz Hinch

Eagles cap off undefeated week with 1st place finish

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The Canton Eagles continued their early season run of dominance this past week, completing an unscathed slate with wins over Caddo Mills, Nevada Community, Tenaha, Henderson, North McKinney, and Kilgore to capture the Great East Texas Shootout Championship.
Canton took home first place in the Great East Texas Shootout by defeating Kilgore, 45-18, on Saturday night. Courtesy photo

Lady Dogs open up district title defense

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The Edgewood Lady Dogs have been the gold standard among District 12-3A basketball programs in recent seasons, going undefeated in district play during both their 2020-’21 and 2021-’22 campaigns. Following a sixth place finish at the Great East Texas Shootout in Brownsboro Dec.
Brooklyn McPherson was one of nine different Edgewood players to hit the stat sheet with points in a district-opening 64-31 win over Commerce. Photo by Dusty Goodwin

Bell files legislation to curb appraisal increases

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On Friday, Dec. 2, Representative Keith Bell (R-Forney) filed House Bill 868 to lower the maximum appraisal increase rate of homestead exempted properties from 10 percent to 3.5 percent.

Blotter

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The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from Dec. 7-Dec.

TJC’s student media recognized as top in journalism at TCCJA

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Tyler Junior College’s student media, The DrumBeat, recently won several awards at the Texas Community College Journalism Association’s annual conference, which recognizes the best in community college journalism statewide.

TVCC receives high marks from accrediting committee

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Trinity Valley Community College recently passed a preliminary assessment of seven dual-credit sites by a visiting committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College Board of Trustees. This assessment affirms the high quality of the dual-credit programs offered by TVCC.
A visiting committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College Board of Trustees made stops at seven dual credit sites recently, including a stop at Edgewood High School. Courtesy photo