March 2023

Throughout the month of March, the Tyler Junior College Vision Care Clinic is open to the public, offering eye exams for $70 and eyeglasses at a discounted rate. The clinic serves as a valuable learning tool for TJC ophthalmic medical assisting students pursuing certification for careers in the vision care industry.

DAVID BARBER davidb@vanzandtnews.com Through a power-point presentation, Van ISD Superintendent Don Dunn presented a program on the topic of a potential four-day instructional school week during the Van Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon March 7 downtown at The Movie House. The title of Dunn’s program was ‘The Four Day School Week: Everything You’ve Wanted to Know (At Least, Everything That I Could Think Of).’ Around 30 people were in attendance during the luncheon.

The Grand Saline Lady Indians hit the most critical stretch of their season on Tuesday night, kicking off District 12-3A play against visiting Commerce. The game would ultimately not be much of a contest as Hannah Aaron delivered a standout pitching performance an the Grand Saline offense scored multiple runs in every inning played on their way to a 15-0 shutout win.

The Wills Point Lady Tigers basketball program enjoyed a major resurgence during the 2022-’23 season, finding the right mix of standout veterans and newcomers to end what had become a lengthy playoff drought.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Edgewood Lady Dogs had their hands full this week, crossing paths with an Emory Rains program known for making deep playoff runs to open District 12-3A play. Rains would live up to its pre-game billing, getting a dominant pitching performance and timely hitting on their way to an 11-0 shutout win of the Lady Dogs.

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Martins Mill and the UIL State Basketball Tournament have become inextricably linked over the past two decades with the Lady Mustangs powering their way to either the University of Texas in Austin or the Alamodome in San Antonio 16 times since the 2005-’06 season.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Edgewood Bulldogs recorded their most hard fought win of the season March 6, storming back from a sizeable early deficit to edge Kemp 10-7 March 6. The Yellowjackets appeared to be well on their way to a runaway win early in the contest, plating six in the home half of the first and, after Edgewood scored two runs of its own, one more run in the bottom of the third to take a 7-2 lead over the Bulldogs.

Lifters representingVan Zandt County’s three largest school districts, Canton, Van and Wills Point, made their way to Eustace High School March 4 to compete for a chance to advance to the Class 4A State Powerlifting Meet.

The Martins Mill Mustangs traveled a familiar road last week, making their way to Athens March 3-4 to compete in this year’s Regional Basketball Tournament one week after the varsity girls program made the same journey on their way to qualifying for the 2A State Tournament.