May 2023

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from May 9-May 17. Michael Jose Alvizo, 33, Edgewood, arrested on site for driving while intoxicated.

“Same bank. Same name. Same family. New look,” shares East Texas based Austin Bank regarding its new logo, tag line and brand colors. The bank is the same bank it has always been, with the same commitment to its customers, employees and communities. They have simply modernized their look. The Austin family and all leadership remains the same. Austin Bank is proud of its commitment to the communities they have served for over 120 years.

Van Zandt County track and field athletes representing Canton and Martins Mill hit the road last week, traveling to Myers Stadium on the University of Texas Austin to compete in this year’s State Track and Field Meet.

The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) announced the recipients for its third annual Linda Thomas Safe Driving Scholarship. The scholarship awarded $1,000 each for 10 high school seniors in NET RMA counties throughout northeast Texas.

The University of Texas at Tyler announced the students who were named to the spring 2023 Dean’s List. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must have completed 12 or more semester hours of undergraduate college- level credit in the awarding semester with a grade point average of at least 3.75.

The Canton Eaglette softball team saw another dream season draw to a close last week, falling to a talented Farmersville program in the Regional Quarterfinals. Despite the disappointing finish the Eaglettes would etch their name into the school’s record, winning the program’s first-ever district title, setting a high-water mark for wins in a season with 30 and reaching the Regional Quarterfinals for the second year in a row.

The Canton Eagles saw their 2023 season draw to a close in the Area round of the playoffs last week, dropping two of three games against a Liberty-Eylau team currently riding the high of an explosive offense.

Three major award winners were recognized by the Van Area Chamber of Commerce May 13 during the chamber’s Cinco de Mayo Festival. Long-time Van High School Counselor Bill Giles was named as the chamber’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ while Joan Driver was selected as the chamber’s ‘Volunteer of the Year.’ C&H Fire Pits, owned by Cole and Hannah Wagley, was named as the chamber’s ‘Business of the Year.’ The Van Area Chamber of Commerce’s Cinco de Mayo Festival moved from its original location to the gymnasium at Connections, formerly the Van United Methodist Church, due to forecasts of inclement weather May 13.

Bright Star Baptist Church of Wills Point hosted a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater called “Burritos and Banditos” on Saturday, May 20. The play began at 6 p.m.

Kindness, Friendship, and Unity BRANDI COLLARD-SIMPSON Director, Grand Saline Public Library The Grand Saline Public Library is kicking off its annual Summer Reading Program by donating books to Grand Saline ISD and Fruitvale ISD kindergarteners to encourage a love of reading and learning. The theme of this year’s program is All Together Now: Kindness, Friendship, and Unity.