December 2023

Eaglettes open district play with two wins

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The Canton Eaglette girls’ varsity basketball team opened district play with two convincing wins against Lindale and Mabank. On Dec.
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Lady Vandals outlast Palestine at home

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In their final game before their Christmas holiday break, the Van Lady Vandals scored an impressive 68-29 victory over Palestine at home in non-district play. Landry Jones led the Lady Vandals with 18 points, three rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
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Hunting and cooking go hand and hand

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If you’ve been reading this column long, you have probably learned that eating fish and game is a very important element of the total outdoor experience for this old outdoor scribe. I definitely thrill at the adrenaline rush when a big buck steps out of the brush or when a big catfish or striper bows the tip of my fishing rod toward the lake’s surface, but if I were to be totally honest, way back in the back of my mind, even during the excitement of the moment, I’m thinking about venison steak or fried catfish.
What’s purple top turnips got to do with a deer hunt? Read and discover! Photo by Luke Clayton

Van council gives go-ahead to solar eclipse event

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davidb@vanzandtnews.com In a 4-1 vote, the Van City Council approved the spending of $50,000 in hotel/motel funds to promote a three-day festival in the city in advance of the upcoming partial and total solar eclipse event scheduled for April 2024.
City of Van Parks and Recreation Director Matt Malone discussed plans for a three-day festival in the city to celebrate the upcoming partial and total solar eclipse event scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2024. Funding for the local celebration, totaling approximately $50,000, and will be paid from the city’s hotel/motel tax fund, was approved in a 4-1 vote by the council. Photo by David Barber

City of Van receives emergency services manual from VZC

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davidb@vanzandtnews.com Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese appeared before the Van City Council meeting during its regular monthly meeting Dec. 14 to present a copy of VZC’s updated Emergency Management Manual to the City of Van.
Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese presented a copy of the revised 2023 Van Zandt County Emergency Services Manual to the City of Van during the Dec. 14 regular monthly meeting of the Van City Council. Photo by David Barber

Edom VFD seeking ‘Good Samaritans’

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The Edom Volunteer Fire Department is looking for two ‘Good Samaritans’ who heroically recently pulled a victim from a burning car saving the individual’s life, according to Dylan Turner with the Edom VFD.

Debate between Money, Dutton set for Jan. 9

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Van Zandt County Republican Party Chairman Lance Lenz recently released information about a scheduled VZC debate between the two Republican Party candidates that are on the Tuesday, Jan. 30 ballot for the Texas House District 2 special runoff election.