April 2024

A Van Zandt County dog owner was arrested and charged with animal cruelty following a civil custody hearing Monday, April 1, according to information released by the SPCA of Texas. The hearing was held in the VZC Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 courtroom.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from Mar. 26-Apr.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be sponsoring the Upper Sabine Cattleman’s Conference, April 12. The conference will be held at the Gabriel Ranch located at 8575 FM 1255, Grand Saline.

The Van Zandt News will publish, at no cost, one story and a photograph for each candidate that has filed to run in the Saturday, May 4 city and school elections in Van Zandt County. The information will be published in the News prior to the start of Early Voting on Monday, April 22.

On Monday, April 8, East Texas will experience the first Total Solar Eclipse since 1878 which will cover 13 U.S. States.

1. Which three countries are on the 2024 eclipse path? 2. What is the name for the Sun’s outer atmosphere, which becomes visible in the path of totality if weather permits? 3. After April 8, 2024, when will the next total solar eclipse take place? 4. What is the term for people who travel around the world to observe total solar eclipses? 5. Which planet has 95 moons and experiences triple eclipses? 6. Which two planets in our solar system do not experience solar eclipses? 7. What is the meaning of the Greek word ekleipsis, from which the word eclipse derives?

davidb@vanzandtnews.com Van Zandt County Sheriff Joe Carter knows that a unique event like the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse event Monday, April 8 can present some unique challenges, but he said that his department is ready to respond when needed.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com Anewly revised policy regarding school colors applying to all school uniforms and letter jackets was shared by Van ISD Superintendent Don Dunn during the regular monthly meeting of the Van School Board March 25. Trustee Michael Johnson was not in attendance.

In advance of the solar eclipse event Monday, April 8, Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese has ‘Declared a Local State of Disaster’ for VZC in a letter sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott April 1. The local state of disaster declaration by Reese reads as follows: ‘Whereas, the county of Van Zandt on the 5th day of April 2024 has the potential for a number of hazardous conditions including, but not limited to, injury, or loss of life or property (or there is imminent threat of same) resulting from a mass influx of visitors to VZC for the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024, and whereas, we do not have the public safety resources to adequately protect the citizens of VZC or our visitors and; ‘Whereas, the Judge of the County of Van Zandt has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to provide adequate protections of people and to protect or rehabilitate property and to request resources and enact temporary orders, ordinances, and measures to protect the same; ‘Now, Therefore, Be It Proclaimed by The Judge of the County of Van Zandt: That a state of disaster is declared for the County of Van Zandt.

A total solar eclipse will cross North America when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth on April 8. The face of the Sun will be completely blocked, darkening the sky as if it were dawn or dusk.