February 2025

December 26,1941 - February 15, 2025 Thurman Ray Lawley, 83, of Canton was born December 26, 1941, in Van Zandt County to Elam and Levie Lawley. He died February 15, 2025 in Grand Saline with his children by his side.

March 16, 1936 - February 17, 2025 Samuel David Ballard Jr., 88, of Grand Saline went home to the Lord on February 17, 2025, in Tyler. He was born in Colfax on March 16, 1936, to Samuel David Ballard Sr.

September 20, 1935 - February 20, 2025 A celebration of life for Sue Burns, 89, of Canton, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Victory Church in Canton.

September 13, 1977 - February 16, 2025 Trey Landon Lively, 47, of Canton went home to Heaven on February 16, 2025. He was born on September 13, 1977, in Tyler to Billy Joe Lively and Avis Goodgame Lively.

March 23,1931 - February 17, 2025 Orsborne Willie Jay Williams was born March 23, 1931, to Williams and Elsie Tryphena (Spainhour) Williams in the community of Wise in southwest Van Zandt County. He was the 10th of 12 children born to Lee and Elsie.

In a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire, the Grand Saline Indians edged Troup, 63-62, in the bi-district round of the Class 3A state basketball playoffs. Landon Mayne led four players in double figure scoring for the Indians with 18 points followed by Preston Hass with 12, and Blane Thompson and Weston Akins with 10 points each.

Van Zandt County Fire Marshal Kevin Palmer is encouraging citizens in VZC to sign up for the new ‘Smart 911’ system. “This system allows the VZC Fire Marshals Office (VZCFMO) and the VZC Emergency Management Office to send emergency notifications directly to your phone and/or e-mail,” emphasized Palmer.

The number-one ranked team in the state in Class 2A boys basketball, the Martins Mill Mustangs, had few problems in their bi-district game Feb. 17 as they blew past Latexo, 74-43.

The defending Class 2A State Champion Martins Mill Lady Mustangs continue to dominate in post-season play as they whipped Reisel and Tenaha to advance to the Class 2A Regional Finals. Against Tenaha Feb.

The Van Vandals improved their season record to 2112 with an impressive 68-47 victory over the Chapel Hill Bulldogs in the bi-district round of the Class 4A state basketball playoffs Feb. 18 in Tyler.