October 2025

The 2024-25 Van ISD Faculty and Staff Hall of Fame Inductees were recognized prior to the start of the varsity football game Oct. 17 between the Van Vandals and the Gilmer Buckeyes. The inductees included Kenneth Griffin, Bert Ice, Betty Lewis, Jo Moore, and Tempie White. Ice, Moore, and White were represented by their families.

Ty Rotan of Edgewood is a four-time Regional Qualifier and now a back-to-back state qualifier in cross-country. Rotan finished seventh at the Regional Meet with a time of 16:54.

With his prediction in the ‘tie-breaker’ game, Gary Sewell of Wills Point is the winner of Football Contest #8 in the Sewell, along with Glenn McNeill Jr. of Wills Point, tied with winning percentages of 83 each forcing the ‘tie-breaker’ game to be used to break the deadlock.

susan@vanzandtnews.com As the sun sets on Friday, Oct. 31, David Barber will step onto the football field for a milestone like no other, his 500th game covering the Van Vandal varsity football team. The game will be played at Paris North Lamar High School Stadium.

susan@vanzandtnews.com In a groundbreaking initiative for Van Zandt County, the newly launched Youth Diversion Program aims to provide an alternative path for young offenders, steering them away from the traditional court system.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff ’s Office released the following arrest report from Oct. 14-21.

Veteran Matt Hernandez, Van Zandt County Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Tommy Forgue and Navy Veteran Phil Smith recently teamed up with Gail Bowen at Goshen Farms in Ben Wheeler to grill up hamburgers and hot Dogs for the Farms’ monthly cookout for homeless Veterans of Van Zandt County.

Before a civil custody hearing Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Courtroom in Ben Wheeler, 16 dogs from a property in Van Zandt County were surrendered and released to the SPCA of Texas. Criminal charges in the case are being pursued.