January 2026

The 30-day burn ban, implemented by the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court on Jan. 9, was revoked Jan. 26 by the VZC Fire Marshal’s office, according to a letter addressed to VZC citizens by VZC Fire Marshal Kevin Palmer.

Kenneth Hyde has announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Van Zandt County Pct. 2 Commissioner.

susan@vanzandtnews.com In a meeting marked by thorough discussions and significant financial updates, the Edgewood School Board convened on Jan. 19 as they addressed several key points.

The Edgewood School Board held its first regular monthly meeting of 2026 on Jan. 19. Among the items presented to the trustees included the annual audit report detailing the district’s financial performance including financial statements, general fund insights, and capital assets. See story on page 2A.

The regular meeting of the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court scheduled for Jan. 28 was cancelled due to the weather.

Van Zandt County Historical Commission Erwin Concrete Inc. recently received a Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission, in recognition of the Fruitvale business’ 80 years of continuous operation serving Van Zandt County and the surrounding region.

Students in Van Zandt County were able to enjoy an extended weekend break as classes were cancelled in all seven VZC school districts Jan. 26-28.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, the SPCA of Texas’ Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit assisted the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office in the arrest of a man and woman who allegedly mistreated a dog on their property.

Van Zandt Newspapers LLC welcomes all candidates who have signed up to run for a Van Zandt County or a statewide office in the upcoming March 3, 2026, Primary Election to submit a FREE announcement and a photo for publication.

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION The electricity grid that covers most of Texas was holding up as of Jan. 25 during the latest winter storm, although localized power outages were reported in Deep East Texas and far West Texas.