March 2026

Four Islamic schools have been admitted to the Texas voucher program after a federal judge ordered the state to invite the schools to apply, the Houston Chronicle reported. The judge also ordered the application deadline for families be extended to March 31, citing concerns that no Islamic schools had been approved for the program.

June 20, 1929 – March 20, 2026 Services for Delois Bates Currey, 96, of Grand Saline, were held Monday, March 23, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Dan Gilliam and Dr.

The Wills Point ISD Education Foundation (WPISDEF) hosted its annual gala recently and left no doubt that the community’s dedication to its schools is stronger than ever. Thanks to generous bids, spirited fundraising and the tireless efforts of dozens of volunteers, the event raised a record-setting $465,000, all earmarked to enrich Wills Point ISD classrooms.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from March 17-24. Hamilton, Cornelius, 50, Wills Point, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, W/PREVIOUS CONVICTION, SUSPENDED W/O FINE RESOLUTION.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com During the regular monthly meeting of the Van School Board March 23, four individuals were announced as the 2026 Van ISD Faculty and Staff Hall of Fame inductees. The announcement was made by Van ISD Superintendent Don Dunn.

There is something powerful about the standards we set for ourselves. Not the ones written in policy manuals or enforced by supervisors, but the ones that live inside us, the ones we choose to honor when no one is watching.

Wills Point High School senior Preston Jeane won his first buckle in his career showing pigs at the eighth annual Metch Memorial Livestock Show held Saturday, March 14 at the Van Zandt County Fair Grounds in Canton.

January 1, 1945 – March 23, 2026 Services for Tommy Joe Davis, 81, of Grand Saline were held March 27, 2026, at Bartley Funeral Home, with Bro. Lindsay Ray, Bro.

‘Students of the Month’ for March were recognized by the Martins Mill School Board during its regular monthly meeting March 23. The ‘Students of the Month’ at each campus were Itzel Padron and Ruben Ramirez, elementary; Victoria Jordan, junior high; and Madison Damuth, high school.

August 23, 1947 - March 19, 2026 Jane Ellen Smith Howell was born August 23, 1947, in Leonard. She had been a resident of Van most of her life and was a member of the Van Church of Christ.