July 2026

Body Rick Breitenfeldt, Public Affairs Specialist with the Office of Communications at the Federal Aviation Administration, released the following statement to the News regarding a small plane crash in the Whitton Community, south of Canton, on July 14.

Body Edom Mayor Barbara Crow released the following statement regarding the recent death of Edom Mayor Pro-Tem Lee Shults: “It is with great sadness that the City of Edom announces the passing of Mayor Pro-Tem Lee Shults, who passed away on Sunday, July 12.

Body davidb@vanzandtnews.com Van Mayor Ernie Burns and Van City Manager Jeff Hudgens praised the job done by city workers during the 10th Annual Van Freedom Boom event held June 27 at McMillan Park.

Body davidb@vanzandtnews.com During the regular monthly meeting of the Van City Council on July 9, the monthly police department and library reports were released.

Body Financial planning and infrastructure upgrades took center stage for the City of Wills Point on Tuesday night as council members spent hours discussing both the upcoming budget as well as potential improvements and maintenance projects.

Body I love the flavor of smoked meat and have for most of my adult life spent countless hours tending a wood fired smoker. I’ve used everything from the old barrel shaped water smokers to homemade iron smokers mounted on a trailer that I pull behind my pickup.

Body The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from July 7, 2026 through July 14, 2026 Frederick, Hastings Grace, 23, Grand Saline, TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY INJURY Jones, Zachary Wayne, 41, Grand Saline, INJURY TO CHILD/ELDERLY/ DISABLED...

Body Two representatives from Van Zandt Newspapers LLC were interviewed July 8 on the ‘Mic’d Up on Main Street, Where Canton Comes to Talk Business’ podcast presented by the Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce.

Body The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work in Van Zandt County during the week of July 13.

Body Recently at the Texas FFA Convention, we had the honor of celebrating some very deserving Fruitvale FFA members as they received the Texas FFA Lone Star Degree, the highest degree the Texas FFA Association can bestow upon its members.