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Edwards, Douglas named 2023 Honors Scholars

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The University of Texas at Tyler announced the names of high school seniors who are 2023 UT Tyler Honors Scholars. Each student has been awarded a $40,000 scholarship and accepted into the UT Tyler Honors College.
Edwards, Douglas named 2023 Honors Scholars

Elwood Baptist to mark 125th anniversary

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Elwood Baptist Church, located at 3713 VZ CR 3504 in Wills Point, will be having their homecoming to mark 125 years since it’s organization in 1898 on April 2. Church officials stated, “We will be having brother Billy Smith to bring the morning message and Ransomed will bring the music.

Austin Bank employee receives promotion

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Jeff Austin III, Chairman of the Board, recently announced the promotion of Austin Bank employee Paul Bullington to Assistant Vice President. The promotion was approved at the March 2023 Board of Directors meeting at the Austin Bank corporate office in Jacksonville.
Bullington

No action taken on sheriff’s department salary increases’ request

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At the end of their regular meeting March 15, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court heard a presentation from VZC Sheriff Joe Carter regarding a request for increased salaries in his department. No action was taken by the court following Carter’s prepared statement that he read to the commissioners.
Van Zandt County Sheriff Joe Carter discussed the need for salary increases in the VZC Sheriff’s Department March 15 during the regular meeting of the VZC Commissioners Court. No action was taken by the commissioners’ court. Photo by David Barber

Edom sees monthly sales tax revenue decrease

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DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Texas State Comptroller’s Office delivered mostly positive results to Van Zandt County cities last week, announcing that five out of seven local entities had posted sales tax revenue gains when comparing against collection totals against the same month from the previous year. The cities of Edom and Edgewood would be the county’s lone outliers for the month with each entity receiving a payment that was less than the funds they received from the comptroller’s office at the same time last year.

Start your engines

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The City of Ben Wheeler, in partnership with The Friends of Ben Wheeler, hosted the annual Motorized Barstool Races this past Saturday throughout downtown. The event featured a large collection of vendors, as well as continuous live music, in addition to the main event race.
Start your engines

New VZC Courthouse facilities supervisor named

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Following a closed executive session at the end of their special called meeting March 21, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court named Chris Burnett as the new VZC Courthouse Facilities Maintenance Supervisor.
Van Zandt County Pct. 1 Commissioner Chad LaPrade (left) responds to a question about funding communication tower land and lease contracts from American Rescue Plan (ARP) interest funds March 21 during a special called meeting of the VZC Commissioners Court. Looking over the paperwork is VZC Pct. 2 Commissioner Virgil Melton Jr. Photo by David Barber