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It is that time of the decade again–redistricting. As is required by our Texas Constitution, the Legislature must redraw the boundaries of our Congressional, House, Senate, and State Board of Education (SBOE) districts to reflect the changes in population Texas has experienced in the previous decade. Some of these changes are minor; however, some are significant, which is why I feel it is appropriate to go over what is happening to Senate District 2 (SD 2) with you.

The Ben Wheeler Hog Festival was the place to be on Saturday, Oct. 24. The festival is growing each year and attracted a large number of attendees. One of the main attractions of the festival is the popular cookoff, where teams can enter their chili, beans, and feral hog meat in competition. The competitors served up festivalgoers throughout the day as live entertainment, free bounce houses and vendors rounded out the day. Photo by Britne Hammons

A lengthy legislative update from Region 7 was presented to the Van School Board during its regular monthly meeting Oct. 18.

Van Zandt County community members are invited to join the Heritage Park Museum representatives, local officials, and Historical Commission members in a celebration of historic preservation. A dedication of the replica of the 1850 VZC Courthouse - the first courthouse of the county - and the Poor Farm Calaboose ( a place for a poor stranger ) will be held at 10:30 a.m., Nov.

The Republican Women of Van Zandt County Membership Chairman Barbara Crow attended the recent Texas Federation of Republican Women’s state convention earlier in October held in Austin. Various elected officials spoke at the convention and business conducted for the federation included some changes to the by-laws and to the standing rules. There was an emphasis on increased training that will be available to the individual clubs and the election of new state officers. Barbara represented the local club of 60 members. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, at American National Bank. The program is district and session updates from Senator Bob Hall and State Representative Bryan Slaton.

A volunteer dive team out of Bend, Oregon, that helped locate the likely final resting place of Carey Mae Parker in February 2020 returned to the scene several weeks ago, finding remains that have since been sent for DNA testing. Parker, a Quinlan resident, was last seen in March 1991.