News

DAVID BARBER davidb@vanzandtnews.com Two Van High School seniors were honored with scholarship awards March 10 during the first Van Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon of 2026 downtown at The Movie House. Tatum Horton was recognized as the Van Oil Queen as she received a $1,200.00 scholarship from the Van Oil Queen Pageant.

Van Zandt County Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Herbert Dunn added another job title as he was sworn in March 10 as the new City of Wills Point Munic-by Wills Point Mayor Mike Jones following a closed executive session by the Wills Point City Council during its regular monthly meeting.

Maintenance and grounds employees received special recognition from the Wills Point School Board during its regular monthly meeting March 9. Wills Point ISD Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Student Services Brian Clements expressed his appreciation to the employees as he spoke to the trustees.

Friends of the Grand Saline Library Secretary A review of the past year and an announcement of plans for the coming year were made at the January annual meeting of the Grand Saline Friends of the Library.

The Friends of the Grand Saline Library have announced their annual Young Writers Contest. The contest is open to Grand Saline public and home-school students in grades 6-12.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from March 3 – 10. Mixson, Colton Luke, 17, Canton, TERRORISTIC THREAT OF FAMILY/HOUSEHOLD.

A tremendous amount of rain in a short period of time during the early morning hours of March 5 led to delayed openings in the Wills Point ISD and the Edgewood ISD. A reported 8.5 inches of rainfall was reported in Wills Point ISD resulting in three school campuses being flooded, according to Wills Point ISD Communications Officer Kate Keierleber.

Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department Captain Brandon Kilpatrick released the following information March 2 regarding an investigation into the recent death of a two-year old girl in Canton. “On Sunday, February 15, 2026, deputies with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 5400 block of State Highway 198 following a report of an unresponsive two-year-old female,” said Kilpatrick.

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Texas Department of Public Safety, Public Information Officer, Tyler District In 2025, factors such as ‘unsafe speed,’ ‘failure to drive in a single lane, and ‘intoxication’ contributed to 148 fatal crashes and 162 total fatalities in the Tyler District.