News

Early Voting schedule released for Jan. 30 special election

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davidb@vanzandtnews.com A Notice of Order of Election for the January 30, 2024, special runoff election for the Texas House District 2 state representative seat was approved by the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court during its regular meeting Dec. 20, their final regular meeting scheduled for 2023.
Van Zandt County Pct. 2 resident Ronnie Jones discussed a number of items that were scheduled to be on the Dec. 20 agenda of the VZC Commissioners Court during its regular meeting. There was no response from VZC Judge Andy Reese and the commissioners’ court following Jones’ comments. Photo by David Barber

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The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from Dec. 12-Dec.

Retiring Mayor Turner recognized at meeting

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After 11 years of serving the people of Wills Point, retiring Mayor Mark Turner was honored and recognized by friends, family, and co-workers during the regular monthly meeting of the Wills Point City Council Dec. 12.
Mayor Mark Turner’s grandchildren, Maverick and Cora Bell, banged the gavel to open and close the Dec. 12 council meeting. Photo by Susan Harris

Early Voting period announced for March 5 Primary Election

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The Early Voting period for the upcoming March 5, 2024, Primary Election in Van Zandt County has been announced by the VZC Clerk’s office. All Early Voting will take place at the VZC/Sarah Norman Library in Canton beginning Feb.

Debate between Money, Dutton set for Jan. 9

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Van Zandt County Republican Party Chairman Lance Lenz recently released information about a scheduled VZC debate between the two Republican Party candidates that are on the Tuesday, Jan. 30 ballot for the Texas House District 2 special runoff election.

Edom VFD seeking ‘Good Samaritans’

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The Edom Volunteer Fire Department is looking for two ‘Good Samaritans’ who heroically recently pulled a victim from a burning car saving the individual’s life, according to Dylan Turner with the Edom VFD.

City of Van receives emergency services manual from VZC

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davidb@vanzandtnews.com Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese appeared before the Van City Council meeting during its regular monthly meeting Dec. 14 to present a copy of VZC’s updated Emergency Management Manual to the City of Van.
Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese presented a copy of the revised 2023 Van Zandt County Emergency Services Manual to the City of Van during the Dec. 14 regular monthly meeting of the Van City Council. Photo by David Barber

Van council gives go-ahead to solar eclipse event

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davidb@vanzandtnews.com In a 4-1 vote, the Van City Council approved the spending of $50,000 in hotel/motel funds to promote a three-day festival in the city in advance of the upcoming partial and total solar eclipse event scheduled for April 2024.
City of Van Parks and Recreation Director Matt Malone discussed plans for a three-day festival in the city to celebrate the upcoming partial and total solar eclipse event scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2024. Funding for the local celebration, totaling approximately $50,000, and will be paid from the city’s hotel/motel tax fund, was approved in a 4-1 vote by the council. Photo by David Barber

Hunting and cooking go hand and hand

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If you’ve been reading this column long, you have probably learned that eating fish and game is a very important element of the total outdoor experience for this old outdoor scribe. I definitely thrill at the adrenaline rush when a big buck steps out of the brush or when a big catfish or striper bows the tip of my fishing rod toward the lake’s surface, but if I were to be totally honest, way back in the back of my mind, even during the excitement of the moment, I’m thinking about venison steak or fried catfish.
What’s purple top turnips got to do with a deer hunt? Read and discover! Photo by Luke Clayton
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