News

After hearing an announcement about an overseas trip on her college campus last year, Jillian Barber knew that touring Israel was going to be in her plans. Barber, who will be entering her senior year this fall as a business management major at LeTourneau University in Longview, traveled to Israel in May on a 12-day tour as she was part of a tour group that included 23 students and two teachers from the university.

For the third year in a row, Joel Hansen, a resident of Canada, captured the overall title of being the ‘Hot Dog Eating Contest’ champion during the July 4 activities in downtown Canton. The fourth annual ‘Hot Dog Eating Contest,’ sponsored by Sonic, was among the activities that took place during the Fourth of July Celebration, sponsored by the Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce.

The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is proud to announce the launch of a new reporting system designed to combat illegal dumping and keep East Texas clean. The system, called RID – Report Illegal Dumping, is a simple and convenient way for residents to report instances of illegal dumping in their neighborhoods and communities.

Aproposal to do a hand-counting of votes following the upcoming Nov. 7 General Election in Van Zandt County was tabled by the VZC Commissioners Brandon Barton was on vacation and not in attendance for the July 5 meeting.

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An 82-year-old Ben Wheeler woman was killed as a result of a two-vehicle accident that took place during the early afternoon hours of June 29 along State Highway 64 approximately 12 miles east of Ben Wheeler.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com Carrying a mission statement of “Equipping and engaging future leaders for the benefit of Van Zandt County”, Leadership Van Zandt County hosts an annual multi-session program Centered on leadership development, community study and involvement. An application deadline for those interested in participating in Class 5 of Leadership VZC has been set for 5 p.m.

Former Van School Board President Scott Thomas thought his time as a trustee was over after 12 years of service in May but a recent vacancy on the board changed that plan. In a 6-0 vote during a special called board meeting June 26, the trustees appointed Thomas to return to the board to serve in Place 2.

The value of hobbies is undeniable. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology found that employees who engaged in creative hobbies outside of work were more creative on work projects and had a better attitude on the job, while a separate study published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2009 reported that individuals who engaged in enjoyable leisure activities had lower blood pressure and a smaller waist circumference.

What is your family’s health history? This could be a life-and-death question, for which family research can provide some answers, according to La-Donna Garner, the speaker at the June 24 Van Zandt County Genealogical Society meeting. Family research is rewarding for a number of reasons: It can lead us to a deeper understanding of our ancestors, can entertain us with stories of family that we never knew.