News

East Texas residents were on high alert over the past week, keeping their eyes to the skies after multiple rounds of violent weather struck. Damage was widely reported across Van Zandt County with downed trees and power lines and hail marred roofs among the most common reported problems immediately in the storm’s wake.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Texas State Comptroller’s Office delivered its latest monthly sales tax revenue report to local cities June 7, indicating that all but one had seen gains when comparing against collection totals against the same month from the previous year. The City of Canton would prove to be the outlier as collections dipped from $446,665.64 in June 2022 down to $425,795.76 in June 2023.

What began as an idea from a church member earlier this year has turned into a growing outreach ministry at the Van Church of Christ. An old church building that had not been in use for some time is now a receiving area for donated clothes for all ages, adults and children, in the community with the help of a number of church volunteers.

The East Mountain Bluegrass Group will be performing at the New Horizons Assembly of God on Sunday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m. New Horizons Assembly of God is located at 200 North Houston Street (State Highway 80) in Grand Saline.

The University of Texas at Tyler offers free dementia and other brain-related screenings to the East Texas community through the UT Tyler Memory Assessment and Research Center. The UT Tyler MARC is dedicated to innovative scientific research and improving the lives of Tyler, Smith County and East Texas community members by providing neuropsychological screening and evaluation services to older adults with suspected or existing cognitive impairment.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from June 13-June 21. Michael Glenn Baker, 51, Mabank, violating a bond/protective order.

Event preparations for the annual July 4 celebration in downtown Canton are continuing as more information about the activities was recently released. The activities downtown, sponsored by the Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 5 p.m.

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DAVID BARBER davidb@vanzandtnews.com Activities around Van Zandt County to celebrate the Fourth of July will begin Saturday, June 24, in Van and continue Tuesday, July 4, in Canton. Van Preparations are continuing for the City of Van’s seventh annual Van Freedom Boom celebration from 5-10 p.m.