News

School boards and city councils throughout Van Zandt County will participate in the May 7 General Election with multiple openings across the municipalities and school districts governing seats. There will also be two constitutional amendments that voters will notice on the ballot; the first to authorize legisature to provide for the reduction of the amount of limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes for general elementary and secondary public school purposed on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled, and the second on increasing the amount of a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school taxes from $25,000 to $40,000.

Sam Deen is a former Army Captain and 2006 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as a rifle and then scout platoon leader in the 3rd brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He deployed to the Pech and Korengal River Valleys in 2008 and 2009.

My name is Mark Thompson, and I am running for the open Van City Council Place # 4 seat. I’m married to Lori, my wife of 44 years. We moved here from Central America in 2005 after seven years on the mission field with Mercy Ships. We have four adult children, all of whom have attended Van ISD. Our youngest both graduated from Van HS. We also have four grandchildren living here in Van.

In late December 2021, the Texas Department of Public Safety released information regarding a two-vehicle crash that took the life of a Van Zandt County teen Taylor Raper, 18, of Canton. According to reports, around 10:10 a.m., Friday, Dec.

Paula Marshall and the Van Zandt County Master Gardeners along with VZC Veterans Memorial Board Director Dan Curtis and the Volunteer Missionaries from the Church of the Latter-Day Saints have begun a landscaping project to beautify the Veterans Memorial flag area on the plaza of the Veterans Memorial. The volunteers will be spending the next several weeks beautifying the much-needed upgrade to the landscape around our flagpole. “There will be beautiful spring flowers and fresh low maintenance landscaping before Memorial Day,” said Paula Marshall. thank you to all our gracious volunteers. A special thanks to Bob Reese Team of RE/MAX Landmark for sponsoring the Flag Landscaping project. For more information contact Phil Smith, PR Director, VZC Veterans Memorial 972-896-0776. Photos by Phil Sith

Quiet settled over the barn. With the rest of her family at work, Shelley Morgan was by herself taking care of the horses.

Farmer’s Market opens for season The downtown Canton Farmer’s Market will hold its opening day of the season on Saturday, April 23, in downtown Canton. The local producers-only market will be held at 202 N.

Free coffee, donuts and pigs in blanket for all veterans and spouses are offered every Saturday morning from 9-11 a.m. at the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial office.

With the approval of the final debt payment by the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court, VZC officially became debtfree as a ceremony recognizing the accomplishment was held April 13 in the VZC District Courtroom.

Bryntlee Wilkerson, with VZ 4-H, won Grand Champion Steer purchased by Wills Point Ford, Wills Point Chevrolet, Tague Chevrolet, Cowboy Headquarters, JCN Excavation, P&W Welding, Hidden Oaks Cattle, S5 Construction, A1 Consulting, MJ Pipeline, Firehouse Land Services, Wagon Burner, First State Bank - Ben Wheeler. Photo by Faith Caughron