News

Editorial cartoonist Ben Sargent once penned a masterful sketch of a newspaperman — a skinny, bug-eyed fellow in a baggy suit with a press card in the band of his porkpie hat. The unnamed journalist was depicted in the simple act of entering a dark room at city hall and switching on a light.

Athletes representing Athens, Canton, Edgewood, Eustace, Grand Saline, Mineola and Sunnyvale made their way to Van last week to compete in the annual Al Rholes Relays March 10. Individual varsity boys results included: -100: Austin Hayes, EW, second, 11.11; Jackson Rainey, Van, third, 11.22 -200: John Crow, Van, second, 23.87; Luca Kozhev, Van, fifth, 24.53 -400: Brayden Bradshaw, Van, fifth, 56.67; Diego Martinez, GS, sixth, 56.76 -800: Diego Martinez, GS, sixth, 2:17.66 -1600: Miguel Arce, Canton, third, 4:44.26 -3200: Miguel Arce, Canton, second, 10:18.34 -110 Hurdles: Reed Johnson, Van, third, 16.66; Payton Butterfield, GS, fourth, 16.73; Jacob Elliott, Canton, fifth, 16.96; Rocco Foley, Canton, sixth, 17.15 -300 Hurdles: Reed Johnson, Van, second, 42.24; Rocco Foley, Canton, third, 43.42; Austin Snyder, Canton, fifth, 44.25 -4x100: EW, second, 45.12; GS, fourth, 45.57; Canton, fifth, 46.04 -4x200: Van, first, 1:33.76; EW, second, 1:35.22; GS, fifth, 1:36.47 -4x400: EW, fifth, 3:46.2; Canton, sixth, 3:49.31 -Long Jump: Payton Butterfield, GS, first, 20-4.75; Austin Hayes, EW, third, 19-4.25; Ja’Braylon Pickens, Canton, fourth, 19-3.5 -Shot Put: KD Erskine, Van, third, 40-1; Dylan Calvert, GS, sixth, 38-1 -Discus: Preston Yarber, Canton, first, 161-9; JT Rucker, GS, fifth, 124-5 -Triple Jump: Payton Butterfield, GS, first, 42-0; Hudson Griffin, GS, second, 41-2.5; Ja’Braylon Pickens, Canton, third, 40-5; Caleb Higgenbotham, GS, sixth, 38-5 -High Jump: Nathan Goodson, Canton, second, 6; Jeremiah Cea, GS, fourth, 5-8 -Pole Vault: Grant McCarver, Canton, first Individual varsity girls results included: -100: Ava Hopson, Van, second, 13.11; Chloe Westberry, Canton, fifth, 13.3; Kiley Mays, Canton, sixth, 13.59 -200: Payton Brey, Canton, first, 27.24; Zoe Lake, EW, third, 28.53; Kiley Mays, Canton, fifth, 29.29 -400: Rockie Collier, Canton, first, 1:02.89 -800: Kaley Nicholson, EW, fifth, 2:42.3; Amity Hall, Van, sixth, 2:44.88 -1600: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 5:41.2; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 5:54.38; Lana Stapleton, Canton, fifth, 6:07.31; Abby Clyburn, Van, sixth, 6:07.86 -3200: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 12:14.94; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 12:40.22; Lana Stapleton, Canton, fifth, 13:27.25 -100 Hurdles: Marti Lewis, GS, fourth, 18.28; Lyndsi Love, GS, fifth, 21.86 -300 Hurdles: Chloe Barton, Van, second, 49; Kimber Holley, Canton, fifth, 55; Lyndsi Love, GS, sixth, 56 -4x100: Van, first, 51.17; Canton, third, 52.02; EW, sixth, 53.46 -4x200: Van, second, 1:51.76; Canton, fourth, 1:54.07; EW, sixth, 1:57.5 -4x400: Canton, third, 4:29.73; Van, fifth, Amity Hall, 4:34.84 -Long Jump: Kori Nicklas, Canton, first, 15-11.25; Landry Jones, Van, second, 15-7.75; Rosy Schira, Van, third, 15-4; Ava Hopson, Van, fourth, 15-4; Favor Cantrell, Canton, fifth, 15-2.5; Payton Brey, Canton, sixth, 14-11.75 -Shot Put: Landrie Valenzuela, Canton, second, 33-2; Anna Nicholson, EW, fifth, 28-1 -Discus: Virginia Bradway, Canton, first, 96-10; Chelsea Chitty, Canton, second, 93-6; Raeleigh Strickland, Canton, third, 89-0; Clara Pool, EW, sixth, 78-7 -Triple Jump: Emma Welty, Canton, first, 32-4; Kori Nicklas, Canton, third, 30-03; Kara Pride, Canton, fifth, 29-4 -High Jump: Rockie Collier, Canton, first, 5-0; Adyson Horan, Van, third, 4-8 -Pole Vault: Hannah Cade, Canton, second, 10-6; Kaymon Dale, Van, third, 10-6; Kimber Holley, Canton, sixth, 8-0 Canton was scheduled to host the Eagle Relays March 24 before competing in Eustace March 31 and Mineola April 7..

The Van Zandt Master Gardeners will resume their free learning series to the public with the first educational class to be held at the Van Zandt County Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 24. The topic will be ‘Preparing Your Spring and Summer Garden.’

The Canton Trail Riders Annual Open Rodeo will be held Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2 at the Zeke Burns Arena in Canton. The rodeos will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per car for entry to the fairgrounds, or a $1 per walk in, and an additional $5 per person for the rodeo with children under 3 free. Tickers are also available online at cantonopenrodeo.com.

I20 Improvements (Van Zandt, Smith, and Gregg counties) Limits: SH 19 in Canton E to MLK Blvd. in Longview Contractor: Sefbo Pipeline Bridge, Inc.

The Van Zandt County Republican Club will host a film screening of “The Mind Polluters” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 24, at the Van Zandt County Farm Bureau, 220 Burnett Trail, Canton. “This is a timely and informative meeting on what we as a society are facing.

The Neches River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution had its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 10, in Canton. Sherrie Archer, Chapter Regent, presided. The meeting featured news of many applications for new members to the chapter by Chapter Registrar Carrie Woolverton, and news on upcoming state and national DAR meetings coming up, by Ms. Archer.

Van City Council members heard an introductory presentation from new City of Van Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director Tammy Weidman during the council’s regular monthly meeting March 10. Council members Charles Ryan and Amanda Davis joined the meeting through ZOOM as they were unable to attend the meeting in person.

The Republican Women of Van Zandt County held their monthly meeting on Monday, March 14 at American National Bank in Canton. Cindy Burkett, District Director of the Texas Federation of Republican Women, discussed the process of the conventions and being a delegate. She advised it was a good opportunity to participate in the political process beyond just a vote, and that those who show up decide. The Van Zandt County Republican Party County Convention is scheduled for Saturday, March 26 at the Farm Bureau in Canton. Photo by Faith Caughron