News

The Wills Point Police Department Annual Back the Blue event is scheduled for Saturday, June 14. The annual community event will feature a BBQ cook-off, a car show, a kids zone, local vendors, a silent auction, and a K-9 demonstration.

Texas Star Quilters Guild Various members of the community have been donating fabric to the Texas Star Quilters Guild, and we wish to express our appreciation to them. Their generosity is giving the Guild members the opportunity to make more items to give to our charity endeavors.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12219 will co-sponsor with the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial the Army’s 250th Anniversary. The anniversary will be celebrated at Memorial Plaza at the VZC Veterans Memorial on Saturday evening, June 14, at 1830 hours (6:30 p.m.).

Rains County Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin was arrested May 28 on two counts of official oppression and two counts of tampering with a witness. “He was booked into our jail on another county’s charges, two counts of Official Oppression and two counts of tampering with a witness,” pointed out Van Zandt County Sheriff Kevin Bridger, who confirmed the arrest and booking into the VZC Jail to Van Zandt Newspapers May 29.

Despite rainy and windy conditions, the annual Memorial Day program May 26 went on as scheduled underneath the pavilion at the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial in Canton. Members of Scout Troop 378 presented the Colors to open the program followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Canton High School student Harper Ellis.

Information on a series of Town Hall Meetings during the month of June in Van Zandt County has been released by VZC Judge Andy Reese and the VZC Commissioners Court. There will be one Town Hall Meeting in each precinct during the month, according to Reese and members of the commissioners’ court.

Four high school graduation ceremonies were held in Van Zandt County May 23 including Van, Edgewood, Fruitvale, and Grand Saline as the 2024-25 school year came to a close. Graduation ceremonies were held in Martins Mill on May 15 and in Canton on May 16.

Edgewood High School held its graduation ceremony at the EHS Gymnasium May 23 with 56 seniors receiving their diplomas. Following the processional, ‘Pomp and Circumstance,’ EHS Principal John Honstreiter welcomed those in attendance.

Edgewood High School Graduation.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com A large number of supporters and well-wishers were in the stands May 23 for the Van High School Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony at Van’s Memorial Stadium. Following the graduating class entrance into the stadium to the processional ‘Pomp and Circumstance,’ Van School Board Secretary Shannon Johnson welcomed those in attendance and led in the invocation.