News

Join writers and authors of all levels for the 18th Annual East Texas Writers Guild Summer Conference on Saturday, July 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office released the following arrest report from Jun. 20-Jun.

The City of Van got a jump on Fourth of July, hosting its seventh annual Freedom Boom at McMillan Park June 24. The day-long event included familiar family favorites including live music, bounce houses, vendors, and an event-closing fireworks show that elicited “oohs” and “aahs” from attendees.

Blood donors are lifesavers for local patients who need transfusions. This includes children fighting cancer, mothers going through difficult childbirths, family members who require surgery, and grandparents with health issues, among many others in need.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today announced that no-cost meal sites will open across Texas when schools close for summer. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers the Summer Meal Programs in Texas and partners with nonprofit organizations to provide these meals for children 18 and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to age 21 in low-income areas.

The University Interscholastic League’s Lone Star Cup is awarded annually to six high schools, one in each of the six UIL classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A). The award honors the best overall athletic and academic programs in Texas based on their team performance in district and state championships.

•Names will not be withheld. •Letters will be edited for grammar, space and legal concerns.

DAVID BARBER davidb@vanzandtnews.com After 18 years of service, trustee Mark McClanahan announced his resignation from the Van School Board at the beginning of the board’s regular monthly meeting June 19. Board members Shannon Johnson and Brian Horton were not in attendance.

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.