News

In a unanimous vote, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court implemented a 90-day burn ban for VZC, effective immediately, during their regular meeting June 22. The 90-day burn ban proclamation, known as an ‘Order Prohibiting the Outdoor Burning of Combustible Materials’ was approved by the court following a presentation by VZC Fire Marshal Sean Davis.

A celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Locally Forged Farmers Market with 34 Edom Area Chamber of Commerce members and patrons enjoying a feast for the eyes with bright colors of honey, vegetables, handmade and dyed clothes, forged metal art and jewelry, home baked delights, macramé, and other gifts. All gathered for the new EACC member ceremony behind The Forge Bar & Grill in Ben Wheeler, on May 15.

Canton Police Department officers were involved in a hot pursuit through Canton on Saturday, June 18, leading to the arrest of Michael Tuff with charges of evading arrest or detention in a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony. According to the affidavit released by the department, officers were alerted that a stolen vehicle was eastbound on Interstate 20, passing the 514-mile marker. As the vehicle approached the 530-mile marker CPD officers got behind the vehicle and activated emergency equipment and the stolen truck pulled over to the shoulders as if he was going to stop. Officers observed an object fly from inside the vehicle out the passenger window into the grass just before the guardrail under FM 1255. Officers advised dispatch that something was thrown from the vehicle and then it merged back onto interstate 20 and accelerated away from officers.

Silver Spur Resort in Canton hosted Junior Fire Camp this past week. Firefighters Birdsong, Clark and Martin of South Van Zandt Fire Department were on hand to teach the campers all about fire safety, first aid, tools used in the fire department and also had hands on demonstrations of how to operate a fire hose. The camp was a fundraiser to benefit the Van Zandt County First Responders Fund. The camp is just one that Silver Spur has lined up for children during the summer months. For more information on camps at Silver Spur, call 903-420-1400. Courtesy photo

The City of Van recently released plans for their sixth annual Independence Day celebration known as Van Freedom Boom. Activities will take place from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the new McMillan Park, located at 712 East Main Street in Van.

City of Van Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director Tammy Weidman was the guest speaker June 7 during the Van Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon held downtown at The Movie House. “The Van EDC Mission Statement is as follows,” said Weidman, who was hired by the City of Van in February.

An arrest warrant was issued by a Henderson County judge with allegations that a Malakoff man called in a bomb threat to avoid a court hearing June 7. On a post from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, 392nd Judicial District Judge Scott McKee issued a false alarm arrest warrant June 10 for Daniel Richard Simpson, 35, of Malakoff.

The office of Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar released its latest monthly sales tax revenue last week, indicating that six out of seven local entities had posted sales tax revenue gains when comparing against the same calendar month from the previous year.

State Highway 198 between Malakoff at its intersection with State Highway 31 and the Henderson-Kaufman county line in Mabank was officially marked in May as a Memorial Highway dedicated to Henderson County Deputy Sheriffs Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt, who were killed May 17, 2007, in Payne Springs while responding to a domestic violence call. The bill making the designation possible was authored by State Rep. Keith Bell and sponsored by state Sen. Robert Nichols. Photos by Russell Slaton

The SPCA of Texas and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office served a search and seizure warrant at a property in Van Zandt County, before removing 14 animals from the property June 10. The animals included five dogs, five koi fish, two cats, one macaw and one deceased cockatoo. The SPCA of Texas has closed all adoption locations for at least the next two weeks out of an abundance of caution due to exposure of canine distemper virus. Recently, many shelters in North Texas have been facing similar outbreaks.