News

Maintenance crews will be laying hot mix on FM 2339 between FM 773 and FM 1861. Flaggers will be on site to move traffic safely through the work zone. A second crew will be addressing various bridge work on FM 47. There should be no impact on traffic.

Although statewide COVID-19 cases have dropped this season, and resumption of many activities compete for time, the community blood supply has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels; many blood types remain at less than one-day’s availability. Between 600 and 800 patients need blood transfusions daily; most require more than one unit of red cells or other blood components, like platelets.

Food giveaway set East Oak Street Church of Christ will hold a food giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 12.

Van Zandt County Sheriff Steve Hendrix remains silent after indictments were issued against him by a Van Zandt County Grand Jury last week. Attorney Kenneth Biggs of Tyler, who represents Hendrix, has called charges against the sheriff “baseless” and stated the sheriff “looks forward to defending the allegations in court,” regarding the indictments Sheriff Hendrix and two other sheriff’s officers were charged with making a false statement to a peace officer, a Class B misdemeanor, as announced by Van Zandt County District Attorney Tonda Curry.

Above, Van councilman Ernie Burns leads as conductor of the mini train at the Van Community Library. The train ride was a part of Story Time held each Wednesday at the Van Community Library. The book of the day was “The Little Engine That Could.” Right, The Van Community Library was the recipient of a new children’s bookshelf in the form of a trash truck donated by Republic Services.

A donation to the Van Community Library was received from Republic Services earlier this month. The children’s section of the library received a new trash truck bookshelf as a gift from Republic Services.

Preparations are continuing for a countywide celebration recognizing VZC as being debt-free scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, inside the VZC Courthouse. VZC Judge Don Kirkpatrick updated the VZC Commissioners Court during its regular meeting March 30 about the upcoming event which is tentatively scheduled to take place in the VZC District Courtroom during the regular meeting of the commissioners’ court set for 9 a.m.

Longtime Van High School Counselor Bill Giles gave an update on the current Tyler Junior College Promise Scholarship Program as well as announcing a similar program underway at the University of Texas at Tyler March 28 during the regular monthly meeting of the Van School Board.

There were 22 steers entered during validation for the junior market show. Steers must be on the grounds by 4:50 p.m. with weigh-in scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 29. The steer show is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31.

Ag Mechanics projects must be in place, on the grounds by 8 a.m. Monday, March 28, and will be displayed until the completion of the silent auction. The competition begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 28.This year, there are 74 entries in 18 classes. The purpose of the exhibition and competition is to provide an opportunity for FFA and 4-H members to display the projects constructed in agricultural mechanics laboratories or home shops. It is an opportunity to promote the development of skills in agricultural mechanics and to recognize individual and group for their accomplishments. Projects must be built during the school year prior to the fair. Silent auction bids are taken from Tuesday afternoon until the end of the live auction on Friday, April 1. Items may be picked up by Saturday, April 2.