News

The aircraft maintenance hangar at Tailwind Air Park in Edgewood, located four miles north of Canton, provided a fitting aviation backdrop May 16 for the third annual Tailwind Air Park Community Aviation Scholarship Award Ceremony where seven aspiring aviation professionals were awarded scholarships to help pursue their career goals.

City of Van Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Executive Director Tammy Weidman recently announced plans for the annual ‘June Jamboree Shop Van’ promotion. “Prizes and cash prizes will be awarded during the Van Freedom Boom celebration scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at McMillan Park,” said Weidman.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com Representatives from the Van Zandt County Historical Commission were the guest speakers during the Canton Lions Club Luncheon May 20 at the Van Zandt Country Club. Debra Johnson and Suzanne Bass discussed a new youth scavenger hunt program known as ‘History Detectives of Van Zandt County’ that began recently and is sponsored by the organization.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com At the conclusion of their regular meeting May 20, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court held a workshop session to discuss two items. The first workshop item concerned drainage issues at the VZC Veterans Memorial facility in Canton.

The Fruitvale High School Graduating Class of 2026 held its graduation ceremony on May 22 at the FHS Auditorium with 24 seniors receiving their diplomas. Following the graduates entering the auditorium during the ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ processional and the performance of the National Anthem, FHS Class of 2026 Graduate and Senior Class Officer Cayden Good led in the invocation.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com United States Army Retired Col. Daniel Whitney served as the guest speaker May 25 during the Annual Memorial Day Program at the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial in Canton before a large turnout.

The Wills Point City Council voted in favor of setting a May 30, 2026 deadline for all work to be completed on the Rose Fountain. The fountain, also referred to as the Rose Monument, was damaged by an accident involving a vehicle in July 2024. See story on page 3A.

Early Voting for the Van Zandt County Republican Party and Democratic Party Runoff Elections scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, ended Friday, May 22, according to the VZC Clerk’s office. There were two locations for Early Voting including the VZC/Sarah Norman Library in Canton and The Movie House in Van.

The Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial Board of Directors recently released information about the 2026 Memorial Day Program scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the VZC Veterans Memo- rial, located at the intersection of State Highways 19 and 243 in Canton.

According to a press release from Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department Captain Brandon Kilpatrick, a suspect was arrested following a standoff in the Wills Point area. The information from Kilpatrick was as follows: ‘On Friday, May 15, 2026, deputies with the VZC Sheriff’s Office responded to the 600 block of Van Zandt County Road 3832 regarding a verbal disturbance in progress.