News

Last February, the Tyler Junior College Wind Ensemble became the first community/ junior college group ever to perform a featured concert in the 102-year history of the Texas Music Educators Association’s annual convention in San Antonio.

New Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce Administrator Kelli Ridgway, second from right, was introduced during the chamber’s ‘Business After Hours’ event Feb. 16 at Canton Ford. Welcoming Ridgway were left to right, chamber board members Blake Fowler, Stephanie Smith, and Brianna Kleinmeier.

ETHAN ADAMS news@vanzandtnews.com The Canton ISD Board of Trustees held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting this past week, on Monday, Feb. 20.

Van Zandt Newspapers is putting out the call to all local photographers for the annual 2023 Explore Magazine Photography Contest. Winning entries will be featured in Van Zandt Newspapers’ annual Explore Magazine with name credit.

Canton native and US Navy Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class, Todd Hale, along with Air Traffic Controller 1st Class, William Freeman (left), monitor flight operations from the carrier air traffic control center aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

During the regular meeting of the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court Feb. 15, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District Administrator Dr. Hurley Miller introduced the two newest members of the VZC Extension office.

In 2022, factors such as “driving under the influence”, “failure to drive in a single lane” and “unsafe speed” contributed to 167 fatal crashes and 192 total deaths in the Tyler District. The TxDOT Tyler District, which includes Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties, released preliminary numbers revealing the top-five contributing factors of fatal crashes in 2022: -Under the Influence of Alcohol, 31 fatal crashes -Failed to Drive in a Single Lane, 28 fatal crashes -Unsafe Speed, 25 fatal crashes -Failed to Control Speed, 23 fatal crashes -Pedestrian Failed to Yield ROW to Vehicle, 18 fatal crashes The data in these reports represents the number of crashes that had at least one driver reported as having the indicated contributing factor.

The Van Zandt County Genealogical Society will meet on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Buchanan Room of the Main County Library, 317 First Monday Lane in Canton. The public is welcome, refreshments will be served, and membership is not required.

Writer and journalist P.A. Geddie’s new book Upper East Side of Texas: Small Towns & Cultural Districts was released this week through Speckled Crow Media. Filled with 300 photographs of sites, scenes, and local artwork of the region, she writes about the beauty and simplicity that makes the area meaningful for residents and visitors alike.

The Van Zandt County Pet Project (VZCPP), ‘Bailing Out Benji,’ and the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake (HSCCL) will be sponsoring a dog and puppy adoption event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.