News

A proclamation calling for Flag Day and Flag Week to be celebrated in Van Zandt County in June was approved unanimously May 25 by the VZC Commissioners Court during its regular meeting. Carrie Woolverton of the VZC Historical Commission read the proclamation calling for Flag Day to be recognized on Tuesday, June 14, and Flag Week to be observed during the week of June 12.

After officially being sworn into office at midnight May 14, a public swearing-in ceremony was held for Van Zandt County Interim Sheriff Joe Carter May 22 at the VZC Courthouse. VZC Judge Don Kirkpatrick welcomed those in attendance at the public swearing-in ceremony.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding families and businesses that they can save on the purchase of certain waterand energy-efficient products during the state’s Water-Efficient Products and ENERGY STAR sales tax holidays.

Penning a weekly outdoors column is an endeavor I have enjoyed for the past 36 years but at times, I find it a challenge to come up with a topic that I hope to be interesting and maybe even informative. Oh, those weeks when I am busy catching fish or hunting new places the words seem to just appear on my computer screen. But in real life, I’m not always catching big stripers or hunting; there are those weeks when I stick close to home and that’s when I have to ‘wait’ for a topic to hit me!

The Wills Point community found itself reeling this week after a major two-vehicle accident resulted in the death of a high school student and injuries to three others. According to a preliminary report issued by the Wills Point Police Department, local first responders were dispatched in the early evening hours May 17 for a two-vehicle accident in the location of Highway 80 and FM-2965.

More than 500 Vietnam veterans, including 22 from Texas, will be inducted into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s (VVMF) In Memory Program in 2022. Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD and other illnesses as a result of their service. VVMF believes all those who served in Vietnam should be honored and remembered for their service. The In Memory program enables the families and friends of those who came home and later died the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized. On June 18, 2022, VVMF will host the 2022 In Memory ceremony on the East Knoll of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where each 2022 honoree’s name will be read aloud. This year, 513 service members will be honored during the ceremony. “For many Vietnam veterans, coming home from Vietnam was just the beginning of a whole new fight. Many never fully recovered, either physically or emotionally, from their experiences. As these veterans pass, it is our duty and solemn promise to welcome them home to the place that our nation has set aside to remember our Vietnam veterans,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF.

Courtesy photos.

Jason Wilhelm Veihl, of Canton, has been arrested following a solicitation of prostitution operation conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety. CBS 19 issued an article regarding the arrest of nine people, eight of which are from East Texas. The arrests were made between Tuesday, May 17, and Wednesday, May 18.

Food giveaway set East Oak Street Church of Christ will hold a food giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 4 at the church, located at 508 East Oak Street Edgewood.

Run for the Wall, an annual motorcycle ride promoting military veterans and honoring service, passed through the area early Sunday morning and included a stop at a pit stop at Brookshire’s in Terrell.