News

The seventh annual Jake Wilson Memorial Amateur One-Day Open Bass Team Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, at Lake Fork. The tournament is hosted by Minnow Bucket Marina and is sponsored by Applied Consultants Inc.

It is the time of year when people are outdoors enjoying warmer weather, beautiful flowers, and emerging wildlife. As you spend time outdoors, you may start to notice more wildlife in your backyard, neighborhood, or surrounding areas.

.

carla@vanzandtnews.com On Monday, April 8, East Texas will experience the first Total Solar Eclipse since 1878 which will cover 13 U.S. States.

.

davidb@vanzandtnews.com Van Zandt County Sheriff Joe Carter knows that a unique event like the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse event Monday, April 8 can present some unique challenges, but he said that his department is ready to respond when needed.

In advance of the solar eclipse event Monday, April 8, Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese has ‘Declared a Local State of Disaster’ for VZC in a letter sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott April 1. The local state of disaster declaration by Reese reads as follows: ‘Whereas, the county of Van Zandt on the 5th day of April 2024 has the potential for a number of hazardous conditions including, but not limited to, injury, or loss of life or property (or there is imminent threat of same) resulting from a mass infl ux of visitors to VZC for the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024, and whereas, we do not have the public safety resources to adequately protect the citizens of VZC or our visitors and; ‘Whereas, the Judge of the County of Van Zandt has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to provide adequate protections of people and to protect or rehabilitate property and to request resources and enact temporary orders, ordinances, and measures to protect the same; ‘Now, Therefore, Be It Proclaimed by The Judge of the County of Van Zandt: ‘That a state of disaster is declared for the County of Van Zandt.

Sharon’s Place is an upcoming 501 (c3) nonprofit organization who wants to reach out to families that have adult special needs family members. Sharon Haugen’s sister is the Founder and President of Sharon’s Place.

On the morning of Friday, March 22, the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit removed 17 allegedly cruelly treated dogs from a property near Canton.

The Van Zandt County Citizen Sheriff Academy Program (CSAP) provides you with an opportunity to experience the real world of law enforcement and what it is like to be a VZC sheriff’s deputy. It is designed to help the public better understand the mission, operations, and functions of the VZC Sheriff’s Office, heighten community awareness, and improve communications between the VZC Sheriff’s Office and the communities it serves.