News

A new Van Zandt County employee was introduced to the VZC Commissioners Court June 22 during its regular meeting. VZC Human Resource Director Jes sica Deville introduced Emily Bettinger as the new Assistant VZC Human Resource Director.

In a unanimous vote, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court implemented a 90-day burn ban for VZC, effective immediately, during their regular meeting June 22. The 90-day burn ban proclamation, known as an ‘Order Prohibiting the Outdoor Burning of Combustible Materials’ was approved by the court following a presentation by VZC Fire Marshal Sean Davis.

The Canton City Council cancelled their June meeting due to a lack of quorum and rescheduled the meeting for noon on July 12. On the agenda for the council’s approval is a 2022 update to the police policy manual; discussing an agreement/matching fund for bridge repair at East Tyler and Mill Creek Roads; consider applicants for drawing for First Monday parking; holding a public hearing for changing zoning at a property located at 101 Industrial, Canton; discussing city expenditures such as the CYRA Soccer Association and Ball Park, the VZC Library and related contract agreements.

A would-be bank robber was arrested and taken into custody without incident June 16 thanks in large part to the efforts of an off-duty Terrell Police Department officer. According to a narrative of the incident released by the police department the following day, “An off-duty Police Lieutenant thwarted a robbery attempt at a local bank in the 2400 block of West Moore Avenue (USHWY80).

Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.64/g June 20, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 35.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.89/g higher than a year ago. The price of diesel has risen 2.6 cents nationally in the past week and stands at $5.80 per gallon.

Members of the Wills Point community and beyond joined together June 18, braving blistering hot temperatures and high humidity once again for the largest Juneteenth celebration in the area. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

The Canton Police Department released the following activity report from June 15-19 June 15 After a traffic stop, officers issued two citations to a driver with no registration, driver’s license or insurance. The vehicle was towed.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released his agency’s Texas Broadband Plan to support the expansion of broadband access for underserved and unserved Texans. The Comptroller’s Broadband Development Office (BDO) crafted the plan building upon the feedback that Hegar and BDO staff collected from Texans through 12 public town halls, 60 virtual regional roundtable discussions and more than 16,000 survey responses.

Old Bethel Baptist Church will hold the Have A Blast -Community Festival from 5-10 p.m., June 25 at the church located at 103 VZ CR 2313, Canton. “There will be waterslides, hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy, sno-cones, games and tournaments.

Record-breaking heat, below-average rainfall and wildfires are having a significant impact on Texans. Farmers are finding creative solutions to grow their crops, and water utilities are forced to implement restrictions on watering. With extreme heat comes additional water use, and it’s important to understand why additional conservation methods are needed, especially during a drought.