News

On Feb. 13 in Canton, The Native Son Family Restaurant was a hub of excitement as it hosted a delightful Galentine’s Fundraiser benefiting the Canton FFA Floral Design program.

Chamber hosts Quarterly Luncheon

Due to a minimum number of candidates filing, the City of Canton will be able to cancel its election scheduled for May 3 while the Canton School Board election will feature one contested race. The sign-up period for candidates to file in the mayor’s race, the city council, or the school board election ended Friday, Feb.

A public meeting regarding battery energy storage systems is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb.

ashlee@themonitor.net At approximately 6:33 p.m., Feb. 15 Gun Barrel City (GBC) Police Department responded to the GBC Walmart located at 1200 W Main Street regarding an armed male threatening to “shoot up the store.”

Following much discussion before a standing-room only crowd during its regular meeting Feb. 12, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to table a proposed $145 million Bond Election until at least November. The proposed bond election was for the purpose of building a new VZC Jail and a new VZC Sheriff’s Office.

The Van Zandt County Regional Airport, strategically located southeast of Wills Point on State Highway 64, is quickly becoming a beloved destination for aviation enthusiasts and professionals across East Texas. The Wills Point Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is actively working to ensure that the airport plays a significant role in the future of the community.

A resolution for the commissioners’ court to help form a 391 Commission with a combination of counties or municipalities was approved during its regular meeting Feb. 12.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS The Texas Lottery Commission and its former director are under scrutiny after they allegedly helped a single entity win a $95 million Lotto Texas Jackpot, the Houston Chronicle reported. Written testimony at a state legislative hearing last week from an attorney indicated an entity called ‘Rook TX’ guaranteed it would win the jackpot by buying virtually every one of the nearly 26 million possible six-number combinations in the drawing, held in April 2023.

In furtherance of his commitment to pairing deregulation with school choice, Texas House District 2 State Representative Brent Money has jointly authored House Bill 2657 to eliminate the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the STARR test, and school accountability requirements.