Columns

Canton Herald, Dec. 14, 1960

The Canton Kiwanis Club is supervising another Turkey Shoot to be held at the Fair Grounds in Canton Saturday.  The shooting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with turkey prizes for the winners.  A drawing will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in conjunction with the school but there is no obligation for the drawing. Registration is all that is necessary to win one of the turkeys.

Services for Joseph Floyd Wadsworth, 76, were held at the Eubank Funeral Chapel Sunday afternoon with Rev. T. F. Tidwell and Rev. H. A. Dunbar conducting the service. Mr. Wadsworth was born July 25, 1884 in Nacogdoches and he passed away in Grand Saline on Dec. 9.  He was a member of the Highland Baptist Church at the time of his death on March 7, 1868 and he was married to Katie Jane Bishop.  Interment was at Highland Cemetery at 2 p.m. Sunday under the direction Eubank Funeral Home.

As Christmas and the New Year holidays approach, the library's organized programs take a break. Storytime will resume in January as well as Dog Days.

The Friends of the Library will hold the January 2017 meeting at 10 a.m. Jan. 9.

Friends of the Library are still taking donations for the Christmas Bow Project, an annual fundraiser to maintain and improve the children's section. All the librarians and volunteers wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the patrons of the library and citizens of Van Zandt County.

There are some schedule changes coming at the end of December. Beginning Dec.19, the library will be closed and will reopen Jan. 3, 2017. These days include both holidays and staff work days, so make sure you check out some good reading material to enjoy during this time.

God is our Father

He is our Master

Godbrings us joy.

He brings us laughter.

God knows our pain

He knows our sorrow.

God hears our Prayers.

He promises no tomorrow.

God is the Great I Am.

He is our Savior.

God gave us all life.

He promised no favor.

God wants our faithfulness.

He wants our love.

God has been patient.

He waits in Heaven above.

Wanda Etheridge

Canton Chatter , Remember Pearl Harbor by Ronnie Chitty;

The Oklahoma, the West Virginia, the California and Arizona, for of America’s mighty battleships, were tied up along ten ten dock. The fleet was in for the last time.

Sailors, coming in from shore leave, were being ferried back to their ships as their other shipmates waited to be taken a shore for their leave. At 7:45 a. m. the quietness was suddenly broken by the roar of airplanes, the rattling of machine guns, and the blast of torpedoes and bombs. In a few horrifying minutes blood and all mingled in the Pacific waters of Pearl Harbor. Many ships were stuck among them those for great battle wagons, some were damaged, and a few even managed to escape. Several thousand American servicemen lost their lives and the Japanese scored their first victory in a war which cost the lives of many more brave men before the Japanese were defeated.

Baby Jesus in the manger, Santa in his sleigh, trees, lights and decorations – all bring to mind Christmas. This week during Storytime, Miss Rhonda will be reading stories about Christmas, with a fun craft project afterward. If you want to see your preschooler's eyes light up, come to the Van Zandt County Library at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9. Also, as a reminder, Dog Days at the Library will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. Your child will read to a great, non-judgmental friend.

Friends of the Library are still taking donations for the Christmas Bow Project, an annual fundraiser to maintain and improve the children's section. At 10 a.m. Dec. 12 the FOL will host a brunch in the Buchanan Room of the library honoring the volunteers who help make the library an organized and pleasant place to work and relax.

Canton Herald, Dec. 1, 1960:

  Cut over to Southwestern States the Telephone Companies Jackson, Myrtle Springs and Oakland exchanges failed to take place Tuesday as previously announced because of damage to telephone cables  by county bird hunters.

Mrs. Margaret Myers told the Canton Herald, Wednesday afternoon that her company and then her company did not know “exactly when” the three new substations to the Canton exchanged will be used by local patrons.

R. C. Hadley local manager for the company has been troubleshooting along with special telephone crews in the trouble is expected to be ironed out in the near future. Rural telephones around Canton came as a result of the concentrated efforts of the Van Zandt County Farm Bureau, civic clubs and individuals in the rural area.

Thanksgiving Day is over, and across Van Zandt County, people are preparing for Christmas. While Santa Claus brings toys and candy, I’d like to suggest some durable gifts for emergency preparedness.

One of my buddies suggested an M-35 Army surplus 2-1/2 ton truck for $7,500 from Liberty Hill, Texas. But it’s too big even for a spandex Christmas stocking, and it’s too expensive. Emergency preparedness gifts need to be inexpensive and small enough to fit into your Christmas stocking. Here are my top 10 for 2016:

-BIC butane lighters with transparent sides. You can see how much butane is in them, they light every time, and if they leak butane, it evaporates. I carry matches and flint and steel, but I start my fires with a BIC butane lighter because it is easier and more reliable. For durability, get the BIC brand instead of cheap copies.

Yes, another Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we're headed for the merriment of Christmas.  Before we bid adieu to turkey day, let's take a look back.

Do you have a special memory of Thanksgiving, maybe something from your childhood?  I suppose we all do.  Here's mine:

When I was about 12 or so, we went to central Florida where my uncle and aunt lived.  I always liked my uncle very much, he was funny and made me laugh.  It was only later that I learned he was a ne'er-do-well who owed everyone money, but I digress.

Now that Thanksgiving has been celebrated, leftovers dispatched and lots of shopping has been accomplished, we are now on the express train leading to Christmas holidays.

Storytime resumes at 10 a.m., Dec. 2, where children will be reading about the North Pole; and we all know who lives there!

Miss Rhonda has some good books picked out and fun craft projects prepared. Also, coming up on Wednesday, Dec. 14 is Dog Days at the Library. Come at 4 p.m. and read to a sweet, patient audience.

The Friends of the Library continue to accept donations for the Christmas Bow Project. These donations buy new books for the Children's Section of the library.

At 10 a.m., Dec. 12, the FOL will have the annual Volunteer Brunch in the Buchanan Room of the library. This is a time to show appreciation for those who help in all ways to keep the library a pleasant and rewarding place to visit

Please be aware of some schedule changes during December. 

Bill filers jump to early start as legislative session nears

Just a few of Texas’ 31 Senate members and 150 House members filed a total of 523 pieces of legislation on Nov. 14, the first day lawmakers could submit legislation for the coming session.

The 85th regular session of the Texas Legislature is scheduled to convene on the second Tuesday in January, that is, Jan. 10, at noon. Final adjournment — 140 days later — is set for the last Monday in May, that is, May 29.

Now, back to those bills filed on Nov. 14. Not that it’s a competition, but Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, filed 20 bills, the highest total of any House member. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, was the top 1st-day filer among senators and all legislators with 42 bills and one joint resolution. Zaffirini also co-authored three bills she filed jointly with Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio.