Lifestyle

By David Kapitan

Staff Writer - 

The annual Wills Point Riding Club Rodeo Parade and WPRC Rodeo continued to draw closer this week, with both major events looming July 17 and 18.

While most of the rodeo details were already finalized, organizers are putting out the call for entrants interested in participating in this year’s rodeo parade.

The Sixth Annual WPRC Rodeo Parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. July 18 in downtown Wills Point.

The parade will feature a “Blazin’ Saddles” theme.

Those riding on floats will be able to bring individually wrapped candy and trinkets to pass along to parade attendees.

The parade traditionally includes a wide variety of entries, including covered wagons, horses, buggies, antique cars, trucks and tractors, pageant winners, political officials, bikes, Gators and carts, as well as past WPRC Rodeo queens.

Snapshot of RootsTech" was the topic of the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society's meeting on Saturday, June 27 at the main county library with 27 members and visitors in attendance. Sandra Crowley of Dallas was the special speaker. Society President Jan Crow of Mabank presided over the meeting.

Ms. Crowley stated that the concept is "simple and exciting, bringing together family history enthusiasts and technologists to discover new solutions for genealogy.” She spoke about the latest trends in genealogy, research tools, and storytelling from the most recent RootsTech.

Sandra Crowley is a genealogist and lecturer based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who specializes in using technology for all aspects of family history research.

Florida Georgia Line and Villain Place bring home both the Bronze Telly and a Golden Hermes Award for Florida Georgia Line “Dirt” Lyric video.

And the video has a Van Zandt County connection.

It was produced by former Edgewood resident Cameron McCasland.

The lyric video for Florida Georgia Lines “Dirt” has been awarded the Gold at the 2015 Hermes Creative Awards in addition to a Bronze statue at the 36th annual Telly Awards.

According to the awards programs, “the video stands out in its use of practically placed text for the lyrics.”

The video was shot by Josh Ickes with lead art design employed by Villain Place designer J. Kyle Kelly.

This marks the second Golden Hermes and Bronze Telly for both Norman and McCasland who previously matched this feat for their collaboration on the music video for “Precious Time” by the rock n’ roll duo “Numerics” in 2009.

Ghostriders Rodeo Drill Team practices at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Munk Arena in Grand Saline. Join the Youth Coed Team or the Adult Ladies Team. www.rodeodrillteamoftexas.com

For information call Gary Bonner at 972-679-0770.

Barn Fellowship meets at 10 a.m. Sunday at 203 North Spring Street in Grand Saline. The church has a country-western atmosphere. Contact Pastor Jerry Truett at 903-253-2157 for more information

  Oak Grove Baptist Church Ladies Bible Study is held at 4 p.m. every Sunday night. Ladies, join us for Bible study, prayer and fellowship at 1480 S. Buffalo, Canton. For more information contact Susan at 903-802-2864..

    American Red Cross Disaster Action Team, Van Zandt, meets at 6:30 p.m. every fourth Monday at the South Van Zandt Firestation No. 4 in Canton.

The 18^th annual East Texas Baptist Camp meeting will be held at the Canton Civic Center July 13 through 17.

The music begins nightly at 7 p.m.  It is free and open to the public.

There will be preaching, special exhibits and a snack bar.

Guest speakers are Mark Thrift, pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church in Houston; Ronnie Barefield, pastor of Unity Baptist Church in Ripley, Miss.;  Andy Russell, pastor Martin Baptist Church in New Albany, Miss.; and Scott Matthews, evangelist from Blacksburg, S.C.

Singing nightly will be Rochesters from Blacksburg, S.C. For more than 50 years, this family has been traveling across America playing instruments and singing bluegrass gospel. The 13-member group ranges in age from 13 to 80.

The Erwins from Edgewood will be singing each night as well. Siblings Keith, Kody, Kristopher and sister Katie have recently signed with the Stowtown Record Label.