News

Because of the Christmas holiday, next week we will have early deadlines.

For the Dec. 24 edition of the Canton Herald, all display and classified advertising, articles and photos must be in our office by noon Friday, Dec. 18.

Our offices in both Canton and Wills Point will close at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, and be closed all day Dec. 25.

We will also have early deadlines for the newspaper the week of New Years. Information and advertising for the Dec. 31 edition must be in our office by 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24.

Canton High School student and cheerleader Heather Massey is currently battling undifferentiated sarcoma.

To help the Massey family, Canton High School is selling #HeatherStrong bracelets.

The bracelets are $2 each and can be purchased at any CHS home sporting event or in the Canton High School office.

“The Massey family can use all the help they can get from the community,” said CHS student body secretary Samantha Oakley. “All proceeds will go to Heather and her family. Let's pitch in and help Heather together!”

Inmates hammered with regime, routine

Good news finally came to the Van Zandt County Jail late November. After a series of setbacks and problems, the jail has now completely knocked out a yearly inspection with a stiff uppercut.

From busted boilers to the lack of room for female inmates, leaky roofs, defunct locking mechanisms and plumbing issues, the jail and its staff have overcame a mountainous heap of hurdles to keep the VZC jail up and running in its best condition yet.  

The VZC Jail is smoothly ran by a group of highly organized and efficient individuals, all under the direction of Chief Deputy George Flowers.

Chief Flowers said that every year Texas jails have to be inspected and have to meet jail standards.

Bryan Slaton of Royse City has filed with the Texas Republican Party to be on the ballot for the Texas House District 2 seat in the primary election March 1.

Slaton announced his intention to run in June and, according to information from his campaign, “has spent the last several months meeting with community leaders, talking with voters and spreading his conservative message to residents in District 2.”

“After months on the campaign trail and talking with voters, I am overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I have received,” Slaton said. “The voters of HD 2 are ready to have a representative who will stand for our conservative principles. It is time to send someone to Austin that will speak on behalf of our district, not the lobby and special interest groups.”

Slaton is a former minister that worked as a youth and family minister in the DFW Metroplex. He works at his family’s financial services firm. 

The race for Van Zandt County sheriff, county commissioner precincts 1 and 3 and all four precinct constables is officially underway for the March 2016 primary election.

So far all filings have been on the Republican ballot. These candidates are filing for a place on the primary election ballot. The winner will represent the party on the November 2016 ballot.

As of Nov. 24, there were four candidates who had filed for the VZC sheriff position.

Ron Carroll, Samuel Mayer, Anthony “Big Tony” Katsoulas and Dale Corbett have all filed to become sheriff.

Current Sheriff Michael Lindsey Ray has not filed as of Dec. 7.

In the Commissioner Precinct 1 race, Tom Elliott Jr. has submitted his name for the ballot. The current county commissioner for Precinct 1 is Brandon Brown. Brown has not filed for election as of Dec. 7.

Members of the Canton Economic Development Corporation agreed to purchase tablets and software to allow for paperless board meetings.

At the Nov. 24 meeting, the board agreed to purchase 10 Lenovo Yoga tablets at a cost of $199 each. The tablets will be used by the seven board members and three staff members.

Information for the meetings will be placed in a Dropbox account for download, CEDC Executive Director Seymore said.

The tablets perform “like a digital book,” Seymore said, and won’t have other aps or programs on them. “It’s just a reader,” she said.

The total cost for the tablets, protective covers and software is $3,088. The funds will come from the CEDC office equipment budget.

The board also agreed to spend its marketing money with a company called Site Location Partnership, a business that offers site selection services and business recruitment for economic development.

In 2016, for the first time in almost 20 years, two new laws restoring some of our God given rights of self-defense will become effective. The 84th legislature passed and Governor Abbott signed into law Texas House Bill 910, which will allow for the open carry of handguns and Texas Senate Bill 11 which will allow for limited carry of concealed handguns on college campuses.

In the middle of all the mis-information and controversy surrounding changes in the Texas law legalizing open carry, it is easy for the facts and truth of the scope of these two bills to get lost.  After the hard work of many legislators in the Texas House and Senate, who acted on the will of the people of Texas, I want to make sure everyone understands the facts about the individual rights and responsibilities encompassed within the changes to carrying handguns in Texas by these two new laws.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is reminding Texans about the potential for vehicle thefts during the holiday season and is advising individuals to takes extra precautions to guard against possible auto thefts.

Vehicle burglaries are also a concern during the holiday season.

 “The holiday season is a busy time for everyone – including criminals; and DPS is urging Texans to do what they can to keep vehicles and valuables safe from possible thieves,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “The months of December and January can be prime times for auto theft and burglaries. It is important to always lock car doors and store valuables out of sight.”

The Rev. Rafael Cruz, the father of presidential candidate Ted Cruz, and JoAnn Fleming will co-host a TEA Party celebration in recognition of the 242^nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Van Zandt Country Club, 17960 I-20 in Canton. 

There is a “dutch treat” dinner at 7 p.m.

According to information from the local TEA Party, Cruz will give updates on his son’s campaign and “Cruz for President” campaign materials will be available.

Rescue group looks for help in locating lost dog

A visitor to the December First Monday Trade Days got lost and rescue officials are hoping someone in Canton can help find her.

This little lost girl – named Scarlett – weighs 18 pounds, stands about 18-inches tall and has black hair. And tan hair.

She’s a miniature pincher/daushund mix that was with her foster owner. And, as luck would have it, Scarlett was supposed to go with her “furever” home on the day she disappeared.

“The foster care giver had a collar on her instead of a slip lead and she wiggled out and ran off,” said Kim Malone with Paws in the City, a nonprofit rescue group working in Dallas and Sherman.

Scarlett had been in the foster care of Paws for almost a year, Malone said.