First Baptist Church Canton will present its Christmas musical “Tonight Heaven Touches Earth” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 after the downtown Christmas parade and at 4 p.m. Dec. 13.
There will be a fellowship in the gym after the Dec. 13 performance.
Beginning this week, the city of Canton and the Canton Herald will be publishing articles on local city ordinances covering Code Enforcement issues.
The information for these articles is supplied by City Manager Lonny Cluck.
Canton has three code enforcement officers on staff – the city fire chief, the city fire captain and the city building inspector. Currently the fire chief and fire captain are working code enforcement complaints and the building inspector works code enforcement as needed.
The Canton Candy Land Christmas parade will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 but before the lights are twinkling through the downtown square, you can get a glimpse of the holiday finery at the Canton Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Trees at the Plaza Museum.
The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for the chamber. Businesses, groups or individuals decorate artificial Christmas trees and the trees are displayed in the Plaza Museum before being sold through a silent auction.
The auction is ongoing now and ends one hour after the Christmas parade Dec. 12.
Visitors can buy tickets to vote for their favorite entry and trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place trees.
Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or “an arm’s length” for $10.
The production of "Miracle on 34th Street,” written by Meredith Wilson, will open at The Talent Box, a nonprofit community theatre located at 244 N. Fourth St. in Wills Point at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
Additional performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 18 and 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20.
All seating will be regular with no dinner theatre performances. A reception will be held for the patrons following the opening night performance. Virginia Reid-Yost will direct this Christmas favorite. Admission for adults is $10, seniors/students is $8 and children 12 and under is $5. Prepaid reservations are required and may be made by calling the theatre, 903-873-8945. Leave your name, telephone number, number in your party and date you wish to attend.
Tickets may also be purchased on line at www.thetalentbox.org, click on buy tickets and follow directions, organizers said.
The AARP Driver Safety Program and the Van Zandt County Library, 317 First Monday Ln. in Canton, are sponsoring a driver safety class from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 8.
The course is designed for drivers 50 years of age and older primarily.
The course helps drivers learn to compensate for the effects of passing years have on eyesight, hearing and reflexes.
Most participants will qualify for the insurance premium reductions of up to 10 percent off their policy cost for the next three years, organizers said.
Cost for the class is a nominal fee for materials only.
To enroll for the class, contact Marv at 903-848-7023. Class size is limited.
Photo by Britne Hammons
VZC Historical Commission Chairman Elvis Allen, left, presents Judge Don Kirkpatrick with a plaque representing and honoring the past county judges.
By Britne Hammons Staff Writer
The commissioners court meeting Nov. 24 was short and ended on a sweet note during a presentation and dedication of an oil painting of every past and present county judge.
County officials and past county judges gathered together for the presentation of the project while also partaking in refreshments and cookies provided by the historical commission.
VZC Historical Commission Chairman Elvis Allen made a presentation of the portraits in the hallways of the courthouse while also unveiling County Judge Don Kirkpatrick’s painted portrait.
State Rep. Dan Flynn also made an appearance remarking on the “fantastic job” of the county historical commission.
Allen explained that the judge portrait project “took a number of years,” and without the “dedicated work of the VZC Historical Commission, the project would not be possible.”
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 Nov. 30.
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.
State Representative Dan Flynn, R-Van, filed for re-election last week at the Republican Party of Texas Headquarters in Austin.
Rep. Flynn, Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, said: "It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as State Representative for House District 2, and today I am filing to run for re-election."
Flynn went on to say, "I am pleased that in the last session we prioritized public education, and fought to protect innocent life and religious freedom. We addressed important water issues, and took steps to improve transportation while upholding our constitutional responsibility of maintaining a balanced budget. Our economy continues to be affected by the challenges in funding public education, the decline in oil and gas prices as well as the continued challenge of funding healthcare.
Van Zandt County Tax Assessor-Collector Shirley Chisham has announced her candidacy for re-election.
Chisham has filed for the Republican Primary Election set for March 1.
Chisham said during her first term in office she has been “encouraged by the overwhelming support” received from citizens for providing a customer-service oriented level of professionalism to the tax assessor-collector office.
“This is being achieved by ensuring a friendly atmosphere where all citizens feel welcomed, being sensitive to the needs of each individual customer, as well as keeping the tax assessor-collector office open during lunch hours and extending the main office hours from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.,” Chisham said.
Chisham said she strives to make sure each customer is treated fairly, equally and with respect.
Throughout her first term. there have been challenges requiring positive solutions, Chisham said.
Photos by Britne Hammons
CPD Staff Sergeant Steve Hall, left, and Canton Fire Department Chief Bud Sanford
stand with the new fi re engine that rolled out Nov. 14.
By Britne Hammons Staff Writer
The Canton Fire Department has rolled out a brand-spanking new 2015 Spartan fire engine.
The new engine made its debut to city officials during a Thanksgiving celebration at Canton Civic Center Nov. 20.
Canton Fire Captain Brian Horton provided some specifics about the custom-made fire truck, saying that the CFD was able to “catch the truck right off the dealer line.”
“The new engine is about 80 percent customized to the need of the firefighters,” Horton said. “A lot of the custom work is seen in the interior aspects of the engine. Customizations in the interior consists of custom roll out doors, shelves and compartment changes to name a few.”
A plaque on the inside of the driver’s door notes that it is “custom made for the Canton Fire Department.”
The new fire engine cost approximately $460,000 and was budgeted into the CFD annual budget but the purchase had to be approved by the Canton City Council first.
