News

The Canton Masonic Lodge has been preparing Thanksgiving dinner at the Lodge since the mid-1980s and every year since, the Masons have invited the public to enjoy a free Thanksgiving meal with friends and neighbors.

“Some thought the meal was for the poor or disenfranchised, but it was never intended to be exclusively for the poor. The meal is for anyone who would like to come and have dinner with others,” said Master Mason Jim Fuller. “Perhaps there are those alone for the holiday and don’t have the desire to prepare a big meal. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for a lot of things, including friends and neighbors who enjoy getting together for a meal and fellowship.”  

The Masons will begin serving their annual traditional Thanksgiving meal at approximately 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and will serve until 2 p.m.

Carry outs will be available; however, home deliveries will not be available this year due to a shortage of manpower, Fuller said.

The rapid pace of housing sales slowed somewhat as realtors, lenders and title companies adjusted to new closing requirements which came into effect in October.

While sales remained strong, the numbers of contracts waiting to close increased greatly, indicating deals took longer to close last month.

“We’ve known for a while that there would be some challenges as the new closing procedure came into effect,” said Steve Habgood, president of MetroTex. “Agents and lenders built longer closing timeframes into the contracts to accommodate these changes. We expect business to speed up again in a few months once everyone get used to the new system.”

“October sales figured still showed year-over-year growth in most areas despite the new regulations,” continued Habgood.

Highlights of the MetroTex report include:

·         32 homes were sold in the Van Zandt County area in September, a 6 percent decrease over last year.

The Canton Museum Board met for a quarterly meeting at the Blackwell House Nov. 6 to plan for the holiday activities at the Blackwell House and the Plaza Museum and to consider other business relating to the museums.

Those present for the meeting were Marilyn Brockman, Nancy Buchanan, Jean Griffith, Anna Baker and myself.  The name of Jill Godwin was submitted and approved as a new board member.

A Christmas open house is planned from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Blackwell House. 

Christmas decorations will highlight the home located at 314 First Monday Ln. (FM 859 ½ mile north of Hwy. 64, next to the Van Zandt County Library.) 

The public is invited to attend to enjoy live entertainment as well as light refreshments. 

The house will be decorated and available for holiday parties, showers, receptions etc. beginning Dec. 2.  Call 903- 567- 4550 for information on availability.

I am always amazed when I see a local business working hard to cover their expenses and provide for their family, yet finding the time to give back to the community.

There are many locally owned businesses in Van Zandt County that are generous with contributions of money and and time to help make the community a better place to live and work. One business recently took on a challenge to give back in a way that literally changed a handful of people’s lives forever.

In July, Van Zandt Newspapers Classified Manager Kelly Baker heard over social media about a workout program being offered at no cost by CrossFit Van Zandt.

Baker said she has struggled with health issues for a number of years. She wanted to lose a few pounds. She was out of shape and her doctors labeled her as obese.

In a rather quick and thorough meeting Nov. 10, commissioners took to county business.

Due to heavy rains and thunderstorms, leaking roofs have caused a number of problems throughout the county, especially at the county Annex and Extension office.

Commissioners discussed the need for roof repairs at the county Annex and Extension office.

Roof problems have led to leakage in the building, which Commissioner Tim West described as “rain coming in everywhere in the building.”

Commissioner West said that a roof cap had been replaced on the building but that it “didn’t take care of the situation.”

Commissioner West also said that roof does not have much of a slant and was damaged in a storm that had produced a large amount of hail in the past, resulting in indentions from the hail being made and water pooling in the indents.

The Canton ISD Board of Trustees approved policy updates, a trustee’s code of conduct and the district’s Health and Wellness plan and heard the annual investment policy review Nov. 16.

In the investment policy review, Business Director Denise Stone told trustees the district has a $1 million certificate of deposit at First State Bank drawing 0.80 percent interest and a Money Market account at Citizens National Bank with another $1 million drawing 0.32 percent. The district has another $1 million in the Logics Investment Pool with an interest rate of 0.195 percent; $2 million with Lonestar at 0.094 percent and about $100,000 in TexPool at 0.0966 percent.

Another $5.5 million is deposited at American National Bank with an interest rate of 0.2 percent, Stone said.

“The primary goal of the investment program is to ensure safety of principal, to maintain liquidity and to maximize financial returns within current market conditions,” the investment policy states.

The Straw Hat Dinner Theater will open its doors Saturday night, Nov. 21, for dinner and presentation of a one act comedy entitled “The New Girl,” written by Vaughn McBride. 

The play takes place in the county nursing home.  Characters Flo and Clarissa have lived a long life, still maintain their dignity and never lack for words or a subject for communication.  They are very blunt and say what they wish, when they wish.  Clarissa is confined to her bed and Flo travels down the halls and in and about the rooms as she pleases in her wheelchair.  However, they are not ready to die!  Not for a minute!

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.  The play follows.  Cost is $15 which includes dinner and the entertainment.  No charge is made for children 12 years and younger.  This all takes place at the old school in Myrtle Springs on VZCR 3447.  It is sponsored by the Myrtle Springs Alumni Association and is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. 

Entries, help sought for Candy Land-themed holiday procession

Entries, sponsors and volunteers are needed for the 2015 Canton Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12.

The theme for the twilight parade is Candy Land.

Entry fee is $25.

Prizes to be awarded include Best in Parade – first through third places carrying cash prized of $200, $150 and $125; Best Youth, Best Auto and Best Animal/Horse with prized of $75 each.

Sponsors are needed for each of the prize categories.

Parade participants will not be allowed to throw candy or other items from their floats or vehicles, per city ordinance, chamber officials said. “During so can result in being ineligible to win prized and not being allowed to participate in future parades,” according to the chamber’s entry form. 

The Van Zandt County Humane Society has several fundraisers on tap during the last few months of the year. 

“Our annual Thanksgiving bake sale has been fun for us in the past,” President Carol Whatley. “We offer a lot of homemade goodies for your holiday tables. With all our collective years of cooking experience, why not let us help you out with your Thanksgiving meal? We will have cakes, cookies, pies, breads and specialty treats available.” 

The bake sale will take place from 10 a.m. “until everything is gone” Saturday, Nov. 21 at Ace Hardware on Hwy. 243 in Canton. 

Another upcoming event is the annual Photos with Santa.  "This is another event we look forward to.  The managers and team at Ace Hardware are kind enough to let us come and have photo sessions with all the pets,” Whatley said. “Dress up your cat, dog, guinea pig or bunny rabbit and have his picture made for your Christmas card!”

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Van Zandt County will hold a kickoff for the annual event from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Van Zandt County Regional Airport, 36671 Hwy. 64, Wills Point.

Everyone is invited to the kickoff to learn about how to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from cancer, organizers said.

Guests will have the opportunity to register a team or individually for the Relay For Life event, which will be held May 6, 2016, at the Arbors on the First Monday grounds.

The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and take action to finish the fight once and for all.

Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Teams participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.