News

The possibility of Van Zandt County being placed under a burn ban by county commissioners at their next scheduled meeting (Oct. 13) grew increasingly more likely over the past week with major grass fires threatening homes and laying waste to roughly 200 acres in and around the area.

On Sept. 28, multiple departments from Wills Point, Whitton and Elmo were dispatched to battle a grass fire located south of Wills Point between FM-47 and CR 3918. Reports from that incident indicate that the fire was triggered when workers in the area clearing a portion of the land and brush got into old fencing or metal with a piece of equipment, sending off sparks.

Three houses were threatened in that fire, but local departments were able to contain the blaze with no injuries or damages to homes being reported.

Oct. 2 saw two major grass fires threaten homes, including one in Kaufman County and another along Farm-to-Market Road 751 north of Wills Point.

The Van Oil Festival returns to downtown Van Oct. 10.  The theme for the Oil Festival is "Those Nifty Fifties."

The festival will be held at the intersection of Highways 16 and 110 and will feature a parade with the newly crowned Van Oil Pageant winners, a 5K run, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, live entertainment, a wine garden, sidewalk sales and antique tractors on display. A car show, bounce houses and activities for children along with performances by the Vandal Marching Band, cheerleaders and majorettes are also on the schedule.

Vendors will be set up from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

New cook off has folks in a stew

The Canton Main Street is looking forward to hosting the program’s major fund raiser from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10,  in downtown Canton. 

The event is family-friendly with a variety of arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, live music and entertainment, a big silent auction, sidewalk sales, kid’s area with activities, Carter blood drive, car show, 5K run/walk (not a timed event), cake walk and community stew cook-off. 

Added new this year is the Community Stew/Soup Cook-off. 

The Stew Cook Off  is strictly for fun, earning bragging rights for the year for the best stew recipe and winning a cash prize for first, second or third place.  

People’s Choice judging will start at 11:30 a.m. and continue until 1:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.

Crossroads Church in Canton will be presenting Judgement House: 59 Minutes (Eternity is less than an hour away) from 4 to 7 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday beginning Oct. 10.

Judgement House is a dramatic walk-through presentation about the truth of people’ choices and their consequences both in this life and the next, organizers said.

Four different people “are living different lives, in different places with different struggles, aspirations and routines but the one thing they do have in common is that they each have only 59 minutes to live.”

Judgement House is a walk-through, live drama where groups of 10 are guided through different rooms representing a scene from an unfolding story that is acted out in short dramatizations.

The tour takes about 45 minutes. A new tour begins every 15 minutes a new tour

begins.

The event is free and individuals and groups are welcome. Reservations are not required,

From 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17, the ABC Room will host a Sip and See Open House introducing its new building to the community. 

At the beginning of the open house there will be a dedication ceremony. 

“Our new room will be dedicated in memory of Dan Perez Jr.,” said Karen Forester, ABC Room board president. “Dan worked tirelessly finishing our building. He and wife, B.J., are cherished friends of the ABC Room.

Perez died May 31.

Mrs. Perez has recently joined the ABC Room board of directors. 

Originally called the Rainbow Room, the ABC Room provides emergency resources for children taken in to state care.

The new facility is located at 124 W. Dallas St. (Hwy. 64.) Parking is in the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department parking lot.

The City of Canton came together to recognize Henry Lewis, a prominent and steadfast businessman of the community, Oct. 1.

After 50 years of service, Mayor of Canton, Lou Ann Everett proclaimed Oct. 1 as Lewis Chevrolet, Buick, GMC  50^th anniversary day in honor of Lewis’ achievement.

Mayor Everett remarked that the proclamation stems from being Lewis being a “mainstay in the Canton business community.”

Henry Lewis opened Lewis Chevrolet at 385 W. Dallas Street in Canton 50 years ago and has been an integral part of Canton’s history since that time, Mayor Everett remarked.

Lewis was the only salesman for the dealership and built Lewis Chevrolet into a premier car dealership by meeting anyone at “two in the morning, if he knew they were coming.”

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 through 11, the Arbors at First Monday grounds will be going to the dogs again.

The Tyler Kennel Club will hold its annual dog days shows in Canton for the 13^th time. 

Last year’s shows brought AKC registered show dogs from 28 states, Canada and Mexico. 

According to Show Chairman Dr. Donald Gill, this year’s event includes 788 entries, with dogs from 130 AKC breeds.

Vendors of various dog-related goods, jewelry and other items will also be on hand.

On Friday, Oct. 9, before the all-breed shows, the Trinity Alley Shetland Sheepdog Club will hold back-to-back specialty shows beginning at 9:30 a.m

At 3 p.m. Friday, the Trinity Valley Belgian Sheepdog Club will hold its specialty show.

Beginning at 4 p.m., the North Texas Non-Sporting Association will hold a non-sporting group show. 

A school and community-wide reunion will be held at the old school in Myrtle Springs beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 10.

There will be entertainment throughout the day provided by Barbara Cooper and gospel singers known as 3:16. Other activities are planned as well.

Silent auction items will be displayed during the day.

A 42 tournament will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.

There will be a business meeting at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at noon.

To read the full article, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

A Swing for Heather Massey Golf Tournament will be held Oct. 24 at Twin Lakes Golf Course, 300 VZCR 4205, Canton.

A shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. will kick off the four man scramble. The cost is $100 per player and $400 per team. Green fees, a cart and range balls are included in the costs.

The tournament will include the longest drive contest, closest to the pin contest, a ball drop and silent auction.  Registration will be at noon and lunch will be at 12:30 p.m.

Sponsorship opportunities include hole sponsors for $250; golf cart business advertisements at $500; and donations for Swing For Heather at $1,000.

To register contact Cindy Nance at 214-906-7722, tcnance@prodigy.net; Lori Anderson, 903-203-5136, loriisabella@gmail.com; or Janet Denton at 903-880-6286, janetdenton09@yahoo.com

The Big Rock Gun Club is inviting all county law enforcement and first responders to its annual fish fry Oct. 18 to show appreciation for their work.

According to Steve Shipley, officers and first responders just need to “show their badge and they eat free.”

The club would like to know how many are coming however for preparation purposes. RSVPs can be left with Shipley at 972-644-7981.

The Big Rock Gun Club is located at 3959 VZCR 2901.

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