News

The Van Zandt County Long Term Recovery Group held a meeting Aug. 20 at the old Canton City Hall location downtown.

According to the Recovery Group:

“The current bank balance in the account at the First State Bank of Ben Wheeler currently totals $502,001.79.”

Recovery group members reported that the previous week’s dispersals have not gone out as of yet.

“The Prayer and Praise Worship Service held Aug. 13 at Crossroads Church in Canton was a huge success and was well attended as it provided survivors and volunteers a place to come together, share their stories and pray. Over $1,200 in cash and gift cards were raised as a result of the service. The committee expressed their appreciation to Crossroads Church for hosting the event.”

At approximately 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, an intoxicated driver struck and destroyed five lamp posts that line the Canton Hillcrest Cemetery. The collision caused significant damage to the retaining wall, handrails on the steps and the light control box.

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The 2017-’18 Canton Independent School District school year is officially underway. The first day of classes were held Monday, Aug. 21 with more than 2,200 students filing in the district campuses to start a new school year.

The CISD Board of Trustees also met Aug. 21, with Superintendent Jay Tullos remarking that the school year was off to a great start.

“The first day of school was a good, busy day for CISD staff, parents and students. We want to keep the excitement of coming back to school going on as long as we can,” said Tullos.

Tullos also gave statistics concerning how many students came to school at Canton ISD.

Tullos remarked that “Canton Elementary had 525 students; Canton Intermediate, 514; Canton Junior High, 547; Canton High School, 633. “

After a public hearing was held, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court voted Aug. 17 to modify the proposed 2017-‘18 budget. There were no speakers during the public hearing.

By voting to modify, commissioners have the option to make any changes on the proposed budget prior to a final vote to adopt the proposed budget next month. The proposed budget covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2017, and ending Sept. 30, 2018.

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At 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 4, the VZC Veterans Memorial will hold the annual Veterans Memorial Balloon Release event at the Veterans Memorial Plaza at the intersection of Hwys 19 and 243.

“Balloons are ready to be sold for $3 each from the Veterans Memorial Visitors Center and Museum in Canton,” said Diane Farmer, VZC Veterans Memorial PR chair. “This is a great way to honor and remember your veterans. Balloons will also be for sale at the event. Please bring a lawn chair to enjoy the ceremony. The Pledge of Allegiance, prayers for Veterans and those serving, music and comments will fill the agenda. Remember, some gave all and all gave some.”

On Aug. 21, 2017, North America was treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality could see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse. The path, where the moon completely covered the sun and the sun's tenuous atmosphere - the corona - could be seen. In this photo, cloud cover provided the perfect diffuser for photographing the sun directly.

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A string of accidents have plagued Interstate 20 in Van Zandt County over the course of the last week.

Two accidents, one a multi-vehicle accident near the 514-mile marker and the other a single-vehicle accident near the 512 mile marker, helped to back up traffic along I-20 Aug. 3. The driver in the single-vehicle accident was shaken up but not seriously injured.

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Since July 19, 2014, the Church’s Chicken property in Canton has been shut down due to health code violations issued from the Texas Department of State Health Services and the City of Canton building inspector. The business was ordered not to reopen until the building was in compliance. Since that time, the City of Canton encouraged the owner to bring the building up to code or be subjected to fines.

On Aug. 14, 2017, three years later after being shut down, the building was demolished.

Canton Assistant City Manager Andy Wolfe said that the current demolition on the Church’s Chicken property was not ordered by the City of Canton.

Aug. 18, 2017, will mark 40 years since the first Free State Bluegrass Music Festival was held in Canton. The festival was started by three friends and musicians who loved to play bluegrass music. Dell Washer, T.J. Rogers and Jim Fuller had played at many bluegrass events around Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and the First Monday grounds in Canton was an ideal spot for a music festival.

The three invested $700 each in the venture with a handshake in February 1977, and by August 1977 had booked a total of 15 bluegrass music bands to hold a three-day festival.

Following a closed executive session Aug. 8, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court named Sandra Plaster as the interim VZC Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace.

Plaster will take over for Ronnie Daniell, who recently announced his retirement effective at noon, Friday, Sept. 8. Daniell will administer the oath of office to Plaster on that day.

She has served in the Pct. 2 JP office since November 2007 first as a part-time clerk before being named as the full-time court clerk and administrator on May 11, 2009.