The Texas House has passed and the Senate has considered in committee legislation that would create a misdemeanor offense of using a handheld device to read, write, or send a text based communication while operating a moving vehicle that is not stopped. Regrettably, the proposed solution will actually increase vehicle accidents.
Distracted driving that results in a vehicle accident (18 percent of all accidents) is a serious problem that needs a serious solution. But research does not support the banning of hand-held electronic devices to solve this issue. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (a premier organization on the issue) has multiple studies that show no decrease in accidents when cell phone bans were implemented. In fact, in many instances, accidents actually increased after the ban. Also, the data shows that prohibiting the use of cell phones has done little to stop the use of cell phones while driving. Banning is not the answer.
Paul Baker stands on top of the roof of his house that was destroyed by a series of tornadoes April 29.
Photos by Brad Blakemore
By David Kapitan Staff Writer
The past seven months have been anything but ordinary for Van Zandt Newspaper page designer Kelly Baker and her husband Paul. The couple relocated to a new home along VZ County Road 4104 on Nov. 20, 2016, and just earlier this year, the couple learned that they would be having their first child together after years of attempting to conceive. Like it has done with countless others, Saturday night’s deadly East Texas tornado outbreak turned into another life changing event for the Bakers, demolishing the couple’s home as they were huddled in a storm shelter with family members close by.
Virginia Sides stands on her property Sunday morning April 30, taking in what was left of Sides Pea Farm on FM 2909 after a series of tornados ripped through the eastern portion of Canton. Sides Pea Farm has been in Canton since 1957. Photo by Brad Blakemore
By Britne Hammons News Editor
Virginia Sides stands on her property Sunday morning April 30, taking in what was left of Sides Pea Farm on Farm-to-Market 2909 after a series of tornados ripped through the eastern portion of Canton. Sides surveyed what remained of the family-owned farm, which now lies in ruin and lamented the total loss of a harvest. Sides Pea Farm was decimated by a series of twisters that ravaged through Canton Saturday, April 29, leaving behind a 50-mile wake of destruction. Van Zandt residents were warned of the potential of heavy thunderstorms April 29, but with hot, humid and sunny skies, a series of tornadoes was unthinkable. Converging weather systems created a perfect recipe for disaster, leading to the deaths of four people, injuring countless others and altering the landscape of the Canton area after the tornados were over.
Electricity providers are continuing to work around the clock trying to get service restored for thousands of Van Zandt County residents that lost power during the April 29 tornados.
Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative reported more than 23,000 TVEC members without electricity as of 8:30 p.m. April 29 including more than 9,400 in VZC, more than 7,000 in Henderson County and more than 6,400 in Kaufman County.
TVEC crews are in the process of assessing major infrastructure damage caused by reported tornados and severe thunderstorms throughout the northern part of their service area, according to TVEC General Manager/CEO Jerry Boze.
Governor Greg Abbott today declared a State of Disaster in three Texas counties May 1 following severe weather and deadly tornadoes that struck Texas April 29. In response to the significant damage, the Governor has issued a disaster declaration for the following Texas counties: Henderson, Van Zandt and Rains.
The 66th annual National Day of Prayer is scheduled for Thursday, May 4. The event will be held on the north side of the Van Zandt County Courthouse from 12:15 p.m to 12:45 p.m..
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation.
The Ministers Fellowship of Canton encourages everyone to attend as our community joins with other communities around the nation in prayer.
A meeting for parents of second graders at Canton Intermediate School has been scheduled.
“In order to help make the transition to CIS as smooth as possible, we are going to have an informative 2nd grade parent meeting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3,in the Canton Intermediate library. At the meeting we will go over campus policies, procedures and what to expect in the classroom and at CIS. This meeting is solely for our parents. We will have Meet the Teacher night for both parents and students in August. We are looking forward to a successful school year next year,” said CIS educators.
The Canton City Council heard a presentation from CPA John Watson of Cardiel Brooks, who presented the 2015-’16 fiscal year audit during the April 18 city council meeting.
Watson reported that the “City of Canton has received an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance.”
Watson remarked that the “city was in a good financial state, with almost six months of reserve funds.” The normal average, according to Watson, is for a city to have three months of reserve funds.
Total assets exceeded total liabilities by $36,161,134. The city’s total net position increased by $1,475,3199.
Brooke Arnold drove in one of two runs for the Eaglettes April 20 against Van, going 1/3 overall in Canton’s district closing 6-2 loss.
By David Kapitan Sports Editor
The Canton Eaglettes and Van Lady Vandals finally met to close out regular season play April 20, two days later than originally scheduled due to inclement weather and subsequent field conditions.
Play between the two included plenty of drama with just one game separating the two at the top of the District 13-4A standings as Van entered play with an 8-1 record, and Canton with a 7-2 record.
The Lady Vandals prevail in the contest after overcoming a rocky start, getting a solid start from Bailey Daniels and a clutch two-run home run from Racheal Thomas in the middle innings to pull out a 6-2 win over the Eaglettes and claim the District 13-4A title.
Canton threatened to begin the game with a huge inning on offense, loading the bases with no outs courtesy of an error and back-to-back walks.
