Officer Jered Forrest of the Canton Police Department.
By Britne Hammons News Editor
CPD Officer Forrest is on patrol
Editor’s Note: CPD was gracious enough to allow me to tag along with an officer for the day, to find out what being a law enforcement officer is really like.
Whether it’s the adrenaline rush of the unexpected call for help or the sense of safety that an officer can provide, Canton Police Department Officer Jered Forrest said he loves his job.
“You never know what is going to happen next in this line of work. I don’t get bored as a police officer because you never know what to expect. It is definitely not an 8 to 5 job, and I love it.” said Officer Forrest.
The following events are scheduled at Four Mile Lutheran Church ELCA during Holy Week and Easter 2017.
Maundy Thursday, April 13, Four Mile Lutheran will offer blessings in front of Buttermilk’s café in Canton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We will also be offering drive-thru blessings and Holy Communion at the church from 2 to 5 p.m. for those unable to attend the evening services at 7 p.m. If you have been feeling separated from God lately, come home to the church for any of these special services,” church members stated.
Christians from across the county will gather Sunday April 23, in Canton for the 2017 Van Zandt County March of Remembrance honoring survivors of the Holocaust. The event will begin with a brief assembly at 1:30 p.m. on the east steps of the Van Zandt County Courthouse.
County Judge Don Kirkpatrick will welcome those participating in the march. Immediately following his remarks, the march will begin from the courthouse along Hwy 19 to the Farm Bureau building near the intersection of Hwys 19 and 243.
The Canton High School graduating class of 1967 will celebrate their 50th class reunion April 22, at the Van Zandt Country Club.
“The class will meet at 6 p.m. in the dining room with a short welcome. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. Great music from the 1960s will be enjoyed and lots of old friendships renewed. If you graduated with this class or went to school with this class at any time and have not been contacted, please contact Judy Whitaker Davis at 903-787-0372 for more details,” event organizers said.
The C-Town Eagle Leo Club and Past international President Jimmy Ross.
Who belongs to the Canton Lions Club and what do they do?
Lions Club members are well known for their bright yellow vests or for the eyeglasses donation boxes located at area businesses around town. What drives people to become a Lion? Vision and the welfare of youth are just two of the important issues to Lions in Canton. The Canton Lions Club works with both the Canton ISD and Martins Mill ISD to make sure students who cannot afford an eye examination and/or prescription glasses, are given financial assistance help them receive these services. Three years ago, the Canton Club purchased a Spot Vision Screener, a handheld portable device designed to quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from six months of age through adult. Hundreds of local children have been screened with dozens referred for vision examinations.
A city-wide Spring Cleanup will be held April 20-22.
The weekly garbage service includes pickup of as many as 10 items (bags of household garbage or leaves) and limbs that are tied in bundles less than 50 pounds and under 4 feet in length. One large item may be picked up by a separate truck each week. Items will need to be placed curbside by 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 19.
Senior citizens or those with disabilities can call 903-567-1841 for help. Disposal of household items will also be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20-21 and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22 at the city transfer station with presentation of a current city water bill and proof of identification.
Tires, batteries, paint, chemicals, construction trash, commercial garbage, or items with Freon are not available for pickup.
The Canton City Council met in a special called meeting March 29 and approved a disposition/lease of city-owned real estate property to Johnny Blevins.
The property at 24980 Highway 64 East was leased to Blevins for $1,100 a month. The area was used as a maintenance shed for TxDOT.
Blevins said he was interested in renting out the space for six months because of a new warehousing distribution business that he was starting. “Right now, our goal is to turn it into a packaging facility in the future, and then we are thinking about bringing a full production facility into the area. “
Blevins also told the council he would make some improvements on the structure consisting of new paint on the outside and adding electrical plugs.
St. Justin’s Episcopal Church will be celebrating Holy Week beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 9. The first service of Holy Week begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday, The Sunday of the Passion with a procession of the palms followed by the Holy Eucharist service.
Maundy Thursday, washing of feet and holy Eucharist services will be held at 6 p.m. April 13.
The Good Friday service, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Eucharist service will be at 6 p.m. Friday, April 14.
There will be no services held on Holy Saturday.
The Celebration of Easter Sunday with Holy Eucharist services will begin at 10 a.m. April 16.
The service begins with the "Flowering of the Cross" performed by all children attending. The annual Easter Egg Hunt with refreshments will follow the Easter Sunday Service.
Around 7 p.m. Monday, April 3 Canton city officials released information regarding a massive water leak that led to the loss of 1 million gallons of water.
The water loss led to city officials declaring a “code red,” emergency which resulted in Canton Independent School District and local daycares closing the following day.
In a statement from city officials, the leak was in a “remote, inaccessible area.”
The Canton/Edom TEA Party will host an Education Forum at 7 p.m. Monday, April 10 in the Canton Elementary School Cafetorium located at 1163 South Buffalo Street.
A panel of educators and citizens will be discussing educational issues especially legislation being considered by the Texas Legislature.
Panel members will include Jay Tullos, Canton ISD Superintendent; Kevin Ellis, Texas State Board of Education District 9 Representative; Jay Ferguson, Grace Community School Headmaster, the largest private school in Tyler, and Vice-President of the Texas Private School Association; Alice Linahan, Founder and Director of Women on the Wall, a grassroots organization advocating for quality education; Peggy Venable, Texas Public Policy Foundations Center for Education Freedom; Jill Dutton, Van ISD School Board trustee; and a representative from the Texas Home School Association.
