News

In recognition of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Van Zandt County, a candlelight vigil was held April 3 on the east side steps of the county courthouse in Canton.

VZC Child Welfare Board President Sandy Hilliard welcomed those in attendance and Word of Victory Pastor Mike Burns led in the opening prayer.

VZC Judge Don Kirkpatrick read a proclamation announcing that the month of April would be declared as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in the county which was unanimously approved March 28 by the county commissioners court. Soloist Sandra Washington sang “Amazing Grace.”

Guest speakers Ashley Chaney and Isaac Delacerda were introduced by VZC District Attorney Chris Martin.

Chaney was in a long-time abusive relationship involving drugs, according to Martin. Child Protective Services were called and her daughter, Madison, age 8, was removed from the home.

A Coor’s Light truck almost tipped sideways Thursday, March 30 in downtown Canton when its driver attempted to make a tight right turn and got stuck on roots and branches of a tree.

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Whitton Community will hold a dinner at 6 p.m.  Saturday, April 8.  Smothered steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, deserts and iced tea will be served for a donation to benefit the Whitton Community Center. “Come join us for dinner and catch up with friends and family,” said organizers.

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The 13^th annual April in Edom Craft & Folk Street Fair for adults, kids and pets is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 8 and 9.

Over 125 vendors with handmade and folk crafts, demonstrations, vintage items, great foods and an awesome Kids’ Zone with arts and activities will be on display.

Pet Parades and contests are set for 2 p.m. There will be 40 performers on three stages and there will be a Fire 5K Run Saturday at 8 a.m.

Edom is located 11 miles south of Interstate 20, exit 540, off Highway 64 between Canton and Tyler, at FM 279 and FM 314. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.visitedom.com.

Several good Samaritans were on hand to help pick up numerous bottles of water that spilled off the back end of a pickup in downtown Canton Monday morning at the intersection of Buffalo and Tyler streets in Canton.

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Canton Community Bible Church will host a Christ in the Passover presentation at 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 7. The speaker will be Dan Sered, director of Jews for Jesus.

The topic will be the Seder meal. The presentation links the Old Testament Passover meal established in Exodus with Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, focusing on His work of redemption.

The Seder meal will incorporate the Model Seder and the complete Jewish family Passover experience along with traditional Passover recipes.

Canton Community Bible Church is located at the High Community Center across from the intersection of VZCR 2115 and 2120. For further information, call Pastor Jim Leach at 903-848-0321.

Senate panel OKs budget for upcoming two-year period

A state budget for fiscal years 2018-2019 cleared the first in a series of hurdles when the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved committee substitute Senate Bill 1 on March 22.

The legislation next moves to the full Senate for consideration.

“This budget remains a work in progress, but we will continue our work to make the most of every dollar, meet our priority needs and keep Texas moving in the right direction,” said Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound. “This committee left no stone unturned looking for savings, examining our budget drivers and looking for ways to make smarter use of our limited resources.”

Nelson said the bill establishes a $106.3 billion two-year state budget. Just a few things the measure would do, if enacted, are:

- Continue the current funding formulas for public education;

Brookshire’s and Del Monte have teamed up to fight hunger in communities throughout Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas with the new “You CAN Help” program.

Through April 18, customers will receive one free can of Del Monte products for every five Del Monte cans (13.5 oz – 15.25 oz) purchased in a single transaction. They are encouraged to donate some or all of the canned goods or any other non-perishable food items to be distributed to local food banks and pantries in their community. As bins are filled throughout the program, all donated products will be distributed to the organizations predetermined by each store.

A good portion of the March 21 Canton city council meeting swirled around annexing water and sewer line services into the Silver Spur Resort, located at 13785 Highway 19. The resort is not in the Canton city limits.

The item is frequently on the council’s agenda, with council debating the item extensively over a number of months.

The proposed agreement with Silver Spur Resort would entail the city reimbursing up to 50 percent of certified costs (total costs actually incurred by the owner in construction of the lines); and reimbursement would only be after annexation into the city. The city would have to bring the area in to a Canton CCN (certificate of convenience and necessity.)

The Silver Spur resort offers is an area offering a bed and breakfast spot, camping and “glamping,” grounds, and RV hookups.

It’s time for a reality check Van Zandt County. We have a problem on our hands and it is going to take an all hands-on deck approach if we are going to reverse the alarming statistics of children who are abused and neglected in our county.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and everyone in Van Zandt County is encouraged to attend the Candlelight Vigil at 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 3 on the north steps of the Van Zandt County Courthouse.

The annual vigil is a way of honoring the lives of 222 Texas Children who died from abuse and neglect in 2016. The vigil is also a time to gather, pray for our children and their families. It’s also a great opportunity to meet family resource leaders and learn more about how you can get involved.