News

The Van Zandt County Commissioners Court unanimously approved funding to create the position of a Human Resources director and department for the county during a meeting held Oct. 25.

Kevin Cashion of Gollob, Morgan and Peddy, Inc., stressed to the court the need for a HR department separate from the county treasurer’s office during an audit report earlier this month. The treasurer’s office has handled the HR responsibilities for 250 county employees,

County Commissioner Virgil Melton Jr.  stated in the Oct. 25 meeting that there is “approximately $24,000 in the budget that could be used to help create the HR position and department,”

Melton also  recommended that the county’s salary structure and job description for the position be “updated and that the HR director’s position needed to be filled as soon as possible.”

As early voting winds down Friday, November 4, a record number of early voters continue in the final week.

Well over 7,000 voters have already cast their votes as of the close of business Monday, Oct.31, according to Van Zandt County Chief Election Deputy Elsa Smith.

“Normally, we will average anywhere from 300 to 500 voters a day in early voting but this year, we are averaging between 900 and 1,000 voters each day,” said Smith. “This continues to be a record turnout for our county.”

Among the 7,000 plus early voters were 638 that voted on Saturday, Oct. 29 as the early voting polls were open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m on that day.

“I have received a lot of positive feedback from our citizens expressing their appreciation for having Saturday voting hours available to them,” said Ms. Smith. A total of 955 voted on Monday, Oct. 31.

Early voting began last week for the 2016 General Election, with a record number of Van Zandt County residents lining up to cast their vote.

Early voting will continue through 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Canton City Hall, 290 E. Tyler, St. Canton.

A photo ID is required to vote.  Voting times are:

Photo ID requirements/options

Voters who cannot obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID have additional options at the polls this year.

On Aug. 10, 2016, a federal district court entered an order changing the voter identification requirements for all elections held in Texas after Aug. 10, 2016 until further notice. This advisory will explain the new procedure and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

Summary

Motorists and business owners were treated to a water show Monday morning Oct. 31, as a water line spewed water in front of the Van Zandt County Courthouse.

Canton City Manager Lonny Cluck said that the water on the road was caused by a busted six-inch asbestos cement line, that gushed approximately 1,200 gallons a minute into city streets.  A call around 8 a.m. in the morning alerted Cluck to the problem. City crews were seen throughout the day trying to fix the gushing line, with water filling up the gutters.

Cluck said that the line that busted was an “old line that the city has been trying to replace.”

“An AC line was very popular back in the 1960s, and that was what busted. If the ground shifts in any type of way, those AC lines will break. We probably had a full circle break on it. So, now we have water pumps pumping out the excess water until we can get down and see where it actually broke. Then, we will fix it.” 

The GriefShare Ministry of First Baptist Church of Canton will offer a Surviving the Holidays seminar from 9:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 12.

“There is help for those dealing with grief during the holidays. No matter how long it’s been since your loved one died, grief can make the holidays a painful time. But there’s hope, join us for an encouraging seminar that will help you survive the holidays and discover new reasons to enjoy them again,” organizers of the event said.

Books and materials are made available for participants. To register for the seminar and for more information call First Baptist Church at 903-567-4157 by Nov. 9.

For those interested in becoming a Texas Master Gardener, classes will be begin  Jan. 11, 2017. 

The Texas Master Gardener program is an educational activity offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.  This program is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and extend horticultural projects throughout the community.  These goals are implemented through the training and employment of local volunteers known as Master Gardeners.

The Master Gardener program provides invaluable training and educational opportunities.  Professional and amateur horticulturalists, as well as people simply seeking up-to-date horticultural information can advance their gardening expertise, plus gain self-satisfaction. The Master Gardener program allows individuals to dedicate their time and talents to enhancing the quality of life for citizens of their community using the science and art of horticulture.

The First Responders Banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Canton Civic Center.  Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Local recording artists and 1950s & 60s band, Buddy & The Flashbacks, have volunteered to provide the musical entertainment before and during the meal and after the awards presentation and recognition.

With help from other individuals and civic organizations, Canton Masonic Lodge steward David Darnell will prepare a BBQ with all the fixings. Local restaurant Buttermilks has volunteered to furnish the desserts.

Tickets are $40 each or a table for eight people for $320. Each purchased ticket will purchase a meal for a First Responder and their guest.

Tickets are still available or may be purchased at the door. Contact Canton Masonic Lodge Senior Deacon Joshua Wintters to purchase tickets or become a sponsor.

Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the state’s most recent monthly sales tax revenue figures recently, indicating that three out of six county cities had collected more revenues when comparing October 2016 figures with those posted for the same calendar month in 2015.

Canton finished as the county’s biggest gainer for the month, collecting $13,714.08 more than the $257,984.67 collected in October 2015.

The city of Wills Point bounced back from a marginal loss last month, .29 percent, to post the biggest percentage gain of any county city for the month, 12.69 percent. Wills Point received a payment of $93,362.10 for the month, up $10,511.10 from the $82,851 collected last year over the same time period.

Grand Saline, which had been the county’s biggest gainer in dollar figure and percentage change in September, also saw modest gains for the month by seeing an increase in of $1,287.95 for the month.

With the general hunting season for white-tailed deer just a few weeks away, landowners and hunters are reminded to use caution on all-terrain vehicles.

“More Texans have died in ATV-related accidents over the last 30 years than in any other state,” Kevin Wilkerson, Van Zandt County Farm Bureau president, said. “They’re a popular and important way to get around the farm, ranch or deer lease, but with that convenience also comes a certain risk we need to be aware of.”

The 753 people killed in Texas in ATV-related accidents since 1982 are a reminder of the importance of ATV safety while afield this hunting season.

Many of the fatalities involve children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 

Nov 12, 2016, will be a very exciting day in Canton at the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial.  So please mark your calendars and come help us celebrate during a Memorial Dedication.

The Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial will be having a Memorial Dedication and presentation of the Kneeling Soldier Statue.