News

I grew up with the law enforcement experiences of my father C.B. Wiley, who was Justice of the Peace for many years and was the elected Constable of Precinct 2. The long hours and strenuous duties I witnessed my father undertake and myself as his deputy has given me great insight into the duties and responsibilities of the office. I have worked hand in hand with the U.S. Postal inspector and many other agencies in multiple states including Van Zandt County. While Captain of the Van Zandt County Bloodhound Team, I was responsible for leading other members and obtaining results in strenuous situations that lead to the apprehension of criminals and the successful return of missing loved ones to the homes and families. My background and the drive to help people makes running for Precinct 2 Constable a dream of mine since childhood.

Our office phone has been lighting up like a pin ball machine the last few weeks due to insect calls.  A round of calls we have been experiencing, seeing and hearing has been the compliant of multitudes of crickets all around the county.   You see them everyone you go…on sidewalks, on walls, yards, etc. 

Cricket outbreaks are one of the most predictable pest events of the year in most areas of Texas. Late summer and fall are when adult crickets become especially abundant around homes and commercial buildings. Although the cricket species associated with outbreaks in Texas have not been well-studied, most belong to the Gryllus assimilis complex, and are collectively referred to as black field crickets, or field crickets.

Biology

For the 5th year running, the Canton Rotary Club will host the "Swing Fore Education" Golf Tournament partnering with the Canton Educational Foundation. The four-person scramble will tee off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 after a catered by Jalapeno Tree at noon at Twin Lakes Golf Course.

Last year's tournament raised over $33,000 for education in Canton, with funds awarded by CEF via grants to educators at all four CISD campuses and scholarships to five graduating seniors selected via an essay contest. Additionally, 18 scholarships were awarded to graduating students from CRC. This year 112 players are expected to compete for prizes including a Hole in One prize of a 2017 Ford Focus provided by All Star Ford, and multiple other prizes.

First, second and third place team members will receive footballs autographed by Dallas Cowboys current stars and former All-Stars.

CHS Band hits right notes 

Walking into the Canton High School Band hall, one could see the plentiful trophies and awards displayed or brass tubas waiting patiently in a corner. If visitors are really lucky, they might get serenaded by the smooth and throaty notes of an alto saxophone being played by senior band student Jared Miller.

Canton High School Band Director Mike Bartley hears a multitude of musical notes a day, whether it be from the percussion line or the delicate notes of a flute.

Bartley’s office at Canton High School has a front stage ticket to the band hall of CHS, where students come to learn, play notes and leave with the appreciation of music firmly tucked in their being.

A Grand Saline High School student was arrested Sept. 4 for making terroristic threats against the Grand Saline and Van ISDs school districts on a social media site.

The male student posted on Instagram, a social media photo application, with the following threat.

“Watch out, imma about to shoot up the grand saline school. Van is next. Killerclown.com”

The student went under the false name of Steve Sholdings, with the Instagram handle of killer­_clown_gshs. The account has since been closed.

Grand Saline ISD posted a statement on Facebook during the pandemonium that surrounded the threat.

"Grand Saline ISD parents and community,

Grand Saline Police Department has arrested the individual responsible for the social media threats. We will continue to be on heightened awareness as the state and country continue to experience similar hoaxes. Thank you for your patience and for allowing us to educate your children."

October is festival season, and the weekend of Oct. 14-16 will have six festivals or events for Van Zandt residents to choose from. Whether it be the eclectic Edom Festival of the Arts show or the Canton Quilt Show, there is something to please all ages.

US Highway 80 Sale

The Hwy. 80 Sale will begin at 8 a.m. daily Oct. 14 through 16 and will draw crowds

from far and wide looking for a bargain, according to the East Texas Tourism

Association. Organized to promote and increase tourism trade and traffic along US 80, the first

coast-to-coast, all-weather highway in America, the 2,400 mile route begins in Savannah, Ga., makes its way through East Texas and concludes in San Diego, Calif. The three-state event will cover a 392-mile route – one of the nation’s longest –from Mesquite, through Louisiana to Jackson, Miss.

Fruitvale Stew Fest

Grace Family Church of Canton will hold an East Texas Fall Campmeeting Oct. 12- 16. The event is open to the public.  The events will start at 7 p.m. nightly and wrap up at 10 a.m. Oct. 16.

The Campmeeting will feature Nashville recording artists, The Bilderbacks and several other evangelists and pastors from across the country. Special guest ministers are Evangelist Leon Batchelor of Tyler, Pastor Rick Smith of Flynn, Pastor Walter Manley of Jackson, Tenn., Pastor Eul Bilderback of Fayetteville, Ark., and Evangelist Joe Shelton of Scottsville, Ky.

A Kids Crusade each night for children ages 4 through 12 will be offered along with a nursery wi as well, event organizers said.

 A meal will be provided each night after the services.

Grace Family Church is located at 1953 Mill Creek Rd., Canton.

For more information, contact Pastors Jonathan or Maria Smith at 903-521-6922. 

All polling places listed below will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2016, for voting in an election for the purpose of electing the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only and for the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders only in the City of Canton:

1-A      Grace Bible Fellowship, 17897 FM 1255, Canton

2-A      Farm Bureau Auditorium, 281 E. Hwy. 243, Canton

3-A      Sr. Citizens Building, 200 W. Grove St., Canton

4-A      First Assembly of God Church, 801 E. Hwy. 243, Canton

Early Voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at the Canton City Hall, 290 S. Tyler St., Canton, Texas as follows:

Monday, Oct. 24-Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 28, 2016- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Grace Bible Fellowship Baptist Church in Canton will host a Holiday Shopping Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15.

Vendors will be both inside and outside the building and great food is also available during the sale provided by Brandon’s BBQ Smokehouse of Nacogdoches, organizers of the event said.

Organizers of the event report this will be the largest so far with the most vendors with the largest variety of things offered. There will be raffles and a silent auction for additional quality items. The event is free and open to the public.

For additional information contact 903-312-4666 or 903-802-8955.

Grace Bible Fellowship Baptist Church is located at 17897 F.M. 1255.

Van Zandt County voters will take to the polls in the primary election on Election Day, Nov. 8. Voter registration deadline by mail or at the VZC Courthouse is Oct. 11.

 To be eligible to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, a resident of Texas, and a U.S. citizen.

Persons are not eligible to vote in Texas if they are on parole for a felony conviction or convicted of a felony; or have been legally declared mentally incompetent by a court. If a person has been previously convicted of a felony crime, they may vote in Texas if their voting rights have been restored.

To register to vote in Texas a person should have a Texas driver’s license or state/non-driver ID number.  A list of accepted supporting forms of ID can be found at www.votetexas.gov.

Early Voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at the Canton City Hall, 290 S. Tyler St., Canton, Texas as follows: