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The Canton Fire Department will hold a fundraiser by selling pink T-shirts and hats. The shirts are available at the Canton Fire Station, 1390 S. Trades Day Blvd., Canton. “The bright pink shirts help raise awareness of breast cancer and funds are then donated to the community,” Canton Firefighter Tony Bates said. The department will also be selling hats this year. Cost for a hat is $20 and for a T-shirt, $10.  The shirts will be available for pickup Oct. 1-31. “We return 51 percent of the funds raised to the community and the other 49 percent goes into a benevolence fund for the firefighters,” Bates said. 

Tax rate stays same, brings in more funding

A request to annex 10.84 acres along I-20 prompted a discussion about the future of the corridor area’s development at the Canton City Council meeting Sept. 13.

The property is located at 19470 I-20 and is in the Myrtle Springs Water District.

Owner Ricky Holland requested the annexation.

“City Secretary Debra Johnson said Holland is planning on building a 3,000 to 4,000 square foot commercial building on the property.

“We asked Myrtle Springs to furnish a fire plug at this location. They say they are not able to do that,” City Manager Lonny Cluck said.

The property is in Canton’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and the city supplies fire protection to it, Cluck said.

“If it catches on fire, we’re going to have to go out there and deal with the fire regardless if we annex them in or out,” he said.

An underage driver took officers of the Canton Police Department on a high speed albeit quick chase through Canton Sept. 15.

From Cherry Street to Peace Street, the 16-year-old driver took police officers on a chase through the streets of downtown Canton, and even went through the Brookshires and Walmart parking lots.

According to police reports, at 12:22 a.m. a CPD officer observed a 2016 black Hyundai sedan traveling west on Highway 243. After activating radar, the officer observed a reading of 82 MPH in a 50 MPH zone and attempted to signal a traffic stop with emergency lights on Cherry Street in front of Canton High School.

The report indicated that the vehicle picked up speed after the lights were activated. The officer was then in pursuit at high speeds down Cherry Street onto College Street, traveling south.

G&S Promotions is having a gun show Sept. 24 and 25 at Canton Civic Center, 800 Flea Market Rd., Canton. 

Hours are Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more stories like this one, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

The East Texas Stampede Equestrian 4-H Drill team is working to be ready for the State Fair of Texas Drill Team competition scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18.   The team recently took time out of practice to meet with Farm Bureau Agency Manager J.J. Wilson, and his daughter, Quinn. The Wilsons presented the team a donation from Van Zandt Farm Bureau.  

The donation will help pay for entry fees for the Fair competition.  

The team said it is grateful for all donations receivee from many loyal sponsors throughout the Van Zandt and surrounding counties, and they “will continue to practice so they can proudly represent Van Zandt County.”

The first balloons released by those attending the Labor Day Veterans Memorial balloon release have been found.

   According to VZC Vets Memorial Public Relations Chair Diane Farmer, “a card was received in the mail on Thursday, Sept. 8, from Dorothy McCaig at Timber Creek Apartments in Sulphur Springs stating her 6-year-old granddaughter was  quite impressed with her find of the balloon that were released on Labor Day, Sept. 5.”

Eight balloons had gotten wrapped together in the wind, Farmer said. The names listed on the cards were William Riley McLoom, Olliam Deke, J.S. Everest, Gordon Brickman, Richard Bowman, John N, Brewer, Royce Alexander  and Billy Adams.

“A Fresh Start to a Healthier You” is the topic of a series of programs being offered in September by the Van Zandt County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office.

The next program will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 21. It will be “Balancing Your Day.”

The Sept. 28 session is “Saving More at the Grocery Store” and the Sept. 29 program is called “Celebrating Small Bites.”

There will be free recipes and food demonstrations and everyone in attendance will have their name entered into a drawing for door prizes.

“Come learn how to save on your grocery bill while still eating delicious homemade meals,” said County Extension Agent Melisa Rhodes

The programs will be held at the Van Zandt County Extension Office, XXX Groves St. in Canton.

For more information, contact Rhodes at 903-567-4149 or melisa.rhodes@ag-tamu.edu.

“A Fresh Start to a Healthier You” is the topic of a series of programs being offered in September by the Van Zandt County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office.

The next program will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 21. It will be “Balancing Your Day.”

The Sept. 28 session is “Saving More at the Grocery Store” and the Sept. 29 program is called “Celebrating Small Bites.”

There will be free recipes and food demonstrations and everyone in attendance will have their name entered into a drawing for door prizes.

“Come learn how to save on your grocery bill while still eating delicious homemade meals,” said County Extension Agent Melisa Rhodes

The programs will be held at the Van Zandt County Extension Office, XXX Groves St. in Canton.

For more information, contact Rhodes at 903-567-4149 or melisa.rhodes@ag-tamu.edu.

The Van Zandt County Retired Teachers Association will have its first meeting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the American National Bank in Canton. 

Glenna Santo will be speaking on TRS benefits and insurance. 

“There are some significant changes to our health insurance.  This will be a very important legislative session for retired teachers,” association leaders said.

Membership dues are $35. 

All retired school personnel are urged to attend this informative meeting, organizers said.

For more stories like this one, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

Cancer patients in Van Zandt County without reliable transportation now have an option to participate in the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program.

Patients fighting cancer need treatment and sometimes transportation is their biggest roadblock. Road to Recovery provides a way to and from cancer treatment for patients who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves.

In many cases, family and friends may be able to help, but over the course of several months, they may not have the time or financial means to provide every ride. To help ease that burden, volunteers donate their time and the use of their vehicles to provide patients a way to receive the life-saving treatments they need.

The Road to Recovery program has been available in Van Zandt County for more than a year, after Mitch and Cindy Goodson became Road to Recovery volunteers.