The Canton City Council held the first hearing on the proposed tax rate and budget for fiscal year 201-’19 Aug. 21. There were no speakers during the public hearing.
The current tax rate is set at $.420332 and the proposed tax rate is $.495000, an increase of $0.0746680. The differential taxes on a $116,647 home is $87.10. The increase in taxes would generate an extra $200,960 for the city. The second public hearing was held Aug. 28. The final public hearing will be held during at 6 p.m., Sept. 4 at Canton City Hall.
AUSTIN — August 25 marked one year since Hurricane Harvey's battering winds and torrential rains brought death and destruction to coastal and inland counties of Texas.
Repairs and rebuilding in the region continue to this day, and the U.S. Office of Coastal Management has estimated the cost of the storm at $125 billion.
Brian Shawntane Parker, 33, of Wills Point is the owner of Guardian Floor Care but his major interest outside of the business is photography.
Parker, who is married and the father of two children, started doing photography in January of this year and has been practicing all types of photography to find what he likes the best.
“I don’t necessarily have a favorite subject,” said Parker. “I tend to shoot when something catches my eye.”
AUSTIN — Some 109 independent school districts and charters directly affected by Hurricane Harvey are eligible for special evaluation in this year’s state accountability system, the Texas Education Agency announced Aug. 1.
Based on data reported to the agency during the past school year, the affected districts and charters encompass some 1,188 eligible campuses.
The Canton ISD School Board held their final meeting July 30 before the start of the 2018-’19 school year set to begin Aug. 20. On the agenda during the July 30 meeting was approving the 2018-’19 tax rate, discussing school security and construction updates.
This is the 12th consecutive year that Canton ISD has kept the tax rate the same. The board approved a total tax rate of $1.471 broken down as: maintenance and operations, $1.04 and interest and sinking, $0.431.
Plans to restore the Van Zandt County Courthouse continue to move forward as architects and engineers from around the area and the state have been meeting.
Texas Historical Commission Architect James J. Malanaphy of Austin along with architects Michael D. Barham, Lowrie Floyd of Tyler and Jeffrey Lee Basehore of Edom visited and toured each room of the five-story courthouse July 19 and have been meeting on a regular basis since then, according to VZC Pct. 4 Commissioner Tim West.
One arrest was made following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle just after daybreak Friday, Aug. 3 on State Highways 19 and 64 in the Canton area.
Texas Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Staff Sgt. Jean Dark of Tyler said the driver of the stolen vehicle was identified as Angel Long, 33, of Canton, who was transported to the Van Zandt County Jail.
The statistical report for June and July 2018 from the office of the Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Court in Van Zandt County was as follows, according to VZC Pct. 2 JP Sandra Plaster:
“June and July both have been very productive months for the Court,” emphasized Plaster in her report.
Singer Grace Anna will be performing at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12 at Grace Family Church, located at 1953 Mill Creek Road in Canton.
Grace Anna has become a singing sensation on Facebook and YouTube, according to a church spokesperson.
“This is your chance to hear her sing, get your picture with her and get an autographed copy of her new book,” said the church spokesperson. “There will be lots of good music, barbecue and fellowship.”
