News

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Van Zandt County, along with Glen Oaks Hospital, the ABC Room, East Texas Crisis Center and Maximus, will b e hosting a “Van Zandt County Back-to-School Festival and Health Fair” Aug. 20.

There will be free school supplies, back packs, food, drinks, snacks, facials, haircuts, vision and hearing checks, organizers said. 

There will be a magician, face painting, a photo booth, bounce house, visiting characters and crafts

“While the children are in their zone, mom and dad can enjoy visiting with the area vendors,” Children’s Advocacy Center Volunteer Coordinator and Community Educator Darla Costlow said. “We have scheduled a blood drive, the mammogram mobile bus will be available on site and KVNE Radio station will broadcast live. They will also be able to get free haircuts and have a facial.”

The band “316” will provide live music.

Van Zandt County Back to School Festival and Health Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Canton Civic Center. 

Vendor booth space is $10. 

There will be free food, snacks, drinks and school supplies, organizers said.  

For more information contact Darla Costlow at darlacac@etcable.net or 903-567-1212.

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

The Edom Civic Theatre is presenting “Dear Old Golden School Days” at 7:15 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20.

Directed by Mary Ann Garrett, the show is a “flash backward in time to a school classroom filled with kids you will recognize from past ECT productions.  While the teacher tries to teach, the kidsexpress their own ideas along with lots of misinformation they have learned,” according to information from the theater.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 senior citizens and children.

The optional sack lunch is $5. 

Reservations may be made with Lee Shults, ETC president, at 903-352-3158 or leeshults@aol.com.

The Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce held its quarterly luncheon last week at The Bunker at the Van Zandt Country Club.

According to information from the organization, CTCC lunch topics are “designed to bring programs to help its members be more successful by providing them the tools and resources they need to thrive in today’s business world.”

Last week’s lunch topic was on identifying the differences between a DBA and LLC. Guest speaker Robert Cluck presented these two options to chamber members to help them determine which business type would be suit them and how to identify the benefits of both.

Founding officers of the Van Zandt County Precinct Watch Program and Van Zandt County Sheriff Lindsey Ray were recognized during the executive council meeting of the watch program held Aug. 2 at the sheriff’s department training room.

Past secretary Kathy Smith, past chair Buster Leavell and Sheriff Ray each received certificates of recognition for their part in helping to establish the program.

In addition to the certificates Ray and Leavell received a resolution from State Rep. Dan Flynn recognizing them and the VZC PWP for the Honorable Mention award the program earned at the 2015 Summer Training Conference sponsored by the Texas Crime Prevention Association.

The Van Zandt County Program was recognized in three categories: Outstanding Crime Prevention Manager – Sheriff Lindsey Ray, Outstanding Program Coordinator – Buster Leavell and Outstanding Crime Prevention Agency in the small agencies category.

Founding officers of the Van Zandt County Precinct Watch Program and Van Zandt County Sheriff Lindsey Ray were recognized during the executive council meeting of the watch program held Aug. 2 at the sheriff’s department training room.

Past secretary Kathy Smith, past chair Buster Leavell and Sheriff Ray each received certificates of recognition for their part in helping to establish the program.

In addition to the certificates Ray and Leavell received a resolution from State Rep. Dan Flynn recognizing them and the VZC PWP for the Honorable Mention award the program earned at the 2015 Summer Training Conference sponsored by the Texas Crime Prevention Association.

The Van Zandt County Program was recognized in three categories: Outstanding Crime Prevention Manager – Sheriff Lindsey Ray, Outstanding Program Coordinator – Buster Leavell and Outstanding Crime Prevention Agency in the small agencies category.

August is World Breastfeeding Month and to mark the event, Canton WIC is hosting an event from 9 am. to 1 p.m. Aug. 18.

“Everyone is welcomed to come and honor our mothers that have chosen to breastfeed their infants and growing children,” Megan Martin said.

To make a donation or for more information, call Martin at 903-567-6732.

The WIC office is located at 301 E. Hwy. 243, Ste. 107.

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

This camp makes the cake

Last week, a group of kids gathered in Suzanne Duke’s kitchen  – not for a meal but for baking camp.

Duke is a professional, Texas licensed home cottage baker. She is the owner, baker and designer for Life is Sweet Bakery Shoppe.

“My passion is baking, and I wanted to share that passion with kids in our community,” Duke said. “

So Duke designed Bake Camp for kids ages 9 to 12.

“I wanted to make an investment in the lives of the children in our community by equipping them with skills that relate not only to baking but to their lives generally,” she said.

 Eight little bakers signed up camp – kids from Canton, Van, Fruitvale and Eustace. Each day had a different theme, Duke said.

Day one was baking basics I “Rainbows and Sprinkles” while day two was baking basics II and “You Take the Cake Day.”

The residents of Van Zandt County were treated to a meeting hosted by Congressman Jeb Hensarling at the Farm Bureau in Canton Aug. 4, where he addressed hot topics such as tax reform and Constitutional balance of power and also gave an update on his Congressional efforts.

Just months after Van Zandt County settled the wrongful death of a inmate Michael Peden, the Van Zandt County Jail has reported another death.

Jay Scott McEvers, 47, an inmate died Aug. 4 while in his VZC jail cell.  

In April, McEvers staged an escape from the jail with a “facsimile firearm.”  He was recaptured 12 hours later by VZC law enforcement officers.