News

Mary Jo Burgess of Court Appointed Special Advocates dropped a staggering statement July 26 during the commissioners court meeting.

Burgess told commissioners that “Van Zandt County ranks in the top 15 percent of counties in Texas, based on population, of children that have to be removed from their home for child abuse or neglect. So, we have a problem here in the county,” said Burgess. 

Burgess said that CASA serves Smith, Wood and Van Zandt counties and that CASA volunteers serve

in the capacity of guardian ad litem for children who are removed from their homes by CPS. She also stated that there were 25 CASA volunteers in Van Zandt County.

Burgess remarked on the increase of the number of children who CASA is supporting in Van Zandt County.

“In 2014, we served 79 children, in 2015, we served 112 children and already in 2016, we have served 150.So, the increase is dramatic in VZC and we definitely have a problem in the county,” said Burgess.

Veterans Memorial asks for continued support

Last week, the Canton City Council approved the purchase of property located near the downtown new city hall.

The property is located at 202 W. Terrell St. “underneath the water tower,” City Manager Lonny Cluck said.

The new city hall is being built on Buffalo Street between Terrell and Groves streets.

Purchase price was $60,000.

In June, the city approved a 10-year lease for property across Buffalo Street from the new city hall site.

The city’s old water tower, what many consider to be an historic landmark, is being sandblasted, repaired and painted. The restoration cost about $150,000.

Veterans Memorial

Lakeside Baptist Church is hosting revival services Aug. 7 through 9 with Richard Taylor and The Gibson Girls.

Service times are:  10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 7^, and 7 p.m. Aug. 8 and 9.

Taylor currently serves as the associate director of personal evangelism and fellowships for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Before serving in this role, he was the associate director of church planting. He is also the former director of evangelism for the Baptist Convention of New York, where he served for 10 years. 

According to information from Lakeside, Taylor “is an effective communicator who challenges and helps people move beyond mediocrity.”

The Gibson Girls from Jerseyville, Ill., are four sisters: Alisha, Tiffany, Kabryn and Kathryn Gibson.  

This is Todd, a lab/shepherd mix who was born in November 2014. Todd is somewhat special needs, in that he is fearful. In order to overcome this fear, he should have limited freedom with his new family and have constant interaction with people.  He is not a fear biter but tries to withdraw. He does fine with other dogs. He is house trained and walks well on a lead.  He has been in our care since the age of 8 weeks, so we know he hasn't been abused, but like people, dogs are born with certain characteristics  and his is a natural shyness.  He cannot be put into the yard and be expected to respond.  Above all this, he is gentle in nature and very sweet and affectionate.  We hope you have the heart for a good dog like this.  He deserves a loving and forever home.  Call 903-962-5700 to meet Todd.  For any other information, visit our website at vzchumanesociety.org.  

About 3:30 p.m. July 29, a pedestrian crossing Hwy. 64 from Dog Town to a parking lot was hit by a car.

According to police reports, Tereasa Johnson Wisniewski, 46, of Sulphur Springs was walking across the street outside of an approved cross walk when she was hit.

“The pedestrian failed to use the crosswalk which was in eye’s view from where pedestrian decided to cross,” Officer Jon Phillips report states. “when pedestrian crossed over and failed to use crosswalk, she was struck … Pedestrian was in the left turn lane when she was struck.”

The car that hit Wisniewski was driven by Tonia Sebastian, 43, of Rowlett. There were two passengers in the car.

Sebastian was exiting a parking lot on Hwy. 64.

A witness told police that he had slowed and waved to the pedestrian to cross the street but “did not think about the vehicles coming our of the parking lot having right of way once entering the state highway.”

Wallace United Methodist Church is having a Homecoming Revival Aug. 10 through 12.

Nightly services begin at 7 p.m.

The speakers will be pastors who at one-time filled the church pulpit.  

Aug. 10, Conrad Staton will be bringing the message.  Aug. 11, Faulk Landrum will preach. Aug. 12, the message will be brought by Bart Reddoch.

“If any member wants to hear our ex-pastors bring us a message as only they can do, then we encourage each member to come to our first ever Homecoming Revival,” church officials said.

The revival is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend, they said.

Wallace UMC is located at 151 VZCR 2501, Canton.

The church’s current Pastor is Dr. Mark Young. He can be reached at 281-726-0885 or by email at markh55young@gmail.com. 

The next meeting of the Council of Van Zandt Communities Vision 2017 will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 9.

Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m.

Cost is $12 and reservations are requested. To make a reservation, call or text 214-534-8990 or email contact@vanzandtcountycommunities.com.

The program will be Brad Blakemore and Stephanie Smith speaking about the Van Zandt County Leadership Program.

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

The Talent Box final presentation of the 2015/2016 season will be “Amazing Grace and Country” Aug. 13. 

This is a special fund raising event and will be held at The First United Methodist Church, 1555 Quinlan Parkway in Quinlan. 

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner, followed by the entertainment at 7:30 p.m.

According to information from The Talent Box, the story centers around “two ladies get together for a cup of coffee. They discuss the events that happened while growing up, songs of their day, the artists that sang them.  The time period is the 1950s and 1960s.”

Admission is $25 per person for dinner and the show and $20 for the show only.

Prepaid reservations are required and may be made by calling the theater at 903-873-8945. 

Tickets may be purchased on line by going to the website, www.thetalentbox.org, clicking on buy tickets and following the directions. 

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. 

The Canton Trail Riders Poor Boy Rodeo was held last weekend at the Zeke Burns Arena in Canton. Events included calf, steer and bull riding; ribbon, calf, team and break away roping; barrel and pole races.

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