News

About 4 p.m. June 14, an irate man walked into the Canton Travel Center on I-20 at the 533 exit and shot one of the store’s employees.

D.J. Stevenson, identified on social media as the center’s maintenance man, was shot in the stomach. He remains in a Tyler hospital, He has undergone two surgeries and more are expected.

The alleged shooter was arrested a short time later at the Circle K convenience story at I-20 and Hwy. 19. He has been identified as 30-year-old Rudolph Chestang of Arlington.

Eye witness Chris Sanders of Tyler filmed the incident on his cell phone. He said Chestang was a passenger in a black Suburban and seemed to be arguing with one of the store’s employees.

Social media accounts indicate Chestang was intoxicated and had been asked to leave the premises.

Laundromat, coffee shop comes to Van 

Mark Thompson said he saw a need, a need for people to have the means of washing clothes and grabbing a cup of coffee in Van after the May 10, 2015, tornado. So, he and a few others joined together and renovated the 60-plus year building into what now is the Clean Brew coffee shop and laundromat.

Thompson said he and his family have lived on Pennsylvania Street since 2005 “and we have watched it go from a very active laundromat to something that was basically neglected. It was not in good operating condition prior to the tornado. But, the tornado basically sealed its fate. The building had some superficial and structural damage.”

Whitton Fire Department will host its annual hamburger supper and fireworks show at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 2.

The menu includes hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, Bobby's Beans, cold drinks and desserts. The Firehouse Band will provide entertainment with live music. The fireworks show begins at dark. Donations are appreciated and will go towards the fire department's operating costs, organizers said. 

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During the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court June 14, commissioners approved a bond for Constable Pct. 2 Jesse Ison. Ison is filling the unexpired term of the late C. B. Wiley.

Constable Wiley was up for election in November. He had won the republican party primary against challenger Jesse Ison.

After a lengthy executive session May 24, the commissioners voted 3-1 to appoint Ison to fill Wiley’s unexpired term.

During the June 14 commissioners court, citizens Ronnie Jones and Anthony Katsoulas questioned the commissioner decision to appoint Ison.

Ronnie Jones took the podium first, stating that he had “a problem with the commissioners not answering taxpayer’s questions,” in response to questions concerning Ison’s appointment.

The months of April and May each proved to be kind to Van Zandt County cities in terms of sales tax revenue collections, with modest to substantial gains being posted virtually across the board.

That positive momentum hit a bit of a stumbling block in June, with the office of Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar releasing figures showing that only Van and Edom showed positive gains, while Canton, Edgewood, Grand Saline and Wills Point all saw their numbers dip when comparing monthly figures against those posted in 2015.

The city of Van helped to lead the way for Van Zandt County in an otherwise down month, receiving a payment of $51,882.22 in June 2016. That total was $1,025.48, or 2.02 percent, higher than the $50,856.74 received for the same calendar month in 2015.

Edom also enjoyed a solid month, posting a gain of 6.51 percent or $81.16 over the $1,246.08.

Construction has started on the new permanent home for Manna, a food bank serving Van Zandt County.

Manna supplies food to approximately 350 families a month with 30 of those being first time users of the service. During the past two years the food bank has distributed 270,000 pounds of food.

Manna has been housed in the chapel beside Grace Bible Fellowship on FM 1255 in Canton for the past several years but has been looking for a place to build a permanent home.

Several months ago, GBF Pastor Dan Tarno contacted Manna Board President Dick Patterson stating that his church would like to lease Manna the section of land adjacent to the chapel for 30 years for the sum of $1. The contract was signed with a 30-year renewal option.

After days of rain, construction on the facility recently began.

A 40 X 60 foot metal building is being constructed by Patterson and several volunteers.

Heroes restores my faith in humanity

At 84 years of age and a good life already under my belt, it never ceases to amaze me how new experiences can make such an impact on my faith in humanity. It’s not every day I get invited and treated to an event where I am being honored for my time in the US Army protecting this great county. But this one took the cake. 

On May 30, I was spoiled rotten and I couldn’t have been more honored to spend Memorial Day weekend in our nation’s capital. The journey began at 7:30 a.m. at Tyler Pounds Airport and I was joined by 28 World War II and Korean Conflict veterans. We were all invited as representatives of East Texas Veterans in Washington DC on Memorial Day. I was honored to be part of this group of distinguished veterans and I am proud to call them all my brothers.

Mermaids were spotted at a local waterpark in Canton June 8.  Mermaids Aerial Reeves and Maggie St. Dennis, both of Jefferson, flipped their tails and frolicked in the water with guests as part of entertainment provided by Storybrook Parties.

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The Matt Atkinson Farmers Insurance Agency hosted their grand opening and ribbon cutting last week with a full house. Matt Atkinson recently acquired the Farmers Insurance Agency in Canton and is now a proud member of the CTCC. Their agency is located at 17585 State Hwy. 19, Suite 100 in Canton across from Canton Oaks. Congratulations to Matt and his team for becoming a vital part of this growing group of businesses in Canton. 

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The Canton Economic Growth Committee said they have turned in more than 300 signatures of city of Canton registered voters on two petitions calling for an alcohol sales election in November. 

Six members of the local committee turned in the two petitions last week to City Secretary Debra Johnson.  State law required the group to submit 244 signatures of qualified voters in order to call the election.

According to information from the committee, with nearly 500 people signing the petitions, the group’s verification shows that as many as 300 are city of Canton voters. The city secretary's office has 30 days to verify the signatures. If enough are found, the petition will be presented tto council to call for the November vote.