News

The Old Dallas–Shreveport Road Preservation Association will host the dedication and unveiling of an official Texas Historical Marker recognizing the historic significance of Philip Nolan, leader of the first Anglo-American colonists into Spanish Texas.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony that will take place at noon June 10 at the Wills Point Depot meeting room located at 210 W.S. Commerce St. (Highway 80) in Wills Point. Researcher for the marker application, Yvonne James, will share some of the adventures of Nolan, a true explorer, map-maker and daring adventurer, and how his travels through Spanish Texas from 1791 until his death at the hands of a Spanish militia in 1801 awakened the spirit of independence from Spain and later Mexico in the early Texas settlers.

The Gathering Place Worship Center will be hosting its second annual Prayer and Worship Conference June 9 through 11. 

Speakers will include Barbara Wentroble, Jim Hodges, Dr. Don Crum, Cheryl Ballard and Gail Long. 

All sessions are free to the public.

 For more information and conference schedule visit www.tgpwc.org.   

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City leaders are likely keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the trend of sales tax revenue gains posted by all county cities in the month of April and continued by five out of six cities in the month of May continues unabated throughout the rest of the year and beyond.

According to the office of Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Canton, Edom, Grand Saline, Van and Wills Point saw sales tax revenues increase in the month of May when comparing against figures posted for the same calendar month in 2015.

The city of Canton proved to be the biggest gainer in terms of dollar change, collecting $67,656.26 more than the $273,408.54 collected back in May 2015.

Van enjoyed the largest percentage gain of any county city, 51.43 percent, and the second largest dollar change by collecting $78,496.82 this month.

During the May 24 commissioner court meeting, the court had a number of items on the agenda, but put to rest the question of a dubious computer server that was being used at the VZC Jail.

During the last commissioners court meeting May 10, the commissioners had tabled a request to accept a computer server that was being used at the VZC Jail to store documents.

Sheriff Deputy Mike Bates once again asked the commissioners to accept the server, now that more information had been obtained

The server had been donated by E.J. Brown, who Bates said was a non-paid deputy, who has solved some of the county’s cold-case homicides. Brown was formerly a member of the Dallas Police Department.

Bates then told the court that an “unpaid department employee, who is no longer volunteering at the jail, refused to give the county the password for the server. He also uploaded some files to a file server and those were considered not secure.”

The Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce celebrated its May Business After Hours at on May 19 at Canton Oaks located at 1901 S. Trades Day Blvd. Canton Oaks Administrator Terrie Harrison and her staff hosted the monthly mixer providing chamber members and local businesses with refreshments and an opportunity to network and see all of the exciting things going on at Canton Oaks. 

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As spring turns into summer time, the Myrtle Springs Water Supply Corporation is asking its customers “to be mindful of meter boxes.”

“Please keep them and the area around them mowed and weed-eated to make meter reading time more efficient and safe for our operators,” the corporation said. “If your box tends to have ants, please sprinkle some ant poison out.  Please be cautious around meter boxes, they make good homes for snakes and bees.”

If the meter box is missing its lid or the lid is damaged, customers are asked to contact the water office for repair or replacement.

At the May 17 meeting, the Canton City Council considered a draft of the lease agreements for buildings on First Monday grounds.

“If you look at current leases now, none of them are the same,” said First Monday Director Linda Boston. “We have an individual, and possibly more than one, interested in building at First Monday since the moratorium has been lifted on building. What we need to do is develop a lease that is beneficial to the city and beneficial to the builder. It’s just that simple.”

Although there are leases currently on the grounds, they are all different, Boston said.

“We need one standard lease and stay with it,” said City Manager Lonny Cluck.

Cluck recommended that the lease agreement allow subleasing. “I think we should allow it,” he said, “because people will be more successful. I think if there’s another big building that needs to be buildt, the city needs to build it.”

Crime Stoppers is hoping to help locate a 2013 Mule 600, which was stolen May 30 off VZCR 2901.

Officials are asking anyone who sees this type of ATV for sale to check the VIN. The VIN of the stolen vehicle is JK1AFEB16DB525171. I

“If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of this item and/or who stole it, we need to hear from you,” said Crime Stoppers President Kathy Sith. “You can call our anonymous tip line any time day or night.”

The Crime Stoppers number is 903-567-STOP.

Crime Stoppers pay rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

“If you know something, say something,” Smith said.

The Canton High School Class of 2016 held commencement ceremonies Friday, May 27 at the CHS Auditorium.

Graduation ceremonies started with the Class of 2016 taking a look back into their past.

A video presentation of graduates through their school-age years was presented by Layne Bagheri, Giovanna Guerra and Catherine Irwin.

CHS Principal Jarrod Bitter welcomed graduates and their guests to the ceremony by saying that the class of 2016 had definitely “left their mark on CHS.” 

“From the numerous championships in our athletic programs; to the excellence of the Fine Arts Program, our theater and One Act Play, our great band program and many other extra-curricular activities, the Class of 2016 has definitely left its mark on CHS,” Bitter said.

After a recognition of graduating honor students, Samantha Oakley delivered her salutatorian address.

Nationally recognized Master Painter Deanne Lemley will be giving a free demonstration in watercolor at 1 p.m. June 4 in Arbor 2 Booth 203    

“We are very excited to have Deanne come and demonstrate her mastery in watercolor,” said Art Legacy Shop Events Director Lisa Weede.

Lemley has been teaching for more than 30 years and has been painting since childhood. She has gained national recognition in watercolor and oil and is a Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the Northwest Watercolor Society and Oil Painters of America. 

Lemley is considered a master painter and her rendition of landscapes, still life, figure and portraits have won several national awards. She is considered an impressionist painter with the main influence from Russian Impressionism.

“It’s a real treat we get to witness her at her craft,” Weede said.