News

When the electric power goes out, it’s nice to have an alternate source of electricity. How much electricity do you need, and how much fuel will you have to store to get it?

Let me talk about fuel storage. Generators use propane, diesel, or gasoline. The difficulty is that it is not safe to store these fuels in your home or garage. I put mine in an outbuilding that has no electricity, so no spark can ignite the vapors.

Propane stores forever. In 2008, I cooked with propane that had been put in a 20-pound tank in 1975. It takes about 4 pounds of propane to produce as much heat as 3 pounds of gasoline. This means that you’ll use at least one-third more propane than you would gasoline to run your generator for the same amount of time.

Two longtime employees were honored with a reception during the March 22 commissioner’s court meeting.

Randall Putman and John Hague were both employed in Precinct 1 and announced their retirement to the court.

Commissioner Brandon Brown introduced Putman and Hague and said that the “county appreciates your years of hard work.”

Randall Putman was employed in VZC for 10 years as a mechanic.

Commissioner Brandon Brown said that he “appreciated everything,” that Putman had done for Precinct 1 and the county.

“I know you worked for commissioners before me and I applaud your dedication to the county. We have had a lot of equipment that is old and has to be pieced together and fixed, and you (Randall) did that for us.  I am very appreciative of his efforts and I know his job skills will be missed,” said Brown.

Brown then introduced John Hague who has been an employee  VZC for 28 years in Precinct 1.

What can one person do to make a difference right here in Van Zandt County?  Hope Pregnancy Center is ready to welcome everyone to find out at its 2016 Annual Fundraising Banquet to be held April 23 at the Canton Civic Center. 

Jan Strait, recently named executive director of HPC, has served as banquet coordinator for six years. She said this year’s theme is “Leave Your Water Pot.” The theme is based on John 4:28-30.

“The story of the woman at the well shows us that we can change the world one person at a time.  Jesus was sitting there for the purpose of ministering to this one woman.  Not a multitude this time, but a single person,” Strait said. “Every person that comes into Hope Pregnancy Center is one person. They are seen as the important person that they are in God’s eyes.  They are loved, heard and put first.  That may be the first time they have ever been truly seen as important and felt the love of God communicated. 

What can one person do to make a difference right here in Van Zandt County?  Hope Pregnancy Center is ready to welcome everyone to find out at its 2016 Annual Fundraising Banquet to be held April 23 at the Canton Civic Center. 

Jan Strait, recently named executive director of HPC, has served as banquet coordinator for six years. She said this year’s theme is “Leave Your Water Pot.” The theme is based on John 4:28-30.

“The story of the woman at the well shows us that we can change the world one person at a time.  Jesus was sitting there for the purpose of ministering to this one woman.  Not a multitude this time, but a single person,” Strait said. “Every person that comes into Hope Pregnancy Center is one person. They are seen as the important person that they are in God’s eyes.  They are loved, heard and put first.  That may be the first time they have ever been truly seen as important and felt the love of God communicated. 

The Tailwind Regional Balloon Fest is back for its fifth year May 13 and 14. This will be the second year the event has been held on First Monday grounds.

“We cannot be more excited to host this great event along with our new title sponsor Kevin Lilly’s McDonald’s,” said Austin Melton, Canton Visitor’s Bureau coordinator. “There have been a lot of changes in the past couple of years, including the festival moving to the west side of the First Monday grounds.”

Some of the changes to look for this year, according to Melton, include:

Lower prices. “The friendliest difference this year is the price change,” he said. “We want everyone to be able to come and have a great time without breaking the bank.  We are returning to $10 per carload! A van load (between eight and 15 people) will cost $20 and a bus load (more than 15) will cost $50.”

With severe weather predicted in your area, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes is reminding families of the following tips to reduce damage and injury before, during and after a hail storm. 

Hail could seem like a minor concern, but hail can cause injury, damage to vehicles and damage to homes like shattered windows, pockmarked siding and damaged or destroyed roof coverings.

Before

·         When hail is forecast, close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent potential injury from broken glass blowing inside.

During

·         Do not try to go outside to protect your property during a storm. Stay indoors until the storm has passed.

·         Stay away from skylights, windows and doors.

After

The Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial special fundraising for the kneeling soldier is off to a great start.

State Rep. Dan Flynn has given a check to the Memorial for $1,000 to help the project

get off the ground.  He is a proud supporter of our veterans.

Not everyone can donate a large amount, but any donation here and there will help finish the soldier to be placed in the plaza. What a day that will be for all of us!

There are still desk size figures of the soldier that can be seen and purchased at the Savannah Winery on Hwy. 64, or the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial Visitors Center at the intersection of Hwy 243 and 19 in Canton.

Painted faces in a backdrop of red, white and blue were proudly displayed in the Martins Mill ISD gymnasium March 18.

The portraits of the Platoon of the Fallen stood at attention while Martins Mill students, faculty and ceremony guests paid reverence to those who have paid the ultimate price.

The portraits are of soldiers, men and women alike, who according to Ken Pridgeon, are “more than just a name on a wall.”

More than a name, Pridgeon said, is what spurred him to hand paint a portrait of each fallen soldier. Pridgeon, with the help of Task Force Home Front, has set out on a quest to honor the fallen soldiers in his Portrait of a Warrior Museum.

Task Force Home Front has taken the position that those who have fallen for our nation deserve more than a name on a wall.

Annual fundraising gala set for April 21 at Canton Performing Arts Center

The Mighty Eagle Band recently performed at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation and both the Concert Band and Symphonic Winds received straight first divisions. 

This means that it is the 22nd consecutive year that the program has been awarded the UIL Sweepstakes plaque, a feat not accomplished by very many band programs in the state of Texas, according to BanMike Bartley, Canton director of bands and fine arts coordinator.

 Likewise, the Canton Junior High band performed at their UIL evaluation last week and also received straight first divisions. 

All groups are now preparing for the Band Gala set for April 21 in the Canton Performing Arts Center. The community is invited to attend, Bartley said.  

So far this season, the margin between victory and defeat has been razor thin in the majority of District 14-4A baseball games. That trend continued to hold true for the game between Wills Point and Canton March 25, with the former scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a thrilling 5-4 victory over the latter.

Canton got on the scoreboard first against the Tigers, loading the bases in the top of the second before Johnnie Krawietz delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 Eagle lead.

The Eagles got two quick outs on Wills Point in the bottom of the second, but back-to-back singles coupled with a Canton fielding error knotted the score at 1-1.

Canton nosed back in front in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of two Wills Point fielding errors to re-establish a 2-1 lead.