News

Grace Bible Fellowship will offer a free showing of the movie “War Room” at 6 p.m.  Sunday, Feb. 21, at the church, 17897 FM 1255 in Canton.

The movie is “a compelling drama with humor and heart that explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships and every other area of our lives,” organizers said. “Come see it on the ‘big screen” with a movie theater-style concession stand.”

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

The local county wide foodbank, Manna, Inc., a 501 c3 non-profit, will hold a ground breaking ceremony Sunday, February 21, 2016, 3:00 pm at 17897 FM 1255, Canton, Texas 75103. It will be located next door to Grace Family Bible Fellowship Church.

A standing room only crowd gathered at the Edom City Limits last week to hear local candidates answer questions concerning their credentials, character and course of action if elected.

The event was hosted by the Edom TEA Party and moderated by realtor Bob Reese with panelists Brad Blakemore, publisher of Van Zandt Newspapers, and Ken Hilton, of Mercy Ships.

Featuring candidates in the local Republican Primary, the event was designed following the purpose of a debate in the Republican Primary, according to information provided by Reese. That purpose states a debate is to “create a format that allows the citizens to learn more about the candidates and who is best qualified for the office sought and matches the ideals and tenets of the Texas Republican Party Platform.”

State Board of Education

State Board of Education Place 9 candidate Hank Hering is from Smith County.

The ninth annual Legacy of Love Single Moms Conference will be in at First Baptist Church of Canton Feb. 19 and 20.

Single moms from throughout the area are invited to come together to be encouraged, inspired and equipped to better support their children, organizers said.

Jennifer Maggio, an award-winning author, speaker and former single mom, will be the keynote speaker.

According to information from the church, Maggio will share how she overcame homelessness, abuse and living on welfare with four children to become an 11-time Circle of Excellence winner in Corporate America for a prominent Fortune 500 company.

Today, Maggio leads the global non-profit The Life of a Single Mom Ministries, which she founded. The ministry helps single moms free themselves from financial failures, parenting woes and emotional issues.

The 14^th Annual Fun Fish trout fishing tournament is set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Lake Tawakoni State Park’s Pair-A-Trees Pond. 

The tourney is for kids ages 2 to 12. 

Prizes will be awarded and lunch will be provided for participants, organizers said.  The park will provide poles, bait and tackle – while supplies last.

Pre-Registration is required as space is limited. 

The park is located at 10822 FM 2475, Wills Point. 

For more information or to pre-register, call 903-560-7123.

The permit was for phased foundation and site work.

Actual work on the property was set to begin this week, said Chad Encheff, one of the owners and general contractor of the project and president and CEO of the C&E Group.

With the first plans approved and “the weather cooperating and we can start clearing the site,” Encheff said.

Johnnie Swindall

1920-2016

Services for Johnnie Oree Swindall, 95, of Canton were held Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at Willow Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Edgewood with Bro. Craig Locke officiating. 

Interment was at Haven of Memories in Canton. 

Mrs. Swindall died Feb. 4, 2016, in Athens.

She was born June 12, 1920, in Van Zandt County to John Thomas and Oree Brummett Engle.

She grew up in Van Zandt County and worked as a seamstress for several years. She was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed embroidering and working outside in her garden.

Mrs. Swindall was a longtime member of Willow Springs Missionary Baptist Church.

She is survived by her daughter, Pat Shultz; son, Donald and Sarah Swindall; son, Ken and Donna Swindall; 14 grandchildren; and several great and great-great Grandchildren.

Manna Director Kathy Silver and President of Manna Dick Patterson announces that Manna will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for their new facilities at 3 p.m. Feb. 21.

“This is a monumental milestone towards serving the people of Van Zandt County with the necessities that they require,” said Silver.

Silver said that a 40 x 60-foot building will be constructed for Manna’s use and will serve as its permanent location. Construction on the facility is scheduled to begin within the next four to six weeks.

“While Manna has been able to raise funds towards this new establishment through generous donations, Manna will still require additional funding for the completion of the new facility.  The facility will benefit the entire community and Manna asks that everyone in the community continue to make contributions to the organization so that the overall goal can be met,
 said Silver.

The ceremony will be held at 17897 FM 1255, Canton.

The ABC Room will host its Ninth Annual Bunco Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Deen Building of Russell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wills Point..  

“It’s a day of fun and laughs for women and men,” said Karen Forester with the ABC Room.

A $30 ticket is good for three rounds of Bunco, dessert and coffee, a lunch provided by the Ladies Guild of St. Therese Catholic Church in Canton, a door prize ticket and a goody bag and a chance to shop in the silent auction. Cost for those who sign up early is $25.

As a non-profit, $15 of the ticket price is tax deductible. 

The ABC Room benefits the abused, neglected and at-risk children of Van Zandt County. 

The funds raised by the Bunco party will provide new clothing, shoes, hygiene items, a pillow, blanket, toys and much more, Forester said. “It will let these kids know that someone cares; that you care,” she said.  “Join us for a day of fun and help a child in need.”