News

“The message of never forgetting and standing up against anti-Semitism is more important today than any time in the last 30 years,” Simon Wellner said in a conversation with Van Zandt County March of Remembrance coordinator, Gary Vawter.

Simon and his wife, Carol, who are members of Temple Beth Shalom in Austin, will be among the special guests at the 2018 VZC Remembrance in Canton April 15. Both of the Wellner’s parents were Holocaust survivors.

The City of Canton annual spring clean-up is set for April 16-17. Canton citizens may place large personal items on the curb for pick up at no additional charge. Be sure to place the items curbside by 8 a.m., Monday, April 16.

Items may include:

-Old furniture, domestic appliances, water heaters, swing sets, bicycles (without tires,) bagged leaves, bundled limbs under 50 pounds, or any household items. Refrigerators, freezers and air-conditioning units must have CFC’s (Freon) removed by a certified technician.

Due the environmental regulations, the city cannot pickup tires, flat-screen TVs, batteries, chemicals, paints, construction trash, commercial garbage, or items with Freon that have not been properly serviced and tagged.

The Canton City Council met Tuesday, Feb. 20 during an onslaught of bad weather and torrential waves of rain. A lengthy agenda was on tap for council members, leading to a three-hour council meeting before business was complete.

Vendor and traffic issues on First Monday grounds have continued to be a topic of discussion amongst councilmembers. Concerns stemming from previous council meetings were discussed, including problems created by vendors that are not city vendors, including traffic congestion and parking difficulties. City and Arbor vendors/shoppers enter and exit at the main gate.

City officials remarked that congestion occurs at the FM Trade Days Main Gate during busier months. Staff proposals were to turn Row 1 into an entrance row and Row 3 into an exit row.

An animal seizure hearing was held in the Pct. 2 VZC municipal court. Conducting the hearing was Judge Sandra Plaster and attending were  Assistant DA Hillary Heisel, Reserve Deputy Constable Pct. 2 jason burns, Constable Pct. 2 Jesse Ison and SPCA Investigator Art Munoz Jr.

Canton Elementary School second grade students Deon Dekkers, Zane Readdy, Ellie Wilkerson and Annie *** made a special presentation to the school board which highlighted special goals the students and elementary school had set for each month. The students explained to the board how to have a positive outlook and what it takes to be a leader. The presentation also highlighted the growth in reading skills and in other areas.

CISD Superintendent Jay Tullos remarked that the flu virus impacted the attendance rates at Canton ISD. 

Van Zandt County, represented by the team of the Dallas-based law firm Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett, P.C. and Tyler, Texas-based law firm Martin Walker, P.C., has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid painkiller epidemic afflicting the East Texas County.

The lawsuit against more than a half-dozen companies and their affiliates or subsidiaries was filed Jan. 2 in Van Zandt County’s 294^th District Court in Canton. Simon Greenstone and Martin Walker collectively represent more than 30 additional counties in Texas and other states in similar litigation.

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Feb. 9 lauded Congress’ passage of budget legislation that contains nearly $90 billion in hurricane and wildfire disaster relief funding for Texas, Florida, California and Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Harvey pounded Texas from Aug. 25-31, resulting in disaster status for some 60 counties. The federal Office of Coastal Management has estimated the total cost of Harvey at $125 billion. Cost estimates by various other organizations have reached as high as $200 billion.