News

The severe storm season of 2015 will not be forgotten. Over 70 tornadoes were confirmed in North and Central Texas. Four people lost their lives due to these tornadoes, and over 10 more were lost due to flash flooding.

The National Weather Service will be offering a free class at the SKYWARN severe weather program from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18.  The program will be held at Van Zandt County Airportin Wills Pointand is held in partnership with Van Zandt County Emergency Management.

This class is free of charge and no pre-registration is necessary. This class is for official storm spotters as well as anyone with an interest in learning more about severe weather. This is a part of an area-wide severe weather preparedness campaign, which will include spotter training sessions across 46 counties in North and Central Texas.

The 2016 program will discuss thunderstorm formation, ingredients, and features associated with severe and non-severe storms.

The Canton ISD board of trustees approved the redemption of $1.9 million in tax refunding bonds from the 2006 bond series – a move that will save the district an estimated $4.8 million, according to CISD Business Director Denise Stone.

The bonds were set to mature in February 2032 and 2033.

“We are continuing to try and pay down the debt,” Superintendent Jay Tullos said. “Anything we can do now is a big plus for the city and schools in the future.”

Board President Kenneth Pruitt thanked Tullos and Stone for their work. “Under the direction of Ms. Stone and Mr. Tullos, we have saved the district multi-millions of dollars,” he said.

Student presentations

Students from Canton Intermediate School and Canton Junior High talked to the board about their schools leadership programs.

The Van Zandt County Mathea Guild will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Canton Museum to learn about fitness.

Fitness trainer Ruth Blasco will be the guest speaker.  Topics that will be discussed will focus on “Fitness for Everyone.” 

“This is a great way to jump start the New Year and to keep everyone informed on the importance of maintaining our health,” member said.

The Mathea meetings are held the second Thursday of each month beginning in September and ending in May of each year.

More information regarding meetings will be published each month.

The Van Zandt County Farm Bureau is sponsoring a meet the candidate forum at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Farm Bureau auditorium.

All candidates running in the local March Party Primary Election have been invited to participate, organizers said.

According to information from the Farm Bureau, each candidate will be allowed time to speak and then there will be a series of questions asked.

Questions from the public are encouraged, organizers said, and should be submitted prior to 6 p.m. Jan. 21.

Questions must be submitted on the form available at the Farm Bureau office and should be for the specific office.

No individual questions will be asked and all questions will be screened and asked as time permits.

The Van Zandt County Farm Bureau office is located at 281 E. Hwy. 243, Canton.

Filing for the Canton City Council and Canton ISD school board May election runs Jan. 20 through Feb. 19.

Council

Candidate applications are available during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) at Canton city offices, 24980 Hwy. 64, Ste. 1, or by mail P.O. Box 245 Canton TX 75103.

Seats up for election are currently held by Cindy Malouf, Scott Perkins and Shawn Stewart.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, to be eligible to run for a council seat, a person must have been a resident of Texas for one year and a resident of Canton for six months prior to the filing date. They must also be 18 years of age and be a registered voter at the time of the election.

Beginning Jan. 10, Lakeside Baptist Church will be offering GriefShare, a Biblically-based group offering support in overcoming loss.

“You won’t ever forget your loss, but grief recovery offers some practical information that can help you recover from the pain that you feel,” organizers said.

According to information from the church, grief is “that feeling of emptiness and exhaustion after you lose someone you love. Maybe you feel that you are doing OK most days, but other days you are just going through the motions, keeping up appearances, especially through the holidays, and feeling overwhelmed, hoping that time will eventually make you feel better.

Hwy. 19 south of Canton was closed for several hours the afternoon of Jan. 11 due to a truck versus 18-wheeler collision.

The driver of the white Ford Ranger truck, 54-year-old Ignacio Cardona of Van, was pinned in and had to be extricated, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Justin Rhodes. The extraction process took more than an hour and half, he said. The accident closed Hwy. 19 for close to four hours.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was identified as Bruce Jackson, 64, of Omaha, Texas. He was uninjured.

Cardona suffered severe injuries including major damage to his legs and was listed in critical condition at presstime Jan. 12. Medical care at the scene was provided by Champion EMS and then Cardona was airlifted to a Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler by Flight for Life.

The accident occurred when Cardona, traveling northbound on Hwy. 19 near VZCR 4219, crossed the center line and entered the southbound lane, Rhodes said. 

Elvis Allen, an eminent historian and Van Zandt native, will present the program at the regular meeting of The Friends of the Van Zandt County Library at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan.11. 

The topic is” The War over the County Seat.” 

“Many natives don’t know much about this facet of Van Zandt History, and newcomers may not even know it happened.  Come to the library and hear this true story,” librarians said.   

Memorials continue to remember friends and loved ones who were library supporters. 

Recently, Stefani Curtis sent a gift in memory of Earlene Jackson Brock.   Marla Baugh and Charles Page also remembered Earlene Brock.  Amy Huddle honored Sue and Butch Hilliard.  Joyce Pirtle’s gift was in memory of Ken A. Davis.  Bryan and Delnia Crum‘s memorial was for Wretha Mae Reding.  

The Van Zandt County Political Forum will be hosting a debate at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1 at the Old School Museum in Grand Saline. Both Precinct 1 commissioner candidates, both TAC candidates, and all four sheriff candidates are expected to attend.  The public is asked to submit questions for the candidates to DMason0305@gmail.com. For more information see Van Zandt County Political Forum on Facebook.

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

From 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 18, 2016, the National Weather Service will be hosting the SkyWarn Storm Spotter training at the Van Zandt County Regional Airport on Hwy. 64 near Wills Point.

This class is open to all everyone who would like to attend and no registration is necessary.

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