News

As the curtains drops on one year end and the overture begins for another, we pause to reflect on what has happened in the community during the past 12 months by revisiting the articles and photos that told your stories.

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The American Cancer Society is looking for Van Zandt County volunteers to drive patients to treatment appointments.

Getting to and from medical treatments is one of the greatest concerns cancer patients face, according to Cindy Goodson, Road to Recovery volunteer coordinator. To ensure patients get to those much-needed treatments, the American Cancer Society provides free rides through its Road to Recovery program.

“One cancer patient requiring radiation therapy could need anywhere from 20 to 30 trips to treatment in six weeks,” Goodson said. “A patient receiving chemo0therapy might report for treatment weekly for up to a year. In many cases, a patient is driven to hospitals or clinics by relatives or friends, but even these patients must occasionally seek alternative transportation. That’s where the Road to Recovery program comes in.”

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.

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Texas Senate Bills 910 and 11 passed by the 84^th Legislature and Texas Governor Abbott will be in effect in Van Zandt County starting Jan. 1, 2016.

Texas SB 910 will allow for open carry of handguns and Texas SB 11 will allow for limited carry of concealed handguns on college campuses.

But, Van Zandt County commissioners have agreed to post signage on the VZC Courthouse reminding citizens that it will be illegal to carry or conceal a weapon on courthouse property.

The signage basically will state that:

“Pursuant to Section 30.07 penal code, (Trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun) a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, government code (Handgun licensing law,) may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly;

Dodge City Dinner Theater has re-opened in the Village Food Court at Old Mill Marketplace.

“Three times larger, more food, more fun and to start it all off you're invited to the 2016 News Year's Eve Party and a re-grand opening of The Village Shops Food Court,” said owners Jan Ashley and Darnell Smith.

The free New Year’s Eve event will include music, karaoke, dancing, movie and non-alcoholic drinks. “And most of all fun,” Ashley said. “It’s completely family-friendly so no babysitter needed.”

The movie will start at 8 p.m. followed by music at 10 p.m. and then “we will watch the ball drop at midnight to bring in the new 2016 year,” Ashley said.

A food package can be purchased for $10.

RSVPs are requested and can be made via the websites

The Van Zandt County Library held their annual Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Brunch earlier this week. More than 20 volunteers and county officials were treated to a breakfast brunch as a way to say “thank you” for all of the hard work for and at the library. 

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Dec. 15, the Canton City Council unanimously lifted the moratorium on building on First Monday grounds.

The ban on individuals building on city owned property had been in place since 2013.

“The lifting of the moratorium doesn’t mean we’re in favor of letting every Tom, Dick and Harry build a building,” Mayor pro tem Shawn Stewart said. “But in some spots, some buildings of a certain size make sense for someone else to build instead of the city.”

The moratorium was almost too restrictive, Councilwoman Cindy Malouf said, because it didn’t allow renovation of existing buildings.

On a motion made by Stewart and seconded by Councilman Nathan Moore, the council agreed to remove the moratorium but require that all building on city property on First Monday grounds come to the council for approval on a case-by-case basis.

– Donnita Fisher

A wet winter may be in store, but the threat of wildfire still exists, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The current El Niño conditions drop the threat of wildfire to below normal, however the Forest Service is urging caution this holiday season.

“Fireworks and outdoor fires are usually associated with this time of year,” Jan Amen, fire prevention specialist said. “It’s important to be careful, because one spark can cause a devastating fire.”

Although much of the state received above normal rainfall — which suppressed fires for most of the year — the rain increased the amount of grass present, which can serve as fuel for a wildfire start.

“Awareness of this threat is a key safety concern for this winter,” Tom Spencer, Predictive Services department head said. 

Abundant fuels can increase fire size and make wildfire more difficult to control.