Lifestyle

The Wills Point Ladies Club held its second ever Burgers ‘n’ Games fundraising event at the Deen Building March 17, filling the building with more than 100 people that helped to raise funds that will be used to provide scholarships to the next generation of female leaders graduating from WPHS.

The evening included a wide array of activities and events, including a silent auction with donations from 88 individuals, organizations and businesses, as well as a mix of games involving bingo, dice, cards and trivia.

Sandy Hill was sworn in March 21 as the fulltime VZC auditor by VZC District Judge Teresa Drum, far right. Also shown are left to right, Hill’s parents Janey and Carrol Waddill and Hill’s son, Stephen Hill.

Vocational agriculture students in Wills Point High School will join Future Farmers of America members throughout the nation in activities to focus attention on the importance of agriculture during national FFA Week, Feb. 17-24. (See newspaper for complete article.)

Miss Bonnie Jo Rushing, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rushing, Wills Point, has been selected as the Wills Point FFA Sweetheart for the 1967-68 school year. Miss Rushing is a junior student in Wills Point High School and is a member of the French and Speech Clubs. She is also the secretary of the Speech Club. She was one of the top seven FFA Sweethearts in the district contest held in Tyler on Jan. 24. (See newspaper for complete article and picture.

Organizers behind the construction of the Hardman-Watson Memorial Playground entered last week hoping that Mother Nature would hold off on rainy conditions to allow for a planned 11^th birthday celebration/fundraising event to be held at the north ballfields this weekend.

Plans initially called for the 11^th birthday party/fundraising event to be held in memory of Adam Hardman, one of the youngest victims of a single-vehicle accident that claimed the lives of five people with local ties Nov. 19, 2014, on Feb. 18 at the north ballfields.

Inclement weather in the days leading up to the event, which were also set to include a bounce house, unveiling of the newly constructed Hardman-Watson Memorial Playground, as well as a raffle with prizes including a $100 Academy gift card, bicycle, framed, vintage baseball print, television, and set of Rangers bobble heads, initially caused the event to be pushed back a week to Feb. 25.

  Announcement has been made by television station KRLD, Channel 4, Dallas that a telecast of special interest to people in this area will be shown at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27. The special feature of pictures and commentary was worked up by Channel 4 and is designed to show the effect that the opening of Interstate 20 from Dallas through East Texas has had on towns located on Highway 80. Among the people interviewed in this area were Jack Shofner, Chamber of Commerce manager, Odie Chitty, nurseryman on Highway 80, and Gordon R. Wynne, Jr., attorney.

Donna Rowland, the executive director of the Wills Point Education Foundation, was the guest speaker at the Wills Point Ladies Club January meeting. She presented the goals of the foundation and provided information about how we can support their efforts for the future.

George Lundhal of Wills Point was recently recognized by Schuster Company as its Driver of the Year for displaying outstanding service and commitment. For being named Driver of the Year, Lundahl will receive a custom ordered 2019 International Lonestar with his choice of paint color and graphics acknowledging him as Schuster’s Driver of the Year 

This Week in Wills Point History
Friday, February 2, 1968

The First National Bank of Wills Point celebrated the completion of its remodeling and expansion program with open house from 3 to 7 Friday afternoon. Approximately 400 people from Wills Point and neighboring towns helped the bank celebrate.

Judge Truett Mayo has tendered his resignation as county judge to the Van Zandt County Commissioners’ Court, effective March 13, 1968 and in a special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1968, the court accepted the resignation. The court appointed A.J. Riley to serve as county judge until a successor is elected in the general election in November.

The Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative Charitable Foundation, represented by Joy Long, recently awarded a grant in the amount of $3000 to Pilot Club of Wills Point, represented by Lettie Clark. The TVEC Charitable Foundation is funded by donations from Operation Round Up. Operation Round Up is a voluntary program that allows TVEC members to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount. The portion that is rounded up goes to the TVEC Charitable Foundation and may be used to award grant requests to local charitable organizations.

Elvis Allen of Fruitvale spoke to the Neches River Chapter NSDAR at its monthly meeting held on Nov. 9 at the American National Bank in Canton. His topic was “Witching (Dowsing) for Graves.”.
Allen is a member of the Van Zandt County Historical Commission where he serves on the Historical Marker Committee. He is an author, an avid proponent of preserving an accurate history of Van Zandt County, a life member of the Texas Archeological Society, and a member of the Wild West History Association which is dedicated to the real truth about the West.

The Neches River Chapter NSDAR meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month at the American National Bank in Canton. “Ladies who are interested in becoming a member may contact Regent Sherrie Archer or Registrar Carrie Woolverton for information,” said club organizers.