Lifestyle

Wills Point ISD has announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for students served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.  Each school and/or the central office has a copy of the policy which may be reviewed by any interested party.  The household size and income criteria identified below will be used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. 

Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  Households who received a Notification of Predetermined Eligibility (Direct Certification) do not have to fill out or return an Application for the child listed on the letter, all other children must fill out an application.

The East Texas Stampede Equestrian team representing Van Zandt County and Texas 4-H is fresh off their competition schedule which ended with successful trip to the South East Mounted National Open Competition at Mississippi State University Horse Park in Starkville, Miss. 

Missy Prow and Nathan Wright, both of Canton, have announced their engagement and approaching marriage.

Missy is the daughter of Becky and Greg Coil and Robert and Gwen Prow.  Nathan is the son of Kim Figaro and Greg and Julie Wright.

Both are graduates of Canton High School.  Missy is employed as a veterinarian at the Kaufman Vet Center.  Nathan is employed as a fireman at the Plano Fire Department.

A wedding is planned for Sept. 19 at the Rocking L Ranch in Wills Point.  After a honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, the couple will make their home in Canton.

Looking back on achievements and mistakes is a valuable way to improve most situations.   Library Director, Susie Pulley, will revisit the beginnings of the Van Zandt County Library, the strides that have been made in some 60 years, and plans for the future at the regular Friends of the Library meeting, at 10 a.m. Monday Sept. 14.  The date also marks the 23^rd anniversary of the dedication of the present building.

Friends of the Library dues are only $10 a year.  They are due now for the 2015-‘16 year.   Life memberships are still available.

May 10, 2015,  is a day the citizens of Van  will never forget. The tornado damage and loss of life in our community made us realize how fragile we are and how things can change in a matter of seconds.

The resilience of the people in Van and support from people and organizations in and around Van Zandt County have been an essential part of our recovery process. This support has given the people of Van the hope and strength to move forward.

Helping Van in their tornado recovery process will take many years and we will continue to need help in so many ways from so many people. 

Wills Point High School will have a new daily bell schedule when school resumes Aug. 24, school officials said.

First period will be from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m.; second period from 9:19 to 10:13 a.m.; third, 10:16 to 11:11 a.m.; fourth, 11:14 a.m. to 12:09 p.m.; fifth, 12:12 to 1:36 p.m.; sixth, 1:40 to 2:34 p.m.; and seventh, 2:38 to 3:32 p.m.

Lunch A will be from 12:12 to 12:42 p.m. and lunch B will be from 1:06 to 1:36 p.m.

Mandatory tutoring times will be during zero period – 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. and eighth period, 3:32 to 4 p.m.

According to school officials, zero and eighth periods will be assigned to students requiring mandatory tutoring for end-of-course exams.

Optional tutoring and homework help will be available from all teachers during zero and eighth periods and “it is the responsibility of the learner to access extra help when needed,” school officials said.

Freebie Third Friday will be held at noon Aug. 21.  The Van Zandt County Library and Educate Van Zandt will host their second brown bag-lunch-and-learning time. 

Cindy Rakestraw’s topic will be needlework in the Buchanan Room of the Library.  No reservation is necessary.

Pencil in 10 a.m. on the second Monday of each month so you will not miss a single meeting of Friends of the Library in 2015-‘16. 

An often overlooked section of the library is the young adult area.   Older pre-teens and teenagers may find loads of fiction—and reference—that is geared for their reading levels. 

Accelerated reading books are tagged in the catalogue.  Ask a staff member how to find what you need.

TJ Queen Bee 012 won owned the heifer class 5 at the 2015 National Junior Angus Show held in July in Tulsa, Okla. Logan Morris of Wills Point owns the winning heifer. 

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"Records of Indentured Servants" will be the topic for the Aug. 22 general meeting of the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society at 2 p.m. in the Buchanan Room of the main county library located on First Monday Lane in Canton. 

Marynell Bryant of Hopkins County will be the special speaker. She is a retired journalism teacher from Sulphur Springs High School with 35 years of experience. She has bachelors and master’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M University at Commerce. She is a member of DAR, US Daughters of 1812, Daughters of American Colonists, Colonial Dames XVIIth Century, and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She is also the administrator for the national Rainey/Raney DNA Surname project, chair of the Texas Heritage Certificates, TSGS, past president of Texas State Genealogical Society (3 terms), and past president, treasurer, and current librarian for Hopkins County Genealogical Society.

The Wills Point community welcomed one of its newest additions, The Promised Land Group, which specializes in real estate and property management, with a special ribbon cutting Aug. 5. Team members at the office, located at 203 N. Fifth St., include Lisa Goodbrake, Cortney Cowden, Crystal Hagewood, Jenna Dunn, Kaye Carpenter and Morgan Coughlan.

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