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Van Zandt County Day 2017 was held in the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday, March 7 during the 85^th session of the Texas Legislature.

The opportunity was coordinated and largely funded by the Council of Van Zandt County Communities President, Lisa Morrison; Vice President, Tam Erwin; Secretary, Nancy Hammonds; Treasurer, Karen Samples; and the board of directors.

Van Zandt County Day provides officials and citizens of Van Zandt County an opportunity to show support to our representatives in Austin and for elected officials to hear from the citizens.  

The Wills Point ISD opened the doors to the middle school cafeteria March 9, welcoming approximately a dozen community members during the first of two planned town hall meetings to discuss the upcoming $36.2 million bond election that will go before voters on the May 6 ballot.

District leaders used a similar strategy last fall, hosting three town hall-style meetings to get the word out about a proposed $42.5 million bond that was ultimately defeated by just 26 votes (1382-1408) on the November 2016 ballot.

Superintendent Scott Caloss opened the March 9 meeting that also included WPISD Board of Trustees members Russell Hiler and C.W. Wilson, assistant superintendent Damon Davis and several other district representatives, by explaining that the primary feedback received as to why last year’s bond proposal was voted down was the overall size of the bond package.

Crystal Diaz squeezer her eyes shut as a Wills Point Primary School employee sprinkles her with orange paint as part of the March 10 Color Run.

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The Wills Point City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday night, addressing a handful of bookkeeping items while also hearing a request from members of Keep Wills Point Beautiful to move forward on a project that could help restore the Rose Monument to its previous standards.

The city’s agenda opened with Viki Arnold and Melody Blasingame, both members of KWPB, addressing the council on the city’s soon to be 101-year old landmark.

Arnold stated, “As most of you know, the Rose Monument will turn 101 years old in April and if you've had a close look at it lately, you'll see that it's in dire need of some refreshing.”

Blasingame and Arnold proceeded to outline some of the major issues they are hoping to address at the monument, including needed repairs to the urns and curlicues, and the need for a fresh coat of paint.

The Wills Point Tigers wrapped a busy week at home March 14, following a third place at their annual home tournament with a 3-1 win over the Paris Wildcats.

Play against Paris was conducted at a brisk pace with the Wildcats getting a solid performance from pitcher Zack Norris and Wills Point getting the same from Tyler James.

Neither team could get the timely hit they needed in the first five innings as the Wildcats and Tigers traded zeroes on the scoreboard.

With the threat of extra innings looming, Wills Point got the break through inning it needed in the bottom of the sixth to establish a 3-0 lead on the visiting Wildcats. After an out to begin the frame, Wills Point’s Caden Bennett reached base courtesy of a Paris error.

The Wills Point community has been invited for a free event filled with food, ice cream, fellowship, music and dancing at the South Ball Park from 1-3 p.m. March 18.

The event, open to everyone, has been dubbed by organizers as the Wills Point Community Spring Fling.

Officer Bennie Jones, the driving force behind the event, stated the reason for hosting the Spring Fling was about uniting the community and showing that police officers do more than arrest bad guys. 

Police chief Lonnie Carroll added, “Everyone keeps asking what this is and it’s just a time for us as a police department to give back, and meet and greet with anyone that wants to come out.”

Plans are also underway for a similar event to take place later this year.

Family, sheriff appeal for anyone with information to come forward

A search was underway at press time Wednesday morning for a Quinlan man who went missing Friday, March 10.

Michael Chambers, 70, was seen on video from Quinlan Walmart Supercenter entering and leaving at about 11:15 a.m. Friday, according to Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks.

Meeks said in a news conference Monday it was believed that something happened to Chambers between noon and 3 p.m. at his home in the 7000 block of FM 2101.

His office was notified of a missing person at 6:55 p.m. on March 10.

House, Senate approve bills to protect children in foster system

AUSTIN — Both houses of the Texas Legislature last week passed bills to improve the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in response to Gov. Greg Abbott's call for emergency action to improve child protection programs.

Tasked with protecting children, elders and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect and exploitation, the DFPS, part of the Texas Health and Human Commission, has attracted attention in recent years for inadequate funding and staffing to meet obligations.

Texas, Oklahoma team catch weighs 168.46 pounds

A Texas-Oklahoma team of cousins weighed a five-fish catch at 168.46 pounds to win Saturday’s ninth annual Cabela’s King Kat Tournament at Lake Tawakoni. The big fish of the contest weighed 56.46 pounds.

Catfishermen competed from six different states for the $7,750 in cash and prizes and an opportunity to qualify for the 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Northern and Southern Championships.

John Allen of Detroit, Tex., and Matthew Allen of Barnsdall, Okla., took the top prize of $3,200. The cousins have second-, third- and fifth-places in the past.

The team fished south of the Two-Mile Bridge, targeting fish in standing timber in 38 to 40 feet of water using cut and live perch for bait. The team stated that the larger cut perch worked better for the big fish.

Wills Point Police Department officer Aaron Long and canine officer Zeus were the guests of honor at Crestwood March 7, making a presentation to residents on the WPPD’s canine program and the benefits it has brought to the area. Long spoke about the lengthy training process, including learning some Czech in order to communicate with Zeus.

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