News

Glenn McNeill, Jr. continues to amaze, winning both the free throw and around the world titles at the most recent Senior Games event in Dallas Feb. 24.

The former co-publisher of the Wills Point Chronicle, Canton Herald, Van Zandt News, and Canton Guide to First Monday made 23/25 free throws and missed only five shots in around-the-world, winning both titles for his age group.

In a mixed age group competition including people in the 70 and above age group, McNeill once again hit 23/25 free throws and finished second overall in the around the world competition.

McNeill's wife Betsy joked, “I was actually afraid he would not do well because during practice for the past two weeks, he has made only about 50 percent of his shots. I must have distracted him when I threw the ball back to him and made comments (yes, believe it or not, I made comments) - so, I didn't go today, and voila! a champ again.”

Van Zandt County drivers may soon be getting some relief from the wear and tear their vehicles receive by traveling on local roads from an unlikely source courtesy of the newly minted program being put in place by Precinct 3 Commissioner Keith Pearson.

Throughout the 2016 election cycle, Pearson’s platform included his hopes of utilizing inmates from the county’s jail as part of a supervised work crew to help fix potholes and clean up county roadways.

Those plans were officially put in motion a short time after Pearson’s win in the Republican primary with the newly elected commissioner taking the unique step of attending jailer’s school. In an interview conducted shortly after being sworn in, Pearson explained that in order to attend the school he had to receive a sponsorship.

The Wills Point Tiger Band continues to hit milestones at a frenetic pace throughout the 2016-’17 school year, following up a fourth-place finish among all 4A schools in Texas at the UIL State Marching Contest with their 18^th consecutive year earning a Sweepstakes Awards at the UIL Region 3 Contest March 2 at Canton High School.

While performing in Canton, the Concert Band, under the direction of Nick Kornegay, performed The Grand Gallop by Jonnie Vinson, Sketches of Canada by Michael Story and Colliding Visions by Brian Balamages, and the Symphonic Band under the direction of John Young performed Under the Double Eagle by Richard Wagner, O Magnum Mysterium by Morton Lauridsen, and Themes from Green Bushes of Percy Grainger.

Chapel of the Lake will be holding a revival March 12 -15. The guest speaker will be David Crain. 

According to church officials, “David is a high-energy Christian musician and speaker who inspires and challenges.  He travels nationwide using music, humor and a very direct approach to reach people of all ages.  He is best known for his work with churches and ministries.  His travels across the county take him to many venues where he uses his gift of music to encourage and uplift.  As a speaker, his message is always delivered in a way that entertains while drawing the listener into a deeper relationship with Christ.  Sharing stories from his own life as they relate to scripture make the Gospel come alive.”

The revival will be held on from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday- Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Chapel of the Lake is located at 742 VZCR 3829, Wills Point, next to Tangle Wood Marina on Lake Tawakoni near the state park.

A two-day craft/vendor Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 10 and 11 at Lighthouse Church, 3402 Goodnight Blvd. (Hwy. 80), Wills Point.

There will be 20 plus vendors with items such as knives, food, health and beauty, clothing, jewelry, household items, on-site personalized items, soaps and lotions, home and yard art and much more, organizers of the event said.

For more information call 972-415-1632.

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Rev. Ken Byrd was recently recognized as “Favorite Minister 2017” by the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners. The event was held at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas on Feb. 19. The association exists to promote the highest standards of event planning, in particular wedding ceremonies and receptions. 

The award ceremony, known as The Vendi’s, is held each year to recognize the AACWP’s favorite vendors in 17 different categories, including favorite minister.

 Rev. Byrd has been nominated seven times and has taken home the “Vendi” trophy the last two years. He has been an associate minister with DFW Clergy Services/LoveNotes Weddings for the past 14 years and currently serves as an occasional speaker at Calvary Baptist Church in Wills Point. Previously he served as a chaplain with the Methodist Hospital System.

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The Wills Point Municipal Court has been kept busy in recent weeks, working to clear a lengthy warrant list both before and during the annual Great Texas Warrant Roundup.

The roundup, which began Feb. 25, is an effort by more than 300 law enforcement agencies throughout the state to address warrants typically associated with non-compliance of court orders.

In a press release announcing their participation in the effort, the WPMC stated, “If you do not resolve your tickets now, you may be subject to arrest. If you are stopped while driving your vehicle and arrested, your vehicle may be impounded, which would result in additional tow and storage fees. Please take care of your tickets now to avoid arrest.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Keith Pearson took center stage last week, speaking to a group of local leaders at the quarterly Donuts and Developments meeting held at the Van Zandt County Regional Airport Feb. 24.

Pearson, who was just on his 55^th day in office at the time of the meeting, opened his comments joking, “President Trump and I both knew our first 100 days were going to be pretty tough.”

The new commissioner recounted that during his initial meeting with the Precinct 3 crew, he advised that, "some things are going to change...Some of the procedures that y'all have been doing like putting white rock on a hard surface or reclaimed millings on top of hard surface that won't stay there and goes off into the ditch - we're not going to do that anymore. Every one of them said 'Yes!', because they knew what they were doing was just wasting taxpayers’ dollars. Time is money, and we were wasting money on material and wasting that time."

On Feb. 28, 2017, around 5:15 p.m. the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 emergency call from Dawn Combs, 38, of Van in reference to a disturbance with a weapon in the 100 Block of Private Road 8504 which is south of Van off of FM 314.

Dawn told dispatch that her father, Terry Combs, 68, of Van had a pistol and was threatening to shoot her mother Brenda, Combs,67, of Van; Dawn advised her daughter Fawn Combs, 20, of Van was also in the house.

Dawn was able to get out of the residence with her juvenile daughter at which point Dawn contacted 911; Dawn stated while she was running away she heard gunshots coming from the house.

Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Van Police Officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter around the house.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office issued a press release late last week, announcing the arrest of four suspects on a series of drug related charges.

The department's press release stated: "A multi-agency investigation into suspected narcotic activity resulted in the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office executing arrest and search warrants on Private Road 7814. On Friday, Feb. 24, just before 8 a.m., multiple agencies conducted a narcotic raid on several residences suspected of engaging in narcotic distribution. Various local, federal and state agenices provided significant assistance and contributed resources to this investigation to include: Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Administration, Hunt County Sheriff's Office, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Canton Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force.

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