The Wills Point Community Angel Tree (“WPCAT”) is a community-wide, annual donation program that provides Christmas gifts for children in families facing financial hardship during the holiday season.
The goal of WPCAT is to make sure that each child (from newborns to high school seniors) receives a new outfit with shoes and a coat along with some nice toys, and that each family receives a box of food and a turkey, hen or ham.
The Wills Point ISD banded together to help one of its own recently, raising $2000 for seventh grader Jordan Darling who is suffering from kidney failure. The money raised will go to offset medical expenses the family has incurred. District representatives taking part in the check presentation included WPJH Vice Principal Jason Moore, teacher Stacy Porter and WPJH Principal Casey Cochran.
Campuses throughout the Wills Point ISD honored the service and sacrifice of veterans and military personnel this week, opening their doors to the community for a variety of programs Nov. 12. The junior high campus was among those participating, decorating their hallways with a Wall of Service and other decorations to commemorate the occasion. Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day) is recognized annually each Nov. 11. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended major hostilities in World War I.
Days of fear and uncertainty about a loaded weapon being found on school grounds gave way to relief on Sunday as the Wills Point ISD announced that a suspect in the incident had been identified and banned from all school grounds following an investigation that included district personnel, the Wills Point Police Department, Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms among others.
Tragic accidents involving school children getting struck while loading and unloading from school buses have been all too common in recent weeks, with incidents in Indiana, Mississippi, Florida and Pennsylvania resulting in at least five deaths and multiple injuries.
In virtually each of those incidents, the primary culprit has been drivers failing too heed the flashing lights and stop sign mounted to the side of school buses.
Courtesy photo
Dark plumes of smoke drifted across Interstate 20 after a trailer caught fire and burned near mile marker 516.
DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com
Traffic along both Interstate 20 and Highway 80 was slowed considerably throughout most of the late afternoon and early evening hours Nov. 5 after an an 18-wheeler hauling meat caught fire, sending off dark plumes of smoke and redirecting traffic.
According to reports, the driver of the 18-wheeler was traveling eastbound along I-20 near mile marker 516 when he noticed a flat on his trailer. After pulling over the driver noticed smoke coming from his trailer and hurried to detach the tractor to limit the damage.
Parents and guardians within the Wills Point ISD received a sizeable jolt at approximately 9 p.m. Nov. 6 as they received notice from the district’s messaging system that an incident had occurred just prior to the release of the high school campus for the day that a weapon of some kind had been discovered on school grounds.
The district's notice reads in part, "For the safety and security of the Wills Point ISD students and staff, we take any threats seriously. WPISD prides itself in creating a safe learning environment and any incident that threatens that environment is handled firmly and promptly.
Results from the Nov. 6 General Election indicated a 48.51 percent of Van Zandt County registered voters casting their vote, with a total number of votes at 18,021. There are 37,149 registered voters in Van Zandt County.
Photo by Glenn McNeill, Jr.
Van Zandt County Constable Precinct 3 Robert Tisdale, WPPD officer Troy Tucker, police chief Lonnie Carroll, and officer Cassie Mosley look on as a fan helps clear smoke from a house fire along High Street.
The Wills Point Volunteer Fire Department was kept busy throughout the day Oct. 26, working help contain an afternoon house fire on E. High St. in downtown Wills Point.
According to reports, the WPVFD and Wills Point Police Department and Champion EMS were dispatched to a house on High Street after receiving word of a possible house fire.
Van Zandt County Constable Precinct 3 also arrived on scene to help contain the area before Edgewood Fire Department was called out for mutual aid.
The countdown to the Christmas holiday has begun so grab your list and come see what we have in store for you this year!
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Santa’s helpers will be sharing some budget friendly holiday decorating and gift giving ideas, along with recipes with a healthy twist for the upcoming Christmas season.
