Photo by Brad Blakemore Jimmy Strickland took possession of a new Chevy Cruz and cash Jan. 17 after hitting a layup, free throw, three-pointer and half-court shot as part of a Word of Victory fundraiser held in Canton Oct. 16. Those there to see Strickland claim his prize included Josh Setser with Victory Church and the church basketball league, Strickland, Strickland’s girlfriend Lauren Hamm, Jackie Beard with the Victory Church Basketball League and Wills Point Chevrolet manager Curtis Holan.
By David Kapitan Staff Writer
Twenty-four seconds to make four shots: a layup, a free throw, a three-pointer and a half court shot. The potential payout of accomplishing the task: a new car and monetary prize totaling $35,000. As if the prospect of walking away with a potentially life changing prize was not enough, factor in the that the participant wasn’t aware of what he or she would be doing until their name was drawn from a raffle, that no practice or warmup session was allowed and that the person selected would have to serve as their own rebounder in the contest and the odds of making four shots in just 24 seconds becomes infinitely more difficult. Wills Point Chevrolet manager Curtis Holan and Word of Victory Church basketball league participant conceived the idea of the contest as part of a fundraiser for his church’s youth group last year.
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The countdown for potential candidates interested in running for city and school district leadership positions was officially started this week, with filing for three council places and the position of mayor opening at the city level as well as two seats on the school board opening Jan. 18. According to the Secretary of State’s office, a person must have been a resident of Texas for one year and a resident of Wills Point for six months prior to the filing date in order to run for a spot on either the city council or board of trustees. They must also be 18 years of age and be a registered voter at the time of the election. Interested filers will have four weeks from today (until Feb. 17) to pick up and return candidate packets declaring their intention to run. Elections day for both the city and school district has been scheduled for May 6. City Council
The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office issued a post on their Facebook page Jan. 13, announcing the arrest of 67-year old Michael Joe Goggans of Edgewood on five felony charges carrying a total bond of $350,000. The arrest was conducted through the cooperation of multiple agencies, including the VZC Sheriff's Office narcotics division, Canton Police Department narcotics division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Auditions are open for parts in “Little Women” to be held at The Talent Box, located on 244 N. 4th St, Wills Point, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 and at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30. Female parts to be filled are (listed is the character and the age range for the person to audition): Aunt March, ages late 40s to late 60s; Mrs. March, ages late 20s to mid-40s; Hannah, ages 30 to mid-40s; Amy March, ages 10 to 12; Elizabeth "Beth" March ages 12 to 14; Jo March, ages 14 to 16; and Meg March, ages 15 to 17.
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State Sen. Bob Hall was present during the commissioners court meeting Dec. 27. Hall asked the commissioners to consider an electromagnetic pulse resolution for the State of Texas to secure its electric grid from an EMP attack. Hall explained to the commissioners that counties throughout the state were also asked to pass the resolution. According to Hall, Texas is the only state that has its own electric grid and said that “Texas is responsible for protecting its grid from any threats.” Hall also said that “in this age of technology, electricity is the third most important aspect of human survival, behind air and water.” Hall urged the commissioners to pass the resolution, saying “our military advisors see that our grid is vulnerable, and the threat is real. “ Hall cited a historic EMP outage in Quebec, Canada in 1989, which he said “cost $20 billion to repair the damages.”
The city of Wills Point has had plenty of company among other area cities, with road and sewer woes stemming from decades old infrastructure rearing their head more and more in recent years. City leaders held several emergency meetings with the span of three weeks in November 2016 to address needed repairs to key sewer lines servicing the eastern portion of the city. As part of the council’s January 2017 agenda, city leaders were presented with the latest update on how much various road and sewer projects have cost to date, as well as when residents can expect to see future repairs take place.
Courtesy photo From left to right, Travis Hensarling, Congressman Hensarling, Melissa Hensarling, Speaker Paul Ryan and Claire Hensarling.
Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement after taking the Oath of Office to represent the Fifth District of Texas for the 115th Congress: “I am honored and deeply humbled by the trust that the voters of the Fifth Congressional District of Texas have placed in me to serve as their representative in the 115th Congress. I am committed to working on their behalf every day to solve the many problems and challenges we face. As a united Congress, working alongside the new Administration, we have the opportunity to reverse the devastating effects of eight years of Obamanomics and to create a dynamic economy that fosters job creation, higher wages, and greater economic liberty for all Americans. Together, we will take our country back from a distant, ruling, Washington elite and return governance to ‘We the People.’”
As hard as it may be to believe after the seemingly endless run of elections at the local, state and national levels in 2016, voters will once again have a chance to make their voices heard in the coming months with school board and city council elections looming May 6. Election filing for both the city and school will get underway beginning January 18, and running through February 17. Positions up for election include four spots on the Wills Point City Council, including the position of mayor and three council seats, as well as two places on the Wills Point Independent School District Board of Trustees. City Council Candidate filing for three seats, currently held by Oscar Rogers, Lance LyBrand and Kyle Anderson, and the mayor position held by Mark Turner, will be up for election on the May 6 ballot. Each city council seat will be for a two-year term beginning in May 2017.
The East Texas Gem & Mineral Society will hold the 21st annual jewelry, rock, mineral and fossil show at the Tyler Rose Garden Center Jan. 27, 28, and 29. Visitors will be able to see club member’s display cases, demonstrations, and dealer’s booths supplying a variety of jewelry, jewelry making, lapidary and earth science related products. Mineral specimens, dinosaur bone, and meteorites are also favored attractions. “There will also be the famous rock food table and geode cracking demonstrations held. There are hourly door prizes, plus adult and children’s grand prizes,” organizers of the event said. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 29.
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Many East Texas communities including Wills Point experienced a rare sight Jan. 6, with an arctic front delivering a dusting of snow to the area that lingered until the following day.
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