News

Costumes of all kinds were on display at BOO on the Bricks Oct. 29.

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

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

The First Responders Banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Canton Civic Center.  Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Local recording artists and 1950s & 60s band, Buddy & The Flashbacks, have volunteered to provide the musical entertainment before and during the meal and after the awards presentation and recognition.

With help from other individuals and civic organizations, Canton Masonic Lodge steward David Darnell will prepare a BBQ with all the fixings. Local restaurant Buttermilks has volunteered to furnish the desserts.

Tickets are $40 each or a table for eight people for $320. Each purchased ticket will purchase a meal for a First Responder and their guest.

Tickets are still available or may be purchased at the door. Contact Canton Masonic Lodge Senior Deacon Joshua Wintters to purchase tickets or become a sponsor.

blacktopGYPSY lead singer battles rare disorder

Family, friends and fans are gathering from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 in Ben Wheeler to help an East Texas musical icon in her hour of need. The event, dubbed “Make Andie Kay OK,” is open to the public, with proceeds going to benefit Wills Point’s Andie Kay Joyner, lead singer for the popular Texas country outfit, blacktopGYPSY.

 The event is to offset Joyner’s medical expenses since the singer has not been able to ply her craft in many months.

 Joyner suffers from a rare blood disorder called hemochromatosis, which led to a recent discovery of irreversible damage to her heart. Hemochromatosis is a genetic iron overload disease that causes the body to store too much iron.  Over time, the excess iron caused damage to Joyner’s vital organs.

Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the state’s most recent monthly sales tax revenue figures recently, indicating that three out of six county cities had collected more revenues when comparing October 2016 figures with those posted for the same calendar month in 2015.

Canton finished as the county’s biggest gainer for the month, collecting $13,714.08 more than the $257,984.67 collected in October 2015.

The city of Wills Point bounced back from a marginal loss last month, .29 percent, to post the biggest percentage gain of any county city for the month, 12.69 percent. Wills Point received a payment of $93,362.10 for the month, up $10,511.10 from the $82,851 collected last year over the same time period.

Grand Saline, which had been the county’s biggest gainer in dollar figure and percentage change in September, also saw modest gains for the month by seeing an increase in of $1,287.95 for the month.

During the Oct. 11 commissioners court, Kevin Cashion of Gollob, Morgan and Peddy, Inc. presented an 80-page audit to the county commissioners concerning fiscal year 2015.

Cashion issued a warning to the commissioners stating that some financial procedures would need to be changed

Specifically, Cashion said that procedures involving the passing of deficit annual budgets and borrowing among fund balances would need to be changed.

During the lengthy presentation, Cashion touched on the actions of previous county auditors and also reminded the commissioners that “this is the second year in a row that the commissioners have been cautioned for specific accounting practices.” 

Cashion also spoke on problems such as the county treasurer’s office being cited for failure to comply and being understaffed; the county using FEMA funds while being deficit; and implementing the segregation of duties.

Another election season kicked off locally Oct. 24 with eligible voters within the boundaries of the Wills Point ISD having the opportunity to weigh in on the fate of the school district’s $42.5 million bond proposal.

As of 10 a.m. Oct. 26, 245 ballots had already been cast to determine the fate of the bond.

The bond has been one of the primary focuses of the district throughout most of the year, with supporters touting the need for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at the primary, intermediate and high school campuses and the need for a new junior high campus. Additionally, the bond would lead to construction of a new road between Terrace Drive and Wingo Way to alleviate strains caused by bus traffic.

The Wills Point Tiger Band is no stranger to shouldering a heavy workload, routinely filling the fall and spring semesters with practices and performances, as well as contest and competition appearances.

Even by the Tiger Band’s lofty standards, October has already been a hectic month with three competitions already in the books, and a fourth, in Denton Oct. 29.

The band’s month long odyssey began Oct. 1 in Denton, with the group placing 10^th overall in the prelims and 10^th overall in the finals of the Golden Triangle Marching Contest.

After rooting on the football team in their district opening win over Dallas Roosevelt Oct. 7, the Tiger Band took part in the Mineola March Contest Oct. 10 and finished third overall out of 23 schools.

Judy Callaway Ostler, Texas State Regent for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) announced that the National Society has approved the organization of a new chapter to be chartered in Terrell, to serve Kaufman County and neighboring communities. Terrell resident and fourth generation DAR member, Stacey Browning will serve as Organizing Chapter Regent.

“This is a very exciting time to be a part of the DAR. Terrell and its neighboring towns and cities are experiencing explosive growth. This chapter will be a part of that growth and meet the needs of those already residing in the area, as well as those moving in to the area, who have a desire to honor their heritage while serving their community,” says Browning.

“Clue,” based on the board game written by Peter DePietro, will open at the Talent Box, a nonprofit community theater, 244 N. 4^th Street, Wills Point, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, 2016, with regular seating.

Dinner seating performances will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28-29

Admission is $12.50 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $7 for children 12 and under. Dinner theatre admission is $20 per person and $13 for children 10 and under when accompanied by an adult.

Prepaid reservations are required and may be made can be made by calling the theatre at 903-873-8945.

Tickets can also be purchased online by logging on to the website, www.thetalentbox.org.

The Wills Point ISD Board of Trustees met at the district’s administration office Monday night, offering up recognition to principals and support staff members before tackling an agenda that included a public hearing and approval of the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.

Business opened with board members offering up words of appreciation to Dana Chelette, Melanie Mullin, Casey Cochran, Jeff Russell and Jeff Smith to commemorate Principal Recognition Month.

Board President C.W. Wilson outlined the many hats that principals must wear in order to lead their respective campuses, pointing to wide ranging duties including guiding both staff and students, interacting with parents and guardians, and serving as the faces of the district. Wilson stressed, “You deserve to be recognized and you deserved to be honored.”