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The Van Zandt County Genealogical Society will present a genealogy workshop for the Root Seekers Genealogy Society at the Cedar Creek Lake Library from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16.

Registration fee is $20 for those who preregister and $25 at the door. 

A syllabus is included in the registration fee.  Various topics in genealogy research will be discussed, organizers of the event said.

Registration and coffee will be at 8:30 a.m. and the morning session will begin at 9 a.m.  

To read the full article, subscribe to the Wills Point Chronicle or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

County commissioners took to business Sept. 27, taking the bull by the horns to speak as they approved three resolutions of opposition regarding unfunded mandates passed by the State legislature.

“Unfunded mandates are a big topic in the State, and they just keep getting handed down to the counties,” said County Judge Don Kirkpatrick.

In general, the resolutions opposed the laws that were enacted by the State Legislature that have the effect of imposing mandatory financial obligations of all Texas counties. The commissioners approved the resolution while also discussing state funding for indigent criminal defense and opposing the appraisal caps and revenue of the state. 

The Wills Point Chamber of Commerce helped to sponsor the WPHS Tigerettes at the recent community-wide pep rally and bonfire event, selling water donated by Brookshires as a fundraiser for the group. On Oct. 4, the chamber, represented by Tina Rosamond, made a presentation of $204 to Tigerette sponsor Shelby Ballard, and Tigerette captains Anna Gonzales, Baylee Hawkins and Morgan Willingham.  

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Van Zandt County voters will take to the polls in the primary election on Election Day, Nov. 8. Voter registration deadline by mail or at the VZC Courthouse is Oct. 11.

 To be eligible to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, a resident of Texas, and a U.S. citizen.

Persons are not eligible to vote in Texas if they are on parole for a felony conviction or convicted of a felony; or have been legally declared mentally incompetent by a court. If a person has been previously convicted of a felony crime, they may vote in Texas if their voting rights have been restored.

To register to vote in Texas a person should have a Texas driver’s license or state/non-driver ID number.  A list of accepted supporting forms of ID can be found at www.votetexas.gov. 

The Wills Point Tiger Band kicked off its busiest stretch of the year Oct. 1, traveling to Denton to compete against 25 other schools at the Golden Triangle Marching Contest.

Tiger Band Director John Young knew the contest would serve as a good measuring post overall, noting that the field of competitors included primarily bands from the 5A-6A classification.

Said Young, “26 different schools competed and it was a predominately 5A and 6A contest. This was an open classification performance for the Finals. We had classifications and we won our class. We placed 10th in the Prelims and 10th in Finals.”

The contest allowed the Tiger Band to showcase its show called ‘Shattered’, which includes ‘Lux Eterna’ by Clint Mansell and ‘Sweet Dreams’ by the Eurythmics, for the first time this year in front of judges in a competitive setting. 

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, located at 812 N. Wills St., has announced that it will be hosting a community meeting regarding several election related matters at 7 p.m. Oct. 9

The event is open to the entire Wills Point community and will include a presentation from Democratic Chairperson for VZC Mike Human regarding changes in the voter ID law. Human is also scheduled to hold a question and answer session with the community following his presentation.

WPISD Superintendent Scott Caloss and other WPISD officials will also be in attendance to discuss the upcoming bond election that will lay the groundwork for several district construction and renovation projects

The Van Zandt County Regional Airport will be the place to be for the local community Oct. 8, with plenty of festivities planned for the first public fly-in event since 2013.

Announced plans for the 2016 VZCRA Fly-In, which is slated to run from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., include a Cruisin’ on Wheels and Wings Classic Car Show, kids activities including a bounce house and a 75th anniversary celebration of the Civil Air Patrol.

The Texas Star Quilters Guild will be presenting their annual Quilt Show, Grandmothers Trunk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Oct. 15.

A drawing for the raffle quilt will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 15.

Proceeds from the quilt will be distributed among heritable organizations in Van Zandt County, organizers of the event said.

Within the quilt show there will also be vendors, demonstrations, door prizes, quilt guild bazaar, silent auction, and a special scavenger hunt for children under 12.

Admission $3 for adults and children under 12 are free.

The Quilt Guild meets every third Monday at 1 p.m. at the Canton Senior Citizens Building, 200 W. Groves St., Canton. 

The after-hours group will meet at 6 p.m.

The Van Zandt County Genealogical Society will present a genealogy workshop for the Root Seekers Genealogy Society at the Cedar Creek Lake Library from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16.

Registration fee is $20 for those who preregister and $25 at the door. 

A syllabus is included in the registration fee.  Various topics in genealogy research will be discussed, organizers of the event said.

Registration and coffee will be at 8:30 a.m. and the morning session will begin at 9 a.m. 

To pre-register, make check payable to Root Seekers Genealogy Society and mail to President Margaret Ann Trail, 18500 CR 4057, Kemp, Texas 75143. 

For more information, call 903-880-7133, or contact the Van Zandt County Library of Genealogy and Local History at 903-567-5012.

The Cedar Creek Library is located at 410 E. Cedar Creek Parkway, Seven Points.

Shining Light Food Ministries, through a partnership with the East Texas Food Bank, has announced that it will be distributing fresh vegetables on the third Monday of every month to the local community. Distribution of the vegetables will start at 9 a.m. each morning of every third Monday until they are gone. Shining Light Food Ministries is located at 1404 Lake Drive behind the International Outreach Church in Wills Point. 

To read the full article, subscribe to the Wills Point Chronicle or pick up a copy from one of our vendors.