News

Starting in the fall of 2016, the Canton Texas Chamber of Commerce will break new leadership ground in Van Zandt County.

Leadership Van Zandt County, a product of the CTCC, will lead a group of 12 students through a 10-month program designed to educate, equip and foster a new generation of leaders in Van Zandt County.

LVZC will be open to all citizens living or working in the county. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be eligible for the program. 

The Wills Point Bluebird Festival celebrated its 23^rd year under clear skies on the historic brick streets in downtown April 23, bringing with it large group of games, a carnival, vendors and musical entertainment throughout the day.

Things kicked off early in the morning with the Chase McClanahan Band taking the stage shortly after 10 a.m. Other musical entertainment throughout the day included Chip Murrey & Texas Underground and the Ally Venable Band.

A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality and water management related to Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork, and other area watersheds will be held from 8 a.m. noon May 6 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Rains County.

The office is located at 410 Tawakoni Dr., also known as Hwy. 276, in Emory.

The workshop will be presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.

The 65th annual National Day of Prayer is scheduled for Thursday, May 5.

 The event will be observed in Van Zandt County from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on the north side of the county courthouse.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Leadership Van Zandt County will be the topic of the next quarterly luncheon of the Canton Chamber of Commerce and everyone interested in the program is invited.

The lunch will be at noon May 3 at The Bunker at the Van Zandt Country Club.

Chamber Board Members Brad Blakemore and Stephanie Smith will present the program.

Leadership Van Zandt County is a 10-month leadership development class is designed to educate, equip and foster future leaders in Van Zandt County. It is open to all citizens of the county. 

Rains County Founders Day Festival will be held May 7 at Heritage Park on Hwy. 69 in Emory. 
The festival is an all-day celebration of the county’s heritage and founder with activities for all ages.  There will be an antique car show, antique tractor pull, vintage campers, a remote control air show, gunslinger show, games and children’s activities and vendors.
The park opens at 8 a.m. 
It is preceded by Savor the Flavor (food tasting of local restaurants) on May 6 and followed by a live concert featuring Neal McCoy May 8. 
All proceeds will be used to build a new 13-acre city park, organizers said.
For more information visit the website www.foundersdayfestival.org.

A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality and water management related to Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork, and other area watersheds will be held from 8 a.m. noon May 6 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Rains County.
The office is located at 410 Tawakoni Dr., also known as Hwy. 276, in Emory.
The workshop will be presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
The training is free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region, said program coordinators. Participants are encouraged to preregister at the Texas Watershed Steward website at http://tws.tamu.edu.

Van UMC will be hosting a “Shine and Show” auto and motorcycle show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30.

Entries are $20 per vehicle and will include refreshments and lunch.

“Categories include Top 25 Overall, Best Car, Best Motorcycle, Best Truck, Best Rat Rod, first, second and third places, 1999-2017 Models, People’s Choice, and a Club Award,” said organizer Pat Hargrave.

The Wills Point High School FFA Department has performed exceptionally well throughout the 2015-’16 school year, bringing home multiple awards from competitions and events from across the state.

The Van Zandt County Junior Livestock Show proved to be no exception, with WPHS senior D.J. Wood winning the Grand Champion Market Steer competition with his entry.

Wood, an FFA member for the past four years, currently serves as the president of the Wills Point FFA chapter.

The Wills Point Community Farmers Market will kick off its fourth year of existence from 8 a.m. to noon April 29 and 30 at the historic Depot Museum in downtown.

In previous years, the market had been held on the grounds of Bill “Ike” Allred and at Bruce Cabin, the site of Wills Cabin, during the summer months. This year marks the second consecutive year of being stationed next to the Depot Museum.

In years past, items for sale at the market have included homegrown produce and herbs, eggs, as well as jams, jellies, canned and baked goods.