The Wills Point ISD met Dec. 9 for a rare Wednesday night affair, hearing reports from both their tax attorney and auditing firm before opening a new chapter for the district by announcing the selection of Scott Caloss, currently at Poth ISD, as the lone finalist for the open superintendent position.
The Rev. Rafael Cruz, the father of presidential candidate Ted Cruz, and JoAnn Fleming will co-host a TEA Party celebration in recognition of the 242nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Van Zandt Country Club, 17960 I-20 in Canton. There is a “dutch treat” dinner at 7 p.m. According to information from the local TEA Party, Cruz will give updates on his son’s campaign and “Cruz for President” campaign materials will be available.
Bryan Slaton of Royse City has filed with the Texas Republican Party to be on the ballot for the Texas House District 2 seat in the primary election March 1. Slaton announced his intention to run in June and, according to information from his campaign, “has spent the last several months meeting with community leaders, talking with voters and spreading his conservative message to residents in District 2.” “After months on the campaign trail and talking with voters, I am overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I have received,” Slaton said. “The voters of HD 2 are ready to have a representative who will stand for our conservative principles. It is time to send someone to Austin that will speak on behalf of our district, not the lobby and special interest groups.”
Producers needing to get pesticide recertification credits toward renewing their applicators license can get six continuing education units Dec. 18 at the Mabank Fire Station, 111 E. Mason St. in Mabank. This program is jointly sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Henderson, Kaufman and Van Zandt counties. The program will begin with registration at 8 a.m. The first speaker will begin at 9 a.m. Speakers and topics include: Erfan Vafaie, extension program specialist entomology – Integrated Pest Management Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, associate professor and extension forage specialist – Forages Jason Gaskamp, wildlife and range consultant, Noble Foundation – Boar Buster Jack LeClair, sales manager Bayer – Brush Control
The Texas Department of Public Safety is reminding Texans about the potential for vehicle thefts during the holiday season and is advising individuals to takes extra precautions to guard against possible auto thefts. Vehicle burglaries are also a concern during the holiday season. “The holiday season is a busy time for everyone – including criminals; and DPS is urging Texans to do what they can to keep vehicles and valuables safe from possible thieves,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “The months of December and January can be prime times for auto theft and burglaries. It is important to always lock car doors and store valuables out of sight.”
The race for Van Zandt County sheriff, county commissioner precincts 1 and 3 and all four precinct constables is officially underway for the March 2016 primary election. So far all filings have been on the Republican ballot. These candidates are filing for a place on the primary election ballot. The winner will represent the party on the November 2016 ballot. As of Nov. 24, there were four candidates who had filed for the VZC sheriff position. Ron Carroll, Samuel Mayer, Anthony “Big Tony” Katsoulas and Dale Corbett have all filed to become sheriff.
Current Sheriff Michael Lindsey Ray has not filed as of Dec. 7. In the Commissioner Precinct 1 race, Tom Elliott Jr. has submitted his name for the ballot. The current county commissioner for Precinct 1 is Brandon Brown. Brown has not filed for election as of Dec. 7.
A routine traffic stop for an illegal left turn and expired registration turned into something more for the Wills Point Police Department Dec. 7, with the discovery of various drugs and the recovery of a .270 caliber Remington Model 700 rifle.
According to a police narrative of the incident, an officer was on a routine patrol through the city about 1 p.m. Dec. 7 when he observed a driver, identified as 26-year old Jeremiah Malcolm Mitchell of Wills Point, “operating a motor vehicle traveling west on US-80 and make a left turn onto South Fourth Street from the right turn.” The officer initiated a stop for the illegal turn and, upon further inspection, found that the registration for the vehicle was expired and that the insurance had lapsed as well for non-payment.
The Wills Point ISD celebrated the 50th anniversary of the district’s one and only state football title earlier this season by naming Ken Autry Davis as the grand marshal of the homecoming parade.
The Wills Point community lost one of its most beloved and well respected members Dec. 4 with the passing of longtime Tiger football Coach and educator Ken Autry Davis, He was 77. Davis was a standout athlete in Wills Point before playing football at Stephen F. Austin State University. At SFA, Davis was a four-year letterman in football, and a three-year starter at halfback for the Lumberjacks, and recipient of the SFA Todd Award as the Outstanding Male Athlete. Adding to his accomplishments, Davis was also a two-year letterman in track at SFA. During his time at SFA, he learned the offensive schemes he would bring to Wills Point.
Champion EMS, which will soon be relocating from its current location shared with the Wills Point Fire Department on S. 4th St. to a location along Highway 80, made a surprise presentation of a plaque to be hung at the new Wills Point EMS Station #1 during public comment Dec. 8. Those present for the unveiling of the plaque included Champion EMS Chief Executive Officer Stan Holden, councilmembers Mike Jones, Wade Emerson, Lance LyBrand, Mayor Mark Turner, and councilmembers Oscar Rogers and Kyle Anderson.
By David Kapitan, Staff Writer
After more than three years of pushing and prodding by council members, the city of Wills Point may finally be seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel to replace the Ash Street railroad crossing. The crossing, located in the eastern part of Wills Point, was damaged and taken out of service by Union Pacific following an accident involving a tanker-trailer hauling fuel and train back on Aug. 23, 2012. Since that time, UP and city leaders have negotiated back and forth numerous times in an effort to find common ground on the reinstallation of the crossing only to have the railroad give tentative timelines for work on the project, and then push those back time and time again.
Wills Point Police Department officers were dispatched to a local restaurant Nov. 10 after receiving a call regarding an alleged assault that had taken place just before 3 p.m.
According to a narrative of the incident, officers received a call at approximately 3 p.m. “to 127 N. Fourth Street in reference to an assault that had already taken place.”
After arriving on scene, officers made contact with the alleged victim who advised that a suspect, later identified as 23-year old Taylor Lorene White of Wills Point, entered the store through the front door, made her way through the employee entrance near the back of the restaurant and “began hitting her.”
