Fruitvale News

City council members opted to table action Tuesday on the city of Canton's request for petition support for a new water reservoir.

Three proposals for alcohol sales in Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 were turned down by precinct voters last week, but opponents to alcohol sales know the battle to keep the area dry is far from over.

As Precinct 1 voters prepare to go to the polls Tuesday for a local option election, the debate continues as to what effect, if any, legalized alcohol sales could have on local law enforcement departments and crime rates.

Canton's plans for a future lake reservoir might go forward without the support of the county commissioners.

Early voting began Monday morning on 11 proposed state constitutional amendments, a local option election for Van Zandt County Precinct 1 and a sales and use tax proposition in the city of Canton.

It was a chance in a lifetime for many who rode aboard the private railroad car owned by Houston business man Patrick Henry.

All the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and all the hand sanitizer in the world cannot keep some illnesses from reaching local schools.

When discussing the early history of Van Zandt County, Texas the dates mentioned usually begin around 1848, the year the county was formed.

Edgewood ISD Superintendent Jack Shellnutt said he knew he had a difficult decision to make regarding whether to show the live video feed of President Barack Obama's address to students on Tuesday.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office has been investigating several offenses over the past few weeks.

They are different in number of campuses, student enrollment and employees but Canton ISD and Fruitvale ISD now share something special in common.

Barring a big discrepancy in valid voter signatures, it appears there will be a wet/dry election in Van Zandt County Precinct 1 in November.

Plans to offer a dual credit program in machining technology with the Biotech Manufacturing Center of Texas has Fruitvale High School principal Mark Parkerson relishing the possibilities for some of his students.

A policy renewal credit is offsetting most of a cost increase for Van Zandt County's employee health benefits in the coming year.

About 25 church ministers met Tuesday to discuss future strategies to oppose the possibility of alcohol sales in Van Zandt County Precinct 1. A petition drive during the past six weeks has taken place to call for a local option election in Precinct 1 in November.

Setting a school district's budget each year can be a tough puzzle. It may be even more of a challenge for administrators this year.

By JOYCE TURNER Community Editor Perhaps the best way to tell James Golden's story about his book, "Traveling the Golden Road," is to start at the end, instead of the beginning.

Jimmy Pickens has no reservations about letting people know he is the one leading the charge for alcohol sales in Van Zandt County Precinct 1. The sign outside his bail bond office and cellular phone store on Highway 80 in Grand Saline makes it clear.

The petition drive for a local option election in Van Zandt County Precinct 1 is about to begin in earnest.

There could be a second local option election for alcohol sales in Van Zandt County before the end of the year.