VAN BANNER
© 2016 Van Zandt Newspapers, L.L.C.
Serving Van, Edom, Ben Wheeler, Redland, Midway & Colfax - Northeast Texas Press Association Award Winner
VOLUME 21 NUMBER 23
Christmas Parade rescheduled for Dec. 10
Fierce in battle 2 SECTIONS, 12 PAGES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016
75¢
Vandals have record breaking season
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davidb@vanzandtnews.com
See PARADE, Page 4A
PHONE: 903-567-4000
Courageous in heart
By David Barber Senior Reporter
The Van Christmas Parade has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10 due to cold and rainy weather that moved through the area last Saturday. The parade, sponsored by the City of Van, will begin at 5:45 p.m. Saturday with the parade lineup setting up at 5 p.m. on the east side of Maple Street next to the police station. According to city officials, the parade route will begin at city hall and end at the Van Oil Museum. A number of calls have been received at city hall about entries for Saturday night’s parade. Entries will also be accepted on the day of the parade lineup but those entries will be placed in the back of the line in the parade route. For more information on entering a float in the Van Christmas Parade, contact Van City Hall at 903-963-7216. A special Movie Time for the senior community originally set for Saturday, Dec. 10 will go on as scheduled, according to Pat Valentine, President of the Van Area Chamber of Commerce. The holiday classic movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” will be shown free of charge from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Movie House, located at 255 West Main Street downtown. Hot chocolate, coffee or water and popcorn will be sold for $.25 cents per drink and $.50 cents for popcorn.
www.VanBanner.com
By David Barber •Senior Reporter
Van Vandal senior receiver Isaiah Allred shares an emotional moment with Vandal Assistant Coach Scott Reynolds after the Vandals were eliminated by Kennedale in the Class 4A, Region II, Division I championship game, 34-28, Friday night at The Star in Frisco.
davidb@vanzandtnews.com
ike all Van Vandal football fans, I was disappointed with how the 2016 season ended Dec. 2 at The Star in Frisco as the Vandals lost a heartbreaking 34-28 decision to Kennedale but in the last few days, I have had some time to reflect and I came to a quick conclusion that what this team accomplished was truly special not only for the football program and the school but also for the Van community. Since the tragic tornado that hit Van in May 2015, I have seen several instances where the people in Van have come together and worked hard to overcome all the obstacles that they have faced since that day and I believe
that the success of the 2016 football team has only added toward meeting those challenges. I have just completed my 35th consecutive season of covering the Van Vandal football team for Van Zandt Newspapers (Van Banner and Van Zandt News) and I can truly say that if this was not the most enjoyable season to cover, it is on a very short list. I am not just saying that because the team finished 12-2 overall. By the way, the 2016 Vandal football team competed in their first regional final/state quarterfinal game since 2008 and advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs since the school captured the Class 2A state championship in 1979. This team also became only the third squad in Vandal football history (1937 and 1979) to finish a season with
See VANDALS, Page 4A
Photos by David Kapitan
Van Vandal Head Coach Jared Moffatt speaks to his team after the Vandals suffered a 34-28 defeat at the hands of Kennedale in the Class 4A state quarterfinals Friday night at The Star in Frisco.
Van ISD hosts Tyler Junior College signing ceremony Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. HWY. 64 & I-20
The Van Independent School District held its first ever Tyler Junior College Signing Ceremony Nov. 28 in the Van High School Cafetorium. During this historic event, Van freshmen, along with their parent or guardian, signed the
Van TJC Promise Pledge to earn two years of tuition and fees at TJC. To meet eligibility for this earned scholarship, students sign a pledge agreeing to meet an overall Grade Point Average of 2.5, have no more than
Inside
VHS student earns Eagle Scout honor
Classifieds................3-4B Obituary ........................ 2A Sports............. .......... 1-2, 5-6B
Story, 3A
10 absences each year, no more than two disciplinary actions as defined in the Texas Education Code and perform five hours of community service or more during the second semester of their freshmen year and 10 hours of service or more each
year from their sophomore through their senior years. “At Van ISD, our motto is ‘After High School Comes College,” said Van ISD
See TJC, Page 6A
State sales tax revenue totaled $2.5 billion Story, 2A