Public Works hard worker Tyler puts the snowflake/star on the top of the city Christmas tree.

Mary Jane Farmer, all photos and narrative, more photos at bottom of this short article. 

Van Alstyne is beginning to get that Christmas holiday feel, what with the city’s Public Works Parks Department having put up lights around various places and, Tuesday, beginning to raise the city’s Christmas tree in Dorothy Fielder Park. Also, many residents and businesses are getting into the swing of it, installing their outside decorations.

They won’t be able to finish it Tuesday (today), because the final Music in the Park, featuring the great Hannah Hokit, will kick off at 6 p.m., and the Chamber hopes to fill the park. So, PW will have all remaining branches, trailers, and equipment moved by then, and pick this project up when their schedule next permits it.

The city’s Christmas tree is being built again around the Dorothy Fielder Park fountain.

And there are those who believe, and everyone understands, waiting until Thanksgiving to accomplish these projects. There are others who believe in keeping Christmas throughout the year. And all those beliefs are respected.  But for Public Works, there just so many days to get these done, in addition to their many other daily chores.

The Christmas Tree will remain unlighted until the official tree-lighting ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and will again be plush with all the ceremony, music, joy and fellowship brought in times past by the Chamber of Commerce and the Van Alstyne is Christmas Town committees.

The Christmas parade is scheduled to step off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, and on Dec. 18, from 5-8 p.m., the Public Library will host Santa’s Workshop. More details on those events later.

Visitors to downtown may have already noticed that the Public Works has also installed the trees in the park with lights, put up the lighted, giant snowflakes across from the Post Office, and added other Christmas items throughout town. And they aren’t through yet!

Construction next door to the Dorothy Fielder Park, where the new Central Social District Park and its concrete parking lot is going in.

Public Works hard workers Patrick, Justin, Jerry, and Afton work on assembling the top of the city Christmas tree prior to adding it to the tree over the water fountain.

Justin (Public Works Director) i the red shirt is flanked by hard workers Will and Clay.

By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, compiled from reports from Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip

Between October 25 and Halloween night (Oct. 31), Van Alstyne Police received 160 calls for service resulting in 7 police reports and 3 offense reports. They also investigated 1 traffic accident resulting in 1 possible injury, Hayslip reported.

The Police Department were among the various businesses, organizations, and groups who participated in the Saturday night Halloween downtown Trick-or-Treating on Saturday night. Hayslip estimated there were about 3,000 in attendance and said that they handed out about 100 pounds of candy.

There were also no arrests made either that night or Halloween night.

Arrest — The one arrest was made at about 2:30 a.m. Friday night (Oct. 29). Police were called to a disturbance in progress, location not provided, and the reporting party said that her ex-boyfriend was there attempting to get inside it. Upon arrival, police found the suspect still at the home, and highly intoxicated. He was also uncooperative with officers, Hayslip said. The suspect, a Van Alstyne man, was taken to Grayson County Jail on charge of public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Jail records do not indicate the bail posted, but do show that the suspect was released later the same day.

Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News / Scene In Town, from information provided by Van Alstyne Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip

Van Alstyne Police received 573calls for service between October 4 and October 24, reported Police Sgt. Steve Hayslip. Of those, 25 resulted in police reports and 8 in offense reports. Hayslip added that there were 7 motor vehicle crashes, neither one with injuries. They also made three arrests during this time frame.

This coming Saturday, Oct. 30, too, Van Alstyne PD will be participating with a booth in the downtown Trick or Treat festivities with numerous other downtown businesses. They will be handing out candy between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Likewise, police will be at the Public Library Wednesday (Oct. 27) for the weekly 10:30 a.m. Story Time. The library is encouraging the children to wear their costumes for the event. Police will be telling stories and giving out Trick or Treat Safety Tips.

Arrest —About three in the morning of Oct. 5, officers made a traffic stop, and, following protocol, discovered the driver, a Van Alstyne woman, had an outstanding warrant issued by Grayson County Sheriff’s Office charging her with violation of a protective order. Police jailed the suspect and a magistrate set her bail at $2,000, which she posted later the same day for her release.

Stolen car located — A car owner reported his vehicle stolen. Hayslip reported that in early October, the car apparently broke down in Allen, Texas, and the unknown suspect abandoned it there. Allen PD made a registration check and found it had been stolen. The owner had left the keys underneath the car seat, the report said.

Arrest — On October 16, at 22:01 p.m., officers were sent to a disturbance in the area of 1720 S. Waco. They located the suspect, a young Van Alstyne man, and During the investigation, police determined that the suspect had assaulted a person and was also operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while intoxicated. They jailed the suspect on a charge of driving while intoxicated and assault. Bail was set at a total of $1,500, payable in cash or surety bonds. The suspect posted bail and was released the following day.

Arrest — September 22, officers were called to a welfare concert at a business, 130 E Van Alstyne Parkway. They checked on the person called about, a San Antonio man, and determined he was intoxicated. They jailed the suspect. On a charge of public intoxication. The suspect laid out his time and released from Grayson County Jail the next day.

Mary Jane Farmer, for the Van Alstyne News

A former Van Alstyne resident remains in Grayson County Jail on multiple felony charges, after Sherman police jailed him there on 9/11 arrest. This is his 18th incarceration in Grayson County since his first one in 1996.

About 11:21 a.m. that day, a resident of a house in the 800 block of North Ricketts Street called police and told dispatch that someone was breaking windows on his/her home, pouring gasoline on it, and threatening to set the house on fire, according to the police report. The suspect was still on the property when officers arrived and they took him into custody.

Police found the suspect to be in possession of the following:  a fuel can, a lighter, two flash drives, 3 DPV units, and a receipt and paper.

Jail records show the suspect to reside in Bells now.

Jail records also show the suspect is in jail on a first-degree felony charge of criminal attempt-capital murder of multiple persons; arson intending damage of a habitation; and 3 counts of aggravated assault with deadly weapon, a 2^nd degree felony. Bail was set at a total of $625,000, with conditions.

Corner of Waco & West Van Alstyne Parkway, aka SH 5 and FM 121.

By Mary Jane Farmer,  from a press release from Texas Department of Public Safety, TxDOT.

Both Waco Street (SH 5), FM 121,  and parts of Van Alstyne Parkway and are state-maintained roadways. Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Tim McAlavy reported on two upcoming and one continuing construction projects .

Waco Street — The annual crack-seal contract project for Grayson County roadways begins Oct. 18. Drivers should expect delays as the work is performed using daytime lane closures. State Highway 5 from US Hwy. 75 to the Collin County line will be crack sealed this year. This route runs through Van Alstyne city limits and is also called Waco Street.

SH 75 — Also, US 75 full-depth concrete repair begins soon (no starting date provided) in Grayson County from the Collin-Grayson County line to the Oklahoma State line. TxDOT spokesman Tim McAlavy said  Grayson County crews will be working on US 75 each week from Sunday night through Thursday night. Lane closures will be present at night for crews to replace failed concrete. Lane closures will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m. This work will extend from the Collin-Grayson County line to the Oklahoma State line.

FM 121 —Having already been in progress for some time, FM 121 from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356 remains under construction on what will become a five-lane section of the FM 121, consisting of concrete pavement, once it is completed. McAlavy said to watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews work to build portions of the new bridges and roadway. Also, watch for lane shifts and narrow lanes throughout the project as crews have moved traffic to a portion of the new pavement.

There are many other TxDOT roadway improvement areas, and especially along US 75 in the Sherman area. Information on these can be found in the Herald-Democrat.