Category Archives: *- Features

Highway Construction repairs begin March 14

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer. Taken from the U.S. Highway 75 overpass at County Line Road.

Press release from TxDOT, photo by Mary Jane Farmer

Texas Department of Transportation officials announced today (Friday) that full-depth concrete repairs on US Highway 75 in Grayson County are slated to begin on March 14.

TxDOT granted the contractor, O. Trevino Construction of Roanoke, Texas, 127 working days, weather permitting, to complete this project valued at more than $1.2 million. The target completion date for this work is November 2021, TxDOT officials said.

The contractor will remove existing, damaged concrete pavement on US 75 from the Collin-Grayson County line northward to the Red River and install new concrete pavement. All work will be done at night, with work zone lane closures from 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday night through Thursday night. No work will be done on Friday and Saturday nights, to minimize inconvenience to the public.

Motorists who travel frequently along US 75 in Grayson County are asked to pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also be prepared for traffic delays while work zones are present, and should avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.

Van Alstyne ISD board election information

By Mary Jane Farmer, Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town

Van Alstyne ISD’s Board of Trustees has its three elected members returning unopposed to the Board. The fourth, appointee Beau Williams, has also applied for election, and is challenged for the Board seat by Andy Albertini.

Documentation provided by ISD’s Lawanna Merriman, administrative assistant, shows the three current board members are: Place 7-David Kerr, age 63; Place 6-Steve Roddy, age 53; and Place 5-Dennis M. Smith, age 57.

Williams, 40, was appointed to fill the Place 2 position left vacant by Jim Atchison, who resigned after being appointed as Mayor. Williams has lived in the more than 13 years. Albertini, age, 52, is also seeking the Place 2 trustee chair. He is a 1 ½ -year area resident.

The school district trustees are also asking voters to approve a $325 million bond for advancements in the district’s facilities. More about that can be found on a special Website, (click here—vaisdbond.com) and more about this will be featured here on Van Alstyne News/Scene In Town.

Early voting by personal appearance begins April 19, 2021, at the designated Polling Place, which is Grayson College, 1455 Van Alstyne Parkway, Gould added. This is also the location for May 1 (election day) voting.

 

 

Police Reports-Feb. 26, 2021

Reported by Mary Jane Farmer, Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town

Van Alstyne Police Sgt. Steve Hayslip report that during the two-week period ending February, the Van Alstyne Police Department received 246 calls for service.

Arrest — Police were called to check on the welfare of a man passed out behind the steering wheel of his vehicle and in a public place. When the officer knocked on the vehicle’s window, the man opened it and the officer noted the distinct odor of marijuana coming from inside. Hayslip reported that no medical attention was required for the suspect.

With probable cause, the officer searched and found the various drugs inside the vehicle. He placed the suspect under arrest on a variety of charges.

Charges the suspect was jailed on were: Possession of Controlled Substances PG3, PG2, PG1A and marijuana, plus one charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon. The total bail set was $10,000, which the suspect posted in surety bonds for his release the following day.

Wrecks — During this past two weeks, police investigated four car crashes. Hayslip said three of them did cause bodily injury, but nobody was seriously injured. The fourth crash caused no bodily harm, he added. Two were on U.S. Hwy. 75, one on the entrance ramp, and the fourth was on a city street.

Hayslip added that there were zero wrecks during the recent snow and ice storm.

City Council Candidates for re-election

By Mary Jane Farmer, Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town

Van Alstyne City Council has three seats up for re-election, along with that place of the mayor. City Clerk Jennifer Gould responded timely to the request for public information on this upcoming, May 1 election.

All incumbents filed for re-election, and all are running unopposed.

These are:

Mayor: Jim Atchison

Alderman Place 3:  Bruce Dawsey

Alderman Place 4:  Cary “Lee” Thomas

Alderman Place 5:  Katrina Arsenault

One of those, Alderman Place. 3, requires a special election, and will also be on May 1.

The Place 3 seat would normally have come up in 2022, along with those chairs held now held by Ryan Neal and Marla Butler (Places 1 and 2 respectively) Dawsey was appointed to fill the chair vacated by former Council Member Robert Jaska, who resigned to accept a job with the City of Van Alstyne.

Gould explained that there are still two more weeks, or until March 1, for anyone to sign up who wants to run for Place 3 seat on the Council. The reason, she said, is because, “Place 3 would not normally be on the ballot until 2022. Because of this, it is a special election. It (That seat) will be on the ballot again in 2022 for a full two-year term.”

If anyone is interested, that person(s) can pick up a packet at City Hall with applicable information for the potential candidate(s).

There are also seats up for re-election on the Van Alstyne ISD Board of Trustees, however as of this writing, those who signed up have not been made available. That information will be posted when received.