News

Two of the four Ellis County Commissioner seats will be decided at the polls on November 3. Precinct 2, which covers most of Ennis and beyond, and Precinct 4, an area that includes western and eastern Midlothian, as well as Ovilla and Red Oak, will have interesting races.

When the Texas Fire Chiefs Association cast light on the Ennis Fire Department about an award for obtaining best practice standards, it prompted a closer look at just how good the crew is at the three fire stations in town. Doug Boeker, Secretary of the TFCA, presented the plaque, which was the first time Ennis has ever been the recipient of the honor, during a City Commission meeting at City Hall on February 17.

Republicans gathered in Dallas for the Republican National Convention’s midterm convention with a clear objective; turn the energy surrounding President Donald Trump into votes in November. For the Ellis County delegation, the event was also an opportunity to discuss the decisions awaiting voters closer to home, including county taxes, budget transparency and the direction of local government.

Ellis County Auditor Staci Parr released a detailed statement on Sept. 8 addressing what she referred to as “public rumors” about $20 million missing, saying “this is not true.” The rumor originated when interim Judge John Wray made it public over two weeks ago in an Aug. 18 Commissioners Court meeting that included discussion about the new budget and the need for a county administrator and budget control officer.

Ellis County commissioners met on Tuesday and discussed and approved their proposed property tax rate. The group approved the new fiscal year budget on Sept.

Preparing for crisis situations is the purpose of next Saturday’s Ellis County Emergency Preparedness Fair. It is free and will be held at the Welcome Center in downtown Ennis from 8 a.m. until noon.

Republicans filled American Airlines Center this week for the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. President Donald Trump was the headline speaker on Wednesday and, as Axios reported, he “bashed Democrats and remembered God.”

Alma and Ennis suffered a brush fire east of I-45 last Friday that charred 653 acres before a collaborative effort by a number of agencies controlled and ended the windblown embers by 11 p.m. The fire, which reportedly began about 2 p.m., was located just north of 1182 and near FM 85.

Rice High School is just 10-miles south of Ennis along I-45, though local residents have seen their marching band at least five times in recent years. Clad in royal blue, the Bulldogs mobile tunes have appeared in the Lights of Ennis parade.