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News

Pedaling patriots whirl downtown

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Some people are very patriotic and others, perhaps, will do whatever it takes to draw salutes from total strangers. Whatever the case, the 7th annual Red, White & Bike parade last week prompted people of all ages, though most were quite young, to ride bikes, trikes and wagons to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

News of the fun and free event had four bicyclists riding giant butterflies on wheels with another making his way in a large, lifelike mobilized eagle. The group hailed from the Austin Bike Zoo.

Kidnapper still on the run

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Credit the teamwork in law enforcement for the capture of Faith Joann Reid, 20, and for the return of the seven-month-old missing child, Miguel David Lee Ramirez. It didn’t take long.

Thursday, July 1, an Amber Alert was issued when Reid, reportedly the child’s mother, allegedly paired up with Marcus Allhoff Nast, 25, to kidnap the infant at gunpoint at the 900 block of Shawnee Street, near MLK Blvd., in Ennis.

Uptick in Ellis Co. homeless

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Growing numbers of homelessness in a market where rent has approached $1.60 per square foot is adding to the pressure felt by low income or unemployed individuals and families. The need for help and intervention is being felt by more people than ever.

Ennis Cares distributes food for 500+ families

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Ennis came together and proved how well they love others during last week’s mega-food distribution held at the Texas Motorplex.

Director of Ennis Cares, Christen Vick, summed up the fifth food sharing event since February. “Over 70 volunteers came together as we worked alongside a number of area agencies,” she said. It included Helping Hands of Ennis and the North Texas Food Bank and others. The project moved from the west end of Ennis, where the previous events took place, to one of the nation’s finest dragstrips, the Texas Motorplex, where Andy Carter is the CEO.

Barton rates Ellzey, Wright race

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In the same District 6 known as a Republican stronghold throughout his 34 years in Washington, Joe Barton won 17 consecutive elections, all by wide-margins. The Ennis resident’s reign qualifies his insights on the current congressional race between Susan Wright and Jake Ellzey.

He spoke to The Ennis News while on vacation about the two Republicans whose special runoff is set for July 27. Early voting is from July 19-23.

Opening doors for second chances at school

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Juvenile Justice Alternative Education facility being built

Amber Alert canceled for Ennis child

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Editor’s note: Just before print deadline on Friday afternoon, it was announced that the Amber Alert has been canceled. According to reports, Ramirez and Reid were found in Parker County. Ramirez was reported to have been found safe and Reid is currently in custody of police. No update was available on the whereabouts of Nast as of press time.

DPS encourages Texans to be smart in summer heat

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AUSTIN – As temperatures rise this summer, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging the public to take extra safety precautions to avoid some common heat-related dangers, especially for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

Mass food distribution Monday at TX Motorplex

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A morning of free food will be delivered to those in need on Monday, June 28, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Texas Motorplex, just west of Ennis. The race track is located at 7500 U.S. 287.

The mass food distribution is a collaboration between Ennis Cares, Helping Hands of Ennis and the Texas Motorplex, with the supplier coming from the Mobile Food Bank of the North Texas Food Bank.

Nutrition, variety added to menus

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If the kitchen is the heart of every home, then the dining hall is where people come to share meals and life. Campus gatherings are a source of social interaction infused with nutrition.

A recent hire by the Ennis Independent School District, Alejandro “Alex” Pineda (pa-NAY-da) as the nutrition director, appears to paint with a wide brush when it comes to describing ideas for feeding children and young people at the 10 campuses.