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Ennis Garden Club announces Yards of the Season

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The Ennis Garden Club has announced the 2021 Spring Yards of the Season. The Yards of the Season are selected three times a year: Autumn, Spring, and Summer. The yards, nominated by members of the Ennis Garden Club, are selected in each of the four EISD elementary school districts. Homes are chosen using the following criteria: curb appeal, neatness, seasonal landscaping, and owner involvement. The Yards of the Season for Spring 2021 are: (Travis District) 304 E. Baylor, Oscar and Anna Rodriguez; (Austin District) 2503 Inverrary, Stephen and Rayla Coakes; (Bowie District) 609 N.

Governor Abbott Issues GA36 Prohibiting Government Entities From Mandating Masks

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Executive Order GA 36: BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, May 18, 2021, Relating to the prohibition of governmental entities and officials from mandating face coverings or restricting activities in response to the COVID-19 disaster.  

WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on March 13, 2020, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in the State of Texas; and

Governor Abbott Announces End to Federal Pandemic-Related Unemployment Benefits

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From the office of the Governor: 

Governor Greg Abbott today informed the U.S. Department of Labor that Texas will opt out of further federal unemployment compensation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective June 26, 2021. This includes the $300 weekly unemployment supplement from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.

EISD reels in new principal, Joseph Melms

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Ennis Independent School District officials announced Joseph Melms as the new principal at Ennis High School. Currently the principal at Grand Prairie’s Young Men’s Leadership Academy, where he has served for four years, his new position in Ennis is set to start on June 1.

Mr. Melms, 41, attended Midlothian H.S. and Dallas Baptist University, and he was in the Navy in between. He follows Wade Bishop, presently the principal at EHS. Earlier this spring the genial Bishop was elevated to Assistant Superintendent of Accountability at the Central Offices downtown.

State-by-state national vax update at 32.8 pct.

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In the months since the vaccine for COVID-19 has been available the number of people in the United States receiving the shots to thwart coronavirus has steadily risen.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a total of 108,926,627 Americans had been fully vaccinated as of May 6. The number (108 million) reflects 32.8 percent of the country’s population. The data is updated daily in Atlanta, the headquarters for the national public health agency.

Painting with a wide brush

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Ralph Waldo Emerson, the late poet, said “every artist was first an amateur.” Ennis students who study art under teacher Cheryl Kelly, the Fine Arts Head at the high school, often discover their gifts in art and are then fanned into a flame.

One look at her classroom, covered wall-to-wall in the artwork of her students, shows it be as much a lab – where ideas are conceived, as it is a hatchery, where they are birthed and flourish.

Dr. Jolly is new EISD Deputy Supt.

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Building a qualified administrative staff and maintaining one through the inevitable changes over the years is seldom as perfect as assembling a jigsaw puzzle. It just appears that way since the arrival of EISD Superintendent Jay Tullos. His introduction of Dr. Darin Jolly is a case in point.

The 48-year-old came on board as Assistant Superintendent of Accountability and Operations, officially abbreviated the Deputy Supt. last month. His responsibilities will include restructuring human resources, evaluating personnel and supporting principals in the district.

Former State Senator Don Huffines announces his candidacy for Governor of Texas

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In a press release, Former State Senator Don Huffines announced  his candidacy for Governor of Texas. “I’m a proud fifth-generation Texan,” Huffines said. “For too long, Texas has been let down by politicians who offer nothing but excuses and lies. Our border is still wide open. Property taxes keep going up. And our election laws continue to be ignored. Plain and simple, our politicians aren’t getting things done, and Texans have rightfully run out of patience. I will fight and win on behalf of Texans. We will protect our great state and secure our freedoms.

Juenemann earns third mayoral term in rout

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Angeline Juenemann won a third term as mayor of Ennis with a convincing 1,359 to 401 victory over her challenger, Trevor Wilhoite, on May 1. Drawing 77 percent of the ballots cast, she actually had enough early voters, 830, to have doubled her opponent before Election Day.

Adding to her previous campaign theme, Expect More, Mayor Angie and the widespread growth in business, housing and jobs, appears to show residents Expect Even More of the same.

Bardwell elects new mayor

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Bardwell, located just four miles south of Ennis on Hwy 34, elected a new mayor on May 1 when Jodie Odlozil edged Shannon Spurgeon, 33- 21, at the ballot box.

Odlozil (OH’d-lo-zeel), 39, succeeds Larry Gilbert, 78, for the volunteer leadership position of the city of 689 (in 2019). He was sworn in, along with incumbent City Council members, Dolores Luksa and Susan Dionne Sauers, on Thursday, May 6, by City Secretary Christy Gatlin.

Luksa and Sauers defeated Clint Ivy for the twin positions, 39 to 36 in votes, while Ivy collected 15 ballots.