News

Hay everyone! Happy Independence Day!

Bristol resident Jim Anderson is at it again. His home, located with a scenic view that includes the Dallas skyline and fields of bluebonnets, not to mention ponds and horses, is where he places artistic works of hay along Sugar Ridge Road. Currently overlooking his property is this figuration of three round bails, all painted in the nation’s colors with flags and shiny objects adorning the top of his July 4th firecracker.

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Three Bulldogs have their night

When seniors marched across the lush turf at Bulldog Stadium for commencement exercises, three did more than walk in rhythm to Pomp and Circumstance. They were being honored for two graduations, from Palmer High School as well as from Navarro College with their Associates Degree.

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Coronavirus minimal in Ellis County

Numbers, questions and fears all continue with the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Four counties in Dallas and Fort Worth have elevated numbers while Ellis County remains remarkably low.

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Wray talks rising county property taxes

Note: First in a series.

Attributed to the increasing popularity of living in Ellis County, property taxes continue to rise. The advantages are not what most land owners in the area are likely talking about. The cost of growing from 111,360 in 2000 to an estimated 184,826 reveals the expanding demands placed for services of businesses and homeowners in the county.

Representative John Wray just addressed property taxes in the county by saying “I’m sure most of you, including me, felt your jaw drop when you saw your 2020 appraisal.”

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Eviction support group forms in Ellis Co.

As a result of the number of homeless individuals in Ellis County, and in anticipation of that number growing through evictions this summer, a local cooperative group has been designated to help.

The Ellis County Homeless Coalition was created after three years of formative meetings. The Texas Homeless Network, as the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care agency for the county, was recently approved and they formed a 501(C)3 group.

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In a class of their own

A pair of the city’s finest students graduated this weekend during the Ennis High School commencement exercises at Lion Memorial Stadium. Over 390 seniors earned the opportunity to don a maroon robe and mortarboard, along with an adorning tassel.

Precautionary health measures led the EISD to hold ceremonies on Thursday and Friday. The methods planned by area schools varied greatly with Ennis opting for a safe, yet traditional event, both ending with a fireworks show. Numerous Dallas schools and even some in Ellis County chose digital graduations over in-person.

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Ennis earns upper level recognition

Build it and they’ll come were the words of James Earl Jones in the movie, Field of Dreams. And they did. Ennis is experiencing much the same since the midtown devastation of a tornado less than a decade ago.

This week the laborious and spirited work downtown was designated as a 2020 Nationally Accredited Main Street America program. The lofty status places the Ennis Main Street Program in America’s top tier of recognition.

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Rumors of Spanish gold buried in Ennis?

“The Secret of Raphael Ranch.” Sounds like a Nancy Drew title but there really is a mystery at the site of the former estate of one of Ennis’ pioneer families. Legend has it that Spanish gold was buried under a pecan tree on the property nearly 200 years ago.

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Freedom Fest set for Saturday, June 27

What has become a city-wide annual fireworks show is slated for Saturday, June 27, at Ennis Veterans Memorial Park from 6-9 p.m. at 2301 Ennis Parkway, adjacent to Don Jose’s and All-Star Bowl on the west side of town.