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News

Church’s new location brings hope

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A church that’s been looking for a new home finally has it, although concern over Covid-19 has delayed plans for its opening. For five years the Ennis campus for the Waxahachie-based The Avenue Church has gathered momentum in the community. It still has a devoted following, men, women and children who look forward to the day the new church doors open.

Covid-19 Update: tug-of-war continues

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Tensions are as tight as a high “E” string as the coronavirus pandemic has the administration in Washington D.C. pulled taut by two ends in what has become a political battle of tug-of-war. In the middle is a country whose right to work has been squashed by a virus that almost everyone survives.

Full steam ahead on new plant, says Freshpet

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In uncertain times, good news is worthy of acception, as long as its not too good to be true, or so said the late author Matthew Henry.

Some of the best news for Ennis in the past two decades was the announced decision in February that Freshpet, Inc., headquartered in Secaucus, NJ and with a major plant in Lehigh Valley (Bethlehem), PA, chose Ennis as the site for its newest expansion. The good news will bring a national leader in pet food and treats, made in the USA with all-natural chicken or beef as the No. 1 ingredient, as well as 400 jobs to the area.

Huggy mom guides family, waits for work

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As unpredictable as a hen in a hurricane, the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic has impacted many more Americans through unemployment than by those who have tested positive. People in service industries were the first to lose their jobs, 25 million in the United States, and look to be among the first to be called back.

Young girl’s letters spread joy

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An 8-year-old local girl is making the most of quarantine restrictions by bringing happiness to area residents with her homemade greetings cards, pictures and letters.

Addressed to senior citizens in area nursing homes who are missing their families during the health crisis, the letters and pictures have reached almost a hundred people so far.

Ennisite Sandra Pate Rayford’s mother received one recently.

Coronavirus trend shows progress in Ellis Co.

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Numbers rising exponentially are showing more promise in the fight against the effects of coronavirus in Ellis County. The cases continue to rise, while those who have recovered, 109, outnumber the 69 active cases.

A week ago the county had 121 cases, a figure that increased by 58 this week to 179. That ranks No. 29 in the state, where 209 of 254 counties have at least one confirmed case. All this from a virus the World Heath Organization (WHO) said in January could not be spread human-to-human.

Colorful excerpts of Ennis and Ellis County history

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Ennis State Bank at its 1960s location on Dallas Street.

A train derailment in Ennis in the 1950s, taken by Ford Curry, Dane Willliams’ uncle.

This postcard, showing the Ennis Post Office in the 1940s, was submitted by Carl Evans who found it in his grandmother’s scrapbook.

Members of the EHS Class of ’63, including Mark Busby, at the Dairy Mart.

Baseball player Jay Justin Clarke who set a home run record in Ennis in 1902.

Dalton family history shared

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Bobbie Dlabaj, my friend and a regular Ennis News contributor of fascinating histories of the people of our city and county, has been at it again, turning up some really exciting information on some brothers who once lived in the Bluebonnet City but who moved out to Hollywood to make successful careers for themselves in the worlds of entertainment and real estate. Here is what Bobbie writes me:

“I have come across a family that once lived in Ennis while doing some research on other residents.

Rupp named new CEO at Ennis Regional Medical Center

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Robert Rupp has been appointed the new chief executive officer (CEO) CEO of Ennis Regional Medical Center effective May 4. A veteran healthcare leader, he also assumes the top leadership role at Parkview Regional Hospital in nearby Mexia.

He replaces Bob Honeycutt who has transitioned to a hospital within the LifePoint Health network located in Russellville, Ark. Honeycutt held the position at ERMC for two and one-half years.

Whites lead in Texas Covid-19 cases

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Breaking down the case demographics in Texas reveal that of the 6,422 who have tested positive, nearly one-third are white.

Texas Health and Human Services posted a piechart reflecting 31.7 percent, or roughly 2,000 are listed as white by the testing facility. Second, narrowly, are Hispanics at 29.5 percent at 1,900 people.

Blacks have contracted coronavirus at a rate 16.6 or 1,100 positive tests. Asians are fourth at 3.7 and 240 people altogether.