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News

Bessie Coleman: Waxahachie native, pioneer aviator

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Next month is Black History Month, and after the recent news that a new aircraft carrier will be christened after Dorie Miller, for whom an Ennis school is named, some readers have contacted me, claiming local black citizens’ history hasn’t been recorded on this page very often. That struck me as not only unfair but untrue, as I have shared the history of blacks as well as whites on this page since it was started in 2017l in fact, I have enjoyed doing so since I began writing for this publication almost 18 years ago. Not only has the life of local icon Lovia Boyd been documented by me but one of the most famous African American citizens from Ellis County has been remembered by me in this paper since 2002. Bessie Coleman was more than a Waxahachie native. She was a major African American figure in the history of aviation and I am as proud of her as anyone.

UIC honors Davis at festive MLK Memorial dinner

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Unity in the Community capped its annual tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting the first event ever held in the new Ennis Welcome Center on Sunday.

During the course of the festivities, Sergeant Homer Hogues, 93, the lone surviving member of the U.S. Air Force’s Muskegee Airmen, was on hand.

Aircraft carrier named for Dorie Miller

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The World War II Pearl Harbor hero Doris “Dorie” Miller (1919-1943), the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross for valor, has been honored by the U.S. Navy with an aircraft carrier named for him.

Locals know the name of Miller well as Ennis has had a school named for him since the 1950s. During segregation, the black community’s school was first named in his honor and when a new Ennis ISD intermediate school was built about a decade ago, the school board approved the hero’s name for that facility located on Lampasas St.

Local singer’s new album launched

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Award winning singer- songwriter Brandon Hixson is releasing his seventh solo album titled Now And Then.

Now and Then features five new songs including the contemporary Christian radio single “Deepest Scar” as well as “Life With You (Your Goodness)” and “Reflection of the Cross,”

The album also showcases five of Hixson’s older songs that have been re-recorded for the project including tunes from his previous bands, Racing Gravity, Godfueled and Splendorleaf.

Ferris earns solid finish at state cheer

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Ferris cheerleaders had plenty of reasons to smile after competing in the Texas UIL State Spirit and Cheer Competition at the Fort Worth Convention Center. While they did not place in the Top 20 like the No. 16 they earned in 2019, they were in the Top 40 as a finalist of 78 teams.

Bluebonnet mascot seeks a stage name

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Bluebonnet season is quickly approaching and nature's color and beauty will blanket the fields. Keep Ennis Beautiful Coordinator Ginger Gonzalez is asking residents to help give the program mascot, the awesome blossom, a name to match.

Historical Society visits Pearce Museum

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LOCAL GROUPS

Ennis Public Theatre welcomes Shakespeare

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The comedy I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick comes to the Ennis Public Theatre, 113 N. Dallas St., on January 24 and runs through February 9.

Restaurants, downtown taking shape

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Landscaping, best suited for the spring, continues to see new life planted in Ennis, included a crosstown move by the flavorful Birriera Aguinaga restaurant, which is filling the void left by Chipotle.

Greater than expected flu season hits early

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At this time of the year in flu season, America is usually in the grips of an influenza type A outbreak. Spreading across America like a shotgun blast, influenza A causes people to be miserable and miss work. Fever, body aches, headaches, nausea, and constant blowing of the nose and finally, fatigue are symptoms of influenza A. Then, after a few months, here comes influenza