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The Ennis News

Wray re-enters the fray

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An unexpected opportunity to return to office was too much for John Wray to resist. The Waxahachie native and former Texas State Representative announced last week a reversal of his plans after retiring from the same House Seat for District 10 seven months ago.

Wray, 51, held the position for three terms, beginning January 13, 2015 and ending January 12, 2021.

She’s gone with the wind

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Small town and a big talent can equal even larger aspirations. Jacie Lee Gray, who graduated third in her class this year at Scurry-Rosser High School, continues to hit high notes in her approach to education, faith and musical skills.

As the only child of Jeff and Pam Gray, her knack for trying new things and selfadvocation has led to being a high-achiever. Her parents make up half of the local Blue Grass quartet, the Acoustic Sound Hounds. Pam said last week that Jacie has never been afraid to ask for help, and it has paid big dividends.

Ennis ISD serving up free meals

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In response to the federal government extending the yearlong, free food program, which the Ennis Independent School District has previously offered in the summer months, the district will provide free breakfast and lunch for students this upcoming school year.

Called the Seamless Summer Meals Option program, it has benefitted families with provision for two meals a day while parents or guardians are at work. The coming year extension is on the account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citizens Accused 08/08/2021

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Daniel Jay Deal, 30, Ennis. Burglary of habitation, possession CS PG 1 LT1G (x2), harassment. Booked on 08/05/2021 by ECSO. *The individuals listed above are persons booked in Ellis County by local authorities. An arrest is not an indication of guilt.

Historical documents to be preserved

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Donations of historical documents, photographs and, in some cases, clothing, continue to be made by Ennisites to the archive being assembled by local historian and Ennis News contributing writer Randy Bryan Bigham, recently re-hired as a correspondent following an absence of over a year and a half due to a corporate layoff resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some of the contributions came from former Ennis City Manager Steve Howerton, who wrote Bigham that he would like to see a number of civic documents included in the archive.

Ennis Tennis

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The Lions Varsity tennis team earned their first win of the fall season in a 17-2 rout of Houston’s J. Frank Dobie High School.

HC Keith Howard has a string of district championships supporting the Maroon Strings’ credibility as a Metroplex and Area power. Good luck in making room for more hardware in the glassed-in trophy case adjacent to the EHS gym.

Ennis, Italy picked first, Palmer in second

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High school football in Eastern Ellis County produced all five teams a berth in the playoffs for the second successive season.

Bigham returns as correspondent

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Randy Bryan Bigham, a former news writer and columnist for the Ennis News who was furloughed when the Coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, has been rehired as a correspondent by the News. He returns to work this week, although he has contributed gratis previously-published work as well as occasional new stories since then.

No. 7 Lions begin pre-season practices

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No. 7 ranked Ennis will open preseason camp with three morning practices before switching to the afternoons once school began on Thursday, Aug. 12.

Head Coach Sam Harrell embarks on the fourth year since his return of an eight-year health-induced break. The Lions have had seasons of 5-5, 12-2 and 9-1 during his first three years back.

Morning practices, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, begin at 7:00 a.m. with a two-hour stint until approximately 9:30 a.m. Harrell said practices then shift to their regular, afterschool schedule at about 4:00 p.m.

Italy serves up Big 5 volleyball, Aug. 10

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Their wheels are whirling like the cartoon Taz-man. Big 5 teams hit the court this week, four of them on Tuesday, Aug. 10, with one, Ennis taking action later in the week, including their home debut on Friday against Hillcrest.

Shauna Steinmetz, the sixth year HC at Italy, drew 27 girls to the start of camp, including a veteran varsity squad. Fueling the attack is 5’2 senior setter Brooklyn Steinmetz. The distributor is pushed by Morgan Chambers, also a setter. Steinmetz, who is in the top 10 percent in her class, quarterbacks the offense.