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The Ennis News

Roy Massengille

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Roy Massengille, 77, passed away on May 4, 2021.

Viewing was held on Friday, May 14, 2021, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Superior Care Funeral Services (Ennis), 1905 W. Ennis Ave., Ste. 201, Ennis.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Unmerited Favor Christian Fellowship, 4420 Bonnieview Rd., Dallas, Texas 75216.

Agnes Ann Prachyl

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On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, our sweet mother passed away at the age of 88.

Agnes was born in Ennis, Texas, on October 11, 1932, to Joseph and Agnes Marusak. The second oldest daughter of 13 children, mom grew up in Ennis where she attended St. Johns Catholic school and later graduated from St. Paul’s Hospital School of Nursing in Dallas. In 1954, mom began her marriage of 54 years to her true love, Edward Prachyl from Garrett, Texas, and they settled down and raised a family of five children in Dallas and since 1974 in Richardson, Texas.

Claude James, Jr.

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Claude James, Jr., 79, passed away on May 4, 2021.

Wake was held on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 6 p.m., at Ennis Mount Zion Baptist Church, 800 E. Freeman St., Ennis.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., also at Ennis Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Services were under the direction of Superior Care Funeral Services (Ennis).

Michael Joseph Jesttes

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Michael Joseph Jesttes, age 62 passed away in Tyler on May 12, 2021. He was born on January 23, 1959 to Gene Wilson Sr, and Margaret Louise (Greene) Jesttes in Loma Linda, California. He liked riding his Harley and building things. He was raised in Pomona, California and graduated Gary High School; graduated at El Centro Community College in Dallas in criminal justice. He worked for Dallas Sheriff’s Office for 30 years in the traffic, warrants and narcotics areas. He was also Range Master of Dallas County. Michael retired in 2008 to work for MPAA as a PI.

Raise your right hand

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Following every election is the swearing in of the newly elected or, in the case of the Ennis Independent School District Board of Trustees, the re-elected.

When things are going well, when leadership is making progress and are getting things accomplished, the momentum is often tangible. That is currently the case within the EISD. To those who have called Ennis their hometown for over a decade, you can recall times when smooth sailing in the district was not current. Issues arise and the effort to overcome them can bring a few restless nights of hammering out solutions.

Hesitant to the vaccine?

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If aliens from space were to invade and ask Earthlings to take them to their leader, who would it be? Normally it would be the President of the Free World (POTUS), but it is clearly not Joe Biden. Not because he is not mentally aware that he is in charge, because he is not. Five times last week he said publicly that he would “get in trouble” if he answered questions directly from the press or spoke too long or didn’t wear a mask.

Really? Who would dare rebuke the POTUS?

The bus is gone

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When I returned from a recent trip to Alabama, I looked purposely at the husband and said, with a hint of remorse, “The bus is gone.”

After a moment of silence, he nodded knowingly and said, “I know. I meant to tell you that--I didn’t see it on my last trip home.”

We studied each other for explanation.

“Where is it?” I asked him, although who could expect him to know?

“I don’t know,” he said matter-of-factly. “And why do you move a bus after it’s been parked in the same place for 30 years?” he said, adding another question to my original one.

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.

Citizens Accused 05/16/2021

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Rhett Roddy Bodle, 44, Ennis. Driving while intoxicated 3rd or more IAT. Booked on 05/10/2021 by ECSO. *The individuals listed above are persons booked in Ellis County by local authorities. An arrest is not an indication of guilt.

Local recalls family’s ‘polka history’

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National Polka Festival Weekend draws thousands of visitors each year, everyone eager to sample the traditional food, drink, dance and all the other aspects of Czechoslovakian culture symbolized by the event.

But for just as many people, maybe more, the occasion is one big family reunion. That’s what it means to long-time Ennis resident Nola Anthony Factor, whose grandfather stepped off the boat from Czechoslovakia over 108 years ago.