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Texas

Ennis atty enters State Rep race

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Ennis resident Pierina Otiniano announced her candidacy on Thursday, Aug. 12, for the Texas State Representative for District 10. Ellis and Henderson Counties. Special Election Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Early Voting August 23-August 27.

Along with her five-year old son, who just entered kindergarten, they call Ennis their home, though she was originally born in Peru. Her family departed South America when Pierina’s sister was diagnosed with Leukemia at a very young age. They found both healthcare and opportunity in Texas.

State Rep runoff set for Aug. 31

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Governor Gregg Abbott announced in a proclamation this week that August 31 is when the election for Texas House District 10 will take place.

Jake Ellzey, of Midlothian, won the seat in November of 2020. He left the position to run for the 6th Congressional District, which he won over Susan Wright.

Tuesday, Aug. 31, will be a special election to replace Ellzey. The State Rep seat in Austin is described as “reliably red” by the Texas Tribune. They also infer the HD-10 is comprised of largely rural areas south and southeast of Dallas.

Pitts eschews bid as State Rep

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Waxahachie resident Ryan Pitts announced on Wednesday, Aug. 4, that he will refrain from campaigning for the vacant State Representative seat for District 10. The opportunity arose over a week ago when Jake Ellzey, who was just elected for the position in November of 2020, was elected as a Congressman for District 6.

The void will be filled this year on a date to be announced by Governor Greg Abbott. State Rep is a two-year term.

Probe launched into EPD arrest of four

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What began as an alleged speeding driver on North Kaufman Street on July 17 and became an arrest when four individuals reportedly interfered with Ennis Police, has become an official investigation.

City Manager Marty Nelson responded to questions from The Ennis News in regards to the request of those arrested by their spokesman, Minister Dominique Alexander, of Next Generation Action Network, that an investigation of the events take place.

Jake Ellzey Wins Texas Special Election over Susan Wright

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Republican Jake Ellzey will finish the term of former Congressman Ron Wright in the United States House of Representatives after defeating Susan Wright in the special election runoff Tuesday night.

“One of things that we've seen from this campaign is a positive outlook, a Reagan Republican outlook, for the future of our country is what the people of the 6th District really really want,” Ellzey said to supporters following his victory.

ENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

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Former Ennis safety and linebacker K.D. Davis has been gaining pre-season recognition as “the Shark” at the University of North Texas. At 5’11, 229-lbs, the junior returns as the starting middle linebacker for the Mean Green.

City introduces Munn as new Police Chief

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Just days after being sworn in as the new Ennis Chief of Police, Dustin Munn was introduced by City Manager Marty Nelson at this week’s city commission meeting on July 19. He spoke briefly about the honor it is to serve the town he once called home.

Extra seating was needed to accommodate those in attendance, including Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman, EPD Assistant Chief David Anthony and Lieutenants Mike Hopson and Fred Pontley, Detective Sergeant Rodney Rickman and others.

Layne takes reins of Redwater Dragons

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(First in a series of head coaching changes of note)

Former 2014 state champion Ennis Offensive Coordinator Brandon Layne left Ferris earlier this year for the head coach and athletic director position at Redwater in Northeast Texas.

In his five years at Ferris the Yellowjackets went 21-31 (.404). Upon leaving Bricktown, where the football team last won a playoff game in 2000, he improved the program in academics, attendance and discipline as well as qualifying for a playoff berth in each of the last four years.

Wreck on Kaufman claims one life

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A one vehicle accident occurred at approximately 1 a.m. on July 13 that resulted in a single fatality according to the Ennis Police Department.

Michael Coffey, 40, of Ennis, was south bound on South Kaufman in the 1900 block, near the old Gebo’s, when his vehicle, a 2007 white Toyota Prius, crossed a lane and struck a tree on the east side of the road. The driver was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Dan Cox. He was transported to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. That report has yet to be made available to The Ennis News.

Truck rescued from water

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Ellis County Sheriffs, with help from the Palmer Police Department, responded to calls along I-45 on July 12 by rescuing passengers from a vehicle trapped in rising waters.

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Martinez confirmed reports of individuals in a black pickup truck who were traveling along the southbound service road near mile-marker 262. Quick and strong showers that afternoon led to surging rainwaters that surprised, and then trapped the truck and its occupants.