Ellis County Press

Photo by Tony Webster

To Flock or not to Flock, that is the question?

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 15:04

ELLIS COUNTY – “This is an added tool for officers to solve crimes and locate missing and wanted people,” an anonymous local police official said regarding Flock Safety cameras. “Systems can be abused if we don’t have rules and accountability.

Graphic courtesy NWS Fort Worth

Storm brings 60 m.p.h. gusts and hail to Maypearl

STAFF REPORT

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 15:01

MAYPEARL – A slow-moving severe thunderstorm brought an unexpected hit to northwest Ellis County...

May 11, 2026 – A group of Red Oak residents showed their opposition to the proposed 800+ acre data center development in Red Oak by protesting on the north side of FM 664. Photo by Charles D. Hatfield Jr. / The Ellis County Press

Ellis County lawsuit sparks statewide grid and legislative battle over Red Oak data centers

RITA COOK / Freelance Writer

Mon, 09/14/2026 - 13:49

RED OAK – What began as a local fight over an 830-acre agricultural tract in Red Oak has...

Map courtesy Red Oak Economic Development Department

Lawsuit targets Red Oak data center rezoning

STAFF REPORT

Wed, 09/09/2026 - 16:25

RED OAK – The data center battle in Red Oak escalated last week as local legal action intersected...

News

Submitted photo

Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services celebrate 65 years

SUBMITTED STORY

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 14:59

WAXAHACHIE – On Saturday, Sept.

Photo courtesy Hutchins Fire Rescue

Hutchins facility fire draws mutual aid from 4 agencies

RITA COOK / Freelance Writer

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 14:57

HUTCHINS – Dallas area residents leaving DFW Airport reported they could see the fire that broke...

Submitted graphic

Historic Ellis County roads transformed into massive 40-mile market this month

RITA COOK / Freelance Writer

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 14:52

ELLIS COUNTY – The historic roads of Ellis County are making way for one of the largest treasure...

Sports

WEEK 4 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES (September 17 & 18, 2026)

Ellis123

Thu, 09/17/2026 - 11:48

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Ennis vs Arlington Seguin, 7 p.m. (home) Red Oak vs Mansfield, 7 p.m.

Fumble return for touchdown gives Waxahachie a 44-30 win over Denton Guyer

STAFF REPORT

Thu, 09/17/2026 - 11:43

DENTON – In a game pitting two of the top defenses in Texas, Waxahachie rallied from a halftime...

WEEK 3 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES (September 10 & 11, 2026)

Ellis123

Thu, 09/17/2026 - 11:40

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Ennis 10, Burleson Centennial 31 Waxahachie 44, Denton Guyer 30 FRIDAY,...

Opinion

By A.F. Branco, September 17, 2026

Exclusive Subscriber Content

COMICALLY INCORRECT by A.F. Branco (September 17, 2026)

Ellis123

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 16:22

Exclusive Subscriber Content

OPINION: How to waste $9 trillion to NOT ‘save the planet’

STEPHEN MOORE

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 16:18

The world has spent $9 trillion to combat climate change since 2020.

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: Conversations with Melly, and why I’m not afraid of AI, but am concerned about humans

RITA COOK (and Melly) / Freelance Writer

Wed, 09/16/2026 - 16:13

Author’s Note: Dancing with the Machine This piece grew out of a week dominated by anxious...

Lifestyle

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

TASTE: Score big on game day with this winning tailgate recipe

Ellis123

Thu, 09/17/2026 - 11:51

FEATURE IMPACT – Tailgating and grilling go together like touchdowns and victory dances, and some...

Photo by Guillaume de Vaudrey

BONJOUR WORLD: The art of the slow South – a winter train and car romance with Provence

RITA COOK / Freelance Writer

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 16:11

There is something undeniably civilized about leaving Paris by train.

Photo by Rita Cook

BEHIND THE WHEEL: Everyday manners in the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. Because great cars never go out of style

RITA COOK / Freelance Writer

Mon, 09/07/2026 - 11:57

Manners extend well beyond the dinner table, and sometimes it shows up in the form of a vehicle...

Obituaries

James Alexander Davidson

OBITUARY: James Alexander Davidson

Ellis123

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 16:40

James Alexander Davidson was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan on May 1, 1957 to his parents Bernice...

Shelba Turner DiStasi

OBITUARY: Shelba Turner DiStasi

Ellis123

Mon, 05/18/2026 - 15:10

Shelba Turner DiStasi was born in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 16, 1959.

Anthony Wayne “Tony” Cook

OBITUARY: Anthony Wayne “Tony” Cook

RITA COOK / Freelance Writer

Wed, 05/13/2026 - 16:09

Anthony Wayne Cook (Tony) was born in Dallas, Texas on December 11, 1962.

To Flock or not to Flock, that is the question?

Storm brings 60 m.p.h. gusts and hail to Maypearl

Ellis County lawsuit sparks statewide grid and legislative battle over Red Oak data centers

Lawsuit targets Red Oak data center rezoning

News

Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services celebrate 65 years

Hutchins facility fire draws mutual aid from 4 agencies

Historic Ellis County roads transformed into massive 40-mile market this month

Sports

WEEK 4 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES (September 17 & 18, 2026)

Fumble return for touchdown gives Waxahachie a 44-30 win over Denton Guyer

WEEK 3 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES (September 10 & 11, 2026)

Opinion

COMICALLY INCORRECT by A.F. Branco (September 17, 2026)

OPINION: How to waste $9 trillion to NOT ‘save the planet’

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: Conversations with Melly, and why I’m not afraid of AI, but am concerned about humans

Lifestyle

TASTE: Score big on game day with this winning tailgate recipe

BONJOUR WORLD: The art of the slow South – a winter train and car romance with Provence

BEHIND THE WHEEL: Everyday manners in the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. Because great cars never go out of style

Obituaries

OBITUARY: James Alexander Davidson

OBITUARY: Shelba Turner DiStasi

OBITUARY: Anthony Wayne “Tony” Cook

Photos

2026 Lancaster/DeSoto July 4th Celebration (photos by Jessica Lilley)

2026 Midlothian Independence Day Parade (photos by Michael Seiber / The Ellis County Press)

2026 Waxahachie Crape Myrtle Festival, Fireworks & Parade (photos by Fred Phipps)