ALMA
On Sept. 14, Alma PD worked on an accident with one vehicle fully involved on southbound 45 near 244. Alma Fire was also dispatched and requested Ennis for mutual aid.
BARDWELL
Bardwell’s City Clean-Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon allowing residents to drop off bulk waste items using DCI Sanitation roll-off dumpsters. Prohibited items include cell phones, computers, and TVs of any kind, batteries, used oil, and used oil filters, pool chemicals, hazardous waste, herbicides, pesticides, and liquids (like wet paint).
CEDAR HILL
The 89th Annual Country Day Parade is headed back to Historic Downtown Cedar Hill. The theme is “Spirit of Adventure,” and the event will be held Saturday, Oct.10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ENNIS
Ennis Utility Billing has been relocated to the Ennis Welcome Center at 201 NW Main St. while City Hall undergoes repairs. The temporary location is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In person payments are available at this site. Online payments and the Night Drop Box at City Hall will remain available. Customers may also make payments through the city’s online portal, Xpress Bill Pay, or by calling 1 (833) 622 3316 for assistance.
FERRIS
Ferris reminds residents to enroll in the Nixle alert system (by texting 75125 to 888777) to receive real-time emergency updates directly from the Ferris DPS during the ongoing storms and other emergencies.
GARRETT
Garrett’s Fall Festival will be held on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at City of Garrett Park, 211 N. Ferris St., with Trunk or Treat, a bounce house, hot dogs, games & activities and lots of candy. If you’d like to participate in Trunk or Treat, please contact Garrett City Hall at (972)875-5893.
GLENN HEIGHTS
Join Glenn Heights on Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to noon at Heritage Park for Fall Community Clean Up Day! On Site services include brush collection, paper shredding, trash collection and bulk collection. More details at www.glennheightstx.gov/303/Citywide-Clean-Up-Community-Beautification.
ITALY
Italy is seeking community members to help guide the development of Italy’s Comprehensive Plan. CPAC members will share local knowledge, review planning information, and provide input on the community’s future. Appointments will be made by the City Council. If interested, complete an application and return to City Hall, 161 W. Main St. by the deadline date of Oct. 19.
MAYPEARL
A major motorcycle crash in the 9800 block of FM 157 in Maypearl occurred on Saturday, Sept. 19. First responders from the Maypearl Fire Department were dispatched to the scene, and traffic was temporarily delayed as drivers were forced to find alternate routes while emergency personnel cleared the wreckage. No specific details regarding injuries or fatalities have been officially released by law enforcement or emergency medical services.
MIDLOTHIAN
Midlothian officials and State Representative Brian Harrison clashed publicly after the city council unanimously voted to lower the municipal property tax rate to 64 cents per $100 of assessed property value. While Harrison accused the council of passing a hidden tax hike, Mayor Pro Tem Clark Wickliffe defended the decision, clarifying that the rate was actively reduced and any revenue increases stemmed from new commercial and residential developments.
MILFORD
Milford’s next Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.
OAK LEAF
Oak Leaf has announced that all planned roadway construction projects for the year are scheduled to wrap up by Sept. 24, 2026. City officials noted that this milestone caps off a comprehensive five-year push during which 95 percent of all city streets have successfully received direct maintenance or paving upgrades
OVILLA
Ovilla is hosting consecutive local blood drives with Carter BloodCare to address regional shortages. The first drive was earlier this week and the second blood drive is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Carter BloodCare bus parked directly at Ovilla City Hall (105 S. Cockrell Hill Rd). Donors will receive a complimentary magnetic phone charger as a thank-you
PALMER
Palmer High School celebrated its annual Homecoming weekend with a massive town presence. Following a community parade and pep rally, the Palmer Bulldogs varsity football team secured an offensive victory at Bulldog Stadium, defeating the rival Maypearl Tigers with a final score of 48-34.
PECAN HILL
Pecan Hill City Council meetings are the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.
RED OAK
CBS’s 60 Minutes featured a prominent segment tonight on the massive data center boom and subsequent community backlash in Red Oak. The broadcast highlighted the rapid transformation of local agricultural lands into vast industrial complexes housing computer chips. Key points from the investigative segment included the local opposition and followed a bipartisan group of local citizens – including lifelong conservative Dave Lowe and resident Jazmin Villegas – who are fighting to stop developers from creating immense campuses. They expressed frustration that the city council approved a massive 830-acre Compass Datacenters project despite overwhelming public protest.
VENUS
Venus has made residents and motorists aware that construction on the FM 157 Realignment Project will begin Friday, Sept. 18. The project area spans from FM 157 from US 67 to east of the Venus ISD campuses on 7th Street. The project will include realigning FM 157 from 8th Street to 7th Street, new connections to Oak Street and Student Drive, new sidewalks throughout the corridor, and additional turn lanes from US 67 to Student Drive. To facilitate construction, lane closures will occur as needed Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WAXAHACHIE
The Waxahachie City Council was scheduled to vote this week on the selecting of the final official site for a brand-new municipal animal shelter.
In addition to 19 cities/towns in Ellis County (five of which straddle two counties that include Ellis), there are also 18 unincorporated towns; Alsdorf, Auburn, Avalon, Boz, Brisol, Britton, Crisp, Five Points, Forreston, Ike, India, Ozro, Rankin, Reagor Springs, Rockett, Sardis, Telico and Trumbull.
If you have news briefs for any of these cities/towns (resident, business or city) please send to Rcook13@earthlink.net so we can share the news.