Top 10 obsolete government programs

The worst part of the budget deal struck between Congress and the White House is that does nothing to make the federal government smaller. What good is a balanced budget if it locks into place an oversized, wasteful federal bureaucracy?

Police investigating Christmas day murder-suicide in Palmer

PALMER – On Dec. 25, at approximately 7:24 p.m., Palmer officers were dispatched to 241 Poinsettia Dr. in Palmer, Texas, following a report of a male and female found unresponsive with possible gunshot wounds. The call to dispatch was made by a concerned neighbor.

Prisoner struck jailer repeatedly in the head

WAXAHACHIE – Ellis County detention officer Isaiah Bias was grabbed from behind, choked and struck in the head repeatedly before collapsing on the second floor of the jail into a pool of his own blood, according to an affidavit.

Former officer turns himself in on official oppression charges

ELLIS COUNTY – A former Cedar Hill police officer, Donald Mercer, turned himself in last week to the Wayne McCollum Detention Center in Ellis County after the Texas Rangers filed criminal charges against him.

Local attorney sentenced to 10 years probation

ELLIS COUNTY – The trial for local attorney Michael Halla from Lancaster began in Ellis County Court last Monday, and was over Friday afternoon.Halla was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety and charged with two counts of manslaughter, a 2nd Degree Felony in January 2023.

After 30 years of devoted service, Manna House executive director retiring

Midlothian – For the last 20 years, Manna House has been led by beloved community servant Sissy Franklin. That era of leadership is now drawing to a close as Franklin has announced her retirement at the end of this year.Before her long tenure as director, Sissy was a volunteer.

Commissioner’s approve TJJD Detention Center ground lease

WAXAHACHIE – The Ellis County Commissioner’s Court unanimously approved the terms and conditions of a letter of intent for a proposed Texas Juvenile Justice Department Corrections Facility ground lease with the State of Texas.

Ellis County detention officer killed by inmate

WAXAHACHIE — An Ellis County detention officer died after being assaulted by an inmate at the county jail Monday, officials announced Tuesday.Isaiah Bias, 28, was “doing his daily job” in a holding cell around 3:45 p.m.

10,000 sg.ft. mansion burns to the ground

A 10,000 sg. ft. mansion at 430 Chaparral, southeast of Ferris, burned to the ground on Thursday, Dec. 5, at around 4  a.m. The house was fully engulfed in flames by the time the fire departments arrived.Fire departments from Ferris, Wilmer, Ovilla and Red Oak responded to the blaze.

Korean company leases a million sq. ft.

WILMER – Last week with the leasing of over 1 million square-feet in the City of Wilmer’s 252-acre Southpark Logistics Park, Korean conglomerate CJ Logistics America officially accomplished the logistic park being “officially” fully occupied.