News

Who benefits from moving commissioner’s court to a new location?

Rita Cook Freelance Writer

Thu, 08/13/2026 - 05:00

WAXAHACHIE - At the recent Ellis County Commissioners Court meeting an item was addressed that had some locals talking. The item concerned the scope of design services for the Ellis County owned property located at 1305 West Jefferson in Waxahachie.

Michael B. Halla

Wilmer City Attorney resigns hours before council meeting

Staff Report

Thu, 08/13/2026 - 04:00

WILMER - Wilmer City Attorney Michael B. Halla officially resigned on Aug, 6 stepping down exactly one hour before a highly anticipated, packed city council meeting. His resignation occurred during a period of current political turmoil and leadership turnover in Wilmer.

Wilmer’s E-911 Telecommunicator Kimberly Hall and the responding members of the Wilmer Fire Department; Bryce Cook, Bryan Turner, and Preston Driggars were honored in July at the Wilmer City Council meeting with the Meritorious Conduct Award Submitted Photo

Wilmer Fire Department/E-911 telecommunicator honored

Staff Report

Thu, 08/13/2026 - 04:00

WILMER – Wilmer’s E-911 Telecommunicator Kimberly Hall and the responding members of the Wilmer Fire Department; Bryce Cook, Bryan Turner, and Preston Driggars were honored in July at the Wilmer City Council meeting with the Meritorious Conduct Award for their exceptional service during a recent...

Individual packages of THC-A flower are seen in a display case at a smoke shop in Austin on May 13, 2026. Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune

Texas is baned several THC products July 31

Katlyn Ma The Texas Tribune

Thu, 08/06/2026 - 05:00

Texans’ access to a variety of hemp-derived THC products will significantly narrowed on Friday, July 31. Texas baned several hemp-derived THC cannabis products, including those containing delta- 8 and delta-10 THC variants, punishing people in possession of them with jail time and fines.

(Graphic: Crime Prevention Research Center/FBI CIUS/OJJDP; enhanced by GunsAmerica)

When people talk about violent crime in America, there’s no shortage of opinions.

Reprinted From Gunsamerica

Thu, 08/06/2026 - 05:00

https://gunsamerica.com/digest/ fbi-murder-data-2024cprc-report/ A new report from the Crime Prevention Research Center tries to cut through the politics by digging into the FBI’s latest homicide data.

Skeletal remains found in Italy

Rita Cook

Thu, 08/06/2026 - 05:00

ITALY – Skeletal remains have been found in Italy near Bell Branch Road and FM 876. The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office reported the finding last week and to date have not made further comment on the situation.

Cornilus Hawkins

Cornilus Hawkins new Alma Police Chief

Rita Cook

Thu, 08/06/2026 - 05:00

ALMA – Alma has appointed its new police chief, Cornilus Hawkins. Hawkins will be sworn in at the Aug.18 city council meeting. No stranger to Alma, Hawkins has served the city since 2022, beginning his employment with the police department in a part-time capacity.

David Bittle

County mourns passing of Officer David Bittle

Rita Cook

Thu, 08/06/2026 - 05:00

ELLIS COUNTY - I did not know this man named David Bittle. Initially I was not going to write about his death. After I read all the comments and the love pouring out regarding his passing there was no way I was not going to write about his death.

Wilmer city officials arrested after racially-charged gas station confrontation

Charles D. Hatfield Jr.

Thu, 08/06/2026 - 05:00

WILMER – A Wilmer City Council member and the city’s acting Police Chief were arrested last weekend with what began as a verbal dispute on July 22, between newly elected Council member Moses Garcia, 53, and a man Garcia said was a friend.

Logo courtesy Future Financial Bankshares

Commercial State Bank sold

SUBMITTED STORY

Wed, 07/29/2026 - 14:42

PLANO – Future Financial Bankshares, Inc., a recently formed Texas corporation, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Palmer Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Commercial State Bank, based in Palmer, Texas.