The Ellis County Press finally named official paper for Ferris

FERRIS – After more than a year, The Ellis County Press was finally renamed as the city’s official legal publication.

Passing with a vote of 2-1, (Councilwoman Sherie Chapman abstained from voting because her husband does contract labor for the ECP), Councilman Jay Walsh was the “No” vote at the regular meeting of the Ferris City Council, Monday, May 20.

Council first had to vote to un-table the previously tabled item, then proceeded to discuss the appointing of a paper to publish its legal/public notices in.

“The Ellis County Press is the most economical and easiest,” said City Secretary Callie Green. She explained she could not make a recommendation for any of the newspapers.

The Ennis Daily News was chosen by the previous council to replace The ECP, but a recent mistake in a legal notice – and the fact citizens were not happy they had to go 18 miles to be able to read the city’s legal notices swayed the council to return to its local paper.

“Using a paper 18-miles away is a disservice to the citizens of Ferris – it needs to be a local paper,” said Councilman Michael Martinez.

Martinez asked ECP Publisher Charles Hatfield if, “there was any way we could look at an article (about Ferris) before it goes out?”

“NO!” exclaimed Hatfield, explaining the news was separate from advertising – and the newspaper does “interpretative reporting” of city meetings and stories for citizens who might be unable to attend.

He said any negative reporting was based on what actually transpired and “both sides of the story would always be reported.” If there were any errors in its reported articles, the paper would correct them in the next publication.

Hatfield said he was thrilled residents of Ferris would once again have access to the city’s legal publications.