ALMA
The Alma Fire on Friday, Sept. 4 burned over 600 acres.
BARDWELL
The Bardwell Volunteer Fire Department joined multiple regional agencies including fire departments from Ennis, Palmer, and Central High to combat the fast-moving flames and protect nearby homes in the Alma fire. Firefighting planes actively also utilized Lake Bardwell to fill up on water, executing multiple flyovers to halt the fire's forward progress.
CEDAR HILL
On Aug. 31, officers with the Cedar Hill Police Department responded to the Chase Bank in the 200 block of N. Hwy. 67 Service Road regarding a robbery in progress. Preliminary information was that an individual entered the bank armed with a knife and demanded money from employees. During the incident, an armed witness discharged a firearm, striking the suspect. The suspect ran from the location and was located in close proximity by Cedar Hill Officers who immediately began life saving measures. The suspect was transported to a local hospital by Cedar Hill medics, where he later died. The customer who discharged their weapon remained on scene and is cooperating with authorities.
There were no significant injuries to bank employees, customers, witnesses, or officers reported and the investigation remains active.
ENNIS
The Ennis City Commission held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to conduct public hearings on the Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Budget and the FY 2027 Proposed Property Tax Rate, followed by consideration of ordinances to adopt the FY 2027 budget, set the property tax rate, and ratify the associated property tax revenue increase.
GARRETT
The Garrett Volunteer Fire Department (Garrett Rural FD) was dispatched alongside other regional crews to the Alma Fire this past Friday. Specifically, Garrett emergency personnel and brush trucks were deployed to manage the fire’s eastern perimeter near the 85 Speedway on FM 85. Their containment efforts helped halt the fire’s forward progress.
GLENN HEIGHTS
A house fire severely damaged a residential structure in Glenn Heights last week leaving a family of 11 without a home. Glenn Heights Fire Officials said the Fire Department arrived to find a single-story residential home with heavy smoke showing from the front and heavy fire conditions in the rear. The fire was extinguished without incident, and the fire was ruled undetermined.
ITALY
The Italy-based Monolithic Dome Institute finalized plans to host its Fall 2026 Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop. The five-day specialized course is scheduled to begin in Italy on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and the training is divided between classroom instruction and hands-on structural training, drawing builders and architectural professionals to the area.
MAYPEARL
Energy market trackers reported this week that the new Hugh Brinson Pipeline, operated by Energy Transfer, has fully scaled to its first phase of capacity. The new 400-mile infrastructure pipeline directly transports 1.5 billion cubic feet of Permian gas per day from Waha directly into its endpoint in Maypearl, causing a minor shift in broad Gulf Coast supply pricing.
MIDLOTHIAN
During a special board meeting last Monday night, the Midlothian Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 6-1 to pass the district’s newly adopted tax rate for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. Trustee Ed Harrison cast the dissenting vote against the overall budget structure. However, according to Midlothian ISD's official financial report, the newly calculated rate will drop the average MISD homeowner’s property tax bill by roughly $92 compared to the previous year.
MILFORD
Milford has scheduled public hearing for Monday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. to consider a residential zoning change application submitted for a 0.45-acre property at 391 Second Ave. The property owners are seeking to rezone the plot from standard residential designation to Multi-Family/Mobile Homes to clear the way for placing a manufactured home on the site.
OAK LEAF
Municipal planners recently provided a project update regarding the city's infrastructure revitalization schedule. All local road maintenance and seasonal paving construction – including work that commenced across the Little Creek Estates sector – is currently tracking to reach 100% completion by Sept. 24.
OVILLA
City planners released an operational update regarding several major street and park overhauls funded by the municipal budget, all planned to conclude ahead of the city's annual Heritage Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26. Reconditioning crews are scheduled to begin extensive roadway reconstruction on Cockrell Hill Road (stretching from the northern city limits down to Nob Hill Lane), to be followed immediately by a full-length resurfacing of Suburban Drive. At Founders Park, the Ovilla Economic Development Corporation is finalizing a new 38-space concrete parking lot and installing designated lighting systems for the local pickleball courts.
PALMER
Palmer ISD officially opened applications for its upcoming Homecoming Parade scheduled for Sept. 18. The event will feature a community pep rally at Bulldog Stadium at 9 a.m., followed by the traditional parade at 11:30 a.m. ahead of their matchup against Maypearl.
PECAN HILL
Pecan Hill city leaders have been evaluating fiscal planning following their late-August public hearing sessions and the city’s administrators have emphasized that despite broad inflationary pressures and rising property appraisals hitting neighboring municipalities, the city is maintaining its historical status of having the lowest property tax rate in Ellis County. This is heavily supported by the city's strict zoning laws, which mandate entirely single-family residential properties and prohibit commercial or multi-family developments
RED OAK
Red Oak Independent School District concluded its designated Safety Week initiative with District administrators using the campaign to launch several newly implemented infrastructure upgrades, including refined campus access controls, expanded perimeter security camera systems, and fully optimized weapons detection checkpoints at all school entries and major after-school athletic environments.
VENUS
Venus hosted an official public meet-and-greet event to welcome its newly appointed Police Chief, David McGinty. Reportedly the leadership transition comes as the city continues monitoring localized public safety infrastructure, including the recent independent structural engineering assessments and safety shoring implemented to preserve the historic commercial buildings along West 2nd Street on the Venus Square.
WAXAHACHIE
The Waxahachie City Council officially passed a Chapter 380 economic development agreement and corporate incentive package with Roadhouse Enterprises, Inc. in mid-August. The approval officially paves the way for a new Texas Roadhouse restaurant to break ground in the Blue Star Land mixed-use development on the southwest corner of Interstate 35E and the U.S. Highway 287 Bypass, sitting directly across the highway from the Waxahachie Civic Center.