News

Graphic courtesy Ellis County Texas

May 2, 2026 Ellis County election results

Ellis123

Wed, 05/06/2026 - 15:22

ELLIS COUNTY City Council (Unofficial Results) ALMA Three open At-Large City Council seats Matias Zatynol (i): 38 Michael Hughes: 75 Michael Martinez (i): 30 Brian Mundie: 35 Kyle Wilson (i): 70 ENNIS Mayor Pro Tem Trevor Wilhoite: 73 – 7.34% David Espedal: 574 – 57.69% Chad Wester: 348 – 34.

Edward Wilds (middle) received the gold medal for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at the recent 2026 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Corpus Christi. Photo courtesy TSTC.

Gold, silver, bronze: North Texas celebrates SkillsUSA Texas success

Ellis123

Wed, 05/06/2026 - 15:16

RED OAK – Three students from Texas State Technical College’s North Texas campus received medals at the recent 2026 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference in Corpus Christi.

Photo courtesy City of Ferris

Ferris calls for new local option to remove city operating taxes from primary homes

Ellis123

Wed, 05/06/2026 - 15:14

Ferris – The City of Ferris is asking state leaders to consider a new local option in Texas law that would allow a city to remove its maintenance and operations property tax from homes that already qualify as a residence homestead under state law.

Lisa Honrud

Waxahachie woman arrested for husband’s 2002 murder

Ellis123

Wed, 04/29/2026 - 15:08

WAXAHACHIE – It took 24 years, but last week Frisco police, with the assistance of Waxahachie police, arrested Lisa Honrud at her home in Waxahachie for a murder committed in 2002. Honrud was charged with her husband’s murder after the case had gone cold for decades, police reported.

Place 3 Ovilla City Councilmember David Griffin reminds residents of the importance of patriotism with American flags. Submitted photo

Patriotism is not dead in Ovilla

Ellis123

Wed, 04/29/2026 - 15:04

OVILLA – Memorial Day is just around the corner, and Place 3 Ovilla City Councilmember David Griffin is busy not only asking people to re-elect him for Place 3 councilmember on May 3, but also reminding them to order their yard flags for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.

Che-De-Aztlan Martinez

Drug trafficker gets 99 years

Ellis123

Wed, 04/29/2026 - 14:24

WAXAHACHIE – A drug trafficker arrested in Red Oak in 2023 was sentenced to 99 years in prison last week in Ellis County.

Lane Grayson

Grayson will not be vacating his seat May 1

Ellis123

Wed, 04/29/2026 - 14:21

ENNIS – According to reports and in opposition to recent rumors, as of April 26, no replacement has been named for Ellis County Commissioner’s Pct. 2 upcoming vacant seat. The seat is being vacated by Lane Grayson, who resigned earlier this month with an effective date of May 1.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Citizens speak out against Italy City Council actions without a quorum

Ellis123

Wed, 04/29/2026 - 13:54

Italy – The Ellis County Press joined as an independent eyewitness in a special meeting on April 22 for the City of Italy. The meeting was rescheduled as a “called meeting” from their regular meeting on April 13.

During this operation, officers and investigators conducted compliance checks at 23 retail locations within Midlothian. Of those locations, eight stores illegally sold nicotine products to minors.

8 of 23 Midlothian retail locations illegally sold nicotine products to minors

Ellis123

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 17:08

MIDLOTHIAN – Midlothian Police Department’s Problem Directed Response Team (PDRT), the PD’s Warrant Service Team and investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts conducted a joint compliance operation late last week to address the sale of...

Blue pin wheels and banners around Ellis County spin because the county is committed to painting the town blue on behalf of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Photo courtesy Red Oak Police Department Facebook.

Blue pin wheels spin around county for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Ellis123

Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:40

ELLIS COUNTY – If you have noticed blue pin wheels and banners around Ellis County this month, it is because the county is committed to painting the town blue on behalf of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.