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Ellis County · community
What residents are talking about in Ellis County public meetings, ranked by community engagement.
Recent coverage of Ellis County from local and regional media.
MIDLOTHIAN – Midlothian Police are investigating a June 1 shooting. Patrol officers responded to the 1000 block of Hawkins Run Road following a report of a possible shooting at 6:04 p.m. A nearby resident reported a single gunshot and then observed approximately 20 individuals running from the Hawkins Run entrance of Lake Grove Park. A release stated some individuals were seen fleeing west toward Coleman Elementary School, and the caller indicated one subject appeared to be bleeding from the hand.
ELLIS COUNTY – Ellis County Sheriff’s Department issued the latest scam alert. It’s been reported individuals are contacting residents by phone and falsely identifying themselves as employees or deputies of the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department. Scammers are telling the victim they have missed a federal court subpoena, jury duty, or another official court appearance.
BRISTOL – Bristol Fire was dispatched Sunday, June 7 to a water rescue for a stranded motorists on FM 660 near Sugar Ridge. Ennis Battalion 191 later advised the rescue was complete. More than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous water.
I want to begin this week with an idea, and I want everyone to seriously think about it. It is a need Ellis County will have for at least the next decade. Is anyone out there with money and passion (and a business to promote) interested in taking part in a weekly data center newsletter for Ellis County? This week I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate all I have uncovered in just the last hour in my small word count with this column.
ELLIS COUNTY – PRNewswire reported last week Compass Datacenters has committed $15-million to build a new Ellis County animal shelter. Compass Datacenters was nearby local rescue volunteers who stepped up last year and tirelessly opened their homes to keep Ellis County animals safe. The issue became dire when the SPCA of Texas closed its Ellis County regional care center on April 15. Ellis County Judge John Wray said when the SPCA pulled its contract last year, the community was left with no options.
ELLIS COUNTY – Beginning Friday, July 24, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office will launch an artificial intelligence-assisted voice system on its non-emergency phone line to help callers obtain information and be directed to the appropriate resources more efficiently. The new system, developed by Hyper, will answer calls made to the sheriff’s office non-emergency number at (972) 937-6060. Sheriff Brad Norman emphasized that 9-1-1 calls will continue to be answered by human telecommunicators and are not affected by the change.
MIDLOTHIAN – Ellis County Crime Stoppers posted last week that the Midlothian Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Cinires Mason. Mason is wanted in connection with an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that occurred near Lake Grove Park on June 1. During the investigation, it was determined the suspect was involved in an altercation in which he attempted to produce a firearm during the incident. The suspect sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the encounter.
WAXAHACHIE – It is not everyone who makes an impact on a city the way Waxahachie’s Deputy City Manager Albert Lawrence did. Lawrence died July 10, leaving what the city remarked was a “Legacy of service, dedication, and leadership which will forever remain a cornerstone of our community.” His time and energy also went a step further as the city’s website stated, “He will be remembered not only for his professional accomplishments but for the kindness and integrity he brought to every interaction.”
WAXAHACHIE – The Wayne McCollum Detention Center in Waxahachie has once again received a perfect score during its annual state inspection. The annual inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found no deficiencies, according to Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman. The inspection was conducted over two days earlier this month and concluded with a meeting between jail administrators, County Judge John Wray, Sheriff Norman and the state inspector to review the findings.
Ellis County Commissioner’s Court has enacted a 90-day burn ban effective as of July 21. The burn ban will be in effect until further notice. This includes all unincorporated areas of Ellis County. As a reminder, all outdoor burning is prohibited, including but not limited to brush piles, trash piles, and campfires. Exceptions are limited to activities exempted by state law. The ban is in effect due to dry conditions and increased fire danger.
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. Garcia was charged with making a terroristic threat, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law.
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.