elliscountytx

Did y'all catch Judge Little and Mayor Hill with Santa at the Waxahachie Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting? #christmasparade

Construction has begun on a new Ellis County sub-courthouse! Located on the south side of U.S. 287 Business near Waxahachie High School, this new facility will house the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, the busiest precinct to date, to replace the decades-old structure that currently houses Judge Jackie Miller’s court. Other offices slated to be moved to the new sub-courthouse include the Constable for Precinct 2 and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This JP2 sub-courthouse represents the first new construction undertaken as a part of the Emerging Ellis 2050 Strategic Plan, which was adopted by the Commissioners’ Court in 2021 to prepare the county to serve a projected half-million citizens within 30 years. By utilizing cash funds for this construction, Ellis County remains on track to be debt-free by 2026. The sub-courthouse was designed by Architexas, an architectural firm that specializes in restoring historic structures. Kitchell, which conducted the original facilities-needs assessment for Ellis County, will serve as the construction manager for McGough, a local DFW construction firm. #strategicplanning #Constable #courthouse #newconstruction

Ellis County has a new historical marker! The new “Cotton Industry in Ellis County” historical marker is located at Pecan Springs Ranch and was dedicated yesterday at the Ellis County Museum. The marker commemorates the legacy of cotton-growing in Ellis County’s economic, social, and architectural heritage. “Not many people know that in the early 20th Century, Ellis County, Texas was the largest producer of cotton in the world,” says Sharan Farmer, the Historic Commission member who led research efforts for the new marker. “Cotton, cattle, and railroads shaped most of Texas, and the same is true for Ellis County - especially Waxahachie, which thrived as a cotton town. Our now-famous architectural landscape, including the Historic Courthouse and other vintage buildings still in use today, directly resulted from the cotton boom that began in the 1890’s.” During the dedication ceremony, several individuals spoke of the importance of preserving local heritage, including David Gravelle of the Texas Historical Commission. David Smith, the “Waxahachie Cowboy Poet ‘Lariat,’ read his poem “Truth and Wealth” to illustrate what life was like for 19th-Century settlers seeking to make a fortune in the uncharted territories of Texas. Gary Farmer, a “Sixth Generation Ellis Countian,” overviewed the history of the cotton industry in Ellis County. Professor Clarence Glover, a.k.a "Professor Freedom, the Cotton-Picking Educator," is a former Adjunct Professor of African-American Studies at Southern Methodist University and founder of the African-American Cotton Pickers Day. He brought a burlap “plantation sack” to the ceremony and demonstrated how cotton-pickers worked diligently to gather as much of the crop as possible for ginning. “In Texas, you had what was called ‘low cotton,’ as opposed to ‘high cotton’ in other parts of the South, and bending down all day to pick the ‘low cotton’ was back-breaking work,” he noted. “A lot of people today see this sort of labor as a historical problem, but the cotton was not the problem; it was simply a job that had to be done. The problem was that many African-Americans did not receive pay for their work during slavery, and low wages during Jim Crow, thus leaving them unable to own land and create generational wealth. I am here today to commemorate African-American cotton pickers, the unsung heroes and heroines of the cotton industry in Ellis County and throughout the South. This is the reason I established the 4th Monday of October as ‘African-American Cotton Pickers Day.' By connecting the economic cotton dots of our past, we can heal our future.” During the ceremony, State Representative Brian Harrison, Ellis County Judge Todd Little, and Waxahachie Mayor David Hill each presented proclamations commemorating the historic significance of the cotton industry in Ellis County. Judge Todd Little concluded by announcing that the Commissioners’ Court will donate $50,000 a year, for three years, to the Ellis County Museum to promote its educational endeavors. “A lot of young people today don’t know the value and the significance of the agricultural economy that built Ellis County,” he said, “but we can only build our future from our heritage.” The dedication ceremony concluded with a benediction from John Paul Dineen, State Director of District 4 of the Texas Farm Bureau. We also want to give special thanks to Nancy and Ted Paup for sponsoring the historic marker on their property, as well as Reggie Cook, Ryan Mullican, and Hector Rivera of Waxahachie High School for their performance of “Cotton Fields” during the event. #texashistory #kingcotton #historicalmarker

Come see us at the Emergency Preparedness Fair in downtown Waxahachie on Saturday, September 9th to learn about disaster preparedness!

Thank you to the Texas Motorplex and the City of Waxahachie for an exciting Stampede of Speed kickoff parade! #stampedeofspeed

President John Adams wrote that, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people; it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." But how can the moral stature of a nation be measured? How can we know whether we are worthy inheritors of the liberties passed down to us? All around the world, the humble graves that mark the final resting places of our best citizens - the brave American servicemen who gave their lives that we would be free - give testimony of the measure of our nation. This Memorial Day, please remember that we enjoy peace with our family and friends only because of the brave patriots who did not come home to theirs. We also give special thanks to Woodmen Life Chapter 46, Pastor Steve Bailey, and State Guard Cpt. John Latham for hosting the 2023 Ellis County Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony. #MemorialDay #ThankAVeteran #fallensoldiers

Ellis County Judge Todd Little and Commissioner Randy Stinson (Precinct 1) speak against TCEQ approving a permit for the proposed Shankle Road Municipal Utility District on April 27th, 2023.

Congratulations to Samantha Pickett, our Emergency Management Coordinator, for her successful completion of four exemplary years of service for Ellis County. She has worked closely with the County Judge, Commissioners, the Sheriff, and the Fire Marshal, as well as each municipal emergency management team, to ensure that our community is prepared for both natural and man-made disasters. Samantha looks forward to continuing her career with Denton County, but she will always have a home here in Ellis County. #employeerecognition #emergencymanagement #elliscounty

2022 had its accomplishments, and 2022 had its losses. Let us have a moment of silence to remember the current & former Ellis County elected officials & employees who passed away in 2022. We have made a best attempt to include all former officials & employees who passed away in 2022. However, it is not always possible to keep track of former employees. If you know of anyone who should be included, please feel free to post a short obituary with a photo in the comments. Amber Lynn West was a devoted mother who worked in the Auditing Department from June 1st, 2022 until her unexpected death on February 11th, 2022. She is succeeded by her loving sons Elijah and Isaiah and will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to call her a co-worker and friend. Mark Anthony Thornton, Sr. worked in the Sheriff’s Office Maintenance Department, and as a lifelong auto enthusiast, was known to be able to fix anything he touched. He was a family man who enjoyed golfing, fishing, and what his family fondly describes as “Pa-Pa activities” with his grandchildren. Mark passed away at age 62 on March 25th, 2022. William “Bill” Woody served in Ellis County as a Constable for twelve years and as a Justice of the Peace for sixteen. Previously, he served in the United States Army Reserve and the Dallas Fire Department for 27 years. He was a member of both the Bardwell and Ennis Masonic Lodges, the Professional Cowboy & Rodeo Association, American Legion, and the Ennis Chamber of Commerce. Judge Woody passed away at age 81 on June 3rd, 2022. Ron Wesley Gillespie served as Commissioner for Precinct 2 from 1987 through 1990. He also served in the Army National Guard, worked at Ennis Business Forms & Texas Farm Bureau, and befriended many in the Ennis Kiwanis Club, United Methodist Church of Ennis, and the Masonic Lodge. Commissioner Gillespie passed away at age 77 on September 16th, 2022. Marvin Clifton “Cliff” Wammack served as Commissioner for Precinct 4 from 1987 through 1990. After graduating from Waxahachie High School in 1967, he served in the Army in Vietnam. Upon returning, he began a successful farming venture, became a brand inspector for the State of Texas, and operated the Red Oak Valley Golf Club with his wife Connie until retiring in 2019. Commissioner Wammack passed away at age 72 on October 20th, 2022. Delbert George Sauers served in the Ellis County Texas Department of Public Safety Office. Previously, he served in the U.S. Navy in Guam and led an accomplished career in the Federal Bureau of Prisons – a law enforcement journey that took him from Pennsylvania to New York, and from Illinois & Maryland to Texas. Officer Sauers passed away at age 59 on October 22nd, 2022. James Thomas Fabby served as a Sheriff’s Deputy until retirement. He was a lifelong cowboy who served proudly in the Marine Corps, and according to his family, was “a true patriot.” Despite his lifetime of honorable service, he always considered his first duty to serve his family and enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren how to fish. Deputy Fabby passed away at age 79 on Christmas Day, 2022. May we always cherish the memory of our fellow citizens who took upon the duties of public service in Ellis County, and may we strive to uphold their example of integrity, leadership, and honor. #publicservice #memorial #employeerecognition

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Highlights from Commissioners' Court on August 23rd, 2022 regarding the resolution supporting the Governor to secure the border.

Information about the Ferris Infusion Center Produced by the Ellis County Judge's Office Copyright 2021 Corey Rogan, Ellis County Public Information Strategist