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v i s i tlanning a weekend get-away has never been easier. Come for our many inviting, fun-filled festivals, and stay the night. Plan a tour through our communities, each filled with scores of historical structures and unique architecture.

Shop.Dine.Relax.Experience what hospitality is all about.Welcome to Ellis County and discover one of the best-kept secrets in Texas.

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w e l c o m eTo Ellis County 1849

llis County welcomes you to come and explore its history and enjoy the year-round events and attractions. There are numerous retail stores and shops where you can find almost everything to satisfy your shopping fancy. In communities throughout the county, you can take in the rich history and experience the hospitality and charm of small town living. Enjoy the ambience of the turn of the century street lamps, the century-old architecture, and welcome banners that proudly boast our old-fashioned hospitality.Rich cultural history, incredible natural beauty, numerous festivals

and extensive recreational facilities combine to make Ellis County a delightful weekend or vacation getaway for anyone who needs a break from city life. You’ll love the relaxing atmosphere – whether you’re enjoying the splendor of Bluebonnet Park in Ennis as an escape from the every day, strolling around historic districts of Waxahachie, attending a festival in Midlothian or playing in a golf tournament in Red Oak. Whether exploring Ellis County’s parks and hiking trails, natural lakes and wetlands, monuments or a day at the race track, welcome to our county. However, we have to warn you . . .

Once you visit Ellis County, you will want to come back.

E

C O N T E N T S

lOCaTION WElCOME TO EllIS COuNTY

ENNIS MIDlOTHIaN RED OaK / OvIlla WaXaHaCHIE HISTORICal SITES

CalENDaR OF EvENTS

TheVacation Getawayv i s i tEllis County

Welcome to Ellis County, the most remarkable, hospitable, interesting and amazing of all Texas’ 254 counties.

For the record, I freely admit I’m biased.For the past 17 years I’ve had the chance to live and work and

be involved with some of the most wonderful, caring, compas-sionate people I’ve been blessed to cross paths with during my half-century of life.

Of all of the places I’ve been and the adventures I’ve had, I choose to live in Ellis County.

And for good reason.First of all, Ellis County is a great place to live,

work and raise a family. The people are warm and friendly — there is a real sense of community here. It’s a place where folks still take the time to get to know their neighbors, and where helping each other is part of our way of life.

We take great pride in our communities — each of our cities is filled with rich history, yet never willing to rest on past accomplishments.

Always, we are looking to the future and intent on explor-ing ways to improve our quality of life, while at the same time, preserving the historic fabric that makes Ellis County unique,

charming and special.When you move to here, you can expect to be welcomed with

open arms. You can also expect to be invited to join one of the many community-oriented organizations that work throughout the year to improve the community.

You see, folks here are always willing to roll up their sleeves to help out a good cause.

Since arriving in Waxahachie 17 years ago, I’ve been fortunate to share so many “good news” stories about our communities, and the many people and organizations working hard to make a difference.

I always get a chuckle when I talk to people from the Metroplex who think we’re “a million miles away.” The fact is, downtown Waxahachie is ex-actly 26 miles from downtown Dallas on Interstate Highway 35E. It’s actually a little shorter drive from Ennis on Interstate Highway 45, as well as from

Midlothian on U.S. Highway 67. And, I’ve driven from Waxa-hachie to DFW International Airport in 29 minutes. (Granted, it was not during rush hour and I was, as my friends in the car club refer to it as “driving briskly.”) But the point is, we’re not that far away from the second biggest metropolitan area in Texas.

Neal WhiteEditor

Welcome to Ellis County

And while we’re growing, Ellis County still maintains a lot of its agricultural heritage. We have lots of farms — although not nearly as many as we did a century ago when we produced more cotton than any other region in the world. While we still produce cotton, our farmers also grow sunflowers and corn and you’ll find several ranches with cattle grazing in the pastures — as well as a few ranches where the buffalo still roam.

But our economy is very diverse.We have state-of-the-art factories and distribution centers.Triumph has built a new aircraft manufacturing facility in Red

Oak. Midlothian is home to the state’s premier cement manufac-turing companies (as well as one of the nation’s top steel mills). Ennis and Waxahachie also boast a diverse number of plants — with more on the way.

Tying in with our rich his-tory, tourism plays a huge part of our economy for every city in Ellis County. Every year Ennis hosts the National Pol-ka Festival, which brings in folks from all over the world. It’s also home to the Motorplex drag strip, which is home to the NHRA Fall Nationals, bringing in the top racing teams to compete for the NHRA speed title. I can’t forget the Ennis Blue-bonnet Festival, which is another top draw for folks from Texas and beyond. In Waxahachie, we have the annual Crape Myrtle Festival (which coincides with our Fourth of July festivities) and in the fall, the Texas Country Reporter Festival hosted by Texas Country Reporter Bob Phillips. This October, the city will host its inaugural Crossroads of Texas film festival, showcasing several of the movies filmed in our Ellis County communities.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.Throughout the year, there’s always something going on with

lots of things to do and see — without ever leaving the borders of Ellis County.

One thing that’s important for every parent is education.We’ve got great schools.Pick a city and I can share a dozen stories about the good

things that are going on. From Avalon to Waxahachie, there’s no shortage of success stories of the amazing things that our stu-dents are accomplishing.

I do have to share one example though, and that’s the story of Global High.

I had the opportunity to be part of the planning committee that helped launch this unique, amazing public high school that opened its doors to its first freshman class in 2007. Global High, open to any student regardless of home district, is a public Early College High School operated in partnership between the Waxahachie Independent School District, Navarro College and the University of Texas-Tyler. Using project-based learning with curriculum geared toward core STEM (science, technology, engi-neering and math) courses, students earn college credit while also earning their high school diploma. Since its first graduation class in 2011, more than half of Global grads received their associate’s degree before their high school diploma (because the college holds

its commencement a week prior to the district’s commencement).And the projects Global students are doing are truly amazing

(the engineering lab includes a wind tunnel and a 3D printer). When you walk in the door, you know this isn’t like any high school you’ve ever seen before. I’m so proud of this school — and the opportunities it is providing for our kids.

I’m proud of all of our schools.I’ll admit bias, but Ellis County has the most talented kids in

the world.From academic scholars to Eagle Scouts to Presidential Point

of Light honorees to nationally recognized athletes, our Ellis County communities shine with talented young people.

The opportunity to succeed is here. The doors are open.

That’s one of the many things I like about this community. I truly feel blessed to live in a place where everyone pulls together to help each other succeed.

Sure, we disagree from time to time, and yes, we’ve had our share of polariz-ing debates, particularly during election season.

But give us a cause, or a challenge, and watch us get to work.

As a resident, you have to be excited by the teamwork that takes place just about every day in our cities and towns between our city governments, our school boards and our many community organizations.

Together, we are making a difference.It’s my home, and I know you’re going to feel the same way.By the way, once you get unpacked, stop by the paper and we’ll

have a cup of coffee. I’ll tell you how to get to Oma’s Jiffy Burger, or tell you which restaurant has the best catfish and who to call if you need to get your kids signed up for recreational sports.

Don’t be surprised if I ask you to volunteer for something, though. There are a couple of committees that I’m on that could use an extra hand.

Of course, I’ll have to give you the pitch for why you should subscribe to the paper. If you want to know what’s going on in the community, you absolutely need to read the Daily Light — the best community newspaper in the state of Texas. We’ve got the awards to prove it.

If you like, I’d be happy to give you a tour around town. But we’ll also have to make a stop by the Waxahachie Civic Center and spend a few moments at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial. Indeed, it is one of the most moving and touching tributes to the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed services. And speaking of the civic center, this is another example of the vision and leadership of our community. I do love showing off this town — from our diverse industrial base, to our agricultural heri-tage to the fantastic parks, there’s a lot to see and do. Give me a call; I’ll have the car waiting.

Until then, let me be the first to officially welcome you home.

Neal White is the Editor and General Manager of Waxahachie Newspapers Inc. Contact Neal at neal.white@waxahachietx.com or 469-517-1470. Follow Neal on Face-book at Neal White – Waxahachie Newspapers Inc.

r e d o a k / o v i l l aIn Ellis CountyFun Around Red Oak and Ovilla

The Red Oak area Chamber of Commerce is comprised of business leaders throughout the northern Ellis County region. Community and business development is high on our list of priorities and we have been instrumental in the growth and progress of the area for more than 30 years.

Red Oak offers the support of a strong business community with a small-town, genuine friendliness for you and your family. We work hand in hand with the city of Red Oak, the Red Oak Independent School District and other Ellis County entities to continually look for ways to improve the Red Oak area while maintaining our hometown integrity.

For more information about becoming a part of the Red Oak area, call the Red Oak area Chamber of Commerce at (972) 617-0906.

Red Oak ... Building the Community of Tomorrow ... Together

Red Oak FOundeR’s day

Celebrate the storied history of this thriving community at the annual Founder’s Day and Homecoming celebration.

Festivities begin with our new Hawk Hustle 5K run. It will be followed by a morning parade and a complete agenda of arts, crafts, food, games and other entertainment as well as various contests.

Call (972) 617-0906 for information.

Red Oak LiOns CLub

Annual Chili Supper each year in January or February (depends on scheduling). This event benefits the ROISD Education Foundation.

Clay Shoot on Oct. 19. This is the first time for this event and hopefully it will become an annual event.

Pancake Breakfasts are held the third Saturday of each month during the school year.

For more information, call Red Oak lions Club (214) 864-8014 or www.redoaklionsclub.com

Red Oak aRea ChambeR OF COmmeRCe annuaL GOLF TOuRnamenT

This annual golf tournament is a fundraiser that helps the Chamber raise money to fund its larger events for the year. Entry fees include green fees, cart, lunch.

For information, contact Red Oak area

Chamber of Commerce at (972) 617-0906.

Red Oak aRea ChambeR OF COmmeRCe annuaL auCTiOn

This event is held in October and is the largest fundraiser for the Red Oak area Chamber of Commerce. We have great food and lots of entertaiment as well as cash giveaways. Silent auction begins at 6 and live auction begins at 8.

For more information, call Red Oak area Chamber of Commerce at 972-617-0906.

PaRTneRshiP ChaLLenGe

The Red Oak ISD Education Foundation holds an annual four-man scramble Partnership Challenge golf tournament that is followed by a dinner and announcement of awards, a raffle drawing and live auction.

The Red Oak Education Foundation can be reached by calling (972) 617-4320.

all proceeds from the tournament benefit the Red Oak ISD Education Foundation.

ChRisTmas dOwnTOwn Red Oak

The Red Oak Parks and Recreation Department, Red Oak area Chamber of Commerce and downtown merchants host an annual Christmas Downtown celebration.

The event takes place in the Main Street Plaza

and incorporates the old downtown area as well. Santa arrives courtesy of a Red Oak fire truck. The event features plenty of cookies, hot chocolate, as well as other Christmas activities.

Fun Run/waLk FOR eduCaTiOn

The Red Oak ISD Education Foundation hosts the Fun Run/Walk for Education in the spring. Participants can enter a 1-mile walk/run event or a 5K run. Proceeds benefit the foundation.

For more information, contact the Red Oak ISD Education Foundation at

(972) 617-4320 or visit www.redoakisd.org.

Red Oak whiTe and bLue

Come celebrate our independence with food, fireworks, famiy activities, hot air balloon rides, contests and tournaments and much more. This event is held the Saturday before the Fourth of July at Red Oak Park.

For more information, call (972) 617-3638.

Red Oak bRidaL shOw

The Bridal Expo is held at the Red Oak Municipal Center. There are local vendor displays, a fashion show and a “bridal bazaar.

Red Oak/Ov i l l a , c i t i e s o f year - round ac t i v i t i e s

Things to do, Places to see

Good teamwork brings about efficiency, and Red Oak's leadership works as a team sharing the same vision, City Manager Todd Fuller said.

That shared vision is to see Red Oak bring in quality growth which diversifies the tax base, relieving the tax burden on local homeowners and providing the city ser-vices and commercial business residents desire, said Fuller and Lee McCleary, director of Economic Development.

“There's no doubt the growth will come, the kind of growth we have will make the difference in diversifying the tax base and the sustainability,” Fuller said.

Fuller pointed to the city's tax rate, one of the lowest among city which provide full municipal services such as firefighters, police and water. The city's tax rate has not risen in several years despite taking on the load of a 161 percent increase in population since 2000. Fuller attrib-uted this to the city's leadership being proactive through investing in the community's growth.

The Interstate 35 corridor through Red Oak has and will continue to be a focal point for commercial development, McCleary said. The city council, planning and zoning board and municipal development corporations all understand and share the same vision of quality growth, making the

teamwork to get zoning, infrastructure and permits for new businesses or industry very efficient, Fuller said.

“One of the things that struck me when I first came here was seeing the city, school and all the leadership were on the same page,” McCleary said. “All the agencies and boards are why the city has done so well, all the little obstacles that can get in the way aren't there because everyone shares the same vision.”

With every part of the city driving toward the same vi-sion with a mutual passion to prosper the city, good things will continue to come of it, Fuller and McCleary expressed.

Aaron Schwadererdaily light managing Editor

Red Oak, Dallas’ Development Neighbor

w a x a h a c h i eIn Ellis CountyWelcome to Waxahachie - the Picture Perfect Town!

The colors of Waxahachie are as rich and diverse as the people who fill its streets – warm and inviting, vibrant and diverse. It’s a “Picture Perfect” setting that begs for more than a passing glance.

More than 150 years in the making, Waxahachie is a community that takes great pride in its rich heritage, which is evident by the historically preserved buildings and homes throughout the city. Though modern, progressive and thriving, the city’s pulse resonates with the history of Texas. Strolling through the Historic Downtown District anchored by the state’s “Most Photographed Courthouse,” you can still see remnants of the famed Shawnee Trail that once served as the major thoroughfare in the state’s early development.

Designated in the early 1900s as Queen of the Cotton Belt, Waxahachie has grown to be known as the Gingerbread City for the ornate woodwork found on many of the historic homes, as well as being designated the Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas. Waxahachie also claims the title of Movie Capital of Texas. With more than 30 motion pictures and three academy award films shot in our community, it is recognized as being “Picture Perfect” by the movie industry.

Whether shopping for treasures in the downtown antique shops and boutique stores, dining in our award-winning restaurants, taking part in the historic tour, enjoying a family outing in one of our many parks and recreational facilities or just visiting with the friendly folks who call Waxahachie home (there are no strangers in Waxahachie – just friends we haven’t met yet), come and discover for yourself what makes Waxahachie “Picture Perfect.”

at the end of the day, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to be part of the picture.

For additional tourist information, please visit www.waxahachiechamber.com.

Come for the history . . . Stay for the charm!

Signs of growth are popping up all over the city. New business are investing in the community, existing business are expanding and new homes are being platted.

“It is always nice to get new industry to come in, but also when your local industries are able to expand and add workforce, that is great,” said Waxahachie City Manager Paul Stevens. “I think that demonstrates that Waxahachie is a great place to do business and be in business. So that is always a good sign.”

Stevens said several industries in Waxahachie have ex-panded their operations, including APE, NutriAg, LiFoam and C.R. Laurence, better known as U.S. Aluminum. The total investment made by these companies is $47,756,990. These expansions and new construction added 328,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 219 new jobs.

The retail sector in the city has also seen growth-taking place. One of the projects that underway at this time is the expansion of the H-E-B grocery store on U.S. Highway 77. The expansion is increasing on the store by 30,000 square feet to the north towards Indian Drive and to the west in front of the building.

The addition to the front of the building will create an area for outdoor storage. The drive-thru pharmacy will still be located on the northern most end of the building after the expansion. The additional floor space added to the building will provide more sales space. The entire store would be completely remodeled inside and out. The front facade will be updated giving the building a new look.

Another new development taking shape is the new Aldi Food Market. The new store will be located in the 400 block of U.S. Highway 77 in former spot previous occupied by Big Lots. Big Lots moved out of the building into its new, larger location in November of 2012.

Construction crews have remodeled the 20,000-square-foot building from the inside out. The interior of the build-ing has been gutted and added a new brick facade.

Stevens said with Aldi locating to the city and H-E-B expanding its operations it really addresses a community need for additional grocery services. He added that these construction projects have had a positive ripple effect in the city.

“The one thing right now is there are a lot of retailers that need space, want space and want it in a prime loca-tion. I think that with what Dart is doing the new strip center on U.S. Highway 77 is going to be very big and will

Andrew Brancadaily light staff writEr

Waxahachie, A Thriving Community

likely fill up pretty quickly,” Stevens said. “They have a few pad sites right there. So I think once that is ready to go I think that we will see a lot of activity there.”

The city has seen Navarro College expand with several new buildings on its campus and Southwestern Assemblies of God University with the opening of its Hagee Commu-nications Center. The 80,000-square-foot building houses areas such as a performing arts auditorium, a black box theater, audio recording studio, a digital video lab televi-sion and film studios.

The Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce Economic Devel-opment Council is aiding the city during this development process. One area they are working is to beautify Interstate Highway 35E in Waxahachie to create a gateway for motor-ists. At the last council meeting held in August, Mayor Kevin Strength said TxDOT funded renovations to these entry points into the city from the interstate could start as early as 2015.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved funding for the $120 million project at its Aug. 27-28 meeting. The first phase of the project would take 18 months to complete. This phase would include adding two inside lanes to I-35E and making bridge improvements from U.S. Highway 287 Bypass to the Ganaway overpass. An environmental impact study would also be conducted on some aspects of the proj-ect.

The first phase of the project is also going to include a lot of aesthetic changes to give the highway a new look. One of the first changes would be to the retaining walls on the side of the highway. The retaining walls would be made out of concrete but have the appearance of cut stone. This change would mimic the cut stone look that is on the historic El-lis County Courthouse in downtown. The retaining walls would be painted and would feature the city’s logo.

Along with the retaining walls the task force looked at the appearance of the highway bridges. The railing on the bridges would have the same look of the railings along the side of viaduct in downtown Waxahachie and would meet the current Texas Department of Transportation safety standards. The bridges would also be enhanced with antique street lighting and signage. Areas would also be landscaped.

HiSTORiC SiTeS & MuSeuMSThe Historic Downtown District is home to a myriad of antique shops, restaurants, boutiques, and specialty stores famous for a great dining and shopping experience.

Chautauqua Auditorium, located in Getzendaner Park, is one of the few octagonal auditoriums in america. The Chautauqua is open during special events and during the Gingerbread Trail.

ellis County Courthouse, built in 1895, is listed in the top 100 most photographed structures in the State of Texas, featuring Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style. visit the Courthouse downtown on the square.

ellis County Museum includes the Heritage visitor Center of Waxahachie. The museum rekindles the past as it highlights the rich history of Ellis County. located

at 201 S. College, 972-937-0681. Museum hours are: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm.

The Historic MKT Depot was built in 1908, serving the community as a stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas rail line for many years, hauling locally grown cotton to markets and local soldiers to and from several wars. Passenger service was discontinued in 1964 but the depot continued to service freight trains on their way through Waxahachie until 1988. In 2007 the land underneath the depot and the right-of-way were acquired from the railroads by the City of Waxahachie. The City then purchased the depot building in 2008 and started the restoration project. Construction planning began in 2009 and the actual construction on the depot began in early 2010. The restoration of the MKT Depot was completed in November of 2010.

Historic Rogers Street Bridge is perhaps the most unique engineering feature in the historic district. Manufactured by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company in Canton, Ohio, it was shipped by rail to Waxahachie and assembled on site. Today, it is a connected piece of the Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail.

Joshua Chapel AMe Church, located at 110 aiken, is a prominent architectural, social and religious landmark. This building was designed in 1917 by noted african-american architect William Sidney Pittman.

Sims Library is an excellent example of Neoclassical Building and is a popular stop on the Waxahachie driving tour. located at 515 W. Main Street, 972-937-2671.

l i s t o f a t t r a c t i o n s

W e l c o m e t o W a x a h a c h i e , t h e P i c t u r e P e r f e c t T o w n

JanuaRy

Martin Luther King Day Parade - third Monday of January. Begins in Downtown Waxahachie

FebRuaRy

Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center Chili Cook-Off - second Friday-Sunday. Call 972-937-1870

maRCh

Mardi Gras Parade - Saturday before Ash Wednesday in Historic Downtown WaxahachieLifestyles: The Home & Family Expo - first Saturday at the Waxahachie Civic CenterDowntown Farmers Market - held every Saturday from late March to mid-DecemberSpring Lawn & Garden Show - last Saturday at the Waxahachie Civic Center. Call 972-825-5175

aPRiL-may

Scarborough Renaissance Festival - Saturdays & Sundays for 8 weekends thru Memorial Day from 10am-7pm. For more information, call 972-938-3247

may

Cinco De Mayo Festival

may-June

Plein Aire Paint-Out - Begins week of Gingerbread Trail. Hosted by the Ellis County Art Association. Call 972-937-3414

June

Gingerbread Classic Golf Tournament - Friday before Gingerbread Trail weekendGingerbread Trail Historic Home Tour & Arts and Crafts Show - first weekend. Call 972-937-0681Pancake Breakfast Fly-In - first Saturday at the Mid-Way Regional Airport. Call 972-923-0080Waxahachie Juneteenth Parade/Celebration - June 19Cow Creek Classic Bike Rally - fourth Saturday in June. Sponsored by the Waxahachie Rotary Club

JuLy

Crape Myrtle Festival & Driving Trail - July 3 - Concert & Fireworks; July 4 - Parade

sePTembeR

O’Reilly Fall Nationals - Thursday-Sunday the third weekend at the Texas Motorplex. Call 972-878-2641Chautauqua Assembly - fourth Saturday in September

OCTObeR

Waxahachie Annual Chamber Auction - first Saturday at the Waxahachie Civic CenterScreams Halloween Theme Park - every Friday & Saturday in October. Call 972-938-3247Texas Country Reporter Festival - fourth SaturdayLions Club Mini Grand Prix - third Friday-Saturday in Historic Downtown Waxahachie

nOvembeR

Waxahachie Veteran’s Day weekend - weekend prior to Veteran’s Day

deCembeR

Candlelight Christmas Home Tour - first two weekends of DecemberWaxahachie Christmas Parade - first Saturday in DecemberChristmas Market and Gift Show - first Saturday of December at the Waxahachie Civic CenterBethlehem Revisited - Friday-Sunday the first two weekends of December

w a x a h a c h i eIn Ellis County

Jim Lak e CompaniesA d a p t i v e U r b a n R e d e v e l o p m e n t

LEASING INFORMATION KGROSSMAN@JIMLAKECO.COM

CALL 214/741-5018

100 N. COLLEGE STWAXAHACHIE, TX

COTTON GIN EVENT SPACE ROGERSHOTEL.COTTONGIN@GMAIL.COM

CALL 972/937-2777

Waxahachie, Where People Make the Difference

There is so much to say about Waxahachie, it’s impossible to scratch the surface of this amazing community in the small space that I’ve been provided for this column.

I thought about writing about Waxahachie’s history. How just more than a century ago it was known as the “Queen City of Cot-ton” for producing more cotton than any place in the world. Or, it’s unique collection of historic collection of Gingerbread homes. Or how in 1992 it came a few votes short in Congress from today be-ing the scientific capitol of the world because of the discoveries that would have been made at the Superconducting Super Collider.

I thought about writing about our schools and the amazing things our kids are accom-plishing. I could write a lot on that, because our education system not only offers our kids an opportunity to succeed in life, our schools are constantly developing new initiatives and programs that put an emphasis on academics — especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. In fact, we have a collabora-tive public-private ongoing initiative to make Waxahachie an edu-cation destination — and through the alliance between our school district, Navarro College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University, we’re well on our way to achieving that goal.

I thought about writing about our economic development initia-tives and how we are constantly expanding our economy with new businesses and industries — including the construction of a new Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie campus that will open Dec. 6, 2014 at the intersection of Interstate Highway 35E and U.S. Highway 287 Bypass — right in the center of the Crossroads of Texas. And by the way, that’s just the tip of our economic de-velopment iceberg. We’re also in the middle of a major downtown development project that once complete in 2015, will rival the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff and the Dallas Design District. And we’ve just

I also thought about writing about our quality of life in Waxahachie and all of the family-friendly events that we have throughout the year. From our parks to our hike and bike trail

to our sports complex to our world class senior citizens center, to our many youth and adult recreational leagues, there’s never a shortage of things to do and places to go. In fact, as this publica-tion goes to press in September, we are preparing for our October events, which include the Lion’s Club Mini Grand Prix Race, the annual Bob Phillips Texas Country Reporter Festival and our

inaugural Crossroads of Texas Film Festival. But then I got to thinking about what makes Waxahachie

truly special and it occurred to me that no one could ever tell the story of our city without talking about the people who make it truly special.

Our diversity, in many ways, reflects a microcosm of America. Our hospitality and our ability to work together for a common cause or the greater good, sets us apart from any other city in the nation.

Let me share a few, brief stories with you that are typical of daily life in our community.

In the late 1990s, the Leadership Waxahachie class (a program developed by the Chamber of Commerce to train future commu-nity leaders), identified the need for the city to have a civic center and sports complex. Jim Chapman (who now serves as a county court at law judge), lead a team of dedicated individuals who sparked a movement that led to the funding and construction of the Waxahachie Civic Center and Waxahachie Sports Complex facilities that we enjoy today.

Seeing a need and pointing it out is easy. Taking ownership and overcoming obstacles is not. But then again, that happens a lot, here. For example, last year the city just opened two new park facilities (a disc golf course and the first dog park), both projects initiated (and funded) through a Leadership Waxahachie class project.

Another story began about six years ago when Greg Compton walked into the Daily Light with an idea to establish an Ellis County chapter of the nonprofit Honor Flight organization. For those unfamiliar with Honor Flight, it is an amazing program. Each chapter raises funds to fly World War II veterans from their community to Washington, D.C. to see their memorial — which by the way, wasn’t constructed until 60 years after the war.

Neal WhiteEditor

While there were a lot of naysayers, there was also an abundance of folks who joined hands with Greg in making it possible. All told, Ellis County Honor Flight raised enough funds to take more than 150 World War II veterans from our community, providing them with a trip each and every one of them have said was “one of the best experience of their life.” The stories those men and women told were priceless. In many cases, they shared their war experience for the very first time while touring the memorial in Washington. I will never forget the comment made by Daisy Freeman, the wife of World War II veteran Vernon Freeman of Waxahachie. Highly decorated for his service, the Army veteran took part in several battles in Europe before being captured by the Germans and spending the remainder of the war in a POW camp. “Before the trip, we couldn’t get Vernon to say more than two words about the war. Now we can’t get him to shut up,” Daisy quipped shortly after the Honor Flight trip. Vernon passed away

last year, but everyone connected to Honor Flight takes great pride in knowing what that trip meant to him, as well as his fam-ily.

During the past 17 years I’ve had the honor of sharing thou-sands of stories just like these — stories of neighbors coming together, getting involved and making a difference.

Yes, Waxahachie has a rich, colorful history that it takes great pride in. But we are always working toward the future and always exploring new ways to create new opportunities for our community.

And there’s always room at the table for anyone willing to roll up their sleeves and make a difference.

While I’m out of room for this column, I still have a treasure chest of stories to share about our community. If you would like to know more, give me a call and I’ll share a few more over a cup of coffee. I’ll even invite a few of my Honor Flight buddies.

As Mayor of Waxahachie, I want to welcome you to our beauti-ful and historic City. Waxahachie is one of the most historic commu-nities in Texas, but at the same time has a dis-tinct vision and plan for the fu-ture.

Waxahachie is known as the Gingerbread City because

of our many 19th century homes and buildings. In 1997, the Texas State Legislature designated Waxahachie as the Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas. Each summer, thousands of visitors flock to Waxahachie to enjoy the charming historic streets lined with countless beautiful Crape Myrtle trees in full bloom.

Our historic downtown area is home to the Ellis County Courthouse, which is one of the most photographed buildings in Texas. Built in 1895 and designed by architect James Riley Gordon, the courthouse was recently restored to its original historical significance.

The scenic beauty of Waxahachie extends to its 16 city parks and Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike trail. The City’s largest and oldest park, Getzendaner Park, was established in the late 19th century and contains one of the few remaining

Chautauqua buildings in the United States. Arts and culture also add to the quality of life in Waxa-

hachie. The Nicholas P. Sims library is included in Waxa-hachie’s historic buildings and recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary of service to Waxahachie and surrounding communities. Our strong cultural heritage is displayed at the Ellis County Museum, located in the historic downtown dis-trict. Ellis County Art Museum is located on Main Street and showcases the work of many local artists. Additionally, the Waxahachie Symphony Association has brought outstanding classical performances to the area for over 30 years.

Education continues to be an important part of the Waxa-hachie community. Navarro College is an excellent two-year college offering associates degrees in several areas of study. Southwestern Assemblies of God University offers over 60 four-year degrees and is home to several thousand students. Both Navarro and SAGU have recently experienced tremen-dous growth and as a result, have each expanded their facili-ties.

Waxahachie Independent School District offers our children an outstanding variety of educational opportunities including academics, arts, music, athletics, agriculture and vocational training. WISD has recently added several new campuses that include the latest in technological resources, as well as state of the art facilities.

These assets serve the City well. Moreover, Waxahachie has location! We are ideally situated 25 miles south of Dallas and 35 miles southeast of Fort Worth. Interstate 35E and Highway 287 intersect within the city limits on the north side. Ad-ditionally, in 1992, Waxahachie and Midlothian entered into a partnership to form the Midway Airport between the two cities on Highway 287. The airport is undergoing rapid growth and is poised to become one of the major aviation centers in the Metroplex.

We are proud of Waxahachie. Please visit us for a weekend, or better yet, make Waxahachie your new home.

Kevin StrengthMayor of Waxahachie

Building a Better Waxahachie

It’s no secret that Waxahachie’s economic success is due to a pro-business attitude. The Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce has received multiple awards including state and national recog-nition in 2014, and has been acknowl-edged as a top business destination through marketing and social media. The Chamber is proud to have 17,000 Twitter followers, nearly 5,500 Face-book friends, 2,500 LinkedIn connec-tions and we are 750 members strong in our Chamber Business Association. We would hope your first stop in town would be a visit to our front door of the Waxahachie Chamber, located at 102 YMCA Drive. The coffee is always brew-ing and we are here to serve you.

Waxahachie offers everything any other city can offer. However, there are a few things that place us above the rest! That would be our history, ambience, healthcare, charm, quality of life and thousands of friendly people. We also have our crown jewel, the Ellis County Courthouse, one of the most photographed structures in the state of Texas, along with beautiful historic walking and driving tours.

We would be remiss not to mention the new hospital, Baylor Scott & White, one of the biggest things that has ever happened in our community, which is waiting to serve you. Medical education,

research, patient-centered programs and technology are all part of this brand new hospital, and the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce is proud to have its name engraved on the Founders Wall.

Waxahachie remains one of the best places to live, work and raise a family. We welcome outdoor enthusiasts to daily activities, parks, trails and lodging. There is always something happening!

Once again, welcome! Have a soda downtown, or take the afternoon to shop and visit with members of the commu-nity. We would love for you to select Waxahachie as your new home, but more importantly, we ask you to please get involved with the City and School District. We have a place for you to serve—whether you are retired or a young professional. We understand that it takes a village to raise a child, and we welcome you to ours.

Debra WakelandPresident and CEOWaxahachie Chamber of Commerce

Welcome to Waxahachie, The Crossroads of Texas

e n n i sIn Ellis County

Discover Ennis, where we are serving smiles year round, Ennis style! More than 1 million visitors find their way to Ennis each year to indulge in the variety of family activities and festivals that are abundant year round.

adding to the charm of Ennis is the Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum. This museum, housed in the former van Noy Restaurant building, will excite all the history and railroad buffs in your family as it includes a large display of early Ennis, unique railroad memorabilia and spectacular exhibits of our heritage. Don’t miss the Czech Museum, available by appointment and located at the Sokol activity Hall, as it is packed full of exciting Czech genealogy and memorabilia.

Searching for a relaxed shopping experience with a charming small town feel? Stroll down the brick paved streets of our quaint historic downtown shopping district and treat yourself to specialty shopping ranging from antiques to unique finds. Imported Czechoslovakian items abound in the downtown shopping district as Ennis excels in honoring its Czech heritage. Extraordinary specialty shops, many family-owned and operated, are concentrated in the historic downtown district of Ennis. Recommended shopping days in downtown Ennis are Tuesday through Saturday.

Rich cultural history, incredible natural beauty and extensive recreational facilities combine to make Ennis a delightful weekend or vacation getaway for anyone who needs a break from city life. You’ll love relaxing and enjoying the splendor of Bluebonnet Park and the beautiful lions Park as an escape from the everyday. You’ll delight in exploring our parks and hiking trails, natural lakes and wetlands, equestrian trail and multi-use trail, monuments and race tracks.

Whatever you choose to do in Ennis, we know you will have a great time! Please stop by the Ennis Convention and visitors Bureau to get your free Ennis visitor brochures. We are located at 002 E. Ennis ave., in historic downtown Ennis and just east of the railroad tracks. The visitor center was once home to the Wells Fargo freight office next to the train depot. For more information, contact us at (972) 878-4748 or visit our web site at www.visitennis.org.

a special welcome from the city of EnnisConvention and visitors Bureau!

e n n i sIn Ellis County

FebRuaRy The annual Ennis Czech Music Festival is held at

the Sokol activity Center in Ennis. This one-day event features five live polka bands, Czech food and more. visit www.ennisczechmusicfestival.com.

aPRiL visitors enjoy the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails. Known

as the Bluebonnet City of Texas, the community’s rich green fields turn vibrant blue each spring. These are the oldest mapped Bluebon net Trails in Texas and are high lighted by the Ennis Garden Club’s many booths and activities at festival time. The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails run from april 1-30. The next Bluebonnet Trails Festival is april 12-13, 2014. Contact the Ennis CvB for more information at (972) 878-4748 or www.visitennis.org.

may

The community’s large Czech oslovakian population hosts the National Polka Festival weekend, May 23-25, 2014, with a parade, colorful costumes, Polkafest run, street dancing, mouthwatering Czech food and desserts, and traditional polka bands.

sePTembeR The Texas Motorplex hosts the Fall Nationals. The

Texas Motorplex hosts year round races and events for thousands of racing enthusiasts.

OCTObeR

locals and tourists enjoy autumn Days in Ennis Fall Festival, hosted by the Ennis Historic Downtown Merchants association and the Ennis Chamber of

Commerce. The downtown area transforms into a vivid cele bration of the season with scarecrows, hay bales and bright leaf-changing fall color. Children activities, arts and crafts exhibitors, tasty food and live music create a sense of excitement for the last outdoor party of the Indian summer. This festival is held the third Saturday in October.

deCembeR

During the first part of the holiday season, visitors and locals flock to downtown Ennis to enjoy the annnual Christmas Parade of lights, sponsored by the Ennis Chamber of Commerce. The lights of Ennis are a highlight of this event with all of the historic downtown area and Pierce Park aglow with spectacular lights.

yeaR ROund Ennis provides year round entertainment for the

entire family. Some of its fun activities including attending events at the 85 Speedway, shopping in the historic district, attending the myriad of festivals, catching live theatre at Ennis’ two public theatres, or enjoying a double feature at the Galaxy Drive-In Theatre. The Texas Motor plex, one of the finest drag racing facilities in the nation, provides exciting action for thousands of thrill seek ers. Bardwell lake is also perfect for enjoying camping and a variety of water activ ities. From historic driving tours to muse um tours, Ennis has something for every one!

exPeCT mORe FROm ennis!

Ennis, a city of year-round activities

From bluebonnets to street dancing to cultural heritage, Ennis hosts a variety of festivals! The community’s family-style festivities are abundant almost year-around.

CzeCh museum

Experience a “little bit of Czechoslovakia” at North Texas’ only Czech Museum, a memorial to local Czech heritage and those Czech individuals who helped develop the Ennis community. Exhibits include authentic Czech costumes, memorabilia, dolls, photographs, crystal, books and much more. Reservations are required prior to visiting museum, located on u.S. Highway 34 East, in the Sokol activity Center. To schedule an appointment, call (972) 878-4748.

minnie mCdOwaL PaRk

The Tara, which was the very first Cinemark theater, once reigned supreme at the site where this park now stands. The family of lee

Roy Mitchell, Cinemark’s corporate leader, donated the land to the city after a storm left the cinema severely damaged in the early 1990s. The park, named for longtime employee, Minnie McDowal, is located in downtown Ennis – one block off u.S. Highway 287 Business at the corner of Dallas and Knox streets.

PieRCe PaRk

Stop by to pay tribute to Ennis’ first casualty of World War II. The park, located downtown on N.W. Main Street is just off u.S. Highway 287 Business and across the railroad tracks from the Railroad Museum. Pierce Park is home to many events throughout the year.

JaCk Lummus memORiaL PaRk

Ennis native Jack lummus

won the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in World War II. as a tribute to lummus, this circular memorial is named after him. The park is dedicated to all those who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the vietnam War. It is located only a stone’s throw from Interstate 45, off the west service road on Chamber of Commerce Drive at the Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

kaChina PRaiRie

Witness a vanishing opportunity and stop by this site found on the west end of Baldridge Street on the banks of lake Clark. More than 30 acres of rare, natural Blackland Prairie can be viewed from a beautiful vantage point. Only 1,000

acres of this untouched

prairie land are believed to

exist in the united States.

ennis PubLiC LibRaRy Whether you are doing

genealogy research, reading

for pleasure or desiring

to see the ever-changing

special exhibits, we invite

you to visit the Ennis Public

library, which has more

than 40,000 holdings and

contains a modern 48-seat

multi-media learning

center with state-of-the-art

computer-generated graphics

and Internet connectivity

capabilities. Explore the

extensive collection of

genealogy information and

historical records on the

Czech heritage. Contact the

library about events.

l i s t o f a t t r a c t i o n s

FebRuaRy Monthly luncheon

maRCh annual awards DinnerBusiness Expo & Taste of Midlothian

aPRiL Midlothian Spring Fling arts and Crafts ShowCitizens Police academy begins

maylove to Eat and Run Dinner and RunRelay For lifeChamber Golf Tournament lions Club Pancake Breakfastleadership Midlothian Graduation

JuneChamber Membership luncheonDowntown Farmers Market season begins

JuLyFireworks ShowCreative Quilters Guild of Ellis County Quilt Show

auGusTChamber legislative luncheon

sePTembeRChamber Membership luncheonChamber annual auction & Dinner Midlothian Education Foundation Golf Tournament

OCTObeRMidlothian Business association’s Scarecrow Competitionannual Downtown Trick or TreatChamber annual Fall FestivalChamber Christelle Moser Memorial 5K Downhill Dash Run

nOvembeRChamber Business luncheonlions Club Pancake Breakfast

deCembeRMidlothian Downtown Business association’s Southern Star Christmas Paradeart Council of Midlothian Conference Center’s Festival of Trees

visit www.midlothianchamber.org for more information.

l i s t o f a t t r a c t i o n sm i d l o t h i a nIn Ellis County

Newcomers and visitors to Midlothian find a growing community of 18,000-plus, conveniently located just 26 miles south of Dallas or 27 miles southeast of Fort Worth.

“To have a quality community you need balanced growth. We have that in Midlothian and are proud of our strong business aand retail sector, which helps serve the residential sector and vice versa,” Hastings said.

For those who do not live and work in Midlothian, its positioning between major corridors U.S. Highway 287 and U.S. Highway 67 allows residents to easily commute into the heart of the Metroplex.

“The simple fact is that you can live in Midlothian and until your future job finds its way here, you can easily commute from the southern side of the Metroplex where you won't find the traffic congestion and tolls roads that rule north of Dallas,” Hastings said.

When not working outside or inside the city, Midlothian offers a host of amenities, parks and cultural facilities within a few minutes drive of many, various neighborhoods that offer affordable housing with low property taxes.

“The city council through the years has made it their goal to bring those quality of life features to families, with a big part of that being recreation and sports,” Hastings said.

And thanks to those who come with business in mind, Midlo-thian continues to enjoy positive economic development, including

new corporate development, and new land acquisition to expand the community’s opportunities, said Larry Barnett, Midlothian Economic Development president.

“The Midlothian Business Park provides up to 135 available acres of industrial development, providing expanded employment and constructive economic impact for our city,” Barnett stated.

The city is also looking forward to adding a new amenity to com-pliment the 39,000-square-foot conference center. Over the next year, plans are being finalized to add a Courtyard by Marriott hotel on the west side of the Conference Center.

“A Courtyard by Marriott provides a tool for the conference center to attract corporate meetings and conferences to Midlothian, increasing activity for our restaurants and local businesses,” said Tami Tobey, chairwoman of the Midlothian Community Develop-ment Corporation.

Through the contribution of industries and landowners in the community, Midlothian has set aside passive open space for natural trails, wildlife watching and tranquility while also creating many active recreational areas for sports, with an extensive trail system for walkers, joggers and cyclists.

“A parks system is an important feature for quality of life, but we are also proud of our joint library with MISD with its outreach and digital book services and our senior citizen center that could rival any senior center with its slate of programs it offers,” Hast-ings said.

Bethany Petersonmidlothian mirror managing Editor

Midlothian, DFW’s Southern Star

l i s t o f H i s t o r i c a l S i t e s

T h e T e x a s H i s t o r i c a l C o m m i s s i o n115 Sites in Ellis County

alma – alma auburn Cemetery – Rural avalon Missionary Baptist Church – avalonBarley Home, H.P. – EnnisBells’ Chapel Cemetery – Rockett CommunityBethel Cemetery – WaxahachieBethel Methodist Church – WaxahachieBoren Cemetery – Waxahachie vicinityBristol School – BristolBurnam Square and Cemetery – EnnisCentral Presbyterian Church – WaxahachieChambers’ Creek – ForrestonColeman, Bessie – WaxahachieConfederate Powder Mill – WaxahachieDaffan, Katie – EnnisDunaway Home, Jefferson – WaxahachieDunlap-Simpson House – WaxahachieEllis County – WaxahachieEllis County Courthouse – Waxahachie (two)Ellis County Farm Cemetery – WaxahachieEllis County Jail, Old – WaxahachieEllis County Woman’s Building (Davis Hall) – WaxahachieEllis Monument, Richard – WaxahachieElm Branch Cemetery – BardwellEnnis City Hall – EnnisEnnis National Bank – EnnisEnnis, Town of – EnnisFerris, City of – FerrisFirst Baptist Church of Waxahachie – WaxahachieFirst Baptist Church of Milford – MilfordFirst Baptist Church of Ovilla – OvillaFirst Baptist Church of Palmer – PalmerFirst Christian Church of Palmer – PalmerFirst Methodist Church of Midlothian – MidlothianFirst Presbyterian Church Building – WaxahachieFirst Presbyterian Church of Ferris –

FerrisFirst united Methodist Church of Ferris – FerrisFirst united Methodist Church of Waxahachie – WaxahachieFry-Buttcher House – Red OakGetzendaner Memorial Park – WaxahachieGrady School, Site of – PalmerGraves Cemetery – WaxahachieGreathouse Community, Church, and Cemetery – GreathouseHancock Building – WaxahachieHardeman, John Marr – ItalyHarkey-Payne House – PalmerHawkins House – WaxahachieHawkins Home, Eddy P. – WaxahachieHawkins House, William l. and Emma – MidlothianHawkins Spring, Site of Old – MidlothianJackson Cemetery – MaypearlJordan, Thomas J. – MilfordJoshua Chapel a.M.E. Church – Waxahachielummus, Jack – EnnisMahoney-Thompson House – WaxahachieMarvin College, Site of – WaxahachieMasonic lodge Hall (1889) – WaxahachieMatthews-atwood House – EnnisMaypearl Cemetery – MaypearlMcDaniel, James – MilfordMidlothian Cemetery – MidlothianMilford Cemetery – MilfordMilford Presbyterian Church – MilfordMoore House – EnnisMount Zion Cemetery – MilfordMulkey-loggins House, The – EnnisMyrtle Cemetery – EnnisNash Public School – Nash CommunityNeel, Thomas C. – EnnisNewton Cemetery – MidlothianOak Branch Cemetery – Oak BranchOak lawn School – WaxahachieOld lake Dam – EnnisOvilla – OvillaOvilla Cemetery – OvillaOzro Cemetery – MaypearlParsons’ Cavalry C.S.a. – WaxahachiePierce, Phillips – Ennis

Polytechnic Institute, Site of – MidlothianPresiding Elder’s House – WaxahachieRailroads in Ennis – EnnisRankin, Frederick Harrison – EnnisRed Oak Cemetery – Red OakPaul Richards Park – WaxahachieRichardson Cemetery – Reagor SpringsRockett Christian Church – RockettRogers Street Bridge – WaxahachieRosemont – WaxahachieRossan House, George – MilfordRutherford’s Crossing Bridge – WaxahachieSardis Cemetery – SardisSardis School – SardisSardis united Methodist Church – SardisShiloh Cemetery – OvillaShiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church – OvillaSims library and lyceum, N.P. – WaxahachieSmith Cemetery – PalmerSouth Cemetery – WaxahachieSouthern Pacific Railroad in Ennis – EnnisSt. James a.M.E. Church – MilfordSt. Joseph Catholic Church – WaxahachieSt. Paul Cemetery – MidlothianSt. Paul’s Episcopal Church – WaxahachieStrickland-Sawyer House – WaxahachieTarrant, Gen. Edward H. – ItalyTarrant, Site of The Plantation of Edward H. – ForrestonTelico Cemetery – EnnisTelico Church, The – EnnisThompson, Homesite of Dr. D.G. – WaxahachieTrippet-Shive House – WaxahachieWaxahachie Cemetery – WaxahachieWaxahachie Chautauqua Building – WaxahachieWayman Chapel african Methodist Episcopal Church – EnnisWilliams – Erwin House – Waxahachie

Find more information online at http://www.thc.state.tx.us/