The festivities will center around downtown Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4, with Glen Echo Brewing hosting a three-day Oktoberfest at 106 N. Birmingham St. and local merchants joining the celebration Saturday with an Oktoberfest Village Stroll.

The Village Stroll will run from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, throughout Historic Downtown Wylie, giving visitors an opportunity to make their way among participating businesses at their own pace.

Admission to the stroll is free.

Visitors can pick up a free Oktoberfest Village Passport at participating businesses and collect stops as they explore downtown. Completed passports can be entered to win prizes.

On Birmingham Street, Glen Echo Brewing will stretch its Oktoberfest celebration across the entire weekend.

Activities begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, with a ceremonial first keg tapping by Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter and the release of Glen Echo Brewing’s Oktoberfest beer. The first of three steinholding competitions begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s brewery activities start at 1 p.m. with a costume contest and parade of participants. A second steinholding competition is scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by beer-carrying obstacle races at 5 p.m.

German music and dancing will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday. The third steinholding competition begins at 9 p.m., followed by the announcement of winners.

On Sunday, Dachshund races begin at 1 p.m., followed by a Beer Choir North Texas Chapter singalong from 3 to 4 p.m. The Oktoberfest event concludes at 6 p.m.

Registration for the contests will be available on site the day of each event. Contestants must be 21 or older except for participants in the dachshund races. Medals will be awarded to event winners.

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Collin College has honored longtime Murphy veterinarian Lorraine Chalkley by naming two labs and a surgical suite after her.

Her achievements and support were recognized Sept. 21 on the college’s Wylie Campus.

“Dr. Chalkley’s longstanding commitment to Collin College and our Veterinary Technology program is making a meaningful difference in the lives of our students,” said Collin College District President Neal Matkin. “From supporting the program in its earliest days to investing in the students who will carry the profession forward, her generosity reflects an extraordinary commitment to education and service.

Chalkley supported Collin College’s Veterinary Technology program since its early years, providing laboratory space at her clinic during the program’s first year, the college said. A veterinary technology radiology classroom was previously named in her honor, and she established an endowed scholarship for second-year Veterinary Technology students.

“Veterinary medicine has brought me a lifetime of enjoyment and fulfillment, and it means so much to me to help students discover that same sense of purpose in their own careers,” Chalkley said. “I have always believed that your work should be something you genuinely enjoy and find satisfying.”

Chalkley was the first woman in Collin County to practice veterinary medicine and own a veterinary clinic. In 1980, she founded Southfork Animal Clinic in Murphy and later served as a charter member of the Murphy Animal Shelter Advisory Board.

Before becoming a veterinarian, Chalkley earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech and worked for Texas Instruments for five years. 

Her sister, Patricia “Pat” Wilson Novotny, established an endowed scholarship to provide ongoing financial assistance for Collin College Veterinary Technology students.

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The issue dates from last October, when a third-party vendor updated the software used to process registrations filed with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Collin County Elections Administrator Kaleb Breaux, who already had beefed up his office for the Nov. 3 general election, said the backlogged applications are being processed.

“I am confident — and I want voters to remain confident — that we are going to make sure that every voter who is eligible to cast a ballot in Collin County throughout the voting period on the November third election will be eligible to vote,” Breaux said.

He added that the issue was not party-related.

“When people register to vote in Texas, they do not register by party,” Breaux said. “Since we are an open primary state, voters declare their party affiliation at the time they vote in a primary election. Their party affiliation is good for one calendar year.”

Although the Secretary of State does not register voters online, residents may register or change their voting address when using the DPS online portal to renew their driver’s license.

That information should be sent to the Secretary of State to be forwarded to the resident’s home county. But the glitch was apparently found when counties began receiving old information.

Breaux said that with the backlog going back to October 2025, a voter could have been impacted during the primary election. 

“Those voters, more than likely, would have been able to vote a provisional ballot that indicated that the voter registered at DPS,” he said. “We would have conducted a DPS inquiry to confirm that was in fact true. DPS would have responded to our inquiries on a case-by-case basis.”

The issue was first reported by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization run by Civic News Company of New York City.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, told Votebeat the state’s voter registration system, TEAM, was developed by 

Civix, of Metairie, Louisiana, which provides government technology software and consulting.

Bettencourt has noted problems with the TEAM system since its launch in July of last year.

Votebeat reported DPS and the office of the Secretary of State said the problem was resolved on Sept. 13.

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The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) remanded the application for Collin County MUD No. 7 back to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for consideration of objections to the filing.

Each side now has about 30 days to submit written closing arguments, suggested findings of fact, conclusions of law and responses. The judge will get the case Nov. 30 and issue a recommendation to the commission.

The MUD would finance and control infrastructure for the project owned by Restore the Grasslands (RTG) and managed by Dallas developer Philip Huffines.

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Entertainment will be on the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Main Stage and the CoServ Community Stage. 

A highlight new this year is the corn eating contest from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the community stage. It’s free to enter and there are three divisions: youth (under18), women’s and men’s. 

Contestants have 10 minutes to finish eight ears of corn, with the top prizes going to the fastest chompers.

Acts on the main stage are scheduled to be The Redwine Band from 5-6 p.m., The Buffalo Ruckus from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Texas Flood, a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band, from 8-9:30 p.m.

The community stage will feature DJ Twisted E from 12-12:45 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., Gracen Wynn from 12:45-1:30 p.m., Alex O’aiza from 2-3 p.m. and a silent disco from 7-9 p.m.

Food vendors are subject to change. But registrations included The Pink Company, Cheros Latin Kitchen, Smōk’d TX BBQ, Cousins Maine Lobster, Kona Ice, Punjabi Junction, Smash Queen Burgers, Whip and Treats, La Taco Trona, Conway’s Corndogs, Fry Pies, Elotes los Brothers, HF Lemonade, The Confectionist Factory, The Healthy Hub and Yard Dawgs Kitchen and Cocktails.  

The Maize Midway will have games and rides, and the Primrose Playground will be available for younger tots. All rides have a minimum height requirement of 36 inches.

Other attractions include inflatables, farm games and the annual cornhole competition at 1 p.m. First place wins a $400 gift card, and the second-place prize is $100. 

Parking is free in Tom Kimbrough Stadium just to the north of the park and no shuttle will be available. VIP parking is $10 at the City Hall complex. 

Vendors accept cash but VIP parking and ride wristbands will require a credit or debit card. Wristbands are $15 before the event and $20 on the day of the festival. 

Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times.

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Both items passed 5-2, with “aye” votes coming from Mayor Scott Bradley, Deputy Mayor pro tem Ken Oltmann and Councilmembers Elizabeth Abraham, Debbie Ison and Jené Butler. 

Mayor pro tem Scott Smith and Councilmember Kevin Kelley voted “nay” on both proposals.

Read the full story in the September 24th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Council also voted at the Tuesday, Sept. 15 meeting to spend $30,000 to repair an LED warning light on the railroad track just west of the Murphy Road crossing.

“That LED is so the train can verify that the signal at the crossing is functioning as it should,” said Public Works Director Donald Reese. “So, if the train is traveling east, there’s a blind curve there, and if that light is not flashing the X, it cannot see the crossing on Murphy. So, it’s sounding its horn until it rounds that corner and it sees that the warning is one at the crossing, and then it’ll stop blowing.”

Read the full story in the September 24th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Commissioners approved a combined property tax rate of $0.151414 per $100 of assessed value Sept. 14, up 1.39% from the current rate of $0.149343.

For a median-value homestead used in the county’s comparison, valued at $517,911, estimated county taxes would increase $62.88, from $682.10 to $744.98.

County Judge Chris Hill, the lone dissenting vote on the budget and tax rate, said he wanted to avoid increasing the rate for the fifth consecutive year.

“…after 33 years of not raising the tax rate, this will be the first year to actually raise the tax rate,” Hill said.

The adopted rate includes $0.109564 for maintenance and operations and $0.041850 for debt service and remains below the county’s voter-approval rate of $0.152822.

The FY 2027 budget includes $410.9 million in property tax revenue and $222.9 million from other sources. Total expenditures are projected at $619.5 million.Overall revenue is expected to increase 8.1% from the current fiscal year, while expenditures are projected to rise 3.4%.

The General Fund, which pays for many of the county’s day-to-day operations, totals $366.2 million, up from $323.5 million in FY 2026. Property taxes are expected to provide $295.2 million of General Fund revenue.

The budget also increases county staffing to 2,247 full-time equivalent positions, up from 2,170.5 in the current budget.

Among the additions are six deputy sheriff patrol positions, a deputy assigned to GHOST and a sergeant assigned to narcotics. The budget also adds two felony prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office and positions in facilities, juvenile probation and detention, engineering, elections, information technology and other county operations.

Commissioner Darrell Hale, Precinct 3, said after the meeting that he supported the budget and tax rate to allow the county to keep pace with its growing population.

“I felt that we owe it to our citizens to have excellent services. In order to do that in a growing county we have to add people to keep a level of excellence,” Hale said.

The county’s taxable property base has continued to grow even as its tax rate has generally declined. Certified adjusted taxable value increased from $238.74 billion in 2022 to $330.10 billion in 2026, including $7.75 billion in new construction this year.

For comparison, the county’s total tax rate was $0.225 per $100 of assessed value in 2016.

The higher rate will not mean a higher county tax bill for every homeowner. The county’s average home value declined from $603,190 in 2025 to $588,119 in 2026.

At that value, estimated county taxes would be $845.97 under the new rate, compared with $855.78 under the previous rate — a decrease of $9.81.

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From an intricate crocheted blanket and a landscape made from nearly 58,000 seed beads to handmade baskets, digital art, photography and masks, creators from communities across the area earned ribbons in this year’s Creative Arts competitions.

Entries were submitted in July and judged before the fair’s opening. The competition encompasses an extensive range of creative pursuits, with major categories including Canning, Craft Creations, Dolls, Fine Art, Glue-a-Shoe, Hobby Collections, Holiday Corner, Needlework, Photography, Scale Models, Sculpture, Sewing and Quilting and Yarn. Each is further divided into individual contests and classifications.

Wylie resident Melissa “Missie” Rick earned one of the highest honors, Best in Show in the adult Yarn category, for “Astrid’s Wood,” an interlocking crochet blanket that took approximately 225 hours to complete.

Rick’s State Fair experience began only last year, when she entered two smocked dresses and came away with second- and third-place ribbons.

While visiting the fair afterward, she saw the Yarn Best in Show entry and decided to set herself a new challenge.

“I saw the Yarn Best in Show and figured I could make something that could win,” Rick said.

She searched for patterns before settling on “Astrid’s Wood,” which uses a difficult interlocking crochet technique. Essentially, she said, two blankets are crocheted together, with the pattern determined by which color is brought to the front.

“I hadn’t seen one using that same technique so I thought it would be different and stand out,” she said. “And it was a challenge. It was a pretty difficult technique to learn.”

Learning she had won brought another surprise.

“I was pretty surprised and ecstatic when I found out that I had won,” Rick said. “My family was excited for me and we have our fair day picked out.”

She is already considering future entries, including another smocked piece or possibly designing her own interlocking crochet blanket.

“I told my friend I’m probably more fearless than talented,” Rick said. “I say ‘why not’ quite a bit.”

Another Wylie resident, Peggy Ludwig, 70, is no stranger to seeing her work displayed at the State Fair.

Ludwig earned second place in Craft Creations — Miscellaneous for a 20-by-28-inch framed East Texas landscape painstakingly constructed from 57,750 size 11/0 seed beads. Inspired by Caddo Lake, the scene features pine trees and a creek and required about 100 hours to complete.

“I was looking for something that was statewide because it is the state fair,” Ludwig said of choosing the scene.

She has entered the competition for nine years and has earned either a ribbon or honorable mention every year, including a first-place ribbon her first year.

Her technique grew from her earlier experience with cross-stitch. Ludwig had been making jewelry with a friend when she began wondering what else she could create with her supply of beads. She eventually adapted cross-stitch patterns to beadwork, using fishing line and tiny beads laid in rows. 

Ludwig has been selling her beadwork and jewelry at craft shows for about 15 years. She works on pieces regularly to maintain an inventory for the shows she attends.

“It keeps me motivated,” she said. “I do like the competition. Like when you go to the fair and you see all the different stuff and who beat you out.”

In Murphy, 13-year-old Cooper Junior High eighth grader Olive Jimenez earned third place in Craft Creations — Masks, for “Celeste,” a mask she originally created for a friend’s story character.

Jimenez has been making masks for about six months, drawing inspiration from online tutorials, Pinterest, YouTube and friends. Her creation incorporates materials including feathers, paint, hot glue and jewelry.

Her inspiration to enter came during a family trip to last year’s State Fair, when she spotted a mask displayed among the award winners and realized she was already making similar projects at home.

This year she submitted Celeste, a beaded star and several photographs. The other entries earned participation ribbons, but the mask stayed behind after judging — a clue that something special had happened.

“It was really cool because a lot of people in the state put their entries in and I got one of the places,” Jimenez said.

Her mother, Monica Jimenez, said Celeste and Olive’s third-place ribbon will be displayed together in case No. 86 in the Creative Arts Building throughout the fair.

Olive is looking forward to seeing it there.

“It will be really fun and I can’t wait,” she said. “It will be pretty awesome to see my own thing in the glass case and see my ribbon on it.”

Fellow Murphy resident Savannah Marstell is another returning competitor. She earned third place in Photography — Holiday and an honorable mention in the Cultural photography category this year.

Her third-place photograph captured the chandelier at the Winspear Opera House transformed into a Christmas tree and illuminated in red and green for a Leslie Odom Jr. holiday performance.

Her honorable mention came from another memorable outing — a photograph of country flags displayed on the field during a FIFA World Cup match in Dallas.

Marstell and her sisters, Sierra and Kendra, have been interested in photography since high school and have entered State Fair photography contests since 2023. Between them, they have collected several ribbons.

“I was thrilled!” Marstell said of this year’s results. “When I go to drop off the entries and then pick-up the non-winning entries, I see stacks and stacks of photos, so to have not only one, but two of my photos make it is incredible knowing how much competition is out there.”

The sisters have come to view each other’s successes as shared victories.

“My sisters and I joke that any photograph State Fair ribbon is a ‘family ribbon’ even though we all entered in separate photos,” Marstell said.

For the winners, the payoff comes when the State Fair gates open and months — or, in some cases, hundreds of hours — of work are displayed for thousands of fairgoers to see.

Ludwig hopes others might be inspired to try the competition themselves, noting that entering doesn’t require a major investment.

“In reality, it costs 5 bucks to do an entry in the fair,” she said. “It’s dirt cheap…So even if you lose, you had fun.”

Editor’s note: Other residents from the communities we cover also earned ribbons and honorable mentions in the State Fair of Texas Creative Arts competitions. This story highlights local winners who responded to requests for information about their entries.

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The Wylie Children’s Chorus is making history as the first elementary ensemble in the district invited to perform at  the Texas Music Educators Association. The chorus of fourth-grade students from across the district earned the invitation this summer after just four school years. 

Directors Terri Knagg and Kelly Silber have instructed all five groups since 2022. 

“The concept for the Wylie Children’s Chorus was first inspired by Terri Knagg’s leadership with the Garland Children’s Chorus in Garland ISD,” Silber said. “After she joined Wylie ISD, the idea was thoughtfully discussed for several years before our then Fine Arts Director officially presented it for approval.”

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