Family stories, Revolutionary-era fashion and Wylie history came together Saturday, Aug. 29, as the Wylie Historical Society celebrated the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary with its America 250 BBQ Luncheon.

Wylie Historical Society Treasurer Alexis Tapp welcomed guests to the event, which included the posting of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 442, the national anthem, a costume contest, raffle and silent auction. Col. W.D. Wylie, portrayed by Eugene Hauptmann, led the pledge and later offered a prayer.

The luncheon’s keynote speaker, author Tracy Lawson, explored how family lore, letters and journals can become the foundation for books, while Jen Thompson and Beth Klimek of the DFW Costumers Guild brought another piece of the past to life with a demonstration of late-18th-century women’s fashion.

Read the full story in the September 3rd edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Wylie ISD’s newest career and technical education facility will carry the name of a longtime community leader whose ties to the district and its agricultural programs span more than three decades.

Trustees announced Monday, Aug. 17, that the new facility at the F.O. Birmingham Agriculture Center will be named the Marvin Fuller Career & Technical Education Center in honor of Albert Marvin Fuller Jr.

The name was recommended by the district’s Board Naming Committee in recognition of Fuller’s decades of service to Wylie in education, agriculture, business and economic development.

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You wouldn’t know it from the thermometer, but the calendar says fall begins later this month — and so do a plethora of crowd-pleasing annual events.

Based on the astronomical Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere is Tuesday, Sept. 22.

But the 2026 H-E-B | Central Market Plano Balloon Festival takes to the sky the weekend before, running from Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 20, at Oak Point Park. 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway in East Plano. 

This marks the 47th year of ballooning in Plano and Collin County and the event features balloons, food vendors, crafts made by local artisans, the Central Market Kids Fun Zone, entertainment on the FOX4 Main Stage, RE/MAX of Texas skydiving exhibitions and nightly fireworks.

Tickets are available for purchase onsite with adult tickets priced at $10 and $5 for kids 3-12 and seniors 65 and older.

Kids under 36 inches tall are admitted for free, as are all current and retired military with valid ID.

The festival is cashless, with all sales made via credit or debit card or Apple Pay.

The following weekend, the State Fair of Texas kicks off Friday, Sept. 25, and will run through Sunday, Oct. 18, in historic Fair Park in Dallas. 

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. but 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and this year’s theme is “Stars, Stripes and Howdies.”

Children aged 2 and under are admitted free while tickets for kids 3 through 12 are $10. All admissions are $10 after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 

Adult admissions (ages 13–59) are $15 Monday–Thursday and $25 Friday–Sunday. Seniors aged 60-up are admitted for $13 Monday–Wednesday, $7 Thursdays and $20 Friday–Sunday. 

Parking in official State Fair lots is $25 but DART’s Green Line serves the Fair and provides free parking in park-and-ride lots.

Celebrating 16 years of fun, Murphy’s free Maize Days Cornival is from noon until after the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, in Central Park, 550 N. Murphy Road.

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. 

Entertainment will be on the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Main Stage and the CoServ Community Stage. The Maize Midway will have games and rides, and the Primrose Playground will be available for younger tots. Other attractions include inflatables, farm games and cornhole competition. 

Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times.

November brings cooler temperatures and the Murphy Family Campout from 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, to 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Central Park pond. 

Campsites for up to five campers are available for $50, with registration only for Murphy residents until Wednesday, Sept. 30. Non-residents may then sign up until Oct. 15.

The event includes dinner, breakfast, s’mores, a movie and a variety of games. 

On Saturday, Dec. 5, Murphy celebrates Christmas in the Park, a free event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City Hall complex.

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The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing a $230 million expansion of FM 3286 and FM 546 across Lavon Lake, a project that would replace the existing two-lane bridge and widen nearly five miles of roadway between Lucas and the Princeton area.

But construction remains years away and no money has been identified to build it.

TxDOT presented the proposal Tuesday, Aug. 25, during an open house at Southfork Ranch in Parker.

The project covers approximately 4.71 miles, extending from FM 1378 in Lucas east along FM 3286, also known as East Lucas Road, across Lake Lavon and continuing on FM 546 to FM 982 leading into Princeton.

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Officials say the individual visited three public venues while infectious:

Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Aug. 14; Gloria’s Latin Cuisine, 152 Fountain Circle Fairview, between 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Aug. 14; and The Revel in Frisco Patio & Grill, 9305 Preston Road, Frisco, from 7:45 p.m. to 12 a.m. Aug. 15.

The county says measles is a highly contagious disease that can be transmitted from person-to-person through the air or contaminated surfaces. Measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Measles can lead to serious health complications, health officials say.

Collin County Health Care Services says if you or anybody you know were at any of these locations during the specified dates and are not vaccinated against measles, or are unsure of immunity, there is a risk of contracting measles. Those people, as well as pregnant or immunocompromised individuals, should contact their health care provider.

The county says anyone who was at the venues on the dates listed should monitor themselves for measles symptoms through Sept. 5.
Symptoms of measles typically include fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), small white spots inside the mouth known as Koplik’s spots, and a skin rash made up of large, flat blotches.

If symptoms develop, health officials recommend staying home and avoiding contact with others. A health care provider should be contacted for guidance, and individuals are advised to call ahead before visiting a clinic or hospital to prevent further exposure.

The most effective way to prevent measles is vaccination with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, said health officials.

For more information about measles, including symptoms, prevention and treatment, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/measles.

Collin County Health Care Services said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.

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“How does Murphy compare to these other cities that are around us?” Bradley asked. “Murphy is a good deal,” he answered himself.

“If we’re not meeting the needs of the residents, or we’re providing services that the residents don’t need, then that comes back to you,” the mayor added.

Bradley and other members spent more than an hour at the Tuesday, Aug. 18, council meeting discussing the Fiscal Year 2026-27 city budget and tax rate before giving preliminary approval to the numbers. But they could change by the time a public hearing is held on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Renovation work at Plano East Senior High School begun in February of 2025 is scheduled for completion in the first half of next year, according to a report by school district officials.

Tony Pearson, director of planning and new construction, updated the Plano ISD Board of Trustees on the progress of construction under the 2022 bond program. 

Pearson said at the Tuesday, Aug. 18, board work session that contracts called for $58.4 million in construction including renovation of about 7,000 square feet in Building D, major locker room renovations and two new gym floors. 

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

The commission voted unanimously on Aug. 18 to recommend that City Council approve the change from Agricultural and Commercial Corridor zoning to Commercial Corridor with a Special Use Permit. The property is generally located at 2002 W. FM 544 and is part of the WEDC Retail Addition.

The proposed development would include a wholesale retail store, minor automobile repair services for tires and batteries, and a member-only fueling station. The Special Use Permit also includes the site plan for the project.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

By Allison LaBrot

Northplace Church has a goal to serve local neighborhoods and the nations. A group of young adults from the church put that mission into action during a 10-day mission trip to Ireland in July. A 27-member team partnered with missionaries to host a week of science camps and events for youth and young adults.

Since 2021, Northplace Young Adults (NPYA) has met weekly in Wylie, and the community of 18 to 25-year-olds took its first mission trip during the summer of 2025. Northplace Youth, the church’s teen ministry, sent a group of 16 to serve in Ireland the same summer. The group worked with Randal and Kendra Baird, missionaries to Ennis, Ireland, and Hope Church Ennis to organize camps, outings and services for young people in the area.

Northplace decided to continue building the partnership with the Bairds and Hope Church through the Young Adults mission trip for 2026.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Read the full story in the Aug. 27 edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.