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A virtual public hearing will be held at 2 p.m. CDT Wednesday, July 29, and comments close at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, TxDOT said.
Collin County Commissioner Darrell Hale says the current proposals do not include widening of any farm-to-market roads “and only a pittance of money” for state highways.
“While the UTP is not a final step prior to the start of project construction, members of the public do have multiple opportunities to engage with and provide comments to their local TxDOT districts during the pre-construction process,” TxDOT said. “Since each project must be awarded funding to proceed, local community engagement and support increases the likelihood of a project receiving funding in the UTP.”
“Contact the state and send them a comment about what you think about the inclusion or exclusion of different state roads (US, SH, and FMs),” Hale said. “Tell them what you are dealing with on what FM, SH, or U.S Highway. Tell them your desires. Nothing will change with no comments. Tell TXDoT what you support and what you need!”
There is an online comment form at surveymonkey.com/r/2027UTPOnlineCommentForm or residents may email [email protected]. Hale said that can also be used to send photos or videos.
To phone in a comment, call 800-430-2070.
The full public involvement link is https://www.txdot.gov/projects/planning/utp/utp-public-involvement.html.
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]]>By David Wolman
Plano East remained one of the premier athletic programs in Plano ISD during the 2025-26 school year.
The Murphy Monitor is proud to introduce the second installment of a three-part series celebrating the best teams, athletes, moments and performances from this past school year. The categories and winners for the second annual C&S Media High School Sports Awards were chosen by sports editor David Wolman, with winners being published over three weeks.
Part 1 (July 16) included the Biggest Story, Breakthrough Moment, Newcomer of the Year and Best Team
Part 2 (July 23) will highlight the Best Game, Best Finish, Biggest Upset and Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year.
Part 3 (July 30) will wrap up the series with Coach of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Best Male Athlete and Best Female Athlete.
These are the winners of the second installment of the series.
Best Game: Plano East volleyball team defeats Lake Highlands in five sets
Beginning this fall, Plano East and Lake Highlands will compete as rivals in District 7-6A.
If their previous match was a sign of things to come, the rivalry could produce many more memorable matches.
Last fall, during a Class 6A Division I area-round match, Plano East trailed Lake Highlands by eight points in the fourth set, but Simone Heard said there was still plenty of belief amongst the Lady Panthers. That same belief was noticeable when Plano East trailed by two points on three different occasions in the fifth set.
All that belief and discipline paid off, as Heard provided the finishing touches on a thrilling 3-2 win (24-26, 25-13, 25-22, 23-25, 15-12) over Lake Highlands at Sachse High School.
Plano East struggled to defend Lake Highlands’ taller hitters at times, but the Lady Panthers put everything together midway through the fifth set. Trailing 5-3, Plano East finished on a 12-7 run, with a Marisabelle Sias dig near the net helped swing the momentum in her team’s favor.
Best finish: Dennis’ late goal clinches playoff berth for Panthers boys’ soccer team
First came a Gatorade bath for first-year Plano East head boys soccer coach Justin Bailey.
Then came the words that the Panthers had been waiting to hear since 2018.
“We’re going to the playoffs,” he said.
Plano East’s players erupted in celebration after earning a 2-1 playoff-clinching win over Plano at Clark Stadium on March 6.
After a one-hour delay for lightning in the area stopped the game with 12:12 remaining in the second half, Plano East faced its tensest moment of the night.
When play resumed, the score was tied 1-1. Plano East needed just nine seconds to score. A throw-in by alum Jordy Rocha was headed back into the field of play by a Panthers forward. Alum midfielder Myles Dennis ran aggressively toward the ball in the middle of the field and placed a header into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.
Biggest upset: Defense paces Plano East boys’ basketball team to win over No. 6 Plano
Plano East earned a lot of significant wins during Matt Wester’s eight seasons as head coach.
Although the Panthers’ 47-37 win over Plano on Dec. 6 didn’t match the magnitude of Plano East’s 2024 Class 6A state championship victory over Stony Point, any win over a crosstown rival is significant. It was especially meaningful because the Wildcats entered ranked No. 6 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 6A poll.
Defense helped Plano East to defeat Plano and earn first place in the 13th Annual Craig Bowers Memorial Tournament in Royse City.
After the Wildcats jumped out to an 11-10 first-quarter lead, the Panthers outscored Plano 37-26 over the game’s final three quarters while limiting the Wildcats to 15 points over the second half and 27.3 percent shooting for the entire game.
Moustafa Abualneel, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the way offensively, finishing with 13 points in 14 minutes.
Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year: Simone Heard, girls’ soccer/track and field/volleyball
Even though soccer wasn’t Heard’s primary sport, coaches not only recognized her athletic ability, but also asked her if she can play for them.
Such was the case this spring when Plano East head girls soccer coach Cristy Cooley asked Heard to join the team and play goalkeeper for the first time in several years.
Heard didn’t miss a beat as she made timely saves during the Lady Panthers’ run to their first regional semifinal since 2018.
Of course, her primary sport is volleyball. Her senior season was her best. Named the District 6-6A MVP for the second consecutive season, Heard, an outside hitter and a Georgia Tech signee, provided an offensive spark for a Plano East team that finished the 2025 season in the Region I-6A Division I Final. She finished with 679 kills, 47 blocks, 436 digs and 40 service aces.
Heard was a standout track and field athlete, helping lead Plano East’s girls 4×100 relay to first place in the district and an appearance in the Region I-6A meet final.
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By Allison LaBrot | [email protected]
Wylie Acting Group (WAG), a nonprofit community theater organization, is gearing up for two weekends of performances of “Newsies.” The musical will be presented July 24-26 and July 31-Aug. 2 by a cast of 42 teenagers and a six-member crew.
Co-directors Barb Holder and Melissa Johnson said many of the young cast and crew members have already gained experience through WAG or their schools.
“Their passion and dedication shine in every performance,” the directors said.
Read the full story in the July 23rd edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.
]]>The school board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and a work session on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
District officials are proposing to decrease the total tax rate for property within the Plano ISD by $0.0068 or less than one penny.
The current total tax rate for 2025-26 is $1.03955 per $100 valuation and the district will consider a proposed 2026-27 rate of $1.03275 per $100 valuation, the voter-approved rate.
The proposed rate is made up of $0.79540 for maintenance and operations and $0.23735 for debt service (interest & sinking) tied to voter-approved bonds. Under the proposed rate, the M&O of $0.80220 would decrease but I&S would remain the same.
The district’s total taxable property value is estimated at $75.22 billion for the current tax year, down slightly from approximately $74.36 billion last year.
New taxable property value is estimated at about $665.2 million, an increase of roughly 0.89% from the previous year.
Plano ISD’s total appraised property value is listed at approximately $105.76 billion, compared with $100.83 billion during the preceding tax year.
For homeowners, the district estimates taxes on the average residence would increase slightly. Based on a mean taxable home value of $368,605, taxes are projected at $3,807 annually, an increase of $54 from the previous year.
Meeting on June 23, PISD trustees adopted a $691.6 million general operating budget for fiscal year 2026-27 that projects a $44.8 million operating shortfall, reflecting continued pressure from declining enrollment, inflation and state funding formulas that district officials say have not kept pace with rising costs.
The spending plan anticipates $634.6 million in general fund revenue and $691.6 million in expenditures, with the deficit to be covered through existing fund balance and other financing sources.
District officials said enrollment is expected to fall to about 41,830 students, continuing a multiyear decline driven by lower birth rates, changing demographics, rising housing costs and growing competition from charter schools, private schools and homeschooling. Because state aid is largely based on average daily attendance, fewer students translate directly into lower revenue. While House Bill 2 increased state funding, Plano ISD said the additional money does not fully offset enrollment losses, inflation and growing maintenance needs for aging facilities.
Instruction remains the district’s largest expenditure at about $340.8 million, followed by maintenance and operations at $55.6 million, school leadership at $32 million and guidance and counseling at $27.2 million.
The budget also includes a 2% salary increase for eligible employees; market-rate pay adjustments and continued health care contributions to retain staff.
Rising recapture payments, utilities, insurance and transportation costs were identified as major spending pressures, although the district plans to offset some increases through staff attrition tied to declining enrollment, payroll efficiencies and continued zero-based budgeting.
Revenue changes include higher Available School Fund distributions and proceeds from property sales, offset by lower local tax collections resulting from state-mandated tax rate compression, reduced investment earnings and lower reimbursements.
District leaders said they will continue focusing resources on classroom instruction while seeking operational efficiencies to preserve long-term financial stability despite ongoing funding challenges.
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]]>Seven artists already have their works hanging in the Murphy Activity Center, and the Parks & Recreation Department is seeking new submissions for the fall show.
The three-month rotating exhibit allows artists to display their works and price them for sale, if they wish.
Prices of the 17 works now hanging range from $125 to $600.
Special Events Manager Ashley Hudson said the “Arts and Rec” gallery has attracted visitors who heard about the exhibit. But, she said, the city would like to do more to promote it.
“I’m hoping we can have some sort of small event for the artists to have a moment and bring them some exposure,” Hudson said. “It’s in the works.”
The first works went on display in June and will be replaced in September for the fall show, she said. The city is currently accepting works for consideration.
“All visual art mediums are welcome, including — but not limited to — painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, digital art (printed), fiber art and collage,” the rules specify.
Hudson said submissions must be two-dimensional and no more than 24 inches by 36 inches. Canvasses do not need to be framed, but all other works must be mounted in a plain black frame.
Each artist may submit up to three pieces per exhibition cycle and all works are juried for display.
According to the rules, “Artwork will be evaluated based on artistic quality, creativity, craftsmanship, originality and suitability for display in a public facility.”
The art is hung on the right wall of the main entry hallway to the activity center, 201 N. Murphy Road. But there is plenty of space on the opposite wall or inside the large meeting room.
The artists don’t have to be from Murphy, she added.
“A lot of people either live in Murphy or work around here, but we opened it up to everybody,” Hudson said.
In announcing the program, the city said, “This rotating gallery is designed to showcase local talent and celebrate creativity within our community.”
The submission rules are available at: https://bit.ly/4aY0P6O.
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]]>The county could seek $820 million in bonds to fund several projects, including a major expansion of the county jail, which officials acknowledged is at or above capacity most of the time.
County administrator Yoon Kim said he considered a package totaling $1.2 billion but reduced the proposal to the $820 million total that is now under consideration.
Read the full story in the July 23rd edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.
]]>By Carrie Dunlea
Retirement often brings more freedom, but it can also mean fewer daily opportunities to connect with others. Whether you’re newly retired or simply looking to expand your circle, building new friendships can improve both physical and mental well-being while making life more enjoyable. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 12% of older adults experience loneliness, a factor linked to poorer health and quality of life.
Reconnect with old friends. It’s easy to lose touch over the years as careers and family responsibilities take center stage. Retirement often provides the time to reconnect through a phone call, text message or social media. Many lifelong friendships begin right where they left off.
Explore local senior centers. One of the easiest ways to meet new people is by visiting a local senior center. The Wylie Community Park Center offers a free Senior Drop-In ID for adults 55 and older, providing access to fitness equipment, drop-in activities and recreational programs. Located inside Community Park, the facility also offers pickleball courts and the nearly one-mile Community Trail for walking and exercise.
Nearby, the Laurie Schwenk Senior Activity Center in Sachse hosts games, fitness classes, educational programs, special events and social activities throughout the week. Memberships are affordable for residents and non-residents, and transportation is available for qualifying Sachse residents, making it even easier to stay active and connected.
Start a club or join a group. Book clubs, coffee groups, walking clubs, gardening groups and pickleball leagues all provide natural opportunities to meet people with similar interests. Neighborhood Facebook groups and community pages are also great places to find or organize activities.
Reconnect with your faith. Places of worship often provide fellowship opportunities, volunteer projects and social gatherings that help foster lasting friendships while strengthening a sense of belonging.
Try something new. Learning a new skill or hobby can introduce retirees to people they might never have met otherwise. Look for painting classes, technology workshops, fitness programs, volunteer opportunities or day trips offered through local parks and recreation departments.
Staying socially connected doesn’t require a large circle of friends. Attending a weekly class, joining a walking group or simply sharing coffee with new acquaintances can make a meaningful difference. With active senior programs available in communities like Wylie and Sachse, local residents have plenty of opportunities to stay engaged, healthy and connected throughout retirement.
Did You Know?
Research has shown that staying socially active can help improve mood, reduce stress and support both cognitive and physical health as we age. Even participating in one regular weekly activity can make a meaningful difference.
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]]>By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com
I’m not sure what fundraisers try to sell to grade school kids today, but when I was a kid, it was books. The school would hand out a pamphlet to each kid with a wide selection of paperback and hardback books we could buy. Cheap.
Maybe these were books that didn’t sell somewhere else, or maybe they were just reprints of books that had sold before, but the other kids and I bought them. Lots of them.
They were all appealing. Books by Beverly Cleary, Alfred Hitchcock, and science fiction from masters including Isaac Asimov.
Income for kids in the 60s and 70s was limited to whatever you could earn by doing chores, mowing yards, or helping a neighbor. There were rumors that some kids got an allowance, but I never met any of them. So, money was hard earned, and therefore, valuable.
But I freely let some of it go for scary stories or intrigue.
Looking back, I don’t remember anyone in the Ashdown, Arkansas, school system twisting my arm to read. The books simply looked interesting. The covers were colorful. The descriptions were exciting. Best of all, they belonged to me.
They usually arrived a few weeks after we turned in our order forms. There was something special about seeing a stack of brand-new books with a piece of paper attached that had my name on it.
Teachers were smart enough to know that if a child is interested in what he is reading, he is far more likely to keep turning the pages.
Some kids liked mysteries. Others wanted books about sports, animals, history, outer space, or famous people. There were joke books, puzzle books, collections of ghost stories, and books that taught magic tricks. Nobody seemed overly concerned that everyone read much of the same thing. The important thing was that we were reading.
That lesson has stayed with me.
Some adults spend too much time worrying about whether a child is reading the “right” book. I have always believed that reading something is better than reading nothing at all. A youngster who devours books about dinosaurs today may be reading biographies tomorrow. A child fascinated by model airplanes may eventually develop an interest in engineering. The path doesn’t matter nearly as much as developing the habit.
Reading opens doors that television, phones, and video games simply cannot. It stretches a child’s imagination because the pictures have to be created in the reader’s own mind. It expands a kid’s vocabulary without feeling like homework. It quietly teaches grammar, sentence structure, and storytelling. Long before many children realize it, they’re becoming better communicators.
Those little book orders also taught us something about making choices. We had limited money, so we studied every page of those catalogs. We’d compare prices, count our dollars, and decide which titles would give us the biggest bang for the buck. Sometimes a friend ordered a book we couldn’t afford, and after both of us finished reading, we’d trade.
The books often made the rounds through an entire neighborhood before finally ending up on someone’s bedroom bookshelf.
There was another benefit I didn’t appreciate until I was older. Those book sales weren’t just about putting stories into children’s hands. They also helped schools raise money. Every order generated a little extra income that could be used wherever it was needed most. Those dollars often supported activities that tax money didn’t completely cover.
They helped buy uniforms for athletic teams, supplies for art classes, music programs, library materials, playground equipment, classroom projects, and dozens of other things that enriched school life. We probably never gave it much thought while filling out our order forms, but every paperback carried a small benefit that reached far beyond the student who bought it.
Looking back, that was a pretty clever arrangement. Kids received books they genuinely wanted to read; the buyer paid only a few dollars, and schools gained resources that benefited everyone. It’s hard to find fault with that formula.
Today there are countless ways to read. Books can arrive instantly on a tablet or phone. Libraries offer digital downloads. Audiobooks are everywhere. Those are wonderful advances, but I hope we never lose sight of the simple idea behind those old paper catalogs.
Give children something that interests them.
Let them choose.
Don’t worry if it’s science fiction instead of history, mysteries instead of classics, or books about baseball instead of poetry. The love of reading rarely begins with assignments. It usually begins with curiosity.
For many of us, that curiosity arrived folded neatly inside a thin school pamphlet. We circled our choices, counted our money, and waited for delivery day.
When the box finally arrived in the classroom, it felt a little like Christmas.
The books may have cost us, but what they gave us was priceless.
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]]>The store is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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