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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By David Wolman

[email protected]

Plano East traveled to Oklahoma on Saturday for the prestigious Cowboy Jamboree.

Senior Meena Mulford finished 19th in 19:36.1 to pace the Lady Panthers in the large-school girls 5K race.

Senior Brooke Tierney took 75th in 20:57.7, junior Louisa Christensen was 76th in 20:57.8, junior Reagan Diggs placed 120th in 21:45.2, senior Kate Salyer was 127th in 21:49.8, junior Sophia Nguyen captured 136th in 21:57.4, freshman Taylor Chu took 218th in 23:17, freshman Josie Gryglas placed 219th in 23:17.1, freshman Evelyn Felipe was 243rd in 23:47.4, freshman Jordan Grant captured 244th in 23:47.8 and sophomore Emma Sahni was 284th in 25:01.9.

Leading the way for the Plano East boys was senior Isaac Updike, who finished 30th in the large-school boys 5K in 16:43.9.

Sophomore Alex Castillo (53rd, 17:09.3), sophomore Levi Rowe (61st, 17:15.6), senior Michael Sharp (71st, 17:23.2), sophomore Grant Updike (82nd, 17:31), sophomore Aiden Allen (116th, 17:52), junior Trinabh Madadi (120th, 17:54.1), sophomore Joshua Cruz (201st, 18:32.9), freshman Mohammad Raslan (212th, 18:38), senior Ryder Glenn (241st, 18:53.7) and junior Samuel Powell (270th, 19:11.3) rounded out the efforts for Plano East.

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All those results can be slightly overwhelming, how-ever. Rather than having a go at it alone, rely on the professionals to guide you toward looks that are all the rage and fit a variety of budgets. Consider these on-trend design ideas from the kitchen and bathroom experts at Wellborn Cabinet, whose whole-home solutions double as functional and beautiful.

Kitchen Trends

Let it Flow: Open concepts have become quite common as it allows the kitchen to feel like one large room where loved ones and guests can intermingle as opposed to an enclosed space. This flowing openness lends continuous visibility to the area ranging from the (seemingly) always active kitchen to gathering spaces in the dining and living rooms. An open floor plan also helps connect design aesthetics from each room to the next.

Opt for Concealed Storage: Pots, pans, knives and all your favorite kitchen gadgets need hidden somewhere. Rather than taking up valuable pantry space, turn to a stylish storage solution from Wellborn Cabinet’s line of pullout cabinets that give you the room you need. With options ranging from pullout peg boards to sleek tray dividers, these clever contraptions can help you stay organized while making functionality beautiful.

Incorporate Smart Tech: Trends aren’t exclusively about aesthetics – practicality via technology is equally important for those looking to update their kitchens to the 21st century. Devices like smart refrigerators that allow you to take inventory from an app, smart lighting that brightens and dims to save on electricity and voice assistants that help you keep track of recipes are all trendy paths toward a top-of-the-line kitchen.

Bring in Organic Touches: Organic modern is in, which means adding organic touches using natural materials like stone and wood in your cabinets, countertops, flooring and more. Achieve a warm vibe with these organic elements paired with a neutral color palette (soft whites and earthy tones) and natural light.

Bathroom Trends

Add Accents that Pop: Obvious accents like bold pops of color and unique patterns come to mind, but you can also make your bathroom stand out by experimenting with materials, accessories and shapes. Think eye-catching cabinet hardware, fun mirror shapes and open-shelf decor that grabs attention without overdoing it.

how Off Wood Vanities: As an impor-tant area you’ll use to get ready for each day, vanities should be purposeful and practical but can also brandish your personal style. Types and sizes may vary but one look seeing an upward trend, according to Wellborn Cabinet’s design experts, is the use of natural tones and textures like woodgrain to complement the rise in popularity of warm colors in recent years.

Go for Decorative Lighting: The same tired light fixtures in bathrooms can feel drab and dreary. Evaluate the amount of natural light available (often at a premium in bathrooms) and decide if you can go more subdued or need to effectively and efficiently illuminate the area. Bell-shaped, wall-mounted sconces next to mirrors are in vogue, as are glass globes to complement ample natural light. For a true touch of modern flair, consider dramatic accent lighting like underlights on a floating vanity that do double duty as a convenient nightlight.

Make it Spa-Like: Lavish luxury is the goal with a spa-like bathroom in the comfort of home. Organic materials, natural light, traditional decor and, maybe most importantly, an oversized soaking tub are at the core of this look. While it may sound counterintuitive, you can actually create your own oasis with some simple, budget-friendly aesthetics. The first step for many is to incorporate more storage using sleek cabinets, shelves and wall-mounted hooks to achieve a decluttered look. Next, simply replace your old showerhead and faucet with spa lookalikes and stock up on plush, fluffy towels for that luxurious appearance without a complete remodel.

Find more design inspiration by visiting Wellborn.com.

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By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com

The phrase, “We were poor, but didn’t know it,” likely was based on the delicious and inexpensive food most Southerners ate growing up.

My father told me we only ate the finest, center-cut baloney. The reality was, we were so poor, our baloney didn’t have a first name.

There were two camps of baloney cooks: leave the baloney slice whole and let it turn into a bowl shape while frying, or cut slits on the outer rim so it would lay flatter in the skillet.

My mom didn’t cut slits, but it always came out an even black. Add some mayo on white bread and Fritos to that, and you had a meal.

Another inexpensive, yet excellent tasting dish was biscuits and gravy. It was inconceivable that a young lady would leave the house to marry a fella and not know how to make biscuits and gravy. For that matter, it was inconceivable that a fella would leave home without that ability.

Regular gravy is a Southern tradition, but in specific parts of the South, chocolate gravy is a delicacy.

Our family has Aunt Maude to thank for the chocolate gravy recipe that has been passed down for over 100 years. Aunt Maude was adopted as a young girl and from what I’m told, she knew how to make it when she joined us.

Made with Hershey’s Cocoa, butter, sugar, and (if available) fresh milk from the barn, chocolate gravy was dessert for breakfast.

Tear open a cat head biscuit, cover each side with real butter (margarine was grounds for excommunication) and after the butter melts, cover the biscuit with chocolate gravy.

Another inexpensive dish that was a frequent flier on our Formica dinette table was salmon patties. The folks who considered themselves better than salmon patties called them salmon croquettes. Regardless of what they were called, they were made the same way.

A cheap can of salmon, an egg, saltine crackers, onion, mayo, salt and pepper, were mixed into the shape of hamburger patties and then fried in bacon drippings in the skillet. Fried potatoes were served with them.

For that matter, fried potatoes were served with everything.

At our house, fried potatoes were served at every single meal. So were biscuits and white gravy. They were filling, and they were good. Very good. And my dad expected all three to always be there.

Mom could vary whatever else she wanted on the menu, but if we sat down to eat and there were no potatoes, gravy, or biscuits, everyone would have just assumed that the store was out of something that was part of the recipe.

Hindsight, I now know that a sack of potatoes was one of the least expensive things you could buy that could be stretched on-and-on-and-on.

I’ve often said that if I were limited to just one food from now on, it would be the potato. It has to be one of the most versatile foods we have. Baked, fried, sliced, scalloped; heck, even the peels are sold in restaurants.

I was taught how to peel potatoes at my first real job at County Seat Fried Chicken restaurant. The first time I saw potato skins on the menu at a restaurant, I was puzzled. But someone pointed out that fried pigskins were a Southern mainstay. They had a point.

For dessert, a can of peaches and a can of Pet Milk are hard to beat. Pour a few peach slices and their syrup into a bowl, then pour a little Pet Milk over them and you have a tasty end to any meal. My grandmother never called dessert, “dessert,” she just would say, “do you want something sweet?”

The answer was always yes. And if we were lucky, it was canned peaches with some Pet Milk poured over them.

Much of what Southerners still want to eat today is rooted in the inexpensive dishes on which we grew up. I still love a fried baloney sandwich, biscuits and gravy, chocolate gravy, and salmon patties. They were what allowed our mothers to stay home and raise us on dad’s salary. I argue that family model is still the better one. Even if you need Lipitor later.

If you’ve never had chocolate gravy, I’ve included Aunt Maude’s recipe.

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By David Wolman

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PLANO — Although it was a Week 5 regular-season game with no serious playoff implications, Plano East treated last Friday as a must-win game.

Knowing that a loss would drop the Panthers to 0-2 in a highly competitive district, they made sure they didn’t head into their bye week having dropped further in the District 7-6A standings.

Senior quarterback Josh Gordon connected with senior wide receiver Cody Warner on a 19-yard touchdown pass, senior Logan Watkins made a 25-yard field goal and senior Jordan Stafford had a blocked field goal return for a touchdown with 1:48 remaining to seal a 24-6 win for Plano East over Plano West at John Clark Stadium on Friday.

All three scoring plays helped the Panthers (3-2 overall, 1-1 district) turn a 7-6 lead at the end of the third quarter into an eventual 18-point win.

Read the full story in the October 1st edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

By David Wolman

[email protected]

Jeff Savage was always destined to be a Plano East Panther.

He grew up down the street from the school, and the band hall can be seen from his parents’ current house.

Also, his sister was part of Plano East’s first graduating class in 1982.

But what Savage always valued most about playing for the Panthers was the “Do your job, and I’ll do mine” mentality. There was never jealousy. Savage described the team camaraderie as a “brotherhood,” and there was always a “Not me, but us” mentality.

That’s why Savage, a 1990 Plano East graduate, made sure he paid tribute to each of his teammates prior to his induction into Plano East’s Hall of Honor last Friday evening at Tom Kimbrough Stadium.

Savage called each of his teammates in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. 

Although he took a knee in the end zone to give thanks to God, waved to the crowd and was presented with a plaque, the former Plano East standout running back acknowledged the teammates who helped him earn recognition as an Associated Press Preseason All-American, Honorable Mention Parade All-American, a member of the National Top 100 Team and the Associated Press Super Prep Team, as well as a No. 7 ranking on the Dallas Times Herald’s Blue Chippers list.

Savage said Plano East’s offensive line of PJ Brooks, Alan Saviano, Joey Allen, Randall Harjo, Jason Wood and John LuBow was the reason he had as much individual success as he did.

“I had a great line,” Savage said. “They weren’t the biggest players, but they never gave up.”

Savage praised Allen, the Panthers’ starting center, for his blocking.

“He was little in stature but big in heart,” Savage said. “He was a 5-foot-8, 180-pound center, but he never missed a block. Even when we went up against larger schools, he didn’t give up. It was his grit and will to win.”

SMU had the “Pony Express,” the legendary 1980s backfield tandem of running backs Craig James and Eric Dickerson. Plano East had its own version of the “Pony Express,” with Savage, Mike Kennedy and Shane Haynes in the backfield and Chad Dousharm at quarterback.

“Those guys made it so much easier for me,” Savage said. “They took all the punishment. They ran for the short yards, let me run for the long yards.

“Chad was one of the most underrated quarterbacks in our area. I’ll never forget those guys. I’ll never forget those times. I never had as much fun playing football than I did at Plano East.”

Winning was something Savage did plenty of growing up. From the second grade until his senior year, he lost a total of five games. During his junior season in 1988, Plano East lost two games, against Newman Smith during the regular season and eventual state champion Dallas Carter in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

His claim to fame is that he helped lead Plano East to two wins over rival Plano, by scores of 26-0 and 31-8.

Savage grew up watching Tony Dorsett and O.J. Simpson, but it was Dickerson who really sparked his interest in playing running back.

“I patterned myself after Eric because he was taller like me,” Savage said.

Savage got to watch Dorsett play and practice live with regularity. Before the Savage family moved to Plano, they lived across the street from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility. His father, Jeff II, held his son on top of a fence to allow him to watch the Cowboys practice.

“I owe everything to my daddy,” Savage said. “I have the greatest mom, but my dad is my best friend. He was running me in the hot sun and pushing me to do better.

“I saw how hard we worked and how tired he was, but he didn’t make excuses. He made sure that I went to the Cowboys football games, to a Texas A&M camp and University of Houston camp.”

After graduating from Plano East, Savage played college football at the University of Arkansas and then professionally with the Milwaukee Mustangs’ arena football team.

Savage currently works as a maintenance department manager at an oil refinery in southern Arkansas, and he traces his leadership skills to his days of playing football for Plano East.

“It taught me about safety, teamwork and being a brother’s keeper,” he said. “I have 140 guys that look up to me. Those are things that I picked up at Plano East.”