Latest News
Monday, Oct. 5, is the last day to register to vote. New Secretary of State Robert Howden has rolled out an online portal that allows Texans to confirm their active voter registration, register to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, or make changes to a...
Growth is spreading in Collin County, increasing overall property values, while average home values are down slightly, says Brian Swanson, deputy chief appraiser-business operations and compliance of Collin Central Appraisal District (CCAD). “The overall value of the...
Mary Lange, commander of American Legion Hale-Combest Post 315, received the Texas Legionnaire of the Year award earlier this month. File Art A Wylie woman whose leadership helped bring “The Wall That Heals” to the community last year has received one of the Texas...
Students working in teams of two consider whether to inspect a body on the floor of a crime scene scenario, Thursday, July 23, at the Youth Citizens Police Academy. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor There was a lot of noise and confusion at a crime scene. A manikin, bleeding...
All three bids for the lighted FM 544 bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Maxwell Creek were over budget and the low bidder was not pre-qualified with TxDOT, Director of Public Works Donald Reese says. In addition, the other two bidders did not submit all required...
Sports
The Plano East cross country team competed in the Coach T Marcus Invitational last Saturday in Denton. Photo courtesy Robert Reed By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East ran against some of the state’s top teams Saturday at the Coach T Marcus Invitational...
Plano East freshman Emerson Bailey, left, has been named the District 6-6A Utility Player of the Year. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Baseball and softball coaches in District 6-6A recently cast their votes for the...
Plano East senior Caitlyn Tran, left, earned fifth place in the girls 100-meter hurdles at the Class 6A state track and field meet in Austin. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East had two runners compete at the Class...
Thirteen seniors at Plano East High School pose for pictures after signing a National Letter of Intent with their college of choice during a ceremony that was held May 13. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Thirteen seniors...
Plano East senior quarterback Josh Gordon releases the ball on a passing attempt during the second half of last Friday's annual black-gold scrimmage at Tom Kimbrough Stadium. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] When a brief...
Education
By Andrew Norsworthy Wylie ISD trustees approved the district’s 2026-27 budget during their June 16 meeting, adopting a spending plan that projects a nearly $15 million deficit while providing pay increases for teachers and staff and maintaining the current tax rate....
Plano East Senior High School graduated 1,325 students at a May 28 commencement exercise at The Star in Frisco. Wylie High School graduated 755 Class of 2025 seniors in a May 24 ceremony at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen while Plano East Senior High...
Construction has begun on the Plano ISD’s new $72.2 million Career and Technical Education Center, shown in a concept rendering. Courtesy photo Plano Independent School District (PISD) officials, community members and business partners have marked the start of...
Wylie ISD trustees are considering several new measures to save money in the upcoming school year. The Board of Trustees convened for its final meeting of the year during a special called meeting Monday, Dec. 8. Trustees unanimously approved three items: the 2024-25...
Wylie P&Z unanimously approved the site plan for a major new career and technical education facility at Collin College Wylie campus. The continued expansion of Collin College’s Wylie campus — a significant educational resource for Murphy and surrounding...
Life & Style
By Carrie Dunlea Backyards have evolved far beyond basic patios and grills. Today’s outdoor spaces are increasingly designed as extensions of the home — places where families can stream movies, host game-day gatherings or simply unwind outdoors without sacrificing...
Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson, Texas, Courtesy Excelsior Hotel Do you have a penchant for the peculiar and perhaps haunted happenings? If so, plan a special trip this fall and visit some spooky hotels in Texas towns to get you in the Halloween spirit. Let’s...
Spooky Spiderweb Ingredients • 1/4 cup butter • 8 cups mini marshmallows, divided • 1 tbsp vanilla extract 9 cups popcorn, divided ...
Special Contributor Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy. For kids, it’s also a chance to get creative, let their imaginations run wild, and make something fun with their own hands. Parents and teachers know that holiday crafts do more than keep little hands...
Casa Loma, Toronto, Canada, Courtesy Hector Vasquez People love to explore the uncanny and unexplained as Halloween draws near. One way to do so is by visiting some of the purportedly haunted places around the world that also happen to be spectacularly beautiful. Not...
Opinion
Columnist John Moore bought a lot of books when he was young. He still has many of them. Photo: John Moore 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...
Columnist John Moore knows how to make Southern Sweet Tea, and he's offering the recipe. Courtesy John Moore The thing you discover about beverages when you travel beyond the Mason Dixon is that most folks outside of Southern civilization do not know how to properly...
Columnist John Moore learned to ride a bicycle from his dad. The two are pictured here in a photo from 1968. Courtesy Sarah Ward Bell-bottom jeans and bicycle chains are not friends. I share this bit of 1960s essential information for those who are participating in...
Columnist John Moore knows the Southern search words to buy things online now that the Thrifty Nickel is gone. Courtesy John Moore/Facebook The South used to rely on the Thrifty Nickel as our garage sale newspaper, but like many things these days,...
Columnist John Moore's cat, Sammy, has helped renew his faith in hope. Courtesy John Moore There’s an old English idiom that says, “To have no truck with.” It basically means that someone doesn’t go in for syrupy or emotional stuff. I’ve never been overly sentimental....
