The City of Sachse is accepting applications through Friday, Aug. 14, for openings on the Animal Shelter Board, Board of Adjustment, Economic Development Corporation Board, Library Board, Municipal Development District Board, Parks and Recreation Board and Planning and Zoning Commission. The advisory groups make recommendations to the City Council on issues ranging from land use and development to parks, library services, economic development and animal welfare.

Serving on a board or commission gives residents an opportunity to participate in local government by offering recommendations and sharing their expertise on issues affecting the community. While the City Council makes the final decisions, board members play an important role by reviewing proposals, studying issues and providing guidance before many items reach the council for consideration.

Among the city’s advisory bodies, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviews zoning requests, plats, comprehensive planning efforts and other development-related matters. The Parks and Recreation Board advises on park improvements, recreational programs and trail development, while the Library Board provides recommendations on library services, policies and long-range planning. Other boards focus on economic development, municipal development projects, animal shelter operations and zoning appeals.

According to the city’s website, members are appointed by the City Council and typically serve staggered terms. Most positions require applicants to be qualified voters and residents of Sachse, although specific eligibility requirements vary by board.

Residents interested in serving may complete an online application through the city’s Boards and Commissions webpage. Additional information about each board’s responsibilities, meeting schedules and qualifications is available on the city’s website. Questions may also be directed to City Secretary Leah Granger at [email protected].

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For more than 30 years, the annual rodeo has been a community tradition, with the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce partnering with Wylie ISD for the past 20 years to host the event at the F.O. Birmingham Agricultural Facility and Rodeo Arena.

Earlier this year, Wylie ISD began renovations to the facility as part of improvements intended to better serve students. In response, the Chamber and the City of Wylie spent several months exploring alternative locations for this year’s rodeo.

According to the Chamber, none of the sites considered could provide the space, infrastructure and safety needed to host the event while remaining logistically and financially feasible.

“Canceling our annual rodeo is an incredibly difficult decision,” said Tina Stelnicki, CEO of the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce. “Over the past several months, the Chamber and the City of Wylie explored multiple alternative locations, but none could provide the space, safety and amenities needed to produce the quality event our community expects. We understand Wylie ISD’s need to improve its facilities and look forward to returning to the newly renovated rodeo grounds in 2027.”

The Chamber said it will  begin contacting sponsors and vendors in the coming weeks to discuss opportunities for the 2027 Wylie Championship Rodeo.

The rodeo has long been one of Wylie’s signature annual events, featuring professional rodeo competition and family-friendly entertainment. Chamber officials said they expect the event to return in 2027 following completion of the renovations to the rodeo grounds.

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They made history Sunday at Sachse High School by renaming the gymnasium in honor of a man who left an indelible mark on generations of students. The gym now carries the name of Steve Hammerle.

In inviting the community to the celebration, Garland ISD described the dedication as a “historic occasion,” honoring an educator who “dedicated himself to the students, staff and community of Sachse High School, leaving a lasting impact through his leadership, commitment and service.”

The dedication ceremony drew a large crowd of former students, fellow educators, family members and friends. The Sachse High School Mighty Mustang Band, color guard, drill team and cheerleaders performed before the ceremony.

Hammerle called the recognition “the highlight of my career” and thanked the students he met throughout his years in education “for everything you taught me.”

Hammerle spent nearly 50 years as a public educator, including more than 30 years with Garland ISD, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, middle school principal and high school principal. During his career, he earned Principal of the Year honors at both the high school and middle school levels, TASSP Region 10 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year honors and a PTA Lifetime Membership Award. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1977 before completing graduate studies in counseling and student services and school administration.

Former Sachse High principal Shae Creel, who succeeded Hammerle in 2016, praised his predecessor’s vision and leadership.

“Stepping into a post that Steve founded was truly special,” Creel said.

Construction on Sachse High began in 2000, and the campus opened in 2002 with an inaugural class of 815 freshmen and sophomores. Additional grade levels were added in subsequent years, with the school’s first graduating class earning diplomas in 2005.

Creel said Hammerle, who oversaw the project from “the ground up,” was dedicated to ensuring “everything was done right” and built a culture that continues to shape the campus today.

Brandy Schneider, a former Sachse High assistant principal, recalled Hammerle’s high standards during construction of the campus.

“Everything must look in 20 years like it does today,” he insisted.

Steve Evans, who met Hammerle while the two attended Garland High School, remembered him as someone who “never had a negative thing to say about anyone” and said he was “passionate about friendships and was always willing to help others.”

The announcement of the dedication on the Sachse High School Facebook page prompted dozens of congratulatory comments from former students and colleagues. Richie Harris wrote, “He was the only reason I graduated from Garland High School in ‘90. He was tough but fair.” Another former student, Charles Stiles, a member of Sachse High’s first graduating class, wrote that Hammerle encouraged students “to leave our mark on the campus,” adding, “You knew he cared about every student that walked in those doors.”

The ceremony also included heartfelt remarks from Hammerle’s son, Sean, who spoke about his father’s decision to adopt him after marrying his late wife, Marlene, former principal of Rowlett High School.

“I knew I was a Hammerle all along,” Sean said. He closed by thanking his father “for showing me what a father should be.” He also recalled family vacations that often turned into impromptu reunions because his father seemed to know someone everywhere they went. “Our family vacations became more like family reunions,” he said to laughter from the audience.

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Proceedings began with the presentation of the Going the Extra Mile, or GEM, Award to Myriam Diaz, who was also recognized for 35 years of service to the district.

The district also introduced two new administrators to the community: Assistant Superintendent of Leadership Michael Arreola and Assistant Superintendent of Safety and Operations Jennifer Duplessis.

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By Andrew Norsworthy | [email protected]

Council members received a lengthy report on the budget process from finance director David Baldwin, assistant city manager Lauren Rose and public works director Corey Nesbitt. 

City Manager Gina Nash introduced the discussion by reminding council members that the city “accelerated the budget process” from previous efforts.

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Qualifying items can be purchased tax free from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in Texas. 

The three-day sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 7, and runs through midnight Sunday, Aug. 9.

The comptroller’s office says the sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items bought during the period. Items purchased before or after the sales tax holiday do not qualify for exemption, and there is no tax refund available.

The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can buy.

Computers, software and textbooks are not included. Jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and other accessories are also not exempt.

However, delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges by the seller are part of the item’s sales price. If the delivery charge is a flat rate per package, and the amount charged is the same regardless of how many items are included in the package, the total charge can be attributed to any one of the items in the package.

A complete list of school supplies covered by the tax holiday is available at: https://bit.ly/3RkCnpL.

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A long-missing World War II sailor from Farmersville is among five Collin County service members newly honored in the Hall of Heroes at the Collin County Courthouse.

The portraits, unveiled during a ceremony in June, bring the courthouse collection to 115 memorials honoring local men and women who died while serving the nation.

Among them is Pharmacist Mate 1st Class William “Billy” Bain Honaker, 24, of Farmersville, who was serving aboard the USS Jarvis when the destroyer disappeared in the Pacific during World War II. Honaker and the ship’s entire crew were declared missing in action July 12, 1942.

Artist and project co-founder Colin E. Kimball said the Jarvis had been struck by a torpedo while protecting Marines landing on Guadalcanal. Although the ship did not sink, it was severely damaged. Seven wounded sailors were transferred to other ships, and the remaining crew completed emergency repairs before departing without an escort for Australia.

Kimball said the Jarvis was later spotted by a Japanese aircraft and “was ultimately struck, split in half and sank.”

“Honaker remains missing in action to this day,” Kimball said.

The four other portraits span nearly a century of military service.

John Meyers McKinney, 65, served with Capt. James Fitzhugh’s Company of Bell’s Mounted Volunteers of the Texas Rangers and was killed in the line of duty Nov. 26, 1847, during the Mexican War.

Private First Class James Marlow Morgan, 18, of Anna, served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was killed in action Feb. 1, 1944. 

Sgt. J.L. Montgomery, 21, of Copeville, served with the U.S. Army’s 740th Tank Battalion and was killed in action Feb. 2, 1945.

Second Lt. Lindsey L. Bowen, 22, of McKinney, served with the 15th U.S. Army Air Force and went missing Nov. 15, 1944, during a mission over Yugoslavia. His remains were discovered in 1948 and returned to McKinney.

For Kimball, each portrait is more than a historical illustration.

“I always hand paint the eyes when I create the portraits, as they are the most important piece,” he said. “It gives a sense of the warrior’s spirit and soul.”

Kimball creates the portraits digitally, beginning with an original black-and-white photograph. He researches uniforms, military regulations, medals, badges, rank insignia and unit patches before assembling and painting the image in a realistic style.

Depending on the available material and research required, a portrait may take 12 hours or several months to complete.

Kimball co-founded the North Texas Fallen Warrior Project in 2013 with the late Ronnie “R.D.” Foster, a Farmersville native, Vietnam veteran and U.S. Marine who spent years researching Collin County’s fallen service members.

“He was the audio and I was the visual,” Kimball said of their partnership.

Together, they identified fallen warriors whose names were added to the memorial wall at McKinney Veterans Memorial Park, now named in Foster’s honor. Kimball continues the work, particularly the stories of World War II service members Foster was unable to complete.

Kimball is also a military history writer and has contributed to more than a dozen editions of the “True Stories of Heroism That Defy Comprehension” series. His latest contribution focuses on Audie Murphy as an “unlikely hero.”

“I discovered a few interesting details about Audie that have either been overlooked or gone largely unreported,” he said. “That was a lot of fun to research.”

Beyond the courthouse collection, Kimball has created more than 200 portraits of posthumous Medal of Honor recipients, along with portraits honoring fallen police officers, firefighters and other local heroes.

The courthouse exhibit preserves the stories of more than 400 known fallen service members from Collin County. More than a dozen additional portraits are awaiting installation.

“I plan on continuing this work until the Lord has other plans for me,” Kimball said.

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For three weeks each summer, police cars, emergency equipment and hands-on demonstrations become the backdrop for building friendships between officers and local children.

The third session of the Sachse Police Department’s annual Cops and Campers program wrapped up last week, giving students entering third through sixth grades an inside look at public safety while fostering trust, teamwork and positive relationships with law enforcement.

Throughout the week, campers explored police equipment, learned about specialized law enforcement operations and met members of the Sachse Police Department’s Special Response and Crisis Negotiator teams. They also heard presentations from Sachse Fire-Rescue, the Wylie Police Department and Lone Star Search and Rescue, offering a broader look at the many agencies that work together to protect the community.

Each of the program’s three summer sessions welcomes an average of 35 to 40 students and is overseen by Sgt. Brent Merryman, with Sachse’s elementary and middle school School Resource Officers leading daily activities. Volunteers in Police Service also assist throughout the program.

Students also participate in warm-ups, team-building games, fingerprinting, impaired-vision exercises using special goggles and a traffic-stop demonstration. The department said the impaired-goggles activity and traffic-stop demonstration continue to rank among the campers’ favorite experiences each year.

“Cops & Campers provides a valuable opportunity for our officers to connect with our youth outside their traditional law-enforcement duties,” Merryman said. “The program helps build trust and strengthen relationships between students and public safety.”

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A Wylie woman whose leadership helped bring “The Wall That Heals” to the community last year has received one of the Texas American Legion’s highest individual honors.

Mary Lange, a U.S. Air Force veteran and commander of Hale-Combest American Legion Post 315, received the honor during the 107th Annual Convention of the American Legion Department of Texas, held July 10 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. Department Commander Richard Huntley presented the award.

The Legionnaire of the Year Award recognizes members whose service extends beyond their local post through involvement at the district, department and national levels, as well as meaningful contributions to their communities.

For Lange, the recognition came as a surprise.

“When they started talking about the Legionnaire of the Year, it never dawned on me it was going to be me until they started talking about the Wall and community service,” she said, adding “It is an honor.”

Lange, commander of Hale-Combest Post 315, is perhaps best known locally for spearheading the effort to bring The Wall That Heals to Wylie in 2025. The three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., drew hundreds of visitors during its four-day stay, giving veterans, families and residents an opportunity to honor those who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War.

Lange’s commitment to veterans and community service has earned numerous honors in recent years. In 2024, she received the Congressional Veteran Commendation from U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, and was named the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. The City of Wylie also proclaimed Nov. 18, 2025, as “Mary Lange Day” in recognition of her service to the community.

Beyond that project, Lange devotes countless volunteer hours to mentoring young people through American Legion programs.

She chairs the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, known as “A Constitutional Speech Contest,” and Texas Boys State for Post 315. She also serves as chair of the oratorical program for the American Legion Department of Texas Fourth District and First Division.

In addition, Lange is a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 315 and serves as chair of Texas Bluebonnet Girls State.

“We have over 200 programs in the American Legion,” Lange said. “My hot button is Girls State, Boys State and Oratorical. That’s what I focus on. The kids learn so much from those programs.”

Founded in 1919 and chartered by Congress, the American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, with nearly 2 million members in more than 12,000 posts in the United States and abroad.

Guided by its motto, “Veterans Strengthening America,” the organization focuses on mentoring youth, promoting patriotism and honor, advocating for a strong national defense and supporting veterans, military members and their families.

Lange said she is honored by the recognition but remains focused on continuing the work that has defined her years of service.

“It’s really about the programs,” she said. “Helping young people through Boys State, Girls State and Oratorical is what I enjoy most.”

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“The overall value of the county increased by 4.43% while the average home value decreased from $603,190 in 2025 to $588,119 in 2026,” Swanson said as CCAD released 2026 certified taxable values as of July 23.

“We continue to see significant growth in the northern part of the county with Celina and Melissa, and now more in the east side of the county in Lavon, Nevada and Princeton,” he said.

CCAD said Collin County certified taxable values increased to $280.17 billion, with $7.7 billion in new property added to tax rolls as of July 23, 2026.

In the Collin County portion of Sachse, CCAD data shows a 1.54% increase in total certified taxable value, from $1.79 billion in 2025 to $1.82 billion in 2026. The area added $4.4 million in new construction during the year.

The 2026 average market value of a home in the Collin County portion of Sachse is $509,558. Last year’s figures showed the average value of a home at $520,737.

Sachse residents in Collin County pay property taxes to the city, county, Wylie Independent School District and Collin College.

The numbers for Collin College show a 4.68% increase to $251.2 billion, with $7.4 billion of new property added to the tax rolls.

In nearby Wylie, CCAD data shows a 0.93% decrease in total certified taxable value, from $8.66 billion in 2025 to $8.58 billion in 2026, despite adding $70.8 million in new construction.

The 2026 average market value of a home in Wylie is $431,596. Last year’s figures showed the average value of a home at $448,501.

Wylie Independent School District had a 0.35% decrease in taxable value to $10.72 billion with $174.7 million in new construction. The average value of a home within WISD is $471,442, compared with $484,637 in 2025.

In nearby Murphy, the certified taxable property value increased 3.25% from $3.95 billion to $4.08 billion, with $32.1 million in new construction. The average market value of a home in Murphy increased from $611,297 in 2025 to $615,856 this year.

In nearby Parker, the certified taxable property value was $2.3 billion, a 9.47% increase with $67.3 million of new property. The average value of a home in Parker in 2026 is $1,183,181, compared with $1,133,599 last year.

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