Two white lionesses requiring urgent medical attention have found a new home in Wylie after being transferred to In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center.

The female lions, Kali and Nzuri, arrived late in the evening Tuesday, May 5 after concerns arose about serious mobility issues while they were housed at a roadside zoo in Pilot Point. The approximately 7-year-old sisters were transferred following intervention involving the Animal Legal Defense Fund after videos showing the animals struggling with instability and difficulty walking circulated online.

A specialized team from In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center, accompanied by the sanctuary’s veterinarian, traveled to retrieve and safely transport the lionesses to Wylie.

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By Allison LaBrot | [email protected]

Sachse High School’s Class of 2026 celebrated its achievements during commencement exercises Wednesday, May 20. The ceremony for the 741 graduates was held at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland. 

The processional began with an array of flags representing the many cultures that made up the Class of 2026. The highest-ranking student from each nation carried a flag. The Sachse High School Wind Ensemble performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” featuring senior Braxton Blankenship as vocal soloist. 

Student Council President Sophia Mary Olalde Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge.

Senior class president Amsi Simei Orozco and Garland ISD superintendent Ricardo López welcomed graduates, guests and administrators. López also recognized Saniya Reed and Brooklynn White for displaying “grit” throughout their journeys to graduation. 

The program continued with a performance of “From Sea to Shining Sea” by the school’s wind ensemble and A Cappella choir.

Principal Shae Creel’s praised the graduating class for its diverse academic and extracurricular achievements. He also encouraged graduates to reflect on their high school years and find joy in the journey before them. 

“I charge each and every one of you to get out of your comfort zone, experience the world and all it has to offer, make good decisions, be a good person to everyone and know that we love you,” Creel said.

Salutatorian Michelle Chung expressed gratitude for the community of people that supported the Class of 2026 and specifically thanked her parents for their care and sacrifices. While acknowledging the different paths her classmates will take, Michelle also reminded the audience of their shared humanity.

“We all have the ability to learn, to change, to be curious and to dream,” she said, “As we do that though, it is inevitable that we will make silly mistakes and mess up, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from high school … it is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.”

Valedictorian Imanol Matos Colón dedicated his speech to his grandparents and reflected on a question he has considered throughout high school: “What does it truly mean to be human?” He said his answer now differs from the one he would have given as a freshman.

“To me, to be human means to feel emotion, the good, the bad and the in-between,” Imanol said.

He also thanked teachers, friends and family members who taught him what it means to be human and live in the present. 

School board trustee Wes Johnson, who also celebrated the milestone as the father of one of the graduates, shared remarks during the ceremony.

“The value of one’s life is not measured by how safely it was lived,” Johnson said, “The value of one’s life is measured by how fully it is lived.”

In addition to receiving high school diplomas, 131 students were honored for receiving associate degrees.

Soloist Sidney Mallari led the alma mater, and the ceremony concluded with the traditional cap toss and the wind ensemble performing John Williams’ “Coronation March” for the recessional.

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Collin County is advancing work on Segment 5 of the planned Collin County Outer Loop, a roughly 21-mile corridor extending from State Highway 121 near Anna to U.S. Highway 380 near Farmersville in northeast Collin County. Officials say the project is intended to address future transportation demands as the county’s population continues to increase.

According to project information, Collin County is currently the sixth-most populated county in Texas and is projected to grow by approximately 70% between 2026 and 2050. County officials said long-term transportation planning will be critical to maintaining regional connectivity.

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Gurvinder Singh and Tim Legh-Page have advanced to the June 13 runoff election for the council seat. 

The Place 4 contest, currently held by Chance Lindsey, drew multiple candidates in the general election, but none reached the threshold needed to secure the seat outright, leading to the head-to-head runoff between Singh and Legh-Page.

Singh led the field with 825 votes (45.91%), followed by Legh-Page with 659 votes (36.67%). Alan Bell received 220 votes (12.24%), and Beau Hooten finished with 93 votes (5.18%).

Early voting is scheduled to begin June 1 and will continue through June 9, giving residents multiple opportunities to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

Early voting locations will be limited and vary by county. Dallas County voters may cast early ballots at Sachse City Hall, Courtroom, located at 3815-B Sachse Road. Collin County voters will vote early at the Michael J. Felix Community Center, Room A/B, located at 3815-E Sachse Road. Officials are encouraging voters to verify their assigned polling locations in advance due to the reduced number of early voting sites.

The deadline to submit an application for a ballot by mail is June 2. Applications must be received by the voter’s county of residence by the close of business that day in order to be processed for the runoff.

Election Day for the runoff is June 13, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mail ballots must also be received by election officials no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

See page 8A in this week’s edition of The Sachse News for election notice.

The Sachse City Council received its annual report from the fire department Monday, reviewing calls and response data from the previous year while also honoring emergency services and public works personnel for their role in keeping residents safe.

Fire Chief Marty Wade told councilmembers Sachse Fire-Rescue responded to slightly fewer than 3,000 calls in 2025.

Of those calls, 69.42% involved emergency medical services, a slight increase from 68.89% in 2024, according to Wade.

Firefighters responded to false alarms in 7.69% of calls in 2025, compared with 6.92% in 2024.

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Jeff Avery has a couple of pickup trucks parked at his Sachse home, though he doesn’t drive them much.

Instead, he shows them at competitions where vehicles are judged on craftsmanship and appearance. On May 9, Avery’s dedication paid off when he received a prestigious national honor during a ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway.

Competing against approximately 3,300 entries, Avery earned Truck of the Year honors with his 1969 C10 Chevrolet pickup. The event, C10 Nationals, features 1947-2026 Chevrolet or GMC trucks, and was sponsored by Classicparts.com.

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Downtown Wylie will once again fill with music, chrome and festival activity when Bluegrass on Ballard returns Saturday, May 30, for a full day of free entertainment in the city’s historic downtown district.

The annual event, presented by the Wylie Downtown Merchants Association, City of Wylie and Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, combines nationally recognized bluegrass performers with arts and crafts vendors, food, shopping opportunities and instrument-jamming sessions throughout the day. Organizers encourage musicians to bring their instruments and join impromptu jam sessions happening around downtown.

Adding to the festivities is the Bluegrass on Ballard Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show, hosted by East Fork Masonic Lodge No. 650. Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the show invites classic and custom vehicles to line downtown streets while spectators browse an array of cars, trucks and motorcycles at no cost. Organizers describe it as a chance to enjoy “sweet rides, bluegrass tunes and good vibes” all in one location.

Music begins at 11 a.m. and continues into the evening with a lineup featuring Bobby Giles & Texas Gales, Randy Collier & Grassland, Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue, Kristy Cox, Dave Adkins & Mountain Soul and headliner The Grascals.

The Grascals, who take the stage at 5 p.m., are among bluegrass music’s most decorated acts. Formed in Nashville in 2004, the group earned early acclaim after being selected by Dolly Parton as an opening act and backing band. Since then, the group has collected multiple International Bluegrass Music Association awards, Grammy nominations and performances around the world.

Also drawing attention is Dave Adkins & Mountain Soul. Adkins, a Grammy-nominated vocalist known for his hard-driving style and powerful delivery, has built a reputation as one of bluegrass music’s most dynamic performers.

Australian bluegrass artist Kristy Cox will also take the stage. Cox recently released the Billboard-topping album “Let It Burn” and has earned multiple honors, including six Bluegrass Recording of the Year awards through Australia’s CMA Awards.

The free festival runs throughout the day with no admission required.

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“The highlight of my time in high school was the opportunity to meet people whom I now consider my best friends,” Imanol said. “We have grown together and supported one another throughout these four years.”

The valedictorian and salutatorian earned weighted GPAs of 5.057 and 4.838, respectively, during their high school careers. Both students named AP Physics among their favorite classes and said their teacher Alex Brown cultivated kindness and enthusiasm in his classroom. 

“The memories I’ve made in his physics classroom will last me a lifetime, and it is all because of Mr. Brown and the amazing teacher that he is,” Imanol said. 

The valedictorian also said math teacher Moeen Damrah went “above and beyond” as a mentor both inside and outside the classroom. 

While balancing classwork, both students remained active in extracurricular activities. Michelle participated in Key Club, Academic UIL and Academic Decathlon. Imanol was involved in AVID Club and Spanish National Honor Society while also serving as an Early College Ambassador. 

Through AVID, Imanol said he enjoyed seeing students come together to collect donations for the Sachse Animal Shelter and hopes to continue seeking leadership and service opportunities in college. 

Both students also participated in National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Beta Club. Michelle has decided to focus on activities more closely related to her planned major, mechanical engineering. 

“However, if I find a college-level equivalent to Academic UIL and Academic Decathlon, I would definitely like to participate in them because I find it thrilling to compete in academic competitions,” Michelle said. 

The salutatorian said she chose mechanical engineering based on her interests in mathematics and physics. She also said mechanical engineering “is a versatile field that could lead to other opportunities within the scope of engineering.”

“I’m excited to engage in research opportunities and do hands-on activities regarding engineering, which is something that you don’t really get to do in a high school setting,” she said. 

Imanol plans to major in neuroscience with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist and helping others improve their mental health and overall wellbeing. 

Ahead of graduation ceremonies Wednesday, May 20, at the Curtis Culwell Center, both students said they felt honored to have the opportunity to speak, though public speaking still made them nervous.

Despite their fears, both had advice for younger students. Michelle encouraged students to savor the little moments happening in the present.

“While it’s important to be concerned about your future, it’s also equally important to enjoy your present,” she said. 

She also encouraged students to view mistakes as a natural part of life and not as indicators of future success. 

“If you work hard and stay determined, you will eventually see the results of your efforts and accomplish more than you ever imagined possible,” Imanol said. 

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Wylie ISD celebrated its employees Friday night during the 10th annual Wylie Way Awards Gala at the Plano Event Center, recognizing 2025-26 Wylie Way winners, Teachers of the Year, Paraprofessionals of the Year, retirees and longtime staff members whose service has shaped the district for decades.

Districtwide honors went to Cox Elementary teacher Kati Ozols, named Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Davis Intermediate educator Julianne Zuniga, named Secondary Teacher of the Year. Hartman Early Childhood Learning Center’s Kylee Merrick was recognized as Elementary Paraprofessional of the Year, while Achieve Academy’s Harold Lacey earned Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year honors.

The annual gala, attended by district leaders, trustees, educators and community supporters, also highlighted employees reaching milestone years of service and recognized 49 retirees, who together represented more than 890 combined years of dedication to Wylie ISD.

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Sachse Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff recently honored City Secretary Leah Granger for her work as an outstanding municipal clerk, recognizing a role that extends far beyond taking notes at meetings or preparing agendas.

The proclamation presented by Bickerstaff described municipal clerks as professionals who possess “extensive knowledge of legal procedures, administrative processes and community relations” and called them fundamental to the efficient operation of local government.

For Granger, the recognition highlights a profession many residents may not fully understand.

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