Family stories, Revolutionary-era fashion and Wylie history came together Saturday, Aug. 29, as the Wylie Historical Society celebrated the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary with its America 250 BBQ Luncheon.

Wylie Historical Society Treasurer Alexis Tapp welcomed guests to the event, which included the posting of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 442, the national anthem, a costume contest, raffle and silent auction. Col. W.D. Wylie, portrayed by Eugene Hauptmann, led the pledge and later offered a prayer.

The luncheon’s keynote speaker, author Tracy Lawson, explored how family lore, letters and journals can become the foundation for books, while Jen Thompson and Beth Klimek of the DFW Costumers Guild brought another piece of the past to life with a demonstration of late-18th-century women’s fashion.

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The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing a $230 million expansion of FM 3286 and FM 546 across Lavon Lake, a project that would replace the existing two-lane bridge and widen nearly five miles of roadway between Lucas and the Princeton area.

But construction remains years away and no money has been identified to build it.

TxDOT presented the proposal Tuesday, Aug. 25, during an open house at Southfork Ranch in Parker.

The project covers approximately 4.71 miles, extending from FM 1378 in Lucas east along FM 3286, also known as East Lucas Road, across Lake Lavon and continuing on FM 546 to FM 982 leading into Princeton.

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From Wild West fun and pop-up parks to the State Fair of Texas, Maize Days and Sachse’s annual Fall-O-Ween celebration, the next several weeks offer something for just about every age.

The season gets underway Saturday, Sept. 5, with Sachse’s Mother N’ Son Wild West Roundup from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Michael J. Felix Community Center, 3815-E Sachse Road.

Designed for mothers and sons ages 4-11, the event will feature bounce houses, Western-themed games, crafts, prizes and mechanical bull riding. Admission is $15 per pair and $5 for each additional child.

Later in the month, Sachse Parks and Recreation will bring activities directly into the community with a Pop-Up Park from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Firefighters Park, 2841 Fifth St.

City staff will provide games and activities for the whole family during the free event. Another Pop-Up Park is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. 

Saturday, Oct. 3, at J.K. Sachse Park, 4310 Ranch Road.

Sachse will host its X-Treme Green Event from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Heritage Park, 4408 Hudson Drive.

The annual event, held in partnership with Community Waste Disposal, gives residents an opportunity to dispose of and recycle a variety of household items while promoting environmentally friendly practices.

For those willing to venture a little farther from home, one of North Texas’ biggest fall traditions returns Friday, Sept. 25, when the State Fair of Texas opens at Fair Park in Dallas.

Celebrating its 140th anniversary, this year’s fair carries the theme “Stars, Stripes and Howdies!” and runs through Sunday, Oct. 18. Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Closer to home, Murphy will celebrate 16 years of Maize Days with its free Cornival Saturday, Oct. 3, at Central Park, 550 N. Murphy Road.

Festivities begin at noon and continue through a fireworks show scheduled for 9:30 p.m. The festival includes live entertainment, games and rides on the Maize Midway, a playground area for younger children, inflatables, farm games and a cornhole competition.

General parking is free at Tom Kimbrough Stadium. Ride wristbands are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the festival.

Sachse will continue its October activities with National Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, with gatherings planned in neighborhoods throughout the city and at Heritage Park.

Residents planning neighborhood gatherings are encouraged to register for a Block Party Permit and select “National Night Out” on the form. Registration helps city officials and Sachse Police officers know where gatherings are taking place so they can stop by during the evening.

The fall calendar continues Saturday, Oct. 17, with one of the city’s signature seasonal events, Fall-O- Ween.

This year’s Fall-O-Ween will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. in an expanded area of Heritage Park, 4408 Hudson Drive, behind Sewell Elementary.

The free event packs a full slate of activities into four hours, including a haunted maze, creepy carnival, petting zoo, costume contests, food vendors, live performances, a trick-or-treat market and cornhole tournament. A drone show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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Griffin, 76, died Sunday, Aug. 23, after serving the district for 28 years. She was the first Black woman to serve on the Garland ISD Board of Trustees.

In a statement following her death, Superintendent Ricardo López called Griffin’s passing “a tremendous loss for Garland ISD and the countless students, educators, families, and community members whose lives she touched.”

“Mrs. Griffin will be deeply missed, and the love she gave and the difference she made will live on for generations,” López said.

Board President Wes Johnson announced that the Team of Eight training meeting had been canceled following Griffin’s death. He then asked for a moment of silence before reflecting on one of the philosophies that guided her service to the district.

“Miss Griffin would want us 100% to move on with this meeting and all meetings because what was her life about? Always benefiting children. ABC,” Johnson said. “And if you knew her for any length of time, you’re going to hear those three letters. And so she wants us to continue doing that tonight and every night moving forward, and that’s what we intend to do.”

Garland Education Association President Lucero Cazares-Rodriguez also honored Griffin during the public forum, noting that the organization had supported her each time she ran for trustee and that her loss would be “greatly felt throughout the district.”

Cazares-Rodriguez also asked the board to consider creating a program that would allow employees to donate a day of leave to other employees struggling with health issues.

Following the public forum, trustees recognized high-achieving students and their instructors, including UIL State Solo and Ensemble Gold Medalists, UIL State Solo and Ensemble Outstanding Performers and members of the Texas Choral Directors Association Honor Choir.

The district also introduced several new principals, including Melody Sawaski, principal of the Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center; Ashley Wong, principal of Sachse High School; and Kristy Nolan, principal of Coyle Middle School.

During trustee reports, board members again reflected on Griffin and shared memories of their longtime colleague. Trustee Robert Selders Jr. said the meeting felt “different” without her and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from Griffin during his own service as a trustee.

Johnson said the district plans to hold a “more formal” celebration of life for Griffin but did not specify a date.

Following reports from trustees and the superintendent, the board unanimously approved its consent agenda.

Trustees also unanimously approved consolidating two contracts for the purchase of musical instruments, repair services and parts following a brief discussion.

The meeting adjourned following an executive session.

Garland ISD trustees will meet at 5 p.m., Sept. 22, for their next regular meeting.  

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By Allison LaBrot

Northplace Church has a goal to serve local neighborhoods and the nations. A group of young adults from the church put that mission into action during a 10-day mission trip to Ireland in July. A 27-member team partnered with missionaries to host a week of science camps and events for youth and young adults.

Since 2021, Northplace Young Adults (NPYA) has met weekly in Wylie, and the community of 18 to 25-year-olds took its first mission trip during the summer of 2025. Northplace Youth, the church’s teen ministry, sent a group of 16 to serve in Ireland the same summer. The group worked with Randal and Kendra Baird, missionaries to Ennis, Ireland, and Hope Church Ennis to organize camps, outings and services for young people in the area.

Northplace decided to continue building the partnership with the Bairds and Hope Church through the Young Adults mission trip for 2026.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Sachse News.

Dallas County commissioners approved a modified $1.589 billion all-funds budget for fiscal 2027, which begins Oct. 1. The budget was reduced from an initial proposal of about $1.608 billion.

Commissioners also approved a property tax rate of 24.865 cents per $100 of assessed value on a 3-2 vote. County Judge Clay Jenkins and commissioners Theresa Daniel and Andrew Sommerman voted for the rate, while commissioners John Wiley Price and Elba Garcia voted against it.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Sachse News.

The commission voted unanimously on Aug. 18 to recommend that City Council approve the change from Agricultural and Commercial Corridor zoning to Commercial Corridor with a Special Use Permit. The property is generally located at 2002 W. FM 544 and is part of the WEDC Retail Addition.

The proposed development would include a wholesale retail store, minor automobile repair services for tires and batteries, and a member-only fueling station. The SUP also includes the site plan for the project.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Sachse News.

Wylie ISD’s newest career and technical education facility will carry the name of a longtime community leader whose ties to the district and its agricultural programs span more than three decades.

Trustees announced Monday, Aug. 17, that the new facility at the F.O. Birmingham Agriculture Center will be named the Marvin Fuller Career & Technical Education Center in honor of Albert Marvin Fuller Jr.

The name was recommended by the district’s Board Naming Committee in recognition of Fuller’s decades of service to Wylie in education, agriculture, business and economic development.

Read the full story in the August 27th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Sachse News.

Sachse City Council on Monday set Sept. 8 as the date for approving a municipal budget for fiscal year 2026-2027.

The current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

Council approved the proposed budget on July 31 after a series of public hearings and open meetings, including a burger event with Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff in June.

The new budget projects a surplus at the end of the new fiscal year and keeps the municipal tax rate at 68.0416 cents per $100 assessed property valuation, according to Finance Director David Baldwin. He said the new tax rate is below both the no-new-tax-rate and the rate needed to avoid calling for an election.

Read the full story in the August 20th edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Sachse News.

Nearly 150,000 Collin County residents were estimated to lack consistent access to adequate food in 2024, according to newly released data from Feeding America, with the number of children experiencing food insecurity increasing by more than 9,000 in one year.

Feeding America released its 2026 Map the Meal Gap report July 28. The study uses data through 2024 to estimate food insecurity at the state, county and congressional district levels. Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as limited or uncertain access to adequate food at some point during the year.

The numbers present a mixed picture in Collin County.

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