Latest News
July is officially Parks & Recreation Month in Murphy, according to a proclamation by Mayor Scott Bradley. Flanked by Parks & Rec staff, Deputy Mayor pro tem Ken Oltmann read the proclamation at the Tuesday, June 16, meeting of the Murphy City Council. “In the...
School of Rock students ranging in age from 12 to 18 perform Friday, June 12, before the Sounds at Sundown Concert in Murphy Central Park. Photo Bob Wieland School of Rock officially celebrated its arrival in Murphy with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony...
There’s a special section in the front row of the Murphy Central Park amphitheater for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing. Signs identify the area “to provide unrestricted visual access to the ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter on stage.” Starting with...
Hope's Gate Thrift Store is now open at 201 E. Butler St. in Wylie. The store carries clothes, accessories, home decor and much more. Photo Allison LaBrot Local thrifters now have a place to shop closer to home. The newly opened Hope’s Gate Thrift Store offers a...
A night of glamour, gaming and philanthropy will help support one of North Texas' premier exotic animal sanctuaries. In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center will host The Great Catsby: ROARing '20s Casino Night Saturday, June 27, at the Cotton Mill in...
Sports
Plano East incoming sophomore Emerson Bailey was named the District 6-6A Utility Player of the Year after she hit .342 with 15 RBIs. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East recently completed its spring sports season...
Plano East’s Luca Cortesano helped lead the Panthers’ boys soccer team to its first playoff appearance since 2018. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East enjoyed a breakthrough in multiple sports during the 2025-26...
Plano East incoming senior Bilal Habib, right, earned fifth place at 106 pounds in the Class 6A state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy Niall Morga By David Wolman [email protected] It was a banner year for Plano East. The Panthers enjoyed success across the...
Junior outfielder Dasan Harris, a 2023 graduate of Plano East High School, and the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team will open play in the NCAA Division I World Series at 2p.m. Saturday against No. 7 seeded Alabama from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The game...
Lead varsity assistant Michael Godwin has been promoted to head coach of the Plano East boys basketball team. Photo courtesy Tony Benedetto By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East has made the decision to hire from within in its search for its next head...
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....
Murphy Chamber of Commerce scholarship winners were presented to City Council. From left, Steve Dault, vice-chair, Chamber Scholarship Foundation; Sevy Wang, a graduate of Wylie High School; Syan Tecuatl, a Plano East grad; Suri Wang, a Wylie High grad; Roheemat...
The Plano Independent School District will hold a public meeting June 23 to discuss the district’s proposed 2026-27 budget and tax rate. The hearing was set by the PISD Board of Trustees at the board’s regular meeting on May 19. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30...
Graduating PESH seniors stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at the Thursday, May 28, commencement exercise in the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. Andy Redmond/Murphy Monitor With the toss of a cap, a chapter ended for nearly 1,300 members of the Plano East Senior...
PESH Class of 2026 Valedictorian Haosu Zhu and Salutatorian Vedant Sundar pose by the panther outside Plano East Senior High School. Courtesy photo The top two students in the Plano East Senior High School Class of 2026 have both attended Plano ISD schools since...
Life & Style
How misinformation may be undermining cancer prevention Photo courtesy of Shutterstock Despite its wide recognition as an effective tool for skin cancer prevention, many Americans still say they aren’t sure how sunscreen works. In fact, confusion about its use and...
By Carrie Dunlea Surrounded by mountain landscapes and natural beauty, mountain retreats in the United States offer an idyllic escape for those who seek solitude and a peaceful getaway. From the rolling hills of the Appalachians to the majestic Rockies, these...
Are you tired of the heat and ready to abandon the concrete jungle for a few days with your family? Fill up your car, pack up your kids and check out some of the great state and national parks located in Arkansas. The state’s natural beauty and its history are a...
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...
Getty images Longer days and lighter schedules make summer perfect for relaxing, having fun outdoors and spending time with loved ones. However, more physical activity and time spent in the sun can also translate to increased health and safety risks. As you and your...
Opinion
Columnist John Moore is offering to teach anyone who's visiting the US how to eat biscuits and gravy. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com I’m not much on soccer, but it seems the rest of the world is. As I write this, America is covered up...
Columnist John Moore still has and uses the radio that kept him, his cousin, and best friend company during the summer of the 1976 American Bicentennial celebrations. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com Author’s note: This week’s column was...
Columnist John Moore's great grandfather, Thornton Parmer Moore, is pictured circa 1935 in his blacksmith shop. Like most of the era, he made just about everything he needed. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com As a kid, I often heard the...
Columnist John Moore spent most Saturday nights of his childhood watching the adults play cards and drink lots of coffee. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com In 868 A.D., according to Chinese historical records, a princess was said to have...
Columnist John Moore wonders if we can stop the rain we started. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com Back in 2011, it didn’t rain. It didn’t rain for a long, long time. It didn’t rain for so long that fires began to pop up where I live. One of them...
