11/05/2009

Anna woman found guilty in husband's sexual abuse of daughter
An Anna woman has been convicted of sexual assault involving her daughter even though she was never accused of molesting the child. A Collin County jury found Michelle Lynn Smith guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual assault because she allowed her husband to repeatedly abuse the preschool child, said Crystal Levonius, lead prosecutor in the case.

11/08/2009

Sandra Fay: Ladies Night Out gaining reputation
Junior League of Plano will host its fifth annual and getting-to-be-infamous Ladies Night Out from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday during its venerable 'Neath the Wreath holiday gift market at Plano Center.

Education notes for Collin County and east Dallas County

More Collin County candidates facing primary challengers
Collin County Judge Keith Self bucked the political establishment in 2006, defeating longtime incumbent Ron Harris.

11/06/2009

2 Frisco students suspended for comments on Facebook page threatening teacher
Two Frisco middle school students were suspended and several others received warnings after threatening their teacher on Facebook, a social networking Web site.

11/04/2009

Collin County cities in race to one-up one another
The $52.6 million Allen Event Center opens Friday, and Allen officials tout the 8,600-seat arena as the finest entertainment venue in Collin County. But Frisco Mayor Maher Maso isn't impressed. He says his town's recently renovated Dr Pepper Arena has better acoustics and more seating configurations.

11/05/2009

Home sales in Collin County, east Dallas County
This list of selected home sales in area cities is compiled by MasterFiles Inc. from county deed records. The amount listed is the mortgage, not the total price. ALLEN

Community calendar: East, north
Allen Recycles Day , sponsored by Keep Allen Beautiful, features a coloring contest for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, a poster contest for fifth- and sixth-graders and a recycled art competition for middle school and high school students. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Allen City Hall, 305 Century Parkway. Garland

Collin County cities in race to one-up one another
The $52.6 million Allen Event Center opens Friday with a concert by country superstar Reba McEntire, and Allen officials tout the 8,600-seat arena as the finest entertainment venue in Collin County.

Collin competition

11/04/2009

NASA official, Plano Senior High celebrate planting of 'moon tree'
A NASA representative joined Plano Senior High students and staff today to celebrate the planting of a "moon tree" at the high school campus.

11/02/2009

Alcohol options get mixed results in Dallas-area suburban elections
DeSoto voters approved a measure to legalize beer and wine sales. Farmersville in Collin County also went wet after voters there handily approved beer and wine sales. But voters in Sunnyvale decided to keep their city dry, turning down beer and wine sales. And an attempt to bring packaged liquor sales and mixed drinks in restaurants to Fate in Rockwall County failed.

11/03/2009

Usual polling places may not be: Number of Dallas County sites cut
Voters in today's local elections may want to check where they should vote before they head to their usual polling places.

11/01/2009

Pulitzer finalist examines Frisco's Christmases in 'Tinsel'

SONYA N. HEBERT/DMN

Hank Stuever could have chosen any suburb as the setting for his book about America's collective Christmas myth. He chose Frisco, profiling three families including Caroll Cavazos and her daughter, Marissa.
More about 'Tinsel'
Frisco news | Frisco blog

Sandra Fay: Plano family to receive Gift of Life Award
Plano resident Christine Brauss and her mother and brother will be honored with the Gift of Life Award at a gala benefiting the National Kidney Foundation Serving North Texas on Saturday at the Northwood Club in Dallas.

East reporters' notebook
Frisco agency expects 45% surge in need

Community calendar: East, north
Plano-O Bonfire starts at 7 p.m. Friday at Hoblitzelle Park, 7500 Red River Drive. Enjoy roasting marshmallows and storytellers. Cost is $2 per person. www.planoparks.org; 972-941-7250. Garland

North, East police blotter
The police blotter summarizes selected crimes, listed by street and block with the time reported.

10/29/2009

Rains leave soccer fields, schedules under water

G.J. McCARTHY/DMN

In Plano, more than 1,400 soccer games have been washed out since mid-September, leaving players and parents grumbling.
Weather: Forecasts, radars
Weather alerts: E-mail | Mobile

10/30/2009

New Collin College learning center to bring five universities together
Boston is a college town, and Chapel Hill, and Austin. But McKinney?

Alcohol vote not stirring big debate in Farmersville, Fate, Sunnyvale
There was a time, not long ago, that "local option" were fighting words.

Precision is instrumental for Allen High's 638-member band

JEFFREY PORTER/DMN

Allen High marches 527 musicians, a 39-member color guard and a 72-member drill team.
See the band: Video | Photos
Link: Allen High School band
More Allen news

10/29/2009

Alcohol vote not stirring big debate in Farmersville, Fate, Sunnyvale
Site officials for beer and wine elections in Farmersville and Sunnyvale described the early-voting turnout as light to moderate. And a proposal that would allow packaged liquor sales and mixed drinks in restaurants had drawn less than 50 voters to the Fate Community Center by midweek.

Texas Higher Education Board approves Collin Higher Education Center in McKinney
For those who want to get a four-year degree or even a graduate degree in Collin County, there will be a new place to do it, beginning in January.

Temperatures expected to drop 20 degrees by evening commute
Storms and strong winds swept through the area overnight, and the weather service issued tornado watches that have since expired. Weather service meteorologist Jennifer Dunn said no damage was reported.

10/28/2009

Heard museum in McKinney battles water district over sewer line
The Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is growling over plans for a sewer line across its property.

10/29/2009

Home sales in Collin County, east Dallas County
This list of selected home sales in area cities is compiled by MasterFiles Inc. from county deed records. The amount listed is the mortgage, not the total price. ALLEN

Community calendar: East, north
Gary Burns Fun Run will be Saturday at the Frisco Square, 6235 Frisco Square Blvd. The 1-mile fun run/walk starts at 8 a.m.; the timed 5k run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m.

Road projects, traffic jams grow on Central Expressway
The road work on Central Expressway starts in Plano and does not seem to end until suburbia gives way to prairie beyond McKinney.

10/23/2009

Frisco battery recycler facing tougher pollution standards won't add production
The withdrawal came three days after the Frisco City Council voted unanimously to ask the plant to withdraw its application with state regulators over concerns related to toxic lead emissions.

10/25/2009

East reporters' notebook
Frisco lawyer to run

Education notes for Collin County and east Dallas County

Community calendar: East, north
Chamber's Taste & Trade of Rowlett coming Tuesday

North, East police blotter
The police blotter summarizes selected crimes, listed by street and block with the time reported.

10/23/2009

Richardson library is latest to charge nonresidents for checkouts

G.J. McCARTHY/DMN

Headed to the Richardson Public Library to find your next good read? If you're a Dallas resident, be ready to pay a hefty fee.
More Richardson news
Blog: Richardson

10/21/2009

Stormy weather forecast for Dallas-Fort Worth tonight

Flood advisories and watches are in effect for several local counties.
Dallas-Fort Worth radars, forecasts
Weather blog: '09 still far from Dallas' wettest year
Weather alerts: E-mail | Mobile
Traffic: Check your commute

10/20/2009

Storms may dump up to 3 inches in Dallas-Fort Worth by Thursday
By Wednesday morning, there will be an 80 percent chance of rain and high temperatures will only reach the mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service. 

10/19/2009

Frisco to consider health risk study of battery plant
The commitment comes as concerns grow about health effects from lead pollution from the Exide Technologies plant, just south of downtown.

Many job seekers in Dallas County head to the library first

JEFFREY PORTER/DMN

Across the Dallas area, librarians are doubling as job counselors and libraries are finding new customers.
Link: American Library Association
Blog: Economy Watch

Sunny skies to remain a few more days before rain returns to Dallas-Fort Worth
Today should be a nice day with high temperatures in the upper 70s and winds of 15 mph. Later today, gusts could reach up to 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

10/17/2009

Frisco officials fight plans to expand lead smelter
Exide Technologies Inc. operates the decades-old battery recycling plant that's flanked by Frisco's downtown, a high school and several neighborhoods and businesses. Its lead emissions make Collin County one of only 18 counties nationwide not expected to meet new, more stringent air-quality standards.
Frisco hopes to benefit from battery fee funds
Graphic: Lead levels exceed new standard
Link: TCEQ documents on lead standards, Frisco's status

10/18/2009

Sandra Fay: Collin community news
The first of what portends to be many Collin Intervention to Youth Derby galas is expected to meet and exceed its $100,000 goal for children in crisis served at the CITY House and My Friend's House shelters.

East reporters' notebook
Frisco schedules last town hall meeting

Community calendar: East, north
Garland Symphony Orchestra concert to feature pianist

North, East police blotter
The police blotter summarizes selected crimes, listed by street and block with the time reported.

10/17/2009

Frisco hopes to benefit from battery fee funds set aside for recycling activities
City of Frisco officials have little say in the commercial operations at the state's only battery recycling plant. But that hasn't stopped them from trying to lessen pollution coming from the plant operated by Exide Technologies Inc.

10/16/2009

Jurors convict 'shotgun bandit' on sexual assault charges
Stanley Ledbetter, the man believed by police to be the "shotgun bandit," could face life in prison.

Officials investigate collapse of historic building facade in Farmersville
The 10 feet by 45 feet wall fell into the street about 10 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Mckinney Street and across from the Shops at Sugar Hill.

10/15/2009

Transportation blog: Northbound Central Expressway HOV lane will close for 2 days
Beginning Monday just after morning rush hour, the state department of transportation will close the entire northbound HOV lane on Central Expressway. It will reopen Wednesday, at 3:30 p.m.

10/14/2009

Rape victim testifies in 'shotgun bandit' suspect's trial
"Please don't do this. You can take my jewelery and take anything you want," she recalled telling her attacker. "He said that's not what he wanted."

10/15/2009

Dallas-Fort Worth area police agencies team up for SWAT training exercise
Allen police Officer Matt Johnson found his role reversal on Wednesday a bit creepy.

Home sales in Collin County, east Dallas County
This list of selected home sales in area cities is compiled by MasterFiles Inc. from county deed records. The amount listed is the mortgage, not the total price. ALLEN

Community calendar: East, north
Death of a Salesman performances, presented by Repertory Company Theatre, start at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25. Shows are at the Promenade Theatre, 650 N. Coit Road. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $12 for youths. 972-690-5029; www.rcttheatre.com. Allen

10/12/2009

Allen blog: Judge Greg Willis joins Collin County district attorney race
Judge Greg Willis announced his campaign for Collin County district attorney on the courthouse steps in McKinney on Monday afternoon.

10/09/2009

Plano school boundary zone debate highlights question of fostering diversity vs. neighborhood campuses
Plano school officials in recent weeks have proposed new attendance zones on the district's east side to account for enrollment growth and two new schools there. But some parents are angry, saying some of the plans under consideration will segregate rich from poor, the haves from the have-nots.
Blog: Plano
Plano news and resources

10/11/2009

Sandra Fay: Collin community news
Before he died of sudden cardiac arrest in April while running football drills at Plano East Senior High School, Zachary Schrah wrote, "Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out."