By on May 2 2025 12:35 PMComments Off on Rowlett Reviews Book Club closes the year with exciting presentation and luncheon on May 20 2025) – Our season finale for the Rowlett Reviews Book Club will be a WWII trilogy featuring Audrey Hepburn This club gathering promises to be a great ending to another fun year for our book club followed by our installation of officers and annual luncheon Our meetings are always held on the third Tuesday of the month from September thru May The cost for the year is $35 and guests are $5.00 Rowlett Reviews meets at the First Christian Church at 7301 Miller Road in Rowlett with a great display of appetizers at 9:30 am with the meeting and reviewer beginning at 10:00am Please feel free to call 469-394-1517 and leave a message for Libby Garrett for more information edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News   , , , Rowlett Reviews Book Club closes the year with exciting presentation and luncheon on May 20 added by on May 2, 2025 12:35 PMView all posts by Melanie M → Leaders in the city of Rowlett have had a change of heart about their calls to reduce funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit said the decision was a result of constructive conversations with DART that led to a number of concessions for Rowlett “I'm really pleased at the work that they've done,” Winget said “I'm excited that our work had this motivation for them to make these improvements.” Among the concessions is a shared parking agreement that allows the city to use DART’s parking lot at the downtown Rowlett light rail station for special events and general parking for nearby businesses DART also agreed to develop a GoLink service to Firewheel Town Center in nearby Garland DART CEO Nadine Lee said the agency also plans to create a “gateway concept” for Martin Drive a street that crosses DART’s rail line from the city’s downtown “[We’re] really trying to figure out a way to draw people's attention so that the rail is not not a barrier between the access to the parking and also your downtown businesses,” Lee said Rowlett was among several of DART's suburban member cities to call for a 25% cut to their contribution to the agency. DART leaders have been in discussions with cities to try to garner support as two bills in the Statehouse seek to reduce its funding Place 1 council member Jonathan Reeves said he had previously voted to reduce DART’s funding based on “incomplete information.” “I was ignorant on that issue going back to that time and I have since made time to educate myself and to look at the bigger picture,” Reeves said “I've had a change of heart in regard of that.” The decision was celebrated by advocates at the Dallas Area Transit Alliance a group of organized DART riders that is working to stop lawmakers from cutting the agency’s funds “DATA applauds the City of Rowlett for this strong show of support for DART,” the group said in a statement “We are grateful to the city councilmembers for their willingness to reconsider their prior resolution after outreach from DART and DART-riding citizens of Rowlett and we hope that the other cities that adopted similar resolutions last year follow Rowlett’s lead.” Members of Dallas' transportation and infrastructure committee last month advanced a similar resolution to support full funding for DART Pablo Arauz Peña is KERA’s growth and infrastructure reporter. Got a tip? Email Pablo at parauzpena@kera.org. You can follow him on X @pabloaarauz.  KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today Artists ‘Round Texas is excited to invite you to the 12th annual Paint & Photograph Rowlett 2025 Juried Competition This highly anticipated event showcases the beauty and character of Rowlett through drawing The exhibition will be held at Rowlett Public Library We welcome artists and photographers—both members and non-members—to participate in this celebration of Rowlett’s landscapes Join us in capturing and sharing the essence of Rowlett through your artistic vision We look forward to seeing your creativity in action Membership – https://form.jotform.com/250545854449163 By Matt KyleBreaking News Reporter Margolis, 25, has served as mayor since 2022. He was first elected to the Rowlett City Council in 2017, when he was 18 years old and had not yet graduated from high school Margolis first became known in Rowlett by running a police and fire scanner Facebook page which he said first gave him a passion for emergency management and public safety Now that he has obtained a degree in national security from Liberty University and feels he will be leaving the city in a better place than he found it Margolis said it was time to begin thinking of ways to support himself beyond his mayor stipend of $467 per month my core goal was to fundamentally change how we did our business to provide a better public service product and that required some bold leadership,” Margolis said “We now have laid a solid foundation of leadership going forward and that is an accomplishment that I am very proud of and we are beginning to see the fruits of that labor.” the emergency management coordinator has a salary range of between about $86,750 to about $130,130 Margolis said his passion for public safety was furthered by helping coordinate the city’s response to a 2019 tornado Breaking NewsGet the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Margolis said he has enjoyed serving the city of Rowlett and will continue to serve the city from behind the scenes in his new role Margolis said in the video that Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Winget will become acting mayor on Jan and a new mayor will be chosen during the May 3 election Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Deb Shinder will become the new mayor pro tem “I have full faith and confidence in their ability to lead,” Margolis said He is a graduate of Baylor University and is a native of San Antonio Matt has written for the Waco Tribune-Herald Watch 'Bad Romance' Season 2 Premiering Tuesday, March 25By Jim DonnellyMar 13th, 2025 Love can turn to betrayal, and sometimes betrayal … turns to murder. ABC News' "20/20" limited true crime series "Bad Romance" returns for an all-new second season on TUESDAY, MARCH 25 (10:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu ABC News contributor and ESPN analyst Ryan Smith hosts the eight-episode series that delves into the harrowing stories of individuals who lost their lives at the hands of those who once vowed to love them forever and examines the devastating consequences of obsession and manipulation "Bad Romance" reveals surprising and disturbing romance stories every Tuesday evening featuring interviews with individuals involved in some of the most shocking deadly and obsessive love stories and twisted obsessions Kicking off the season is "No Tomorrow," the all-new story of Laura Grillo whose life was tragically cut short just days before her wedding After finding the perfect dress and celebrating with her best friend and maid of honor at the bridal salon Laura was found murdered on her kitchen floor with a single gunshot wound to her head who was living with Laura and her three children and cleared right away; as well as her fiancé a contractor who was seen on a security camera across town in a Home Depot during the time when Laura was killed police looked for others who may have had access to Laura's house but John's actions in the days following her death began to raise serious questions From repurposing their wedding flowers for her funeral to allegedly asking a neighbor to help clean the crime scene using Laura's toothbrush John's behavior made law enforcement suspicious they uncovered a chilling plot that suggested her murder may have been in the making for months — with a twist no one saw coming "20/20" interviews Laura Grillo's sister Liz Frogge; Laura's best friend Heather Nabor-Grace; Rowlett Police Department Detectives Jeff Freeman; Cruz Hernandez and Chris Sawyer; and Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Marissa Hatchet "Bad Romance" airs Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC, next day on Hulu ABC News' "20/20" is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories The two-hour "20/20" events air Fridays from 9:01-11:00 p.m EDT on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms and Hulu Love can turn to betrayal, and sometimes betrayal … turns to murder. ABC News' \"20/20\" limited true crime series \"Bad Romance\" returns for an all-new second season on TUESDAY, MARCH 25 (10:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu \"Bad Romance\" reveals surprising and disturbing romance stories every Tuesday evening Kicking off the season is \"No Tomorrow,\" the all-new story of Laura Grillo \"20/20\" interviews Laura Grillo's sister \"Bad Romance\" airs Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC, next day on Hulu ABC News' \"20/20\" is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts The two-hour \"20/20\" events air Fridays from 9:01-11:00 p.m This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page By Sarah BahariStaff writer In a letter to the city Monday, an attorney for Freedom Place Church said the city is violating state and federal law and threatened to sue if Rowlett does not back down Mayor Blake Margolis told The Dallas Morning News the city is reviewing the letter before issuing a public response The letter comes one week after the city informed the church that its certificate of occupancy was issued in error in December 2023 and could be revoked because the church lacks adequate parking per city ordinance The church was given 10 days to respond or face closure Freedom Place is slated to serve as the only early voting site in Rowlett, a town of more than 60,000, for the November election. The city has instead proposed Dallas County move early voting to the community center Early voting for the general election begins Oct the evangelical church demanded the city immediately drop the challenge to its certificate of occupancy “This is completely unlawful discrimination targeting the church simply for acting as a polling location,” Hiram Sasser executive general counsel for First Liberty Institute said at a news conference Monday afternoon at the Rowlett church The Plano-based law firm specializes in defending churches in religious liberty cases In a phone interview with The News last week Margolis said Freedom Place is not large enough and does not have enough parking to accommodate early voters He said he is particularly worried about elderly and disabled voters navigating the lack of parking The church in downtown Rowlett has 10 parking spaces, including one handicapped space, all of which are shared with a neighboring florist. A public parking lot is roughly 1,000 feet away. In 2020, 22,000 people early voted at the Rowlett community center making it one of Dallas County’s busiest early voting locations “I hope common sense prevails,” Margolis said of moving the early voting site “I hope Dallas County does the right thing for Rowlett voters.” Dallas County, with the help of an advisory committee, evaluates and selects polling places, which are approved by county commissioners. A handful of Rowlett residents urged commissioners to move the site at a Dallas County commissioners meeting earlier this month “I think we should have a safe place to vote,” Katherine Kirk Dallas County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins said at the meeting he was reluctant to move a polling place days before early voting begins and that some candidates have likely already printed campaign materials listing the church as a voting location Texas law says polling places should be in public buildings, such as schools and city halls, if they are available. Yet churches often serve as voting sites. In 2022, Christianity Today found that churches accounted for 20% of polling places nationwide roughly 50 of the 450 polling places in Dallas County are at churches “Conflicts over the correct relationship between religious communities and the state frequently grab headlines,” Christianity Today wrote “But church polling places are rarely controversial.” In the case of Freedom Place, however, some residents in Rowlett have pointed out the pastor of Freedom Place, Kason Huddleston has made numerous statements on social media in support of former President Donald Trump The church serves as a meeting place for the Rowlett Area Republican Women’s Club and Rowlett Republican Men’s Club the church hosts classes to help women recover from abortions and helps “Christians learn about their responsibility to vote and their Godly American heritage.” It moved to its current site in downtown a couple years ago “Our whole vision is to be a blessing in this city,” Huddleston said This is not the first time the city and Freedom Place have sparred over elections At a City Council meeting in September 2023 the mayor said he did not want Freedom Place to serve as a polling place for a special City Council election in part because the pastor had endorsed a candidate early voting should always occur in a place of neutrality,” Margolis said at the meeting In an email the next day to Dallas County officials Margolis said the city council would not allow voting in a church Attorneys for Freedom Place provided a copy of the email obtained through an open records request and especially when the Pastor of this specific church has endorsed a candidate who will be on the ballot in November,” Margolis wrote Dallas County Elections Administrator Heider Garcia told The News that Rowlett only offered part of the community center and elections officials did not know if the space would be adequate the city has offered more of the community center Garcia said the politics of building owners do not play a role in the selection of polling places and that election judges ensure there is no electioneering Everything is political these days,” Garcia said “But the pastor is not running the election The building owner is not running the election Election judges are responsible for the elections.” Rowlett police have arrested a woman who escaped police custody Thursday night and was seen on neighborhood Ring cameras running handcuffed and barefoot through a neighborhood. ROWLETT, Texas - A Rowlett neighborhood was on guard for around six hours after a woman was able to slip away from police custody while in handcuffs. The woman, handcuffed, barefoot and wearing Christmas pajamas, was hiding from Rowlett police late Thursday. What We Know: Investigators said 22-year-old Quanesha Mason caused an hours-long search in a neighborhood near Rowlett Road and Hickory Road. Police said it all started when Mason was put in handcuffs Thursday afternoon for failing to provide identification. Ring video from a home in the neighborhood shows officers talking in the front yard of a home and Mason making a run for it from behind a police cruiser and in between two homes. The officers notice she's gone and call for back up. Officers searched the neighborhood until around 8 p.m. Thursday. Police posted on Facebook that Mason was taken into custody just before midnight Thursday. What They're Saying: Mason was spotted on Floyd Smith's Ring camera. "We are curious where she was headed," Smith said. "You know, barefoot and cold. I think she had to be hiding somewhere in the neighborhood." What's Next: Mason was booked into the Rowlett city jail before being transferred to the Dallas County jail on a charge of escape from custody. Information in this article comes from Rowlett police and Fox 4 interviews. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service There’s a new hot chicken concept in Rowlett that's taking a unique approach: Called Lava Hot Chicken it’s located in a former ice cream shop at 6310 Dalrock Rd Lava Hot Chicken is from restaurateur Sam Sakhleh he uses beef tallow to fry the chicken and fries “We fry everything in beef tallow — we don’t use oil or have any peanut product,” Sakhleh says decided to start a hot chicken restaurant because he wasn't impressed with the conventional flavor at most hot chicken restaurants He connected with a distributor who offered a 27-spice mix imported from India which had a far more complex flavor profile "It made a big difference in the taste and that's what we use in our spice mix," Sakhleh says The spice mix also gives the chicken a deep unlike the neon orange tint of other hot chicken options Lava's menu features sliders and tenders with five heat levels The sliders are on 4-inch thick buns from Martin's Famous Potato Rolls they use one big tender so big that Sakhleh says it's sometimes mistaken for a chicken breast with the same heat levels as sliders and tenders Other dishes include chicken & waffles coleslaw and "Lava sauce," a sweet and smoky sauce with honey and mustard also known as "lazy cake," a rich no-bake dessert made with condensed milk and chocolate that's a little like fudge Prices range from $6 for a tender to $16 for two sliders with fries To-go orders are common but Sakhleh devoted two years to transforming the former ice cream shop into a bright cheerful space with colorful cartoon murals on the walls so diners who want to eat on-site are covered City of Rowlett's current municipal building The City of Rowlett broke ground on its new Municipal Complex on April 26 a project that represents the largest capital investment in the city’s history and city staff to commemorate the beginning of construction on what is anticipated to become a cornerstone of Rowlett’s civic life and a commemorative coin for early attendees community leaders were joined by representatives from design firm Hoefer Welker all of whom shared their excitement for the project the new Municpal Complex will be located on approximately 25 acres at 4601 Centennial Dr This facility will house the new City Hall Ready for groundbreaking at new city of Rowlett municipal complex.City of Rowlett "This is more than a building project," said Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Winget during the ceremony "It’s a long-term investment in service and civic pride - built for today’s Rowlett and the generations that will follow." is a 24,300-square-foot structure built in 1984 as office building The city has more than doubled its police force (from 39 officers in 1994 to 105 officers plus 37 civilian employees) today and parking are all overwhelmed by the city's demands The project was made possible through voter approval of the 2023 bond election as well as the work of the Community Investment Program Task Force whose members volunteered their time and expertise to help shape Rowlett’s future The new Municipal Complex will unify city functions to include City Hall Other less obvious but no less valuable benefits include: Construction will continue over the next few years with a tentative completion taking place in spring 2027 City of Rowlett's current municipal building According to figures from Dallas County Two will have to be determined in runoff elections a candidate must earn 50 percent of the votes.): once dressed up in an Indian outfit to portray U.S Jack Rowlett suspended for Cash App Playoff quarterfinals vs On Thursday, the Premier Lacrosse League announced Chaos defenseman Jack Rowlett had been suspended for Carolina’s Cash App Playoff quarterfinal matchup against the Boston Cannons pic.twitter.com/Z3NASK0J7A — Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) August 29, 2024 The unnecessary roughness penalty referenced came in the second quarter of Carolina's regular-season finale when Rowlett slid late and finished a hit high on Cannons rookie Alex Vardaro The league classified the hit as “prohibited contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless player” and ruled his actions were “dangerous and avoidable” Here’s the unnecessary roughness penalty that this is referencing https://t.co/Qz6w43EqWu pic.twitter.com/gbUs8VWZ1q — Hayden Lewis (@15haydenlewis) August 29, 2024 The Cannons did not score on the ensuing powerplay an All-Star in each of the last four seasons later left the contest with an injury at the end of the second quarter The absence of Rowlett in the lineup on Monday will be noticeable and will result in some changes in how Carolina schemes its league-best defense for Boston. The Chaos will rely on one of Will Bowen or Jarrod Neumann to lock down three-time All-Star Asher Nolting Boston boasts one of the PLL's top 1-2 punches on attack, with Nolting and Marcus Holman ranking second and tied for sixth in points this season The Chaos D has been one of the team’s bright spots as Carolina ranked first in scoring defense and last in scoring offense during the regular season it will need to dig deep to give the team a chance to advance to the semifinals Tickets PLL Shop Careers Where to Watch Media Credentials Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Service Ticket Terms & Conditions Security Policy State-Specific Rights & Disclosures Exclusive Content License & Submission Policy Do Not Share My Personal Information and all team names and logos are trademarks of Premier Lacrosse League By on April 10 2025 2:48 PMComments Off on Call for Entries: Paint and Photograph Rowlett 2025 Rowlett, TX (April 10, 2025) – Artists ‘Round Texas is excited to invite you to the 12th annual Paint & Photograph Rowlett 2025 Juried Competition The exhibition will be held at the Rowlett Public Library 3rd and Honorable Mention in each category plus various other awards from the City of Rowlett and area Businesses reserves the right to refuse art not meeting requirements All art must be for sale and priced no less than $50 for an entry and cannot be removed before the end of the show without permission No entries previously entered in any Artists ‘Round Texas juried art show are accepted Call for Entries: Paint and Photograph Rowlett 2025 added by on April 10, 2025 2:48 PMView all posts by Melanie M → By on April 7 2025 12:14 PMComments Off on Rockwall-Heath and Wylie high schools nominated for Broadway Dallas musical theatre awards Dallas, TX (April 7, 2025) – Broadway Dallas is pleased to announce the 2025 nominees for the 14th Annual Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) presented by New York Life The awards ceremony will take place live at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Saturday The Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards aim to inspire and honor excellence in high school musical theater and to recognize the importance of musical theater and arts education within the North Texas community This regional program culminates at the Music Hall with an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding musical theater productions and students The High School Musical Theatre Awards is the event we most look forward to every year and we can’t wait to see all the star power this year has to offer,” said Ken Novice “It’s our honor to celebrate these students and teachers for all their time and effort devoted to spreading the spirit of Broadway in their communities A total of 78 productions from 74 participating high schools were evaluated by a diverse group of highly qualified judges from the North Texas theater community Awards will be presented in 15 categories and scholarships are awarded to outstanding graduating seniors who are nominated by their teachers and selected by the Broadway Dallas scholarship panel Broadway Dallas HSMTA will award $65,000 in scholarships to continue to foster the great talent North Texas has to offer Broadway Dallas HSMTA College Scholarship program has awarded more than $500,000 in cash scholarships to deserving students Winners will be announced at the Broadway Dallas HSMTA ceremony on Saturday Tickets for the ceremony go on sale Monday 2025 BROADWAY DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS NOMINEES Press release submitted by Broadway Dallas Rockwall-Heath, Rowlett, North Forney, Terrell, and Wylie high schools nominated for Broadway Dallas musical theatre awards added by on April 7, 2025 12:14 PMView all posts by Melanie M → By Chase RogersStaff Writer In a Facebook post Monday afternoon Rowlett Mayor Blake Margolis said students and staff of Coyle Middle School were evacuated to a nearby school while workers with Atmos Energy Corp. the utility that distributes gas to most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area The leak was attributed to a construction crew doing work unrelated to Atmos Energy according to a statement by Kristin Goodspeed Goodspeed said the precautionary evacuation had been lifted and an Atmos Energy crew was making repairs to the line She did not immediately say when the line was broken or when the leak was contained Garland Independent School District spokesperson Jason Wheeler said the students and staff — about 960 students and 100 employees respectively — relocated to Stephens Elementary School Margolis updated his Facebook post at 2:40 p.m did not immediately return a phone call seeking additional information Wheeler said the fire department gave the district the “all clear” to resume classes at Coyle Middle School on Tuesday Goodspeed said damage to gas lines from digging and construction is the most common cause of leaks He grew up in Granbury and studied journalism at Texas State University in San Marcos he reported for the Austin American-Statesman and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times He can be reached at 361-239-6527 and Signal at crogers.95 Nick Rowlett: Who’s Chaos’s best option for Cash App Playoffs The 2024 regular season for the Carolina Chaos was marked by great defense and a struggling offense A piece of the squad that’s flown under the radar is the faceoff unit Tucci has elite foot speed and can generate offense for Boston but Reilly did a good job of keeping it to a minimum The final decision ultimately comes down to what the coaching staff feels most comfortable throwing out on the 19-man roster There is one roster spot for faceoff specialists each week so Towers and his crew need to make a strong decision to advance through the postseason By on February 3 2025 11:50 AMComments Off on The Lions Club of Rowlett donates $45,100 in 2024 Rowlett, TX (February 3, 2025) – The Rowlett Lions Club has been a generous supporter of local and state charities since its inception in 1966 The $45,100.00 raised in 2024 has been donated to organizations such as the Texas Lions Camp for Children with Disabilities First Christian Church of Rowlett Hope in Hand Food Pantry The Rowlett Lions Club is a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For further information on our club’s fund raising, membership, and mission, contact the President, Robbert van Bloemendaal at (972) 333-2231, email rvbdallas@yahoo.com or Vice- President Tamra Williams at (214) 213-6435 or write to Rowlett Lions Club at P.O The Rowlett Lions Club meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Tokyo Hana restaurant in Rowlett   , , , The Lions Club of Rowlett donates $45,100 in 2024 added by on February 3, 2025 11:50 AMView all posts by Melanie M → By on January 3 2025 4:05 PMComments Off on Rowlett Reviews Book Club features Girls of Flight City for January meeting 2025) – The next book review of the Rowlett Reviews Book Club will be held Tuesday who we have all very much enjoyed in the past She will be reviewing the book called Girls of Flight City by Lorraine Heath The novel is of WWII and the brave women who trained the British Royal Air Force preparing them to take to the skies to win the war Our meeting starts with appetizers at 9:30 am Our meetings are held at the First Christian Church located at 7301 Miller Rd in Rowlett Everyone is invited – the charge for non-members is $5.00 well spent Please call Libby Garrett at 469-394-1517 with any questions   , , , Rowlett Reviews Book Club features Girls of Flight City for January meeting added by on January 3, 2025 4:05 PMView all posts by Melanie M → Judge Rachel Craig granted a temporary order requiring county officials to open a second early voting site at the Rowlett Community Center. Previously, Freedom Place Church was slated to serve as the city’s only early voting site Although Rowlett Mayor Blake Margolis sought the temporary order he said he was acting as a private citizen A second hearing in the case is scheduled in Dallas County on Oct “This is the right thing to do for the voters of Rowlett,” Margolis said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon in downtown Dallas Dallas County Elections Administrator Heider Garcia declined to comment Tuesday afternoon saying that he needed to first discuss the judge’s order with the county’s attorneys The feud between the church and city boiled over in recent days with threats of lawsuits and accusations of religious discrimination Freedom Place was selected to serve as the only early voting site in Rowlett, a town of more than 60,000, for the November election. City leaders and some residents proposed Dallas County move early voting to the community center Margolis and others argued Freedom Place is not large enough and does not have enough parking to accommodate early voters The church in downtown Rowlett has 10 parking spaces, including one accessible space, all of which are shared with a neighboring florist. A public parking lot is roughly 1,000 feet away. In 2020, 22,000 people early voted at the Rowlett community center Margolis said he expects as many as 25,000 early voters this year in Rowlett “The ability to access the polls is critical to all voters in Rowlett and across the country,” Kyle Pugh Dallas County, with the help of an advisory committee, evaluates and selects polling places, which are approved by county commissioners. A handful of Rowlett residents urged commissioners to move the site at a Dallas County commissioners meeting earlier this month Commissioners expressed reluctance to move a polling place days before early voting the city informed Freedom Place that its certificate of occupancy was issued in error in December 2023 and could be revoked because the church lacks adequate parking per city ordinance the church accused the city of religious discrimination and sabotage and threatened to sue if Rowlett did not back down an attorney for the church said the two sides are working on resolving the matter said in a statement that he is fighting to make sure the church is not a “casualty of the Mayor’s attacks” against County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins and County Commissioner John Wiley Price Jenkins and Price originally voted for the church to host early voting “Closing churches who do things you don’t like is not the American way,” said Sasser executive general counsel for Plano-based First Liberty Institute which specializes in defending churches in religious liberty cases Texas law says polling places should be in public buildings In the case of Freedom Place, however, some residents in Rowlett have pointed out the pastor of Freedom Place, Kason Huddleston The church serves as a meeting place for Rowlett-area Republican groups hosts classes to help women recover from abortions and helps “Christians learn about their responsibility to vote and their Godly American heritage,” according to the church’s website It moved to its current site in downtown a couple of years ago Margolis said he was not driven by the pastor’s politics but by providing the town with a safe and adequate polling place “This is not about the church or the pastor,” he said and what is right is to make sure every voter has an accessible place to vote.” She previously worked as a writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram She is a graduate of Kansas State University by | Oct 10, 2024 | Latest, Sports Wylie senior defensive lineman Brady Light (44) pushes Rowlett junior running back Kevin Cottrell to the turf for a tackle during a District 9-6A football game Thursday The Pirates earned a 42-0 shutout win over the Eagles [email protected] Wylie senior quarterback Jagger Bale threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns on passes of 70 15 and 43 yards to lead the Pirates to a dominant 42-0 shutout victory at Wylie Stadium on Thursday Bale’s favorite target in the passing game was senior Martaveion Sanders who had 127 receiving yards on five catches with one touchdown Sophomore running back Daylon Gordon added 74 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns Wylie out-gained Rowlett 528-126 in total yards with the Eagles doing a majority of their damage in the second half Rowlett entered the red zone on their final three drives of the game but was held scoreless Wylie preserved the shutout after forcing an incomplete pass by Rowlett sophomore quarterback Samuel Loera on a fourth-and-4 play from the Pirates’ 19-yard line with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter It was the third straight win for Wylie (4-3 which moves into sole possession of second place in District 9-6A Thursday’s win was also the first shutout victory for the Pirates since a 44-0 blanking of South Garland on Sept Wylie is scheduled to travel to Williams Stadium on Thursday To read the full story and support your local newspaper, subscribe to The Wylie News today Apr 27, 2025 | , The Wylie girls' golf team poses for pictures after earning second place in the Region II-6A Tournament as the Lady Pirates qualified for the state tournament for the first time in program history. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Carter By David Wolman [email protected].. Wylie East senior goalkeeper Madelyn Jones has been named to the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Class 6A all-state first team. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] The Texas Association of Soccer Coaches announced their.. Apr 26, 2025 | , Wylie senior Macy Alewine is greeted by her Pirate teammates at home plate after she hit a three-run home run in Game 3 of a Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff series from Sachse High School last Friday Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman.. Apr 25, 2025 | , Wylie junior Amira Forbit went 1 for 3 in a 12-0 win for the Lady Pirates over Rockwall-Heath on Thursday. Photo by Elijah Kloepping / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] The Wylie softball team came into Thursday's Game 2 of its Class 6A Division I.. Apr 24, 2025 | , Wylie first baseman Macey Stephenson steps on the bag for an out during Wednesday's 6-2 loss to Rockwall-Heath in Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I playoff game from Wylie. Photo by Elijah Kloepping / C&S Media By Mark Saldana [email protected] The Wylie High.. Apr 24, 2025 | “Our Fascination with Period Dramas,” explores the enduring popularity of historical fiction The Brown House in downtown Wylie is inviting guests to take a nostalgic look at the past through two new.. Apr 24, 2025 | , Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding residents that they can purchase certain emergency preparation supplies without paying sales tax during the state’s annual tax holiday every air traveler 18 years or older will be required to present a REAL ID compliant license or another acceptable form of identification to fly within the U.S according to the Department of Homeland Security.. Drone shot of the McMillen Road expansion site Courtesy City of Wylie The long-anticipated McMillen Road expansion — a $21 million infrastructure project meant to connect the cities of Wylie and Murphy with a safer wider route — has been in limbo following a federal.. Wylie city council candidates have filed their required 30-day preelection campaign finance reports ahead of the upcoming municipal election detailing their fundraising and expenditures in compliance with state law The two candidates who have filed reports are Hamza.. P.O. Box 369 Wylie, TX 75098 972-784-6397972-782-7023 Fax101 S. Main StreetFarmersville, TX 75442 972-442-5515972-442-4318 Fax110 N. Ballard AvenueWylie, TX 75098 By Everton Bailey Jr.Dallas City Hall Reporter but it’s unclear if both locations will be open by the time early voting starts Monday because the city is threatening to revoke one of the building’s operating certifications The Dallas County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 to add Rowlett Community Centre as an additional polling location to Freedom Place Church The approval comes after Rowlett’s mayor sued the Commissioners Court and the county’s top elections official arguing the church didn’t have enough space to accommodate early voters properly Dallas County District Court Associate Judge Rachel Craig last week approved a temporary injunction denying the church as the city’s sole early voting location About a half dozen sites will be open in Rowlett on Election Day He believed Freedom Place Church would have enough parking for voters and feared the county’s approval to override its elections department’s site designation set a “dangerous precedent.” Political PointsGet the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond “What happens when the next city decides that they want a second voting center?” Price said. The commissioner’s comments counter Rowlett Mayor Blake Margolis and a resident couple who sued. They said it’d be illegal to host early voters only at the church. They cited its 10 parking spaces shared with four tenants as insufficient for the city’s nearly 65,000 residents and said it would hamper access for voters with disabilities and those who are elderly. Meanwhile, whether Freedom Place Church keeps its doors open is up in the air. The city recently sent a letter to the evangelical church saying a review of its certificate of occupancy found it was issued last year by mistake, and the church has to provide a revised plan to show it has adequate parking. Otherwise, its operation certification would be revoked. Church officials accused the city of religious discrimination and threatened legal action. Cori Reaume, Rowlett’s director of community development, didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment on the status of the church’s certificate of occupancy. Hiram Sasser, an attorney representing the church, said talks are ongoing. “We are in discussions with the city over the certificate of occupancy and will continue to fight to ensure that the church remains open to the community,” said Sasser, who is also executive senior counsel for the First Liberty Institute, a Plano-based law firm that focuses on defending churches in religious liberty cases. Sasser also told The Dallas Morning News the county decision “seems like a win-win to us.” “We are pleased that Dallas County is sticking by Freedom Place Church, and the more voting locations available to folks, the better,” he said. Rowlett officials told Dallas County they supported the city’s community center serving as an early voting and Election Day polling location, according to a copy of an Aug. 13 email in the lawsuit from Rowlett interim city secretary Stacey Chadwick to Price and Dallas County Election Administrator Heider Garcia. That site has more than 360 parking spaces, and 22,150 voters cast ballots there early during the 2020 presidential election. The community center had the eighth-highest cumulative total of early voters of the around 60 sites open in Dallas County at the time. The church hasn’t previously been used as a voting center. County officials estimate adding the Rowlett Community Centre to its roster of early voting sites will cost an extra $20,000 to $40,000. Early voting runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. County commissioners approved replacing the Rowlett City Hall Annex building with Freedom Place Church as both an early voting and Election Day site on Sept. 3. During an Oct. 1 Commissioners Court meeting, when several Rowlett residents voiced concerns about the church’s small size and lack of parking impacting voters’ access, Price and Garcia told commissioners the site was found suitable as a polling location. Garcia said Freedom Place was selected because of its downtown location. Church officials volunteered the site because it could be used for early voting and Election Day, Garcia said. He noted Rowlett’s City Hall Annex building was used for early voting last spring, but it was not a site for voters on Election Day. He said the county’s assessment of the church as a polling location just focused on whether it met federal requirements. “It doesn’t speak to how many people can be processed,” Garcia said during the Oct. 1 meeting. “What the survey tells us is, yes, we can use it and someone in a wheelchair will be able to enter and leave without any obstacles.” Price, at the time, said the county planned to include curbside voting, increase directional signs to help ease traffic and arrange additional handicapped parking. The church only has one space. “The site has been fully vetted by and meets all legal requirements for a voting site,” the commissioner said during the Oct. 1 meeting. “The concern raised about size, parking ... have been addressed and all measures will be taken to ensure smooth and accessible voting.” Several commissioners suggested approving the community center Oct. 1 as an additional voting spot in case the church was ordered to shut down ahead of early voting. In an Oct. 7 letter sent to Reaume, First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys urged the city to withdraw its letter noting issues with the certificate of occupancy. He argued it was illegal. “Regardless, we have advised our client that the members and visitors of the church are fully within their rights peaceably to assemble at the church regardless of what the city does, unmolested by officials with the city,” the letter said. “Should they be penalized or their civil rights be otherwise punished or burdened, we are prepared to vigorously defend our client’s rights in court as outlined herein.” He joined The Dallas Morning News in November 2020 after previously working for The Oregonian and The Associated Press in Hartford