Commercial Roofing Contractors in Plano, TX

The No. 3-seeded Dixon Dukes will host the No. 14-seeded Plano Reapers at AC Bowers Field in a Class 4A first-round playoff game at 7 p.m. Friday.

For the 8-1 Dukes, it will mark their ninth straight playoff appearance. For the 5-4 Reapers, it’s their third playoff appearance in the past five years (2018, 2021). Both teams enter the 10th week of the season looking to snap first-round losing streaks. Dixon is 0-4 in its past four playoff appearances. Plano is 0-3 in its past three.

One of those streaks will come to an end Friday night. The question is, whose will it be?

Dixon’s biggest challenge will be slowing down Plano senior running back Waleed Johnson. Johnson, a three-year varsity starter, has rushed for 1,190 yards on the season. Last week in a 48-21 win over Marengo, he gashed the Indians for 240 rushing yards and four touchdowns. To Dixon coach Jared Shaner, everything starts with limiting the star running back.

“We’ve had a chance to watch a little bit of video and check some things out and see them. They’re definitely a run-first team,” he said. “They have a very, very good senior running back. As a junior last year, he ran for about 1,300 yards, and he’s right about there [again] – he’s at 1,200 this year – so that will be a tough test for our defense. They are more of a tight end/wing type team, so we’ve seen that a few times this year in games like Byron and Genoa-Kingston, and maybe even a little bit of Oregon.

“But certainly, just a run-first team. They will throw it with some play-action when they need to, but you’ve got to stop the run first.”

Senior Armando Martinez, another three-year varsity starter for Plano, moved from quarterback to fullback midway through the season when starter Andrew Cox suffered a season-ending injury. He rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win. Like Johnson, Martinez also is a leader on defense.

The Dukes have some playmakers on offense as well. Senior quarterback Tyler Shaner has completed 83 of 136 pass attempts for 1,256 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions. On the ground, he’s piled up 697 yards and 14 touchdowns on 123 carries. Senior running back Aiden Wiseman leads the team in rushing with 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 137 carries. Juniors Cullen Shaner (23 catches, 467 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Tyson Dambman (32-325-4) and senior Collin Scott (12-149-1) have been the leading receivers this season.

Junior Eli Davidson (115 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles) and Wiseman (92 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries) lead a strong linebacker group for Dixon.

Offensively, the keys for the Dukes are basically the same as any other game. Defensively, they’ll emphasize stopping the run.

“From a defensive perspective, just assignment football. I mentioned the senior running back that they have. Trying to contain him, slowing him down. That’s priority No. 1,” Jared Shaner said. “They do have a couple of other solid kids, but he’s certainly the focal point of their offense. So, knowing where he’s at and doing a good job on him is the key on defense. And then offensively, a lot of the same things that we talk about week to week. Taking care of the football, not turning it over and really just executing drives and finishing drives along the way, those are some of the keys.

“We’ve done a good job recently, and hopefully, we can keep that going this week.”

Shaner is glad to have the friendly crowd and familiar surroundings for the opening round.

“That’s a huge plus. We’re fortunate this year. Our guys have done what they needed to along the way, finishing the regular season 8-1,” Shaner said. “And it’s always nice to be home. We had four home games this year. Great crowds during those four contests. It’s good to be home and you get to stay in a routine and not having to travel. I’m happy that that’s the case in week one [of the playoffs], and then as we advance through the playoffs, hopefully, with some wins, obviously you’ll have to go on the road at some point, but it is nice to have that first one at home.”

PLANO, Texas — Arborist Steve Houser remembers the day fondly -- sitting in one of the branches of Plano's Quadri/Quincentennial Bur Oak high above the city's Bob Woodruff Park.

"When I'd climb out onto the ends of the smaller ends, the wind's blowing you back and forth," Houser said. "And it's kind of like this ancient old lady is kind of rocking you in her arms."

So, the loss of the estimated 400-year-old tree on Wednesday is personal for him.

"Not as much as losing a family member or your favorite pet or something," he said. "But it's right up there somewhere close."

Believed to be the largest and oldest tree in North Texas, the bur oak collapsed in Wednesday's storms surrounded by several inches of rain that flooded the park. The exposed trunk revealed extensive rot. The four large bolts drilled through the tree in years past were not enough to hold the splitting trunk together. Houser, an arborist who has worked with the City of Plano for more than 25 years to preserve the tree, sat silently on a park bench nearby on Friday as if mourning a long lost friend.

"To see it gone now, it's an emotional thing for me," Houser said. "And to see your favorite tree laying on the ground, I'm kind of in mourning, you know. I don't know how to describe it."

Mark Beaudoing, the City of Plano's urban forester, said he was disappointed by the tree's death.

"We were working really hard on doing everything we could to keep this tree alive," Beaudoing said of limited pruning, the installation of lightning protection, vertical mulching and fertilization to strengthen the tree. "We feel like we did everything we could. And you know it's always sad when you feel like you did your best and it wasn't enough.

The Texas Historic Tree Coalition estimated the Quadri/Quincentennial Bur Oak tree at about 90 feet tall, 196 inches in circumference, and a crown spread of 103 feet. In the 1980s, the Plano tree was estimated at 243 years old by several expert arborists. The tree was designated the Bicentennial Tree in 1987 and was recognized as having lived at the signing of the U.S. Constitution. In February 2002, the tree was recognized as a historic tree by the Dallas Historic Tree Coalition (now the Texas Historic Tree Coalition).

In 2006, strong winds severed a large limb from the tree, which was used to get a more accurate age estimate. The limb alone was estimated at 226 years old, leading experts to calculate the tree itself at more than 400.

The City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department is asking the public to stay away from the area due to unsafe conditions. A City of Plano spokesperson says they have not yet decided what to do with the remnants of the tree and/or its historic location.

When Steve Houser learned storms destroyed his favorite oak tree this week, it broke his heart.

On Thursday the Quadricentennial Bur Oak, located in Bob Woodruff Park, fell. The tree was known as the oldest and largest tree in Plano and North Texas, and a treasure to the community and to those who cared for it.

“To me it’s like losing a friend,” Houser told The Dallas Morning News. “It’s like losing a family member or your favorite pet.”

Houser, a certified arborist and arborist consultant, has been caring for the tree for about 30 years.

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“It’s a little bit emotional because I felt such an attachment to this tree. It was by far and away my favorite, and the oldest around,” he said. “And now it’s laying on the ground and in pieces. It’s difficult to deal with.”

Related:Steve Houser: Balancing ecology and economy in a rewrite of the Dallas tree ordinance

The scientific name for the tree is Quercus macrocarpa. It stood 90 feet high and had a circumference of 15 1/2 feet, according to a city news release.

“Think of all the history this tree has stood witness to. It was here when the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787,” according to the news release.

Houser said the tree was already leaning and was located in a floodplain, which caused the fall.

“It was underwater the night before last because of the 6 or 8 inches of rain that we added in a short period of time,” he said.

Houser is not only an arborist, but a tree climber who has spent many a day up in that tree.

“When I’m up in a tree, especially a large old tree like this, you get certain sentiments from the tree, about its character and its personality,” Houser said. “I can be upset with the world or the family or whatever, but if I get up in a tree, by the time I come down all that animosity and friction is gone. Trees kind of take that away.”

Houser said being in the tree, especially when he is out on the ends of the limb, it sparks his imagination of times past.

“The winds blowing, rocking me back and forth, I get the feeling that there’s this ancient old lady, kind of rocking me in her arms. I think back about a tree that’s more than 400 years old. It’s a living witness to the history of the area. And I get these visions of Indians camping underneath it or doing their dances around the campfires and telling stories and things like that,” Houser said. “So there’s a lot more to this tree than just being a large old tree. It has quite a history that goes along with it. It’s just devastating to me.”

Marc Beaudoing, Plano’s urban forester, said in 2006, a large branch fell from about 45 to 50 feet high. From that portion of the tree, a tree cookie was brought to a scientist at the University of Texas at Arlington for analysis, which revealed that one branch was more than 200 years old.

“And so based on the estimation, since that branch is 50 feet high in the air, the tree is at least 400 years old, possibly 500 years,” Beaudoing said.

The tree has been under the city’s care for years, with Houser’s help.

Related:Here’s why Plano is planting trees at Preston Road and Legacy Drive

About a year and a half ago, a severe storm caused twisting and a fracture in the trunk of the tree, so crews installed a metal brace for the tree.

The crack was significant, going through 60 of the 67 inches of the tree’s diameter. The tree was also leaning, so it needed support.

Beaudoing said after a risk assessment, the city put fencing up around the tree for safety.

“When we look at risk, especially in the park system, the No. 1 thing we look at is the safety of residents,” he said.

Beaudoing said wood from the tree would be repurposed.

“It’s not going to be shipped to the landfill,” he said.

City officials are in discussion about ideas for the wood, which include anything from tree cookies to making items such as pens or coasters to use as gifts for important milestones to city workers or visitors.

“It’s just a sad day,” Beaudoing said. “Everyone’s really, really sad about it.”

. Susan is a longtime journalist in DFW who previously worked as a city government/crime beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a breaking news reporter for United Press International. She covers Collin County for the DMN.

susan.mcfarland@dallasnews.com @1susanmcfarland

Plano, Allen and other member cities in the North Texas Municipal Water District may see an 11% increase in the wholesale water rate come October, based on an estimate from the utility provider.

The North Texas Municipal Water District projected a wholesale water rate of $3.77 per 1,000 gallons for its 13 member cities, which includes Richardson, Frisco, McKinney and other Collin County hubs. The projected rate for the regional wastewater system is $2.75 per 1,000 gallons and $1.89 per 1,000 gallons for the Upper East Fork Interceptor system.

Some officials from member cities said they anticipated the increase while others expressed worry.

“No one’s walking away every year with a double-digit increase on their salary,” Richardson City Council member Ken Hutchenrider said during a June 5 work session. “I’m still just very, very, very concerned because there’s not many businesses that can pass through 11, 10, 12, … 15% to their customers and … stay in business.”

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The district expects a lower-than-projected rate adjustment in the regional water system after the impacts to debt service costs are completed and included in budget estimates.

Member cities can expect final projections by the end of July. The district’s board plans to vote on its budget on Sept. 28, and new rates would take effect Oct. 1 if approved.

The agency said it is facing a challenging budget environment with fluctuations in costs for energy, chemicals, infrastructure maintenance and personnel.

“Long-term investments in our regional future include necessary capital improvement investment to meet infrastructure requirements,” the agency said.

The agency supplies water, wastewater and solid waste services throughout North Texas. It proposes wholesale rates to member cities and customers as part of its annual budgeting process. The estimate, subject to change as the agency finalizes its budget, allows member cities and customers time to prepare their budgets. Member cities and customers set the final rate in direct residential and commercial utility bills.

“We’re aware of the NTMWD’s proposed increase since the water district has a long-term financial plan,” the city of Frisco said in a statement. “As such, the city of Frisco reviews any proposed water and sewer rate increases every year as part of our budget process. That said, our preliminary budget has yet to be released. Any rate increase recommendations will be presented to the Frisco City Council in August.”

Plano City Manager Mark Israelson told The News that utility rates play a significant role in how city officials look at affordability in Plano.

“We’re always keeping a watchful eye on increasing costs, including utility rates,” Israelson said.

Steve Massey, community services director for Allen, said rate increases are expected due to a variety of factors, including regional growth, higher construction costs and the requirement to maintain a mature distribution system that serves over 2 million water customers.

“Allen is fortunate in that our city’s cost of water service continues to be at the lower end of costs among the 13 NTMWD water system member cities,” Massey said.

Allen says notice of any rate changes will appear on utility bills after they are approved by the City Council.

Approximately 55,000 new residents move into the district’s service area each year.

“With the growth of the region, being able to have reliable water service and availability of water is a critical component,” Israelson said.

“Continuing to conserve, continuing to have water resources is really a critical element to the economic vitality of not only Plano but the entire D-FW region. As a commodity, water is an extremely precious resource. I think it’s really important that the entire region understands and values that.”

Related:Plano median home sale prices drop, according to financial report

. Myah Taylor covers high school sports. She formerly worked as a Collin County reporter for The Dallas Morning News. Taylor has contributed to the Austin American-Statesman, Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Times and Texas Monthly. She is a 2022 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

myah.taylor@dallasnews.com t_myah

Recently, The Kroger Co. announced that it broke ground on a Kroger Marketplace format store in Plano, Texas. Once built, the Marketplace will stand at around 124,000 square feet, approximately 55,000 square feet larger than the current store.

Located at the Southwest corner of State Highway 121 and Coit Road, the Kroger Marketplace in the works will replace the current Kroger grocery store, which is located across the street at 9700 Coit Road. According to Kroger, the grocery retailer is expected to create 100-150 new jobs in the Plano community.

“For more than 65 years, Kroger has been investing in communities throughout North Texas," said Keith Shoemaker, president of Kroger’s Dallas Division. "We first opened our store on Coit Road in Plano in 2005 and nearly 20 years later we look forward to welcoming the community to our new and improved Marketplace store across the street."

Among the features that North Texas residents should expect to see once the store is completed include a Starbucks kiosk, Murray’s Cheese counter, a fuel center (with 18 fueling positions), a pharmacy, as well as a grab-and-go kiosk with beverages and snacks.

In addition to offering grocery items, the Kroger Marketplace will also sell general merchandise, including outdoor living products, toys, electronics, home goods and more.

“Our new Marketplace store in Plano will feature the very best that Kroger has to offer with thousands of fresh, local, healthy and unique selections and an extensive assortment of products,” said Shoemaker.

The Plano store is the second of three new Kroger Marketplaces that were announced by the retail company earlier this year. The trio of grocers will be the first stores Kroger has built in the North Texas area since the company opened up a location in McKinney back in 2019. Currently, Kroger operates five stores within the City of Plano.

“Kroger is making an investment that will continue to benefit the City of Plano for many years to come and will provide opportunity for new jobs and economic growth,” said Shoemaker.

The new Kroger Marketplace store is scheduled to open sometime in the fourth quarter of 2024.