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The holiday season is aglow in Southwest Dallas-Fort Worth as local tree lightings bring festive cheer to the community. From historic town squares to modern city parks, these magical events feature dazzling displays, live entertainment, and plenty of family-friendly activities to welcome the season in style. Whether you’re sipping hot cocoa under twinkling lights or joining in a countdown to illuminate Christmas trees, there’s no better way to kick off the holidays than by celebrating with your neighbors. Check out some of the must-see tree-lighting festivities happening across the area and make plans to attend.

Cedar Hill

Holiday on the Hill

Thursday, December 5, 2024

5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

In Historic Downtown, come together with friends and family to light up the tree, meet Santa Claus, and indulge in a festive atmosphere filled with joy and wonder. There will also be plenty of holiday kids activities and games, live performances, photos with Santa, festive photo ops, and the official lighting of the City of Cedar Hill tree.

Letters to Santa

As part of Holiday on the Hill, we’re excited to be delivering your letters to Santa again this year! You can write and submit your letters in person at Holiday on the Hill on December 5^th from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Santa Letter Booth OR fill one out at home, then drop it off at our special North Pole mailbox at the Library by December 16^th. The Santa Letter template is available online at cedarhilltx.com/holiday.

DeSoto

Tree Lighting and Holiday Block Party

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DESOTO – As Dallas clears its homeless population out of that city, it is no surprise suburbs like DeSoto are finding more of an uptick in the “unhoused” situation. At a Special DeSoto City Council meeting Monday night, one item on the agenda addressed the coming need to address this increase in numbers. The homeless situation in DeSoto falls to the Tri-City Regional Care Team, which encompasses not only DeSoto but also Cedar Hill and Duncanville, and it plans to include Lancaster and Glenn Heights in the future. DeSoto Lt. Melissa Franks is the Regional Team Coordinator, and at Monday’s meeting, she reminded the council that the City of Dallas has initiated programs to move its homeless encampments out of the city to clear up its communities.

ORDINANCE 2416-24 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, BY AMENDING AND RESTATING SPECIFIC USE PERMIT NO. 300 (SUP-300), AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NO. 2250-21 AUTHORIZING AN APPROXIMATELY 17.83± ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN THE SARAH REAM SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 1216, CITY OF DESOTO, DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1220 E. PLEASANT RUN ROAD), PRESENTLY ZONED AS GENERAL RETAIL (GR) DISTRICT TO BE USED FOR ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION (HIGH VOLTAGE POWER) USE, TO ALLOW FOR THE ENLARGEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF THE USE THEREON; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, THE 5TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024. APPROVED: RACHEL L. PROCTOR, MAYOR; ATTEST: ALICIA THOMAS, CITY SECRETARY; APPROVED AS TO FORM: JOSEPH J. GORFIDA, CITY ATTORNEY.

ORDINANCE 2417-24 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 13 “UTILITIES” BY REPEALING ARTICLE 13.600 “MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM” IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ARTICLE 13.600; AND AMENDING APPENDIX A “FEE SCHEDULE” BY REPEALING ARTICLE 23.000 “MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM FEES” IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ARTICLE 23.000 ESTABLISHING DRAINAGE UTILITY FEES; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00); AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESOTO, TEXAS, THE 5TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024. APPROVED: RACHEL L. PROCTOR, MAYOR; ATTEST: ALICIA THOMAS, CITY SECRETARY; APPROVED AS TO FORM: JOSEPH J. GORFIDA, CITY ATTORNEY.

The post CITY OF DESOTO ORDINANCE 2416-24 and ORDINANCE 2417-24 appeared first on Focus Daily News.

CITY OF DESOTO
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Case #TA-004-23
The City of DeSoto City Council will conduct a Public Hearing to consider amending the Zoning Ordinance in order to establish green space regulations for commercial and residential developments in the City of DeSoto. The applicant is the City of DeSoto. The public hearing before the City Council will be conducted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Caso #TA-004-23
El Concejo Municipal de la Ciudad de DeSoto llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública para considerar enmendar la Ordenanza de Zonificación con el fin de establecer regulaciones de espacios verdes para desarrollos comerciales y residenciales en la Ciudad de DeSoto. El solicitante es la ciudad de DeSoto. La audiencia pública ante el Concejo Municipal se llevará a cabo el martes 19 de noviembre de 2024 a las 6:00 p.m.

For meeting information please go to the City website (http://www.desototexas.gov/1515/Agendas-and-Minutes) to view the agenda. If you have any questions regarding this case, contact the Planning and Zoning Department at (972) 230-9622.The building in which the above meeting will be conducted is wheelchair accessible; spaces for the mobility impaired are available. Any request for sign interpretative services must be made forty-eight hours prior to the time of the meeting.

Arrangements for sign interpretative services may be made by calling the City Secretary at 972/230-9646 or by calling TDD-1-800-RELAYTX (1-800-735-2989).

To be a valid written protest the protest or petition in opposition must be filed with the Planning Department before 4:00 P.M of the working day immediately preceding the date in which the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council will hear this case.

The post CITY OF DESOTO NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Case #TA-004-23 appeared first on Focus Daily News.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, at approximately 7:54 p.m., police were dispatched to an active disturbance in the 400 block of Raintree Circle, DeSoto, Texas. The caller, an adult female, reported to dispatch that an unknown adult male armed with a pistol was in her backyard. During the 911 call, dispatch could hear screaming as the suspect attempted to force entry through the rear garage door. Multiple neighbors also called 911, reporting gunshots in the area. Police arrived on scene at the victim’s residence by 7:57 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers encountered the victim in front of her home. She informed them that she believed she had shot the suspect, who was likely at the back of the property. Police searched the premises and found the suspect lying on the ground inside the garage, with a pistol nearby. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Octavio Flores Mondragon, had sustained two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and another to the face. Officers secured the scene and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

The victim stated that she noticed a dark truck following her as she entered her neighborhood, and it pulled in behind her when she parked in her driveway. Concerned for her safety, she ran inside her home and called the police. She armed herself with her pistol as the suspect tried to break in, firing multiple shots to stop him. She then met officers at the front of her home when they arrived.

The suspect faces charges of Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Another Felony, a first-degree felony. No motive has been determined. The pistol found beside the suspect is believed to be the firearm he had during the incident.

No further details are available for public release.

The post Armed Intruder Shot by Homeowner During Break-In Attempt in DeSoto, Texas appeared first on Focus Daily News.