Two of the three sections were approved, with one section still under discussion

Cleveland-Gibbs Road was named after the two families the road connected. The Gibbs family lived to the west of what is now I-35W and the Cleveland family to the east.

The Town’s proposal names the northern part of the road Gibbs Road.

The southern part of the road will be Cleveland Road.

Town Council’s current plan has a goal to fix a downed bridge where the black circle is on the image to the right and stops Cleveland Road at the red dot.

The council had trouble finalizing a name for the third section, which is south of the intersection of Sam Lee Lane and Dale Earnhardt Way, near Highway 114.

The surrounding roads and section to the south will remain unchanged until the council returns to the issue at its next meeting on May 22.

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“Thinking about school getting out, this should give everyone a good month to get all the safety equipment like helmets and everything needed,” said JP Walton, chief strategic officer for Town of Flower Mound.

The first part of the ordinance talks about helmet use. The Town decided any children, defined as kids 14 years old or younger, will be required to wear a helmet while riding bikes or micro mobility devices.

According to the ordinance, micro mobility devices “refer to the range of small, lightweight vehicles or devices incapable of operating at a top-assisted speed faster than 28 mph and driven by one person. These devices may include, but are not limited to, electric motor-assisted scooters, electric skateboards, Segways, hoverboards, skateboards with one or more wheels or similar devices. Gas-powered devices are not included in this definition.”

The ordinance also specifies that it is “unlawful for a parent to allow a child to operate a bicycle or micromobility device on a public way or on public property within the town in violation of this article.” This means parents will be the ones that have to pay the fine when their child is found violating the ordinance.

The next part of the ordinance addresses nighttime, which is defined as 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. Both bicycles and micro mobility devices must have a white light on the front that can be seen from 500 feet away and a red reflective device on the back that can be seen by vehicles.

Next, the ordinance prohibits anyone on a bicycle or a micro mobility device from using mobile devices such as phones or tablets. In addition, riders cannot use headphones, earbuds or any other devices that could impair their hearing and prevent them from hearing approaching vehicles.

Anyone on a bicycle or micro mobility device must yield the right of way to pedestrians and, in the case they need to pass a pedestrian, must slow down and give them an audible warning.

On the first violation, the offender will be fined no more than $50, but will have the chance to get that money refunded if they show proof of completing the Flower Mound Police Department’s micro mobility safety course within 90 days.

“The court will give the offender the information,” said Police Chief David Coulon. “So, when you go in to pay the ticket, they will say how to get the micro mobility [safety course].”

Repeat offenders could face fines up to $100.

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In a message posted to social media, police alerted parents to the risks associated with the popular game in which high school students “eliminate” each other using water guns or other toy weapons as part of an organized competition. The concern arises from the unsafe actions some participants take while playing.

“Some of the decisions our young people are making while playing are putting themselves in harm’s way,” the department stated, referencing a recent incident in North Texas where a high school senior was critically injured during a game. The student is currently on life support after an accident that occurred while attempting to avoid being “assassinated.”

The game, often played by seniors near the end of the school year, typically involves tracking down assigned targets and “tagging” them. However, police say that players may engage in unsafe driving, trespassing, or other reckless behavior to avoid being caught.

Flower Mound authorities are asking parents to stay informed, talk to their teens about safe conduct, and emphasize that no game is worth risking serious injury or worse.

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David Shipp represented MHS Planning+Design, the firm in charge of designing the park’s improvements.

The park is right off of Timber Creek Road.

Resident Patricia Fager’s house backs up to Timber Creek Road and she said she worries about the extra traffic that come with the extra amenities. She said it might overcrowd the small community.

“If you put more tennis courts and elaborate stuff, it’s going to drive more traffic down Timber Creek,” she said. “And parking is another concern, so I would appreciate if y’all would take that into consideration.”

Resident David Youngblood said he was concerned with the extra tennis courts and hoped there could be some more variety of courts or fields, since the park already has tennis courts. He also commented on the playground design.

“I have three children, so I believe a larger playground would be a benefit,” he said. “But, overall I think it’s exciting and I look forward to it.”

Both Fager and Youngblood said they hoped to see improved lighting on Timber Creek Road incorporated into the plans.

“Y’all listened very well and made adjustments and it looks great,” said board member Rick Kenyon. “There are some things we should talk about when it comes to actually designing it, especially the educational pieces, but you brought good designs, we talked through them, so in my mind, it’s perfect.”

Another speaker at the public hearing said it would be nice to preserve some of the natural features of the area “to enrich the ecology,” which might help serve the youth in an educational way.

She talked about features that could provide information on native plants and wildlife.

Kenyon said those would be good features to add in as the park is actually designed.

As of now, the item is planned to go to Flower Mound Town Council at the May 19 meeting. Updates can still be made to the final design.

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As proposed by the House, the bill will include an increase in the basic allotment of funds, so each public district in the state will be given $6,555 per student.

The current basic allotment is $6,160 per student, which hasn’t changed since the 2019-20 school year.

In addition, the bill includes an automatic raise for teachers across the state and more funding for special education programs.

The increased funding hopes to “to increase the number of qualified and appropriately credentialed special education staff, including special education teachers, special education paraprofessionals, evaluation personnel, certified interpreters, board-certified behavior analysts, registered behavior technicians” and others.

Fund Schools First has set up a site for constituents to share their support for the bill. It has a message template that can be used for an email and lists phone numbers for the offices of the Chair of the Finance Committee, Senator Joan Huffman, and the Chair of the Education Committee, Brandon Creighton.

Senator Tan Parker serves on the Senate Finance Committee and represents Argyle ISD, Lewisville ISD and Northwest ISD.

His office can be reached at 512-463-0112.

Representative Brad Buckley filed the bill on February 20. It went through a plethora of steps before getting passed onto the Senate on April 23.

To read the full bill, visit the Texas Legislature website. For more information on public school funding, visit Fund Schools First’s website.

Calls or emails of support for the bill should be sent in by Monday.

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Sims, a Denton native, has served as Terrell’s city manager for the past six years following nearly 11 years as the city’s assistant manager. He began his career in local government after being inspired by a high school mentoring program sponsored by the City of Denton, later earning a B.A. in Public Affairs from Indiana University and a Master’s in Economics from UT Arlington. After 15 years advising local governments across the Metroplex with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, he joined the City of Terrell in 2008. Sims and his wife, Sarah, have been married since 1994 and have seven children; they are active members of First Baptist Church of Terrell.

“I’m deeply grateful to the Argyle Town Council for entrusting me with this opportunity,” Sims said. “I’ve loved the ranches and Cross Timbers of this area since my high school days nearby. As I shared with Council, I see my role as ‘Chief Listener’—and I’m committed to serving Argyle with humility and energy. It’s an honor to help preserve and celebrate the town’s unique heritage while planning responsibly for its future.”

Mayor-elect Ron Schmidt shared an overview of the months-long process that led to the final decision.

The Town partnered with executive recruitment firm Strategic Government Resources to lead the search. More than 90 candidates applied for the position, with over 20 applicants meeting the minimum qualifications—such as prior experience in a town administrator or manager role, an advanced degree, and a demonstrated record of leadership.

From there, the applicant pool was narrowed to five finalists, each undergoing a multi-faceted interview process. Candidates completed video presentations, participated in face-to-face interviews, met individually and collectively with town staff and council members, and engaged with local residents. The process also included background checks and a written and in-person presentation outlining what they would prioritize during their first few months on the job.

“The search process was extensive and deliberate,” said Schmidt. “We were looking for someone who not only had the professional qualifications but also shared our values—someone who will be visible in the community and committed to helping Argyle preserve our small town charm.”

Sims will start on May 21st. A welcome event is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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The legislation strengthens current requirements under the Higher Education Act, which already mandates that institutions disclose foreign gifts and contracts totaling $250,000 or more in a calendar year. The new bill aims to enforce stricter consequences for noncompliance and increase oversight of foreign involvement in America’s higher education system.

“American universities that receive taxpayer funding and mold the minds of our next generation of working adults should not be compromised by the foreign influence of adversarial nations and their big ticket donations,” said Rep. Gill. “I am honored to team up with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas to combat foreign propaganda in our higher education system through this legislation.”

Sen. Cruz echoed those concerns, citing the Chinese Communist Party’s extensive efforts to influence American thought and institutions.

“Unchecked foreign funding flowing into American universities opens the door for adversaries to influence American students and research,” Cruz said. “This bill would ensure that higher education institutions are held accountable if they fail to disclose foreign funding, as required by law.”

The bill includes several key provisions:

• A 300% excise tax on all funds received from designated adversarial countries
• A 110% excise tax on any unreported foreign funding
• Biennial audits of 30 U.S. universities, with priority given to those with large endowments and a history of noncompliance

Combined, these taxes could result in a 410% penalty for universities that both receive and fail to report such foreign funding.

The bill is supported by FDD Action and Heritage Action, two advocacy groups focused on national security and policy transparency.

“Protecting our academic institutions from covert foreign influence is essential for national security,” said Nick Stewart, FDD Action’s Senior Director of Government Relations. “We urge swift passage of this bill.”

The legislation comes amid ongoing investigations into American universities’ ties with foreign governments. Recently, the Trump administration launched a probe into the University of California over its alleged failure to report $220 million in donations from the Chinese government.

Supporters of the bill are calling for swift congressional action to ensure American educational institutions remain free from foreign manipulation and aligned with U.S. national interests.

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At 9:04 a.m. on March 17, a male, now identified as 18-year-old Andrew Messiah Grimaldo, allegedly fired a weapon at a residence on Kingston Drive in Lewisville.

The shot was caught on the residence’s Ring camera.

After an extensive investigation, a warrant was issued for Grimaldo in connection with the arrest.

He was arrested in Mesquite on May 5 after allegedly stealing more than $25,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry shop at the Town East Mall, according to the Mesquite Police Department.

Grimaldo and another suspect, Kelvin Sanchez, fled the scene when responding officers attempted to stop their vehicle.

The officers pursued the suspects, in their car, into Fort Worth where they hit a dead end road. The two were arrested by police after attempting to flee on foot.

Grimaldo is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail on a $10,000 bond for the Deadly Conduct charge.

Police are still taking information related to the incident. Information can be sent to Detective Holleman via phone at 972-219-3649 or via email at CHolleman@cityoflewisville.com. To anonymously report a tip, call Denton County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-388-TIPS (8477) or visit dentoncountycrimestoppers.com.

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“It’s bittersweet,” said Scott. “You make many acquaintances and friends over the years, but after 18 years with the Town, I’ve decided it’s time to move on to a new chapter in my life and explore other adventures and opportunities. And that’s a good feeling.”

Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Adam Schiestel said Scott has been the most important member of the Town’s staff.

“I firmly believe the most important duty of the Town Council is to ensure the Town is well-run and drama-free and Theresa is the most important member of the Town Staff in making that happen,” he said. “The smooth operation of the Council’s activities is largely due to her credit and she makes us look more competent than we probably deserve.”

According to the Town’s website, the Town Secretary is dedicated to communicating and providing services openly and sincerely to all customers–citizens, council, staff and visitors with professionalism and efficiency, and to providing the administrative and clerical support to the Mayor and Town Council that is desired.

That means working for the Town Council and taking care of public information requests, elections, meetings, records, boards, commissions and more.

While in the positions, Scott was in charge of maintaining board and commission membership information, which means making sure there are seats filled.

Scott has seen a lot of change in the Town throughout her 18 years, but she said her favorite memory as the population grew from 50,000 people to just more than 81,000 was when Flower Mound got a new Town Hall.

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Humane Tomorrow is a foster-based pet rescue that serves Flower Mound and surrounding areas. Stacy Smith of Humane Tomorrow said she sees dogs from puppy mills returned all the time due to a multitude of reasons.

“A lot of these dogs are super shy and fearful because they are unsocialized,” she said. “And that cause behavioral issues, make them aggressive and, for the most part, not great family pets.”

She said it’s not unusual for dogs with these issues to be surrendered after being bought from places like Petland or Puppy Dreams. Normally, these dogs come at a high price, as well.

“When somebody buys one of these dogs it becomes a financial burden that they weren’t prepared for,” she said.

That includes surprise vet bills because they are more likely to get sick on top of high price tags. Smith said she has seen people finance puppies at high interest rates and give them up before they pay them off.

The transportation of puppies also poses an issue to Texas shelters because, while shelters are full, dogs are still being shipped in from out of state. Any dogs bought keep the shelters at maximum capacity and sometimes add dogs to the shelter if they get surrendered.

Smith knows not everyone wants a shelter puppy, and she said that is completely fine.

“We really encourage people to go to ethical breeders who are local and don’t transport dogs across the country to be sold in pet stores,” she said. “Reputable breeders will screen potential buyers and I respect for this good breeders.”

Two bills to combat the issue were submitted to this year’s Texas Legislative session.

One bill is in the Texas Senate, which was authored by Senator Judith Zaffirini and coauthored by Flower Mound’s Tan Parker and four other senators.

Banning the retail sale of puppies and kittens is a common-sense solution to protect both animals and Texas consumers,” said Zaffirini. “My SB 1652 would help reduce pet overpopulation, promote responsible breeding practices and prevent families from unknowingly purchasing sick animals.”

The other bill, HB 3458, is in the Texas House of Representatives and was authored by Representative Jared Patterson. It is the third time he has filed the bill. It died in committee in 2021 and 2023.

“I’m proud to file HB 870 once again to provide the necessary restrictions to protect pets and their owners,” said Representative Jared Patterson after filing the ethical pet sales bill in 2023, the second version of the bill.

Patterson is committed to the bill because there is a store in his district in Frisco that has continued these unethical business practices.

“What’s interesting about Frisco, specifically, is they actually have a local ordinance on the books to regulate retail pet sales, but it is extremely ineffective,” said Cara Gustafson, a representative for the Texas Humane Legislation Network, the group advocating for the ethical pet sales bill.

The two bills are considered companion bills, so they aim to accomplish the same thing, but one is filed in the Senate and the other in the House to try and get it passed quicker. If one of the bills passes the House, it will be sent to the Senate and vice versa. After, that, it sees the floor.

“We’re kind of working both angles right now, but the House version is just moving a bit quicker, which isn’t necessarily uncommon in the legislature,” said Gustafson.

On April 23, the House version passed out of committee by a vote of 10-1, which is stage two out of seven that it needs to become law.

One of the reasons the bill has been necessary to officially codify into law is because local ordinances are ineffective, but they are now prohibited due to the Death Star Bill that was passed in 2023.

The bill made it to where no cities or localities could pass their own ordinances.

“18 cities in Texas have passed ordinances to do what our bill does,” said Gustafson. “So we were able to work with the author of the bill, now the Speaker of the House, to make sure those ordinances were grandfathered in.”

This prompted Zaffirini to file the bill in the Senate this year, as a companion for the House bill, HB 3458.

“With varying local ordinances in place and further action at the city level now restricted, it is important for the state to provide a clear and consistent approach that prioritizes both animal welfare and consumer protection,” said Zaffirini.

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