🌱 Frisco Utility Bill Increases + County Hospitals Nearly Full

Up and at 'em, McKinney-Frisco! Here's everything you need to know to get this Saturday started off right. Here's everything you need to know in town today.

First, today's weather:

Windy; a morning thunderstorm. High: 53 Low: 30.

Here are the top 4 stories today in McKinney-Frisco:

1. To meet the demands of its growing population, the City of Frisco will be implementing its announced 3 percent water and sewer utility rate increase beginning in 2022. The rate increases are necessary to meet debt service payments related to the Panther Creek and Stewart Creek wastewater treatment plants, said Frisco’s Treasury Manager Brett Peterson when the increase was announced in September. Without adequate water supplies and wastewater treatments, Frisco would have "a much harder time attracting the business and industries that it does," according to Deputy Director of Water and Wastewater Billy George. (Community Impact Newspaper)
2. Collin County hospitals are nearly at capacity right now, with most McKinney-Frisco area facilities at 90 percent or higher occupancy for inpatient and/or ICU beds. This is troubling news as the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread and the CDC predicts up to 18,400 daily COVID-19 hospital admissions by Jan. 7. Statewide, 78 percent of inpatient beds and 88 percent of ICU beds were occupied as of Dec. 16, according to Texas health officials. (McKinney-Frisco Patch)
3. A Frisco mother is searching for a cure for her 4-year-old son's rare genetic disorder. Amber Freed’s son Maxwell is one of just 34 people born with this disorder, which can cause developmental delays and life-threatening seizures. While there is currently no cure, there’s hope in a gene replacement therapy doctors are working on in nearby Dallas. (FOX 4 Dallas)
4. Looking for a unique dessert experience? Check out Cocktail Creamery, a McKinney ice cream shop offering booze-infused, adult-friendly frozen treats. The mom-and-pop shop resides inside The Pantry Restaurant on Louisiana Street, just off McKinney Square. (Community Impact Newspaper)

Today in McKinney-Frisco:

• Library Tour for Kids At The John and Judy Gay Library (Ticketed Event) (10:15 AM)
• Holiday Boogie At At The John and Judy Gay Library (11:00 AM)
• Michael Manzoni's BIG Christmas Variety Show At The McKinney Performing Arts Center (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Finish your last-minute Christmas shopping and give back while you do it! When you shop in-person at the Amarillo Kendra Scott location on Dec. 20 or online at kendrascott.com on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 with code GIVEBACK-BFCBE, 20 percent of all supporter sales will be donated to Make-a-Wish North Texas. (Instagram)
• The deadline to file for a place on the ballot for the Jan. 29 Special Election in Frisco is this coming Monday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. The election will fill an unexpired term for Frisco City Council Place 5. (Facebook)
• Too much trash and recycling? If you need an additional trash cart or want to replace/repair a damaged cart, you can fill out an online form from the City of McKinney. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll catch up with you bright and early Monday with another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.