Texarkana-Boom Town

[bigboyz05]

Thanks for telling me about OSI. Someone else gave me that info. What you said about housing prices in Shreveport is so true. When me and my family moved there we saw homes barely fit to live in but had rents at almost $500.

[dimebag1980]

Thanks for telling me about OSI. Someone else gave me that info. What you said about housing prices in Shreveport is so true. When me and my family moved there we saw homes barely fit to live in but had rents at almost $500.

No problem... just figured I'd fill you in so you can do the same with the person who told you.

Damn. I was going to take pictures of Texarkana development while up there, but it looks like I'll just be in town for dinner this evening with the in-laws. It'll be dark, so no good photos this time. But there will be other times.

[bigboyz05]

Yeah. Also the weather has been really crappy today. This rain won't let up until Monday morning. When is the next time you'll be up here?

[dimebag1980]

Yeah. Also the weather has been really crappy today. This rain won't let up until Monday morning. When is the next time you'll be up here?

Unfortunately it'll probably be at least a couple of months now. Maybe sooner, though... we gave our new puppy away to my mother-in-law so we'll want to visit it fairly often. He's a good dog, we just didn't have the time to put into a puppy during the work week. In late May I'm taking my annual trip to Hot Springs, so of course I'll be going through Texarkana. We typically stop in at Grandy's in TXK and have breakfast on our way out of town since all 3 Grandy's locations in Shreveport/Bossier closed last year.

[bigboyz05]

Unfortunately it'll probably be at least a couple of months now. Maybe sooner, though... we gave our new puppy away to my mother-in-law so we'll want to visit it fairly often. He's a good dog, we just didn't have the time to put into a puppy during the work week. In late May I'm taking my annual trip to Hot Springs, so of course I'll be going through Texarkana. We typically stop in at Grandy's in TXK and have breakfast on our way out of town since all 3 Grandy's locations in Shreveport/Bossier closed last year.

Grandy's is a good restaurant. I especially like their chicken fried steak and country gravy. I used to go to Shoney's for breakfast but, ours has been closed since about 1999. The Kettle also had one hell of a breakfast buffet as well. I drove west of Pleasant Grove on Texas FM 989 and I was very surprised. I saw where many new homes were either just completed, just started or coming soon. The growth has gone beyond Nash and some city officials say they wouldn't be surprised if suburban sprawl spread all the way out to meet Hooks, Tx. Also, if you travel Hwy 67 past K-Mart you'd see that development has spread out almost all the way to Redwater. So much growth has occured in the northern parts of the city that a new town was created. It's name is Redlick. Even though the community had been there for quite some time, only recently has there been enough development for the community to be recognized as a town. Now over 1,000 people live there but as more people continue to move in that direction, the town is destined to get bigger and bigger. In Arkansas most of the new residential growth is rapidly pushing north in the Sugar Hill section. I envision the city growing out to meet the Red River in the not too distant future. There is also a burst of commercial and residential development out to the east along Hwy 82. Hwy 71 hasn't really seen too much growth except for pockets of residential. That will very well change as more and more people travel I-49.

up to Texarkana. Development is sure to pop up at the junction of I-49 and Hwy 71.

[dimebag1980]

Grandy's is a good restaurant. I especially like their chicken fried steak and country gravy. I used to go to Shoney's for breakfast but, ours has been closed since about 1999. The Kettle also had one hell of a breakfast buffet as well. I drove west of Pleasant Grove on Texas FM 989 and I was very surprised. I saw where many new homes were either just completed, just started or coming soon. The growth has gone beyond Nash and some city officials say they wouldn't be surprised if suburban sprawl spread all the way out to meet Hooks, Tx. Also, if you travel Hwy 67 past K-Mart you'd see that development has spread out almost all the way to Redwater. So much growth has occured in the northern parts of the city that a new town was created. It's name is Redlick. Even though the community had been there for quite some time, only recently has there been enough development for the community to be recognized as a town. Now over 1,000 people live there but as more people continue to move in that direction, the town is destined to get bigger and bigger. In Arkansas most of the new residential growth is rapidly pushing north in the Sugar Hill section. I envision the city growing out to meet the Red River in the not too distant future. There is also a burst of commercial and residential development out to the east along Hwy 82. Hwy 71 hasn't really seen too much growth except for pockets of residential. That will very well change as more and more people travel I-49.

up to Texarkana. Development is sure to pop up at the junction of I-49 and Hwy 71.

Texarkana is definitely growing, no doubt. It's finally starting to catch up to where it should have been 20 years ago... and it's doing it very nicely. My wife worked on numerous subdivisions on the north side of the city (out north state line and jefferson) before she moved to Shreveport and that was back before Richmond Ranch and all that had even begun. There was a lot going on back then so I can imagine what it's like now.

[bigboyz05]

I always like going to Shreveport because every time I'm down there, there is always something different being built. The rest of the state better watch out because Shreveport is booming. With all the growth that's going on in both Shreveport and Texarkana and with no end in sight, do you think one day Shreveport and Texarkana could eventually become one metro?

[bigboyz05]

More News About Possible VA Hospital

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news01.txt

[Aporkalypse]

More News About Possible VA Hospital

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news01.txt

Considering there are major VA Hospitals in Dallas, Shreveport, and Little Rock I'm not sure there is a need for one in Texarkana. In addition with the VA cutting costs as much as possible right now I don't think new hospitals anywhere are on the agenda.

[bigboyz05]

Businessman wagers on Texarkana Casino

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news03.txt

CBS Tour My Town Coming To Town Tuesday

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news06.txt

[bigboyz05]

Widening Hwy 82 Between Texarkana and El Dorado

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news02.txt

I think this is a great idea because that road is narrow at points and it would make it easier for people to commute and travel.

[dimebag1980]

Widening Hwy 82 Between Texarkana and El Dorado

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news02.txt

I think this is a great idea because that road is narrow at points and it would make it easier for people to commute and travel.

I almost posted that article here this morning, not knowing if you had a chance to see it. I see you have, though. I agree that 82 does need to be widened.

[bigboyz05]

Yeah, especially since traffic has increased quite a bit.

[vbfl85]

It would also provide a nice route to Memphis and points Northeastward on i69, which will run west of El Dorado.

[bigboyz05]

Peoples State Bank Branches Out

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news11.txt

[bigboyz05]

City Leads State, Nation in percentage of Hungry People

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news10.txt

[Enique]

Grandy's is a good restaurant. I especially like their chicken fried steak and country gravy. I used to go to Shoney's for breakfast but, ours has been closed since about 1999. The Kettle also had one hell of a breakfast buffet as well.

Grandy's is good.....we used to go there almost every Sunday after church. The Kettle is still open???

The Texarkana Gazette is an interesting newspaper. I like how they have articles about the small events that would normally not get press anywhere else. They even had an article about my cousin who acheived her lifelong dream of getting her degree.

[dimebag1980]

Grandy's is good.....we used to go there almost every Sunday after church. The Kettle is still open???

The Texarkana Gazette is an interesting newspaper. I like how they have articles about the small events that would normally not get press anywhere else. They even had an article about my cousin who acheived her lifelong dream of getting her degree.

Actually I think he was talking about The Kettle being good at one time, but now it's gone just like Shoney's. We still have a Shoney's in Bossier City, but to be honest I've never eaten at a Shoney's.

Grandy's is da bomb, though... and always will be. I only wish ours hadn't all been mismanaged. The last location to close here last year, the Bossier City location, has been torn down and a CVS Pharmacy is being built in its place. That corner has had a Grandy's on it for as long as I can remember, so I'll never look at that corner the same again.

[Aporkalypse]

Actually I think he was talking about The Kettle being good at one time, but now it's gone just like Shoney's. We still have a Shoney's in Bossier City, but to be honest I've never eaten at a Shoney's.

Grandy's is da bomb, though... and always will be. I only wish ours hadn't all been mismanaged. The last location to close here last year, the Bossier City location, has been torn down and a CVS Pharmacy is being built in its place. That corner has had a Grandy's on it for as long as I can remember, so I'll never look at that corner the same again.

They're all over Dallas. I'm a fan, for fast-food country cooking.

[bigboyz05]

Airport, engineers, architects hold 2 day planner on projects

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news14.txt

Hey Enique, I like that about the Texarkana Gazette as well. Supkof, I've eaten at that Shoney's in Bossier City. The people are very nice there. I will be back in your city on the 13th.

[dimebag1980]

They're all over Dallas. I'm a fan, for fast-food country cooking.

I know.

They're based out of the DFW area. And I'm with you on being a fan of fast-food country cooking. Mmmmm mmmmm good.

Airport, engineers, architects hold 2 day planner on projects

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2...news/news14.txt

Holy crap... that's my wfie's specialty... airport engineering and planning. And since Texarkana is her home town, she'll be mad to hear that she didn't get in on that project. I just emailed her that story, thanks for sharing it.

Hey Enique, I like that about the Texarkana Gazette as well. Supkof, I've eaten at that Shoney's in Bossier City. The people are very nice there. I will be back in your city on the 13th.

What have you got going down here again so soon? You're kind of the opposite of me. I spent a little time living in Texarkana, but I have mostly lived in Shreveport. However whenever I get the chance I spend a day here and there up in Texarkana. The only thing stopping me from going up there more is the fact that my wife's job is at crunch time. She's working 7 days per week... and very long days.

Edited April 4, 2006 by supkof

[dimebag1980]

Here is a PDF of the proposed Arkansas casinos. This PDF was forwarded to me by James Williamson of the Texarkana Gazette. The casino with the London theme is the one proposed for Texarkana. I can honestly say, if this is all kosher, it would be a huge deal for Texarkana. But is it... ?

Anyway, I hope everyone has Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader so you can view this PDF. If not, please let me know and I will try to change the format and post it.

Arkansas casino renderings - PDF file

[bigboyz05]

Hey man, thanks for posting that. This project will never happen because Arkansas voters will not approve of gambling. This has gone to the ballot several times and has never passed. To answer your other question, I will be down there to visit a couple of friends and see what's going on around town.

[tim2462]

Hey man, thanks for posting that. This project will never happen because Arkansas voters will not approve of gambling. This has gone to the ballot several times and has never passed. To answer your other question, I will be down there to visit a couple of friends and see what's going on around town.

Actually, most never made it to the ballot. They got shot down due to "wording."

However, this one passed that test and is headed for the ballot, as long as he gets his

80,000 signatures. I think it has a good chance of passing. Now, more than ever, people are

realizing the amount of money we're losing to surrounding states. Also, it could help save some

schools from closing. They're closing them and consolidating left and right.

[dimebag1980]

Also, it could help save some

schools from closing. They're closing them and consolidating left and right.

Only if the revenues area allocated the way they're supposed to be. We still have one of the poorest public education systems here in Louisiana, and we have some 14 or 15 casinos across the state. Even the cities where the casinos are located - Shreveport-Bossier, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lake Charles msotly - still have the same problems with education. Bossier City does have a nice arena and Boardwalk that were partly funded with casino dollars, but our kids still face serious problems at school.