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• Introduction
• Cultural
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  • Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanity Council
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  • Texarkana Symphony
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City to hold public hearings on CDBG expenditures

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The City of Texarkana, Arkansas anticipates that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in an approximate amount of $337,000.00. Agencies, organizations, public institutions and all citizens are invited to attend public hearings for the intent of providing input for budgeting of expenditures of funds administered by the Public Works Department annual Action Plan for the next five years. You may bring recommendations to the Public Works Office Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Texarkana, Arkansas, City Hall Lower level.

Three (3) public hearings are scheduled at the following time and locations:

• Monday, May 5, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. Sandflat Center 209 East 14th Street, Texarkana, Arkansas
• Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Miller County Senior Adult Center 1007 Jefferson Street, Texarkana, Arkansas
• Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Iron Mountain Center, 1101 Couch Street Texarkana, Arkansas

Technical questions regarding eligible CDBG activities should be directed to Jeff Hill, Public Works Director at (870) 779-4971.

Give us feedback by filling out a CDBG online survey (Link below )

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View the City Manager's storm siren press conference

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Public Works warns citizens of fraudulent business practices

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Eric Ethridge
City Hall
April 3, 2008

Since recent hail storms have damaged many residents' and business properties in the Texarkana area, the Public Works Department is advising citizens to be weary of fraudulent business posers looking to make a quick buck at the expense of Texarkana residents. The City Manager Harold Boldt has confirmed that all businesses that do not already have a legitimate license to work in the city of Texarkana, Arkansas must receive a permit from the Public Works Department before they conduct a business transaction. Unauthorized vendors who refuse to get a permit will receive a citation.

Business Reliability Checklist

• Ask for a reference from previous jobs
• Ask for proof of bonding or liability insurance
• If they are an out of town business, ask to see their city permit
• Ask to see business license and address of residence
• Be weary of really low prices. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
• Never pay for work in advance

To receive a permit or to report a fraudulent business in the Texarkana area call the Public Works Department at 870-779-4971

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Public Works continues demolitions

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Eric Ethridge
City Hall
April 2, 2008

The public works department has recently taken down nine dilapidated structures. The demolished structures were the worst of 44 that were condemned in January. The public works department expects to demolish seven or eight more structures within the next few months.

"We have also been contracted to take down a few of the ones condemned with the owner of record paying a reasonable down payment to the city and then setting up a payment plan.  This works out well for the owner and for the city, not only do we get rid of the nuisance but we also insure payment," said the city's Environmental Inspector Beth Call. Several permits have been issued to owners of some of the condemned structures to make repairs or to demolish the structures themselves.

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State Department to hold public meeting about Hwy. 82

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The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department will hold a public involvement meeting to discuss future changes to be made to Hwy 82 on Thursday, April 10, 2008 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Highland Hills Baptist Church located at 4106 E. 9th street. The proposed changes are planned to take place at the stretch of Hwy 82 between loop 245 and Hwy 237. The "open house" meeting is for interested citizens to view displays, ask questions, and offer comments about the proposed project.

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View the latest Mayor's Message

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Hotel builders plan to bring Best Western to Crossroads Business Park

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Eric Ethridge
City Hall
March 7, 2008

Jack Daugherty and his son Brian met with Mayor Horace G. Shipp and City Manager Harold Boldt at the site of the proposed Best Western hotel on Thursday March 6th to discuss their future plans. The father-and-son duo of Three D Lodging Inc. have built three hotels in Texarkana, Texas since 2001 and plan to build a 76-room Best Western in the Crossroads Business Park on the Arkansas side by early 2009.

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Fire Department receives $10,000 reimbursement

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M.J. Cox and Bishop Wendell Cox presented Mayor Horace G. Shipp, Fire Chief Bobby Honea and Fire Marshal Stephen Johnson with a $10,000 reimbursement check on Thursday February 28 from Zurich American Insurance Company. The reimbursement came as a result of the Texarkana, Arkansas Fire Department extinguishing a fire on November 8, 2007 at the Power of God Apostolic Church on 900 Hays Street. "There are clauses in different insurance company's policies that allow the fire department to be reimbursed for their services and I wanted others to know," Said Bishop Cox.

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City Board holds Strategic Master Plan workshop

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Texarkana welcomes new Razorback coach

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Eric Ethridge
City Hall
Feb 21, 2008

Mayor Horace G. Shipp was one of the first to welcome Bobby Petrino, the new Arkansas Razorbacks coach at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and members of his coaching staff shortly after they arrived at TAC Air at the Texarkana Regional Airport Tuesday evening. Mayor Shipp proudly presented coach Petrino with a key to the city. Petrino and the "voice of the razorbacks" Chuck Barrett were speakers at this year's Hog Call 2008 fan banquet held at the Four States Fairgrounds. Coach Petrino was the 2007 head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. After the 2007 season he accepted an offer to succeed Houston Nutt as head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

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The open road to economic development

By: Eric Ethridge
City Hall
Feb 11, 2008

Progress continues on the Crossroads Business Park as the road is almost completed and the sewer and water lines will be installed in the coming weeks. "New development is already in the planning stages and others are being discussed", says Public Works Director Jeff Hill.

The project is moving forward despite the change in original plans to build a sportsplex in the park. City officials believe that the change in plans will in no way hinder the economic benefits for the city and its residents.

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Huckabee campaigns in Texarkana

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President Clinton visits Texarkana

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City pays tribute to Martin Luther King acts of kindness recipients

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By: Eric Ethridge
City Hall

Three Texarkana citizens and three local business entities were recognized for the Martin Luther King "acts of kindness" service awards. The awards were presented at the 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Gala which was held at the Texarkana Country Club on Sunday January the 20th.

The $40 dollar tickets to the event sold out days before the Gala. Proceeds from the event will go to preparing personal hygiene baskets to be handed out to people in need on Valentines Day.

2008 Martin Luther King Acts of Kindness Awards:

Phillip O'Donald : Individual Award
Miller County Abstract Company: Service Award
Golden Lady Restaurant: Business Award
Keri Pompella: Volunteerism Award
Rev. Londell Williams: Leadership Award
Sandflat Glendale: CenterInvolvement Award

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Celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday with these city sponsored events.

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Texarkana comes together for holiday giving

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The City of Texarkana Arkansas would like to thank all the organizations and individuals on both sides of the state line for volunteering their time and donating their money to the Christmas food and toy drive. The boxes that will be delivered to 60 different less fortunate families in the area were overflowing with food and toys.

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Watch the 2007 Christmas Parade

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Learn about Texarkana Arkansas's YouthBuild program (TAMUT Video Interview)

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Watch the new Texarkana Arkansas promo video

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City Hall employees celebrate 9th annual Race for the Cure

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By: Eric Ethridge
City Hall

Texarkana, Arkansas's team of five participated with more than 7,000 other local and area residents to support the 9th annual Texarkana Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. "We have come to understand that this profound and life-affirming force we call Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure is also an affirmation of the power of the human spirit extending throughout the community," said City Hall team leader Heather Tutolo

Ken Payne, Jay Barnette, and Frank and Theresa Poff were also participants on Texarkana's City Hall team. Jim Powell, Linda Mack, Patti Scott Grey, Shirley Harper and Rebecca and Meagan Harris also donated money on behalf of the city's efforts.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. The Foundation is a national organization with a network of volunteers working through local affiliates & Komen Race for the Cure events, fighting disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.

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Demolitions take center stage

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On Monday September 24th the public works department began tearing down dilapidated structures that had been condemned by the Texarkana, Arkansas Board of Directors.

A majority of the more than 50 condemned structures were sentenced at the August 6th board meeting, which came as a result of requests made by citizens in the community ward meetings held earlier this summer. "If condemning abandoned structures wasn't the number one priority in most of the wards, it was definitely a close second," said Mayor Horace Shipp.

According to Public Works Director Jeff Hill, the city plans on tearing down five structures a week and hope to have at least 27 of the houses brought down by November 1st.

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The abandoned Westbrook auto building that was located right next to the Texarkana, Arkansas City hall and fire department was taken down on Saturday September 22nd.

The demolition was done by the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium Commission whose purpose is to turn the vacant space into a parking lot for the historical auditorium when it is renovated and reopened.

According to AMAC President Mark Shoptaw, the demolition was paid for by a $22,000 dollar grant that was awarded to the commission earlier this year.

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City to release Texarkana Promotional Video

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by Eric Ethridge
City Hall

The city will soon release a 15 minute video to the Chamber of Commerce and tourism outlets in the surrounding areas to help promote Texarkana, Arkansas.

The purpose of the video is to attract outside businesses and other possible residents that are considering Texarkana as their future home. The DVD will be divided into brief sections describing benefits in areas such as tourism, downtown development, quality of life, education, health care, retirement and more.

The job was contracted out to Workhorse Marketing which is owned and operated by Jeremy Higginbotham and Faith Williams. Videography for the project was shot by Shawn Blase.

The video footage is currently being edited and is expected to be finished sometime in September. When it's finished the final product will be available for viewing on the city's webpage and the government access channel.

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City begins neighborhood revitalization project

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The Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department has started going door to door asking residents in the Iron Mountain community what can be done to improve the quality of life.

This is in response to the city's new neighborhood revitalization project that began Tuesday August 14th at a press conference at the Iron Mountain Center on Couch Street. "We aren't here just to make you feel good, we are here to really make a difference in this neighborhood," said Mayor Horace Shipp.

Drug related crime, unclean property, and rat infestation is among the most important priorities for Iron Mountain residents.Ward Director and Assistant Mayor Londell Williams, Texarkana Police Chief Robert Harrison and Public Works Director Jeff Hill also spoke at the conference.

Past city news releases

News view all ›

Group to probe convention center need By: Brandy S. Chewning - Texarkana Gazette A public survey to determine the need for a convention center in Texarkana, Ark., is expected to be ready this week. The survey, which will be administ… Read More

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FEMA extends deadline on assistance grants for storm damage The deadline to register for disaster assistance from storm damage earlier this spring has been extended to June 27, says a state emergency management official. FEMA officials said Miller and Hemps… Read More

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Stamping Out Hunger By: Ashley Gardner - Texarkana Gazette The National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive kicked off Wednesday at Texarkana’s Downtown Post Office. Letter carriers wil… Read More

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Announcements

City Closures for 2008 List of dates for which Arkansas City Hall will be closed for holidays during 2008 Read More

On-site yard waste de-bagging notice Workers will be de-bagging yard waste on-site before pick-up. Read More

The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act Clean Indoor Air Act - Effective July 21, 2006 Read More

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Municipal Auditorium Plans underway to renovate Municipal Auditorium Read More

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