Tag Archives: Texarkana

Meet A&M Student, Tommie Ringo

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 Tommie Ringo, a junior here at Texas A&M University – Texarkana, is a Psychology major with a minor in Sociology. Originally from the small town of Pineland, Texas, he was encouraged by a friend who was looking into coming to A&M. Ringo was initially undecided on where to go to college, but his friend and the A&M campus life made it an easy pick. He mentioned in an interview that he admires our campus and appreciates how clean and well kept the buildings and the grounds are. Ringo has had a wonderful time since starting college at A&M. However, this semester has been particularly challenging for Ringo.

   Ringo looked forward to returning to campus for the Fall semester after working hard all summer. He anticipated getting back into the rhythm of day-to-day life before the COVID-19 outbreak, however, he is yet to see that happen. Due to Coronavirus, he says that the atmosphere is “A bit different than usual. A lot has changed in the UC.” The university looks vastly different without its many students heading to and from their classes. Like Ringo, most students are now taking online or hybrid classes this semester.

     For Ringo, he mentioned that online classes can be a bit difficult for him. He would rather have all face-to-face classes, but says, “I understand the necessity for it…” With Ringo not being much of a fan of online classes, he has had to accept the impact COVID has made on the university concerning how classes are being held this semester. He is currently taking four classes, three of those being online and one face-to-face. It is the one face-to-face class with Dr. Murray that has made all the difference for Ringo.

      Ringo is taking Intro to Sociology with Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dr. Murray. Ringo is enjoying the class very much. He mentioned that Dr. Murray has done a great job of handling the class amongst the challenges that the pandemic presents. He also says that she has helped to create “a sense of normalcy in the classroom” which he appreciates. He says that the interactions with his peers and the hands-on learning in the classroom are the highlights of going to class. Currently, Ringo is taking each day as it comes, which is probably the best way to handle a time such as this. Once classes return to normal he plans to get back to campus and enjoy being around other like-minded students.

City Councilmember of Ward 3, Betty Williams

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A member of the local City Council, Mrs. Betty Williams of Ward 3, has been determined elected for another term. Williams was unopposed for her seat on the council for the November 2020 election. She will be serving another three-year term on the council.

     Williams, a retired public school teacher, was selected by a previous council member to join Texarkana’s City Council. She has held the position since January of 2017. This is when the City Council term-limits were changed from two years to three. She says her time on the council has been, “a learning process. I’ve never done anything like this before.” Although her educational background has helped with her current position. She says, “Being a former educator has helped me to be a good listener to understand the needs of others.”

        In the interview, she emphasized what a pleasure it is to be a part of the City Council. She says,” I will say that I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. I’ve only missed one meeting in four years and that just shows you that I care about this position and it is a pleasure to serve my community.” She is excited to be serving another three years on the City Council. She especially emphasized how excited she is to be able to do more for her ward. 

     Williams works hard on the council taking calls from her constituents and determining anything regarding her ward and anything that is brought forth to the council. The City Council determines policies, plans, enacting local legislation, and the city’s budget. These topics are discussed at the local city council meetings. 

     According to The City of Texarkana’s website, “City council meetings are normally held the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of Texarkana, Texas City Hall, 220 Texas Boulevard, Texarkana, Texas.” 

     These meetings are open to the public so anyone is free to attend. Williams encourages citizens to get involved in the community in any way they can. She says, “It’s the only way to bring about change.” Anyone can get in contact with the local councilmembers. The contact information is available on the city’s website.   

     Williams is currently spearheading the removal of substandard housing in Ward 3. She mentioned, “This will encourage new development, help our tax base to grow, and help maintain property values.” Williams also mentioned what she would like to see for the city of Texarkana by saying, “My wish for our city is that everyone would take pride in their property by removing litter from their curbs and alleys.  We also need to have a push to discourage littering. Our schools and community organizations could certainly help raise awareness and educate people to be more environmentally responsible.”

     Soon the city council will begin discussing the budget for the next fiscal year. Williams mentioned, “It will soon be time to start the budgeting process for the next fiscal year. Every city has an unlimited number of needs and a limited amount of resources to meet those needs. Developing a budget is a process of ascertaining your needs, prioritizing your needs, and reaching a reasonable compromise with the resources available. Because of the impact the Coronavirus has on the local economy, it’s made it more challenging to project revenue from sales tax and etc. Every aspect of the budgeting process will be more challenging for the coming year. It should be noted that we also solicit the help of leading business people, in our community, with the budgeting process.”

   Additionally, Williams has dedicated much of her time to the community after her family relocated in 1980. Coming from a family of teachers, she has an impressive 34 years of experience working in the public education system as a teacher herself. Williams has spent 20 years working at Highland Park School. She soon began volunteering at Highland Park right after her retirement in 2000 and has continued to do so until this year due to COVID. She mentioned how the school feels like home to her. Adding, “I just love going to that school.” Additionally, she is a member of the Literacy Council. She says, “I’ve been involved with the literacy council for 20-25 years. I still have a student I read with every weekend.” 

Find out more about Mrs. Betty Williams here.

Learn more about the Literacy Council here.

Find out more about The Texarkana City Council here.

Get in contact with a Local Councilmember here.

See what’s going on in Texarkana here.

T-Town’s Unsolved Murders

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Horror films are great, but it’s never fun to find out the film is based on a true story. The people of Texarkana might be interested in learning about a horror film based on an event that took place in their very own hometown. The film, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, premiered in 1976, followed by a sequel. The world premiere was held in Texarkana on Dec. 17, 1976, before it was released in theaters on Dec. 24. These films are loosely based on the horrific moonlight murders of the Phantom Killer.

The attacks occurred in the spring of 1946, from late February to early May. The murderer attacked young and middle-aged couples. The first two victims, Jimmy Hollis and Mary Larey, survived an attack that occurred on February 22, 1946. The second attack occurred four weeks later, ending the lives of Richard Griffin and Polly Ann Moore. Three weeks after that, the Phantom Killer struck again, this time taking the lives of Paul Martin and Betty Jo Booker. Three weeks later, on May 3, 1946, Virgil Starks was shot and killed in his home by the Phantom Killer, and Straks’ wife Katie was left severely wounded.

As in the films, the real Phantom Killer was never identified. However, the prime suspect in the case was Youell Swinney, who was never convicted of the murders. The case remains unsolved, which has left the town of Texarkana in suspense.

For more information on the murders click here or here.

 

Family Drama on Stage This Weekend

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“When their heart is hurt, especially in that age range they feel like it’s the end of the world. It is so depressing,” says Producer Brigette Talbert, who will be showcasing the stage play Outside Child (Inside Pain) in the Sullivan Performing Arts Center, on Saturday December 1, 2018.

“It’s a learning experience, it’s about old secrets. Learning how to love again through heart ache, infidelity and lies, the Outside Child (Inside Pain) setting is an African-American community, portraying a family learning to love again, overcoming infidelity, while saving a lost tradition. This play can relate to any race. Think about all of the single parent households, they don’t have to be black”.

Brigette Talbert has been involved in radio, film and production for over 15 years. This will be Bridgette’s second play to independently write and produce. “I’m always nervous when its time to hit the stage, because you know what you have written, you know what your words are and how you want them to be portrayed. You know that it tells a story. You just wondering if that audience is picking up the story that you’re trying to tell.”

Brigette casting role involves plenty of personality and experience that makes the play better. “When you have a cast that feels like family then you’ve cast the right people.” The cast includes Fel Davis, Sharnette Hyter, Jousha Fitzpatrick aka J-Fitz, Jordon Ballard, Alicia Gulley-Malone, Nikki Wadley, and Amanda Virtuous Henderson.

“Community should support community.We’re bringing entertainment to the community,It’s a small town setting and there’s not really a lot going on. There will be lots of laughter, crying, you’ll feel every emotion while having a learning experience”.

Get your tickets today at the Golden Lady Restaurant in Texarkana, Texas, KZRB studios in Hooks, Texas or from cast members Lisa Gulley-Malone and Amanda Henderson. PayPal is accepted. betalbertproductions@gmail.com

For more information about the play click here.

Tearing Down the Line

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Do you have an uncontrollable desire to live next door to your biggest football rival and eventually make amends through governmental practices? If you do, I have the perfect place for you. Texarkana is widely known for its dividing state line between Arkansans and Texans. The rivalry goes so deep that patron lines for tickets to the annual Arkansas and Texas High football game begin two weeks in advance. This divide goes much deeper than just a friendly rivalry. The physical divider, State Line Boulevard, is our largest indicator of economic separation between the two states. Most people in town will tell you that the Arkansas side is the poor side of town; the bad side of town.

The United States Census Bureau says that there are 67,592 people living in Texarkana, with 37, 333 residents within the Texas side and about 30,259 in Arkansas. Could this be the reason for such a wide-spread difference in financial situations? There are more housing availabilities on the Texas side than that of Arkansas’. However, the median household income is higher on the Arkansas side, while per capita income is lower. In addition to stark variation in housing conditions, the United States Census Bureau statistics show that there is a variation in education levels across the state line. The Texas side has higher rates of high school graduation and degree attainment. Health professionals are one of the highest employed in Texarkana, for example. Most of these positions need some type of degree. Could this be due to the stark financial differences between patrons? Maybe Texarkana needs a wider variety of job opportunities. Many college programs across at least three colleges and universities in Texarkana offer expertise in a whole slew of categories. Progressiveness, by the city of Texarkana, in introducing those job opportunities for college students and graduates is essential. The answer is not definitive.

Complements of the Ar-TX Redi Website

The good news is that there are people interested in breaking this trend. Recently, a group of investors came together to create AR-TX Regional Economic Development, Inc. (AR-TX REDI). The group will pull resources from both sides of the town to try to create a more stable economic situation for all! The goal is to bring more business into this area, creating more jobs and financial progression. This is partly because of Texarkana’s rich, career-building educational community, including schools such as Texas A&M University – Texarkana, Texarkana College, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. In fact, TAMUT will be providing assistance to this organization by offering its facilities as a sort of headquarters. You, as a student and community member, can easily be involved in something that has potential to change your town tremendously.

To display this master plan, both governors met in the downtown area for a symbolic tearing down of state borders. Ledwell and Son Enterprises, a local truck and trailer manufacturing company, built a hydraulic system into the famous Texas and Arkansas state line sign. When the cue came, the sign was ‘knocked down,’ eliminating the divide. There was a huge turnout and Texarkana citizens are very happily engaged with the program. Facebook was a hub for communal inspiration in regards to this
event. It was a cool idea and visual for something that sounds historically complicated.

For more information, visit the AR-TX REDI website, or their Facebook page. For more information about Texarkana’s current economic status, please click here.

2nd Annual Texarkana Fall Festival

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The second annual downtown Fall Festival, organized by local women’s organization Diva Maintenance, was held Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This year’s festival consisted of a costume contest, live bands, vendors, a bounce house, and the infamous Texarkana Flash Mob.  With over 30 contestants, the costume contest was a big hit. The winner was baby girl, Ximena Ortiz, dressed as an owl.

Due to the cold front and the forecast for rain, this year’s festival only saw about half the attendance of last year’s event.  Last year, the attendance reached over 4,000.  The weather caused vendors to back out at the last minute and the vendors who braved the cold didn’t hang in until the 8 p.m. closing time.  As the crowd dwindled, the vendors began shutting down around 5:30 p.m.

The event organizer, Diva Maintenance, also organizes various food festivals downtown such as the Catfish Festival and the Back Alley Food Court.

Tameka Grady, a spokeswoman for Diva Maintenance, said, “We are already working to make the 2018 Fall Festival bigger and better.”

Photos provided by:  Tameka Grady

  

 

Summer Hot Spots Close to Texarkana

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Meagan Garrison

With summer just right around the corner, vacations are a much needed break from class but students do not have the funds to go on extravagant vacations.  Fortunately for Texas A&M-Texarkana students, there are some places close to home that are located near or here in Texarkana.

On May 4, 2013, Texarkana is opening its’ very own water park Called Holiday Springs.  It will consist of 5 water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, 2 children pools, a sand castle area and an adult pool.  “It’s going to be a very good tourism spot for Texarkana,” said Dr. Hiren Patel of Texarkana Hotels LLC,  which she stated to arkansasmediaroom.com.

If you need to get out of town for a little bit, just about an hour and a half down the road in Shreveport, LA is the Splash Kingdom water park.  The park consists of 9 different fun filled attractions.  Since being remodeled their new saying is, “It’s like a whole new place.”  So this is an option to check out to get some sun while still getting out of town.

If you want to travel a bit further, three hours away, in Dallas, TX there are many different attractions.  But one in particular is the Dallas World Aquarium.  “It’s not just a place for children, I really enjoyed myself and plan to go back,” says TAMUT student Heather Dickens.  The aquarium consists of exhibits of animals in their own environments throughout the world.  “The Dallas World Aquarium does have an aquarium part but I was really surprised to see all of the other animals they had in only 3 levels.  They had Monkeys, birds, alligators, sloths and so much more,” said Dickens.

These places are just some of the many gems in close proximity to the Texarkana area.  Admission for all three locations is less than $30.00 per person.    After working hard through the semester, these places are ideal for students to have a cheap but fun summer getaway.  So do yourselves a favor and treat yourself to one of these hot spots this summer.

Double Jeopardy

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Breann Cooper

Not the movie featuring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones, the right to not face charges for the same or similar crime after a legitimate acquittal or conviction. Amanda Knox, the American college student studying abroad in Italy convicted and then later acquitted for the murder of Meredith Kercher, faces the possibility of extradition for retrial in Italy.

March 26 of this year an Italian appellate court ruled to retry Knox as Italy does not have a double jeopardy law.  Knox will not have to appear before the courts in the retrial that will take place in Florence, Italy and will not face possible extradition unless the trial court finds her guilty and that guilty verdict is upheld by the Italian Supreme Court. If both courts find her guilty she would then only face possible extradition because the United States decides whether or not to extradite citizens case by case.

Knox was accused of killing housemate Meredith Kercher who was murdered November 1, 2007. Arrested on November 6, 2007, Knox spent the next four years in an Italian prison pleading her innocence. Kercher, a college student from London, was found naked and stabbed multiple times in the throat.  Knox, her boyfriend of seven days Raffaele Sollecite, and Rudy Guede an aquatintents of the young men that lived below the flat Knox, Kercher and two other women shared.  Guede’s DNA and fingerprints were found all over Kercher’s bedroom, clothing, and body. His size 10 shoe print was found in her blood.  Guede had a criminal background that fit the MO of the murder having broken in to a nursery by throwing a rock through the window and found with a stolen knife, laptop, cell phone and cash.  Yet Knox was convicted of murdering Kercher on mishandled evidence and her broken Italian. Knox has maintained her innocence throughout the case even when her actions were not those that the world or Italy thought she should have.  Italian police criticized and attacked Knox on her actions and lack of grieving for her housemate.   Claiming she did a myriad of gymnastic moves and appeared not to be in distress over the murder instead continuing to kiss and cuddle with her new boyfriend.  Knox denied most of the police’s statements to her behavior in an interview with Diane Sawyer which aired on ABC’s 20/20 April 30, 2013 stating “The police claimed I was doing the splits and cart wheels and all these gymnastic moves.  I did the splits, that’s all one time. It was immature of me but I don’t think I understood the gravity of what was happening.”

The Knox trial lasted 318 days convicting all three defendants in the end; Guede’s sentence a mere 16 years in prison due to his cooperation with police and testifying against both Knox and Sollecite. Sollecite received 26 years for his part in the murder, never admitting to either his or Knox’s involvement in the Murder.  Knox’s sentence was light compared to what the prosecuting attorney would have liked, requesting “life imprisonment with nine months in solitary confinement” according to court records. Knox was sentenced to 29 years in prison on December 9, 2009.

Knox served four years of the 29 year sentence before an Italian appellate court ruled in her favor and over turned her conviction October 3, 2011. The court stated in their official report that the guilty verdict “was not corroborated by any objective element of evidence”. Referencing that neither Knox’s or Sollecite’s DNA having been found in the room Kercher was murdered in, mishandling of evidence by leaving crucial evidence in the crime scene for 45 days before retrieving it and handling evidence with visibly dirty gloves. Also labeling the police interrogations as “obsessive duration” and any incriminating statements made by Knox during the interrogation were evidence of her confusion under “great psychological pressure.” The judge also overturned Sollecite’s sentence allowing both to return to their families.

Photo Creative Commons Flickr.com/Beaconradio

Local Athletes Join NFL Teams

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Shelby Mustain

Dreams became reality for two Texarkana natives Saturday, April 27, 2013. University of Arkansas football players Cobi Hamilton and Dennis Johnson were welcomed to NFL franchises on the third day of the annual first year player draft.

Hamilton, a former multi sport star at Texas High School, was drafted in the fifth round, 197th overall, by the AFC North’s Cincinnati Bengals. Hamilton was a four year starter at wide receiver for the Razorbacks and holds the school record for single season receptions and receiving yards He was a 2012 All-SEC selection his senior season. Hamilton finished his college career with 175 receptions, 2,854 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns.

Saturday, Hamilton took to Twitter to express his thankfulness to fans and his new team.

cobi hamilton

Former Arkansas High School running back Dennis Johnson, who helped lead the Hogs to back to back high school football state championships in 2006 and 2007, was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, following the draft. Johnson ran for 2,036 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in his four years at Arkansas. He missed most of the 2010 season after sustaining a bowel injury during a game against University of Louisiana-Monroe and saw limited action under interim head coach John L. Smith during the Razorbacks 2012 season.

Like Hamilton, Johnson chose the social networking site to voice his excitement in joining the Texans and learning from Houston’s current running back Arian Foster.

dennis johnson

 

International Library Week

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Kendall Barajas

All across the world, librarians celebrated International Library Week during the month of April. TAMUT held theirs from April 15-April 19. Their first event was the edible book festival. Students and faculty entered a cake that best resembled their favorite book. All attendees were able to try a piece of each cake. The competition was based on overall appearance and taste as well.

The global event has been celebrated since 2000 in various parts of the world, where “edible books” are created, displayed, and small events are held like ours. The event was inspired by art librarian and curator Judith Hoffberg (1934-2009). Over 21 countries participate yearly in this world wide festival.

There were over 15 participants in the TAMUT festival but only 3 received a prize. The first place winner was Marlena Ballard (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie). “I really enjoyed making the cake with my mom! If you give a mouse a cookie is one of my favorite books from childhood. It was so fun to participate in the contest,” Ballard said. The second place winner was Neisha Federick (Charlotte’s Web). The third place winner was Barbara Mackey (James and the Giant Peach).

The second event of the week was free books for the students. The free books consisted of education lesson plans, how to books and teaching books. “I just grabbed 3 new books that I know I can use to help me with my lesson plans when I’m a teacher! I’m so glad they did this for us,” Education Major Amy Soileau says.

The librarians also held a raffle for the end of the week giving away a large fuel for finals basket. The basket consisted of snacks, drinks, pens and more. While promoting the raffle the librarians caught more attention by dressing up as their favorite book characters. The TAMUT Librarians had a successful and are already making plans for next year’s events.