Author Archives: Will Boler

Arkansas-Side Texarkana Marijuana

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It is crazy how times have changed. Marijuana growers used to have to hide their crops from authorities but now, many are able to not only grow it in plain sight, but also sell it in plain sight. Technically, medical marijuana dispensaries are a breach of federal law, but thanks to legalization of medical marijuana in a number of states, they are spreading across the U.S. in order to help those in need. Marijuana has now become one of the new wonder drugs for many ailments.

Marijuana dispensaries are popping up all over the United States, including Texarkana. A medical marijuana dispensary is a location permitted to legally sell medical marijuana to medically qualified patients for medicinal purposes only. In order to become a customer at a dispensary, a person needs to first consult their doctor who can inform them about what conditions may be treated with cannabis. If the doctor feels they are a candidate, he or she will write them a prescription. The doctor or a pharmacist can help a patient find a nearby dispensary.

There are also directories available on the Internet, listed by state. The medical marijuana dispensary currently open in Texarkana is Bloom Medicinals Cannabis Dispensary located at 410 Realtor Avenue. Red River Remedy Medical Marijuana Dispensary is set to open this month at 4423 East Broad Street.

“I have received mixed reactions about the new medical marijuana dispensaries,” said Texarkana, Arkansas City Manager Kenny Haskins. “If we roll out a plan and make sure we police it in a way that is efficient and effective, I think the community and those who are detractors will eventually evolve.” The city will require the two dispensaries to pay an annual permit of $11,000 to operate.

It is not easy to become a dispensary owner. One must follow the proper paperwork and procedures in order to become licensed by regional authorities. Just remember, medical marijuana dispensaries sell marijuana for medicinal purposes only. Recreational dispensaries will not be around any time soon. 

Bringle Lake: Jewel of Texarkana

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Texarkana has many things to offer in the form of outdoor living. For the avid outdoorsman, look no further than Bringle Lake in Texarkana, TX. Outdoor activities at Bringle Lake include trail running, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, and cooking out.

The park is divided into three different areas, Bringle Lake Park West, East, and the Wilderness Area. Bringle Lake is located on University Drive across from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. This is an ideal location for college students looking for some relaxation. Bringle Lake Park West and East have fishing piers that are ideal for any fisherman. They also have playgrounds and pavilions overlooking the lake which are perfect for a family cookout, with barbeque grills located in the park. Parking is also free, and pets are welcome.

The Wilderness Area includes 144 acres of nature. There is a 10-foot-wide wilderness bike/walk trail that begins at Bringle Lake East and runs to the Waterworks Spillway. “The 6-mile loop around Bringle Lake is surrounded by woods with a few views of the lake,” commented Nick Duke on the All Trails website. “The trail is well-maintained.”

Bringle Lake trails are ranked #50 in the state rankings with an average trail rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, according to Trailforks.com. Bringle Lake Trail is ranked #8 of 20 things to do in Texarkana, according to Trip Advisor. For those who prefer the water, bring your fishing boat or kayak. I have fished at Bringle Lake and have caught several big bass. It is definitely a must-try spot. Kayaks are welcome on the lake for a relaxing paddle through the calm water.

Bringle Lake is maintained by the Texarkana, Texas Parks and Recreation department. If anyone has any questions or comments regarding Bringle Lake, they welcome any feedback on the Bringle Lake Facebook page or at 903-798-3978. They are always striving to make Bringle Lake a place that everyone can enjoy.

The Perot Theatre

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For anyone looking for something to do, or see, in Texarkana, take time to visit the Perot Theatre at 3rd and Main Street in downtown Texarkana.

The building has been a permanent fixture in the downtown area since 1924, when it was the Saenger Theatre. It was fully restored in 1979-1980 by the City of Texarkana with the help of H. Ross Perot and his sister, Bette.

The Perot Foundation took care of most of the restoration costs in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Ross Perot. The theatre was named in their honor by the City of Texarkana, Texas city council for their generous contributions. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

They have several different events taking place this holiday season. On December 15, they will host the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Christmas. It is a traditional holiday concert for the whole family. The Perot will also bring back the Holiday Traditions Festival for the second year. It will be a day of fun with food trucks, vendors, crafts, refreshments, Santa, snow, and festive movies including The Grinch and The Santa Clause.

The Perot Theatre has something for everyone. The Perot Theatre recently announced its 2020 series of events to the public. The Perot Theatre Series has been offering shows that are nationally and internationally well-known for 37 years.

Shows coming to the Perot next year include Menopause the Musical, Potted Potter, and The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.  The Perot Theatre has 4.5 stars out of 5 on TripAdvisor based in 85 reviews.  Make this a priority when making future plans. You will not be disappointed.

TXK Entertainment District Now Open

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Good things come to those who wait. The Entertainment District in downtown Texarkana is now officially open. Thanks to the hard work of the Texarkana, Arkansas Planning Commission, it opened to the public on October 16, 2019, beginning with a toast by locals at Hopkins Icehouse.

The district spans across a fourteen-block area of downtown Texarkana. The roads are marked with green stripes to distinguish the boundaries, and signs are posted with hours of operation at the corners of the district. Anyone 21 and over can now walk around outside with an open container of alcohol, as long as it is purchased at a downtown establishment. No underage drinking will be allowed.

The bars and restaurants included in the district include Hopkins Icehouse, Zapata’s, Broadway Sports Bar and Billiards, Verona’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, and The Flying Crow. District hours are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.

This new district is an exciting addition to downtown Texarkana, Arkansas and is expected to draw guests from surrounding areas. The city’s goal is to bring more visitors and businesses to the downtown area.

This is just one more step the city is taking to revitalize downtown Texarkana. “Entertainment Districts have been known to spur economic growth,” says City of Texarkana, Arkansas City Manager Kenny Haskins. “The better businesses do, the better off we will be as a city.”

The ordinance was possible due to a new state law which allows cities with boundaries to designate areas for outdoor alcohol consumption. The city will provide trash cans and daily garbage pick up to keep downtown clean.

The Entertainment District has rules that will be enforced. No open containers can be carried out of liquor stores or taken into vehicles. No open container alcohol may be carried into any business, and no glass open containers are allowed.

Go on down and experience all that downtown Texarkana has to offer. As Adger Smith of the Planning Commission pointed out, “This is the culmination of years of gradual work by the Planning Commission, it’s an evolution.”

NSLS Dinner on November 12

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The TAMU-T Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success is hosting a social event November 12, 2019 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the Tri-State Iron and Metal Atrium. All current and new members are welcome to attend to get to know each other and share their goals.  TAMU-T NSLS now has around 260 campus members.

NSLS believes that people can accomplish more together than they would achieve alone. They encourage success-oriented individuals to come together to help one another succeed. Phillip Derouen, the NSLS Chapter President, will officiate the event which will include helpful information from successful speakers. Dr. Kevin Ells will give a presentation on what it takes to be a good leader. NSLS members Bethany Melton and Matthew Edwards will also be on hand to share their success stories and tell why they joined NSLS and how it has helped them.

The attire is business casual and food will be provided, so come on out for a night of fun and networking.

Despite Fall, Carter’s Habitats Rise

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Carter has taken part in 36 building projects with the organization. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Former President Jimmy Carter was in the news recently showing his passion for helping others. He has been an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity since 1984 and continues to this day. The 95-year-old took part in a Habitat for Humanity build on Monday, October 7, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee after falling at home the night before. He showed up to help with a black eye and 14 stitches. According to Stephen Sorace with Fox News, “Carter feels that ‘God gives us life and freedom and with that freedom, everyone can make a basic decision as to what kind of a person they choose to be,’ but he encourages all to help others.”

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds houses for the needy with the help of volunteers in the community. They depend on financial donations to fund their work. An international board of directors oversees the work of Habitat for Humanity. Their vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. For anyone wanting to get involved and make a difference, this is a great place to start. It is a global organization located in local communities in all fifty states as well as more than seventy countries around the world. Texarkana has an active local chapter.

Habitat for Humanity makes the application process easy. Any family in need of affordable housing, regardless of race or religion, can apply through their local Habitat for Humanity. Each local chapter has a selection committee who chooses homeowners based on their level of need, willingness to partner with Habitat, and ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan. Homeowners take an active part in the building process working alongside volunteers. They also receive financial education to teach them how to manage their money.

Everyone is in need at some point in their lives to some degree and it is our duty to step up and help. For anyone wanting to donate or get involved, call the Texarkana Habitat for Humanity chapter at 903-832-1746 or visit their website.

Cowboys Hit a Speed Bump in NOLA

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Football season is here and every team is fighting for one thing, to be the best. Battling heat through constant practices everyday can be tough, but that is what makes players perform on the highest levels. At first, the Dallas Cowboys were running over teams like nothing I have ever seen. 

The Cowboys have been a big name in football not only in the United States but also worldwide. Top name players such as Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin turned the franchise into something special by winning three Super Bowls together. That winning mentality has seemingly carried all the way to the current season. The team is focusing and working together, which definitely is paying off.

Their perfect form started slowing against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday the 22nd. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was on fire in the first two games but was trying to find his feet in this one. The Dolphins definitely came to play. As the team itself reported, Dak said that greed led to a slow first half. “One of those heat checks or whatever you call it, just trying to do too much in the first half.” The team finally kicked it in after halftime and ended up winning the game thirty-one to six.

On Sunday, September 29th, the Cowboys headed to New Orleans to face a very good Saints team. As I watched the game, I was very stressed out, but excited because of the constant battle on the field. The game kept going back and forth all night, but it ended up being the Saints that came out with the win. After the game, the quarterback Dak Prescott said that the outcome will help them come back better.

The Cowboys have gotten a lot of attention lately with the new contract made with Ezekiel Elliott. Troy Aikman, the former Cowboys quarterback, recently weighed in on the deal made with Elliott and what he thinks about the current team. Aikman said he thought the deal the Cowboys made with Zeke Elliott shows how much trust they have in him as a player to get the job done. Anyone that knows Jerry Jones knows that he is aiming for another Super Bowl title. “There is a great deal of pressure, there always is, but the expectation right now for this team is as high as I’ve seen in quite some time,” Aikman told the Dallas Morning News. “Can they meet those expectations and make it all the way to the Super Bowl? Time will tell.”

ESPN has ranked the Cowboys as one of the best in the league this year. According to Bill Barnwell of ESPN, the Cowboys should make an incredible shift to the top in the rankings by his examination of skill position groups.

 

Slippery Slope to Purgatory

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Do you ever want a boost of adrenaline and an urge to try something new? I can tell you that snow skiing is worth a try. Who doesn’t want to put their feet in a pair of ski boots and rush down a snowy mountain? I don’t think there is anything better than that. Snow skiing may seem simple to some people, but there is actually a lot to learn and keep in mind before going down the slopes.

I went snow skiing for the very first time in March 2019 and, man, it was so much fun! Since I had never been before, my two older siblings did not let the opportunity slip away for me. The three of us and my brother-in-law packed our bags and made the trip to Durango, Colorado to meet up with our uncle and his best friend. Durango is a popular town in Colorado because Purgatory Ski Resort is right up the road.

Purgatory is a smaller resort with less runs and slopes, but since it was Spring Break for some schools, it was packed. I have never seen so many people on a small mountain in my life. The resort has condos that people can rent out for however many days they want to stay. The condo that we stayed in was very neat and old-timey. We cooked out and relaxed in our condo when we weren’t on the slopes. The majority of our time was spent trying to master skiing. My sister, brother-in-law, and I all spent the first full day in lessons and on the bunny slope.

At the beginning of the lesson, I was struggling to get the hang of it. I wanted to give up and just go to the condo, but I knew better than to give up. The second day, I was in lessons half a day then practiced on my own. On the third day, I went up the lift with my brother and uncle and they turned into my instructors. We started on a green run, which is the least difficult. I was skiing along and noticed that I was doing tremendously better than on the bunny slope.

As my confidence was building, they decided to take me on a blue run, which is a step-up from a green. Once again, I went down with some ease and a few crashes along the way, but felt good about it. At the end of the day, I was skiing all over the mountain and having a blast. After we left and got on the plane, I was already wanting to go back. I knew at that moment that I had found my new and exciting hobby. Purgatory will always have a special place in my heart.

College Admissions Bribery Scandal

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The recent college admissions bribery scandal continues in the news with the beginning phase of sentencing for the people who have plead guilty. The scandal, given the name Operation Varsity Blues, is the largest college admissions scheme ever prosecuted. In the center of the scandal is William Singer, a businessman who allegedly collected $25 million in bribes from wealthy parents who were trying to get their children into some of the top colleges in the country.

The indictment claims that Singer’s company called the Key was a front to allow briberies of college sports coaches and cheating on standardized tests. Parents would pay non-taxed donations to Singer’s non-profit organization which promoted itself as a college preparation and counseling program. Prosecutors say the scam ran from 2011 to 2019. Larry Davis, Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University-Texarkana said, “Some wealthy people think they can buy their way into things that other people cannot. If you have money to buy things, that is fine, but if you use money for illegal payoffs, that is wrong.”

Fifty people have been charged in this scheme including thirty-three parents, Mr. Singer, and coaches and professionals from multiple universities. Universities including USC, Yale University, Georgetown University, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Texas, and Wake Forest University. No institution has been charged in the case. Mr. Davis stated that, “Texas A&M University-Texarkana has criteria that students must meet to be admitted. High school students must have a certain GPA and if they do not, they can appeal it and then they might have some guidance on remedial courses they can take to be admitted.”  Twenty people have pleaded guilty in this case.

The three most well-known parents indicted in the scandal are Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer; Mossimo Guinnalli. Huffman plead guilty to charges that she paid $15,000 for someone to correct her daughter’s SAT answers. The maximum sentence for her act is 20 years but prosecutors have recommended only four months in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2019. Loughlin and her husband, on the other hand, have pleaded not guilty to paying $500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters admitted to University of Southern California as crew recruits. All the university coaches involved are either on leave or fired from their universities.  It is believed that many of the students involved were not aware of the illegal activities taking place to get them admitted. As of now, no students involved have been charged in the scandal.

Krewe of Centaur Mardi Gras Parade

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It is that time of year for a little Mardi Gras fun! Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” and reflects the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before fasting for Lent. It is a holiday that is celebrated all over the world, including Shreveport, Louisiana. No better way to kick off the Mardi Gras season than the Krewe of Centaur Parade on February 23 in Shreveport, Louisiana beginning at 4:30 PM, one of the largest parades in northern Louisiana with marching bands and brightly colored floats. This year’s Grand Marshal for the parade is Shreveport native and up and coming country music star, Jordan Davis. Organizers expect over 400,000 people to attend the Krewe of Centaur parade or Krewe of Gemini parade. Both will begin on Clyde Fant Parkway at Lake Street in downtown Shreveport and end on East Kings Highway at East Preston Street.

Bring a lawn chair and an ice chest and plan to make a fun day of it. Premium parade-watching spots will fill up quickly, so arrive early for the best spot on the parade route to ensure a good look at the elaborately decorated floats loaded down with lots of “throws”, items thrown by members of the Mardi Gras Krewes. Be sure to bring a bag to hold all of the beads and throws from the floats. Some throws include foil-wrapped hot dogs, elaborate masks, royalty beads (custom made medallions autographed by “royalty”), moon pies, colorful cups, t-shirts, and lots and lots of colorful beads. Not only are the float decorations spectacular but the people on the floats are dressed in amazing costumes and masks. The floats are lighted, making them even more amazing at night.

For those who want to make a weekend of it, a Krewe of Centaur float-loading party from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, February 22 is free to the public. Krewes open their warehouses to the public the day before the parade for all to see the colorful floats up close. This event is called “the party before the party” where the public can meet the krewe royalty and collect special beads. This will take place at the Centaur building and will feature a free concert by the band, Tipsey. Before heading home, stop by one of the local bakeries and pick up a king cake. It is not Mardi Gras without a king cake. Head on down to Shreveport, Louisiana this weekend for some family fun.