A Better REGION 8

Have your say on the future I-555

As I get more acquainted with Region 8, I have come to appreciate Highway 63 because it's the road I use to go see my family in Tennessee. I've become familiar with signs along Highway 63 that say Future I-555. As you probably know, these signs have been up for a long time. Too long it seems and it's time to change that. There's a group of people led by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce who are working tirelessly to get this project moved along. Get this, when a business or industry considers locating to Region 8 one of the first things they ask is are you located on an interstate? We have to say sort of. And did you know more than 200 million dollars has already been spent on a plan that now comes down to roughly 2 miles. That's all that has to be completed in order to convert Highway 63 into I-555. Here's where you come in. The Arkansas Highway Department needs to hear from you. Log on to www.arkansashighways.com. Look under recent public meetings and find the date 4-19-12. Click on that entry and then click on the link that says Project Packet. There you will find the form to fill out. The deadline for submitting the form is May 17th. If you need any help with this, please call the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce at 870-932-6691. If you believe in this project or even if you don't, your voice needs to be heard. I believe converting Highway 63 into Interstate 555 will help make this A Better Region 8.

USPS proposes to close Jonesboro processing center

February 27, 2012

THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ANNOUNCED THE JONESBORO CUSTOMER SERVICE MAIL PROCESSING CENTER WILL CLOSE ALONG WITH 2 OTHER CENTERS IN ARKANSAS UNLESS CONGRESS ENACTS LEGISLATION TO SAVE THEM.

THE ALTERNATIVE COST SAVINGS PLAN FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE COULD KEEP THE JONESBORO OPERATION OPEN AND KEEP IT FROM MOVING TO MEMPHIS.

THE POSTAL SERVICE STARTED A STUDY ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO TO ASSESS WHAT PROCESSING CENTERS COULD BE CONSOLIDATED IN ORDER TO CUT COSTS BY 20 *BILLION* DOLLARS BY 2015.

A UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE SPOKESPERSON SAID CUSTOMERS WON'T SEE A DIFFERENCE IN SENDING AND RECEIVING MAIL, BUT AFTER MAY 15TH EMPLOYEES WILL FIND OUT HOW THEIR JOBS WILL BE AFFECTED.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE CENTER OPEN AND TRY TO SAVE THESE JOBS, LET YOUR SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OPINION KNOWN BY CONTACTING SENATOR JOHN BOOZMAN'S OFFICE AT 870-268-6925 OR CONGRESSMAN RICK CRAWFORD'S OFFICE AT 870-203-0540.  

VOICE YOUR OPINION AND HELP MAKE THIS A BETTER REGION 8.

 

US-49 Stadium Blvd. congestion solution

February 6, 2012    

  The city of Jonesboro is growing and that growth is putting stress on some of our busiest roadways.

   All you have to do is take a drive down Stadium Boulevard to see just how congested things can get.

  Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin told Region 8 News a new study is in the works to track traffic all the way down US-49.

    The traffic count on Stadium by Arkansas State University is 38-thousand vehicles per day. 

    Perrin wants this study to not only count cars, but also show traffic patterns on Highway 49.

    The Mayor says this is a milestone toward the city's ultimate goal, an Eastern Bypass. 

    I applaud the Mayor and his team's efforts to get the study done so they will have data to make their case before state legislators and then our state lawmakers need to show Region 8 the money.

   This will benefit anyone who lives, travels and calls Region 8 home and will make this a Better Region 8.

 

Indian Mall becomes a memory

January 23, 2012

                WHILE I WASN’T HERE DURING THE INDIAN MALL’S HAY-DAY – IT WAS THE CENTER OF RETAIL SHOPPING FOR DECADES.  I’M SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF MEMORIES OF WEEKEND’S SPENT THERE.  I CAN ONLY IMAGINE SOME OF THE STORIES OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING OR EATING AT WYATT’S CAFETERIA.  LIKE ALL GOOD THINGS – THEY DO SEEM TO COME TO AN END.  I’M SURE WE ALL HAVE A NAME FOR IT, INCLUDING “PROGRESS”.  AND YOU KNOW – IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT – THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS – PROGRESS.  THINK ABOUT THE GROWTH HERE. 

WHEN INDIAN MALL OPENED IN THE LATE 1960’S, 26 – THOUSAND PEOPLE CALLED JONESBORO HOME;  TODAY 70 - THOUSAND.  PARAGOULD AND CITIES ACROSS REGION EIGHT HAVE ALSO GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THE PAST 40 YEARS.  THIS PROGRESS DIDN’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.  COMMUNITY LEADERS HAD A VISION FOR WHAT THIS AREA COULD BE – AND DEVELOPERS LIKE BRUCE BURROW FOUND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE ‘NEW’ MALL AT TURTLE CREEK TO PROVIDE BETTER SHOPPING EXPERIENCES FOR OUR EVER GROWING DEMAND. 

LIKE EVERYTHING, THE OLD MALL’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED.  REMEMBER IT – BUT LEAVE IT IN THE PAST.  PROGRESS IS A GOOD THING AND THANKS TO GOOD PLANNING THEN OUR FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT – IT’S CERTAINLY MADE THIS A BETTER REGION EIGHT.  

 

ATTENTION: Grinches on the Roadways!!!

My family traditionally spends a lot of time driving here and there during the Christmas Season. And our experience on the highway is that the same season which inspires the best human traits everywhere else seems to bring out the worst behavior behind the wheel, with excessive speeding, dangerous lane-changing and inattention a holiday recipe for disaster. So it's a good time to remember the basics.  Obey the laws and don't do anything that will put your passengers or anyone else in danger.  Drive friendly.  Use your blinkers when turning, changing lanes or entering a highway.  Make sure your car or truck is in good mechanical shape and buckle up. And if you drink at all while celebrating over the holidays, please let someone else drive. Finally, a big thanks to all our law enforcement officers for providing the thin blue line out there.  If not for their vigilance, the roads would be even more dangerous.  If you see those blue lights in your rear view mirror, find a safe place to pull off the road and give them some room to maneuver. And if you come across an officer making a traffic stop, be sure and give them some room as you drive by.  Folks, we hate covering traffic accidents on the news.  Even one highway death is too many.  Make this a joyful and safe holiday season on the highways and get there in one piece. It will surely make this a Better Region 8.

Indian Mall

It is a shame to drive down the major thoroughfares of some of the cities and towns in Region 8 and see empty storefronts where thriving businesses used to be. In some of our smallest cities, we will never see viable retail storefronts return. If we aren't careful, the same thing could happen in Jonesboro. Now I think anyone would be hard pressed to deny that Jonesboro is the economic capital of Region 8. Businesses are opening every week and the city seems to be somewhat insulated from the economic hardships that have befallen other areas of our country. But there is one area of Jonesboro that has fallen on hard times. Specifically, the corner of Highland and Caraway. Yes I am talking about Indian Mall. For decades, Indian Mall was the biggest retail draw in Region 8. Folks would come from miles around to enjoy the best shopping available. But as the mall aged, we all wished for something bigger and better. The Mall at Turtle Creek was the answer. There is no doubt that Jonesboro now has one of the best shopping venues in the state and even the mid-south. But look at what has happened on Caraway road. The demise of Indian Mall is the first step in the demise of the entire Caraway Road corridor. If we can't reinvent that space, Caraway Road may soon become just like so many main streets in Region 8. Empty storefronts where thriving businesses once stood. Enter into the equation Bruce Burrow. Mr. Burrow has done great things in developing in Jonesboro. He has a plan to revamp the old Indian Mall and restore some retail luster to Caraway Road. However, Mr. Burrow has run into some challenges in the past and he has asked the City of Jonesboro to give him some assurances that they will be as committed as he is to reinventing the area. With some of the problems that have happened in the past, I can't blame him one bit. So I would like to issue a challenge to both the Mayor and the City Council. You must work together and make this happen. Let's not find ourselves in the years to come looking at a faltering retail corridor and still pointing fingers at each other for not making it happen. Your decisions to further this project along will make for a better Jonesboro, and a better Region 8.

Revitalizing Indian Mall