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.

Dangers of Drunk Driving

March 12, 2012

WHEN I THINK OF DRUNK DRIVING, I TYPICALLY THINK OF HOLIDAYS LIKE NEW YEAR'S EVE.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR IS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 17TH.

SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO REMIND YOU OF THE DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING.

IF YOU LOG ON TO THE MOTHER'S AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND A SOBERING STATISTIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOME PAGE -- ONE IN THREE OF US WILL BE IMPACTED BY DRUNK DRIVING.

IF YOU PLAN TO DRINK THIS WEEKEND, DO SO RESPONSIBLY. 

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU HOME. 

YOU CAN ALSO HELP BY LEARNING HOW TO SPOT A DRUNK DRIVER.

A FEW OF THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR ARE SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN, TAILGATING, WEAVING, STOPPING FOR NO REASON, SLOW RESPONSE TO TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND TURNING ABRUPTLY OR ILLEGALLY.  EXPERTS TELL US DON'T TRY TO INTERFERE WITH A DRUNK DRIVER -- CALL POLICE.

BOTTOM LINE - IF YOU DRINK, STAY OFF THE ROADS.

AND IF THAT'S NOT DETTERENT ENOUGH -- POLICE OFFICERS AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WILL BE OUT IN FULL FORCE THIS WEEKEND.

SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF TROUBLE AND HEARTACHE AND 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.

 

Sobriety Checkpoints

The Labor Day Holiday Weekend is sneaking up fast. Another thing that will be sneaking up on you in Region 8...Sobriety Checkpoints. Now some may rail against this arguing that it is inconvenient or an unneccesary violation of your rights. There are lots of folks who buy into that argument. But let me tell you this.

If stopping someone at a checkpoint for five minutes saves lives...I'll take the inconvenience every time. Here are some pointers if you plan on celebrating this weekend. First, designate a sober driver and give them the keys

If you don't have a driver, call someone to pick you up. Use those cell phones to report drunken drivers. And if you know someone who has been drinking too much and plans to drive, take their keys and help get them home.

Finally, if you are sober and are stopped at a checkpoint, thank the officers for their effort. They are working hard out there to make this a safer and a Better Region 8.

A BETTER REGION 8: SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS

Structurally Deficient

With the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis, A lot of us turned our attention to the Highway 63 Bridge at Black Rock. While it remains in service and we are assured by the state highway department that its sound, that bridge has been determined to be structurally deficient. Sort of reminds me of the entire highway 412 corridor across the northern part of Arkansas. Structurally deficient. On a recent trip to Cherokee Village I was reminded of that as I was stuck travelling 40 miles an hour on a hilly two lane road behind a Fifth Wheel, A ski boat, and several 18-wheelers. Now I know a lot of you have encountered the same problem. In this day and age to have no four-lane access across the top of our state is ludicrous.  While the state has made some strides in the last few years improving 412, we need to move much faster on this project. The future of industry, tourism, and economic development in Region 8 depend on it. There is a group called Four-lane 412 Now that has been very active in getting our state legislators attention. But they can't do it alone. Please write to your representatives and ask that they lend their support to the project. Even if Hwy 412 doesn't come close to your hometown, It's completion will make this a better Region 8!

A better Region 8: Structurally Deficient