Author: Jeff Easterling

With all of Texas under winter weather advisories of some sort, and the accumulation rising in our area, most local schools and businesses will be delayed if not completely canceled. We will update this list as more are added.

Winter weather is in our forecast, depending on where you look, the Texarkana area could see anywhere from 8 to 10 inches of accumulation and some of the coldest temperatures in decades over the next week. Here is how it starts, with a Winter Storm Watch, that will most likely become a warning.

Every winter we try to share these safety tips to keep people and pets alive, and here is some information that we think will help get you through it with a lot less trouble and worry, no matter what Mother Nature has in store for us.

The Texarkana Texas Police Department recently had a brawl with a local man that is now facing multiple charges after rampaging inside a local convenience store. JPX Pepper guns were ineffective against Ashley McClanahan, 39, it took multiple officers and a couple of civilian heroes to subdue McClanahan.

Friday, February 12 it is the Tim Tebow Night to Shine, with a few adjustments for the pandemic. The event will be in two parts, the prom itself will be virtual but we want that special in-person treatment all attendees get, cheers, flash photography, and all, so we are going to have a drive-thru red carpet event in the parking lot at the Texarkana Arkansas Convention center.

The Texarkana Police are investigating an overnight homicide at the Woodbridge Apartments on Belt Road. Sonya Hopkins, 22, has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of Laquinces Scott.

Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services, has notified our local officials that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area F have remained under 15% of capacity for at least seven consecutive days. That means local businesses can again increase capacity.

On January 12 we reported on Marques Jujuan Thompson, 20, of Texarkana, Texas was wanted in the shooting death of Nichlos Muldrow in the Oaklawn Village parking lot. Thompson has now been added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted List.

Just after 2:00 am this morning, T.T.F.D. responded to a fire at the abandoned Quality Inn Hotel on North Stateline Avenue. It has been reported that Texarkana Police have made multiple arrests at that location for trespassing recently.

On Groundhog Day, February 2, a lot of eyes turn to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see if the Groundhog sees his shadow as a weather predictor. Honestly, the best part about the day for us is an excuse to watch Bill Murry in the 1993 classic movie.

Yes, there is a wait to get the COVID 19 vaccine in Texarkana, so get on the list. Residents are urged to get on the waiting lists to receive the vaccine. The Bowie County Family Health Center will continue to offer the vaccine to eligible recipients regardless of residency.

The PBR returns to Texarkana with the Four States PBR Shootout on Saturday, February 13 at 7:00 pm, inside the Four States Fairgrounds Arena. Get your tickets now, with pandemic restrictions only a certain number of tickets can be sold.

Residents of Texarkana Texas & Arkansas have an opportunity to take care of outstanding warrants they may have. Both sides of Stateline Avenue have programs with Texas giving you until April 16, 2021, and the Arkansas side until March 31, 2021.

National Freedom Day is always observed on February 1st and celebrates freedom from slavery. The day honors Abraham Lincoln’s signing of a joint House and Senate resolution on February 1, 1865. That resolution later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana is set to install a one-megawatt solar array and solar learning lab on the Hope campus. This will also offer the opportunity for a Certificate of Proficiency in Solar Energy Technology curriculum.

The cities of Texarkana, Texas, and Arkansas were hit with a ransomware attack on December 28, 2020, and are still struggling a month later. Texarkana Water Utilities launched a new site and has created a workaround for water bills, but here are some other answers to common issues that you may need.

The pandemic has been tough on all businesses but even more so on restaurants, especially buffets. Cici’s Holdings, the company behind Cicis Pizza filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday.

PGISD has launched a new certification program for its high school students through a partnership with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Students now have an opportunity to become Certified Personal Trainers.

3:05 PM UPDATE: Authorities have given students and staff the all-clear to return to class after an evacuation due to a bomb threat. Nothing suspicious was found during a grid search of the campus. A little after 2:00 pm today an email threat of a bomb on the Texas High School campus led to school officials safely evacuating all students. Authorities are now searching the campus. Please avoid the area.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service in Miller County is offering two in-person Private Pesticide Applicator Training sessions. The cost is $20 for the training plus $45 for a license that is good for 5 years.

The Texarkana Arkansas is asking for the public’s assistance to identify an armed robbery suspect. The robbery occurred Sunday the 24th on Jefferson Avenue just before 9:00 pm. Here are some pics and a short video clip.

Two of our three favorite area chili cook-offs happen this weekend in Texarkana. First, the annual “Bridge City Project Chili Cook-off” on Friday the 29th. Second, the “Best Chili in Texarkana Chili Cook-off” at the Sportsplex on Saturday the 30th.

It really jumped out to me that Healthcare Express opened for business and began growing their company here in Texarkana 15 years ago in 2006. I am pretty sure that since then I have been to 3 of their locations at least a dozen times. Over these years HCE has become the leading urgent care provider in the region, congratulations!

An off-duty Texarkana Texas Police officer made an arrest in the parking lot of Central Mall after hearing a woman’s screams for help after she had been robbed.

Still struggling with the effects of the cyberattack on city computers back in December, Texarkana Water Utilities has some good news for those that have been dealing with trying to get payments made. It has been a tough go for customers and TWU personnel, but TWU can now process credit & debit card payments and has launched a new website.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department has awarded two employees with the prestigious Bull Dog Award for outstanding performance above and beyond the call of duty. Detective Shane Kirkland and Domestic Violence Coordinator Jan Lishman were both named for the honor.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department is holding a package that was obviously delivered to the wrong address. If you are missing your five pounds of marijuana, it is currently at the Bi-State Building.

Texarkana is ready for Peak Fighting 6 & 7, happening at the Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center with two nights of some of the best fighters in the world, with Peak Fighting drawing competitors from around the globe there will be some of the best match-ups ever in Texarkana.

Charges for Montavious Sharp, 22, have been upgraded to murder following the death of Cedrigch Traylor, 35, in an intentional hit & run case that TTPD investigators are working on. Sharp was originally charged with aggravated assault in the case.

Search & Rescue personnel along with multiple agencies continue looking for Robert Eaglin, 53, and Michelle Cullom, 50 of Hooks Texas were reported missing on January 1. They were last seen by a duck hunter that took them to the Texas side of the Red River by boat on December 30. The couple’s ATV was found mostly submerged along the Texas side of the river.