Grand Prairie Reporter

Grand Prairie police are releasing few details about the Thursday morning shooting death of a 36 year old man at the Prairie Ranch Apartments, 4900 block of South Highway 360 and the arrest of a 24 year-old female at the scene.

The two are believed to be involved in a current or prior relationship.

Police spokesman Detective John Brimmer said in a press release all names are being withheld until the deceased person’s next of kin are notified.

Continue reading "Shooting kills 36 year-old man" »

Posted by Editor at 09:02 PM | Permalink

A $5,000 donation to the North Texas Food Bank highlighted Thursday’s “Dollar Cutting” opening ceremony at the Save-a-Lot Food Store, 2506 S. Belt Line Road.

With the donation, Williams Daniels of North Texas Food Bank said, the nonprofit relief organization could provide 20,000 meals to needy families.

Continue reading "City welcomes new food store" »

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During October, the shelter has reduced the cost to only $20 from the normal $70 for a feline that is micro chipped and spayed or neutered.

The shelter has a wide variety of cats of various colors, sizes and personalities, from well trained purebred adult cats to adorable, playful kittens, to choose from.

Continue reading "Adopt a Prairie Paws cat at reduced price" »

Posted by Editor at 03:21 PM | Permalink

Councilman Richard Fregoe, center, cuts ribbon at Tuesday's grand opening ceremony held at Trader's Village to celebrate the completion Mayfield Road. ©2010 - Bob Fitch/Grand Prairie Reporter

The City of Grand Prairie hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday at the main entrance of Trader’s Village to celebrate the completion of construction on Mayfield from State Highway 360 to Great Southwest Parkway.

The $11.6 million project primarily funded by the City of Grand Prairie with cost participation with Trader’s Village to accommodate its storm drainage flows, transformed the existing 5-lane, worn asphalt roadway into a 5-lane concrete curb and gutter section of roadway, with additional turn lanes, water, wastewater, and drainage improvements.

Continue reading "Ceremony celebrates completed Mayfield Road" »

Posted by Editor at 09:38 PM | Permalink

Charles Hatley, left, delivers a blow to Emanuel Augustus, right, at Saturday night's Fight Night at QuikTrip Park. Photo courtesy Black Gloves Promotions

The much anticipated welterweight matchup between Dallas native Charles "The Future" Hatley and Emanuel Augustus ended with Hatley winning a unanimous eight round decision Saturday night at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie.

Augustus, of Brownsville, was aggressive early in the bout and knocked Hatley down in round 2 with a hard overhand right.

However, in round 3 Hatley took charge and dropped Augustus twice with right hands high to the head.

Continue reading " Hatley takes Augustus at Fight Night" »

Posted by Editor at 09:05 AM | Permalink

South Grand Prairie won its Homecoming Game Friday night at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl beating Midlothian 17-14.

Grand Prairie lost to Duncanville 6-70 in Duncanville.

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More than 60 vendors offering samples of food and showing off their products lined the aisles of QuikTrip Park Thursday night at the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Taste of Grand Prairie and Community Spotlight.

The fun filled night of games, food, auctions that ended with a fireworks display attracted thousands of visitors interested in Grand Prairie businesses.

Continue reading "Taste of Grand Prairie fills QuikTrip" »

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Based on Louisa May Alcott's novel LITTLE WOMEN, which follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. Now, this wonderful narrative is brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart; featuring all of the original characters and an all-star regional cast on the Uptown Theater stage. Little Women, the Musical is an adventure in theatre for the entire family!

Continue reading "Arts Council's "Little Women, the Musical " opens at the Uptown" »

Posted by Editor at 12:49 AM | Permalink

At Tuesday night’s City Council Briefing session, Matt King, Housing Assistance Supervisor, presented the proposal that is the result of a recently completed two-year, multi-department study that included Housing and Neighborhood Services, Police Department, Planning Department, and the City Attorney’s Office.

Although there are only 3-4 hotels in the city that may fall into the lowest rating under the new system, King said, it is an opportunity for the city to be proactive in its regulation enforcement of hotels and motels.

Continue reading "Greater oversight of hotels and motels proposed" »

Posted by Editor at 03:25 PM | Permalink

Beginning with this school year’s sixth graders, every Texas middle school student is required to take a minimum of one fine arts course during grades six, seven, or eight. While students and school districts may choose to meet the new requirement through courses such as choir, art or theatre, there definitely has been a heightened interest in band and orchestra courses which require a musical instrument for each student.

Continue reading "Community support needed to meet middle schools fine arts needs" »

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More than 300 Cub Scouts and adult volunteers from Scout Packs across Grand Prairie participated in the Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council’s Cub Fun Day held Saturday and Sunday at Camp Wisdom in Dallas.

Donovan Kitamura, Circle Ten Council District Executive, said the fun day is a follow-up to the Scouts recent recruitment drive.

Continue reading "Scouts hold Cub Fun Day at Camp Wisdom" »

Posted by Editor at 07:31 PM | Permalink

The Grand Prairie ISD is serious about student achievement and supporting college bound students is a district wide initiative. Several new initiatives at the state and local level will make a big difference for many GPISD students.

Continue reading "School district to host college night for students" »

Posted by Editor at 09:22 AM | Permalink

Members of the Folkloric Sima of Irving perform Wednesday night at the Dies y Seis Celebration at Bowles Life Center ©2010 - Bob Fitch/Grand Prairie Reporter

September 16, 1810 marks the beginning of Mexican War of Independence from Spain making this day similar in many ways to the American “4th of July,” which commemorates our American independence from Britain.

In recognition of the Bicentennial Anniversary of Mexico's fight for independence and Hispanic Heritage Month, the Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation held its annual Diez y Seis Celebration at the Bowles Life Center Wednesday night.

Continue reading "Diez y Seis Celebration at Bowles Center" »

Posted by Editor at 12:02 AM | Permalink

The closures will enable construction of the Main Street bridge that will cross over the SH 161 main lanes. Alternate routes include Belt Line Road and Great Southwest Parkway.

Continue reading "State Highway 161 to close from Dalworth to Main" »

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The announcement brings to a close months of work to produce a 2011 racing calendar acceptable to horse tracks and horsemen in Texas.

Continue reading "Commission grants Lone Star Park 52 day Thoroughbred season" »

Posted by Editor at 09:07 AM | Permalink

During the 2009-10 school year, Grand Prairie ISD set out to transform teaching and learning by implementing a one-to-one computing model — where every student and teacher has access to a personal portable computer in a wireless environment — and the Time To Know digital teaching platform in two classes each at Austin Elementary and Whitt Elementary schools. Teachers used the web-based system to guide their classes using an engaging digital curriculum integrated with tools for real-time classroom management, monitoring, planning, assessment and collaboration.

Continue reading "Students achieve gains on TAKS using digital teaching platform" »

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Chuck Poffenbarger, President/CEO, for the Center was thrilled with the tremendous show of support saying, “This money will help hundreds of people in a time when so many are absolutely desperate for medical and dental treatment. Our board feels this is a historic moment—a turning point for us. Not since we built the original facilities in 2001 has there been this type of support. Certainly this reflects well on the professionalism of our Executive Director, Tencha Rodriguez, who has worked tirelessly to develop relationships throughout the healthcare community and all across Dallas County.”

Continue reading "Grand Prairie Wellness Center receives major grant" »

Posted by Editor at 12:01 AM | Permalink

A reception and award ceremony opened the Grand Prairie Arts Council’s annual Juried Art Show and Sale Sunday at the Main Library.

With more than one hundred pieces of art on display, Arts Council Executive Director Libby Clawson said this year’s show is largest in the show’s history with fifty-three artist from fourteen cities as far away as Waco and Longview entered 153 works of art, 106 were accepted for display.

Continue reading "Art show and sale opens at library" »

Posted by Editor at 07:02 PM | Permalink

The Grand Prairie Gophers stopped a determined W. T. White late in the game to preserve 35-28 win in the Gopher-Warrior Bowl Friday night.

Gopher quarterback Tommy Alvarez started the scoring with a 4-yard run in the first quarter, Alex Rostro kicked the point. On White’s next possession, Gopher defensive back Dewayne Fleeks picked a fumbled and took it back 47-yards for a score, Rostro kicked the point after.

White came back scoring touchdowns in the first and second quarter to tie the score.

Continue reading "Gophers win - Warriors lose" »

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Individual admission is $65, a table of eight is only $500 and the purchaser gets a new iPod courtesy of TXU Energy.

Continue reading "Dinner, dancing, and United Charities fundraiser" »

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Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce is recognized at Thursday's Grand Prairie ISD School Board meeting for its participation in the Great Texas Scholar Program. (L-R)Lynn McGinley, Norm Porter, Terry Brooks (School Board Member), and Lila Thorn. ©Bob Fitch/Grand Prairie Reporter - 2010

Posted by Editor at 09:25 PM | Permalink

Members of the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce Branding Irons celebrated the recent opening of the Pioneer Event Center, 1025 W. Pioneer Parkway, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

The former Golden Corral restaurant was recently renovated into a full service business and private event venue offering a banquet facility, meeting rooms and a special event center. The center can accommodate groups from as small as 30 to as large as 500 people.

Continue reading "New event center opens" »

Posted by Editor at 09:00 PM | Permalink

Remnants of tropical storm Hermine passed through Grand Prairie Tuesday dumping more than six inches of rain in some areas of the city. The heavy rain caused flooding in low areas that kept police, fire, and city crews busy most of the day blocking streets and responding to emergencies.

The Irving Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team had to be called in to help rescue an elderly couple stranded at their home in the 700 block of West Oakdale. The water over Oakdale became too deep for Grand Prairie firefighters to reach the couple with their fire engines. The Irving team used a small boat to get the couple to safety.

Continue reading "Heavy rains from Hermine causes flooding" »

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On September 12, the public is invited to the opening reception and awards ceremony from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the library’s East Meeting Room. The Awards Ceremony is set for 2:45 p.m.

Posted by Editor at 10:55 AM | Permalink

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Grand Prairie from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning as remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine push through North Texas. Several rounds of very heavy rainfall are expected, causing rapid saturation of soils to pose a flash flood threat.

Tropical Storm Hermine has developed rapidly in the western Gulf of Mexico as it makes landfall late tonight and moves across South Texas.

Continue reading "Flash Flood Watch issued – tropical storm to bring rain" »

Posted by Editor at 04:28 PM | Permalink

Auditions for GobFest 2010 - Gobs of Talent, Variety Show will be held October 15 from 6:00 until 9:00 pm and October 16 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Grand Prairie Arts Council’s Studio at 116 East Main Street – next door to the Uptown Theater. The show is scheduled for Saturday, November 13.

The show is looking for unique talent - Singers, Musicians, Dancers, Magic Acts, Juggling, Comedy Acts, Acrobats … anything goes! Solo acts up to groups of 10. Participants must be at least 5 years old. Performers from both inside and outside of Grand Prairie are invited to be part of the extravaganza. Cash prizes & trophies awarded! Please attend one audition date and no appointment is needed. A piano & CD player will be available.

Continue reading "Arts Council to hold auditions for talent show and holiday production" »

Posted by Editor at 10:09 PM | Permalink

Jordan Wiggs kicked a 34 –yard field goal with 1:52 left in the game to give the Warriors a 21-18 win over the Mesquite Skeeters Friday night in the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.

Mesquite took an early 10-0 lead, but the Warriors came back with Keonte White scoring on a 65 –yard pass from Jared Johnson in the first quarter. He also ran in for the 2 point conversion.

Warriors again scored in the second quarter when Quarterback Jared Johnson ran 31-yards for a touchdown, Wiggs kicked the extra point to put the Warrior up 15-10 at half-time.

Continue reading "Warriors beat Mesquite 21-18 in Gopher-Warrior Bowl" »

Posted by Editor at 01:26 AM | Permalink

This year's report rates Fort Worth drivers as the safest in the North Texas area with Grand Prairie in the third spot behind Plano.

Continue reading "Grand Prairie drivers rank among safest in area" »

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The CALEA assessment team will examine Grand Prairie Police Department’s on-going compliance with accepted standards of law enforcement service excellence and professionalism.

Continue reading "Police seek public comment" »

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