Grand Prairie Reporter

During the Job Fairs, Lone Star Park will be accepting applications and conducting interviews for employment during the 2011 Spring Thoroughbred season, which is scheduled for Thursday, April 14 through Sunday, July 10.

Continue reading "Lone Star Park to hold job fairs for 2011 season" »

Posted by Editor at 11:18 PM | Permalink

Grand Prairie firefighters rescued an elderly man Sunday morning after fire broke out in his home in the 2100 block of Cottonwood.

The fire, that started around 11:30 a.m., caused extensive damage to the home.

Continue reading "Elderly man injured in house fire" »

Posted by Editor at 02:52 PM | Permalink

The Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce Branding Irons hosted two ribbon cutting ceremonies Wednesday at adjacent buildings. The first was a grand opening of CFM Materials’ new 48,000 square-foot facility. The second celebrated GE Aviation Materials’ one year anniversary at its new facility.

The two facilities employee more than 70 employees and provides parts and components to aviation customers.

Continue reading "Chamber of Commerce welcomes two aviation material firms" »

Posted by Editor at 12:16 AM | Permalink

Mayor Charles England gave his State of the City address Tuesday night to a near capacity crowd at The Summit.

Hosted by the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, the event featured fine dining, and silent and live auctions.

Prior to Mayor England taking the podium, School Superintendent Dr. Susan Hull announced the Grand Prairie Independent School District’s Teachers of the Year:

Ashley Garrett - Garner Elementary School
Diondria Phillips - Crosswinds High School

Continue reading "State of City - 2011" »

Posted by Editor at 10:18 PM | Permalink

Members of the Congressman’s staff will be on hand to assist with Veterans‘Affairs, Social Security, Medicare, Internal Revenue Service, United States Service Academies, passports, and other issues with federal agencies.

Continue reading "Mobile Congressional Office to visit library" »

Posted by Editor at 07:22 AM | Permalink

Mansfield police was pursuing a 2000 GMC pickup driven by Nicholas Dutton, 30, of Mansfield, northbound on Old Fort Worth Road when Dutton lost control of the truck, causing it to leave the roadway and roll several times.

The passenger, Lesley Grayoso, 38, of Fort Worth was critically injured in the crash and taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center where he died on February 21.

Continue reading "Police probe fatal Mansfield police chase" »

Posted by Editor at 11:21 PM | Permalink

The stage for each concert will be situated outdoors, just outside the racing surface, in front of the sun-shaded Courtyard of Champions. The lawn area is first come, first served, and there is limited patio table seating in the Courtyard. Blankets and folding chairs are permitted outdoors.

Continue reading "Randy Rogers Band and Ted Nugent kicks off Lone Star Park’s opening weekend" »

Posted by Editor at 11:41 PM | Permalink

The Grand Prairie Arts Council and the Betty Warmack Branch Library presented the 7th Annual African-American Heritage Celebration Saturday.

The afternoon of entertainment featured performances by local artists:

Continue reading "Local artists showcased at African-American heritage celebration" »

Posted by Editor at 04:29 PM | Permalink

With the final figures in on Grand Prairie’s annual holiday light spectacular, Beverly Grogan, Lakes Park Special Events Coordinator, said, “2010 was a real banner year of Prairie Lights.”

She said with this season’s “grand weather,” Prairie Lights was open all 37 nights attracting more than 140,000 visitors, far exceeding 2009’s figure of more than 117,000 visitors.

Continue reading "Banner year for Prairie Lights" »

Posted by Editor at 01:04 PM | Permalink

The city’s new population was placed at 175,396, an increase of 47,969 in ten years.

Grand Prairie moved from the 17th to the 15th largest city in the state, surpassing Pasadena and Brownsville.

Posted by Editor at 01:18 AM | Permalink

This means those policyholders with the existing discounted rates will now receive the additional five to10 percent discount and those who purchase a new policy may be eligible for up to 20 percent discount.

In addition to lower premiums, the rating program helps to reduce the threat of damage from flooding, according to officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Continue reading "Reduced flood insurance rates for city" »

Posted by Editor at 12:06 AM | Permalink

Farmers Friends should be able to work at least a 2.5-hour shift from 8 -10:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., preferably on a regular basis. Those interested are asked to download, complete and return the volunteer application found online at www.gptx.org/farmersmarket and click on Farmers Friends or call Cathy at 972-263-9588 for an application.

Continue reading "Grand Prairie Farmers Market recruits volunteers" »

Posted by Editor at 11:36 PM | Permalink

The Grand Prairie Arts Council presents its first musical of the 2011 season tonight in the historic Uptown Theater.

Set in ancient Rome, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum is a non-stop laugh-fest in which a crafty slave struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan for his young master in exchange for his freedom.

Continue reading "Arts Council 2011 season begins" »

Posted by Editor at 02:53 PM | Permalink

The Grand Prairie Fire Department was called to the Albertsons, 215 N. Carrier, at about 3:00 p.m. Wednesday when employees found a suspected bomb inside the store.

Detective John Brimmer, police spokesman, said employees found a parcel that appeared to be a tub of spreadable butter with wires and a battery attached. Store employees took the parcel outside to the rear of the building.

Continue reading "Suspected bomb found in Albertsons" »

Posted by Editor at 12:01 AM | Permalink

“I want to start a chain reaction of kindness that will ripple around the world.” – Rachel Scott

A near capacity crowd filled the Ruthe Jackson Center Wednesday morning to hear Darrel Scott’s message about his 17-year old daughter, Rachel, known for her friendliness and compassionate nature who wanted to change the world through small acts of kindness. Rachel was killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999.

Continue reading "Rachel’s Challenge – a weeklong GPISD event" »

Posted by Editor at 10:58 PM | Permalink

“Our dropouts are down, our graduation rate is up,” Dr. Susan Hull, Superintendent of Schools said complementing the district’s teachers, principals, and staff as she spoke about the state’s budget woes. “Right now we [the district] are on the brink of exemplary. We should be stress-free, rocking-n-rolling, getting those kids performing at even a higher level. But, instead I have people worried whether or not they are going to be able to feed their family. It’s just a situation I really regret.”

On Tuesday night Dr. Hull addressed a standing room only crowd in the Garner Elementary School cafeteria about the district’s financial problems because of the state’s deficit. One of the district’s measures to reduce its projected shortfall of $15-$26 million is to close Garner, the district’s smallest school.

Continue reading "Superintendent lays out plan to keep Garner Elementary open" »

Posted by Editor at 11:26 PM | Permalink

With burst water pipes sending streams of water through the parking lots and into street, units in uninhabitable condition, residents of the Barrington Apartment, 701 S. Great Southwest Parkway, on Monday were loading their belongings into truck, cars, and vans, forced to move because the complex is to close.

Amy Sprinkles, spokesperson for the City of Grand Prairie, explained that the apartment’s owner is in bankruptcy in a New York court. On February 8 the city issued the bankruptcy court a citation to fix the numerous safety, health, and building code violations at the property or close the complex. The city deemed the property as uninhabitable.

Continue reading "Apartment complex closes, residents forced to move" »

Posted by Editor at 09:48 PM | Permalink

Grand Prairie police are investigating the motorcycle accident that occurred around 1:15 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of West Tarrant that killed Andrew J. Mankin, 28, of Grand Prairie.

Police said Mankin was riding a 2007 Suzuki GSR motorcycle westbound on Tarrant when he lost control, crossed the eastbound lane, and struck a utility pole on the south side of the street near the intersection with Hawaii Drive.

Continue reading "Motorcycle crash kills Grand Prairie man" »

Posted by Editor at 12:37 AM | Permalink

A team of two dozen agents and specialist will begin its on scene investigation Saturday.

"ATF is investigating this fire jointly with our partners, the Grand Prairie Fire Department. We will work together to determine the origin and cause of this fire," said Robert Champion, ATF special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Division.

Continue reading "ATF to assist Fire Department with its investigation" »

Posted by Editor at 05:19 PM | Permalink

More than sixty hours after the fire first broke out, Grand Prairie firefighters still remain on the scene of Monday’s four-alarm fire that destroyed a 400,000 square-foot warehouse at 1029 Post & Paddock.

Rotated every few hours, fire crews have maintained a 24-hour watch over the smoldering fire that started around 8:00 p.m. on Monday night. Firefighters are expected to remain at the site for another 24 hours putting out the last of the hot-spots as the fire burns itself out.

Continue reading "Firefighters still working Monday’s four-alarm warehouse fire" »

Posted by Editor at 10:12 PM | Permalink

In anticipation to the National Weather Service forecast for temperatures to drop into the teens tonight and tomorrow, ERCOT has procured additional generation capacity to help maintain reliable delivery of power during this extreme weather event.

Continue reading "Conservation needed to avoid electricity shortage" »

Posted by Editor at 08:59 AM | Permalink

Other schools closed:

• Arlington ISD
• Mansfield ISD
• Cedar Hill ISD

Posted by Editor at 06:29 AM | Permalink

A large column of smoke was still visible Tuesday morning as Grand Prairie firefighters continued to pour water onto flames of a four-alarm fire that destroyed a warehouse overnight in the 1000 block of Post & Paddock.

The fire that broke out around 7:45 p.m. Monday, kept Grand Prairie firefighters assisted by Arlington Fire Department busy all night as they battled to control the blaze in the 400,000 square-foot warehouse that was occupied by a private mailing firm and a business that stored canned drinks.

Continue reading "Four-alarm fire destroys warehouse" »

Posted by Editor at 12:18 PM | Permalink

Map courtesy National Weather Service in Fort Worth

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Grand Prairie for heavy snow and sleet from midnight tonight to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Precipitation will begin as rain in northwest parts of North Texas early Wednesday morning, continuing to overspread North Texas. As temperatures fall to below freezing Wednesday morning, the precipitation will transition to a freezing rain and sleet mixture before changing to all snow by early afternoon.

Continue reading "Winter Storm Warning issued – snow and ice expected" »

Posted by Editor at 07:15 AM | Permalink

Map courtesy National Weather Service in Fort Worth - Latest update

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Winter Storm Watch for snow and freezing rain effective from late Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon for Grand Prairie, areas along and north of the I-20 corridor.

An Arctic cold front will arrive during the early morning hours on Wednesday with temperatures dropping into the 20s by mid morning. Meanwhile an upper level disturbance will move across the area and bring a chance of precipitation. Snow amounts are expected to range near 2 to 4 inches along the Red River, with 1 to 2 inches in Grand Prairie.

Continue reading "Winter Storm Watch issued for Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon" »

Posted by Editor at 07:01 AM | Permalink

A greater potential for winter weather with significant travel impacts is expected to affect nearly all of North Texas Tuesday night into Wednesday.

A strong Arctic cold front will move across North Texas Tuesday afternoon and early Tuesday evening. Gusty north wind, much colder temperatures, and good chances for winter precipitation will spread across North Texas Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Continue reading "More winter weather in the forecast" »

Posted by Editor at 09:32 PM | Permalink

Map courtesy National Weather Service - Fort Worth

Posted by Editor at 07:58 AM | Permalink

Other schools closed Friday:

• Arlington ISD
• Cedar Hill ISD
• Mansfield ISD

Posted by Editor at 03:13 PM | Permalink

ERCOT said it is not known at this time how long the need for rotating outages will last.

Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electric service, typically lasting 10-45 minutes per neighborhood. The locations and durations are determined by the local utilities. Critical need customers such as hospitals and nursing homes are generally not included.

Continue reading "Rotating power outages to continue" »

Posted by Editor at 11:10 PM | Permalink

Other school districts closed:

• Arlington ISD
• Cedar Hill ISD
• Mansfield ISD

Posted by Editor at 05:16 PM | Permalink

Other closings:

• Arlington ISD
• Cedar Hill ISD
• Mansfield ISD

Posted by Editor at 05:40 PM | Permalink

Other schools closed:

• Arlington ISD
• Mansfield ISD
• Cedar Hill ISD
• Dallas County Community College District
• University of Texas at Arlington

City services closed:

• No garbage pickup
• City landfill
• Prairie Paws Animal Shelter
• Bowles Recreation Center closing at 5 p.m.
• Dalworth Recreation Center open noon-5 p.m.
• Charley Taylor Recreation Center open noon-5 p.m.
• Summit closing at 3 p.m. and reopen at 9 a.m. on Wednesday
• City Council Meeting cancelled
• Main Library closing at 3 p.m.

Posted by Editor at 05:24 AM | Permalink