Press Release from Texas Department of Transportation, Nov. 10, 2023
PARIS – The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing to widen US 75 in Grayson County from FM 1417 south to the Grayson-Collin County line. Property owners along this portion of US 75, along with local
government and public officials, have an opportunity to comment on the environmental review process for this project.
The purpose of this proposed project is to add capacity, improve traffic operations by converting frontage roads from two-way to one-way, add frontage road turn around opportunities, and add ramp improvements along this portion of US 75.
The project would extend approximately 14 miles, widening this portion of US 75 from two main lanes to
three main lanes in each direction. Main traffic lanes in each direction would be 12 feet wide, with 10- to 11-
foot-wide inside shoulders, and 10-foot-wide outside shoulders separated from main lanes by a two-foot-
wide concrete traffic barrier. No additional right-of-way would be required, TxDOT officials said.
Environmental documentation, studies, maps and drawings and other information pertinent to this proposed
project are on file and available for viewing at two locations: the TxDOT Paris District Office, 1365 N. Main,
Paris, Texas 75460; and the TxDOT Sherman Area Office, 3904 South US 75, Sherman, Texas, 75090.
The project materials are in English. If you need an interpreter or document translator, one will be provided
for you. These arrangements and disability access arrangements can be requested by calling (903) 737-
9213 no later than 4 p.m. Central Time at least three business days before the date you would like to review
the project materials or submit comments. Advance notice helps TxDOT arrange to provide these
accommodations.
Project materials are also available online at www.txdot.gov by searching for “US 75 Grayson County.”
Comments can be submitted in writing and mailed to TxDOT Sherman Area Office, 3904 S. US 75,
Sherman, Texas 75090; or emailed to Elecia.Moore@txdot.gov no later than Dec. 3, 2023.

Story and photo by Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town.

On the southeast corner of Van Alstyne Parkway and U.S. Highway 75, QuikTrip is building a new convenience store and fueling area.
QuikTrip builds and operates attractive convenience stores with gas stations and is known for its customer service and cleanliness. Company plans call for removing the existing Shell building, awnings, signage, and underground fuel tanks, City Manager Lane Jones told the Council at its August meeting.
QuikTrip’s Corporate Communications Manager, Aisha Jefferson, said that they expect all work and stocking to be completed and ready for opening in July 2024. After the closing of the Shell station there, local drivers had the option of getting their gasoline at the Quick Check, Valero, or the Born in Texas stations.
The new store, which will be Van Alstyne’s 4th convenience store, will be redeveloped from the ground up, she said. It will be about 3,800 square feet in size; will have regular, premium, and diesel gasoline; and will offer freshly-made foods such as pastries and ready-made meals.
Currently, a construction crew is onsite tearing down the above-ground items, including the gasoline pumps and signage. The crew is also digging to remove the underground fuel tanks and make the sites available to replace those old tanks with new equipment. Jefferson said they might possibly replace the water pipes underneath, as well. “We want to make sure we don’t use any old parts,” she said.
Jefferson also said that the QuikTrip company plans to make it “the best paying convenience store in the neighborhood.” Hiring will begin about in January, she said, and those wanting to hire on can begin the process by going Online to QuikTrip.com and filling out the provided paperwork.
There is a QuikTrip on the west side of U.S. Highway 75, five miles south in Anna. This new Van Alstyne store will compliment it by being on the east side of the highway, thereby providing travelers a way to use the facilities without having to turn around.
The work site is marked and/or blocked on all sides (as shown in the photo) to not approve any admission when the crew has ceased working for the day.

Story and photos (from past years) by Mary Jane Farmer,  for the Van Alstyne News

In this, the 40th anniversary year of the establishment of National Night Out, Van Alstyne Police are hosting its yearly community gathering from 6-8 p.m. this Tuesday, Oct. 3. The full event will be held at the Central Social District park downtown. Van Alstyne Fire Department also will be out, as those first-responders work often with the police officers, helping with Van Alstyne residents’ and visitors’ safety and well-being.

Two then-new members of the police and fire departments learned quite a bit about dancing from this young lady and others who joined her. – Pre-2020 NNO

City Event Planner Kandi Hessell invites everyone to get involved. “Bring your family and friends out to the Central Social District Park for a night of free fun.”
In addition to meeting all the peace officers and first responders, there will be free train rides, bounce houses, face painting, hot dogs, and other fun activities. “A Care Flight helicopter will be on site, along with the city’s police cars driven around to protect and serve our wonderful community,” Hessell said. Also on hand will be many of the city’s ambulances and fire trucks. Big Dave with Mad Rock 102.5 radio station, who will also be broadcasting live. “Giveaways and fun for the whole family – you won’t want to miss this event!” Kessell added.
Another media said there will be a tug-of-war between police and fire officers, but that is not confirmed. NOW CONFIRMED:  This tug-of-war will be at 7 p.m., inside the park.
It will be, at the least, Van Alstyne’s 24th year of involvement. Police Chief Tim Barnes said it was Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 David Hawley, then a high-ranking deputy with the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, who organized NNO in this

A Van Alstyne policeman drove the traditional train filled with children through the night – About 2017

county.
National Night Out is parented by the National Association of Town Watch, organized in 1984. All cities, including Texas’ towns then, across the United States celebrated NNO on the first Tuesday of August.
For the law enforcement agencies in Grayson County and all of Texas, August was, and still is, an extremely hot time, and thus the NATW designated that Texas’ NNOs be held the first Tuesday in October. Van Alstyne PD switched over that first year, and it remains on the first Tuesday every October.
“NNO enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement in a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances” – National Night Out Click Here for its Website

The kids are allowed nowadays to get into patrol cars now as they were in years past.

Police Chief Tim Barnes said, “It’s (NNO) just been a long tradition with our community. It’s a great event that brings the community and the department(s) together and at no (taxpayer) expense.”

Story by Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News. Photos by Paige Boatman

The City of Van Alstyne will soon have a sixth city park for its residents and visitors to use for their enjoyment.Monday (September 25), city and business leaders were joined by residents to break the ground for the Eula Umphress-Robert Hynds Park, to be built between Dallas Avenue and Kelly Lane on the east side of U.S. Highway 75.
City Manager Lane Jones, Mayor ProTem Lee Thomas, and Parks & Recreation Director Tyler Bank all addressed the crowd, after which they and seven others picked up shovels and ceremoniously began moving dirt.
According to Jones, the Umphress/Hynds Park construction contract has been awarded. It was Piazza Construction LTD of Denison who received the award. Construction will begin on the 24-acre green-space park in October. The targeted completion date is late Spring of 2024. The park will include, Jones added, a fishing pond and fishing piers, walking trail, pergola, and playground, two parking lots. There will also be a large open space for individual or group activities.
The other city parks include North Park, Wilson-McKinney Park, Dorothy Fielder Park, Forrest Moore Park, and the most recently added Central Social District Park, which has been in use for two years.

Mayor ProTem Lee Thomas was one of several who addressed the crowd at Monday’s park groundbreaking.

Van Alstyne Police Chief Tim Barnes and Fire Chief Ryan Dockery were among the many city leaders at Monday’s groundbreaking.