QuikTrip Coming to Van Alstyne

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.

Police Jail Assault Suspect

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By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene in Town. The Van Alstyne News does not name suspects unless or until they are indicted.

Van Alstyne Police arrested a local woman early Sunday morning on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police Lt. Steven Hayslip reported that it was about 2:45 a.m. when they were called to a residence on Dartmouth Drive inside the city, in regard to a disturbance in progress.
There, they found that a man had been stabbed in the shoulder. They were informed that his wife had been the one wielding the knife. Hayslip said that the husband had been at home and his wife had recently arrived when the attack happened.
Van Alstyne EMS took the victim to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
The suspect remains in Grayson County Jail Tuesday morning in lieu of $26,000 bail, payable in surety bonds which do have special conditions set. The charge is a 2nd degree felony.
Hayslip said the case is still under investigation.

Texas’ Blake Burrow’s New Song Available for Download

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Press Release from Jeremy Westby, 2911 Media

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Native Texas singer-songwriter Blake Burrow returns with a beautifully crafted mid-tempo ballad, “Don’t Blame It On The Bar,” perfect for the honky tonk dance floor. Burrow bemoans the barfly’s life and recent lost love, but insists that the hearer shouldn’t ‘blame it on the bar.’

Don’t blame it on the one serving up the drinks
Don’t get it twisted because they mixed it
That Coke with some Tennessee whiskey
Blame it on my pride, my stubborn mind, my broken heart
But don’t blame it on the bar

“I’m excited to release ‘Don’t Blame It On The Bar’ as my first single off the upcoming record,” Burrow shares. “My buddy Joey Green and I created the song based on true events at a Nashville bar. We went home and turned around and wrote it the next day. The vibe and meaning of the song can hit audiences all over the world. It is one of those songs everyone can sing along with when it hits the chorus. It’s a catchy tune.”

Blake penned the song with co-writers Joey Green, Grayson Green, and Brady Irby. The song was recorded at East Iris Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by Dan Frizell (Highwaymen, Lee Brice, Craig Morgan, Chris Janson, David Ball and many others) Musicians on the recording include A-list Music Row studio stalwarts Miles McPherson (Drums), Mark Hill (Bass), John Willis (Acoustic), Rob McNelly (Electric Guitar), David Dorn (Keyboards), and Mike Johnson (Steel Guitar). Lead vocals: Blake Burrow. Backing vocals: Joey Green.

“Don’t Blame It On The Bar” was premiered on Friday, September 29, by The Hollywood Times and is available to stream/download HERE.

Blake Burrow is a talented country singer from the small Panhandle Texas town of Tulia, Born and raised in Texas, Blake’s love for music started at a young age and grew with him as he got older. While pursuing his education at Wayland Baptist University, he discovered his passion for playing the guitar.

After moving to Texas Tech, Blake started writing music and performing at various venues in the area. He played his first show at The Blue Light Live in Lubbock and quickly gained a regional following. In 2016, Blake recorded his first album, “Cotton on Concrete,” which showcased his unique sound and songwriting ability.

Since then, Blake has made a name for himself in the greater Texas country music scene. He has opened for well-known artists including Reckless Kelly, Stoney LaRue, Mike Ryan, and Dennis Quaid. Burrow has also had the honor of performing the national anthem at the Red Bull Cliff Diving event.

Blake’s music reflects his strong Texas roots, blending traditional country and rock influences. His lyrics are honest and heartfelt, often drawing from personal experiences and the world around him. Burrow released his latest single, “Don’t Blame It On The Bar,” on September 29, 2023. His upcoming album, ‘Faded,‘ is set to be released in the fall of 2023. He is sure to continue making a name for himself in the country music community.

National Night Out -Tuesday, October 3 – UPDATED 10/1

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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.”

Construction to Begin on New City Park

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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.