23 Things That Happened in 2023
Texarkana turned 150 in 2023, and it was a year to remember! Here is a list we put together of some of the exciting and, in some cases, historic events that happened this year to set us apart. Happy New Year!
1. Texarkana Independent School District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Parks Elementary.
2. Texarkana College opened the new James Henry Russell STEM Complex.
3. United Way of Greater Texarkana celebrated 100 years of service.
4. Texarkana, USA, celebrated its sesquicentennial year and spent the year recognizing the history, art, music, culture, and pride of Texarkana. The Twice as Nice Sesquicentennial Festival kicked off with the unveiling a fifty-year-old time capsule.
5. Spring Lake Park installed a new fitness court worth over $100,000 with funding from grants and the city’s Parks Capital Improvement Fund.
6. Texas A&M University-Texarkana hired a new president, Dr. Ross Alexander.
7. New city code amendment allows Texarkana, Texas, residents to raise chickens.
8. CHRISTUS St. Michael broke ground on a new emergency center.
9. Texarkana Regional Airport received 4.275 million dollars in federal funds.
10. Liberty-Eylau ISD appointed assistant superintendent Jeff Wright as interim superintendent.
11. The City of Texarkana, Texas, appointed Chris Black, a 26-year veteran of the Texarkana, Texas Fire Department, as the new fire chief.
12. Texas A&M University-Texarkana added a T-Line transit system route dedicated to its campus.
13. Texarkana Texas Police Department added a western hat to the officer uniform.
14. Texarkana, Arkansas, signed Robert Thompson as the new city manager.
15. Pleasant Grove ISD superintendent Chad Pirtle was named Superintendent of the Year for the Region 8 Education Service Center.
16. Texarkana College Board of Trustees appointed Derrick McGary as Place 1 board member.
17. Liberty Eylau High School senior 2023, Kalen Redmond, won a new car from Robbins Toyota for perfect attendance.
18. Second annual Pitch it Texarkana winner, Cheyenne Adams, opened Paddle TXK at Bringle Lake.
19. The Texarkana Museums System began a massive restoration project on the historic Ace of Clubs House.
20. Former Miller County Circuit Judge Carlton D. Jones announced his candidacy for Position 2 of the Arkansas Supreme Court seat.
21. Washington Community Development Center received a $50,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation and Southwestern Electric Power Company to launch the Washington Leadership Academy.
22. On November 1, the Texas Rangers won The World Series for the first time in the franchise’s 63-year history! “Let’s-Go-Ran-gers-!!!"
23. The World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales visited the Texarkana Area. The team of ten horses and eight handlers from St. Louis, Missouri, made their way to downtown Texarkana for a block party and concert presented by Eagle Distributing.
