Welcome to growth!
Photo by Giant effects by Portland blogger.

City Hall
Photo by Giant

Bad Brads-I can almost smell the brisket now?
Photo by Giant

Bad Brads (rear side)
Photo by Giant

Site for NFCU-Looks like Hildale 1955 in "Back to the Future"!
Photo by Giant

Cedar street
Photo by Giant

Cedar Street Extension
Photo by Giant

New Mystery Hotel

News and Commentary

This blog was recently added to the Keys to the City area on citiesonline.com. I appreciate the listing! I am trying to get the word out. I need contributors!

Myself and our chief photographer-"Giant" will be out and about this coming weekend to take pictures of construction progress.

News: It looks like Bad Brads BBQ is getting very close to opening. Also seems that the cinema parking lot is finally going to get paved. One downside to all the new businesses is that some of the smaller mom and pop stores have closed their doors. Of these is the Ice Cream Parlor over by Subway and another local ice cream store (a chain) La Patera closed (next to Blockbuster)

Commentary: A Day in the Life of a Small Town

Sometimes old sayings still ring true…such as “Behind every cloud there’s a silver lining”
Recently a local retailer accidentally swapped credit cards with me and another customer. The other customer didn’t look at the card. They stuffed it into their wallet and drove away. Unsure of what to do, I called the Portland Police Department. Our local "men and women in blue" where courteous and genuinely concerned throughout the ordeal. They contacted the other card holder, got our card back and even offered to come to our house to drop it off! It's reassuring to know that at least in our small town they still protect and serve-even when it turns out not to be a crime. Thanks guys!!!

Happy New Year Portland!

Growth continues at a rapid pace and the future looks bright for 2006. While attending a local community activity it was stated that some citizens are concerned about the impact of the eventual base closing (Ingleside). I suppose we will have to wait and see. This blogger and family are continuing to enjoy Portland and did 90% of our Christmas shopping in Portland (and online).

I am working at getting this blog listed at other Texas community sites and blog search engines. The Portland Chamber politely declined a reciprocal link on their site due to some unprofessional behavior of a previous Blog / website. Nice folks over at chamber- I respect their decision. To be a successful conduit for community news I need to get the word out. I need others to contribute and provide information. (special thanks to my co-workers for some recent updates!)

This picture taken 1/2/06 show an in-progress extension of Cedar street. The street will now end at Buddy Gamen next to the new movie theater.

Photo by Giant (click for larger image)

Cedar street

Mystery Hotel

This structure (a hotel) is coming along nicely. I have not found any information as to what hotel chain this is going to be. As always feel free to post if you have any info.

Mystery Hotel-Photo by Giant (click for larger image)