[fltoar]

Hello,
I am considering taking a job at Arkansas Tech University. My wife and I have been reading the message boards and we've become a little bit concerned about the City of Russellville. We have just had our first baby and we're curious if this town is a good place to raise children. I'll list out our number one concerns but if you have any other ideas please let me know.

1) Does the whole town smell like a rendering plant?

2) Is there a real reason to be concerned about the nuclear plant?

3) Is the town truly friendly to outsiders?

Honestly, the amount of negative things said about these first three questions on the message boards have been enough to give us significant pause about the move.

4) Is Arkansas Tech a good university? Does it have a good relationship with the town?

5) What are the job prospects for elementary school teachers?

6) How are shopping/dining/nightlife etc. Quality of life type stuff.

Thanks.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by fltoar

Hello,
I am considering taking a job at Arkansas Tech University. My wife and I have been reading the message boards and we've become a little bit concerned about the City of Russellville. We have just had our first baby and we're curious if this town is a good place to raise children. I'll list out our number one concerns but if you have any other ideas please let me know.

1) Does the whole town smell like a rendering plant?

2) Is there a real reason to be concerned about the nuclear plant?

3) Is the town truly friendly to outsiders?

Honestly, the amount of negative things said about these first three questions on the message boards have been enough to give us significant pause about the move.

4) Is Arkansas Tech a good university? Does it have a good relationship with the town?

5) What are the job prospects for elementary school teachers?

6) How are shopping/dining/nightlife etc. Quality of life type stuff.

Thanks.

I lived in Russellville for a while doing a coop at the Nuke Plant.

1) Definitely NOT!
2) I would have no concerns about it seeing as I worked there. It's a lot more environmentally safe than a coal fired plant and the likelihood of a disaster is incredibly tiny. Most people in the US already live in the area of effect of a major nuclear disaster and are apparently clueless about that fact.
3) I had no issues. Most people seemed pretty friendly to me. Working at Tech you should have access to a good variety of educated people with whom to interact. I wouldn't worry about that aspect of things
4) It's definitely an up and coming school and has been really working hard to improve many aspects of its education since the early '90s. However, it's still typically on the lower level of many prospective student's lists.
5) No idea...sorry
6) This is where Russellville becomes unattractive to me. Being a dry county, there are few places to get a drink and you have to drive 20 miles east to get beer. Not a whole lot to do unless you want to get a boat and be on the lake fishing all the time which I know is very attractive to a lot of people, but not necessarily to me.

Whether or not Russellville will be good for you is entirely dependent on what you want out of life. If you need lots of events and cultural amenity venues, then you'll probably be very unhappy there. If you love nature, hiking, biking, canoing, boating, things like that, then it could be your paradise.

[strumpeace]

Russellville has a certain charm of its own. If you haven't lived in a small, ruralish Arkansas town before, I would strongly suggest that you book a room at a local inn and stay for a few days. It's not for everyone.

With regard to Arkansas Tech, from what I gather, it's on the lower end of state colleges in Arkansas, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

Best wishes.

And where's Sam? She's the Russellville queen.

[fltoar]

Thanks for the information. I'm looking forward to visiting Russellville and seeing for myself. I have a friend here who used to live there and she really put it down. Your responses, though, have made me feel a little better. Maybe one other question. Where does ATU fall between UCA, UofA, and some of the schools in the Arkansas system. Thanks!

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by fltoar

Thanks for the information. I'm looking forward to visiting Russellville and seeing for myself. I have a friend here who used to live there and she really put it down. Your responses, though, have made me feel a little better. Maybe one other question. Where does ATU fall between UCA, UofA, and some of the schools in the Arkansas system. Thanks!

I'd say ATU is starting to get close to being on par with UCA. It's still a good bit smaller in student body I believe but the quality and reputation is growing. Back in the early 90's I would have put it more on par with SAU. All of the facilities were probably around 30 years old and it just didn't have a very good reputation. When we drive by there now, I marvel at how far that school has come since then. It's starting to look like a nice and modern campus. Just curious, what field are you in?

[fltoar]

Had the opportunity to visit ATU and Russellville. Thought it was wonderful. Thanks for the advice on here.

[Bail_Khan]

I spent a few days in Russellville several years back. I didn't even know there was a rendering plant.
Some people just can't get over the word nuclear.
I remember seeing some sort of stadium that I was really impressed with, had no idea it was there.
Nightlife? Well I probably won't be going to Russellville for spring break.

[EvanD]

Originally Posted by fltoar

Had the opportunity to visit ATU and Russellville. Thought it was wonderful. Thanks for the advice on here.

Hope you didn't miss out on Whatta-burger!

Russellville's usually a good stop on the way from Little Rock to the Ozarks for some backpacking/kayaking/what have you, and I can't ever pass up Whatta-burger.

Anyway, Russellville's a decent place and I think many people enjoy living there.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by fltoar

Had the opportunity to visit ATU and Russellville. Thought it was wonderful. Thanks for the advice on here.

Good to hear! Hopefully you'll get a good offer from them.

Originally Posted by Bail_Khan

I spent a few days in Russellville several years back. I didn't even know there was a rendering plant.
Some people just can't get over the word nuclear.
I remember seeing some sort of stadium that I was really impressed with, had no idea it was there.
Nightlife? Well I probably won't be going to Russellville for spring break.

If the stadium you're talking about was enclosed, that would be Tucker Colisseum. I think it's due to be replaced soon. The Tech football stadium has been renovated lately too and it's starting to look pretty decent. When I first went down there, there were plenty of high school stadiums in the state that looked better!

[excelsior]

Looking for jobs in Russellville Arkansas. I have a student moving there soon and looking for employment. She majored in commercial and residential painting and is also a carpentry apprentice. How is the job market anyone have any leads?? How about the power plant how do you apply???