need info on Jonesboro (Paragould, Walnut Ridge: tornadoes, weekend getaway, work)

[loonyrich]

Magrack and Richard Grippo, thanks for your input. I lived west of Heber many years ago and actually necked under the edgemont bridge when they were building it That was many moons ago but I loved the area and we want to move back when we retire. We are coming back this Sept. and will fly into Memphis and tour Jonesboro, Paragould, Batesville, Mountain Home and Heber Springs. We would like to be in the northern parts but not really the NW corner. Any others spots you might suggest.

[Pearlbob]

For real?

There are tons of buffet restaurants in Jonesboro. Mainly chinese and 'country' type food.

Fishing isn't my thing, but most people I knew there went fishing and hunting regularly.

And yes, the mosquitos are terrible. it's the delta, so it's humid and hot, and given that jonesboro is surrounded by rice fields, that makes it a ton worse.

[magrack]

Originally Posted by loonyrich

Magrack and Richard Grippo, thanks for your input. I lived west of Heber many years ago and actually necked under the edgemont bridge when they were building it That was many moons ago but I loved the area and we want to move back when we retire. We are coming back this Sept. and will fly into Memphis and tour Jonesboro, Paragould, Batesville, Mountain Home and Heber Springs. We would like to be in the northern parts but not really the NW corner. Any others spots you might suggest.

I'm partial to the Heber Springs area myself, and even though my family is from in and around Batesville, I made the choice to live in the Heber area when I returned to AR. I'm not sure I could adequately define why.

Batesville is too big, but then so is every other place on your list.

I came back for the rural lifestyle, and did not want to live in "town". The nearest town to us is less than 500 people, but there's a couple of cafes where we can go and spend some time with other people if we feel the need.

I can get a real latte or cappuccino there.

15-20 miles to the nearest town (of any size) is plenty close. It's 25 miles to the closest movie theater from me, and it doesn't bother me a bit. If there's a movie I really want to see on the big screen, I'll gladly spend the time driving to go see it, otherwise I'll wait for it to show up on DVD or the dish network.

Because I can pick and choose when I want to travel, I can be in LR in less than an hour. That's one of the advantages of being retired. My wife and I head down to LR every ten days or two weeks for shopping, exploring, a meal or whatever. We make a day out of it. We don't need or desire the hustle and bustle of a major city nor any of the issues that are the result of too many people living in too small a place.

Been there, done that.

I don't like the delta area as it's too flat (Pearlbob is right about the mosquitoes around the rice growing areas).

I did not want to live in an enclave of retired or semi-retired people.

Gated community?

I couldn't cut myself off from everything that I came back for, although I understand some people have a need for the sense of security a gated community might give them.

I came back for the hot humid summers, the friendliness of the people, the great fishing, the natural beauty of the state and in part, because the place is more affordable on a retiree's income than where I was living, and I can use the money I'm not spending to do a little traveling...and then come back and relax and recharge.

Here's the thing; your needs are not the same as mine. What I find attractive about an area, may not appeal to you, but I can tell you why I chose a particular area or rejected another, but your choice will be what fits you and yours the best.

Batesville, Mountain Home and Heber Springs areas would be attractive to me.

Jonesboro and Paragould would not be a good fit for me.

You're doing the right thing. Come down and take a look.

You used to live here, so this might mean something to you.

It's changed, but it hasn't.

[loonyrich]

Thanks Magrack and I am sure that it has changed but is still the same. All of your input helps point us in the right direction as we search for where to put down roots in retirement. Can't wait for Sept. and our trip.

[Richard Grippo]

Originally Posted by loonyrich

Moderator cut: personal - off topic So, once again, hows the fishing thereabouts and are the mosquitos bad ? And the old lady wants to know if there are any buffet eateries ?

Well, there is good news and there is bad news. The good new is: the fishing is Arkansas is tremendous, but not right in Jonesboro. You have to travel a bit but it is worth it to most. In addition to the usual bass, catfish and crappie one would expect in the south, there is also an amazing trout fishery, compliments of the large impoundments scattered through out the state. Many of them are stocked, but there are healthy populations of reproducing trout, especially brown trout. The world record brown trout was caught in the Little Red River, about 2 hours from Jonesboro. It weighed over 42 lbs! There are also some hybrid striped bass and a pretty good walleye fishery in some of the big lakes and the Spring River. Now, the bad news. Jonesboro is in rice country. It is more or less surrounded by rice fields in most directions. We are talking about 2,000 to 6,000 acre rice farms. Rice fields contain about four inches of stagnant water from June until September. At night, the mosquitos will EAT YOU ALIVE. I am not kidding. People do not sit out on their decks at night in the summer, unless they are screened in. Really, really screened in. Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news, but if you cannot deal with mosquitos you will have a problem living in Jonesboro.

[loonyrich]

10-4 heard that buzz buzz thanks

[Diamond Dee]

WE have friends that live in Jonesboro,and they say the summers are a bit warmer than here in KY.we heard about the mosquitos too. other than the humidity it don't sound any worse than other towns that size in Ar.

[charswillsmom]

I was born and raised in Jonesboro and have at least 50 family members in town. I got married and moved to Birmingham so when I go back home it feels really small and "hometowny." My mom swears that it's getting alot bigger and tells of all the growth but to me it looks like it always did just spruced up a bit. I think it's a wonderful place but there's a lot of $ there and certain areas and groups can be quite pretentious. If you can believe that about Arkansas.
As far as the skeeters are concerned...whew. My grandparents lived on several acres that were farmed. Ricefields. I am positive that there is a certain amount of "Off" still in my bloodstream today.
The mosquito...Arkansas' state bird.
Screened in porches are the only way to go.

[Diamond Dee]

Talking about Jonesboro does anyone know about abilites unlimited,any info on them I know they provide services for the developmentaly disabled.any one know about group home work their too?

[jtown,man]

Yes, I actually worked for Abilities Unlimited and one of my good friends mom work for them now........Send me a message if you need some info on it