moving to Grand Island, NE (Lincoln, Hastings: appointed, real estate, rentals)

[countrygirlscrapper]

My husband and I are moving to Grand Island in December. He has recently been placed on recruiting duty for the US Army and Grand Island is where they are sending us to recruit. I am from a town north of Nashville, TN and he is from central Iowa. We are trying to figure out a good part of town to live in because he will be working long hours and does not want to commute very far. The station is on West State Street. We are in our mid-twenties with no children. We both enjoy the country life and love to meet new people. Any help would be appreciated. Thus far I have found that Grand Island is largely hispanic, has a water treatment plant and meat-packing plant (on the east side) and has drug problems. This is not great news for people coming from the better side of the tracks.

[tpabes]

Those things are true about Grand Island, but it is not a horrible town. There is a good amount of shopping there and there hospital just did a huge expansion. Since you don't want to commute far, I would live on the west/northwest edge of town. I say anything west of Custer and north of Hwy 30 would be your target area. There is a lots of housing, really close to the shopping and hospital. There are several new housing developments going in west of Hwy 281 and also an established area in the far northwest part of town. There is also nice parts of GI in the south and even far east edge around some lakes, but I would go for the west/northwest for a super short commute and nice area. If you do plan on kids look into the Northwest school district, just my opinion. Are you looking to rent or buy? Check out the Grand Island Independent for listings of rentals or look up realtors in the phone book. We rented when we lived in GI and dealt with First Brokers and had no problems. Welcome to Nebraska and if you have any more questions ask.

[kosnebbear]

You might want to take a look at Doniphan which is a nice town. It is small about 1000 people, yet it is close to Grand Island and the Recruiting Station as well. Doniphan is on US Hwy 281 and is only about 10 miles south of Grand Island and the recruiting station. I also was a military recruiter in and retired in Grand Island, but now live south of Lincoln. We have grandchildren living in the area in Alda so we get to Grand Island from time to time. Just stay away from looking for a place on the east side of town in Grand Island and you will be fine. Most of the major shopping centers are on the west side of town. Maybe when I get done with what I am doing I will have to stop by to say hello to your husband. Welcome to Nebraska.

[econgrad]

I live in Hastings NE which is about 25 mins south of GI. There are about 25000 people here and I know plenty of people who drive to GI to work (not saying that there is a lack of jobs in Hastings). I would never live in GI. I would say the commute would be a nice trade off for living in a nicer community. Seriously look into Hastings.

[pablo-me]

Sadly, Grand Island won't offer much in the way of recruitment because their large mexican population is in this country illegally. I've spent some time there and just couldn't stomach paying into a community where big business supports illegal aliens at the expense of real Americans.

[GraniteStater]

pablo-me,
The situation is actually worse in some areas of Kanssa. The big businesses hires tons of illegal aliens in cities like Dodge City, Garden City, and Liberal that have meatpacking plants, slaughterhouses, and commercial agriculture related activities.

[kosnebbear]

pablo-me, I worked as a military recruiter in Grand Island for three years. Yes there are a bunch illegals in the Grand Island area due to big business, but there are more people who are Nebraska citizens who want to join the military. The illegals will not come to see you, because if they did they are afraid that they will be caught which is something that I would love to see all of the illegals caught and deported then our borders sealed so that they can not return except the legal way. Oh yea just to let you know I was very successful at recruiting. Tell me what did you do for your country? Did you give some of your time in the military service defending our constitution? A real American would have spent some time in the military.

[dads4u2]

Contact Amos Anson at 308 390 2455 He is partnered in FAmos Construction and can help you out with building you a new house. His wife is a real estate agent and could also help to locate a used house (or new). Give them a call. They are all very nice people to deal with.

[MarriedWithOutChildren]

Kos, are you serious? That's disappointing that you would say someone isn't a REAL American bcs they did not join the military. I understand your background and I have family mbrs (grandfather, father, brothers, sister, fil, and now a nephew) that have served in both the Army and the Navy, but I don't look down on people who havn't served.

I am very sorry, and you can call me whatever, but I do not feel that your patriotism is based on whether you serve in the military or not. I was very upset when my nephew joined the Army a yr ago bcs I am scared for his life. I am proud with his decision, as he is doing what he wants to do, but I am terrified he'll be sent to Iraq and fight in a war that I am not behind. Am I behind the soldiers who are there? Of course I am. Am I behind our president who, I feel, sent our soldiers to to fight his war? HECK NO!!!

Kos, I am disappointed.

[MarriedWithOutChildren]

I apologize for my rant....way off the op's question and not the correct thread to get all political.