[115db]

Originally Posted by TU 'cane

Out of those choices, I myself would pick Muskogee just because it's a bigger city (about 40,000).

Depending on where you work, I too, was gonna suggest Muskogee. Been there and it is a bit more populated than McAlester but then, its closer to Tulsa.

[gnight]

Well, I visited Grove this weekend and found it to be everything that everyone has told me. A great little town with a gorgeous lake and SUPER nice people. Great medical facilities and they're building a new hospital. My only worry is the lack of chain type restaurants (i.e. Chili's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc) just to go out for a quick and easy bite on the weekends. My wife would like a little more shopping (i.e. Dillards, JC Penney, etc) but these are around 50 miles away in Joplin, MO. The schools seem more than adequate.

My next visit will be Muskogee and we'll see how that goes. It's a bigger town but seems to have far more crime and lacks the lake!

We did drive through Siloam Springs/Springdale/Fayetteville and that area is unbelievable. But it's a little further away from our families than we would like.


Just keeping the thread updated

[colleeng47]

Thanks for updating us. I'm glad you liked Grove. It sounds really nice -- we've haven't been there.

Keep us posted.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by Crosstimbers Okie

That's pure hypebole. OSP is no larger or more brutal than any other high security prison, state or federal. And, just like any prison of just about any security level, it does have inmates who are locked down 23 hours a day for various misconducts or because they have proven themselves to be unmanagable any other way.

I watched the story on "BIG MAC on tv. I don't remember if it was on 60 Minutes or another show. It was labeled just as I said. MOST DANGEROIS was the phrase most often used to describe the inmates. In fact the story among other items mentioned the gruesome killing of the prison adminstrrator and some the employees which is what broguth about the 23 hour lock down. .

This is not a place I would like to raise children of any age. I would not want to come home a find dead child due to a prsion break.

And by the way at one time I sat in meetings with one of the inmates who was sentenced to Big Mac and yearrs later was moved to the medium security building. He is, if he is still iving, a convicted kiiller. We had many a conversation about life inside the main prison. It is worse than how it was portrayed on television.

[briansgi]

Originally Posted by gnight

Well, I visited Grove this weekend and found it to be everything that everyone has told me. A great little town with a gorgeous lake and SUPER nice people. Great medical facilities and they're building a new hospital. My only worry is the lack of chain type restaurants (i.e. Chili's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc) just to go out for a quick and easy bite on the weekends. My wife would like a little more shopping (i.e. Dillards, JC Penney, etc) but these are around 50 miles away in Joplin, MO. The schools seem more than adequate.

My next visit will be Muskogee and we'll see how that goes. It's a bigger town but seems to have far more crime and lacks the lake!

We did drive through Siloam Springs/Springdale/Fayetteville and that area is unbelievable. But it's a little further away from our families than we would like.


Just keeping the thread updated

If you do move to the Grove area, please promise to at least drive the speed limit when you are in town! I live on the south end of Grand and frequent Grove on a regular basis. Driving behind the geriatrics that cannot find the gas pedal gets very frustrating!

[Mattie Jo]

Originally Posted by gnight

I'm in my 30s with kids and will be moving to Oklahoma due to job changes. I have several options and it really depends on my choice and what area/town would be the best to live and raise my kids.

My choices are Grove, McAlester, Muskogee, as well as the Fort Smith/Van Buren, Arkansas areas.

Do you guys have any opinions of the best places to live.

Grove looks nice but I've lived in larger towns and tend to be spoiled to having numerous restaurats to choose from and my wife likes "the mall" and the shopping without having to drive an hour each way.

Muskogee is more the size of town I thought I would go to but I hear that the town leaves a lot to be desired although it does have a mall, restaurants, and is closer to Tulsa.

I don't know much about McAlester at all except it has the Federal Penn.

Any input or thoughts would be great. Just from what we've heard, the Grove area and the Van Buren, AR area tend to be what we're leaning toward but we really don't know.

Thanks a ton.

i would definitely NOT pick Muskogee. It leaves more than a lot to be desired.

[Synopsis]

You might also look into Bartlesville, it is a fantastic little city.

[Jammie]

Huh~ah. The correct answer is "Grove".

[gnight]

That's interesting that you bring up Bartlesville. I was just looking into that area. It's a little flatter than I like, seems to lack the beauty of the towns further east and doesn't have the advantage of the lake but the size of town seems better. I may need to take a trip to Bartlesville and check it out.

I've had numerous people now tell me that Muskogee would be at the botom of the list and I understand why. I think I'll move it down a bit on the list.

[StillwaterTownie]

Bartlesville like Muskogee also has a nice shopping mall.