move to Bonham? (Dallas, Amarillo, Tyler: for sale, rentals, car insurance)

[amarillo52]

I am thinking about moving to Bonham, TX. I heard they have ice storms, is that true> I am coming from the panhandle and want to haved a calmer winter- less wind and ice.
Also the past thread on Bonham are old, how is the town now? Any places to rent?

[swamp nurse]

Bonham goes back to the late 1800's but the town does not have a old look. There are places to rent now; two years ago I tried to move but housing was short with a pipline project going on that was to take two years laying gas pipe from Bonham to Mississippi.

Housing cost is cheaper than Amarillo and the weather is milder but tornado, hail and ice are a possible in any Texas town; you should not get as much snow and ice as Amarillo and hail is usually smaller that way do keep in mind that even Shreveport farther south gets hit with these things and there is small potential for flood as the Red River is just north and there is ample water supply with lakes and creeks.

Both towns are okay Amarillo and Bonham. I am looking at Bonham to transfer to with the VA. the one in Amarillo was very rude to work with in looking at jobs besides I rather live in a more southern culture than what Amarillo or here in Big Spring has to offer.

Bonham has limited services like I think the only utilities in the area are TXU and Verizon and there is just Red River Medical Center and an off campus test site for Grayson College. one health food store and one Wal-Mart.

The area has mostly older towns and houses ones with big porches and trim work on them. Check out near by Jefferson Texas for old stuff; Wow.

[GayleTX]

Compared to the Panhandle.....ice storms are infrequent and don't last long. However, they have very little road equipment to handle the roads so the whole area just shuts down when there is an ice storm.

Right now there are 2-3 townhouses for rent/lease on Russell St ....just about 2 years old, very nice red brick, good neighborhood in the edge of Country Club Village about 2 blocks north of the high school and elementary school. Have no idea about the price. I'm sure there are other houses available....there are many for sale, been for sale for a long time. Most of the nicer, new homes are out in the county....the younger families with children want to be in the school districts out in the county (there are about 7 of them).....all are better rated than the Bonham school district and have nicer facilities for the most part. The county is served by local water suppliers and Fannin Co Co-op Electricity. There is a nice lake north of town with a lot of houses around it.

The health food store is now out of business. WalMart is small but is 24-hr. There is a new video store.

Hope you won't be needing to find a good job in town.....they are scarce, but it's only about 30 min. to Sherman/Denison....not a lot of jobs there, either, but more than Bonham.

You might look at the local paper on line....http://www.ntxe-news.com/

[swamp nurse]

Thanks for the info. the job would be a transfer so it would be secured. Too bad on the health food store, nice guy ran. Wal-Mart being small would be fine as I am downsizing my life. I just need basics, new video store great. Thanks for more on utilites the town's Chamber of Comm. did not print it in my booklet. I visited last two years ago. It would work for me.

I am comparing to Tyler and a few other towns. It would mean a career change but as a nurse I have some option. Currently the VA where I work is the pits and I think the government facilites are getting worse and before I get to burnt out I may just try Tyler and UT or the big ETMC or some little town around there.

Any feed back would be appreciated.

[stillkit]

SwampNurse: You'll love working for the VA in Bonham. From a patient's standpoint, just about everyone there is wonderful. They're mostly local folks and are very friendly, outgoing and trustworthy. I've also been impressed by the woman who recently took over the facility. I can't recall her name right off-hand, but she's very, very patient oriented and I've heard no complaints about her management. It's where I get all my health care and I couldn't be happier with it.

As for Bonham? It's a small town. That's about all there is to say. It lacks a lot of big town conveniences, but it's adequate for just about every need. There's enough shopping to find most of what you may want and the bigger towns of Sherman, Denison and McKinney are only about a half hour away if you want more. Dallas is about an hour. There is a shortage of good restaurants, and even fast food joints, but you won't go hungry. So far as I know, there are two full-service grocery stores, Walmart and Brookshires, so the competition keeps prices fairly low. (I recommend Brookshires because all of their beef is marked "Product of the USA." That's not so for Walmart. Theirs says, "Product of the USA, Canada and Mexico.")

There are some bad neighborhoods and they do seem to have a meth problem, but overall, it's a nice, pleasant little town of good, decent people. It's the county seat for Fannin County, so most government services are right at your fingertips.

If you don't want to look for a place right in town, there are several outlying smaller towns which are nice places too, such as Ector, Savoy, Dodd City, Bailey, Trenton and Ravenna. North of town, around the community of Telephone, is pretty remote and very rugged country, but the downside is that they bust a lot of meth labs out there. There's also Oklahoma to consider. It's not that far away and offers a complete exemption from all taxation, except income tax, if either you or your spouse is a 100% disabled Veteran. If you're not, taxes are pretty low, but they will deduct Oklahoma income tax on any money you earn in Texas.

Good luck finding a house. I don't think you'll be sorry about transfering to the VA in Bonham or about the town itself.

[swamp nurse]

I am awaiting word on the home health program out of Bonham VA. As for the nursing home portion I was not offered. They seemed to think I would not stay long with my acute care background, that I would be bored and transfer to Dallas. If the option for the home health position is passed over. I actually am considering closing out the VA career portion and go work for UT or ETMC in Tyler.

Oklahoma I have considered the Indian Health Services there but I am tiring of government red tape.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by swamp nurse

I am awaiting word on the home health program out of Bonham VA. As for the nursing home portion I was not offered. They seemed to think I would not stay long with my acute care background, that I would be bored and transfer to Dallas. If the option for the home health position is passed over. I actually am considering closing out the VA career portion and go work for UT or ETMC in Tyler.

Oklahoma I have considered the Indian Health Services there but I am tiring of government red tape.

Don't forget that the state of Texas has a Veteran's nursing home at the VA complex in Bonham too.

[swamp nurse]

I spoke to the vets home yesterday and will stop in to look at hiring on when I drive through on my way to Arkansas next week.

I am tired of federal VA ways but the state vets home is a different situation but with the same type of patients I have worked best with the past 12 years.

I can't wait to visit and interview there; even if I get offered the home health job at Bonham VA I will give the state vets home a try.

Thanks for the encouragement and simple advice.

I am familiar with the vets home in Big Spring so I know a little about the vets homes in general. I have a good agency nurse record at the Big Spring state vets home. It might help in getting hired on there.

Honestly too I am more drawn to Bonham for a quiet settled life than what hussle bussle life I might find in Tyler but being close to town can be fun too.

Sounds like changes for me this autumn.

[amarillo52]

I have been reading all the posts, great advice. I,too, am still undecided. Can't get there for a look for awhile. But it seems like a nice place. I have been checking on the VA there also, in the Mental Heath clinic. I am retiring form a state job and want a slower pace, but the Fed govt hardly hires for part time.

[swamp nurse]

got back from Bonham last week. Vets home offered me job as well as Red River and I got an email from the VA.

Brookshire was good and I saw the video store. rent is about 100 less then Big Spring plus they have fair house rentals.

the are is really growing like Sherman and Dennison and across the river in Durant and Atoka. Gainesville has grown a lot too. lots of opportunity there in the area.

Bonham was green and quiet.

Car insurance is cheaper on the Oklahoma side though.