August updates

Garland Welcomes new Fire Chief

As of August 1 Garland has a new Fire  Chief Raymond Knight enters retirement. Mark Lee, 54 is a former Battalion Chief on our neighboring Murphy Fire Department. Departing Chief Knight served in that post for six years.

Main Street Deli on the move.

Popular downtown Garland sandwich shop owner, Larry Irishmen, has announced plans to move his business down the block. He has purchased the building that has been part of the Baker’s Furniture store for several decades. Now leasing a 700 square foot space on the 600 on Main Street, he’ll be moving into 2,000 square feet in the 500 block. David Baker wants to assure his customers that this will not in any way change the operation of his furniture emporium.

Golden opportunity for COG

We’ve been told that real estate investor Robert Smith has offered to relieve the City of Garland of the vacant and dilapidated building in the downtown square formerly owned and occupied by the garland Civic Theatre. He would demolish the existing structure and reconstruct them in the style historical buildings as they were in the early 1900s. The City is currently in the position of having to either repair and maintain the building, which is actually several adjoining buildings having been “slipcovered” and brought up to date in the 60s.

Smith would be relieving COG of that financial burden and converting the property to an asset instead of an expense by generating sales and property tax revenues.  Let’s hope our city officials will to strike while the iron’s hot!  and let Smith continue to revive our historic downtown.

We would like to emphasize that Robert Smith has not entered into any negotiations with the city of Garland Pertaining to the east side of the downtown square.

Backing the Blue

The Garland Fire Department has begun a “Back the Blue” campaign in support of their fellow first responders, the Garland Police Department. Signs have been placed in front of the 11 Garland fire stations and firefighters hosted a fundraiser at the Intrinsic Brew Pub.  To further support our men and women in blue, the Garland City Council has approved the funding of additional body armour and helmets for certain PD departments.

Rowlett victim of July 7th Ambushed  

Rowlett resident Misty McBride, one of the DART police officers shot by a sniper’s bullets during a demonstration in downtown Dallas on July 7th. McBride was hit twice, one shot hit her lower body and the other hit her arm. She is recovering at home and looking forward to returning to work, but it looks like that won’t happen for several months.

She was one of four DART officers that sustained gunshot wounds, one one of whom died at the scene. Four Dallas police Officers also lost their lives at that tragic event. It’s time to show our appreciation for those men and women who risk their lives to keep our communities safe.