Allan Bishop’s Blog

     Central Texas College has been named as one of the top 20 military-friendly schools for the second year in a row. They have campuses scattered across the United States, in the Pacific Far East, in Europe, and in Southwest Asia. This is in addition to classes offered aboard navel ships and other programs that work hand-in-hand with Army, Navy, and Marine online programs. You may visit the CTC website at www.ctcd.edu.

     Tarleton University - Central Texas, an extenstion of Tarleton University in Stephenville, has met its first student enrollment goal on the way to becoming a free-standing university in the A&M University system. Recently they announced that their spring enrollment was 1,120 full-time students. The goal they were trying to reach was 1,000 full-time students. Their next enrollment goal is 1,500 full-time students. If they enroll that many by 2010 they will receive $25 million in tuition revenue bonds to build a new campus.

     As part of the national Circuit City bankruptcy filing the local store in the Market Heights shopping center will be closing their doors. No date is available concerning any planned closing at this time. Additionally no information is available as to what company might fill the space that will become empty at the new Harker Heights shopping complex when Circuit City does shut down.

     Early voting in the Copperas Cove City Council election is getting ready to start. On Thursday January 29 the hours are 7am-7pm and on Friday it is 8-5pm. Next week on Monday-Wednesday the hours are 8-5pm each day, then on Thursday it is 7am-7pm, and then on Friday it 8-5pm.

     Recently construction crews began road improvements along Summers Road in Copperas Cove. These improvements are expected to take about seven months to complete depending on the weather. Drivers should use other routes to avoid travel delays.

     Local business Renaissance Tapes & CD’s (formerly Renaissance Records) has moved into the 28,000 square-foot space that used to be home to Circuit City before they moved to the new Market Heights Shopping Center. The increased space will allow them to greatly expand their inventory but they have bigger plans too. Part the new store will include an entertainment center complete with miniature bowling alley, bumper cars, laser tag, and party rooms that can be rented.

     Recently Firestone and Yo-Yo’s Frozen Yogurt opened for business in the Market Heights shopping center. Located in Harker Heights, Texas the complex has become a beacon for business in the region and 2009 will welcome even more stores. On track to open in the coming months are a mixture of banks, restaurants, and retail stores. Chase and Bank of America have buildings currently under construction close to the access road. Restaurants Chick-fil-a, Genghis Grill (Mongolian stir fry), and Five Guys (burgers & fries) will join a growing list of eating establishments. On the retail side James Avery (jewelry), Studio Nail Salon, H&R Block, and Jackson Hewitt will also open in 2009.

     Another local business will likely move from the downtown Copperas Cove area in the face of higher rents. The building the Copperas Cove Leader Press rents was recently sold and the new owner, Jack Smith, intends to raise the rent 143% to offset costs associated with the purchase and to cover taxes and insurance. It is not set in stone that the newspaper will move but once more information is available I will post it here so check back often for new updates.

     Construction on a new one million square-foot retail shopping center in Copperas Cove, Texas should begin in 2010. The Shops at Five Hills, being developed by First Advisors, Inc of Austin, is basing its time line on the completion of the land exchange between Copperas Cove and Fort Hood. That trade is currently scheduled to occur in March 2009. For more information about the exchange you can read my posts in the Fort Hood / Copperas Cove Land Swap category. No information is available on possible businesses that will occupy the center but the developers have indicated that their are many companies who want to expand in to Copperas Cove.

     The new building at 207 S. Third will soon house the Copperas Cove office of the Coryell County Appraisal District. The 4,800 square-foot building is expected to be completed by the spring of 2009. The building will also house the Copperas Cove building and code enforcement departments.