Red River County Chamber of Commerce

The William Becknell/Robbinsville Historic Cemetery Dedication

Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:17:00 GMT

Clarksville, Texas—The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recently designated The William Becknell/Robbinsville Cemetery as a Historic Texas Cemetery. The distinction means the cemetery has been legally recorded through the THC’s Historic Texas Cemetery Program, an important step in ensuring its preservation.

A ceremony to commemorate this historic designation was held on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the cemetery located six miles west of Clarksville on US Highway 82. The dedication ceremony was hosted by the Historic Red River County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee and the Red River County Historical Society. At the dedication, Allan Wheeler, a former Santa Fe Trail director who is known for his reenactments of Captain Becknell, presented some of Becknell’s many history-making accomplishments. Wheeler later presented a more extensive reenactment that evening at the Red River County Historical Society’s meeting at the First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville.

The Texas Historic Cemetery designation is reserved for cemeteries that are at least 50 years old and documented through the Historic Texas Cemeteries process to record their historic association and significance. Captain William Becknell is credited for establishing the Santa Fe Trail in 1821. The trail opened the west for trade and expansion. In 1835 Becknell relocated his family to Texas and Red River County. He became a landowner of significance, is believed to have fought in the battle of San Jacinto in 1836, in 1841 led local minutemen in the protection of settlers in frontier settlements, and was buried in Red River County in 1856.

The importance of the site was first recognized in 1957 when local historians worked to have a granite marker installed by the state to record the historic value. The cemetery had fallen into disrepair and was nearly lost until recently when work began to have the site officially recognized as a Historic Texas Cemetery. Cemeteries hold valuable historic information and they are often the last reminders of early settlements’ historic events, religious beliefs, lifestyles and genealogy. While the Historic Texas Cemetery designation encourages cemetery preservation, it cannot guarantee that a historic cemetery will avoid destruction.

For more information please call the Historic Red River County Chamber of Commerce at (903)427-2645. For information about Becknell and the Santa Fe Trail please see the web site williambecknell.com .

Support the North East Texas Trail

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:12:00 GMT

Trailblazer Jump Start

They call it “Trailblazer Jump Start”.

We have located a local vendor who owns and operates a chipper/mulching machine and has committed to begin next month the 1st of December starting at the west RR Co. line and work eastward. Funding will be done hopefully via our 2064 Face Book, the 200 plus Trail corridor advocates and Trail advocates you know.

I challenge all of us to tell all of the Trail advocates you know about this funding/donor need. The clearing will go only as far as the donations will allow!

Attention NETT Supporters!

Donate to the NETT Trailblazer Jump Start Project!!!

This project’s goal is to clear the entire Red River County NETT corridor via a vendor who has a chipper/mulching machine. We will begin at the west RR Co. line and proceed east as far as donations we collect will allow. We plan to start next month December 1st.

Donations are tax deductible!

Here are the donor instructions:

Visit the NE Texas Trail website.

www.northeasttexastrail.org

Click on the donate button

Payments can be accepted via PayPal or with a Credit Card.

1. Enter amount of donation.
2. Very important! All Donations designated for the TRAILBLAZER Jump Start Fund must be designated under the special instructions tab.
3. Click Add special instructions to the seller List donation as “TRAILBLAZER Jump Start Fund”
4. Finish transaction.

If you chose to donate to the NETT Trailblazer Jump Start Project by Check—

Make Checks out to:
Red River Co. Trail Blazers-Jump Start

And Mail to:
Greater Paris Development Foundation or G.P.D.F.
PO Box 1178
Paris, TX 75461-1178

Or they can drop donations by:
Paul T. Wells , CPA
1323 Lamar Avenue, Suite D
Paris, TX 75460

Lennox Woods Preserve

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:24:00 GMT

One of the most beautiful and pristine old-growth forests in the state, the 275-acre Lennox Woods Preserve is a vital refuge for several rare species of plant and animal communities supported by the waters of Pecan Bayou, one of the largest undammed watersheds in northeastern Texas. The old-growth timber and cathedral-like canopy of these woods are thought to be typical of the undisturbed floodplains throughout the state prior to the arrival of settlers.

Lennox Woods Preserve is located along State Highway 37 in Red River County, about 10 miles north of Clarksville, and is open to the public during daylight hours.

For more information about the Lennox Woods Preserve including directions, check out the Nature Conservancy’s website here .

How a Small Town Helped Our Veneer Business

Mon, 16 May 2011 18:13:00 GMT

By Peter O’Brien, president, Veneer Solutions, Clarksville, TX

Working in “small town America” is a great way to compete in the world market. Here at Veneer Solutions LLC, we have a great advantage over our global competitors due to the incredible working relationship we have with the small rural city of Clarksville, TX. We are especially blessed to be located in Texas, a business friendly state. We believe our success can be replicated by other manufacturers and small towns throughout the country.

Veneer Solutions- Our Story
Gary Hogman and I started O’BH Associates LLC in 1990 as Manufacturers’ Agents to the furniture, fixture and cabinet industries. We represented Prowood Inc., a Little Rock, AR manufacturer of veneer edgebanding and related items. In 1999 Prowood’s owner decided to sell the business.

Our company and business associate Don Wilson decided to buy Prowood. Don owned an empty manufacturing plant in Clarksville, TX, about 2-1/2 hours northeast of Dallas. We decided to change the name of the company to Veneer Solutions LLC and relocate the factory to Clarksville.

From the beginning Clarksville’s city leaders proactively lent Veneer Solutions a helping hand. They immediately agreed to pay for the plant relocation costs in order bring our factory’s jobs to the city. .

Veneer Solutions produces and/or sells veneer edgebanding from .5 mm to 3 mm thick, profile wrapping veneers, and flexible veneer sheets. We also supply Jowat hot melt adhesive, melamine edgebanding and other specialty products to our customer base. Peter and Gary’s roll has been to handle sales through O’BH associates for Veneer Solutions in several southern states. Other independent Agents sell the products throughout the rest of the country. Don Wilson oversaw the manufacturing processes at the factory. In 2005 Peter and Gary bought out Don’s shares of the company and hired a plant manager to run the manufacturing part of the business.

During that same time period, Veneer Solutions accepted an offer from the city leaders in Clarksville to build a brand new 37,000 square foot manufacturing facility in the city’s industrial park. They agreed to customize the facility to meet Veneer Solutions production requirements and lease it to our firm for $1.00 a square foot for five years with a five year option.

The city of Clarksville received grants from county, state and federal agencies to be used primarily for construction of facilities and to retain and create jobs. They also offered to pay the relocation costs from the original plant to the new plant in the industrial park. The city leaders were motivated to add a new facility to the Industrial Park as a show piece to entice other companies to relocate there.

Between 1999 and 2006 Veneer Solutions grew slowly, and worked through a difficult learning process – in pursuit of our goal to become the number one veneer edgebanding manufacturer in North America. During that time Veneer Solutions was renewing their existing equipment and buying new equipment whenever possible. These were very difficult years for the company and profitability was never reached during that time.

The ownership was not satisfied with the knowledge base inside the company and looked outside for technical help. The process of manufacturing veneer edgebanding in continuous rolls was invented in Germany 1974 by Amin Wiblishhauser of Furwa GmBH. Since that time several other European factories and a few American factories began manufacturing this product. Furwa has remained a leader in this industry throughout the years, by continuing to develop new high quality innovative products.

In 2006 in an effort to improve processes and quality, Veneer Solutions sought out the help of Furwa and its president, Roland Reigbert – regarded as one of the leading veneer experts in the world. A joint venture agreement was established between Veneer Solutions and Furwa GmbH, an arrangement that has allowed Veneer Solutions’ efficiency, quality, and service to improve dramatically under Reigbert guidance.

How we produce edgebanding
Unlike a typical one-size-fits all approach that many veneer edgebanding manufacturers take regarding production, Furwa allows for customization for every customer. Veneer Solutions now uses the Furwa approach to manufacture veneer edgebanding.

When working with veneers most customers have different requirements and specifications. They are concerned with color, grade, grain, thickness and length between joints etc…Veneer Solutions can now customize each order for the customer. This ability gives Veneer Solutions a significant advantage over the competition. Overseas competition certainly cannot offer this benefit without long lead times and large production runs. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to send domestic veneers all the way to Asia, where they are processed into edgebanding products and shipped them back to the USA. Just the carbon foot print alone is a disadvantage of this process.

Subsequent to our joint venture, Veneer Solutions also began purchasing products from Furwa that we don’t have the equipment or capacity to produce. Veneer Solutions also produces and exports certain domestic veneer products to Furwa at a lower cost than it can achieve in Furwa’s German factory.

The process Veneer Solutions uses for manufacturing rolls of veneer edgebanding, along with all the equipment used, originated in Europe. Since 2006 Veneer Solutions has rebuilt or replaced every piece of equipment in its factory spending over $1.2 million. In 2009 and 2010 alone an investment of over $400,000 was made for new, state-of-the art, European specialized equipment. This equipment improves efficiency and lowers costs. It also allows Veneer Solutions to compete effectively with our North American competition.

The capital investment for the new equipment has been partially financed by low interest rate loans from the Clarksville Economic Development Corp. These low interest rate loans were offered at a time when banks were restricting lending. Without these loans, Veneer Solutions would not have been able to make all of the plant improvements and would not have been in a position to grow the business.

In order to meet the growing demand for FSC certified products, Veneer Solutions will apply for FSC certification for chain of custody controlled wood in 2011. This will increase the FSC business in edgebanding and profile wrapping veneers.

In 2007 Shawn Songer was hired as the general manager of Veneer Solutions, bringing over 28 years of wood products manufacturing experience to the company. Songer has been instrumental in two plant start ups, and four major expansions. He has facilitated the purchase of over $18 million of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. He has worked at all levels of leadership from front line supervision to director of operations, and now general manager of Veneer Solutions.

Songer is well known in the industry and is considered one of the industry’s leading experts in efficient manufacturing processes, engineering, training and executing repeatable procedures. Shawn is a hand’s on leader and can personally run every operation in the plant, including major repairs and maintenance of equipment. Shawn believes employees and their actions are a reflection of their leaders.

Good leaders are servants to their people. He feels there is always a better way to do things, and what gets measured gets done. Shawn feels the key to success in the manufacturing environment is to release the potential and creativity of each employee through their measured participation and input.

Veneer Solutions and Clarksville – Give and Take.
In late 2008 and in 2009 the business at Veneer Solutions took a turn for the worse, along with most other manufacturing facilities tied to the furniture, fixture and cabinet industries. Toward the end of 2009 the plant was running an average of 32 hours per week. The average plant employee at Veneer Solutions earns $8/hour. With only 32 hours per week these employees were suffering serious financial burdens.

After a very tough 2009 Christmas season for the employees, ownership of Veneer Solutions vowed to guarantee 40 hours per week in 2010, while focusing on increasing sales. At that time the production demand was not high enough to employ the workers for 40 hours per week at the factory. We decided to make these workers available, on a volunteer basis, to perform community service work for the City of Clarksville, during short production weeks.

These employees were offered the option of doing community service work at full pay from Veneer Solutions or take the time off without pay. Initially there was 100 % participation and the City was very grateful for the help. Starting in January of 2010, plant employees worked Monday through Thursday at the plant, and on Friday performed eight hours of community service work with pay. This work consisted of clean up, painting, and repair work throughout the city.

This gesture created additional good will between the City of Clarksville, and Veneer Solutions. As expected, Veneer Solutions’ business made a great comeback in 2010 with growth of more than 20% for the first 8 months and 60% in Q4. The community service program is still in place. Currently Veneer Solutions is running full shifts with a few operations running two shifts.

Can this small town manufacturing model be replicated around the country?

With the technology that exists today, the sales and administration offices don’t necessarily need to be at the same location as the manufacturing plants. This opens up tremendous opportunities to move manufacturing plants to small towns where production employees are available, and keep the administration offices near where the office personnel live.

Advantages of manufacturing in small town USA

The last 10 years have not been easy, but Veneer Solutions kept doing things on a daily basis to improve the company, and the products we produce. We have received a lot of support from the City of Clarksville, Roland Reigbert, and our growing customer base.

Veneer Solutions works closely with our nationwide distributor partners in passing along the advantage of customized low cost production, fast service and high quality, allowing them to grow their market share in these product groups.

The Veneer Solutions team will stick to our plan of becoming the number one edgebanding manufacturer in North America. We will continue to focus on doing things on a daily basis that will allow us to reach the goals laid out by the plan.

Comments from Ann Rushing, Clarksville Mayor, and Ed Wayne, Clarksville City Manager:

Our city of Clarksville received a grant from the Economic Development Administration for $1,000,000 along with local public funding of $667,000 to construct a 37,000 SF building to adjoin the building the City was leasing to Veneer Solutions. (The EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, and preparing America’s regions for growth and success in the world wide economy). The building built by local contractors was completed in late 2009. Veneer Solutions expanded into this additional space in 2010. The City has also arranged several low interest rate loans through its local Clarksville Economic Development Corporation (EDC) totaling over $400,000 to Veneer Solutions to be used to purchase additional state-of-the-art industrial equipment to enhance their ability to compete in the global market.

These efforts by the Community of Clarksville, the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and the Clarksville EDC will and has created jobs in this area. The anticipated impact / outcome are 34 jobs created, 16 jobs retained and $3,000,000 in private investment leveraged. This in turn acts as a catalyst to the local economy through increased business activity of the manufacturer leasing the building. Seed money from the lease will be used to fund future economic development in the region, thus strengthening local economy and creating jobs. Clarksville is continuing to pursue industries and businesses who want a proactive community in which to locate their facilities.

<-- Back to Veneer Solutions

Veneer Solutions

Fri, 13 May 2011 19:25:00 GMT

305 Industrial Blvd.
Clarksville, TX 75426
903 427 0262
866-397-8878 (toll free)
Website: www.veneersolutions.com

Email:CustomerService@VeneerSolutions.com

At Veneer Solutions we pride ourselves on producing the highest quality veneer edgebanding in this industry, in the most efficient plant in North America, located right here in Clarksville, Texas.

We offer real “SOLUTIONS” to our customer base. We are not here to offer an existing one-size-fits-all product to the market.

We offer products that fit every customer’s particular requirements backed by a 100% guarantee. We can custom process veneer edgebanding and profile wrapping veneers to satisfy the individual demands of today’s woodworker.

We are passionate about service and relationships and will strife to alway exceed our customers expectations.

For more information:
Article: How a Small Town Helped Our Veneer Business
Magazine Article: Veneer Solutions–Recipe for Success
Our Website: www.veneersolutions.com

PRIDE Creek Walk and Fireman’s Park

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:02:00 GMT

Work has been recently completed on Fireman’s Park, which serves as a family picnic area and park for visitors. A pavilion has been built by the Clarksville Rotary Club for barbecues and cooking. This park serves as the anchor for the Historic Creek Walk.

PRIDE Historic Creek Walk, a six-block scenic and historic walkway along Delaware Creek adjacent to Clarksville’s Central Business District. This pathway connects officially recognized historical sites located on or near the Delaware Creek, US 82, SH 37 and FM 909/910. The Creek Walk is lighted with period-style lighting and pedestrian benches are located along the walk upon which to relax and enjoy the sites. The Historic TP Lake Bridge, a historic foot bridge, is situated across one block of the walk. The Historic Creek Walk is maintained by PRIDE, a local civic organization.

dannytest

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:59:00 GMT

« Prev

May 2023

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1
* American Legion American Legion

Time: 7:00 pm

Clarksville American Legion & Auxiliary – 1st Monday of the month 7 PM

2
* Clarksville Food Bank Clarksville Food Bank

Time: 3:00 pm

Clarksville Food Bank Food Distribution – 1st Tuesday of month 3 PM - 5pm.
* Tourism Committee Meeting Tourism Committee Meeting

Time: 5:00 pm

R.R.C. Tourism Committee Meeting – 1st Tuesday of the month 5 PM

3
* P.R.I.D.E. Meeting P.R.I.D.E. Meeting

Time: 7:30 am

Positive Regeneration In Developing Economy The purpose of the organization is to beautify, promote the arts and attract business and tourism to the area. Click for more information. PRIDE meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Red River Chamber building.

4
* Historical Society Historical Society

Time: 5:00 pm

R.R.C. Historical Society Meeting – 1st Thursday of the month. 5 PM

7
* Red River Writer's Workshop Red River Writer's Workshop

Time: 2:00 pm

Are you a published author or enjoy writing and aspire to publication? Then you're invited to the Red River Writer's Workshop the first and third Sundays of each month at 2 p.m. at the First National Bank building (west side door) on Highway 82 just a little west of Hwy 37 intersection. After a short meeting we will have a read and critique session Please call Ron or Caryl McAdoo at 469-867-2624 or Marion Butts at 903-427-0143; we'd love to know you're coming!

8
* Red River Co. Genealogical Soc Red River Co. Genealogical Soc

Time: 7:00 pm

Meetings are normally held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Red River Chamber of Commerce Building, located on the southeast corner of the square, Clarksville, Texas.

9
* RRC Alliance Meeting RRC Alliance Meeting

Time: 6:30 pm

The Red River County Alliance Meeting is the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm at: The Clarksville Community Center 501 W Broadway Clarksville, TX 75426

10
* P.R.I.D.E. Meeting P.R.I.D.E. Meeting

Time: 7:30 am

Positive Regeneration In Developing Economy The purpose of the organization is to beautify, promote the arts and attract business and tourism to the area. Click for more information. PRIDE meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Red River Chamber building.

16
* Clarksville Food Bank Clarksville Food Bank

Clarksville Food Bank Bread and Produce – 3rd Tuesday of month.
* Clarksville City Council Meeti Clarksville City Council Meeti

Time: 7:00 pm

3rd Tuesday of the month – 7:00PM at Clarksville City Hall 800 West Main Street Clarksville, Texas 75426

17
* P.R.I.D.E. Meeting P.R.I.D.E. Meeting

Time: 7:30 am

Positive Regeneration In Developing Economy The purpose of the organization is to beautify, promote the arts and attract business and tourism to the area. Click for more information. PRIDE meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Red River Chamber building.

21
* Red River Writer's Workshop Red River Writer's Workshop

Time: 2:00 pm

Are you a published author or enjoy writing and aspire to publication? Then you're invited to the Red River Writer's Workshop the first and third Sundays of each month at 2 p.m. at the First National Bank building (west side door) on Highway 82 just a little west of Hwy 37 intersection. After a short meeting we will have a read and critique session Please call Ron or Caryl McAdoo at 469-867-2624 or Marion Butts at 903-427-0143; we'd love to know you're coming!

23
* Red River Chamber of Commerce Red River Chamber of Commerce

Time: 12:00 pm

The historical Red River County Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting – 4th Tuesday of the month – 12 to 1 PM
* Child Protective Services Child Protective Services

Time: 5:00 pm

R.R.C. Child Protective Services Board Meeting – 4th Tuesday of the month 5 to 6 PM in the Chamber board room.

24
* P.R.I.D.E. Meeting P.R.I.D.E. Meeting

Time: 7:30 am

Positive Regeneration In Developing Economy The purpose of the organization is to beautify, promote the arts and attract business and tourism to the area. Click for more information. PRIDE meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Red River Chamber building.
* Industrial Managers Lunch Industrial Managers Lunch

Time: 12:00 pm

4th Wednesday of the month

31
* P.R.I.D.E. Meeting P.R.I.D.E. Meeting

Time: 7:30 am

Positive Regeneration In Developing Economy The purpose of the organization is to beautify, promote the arts and attract business and tourism to the area. Click for more information. PRIDE meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Red River Chamber building.

Calendar developed and supported by Kieran O'Shea

WCR Quail Hunting

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:12:00 GMT

WCR Quail Hunting, LLC
691 CR 1242
Detroit, TX 75436
www.wcrquailhunting.com
(903) 674-2000 / (903) 674-2004 fax

Animal Hospital

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:47:00 GMT

Animal Hospital
2409 W. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-3294 / 427-4556 fax
Hardy Stewardson, DVM.

Red River County Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2005

Red River County Water Supply Corp

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:41:00 GMT

Red River County Water Supply Corp
1404 E Main St
Clarksville, Tx 75426
(903) 427-2891

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2009

Windstream

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:38:00 GMT

Windstream
Customer Service: 1-800-347-1991
www.windstream.com

Internet, phone, cable television.

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member since 2000

ONCOR Electric Delivery

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:17:00 GMT

ONCOR Electric Delivery
www.oncor.com

Inquiries: 1.888.313.6862 (Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm CST)
Power Outages: 1.888.313.4747 (24 hours, seven days a week)

For billing, credit, or disconnect for non-pay inquiries, contact your retail electric provider.

For information on electric choice and a list of retail electric providers in your area visit www.powertochoose.org or call Texas Choice at 1-866-797-4839.

Suddenlink

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:17:00 GMT

Suddenlink Communications
350 North Collegiate Drive
Paris, TX 75460-1478
(903) 785-2980
www.suddenlink.com
Cable TV and Internet provider

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2007

Lamar Electric Cooperative Assoc.

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:13:00 GMT

Office Hours Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Drive Thru Hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm

We provide safe reliable electricity at the lowest cost consistent with sound business judgment and improve the way of life in the rural areas we serve.

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 1997

Office Hours Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Drive Thru Hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm

We provide safe reliable electricity at the lowest cost consistent with sound business judgment and improve the way of life in the rural areas we serve.

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 1997

Atmos Energy

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:07:00 GMT

Atmos Energy
Natural Gas Utilities
www.atmosenergy.com

Law Office of Dan Meehan

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Law Office of Dan Meehan
202 W. Madison
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-4547 / (903) 427-4549 fax

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2000

ANM Laundry

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:53:00 GMT

ANM Laundry
111 Industrial Blvd
Clarksville, Texas 75426
(903) 782-2423 / (903) 632-2020 fax

Home & Gift Gallery/Radio Shack

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:25:00 GMT

Home & Gift Gallery/Radio Shack
122 N. Walnut Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-0880 / (903) 427-1312
Located on the West Side of the Square in Clarksville

Decorative Accessories & Gifts
Computer Sales & Service

Century 21 Harvey Properties

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:04:00 GMT

Century 21 Harvey Properties
1700 W. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
www.c21php.com
Clarksville: (903) 427-3500 / (903) 427-5234 fax
Paris: (903) 785-8484 / (903) 785-5476 fax

Blackmon Pharmacy

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:42:00 GMT

Blackmon Pharmacy
201 South Walnut Street
Clarksville, TX 75426-3737
(903) 427-2805

Red River County Chamber of Commerce Member Since 1995

The Clarksville Times

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:48:00 GMT

The Clarksville Times

109 S Locust Street
P.O. Box 1018
Clarksville, Texas 75426

(903) 427-0002 / (903)427-0003 fax

www.theclarksvilletimes.blogspot.com
theclarksvilletimes@gmail.com

KCAR + KOOL 98.5

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:43:00 GMT

KCAR + KOOL 98.5
203 N Locust
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-3861

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2000

Magnolia Brush

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:23:00 GMT

Magnolia Brush
1000 N Cedar
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-2261
Toll Free 1-800-248-2261
Fax 1-800-427-5231
sales@magnoliabrush.com
www.magnoliabrush.com

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2007

Gooding Title Company

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:02:00 GMT

Gooding Title Company
228 N. Walnut
Clarksville, TX 75426
www.goodingtitleco.com
(903) 427-3398 / (903) 427-2423 fax

Edward Jones Investments

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:59:00 GMT

Edward Jones Investments
312 North Walnut Street
Clarksville, TX 75426-3039
(903) 427-0689

State Farm Insurance

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:55:00 GMT

Insurance/Mutual Funds/Banking

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2009

Goodman Insurance Agency

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:53:00 GMT

Goodman Insurance Agency, Inc.
300 East Broadway Street
Clarksville, TX 75426-3106
(903) 427-2221 / (903) 427-2223 fax

Today’s fast pace means you need more from your insurance agency. Goodman Insurance Agency, Inc. stands ready to give it to you–fast, but comprehensive service; honest and personal care.

Our emphasis on planning insures that we focus on your needs. Providing timely and expert advice enables you to concentrate on what you do best!
We handle the total spectrum of insurance and investment products. The days are gone when you had to stop to think who handled a particular policy.

Our planning process assures coordination and continuity of your total package.

Let Dick or one of the girls at Goodman Insurance Agency help you with all of your insurance needs as we go into the next century.

Vine-Tique Wood Products

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:22:00 GMT

Vine-Tique Wood Products
1007 South Donoho
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-5435 / (903)427-5735 fax

Vine-Tique ® has been on the scene as a major producer of fine quality baskets and specialty crates for over 18 years. We offer a wide selection of styles and sizes to choose from, and will also be happy to quote on custom designs.

www.vine-tique.com

Martin Sprocket & Gear

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:55:00 GMT

K & B Steel

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:51:00 GMT

K & B Steel
525 Industrial Blvd
Clarksville, Tx 75426
(903) 427-3980 / (903)427/5817

kbsteel@valornet.com

Red River Inn

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:34:00 GMT

Red River Inn
2401 W. Main St.
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-2278

Clean, comfortable, and inexpensive.

Rooms with 1, 2, or 3 beds. All rooms with microwave and small refrigerator.

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2005

03/02 — 03/05/2023 Wade T. Witmer Memorial Wild Hog Hunt

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:00:00 GMT

Get ready for the annual Wade T. Witmer Memorial Wild Hog Hunt in Red River County.

Dates: March 2nd – March 5th, 2023
This is a popular annual event, drawing participants from a wide region to compete.

-Registration money must be received at Chamber by 5:00 PM, Wednesday, March 1st, 2023.
-Hogs must be hunted between March 2nd and March 5th.
-Weigh in time between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 5th at the Red River County Fair Grounds

Download the forms, fill them out and return them with your payment by 5:00 PM, March 1st 2023 to the Chamber at:
Red River County Chamber of Commerce
101 N. Locust Street
Clarksville, Texas 75426

Tell all your friends!

Download the registration form and rules here:

Chamber Hog Hunt Registration Form-2023 (Adobe PDF)

Chamber Hog Hunt Rules-2023 (Adobe PDF)

For questions, comments, or more information contact the Red River Chamber of Commerce.

Wade T. Witmer

Wade T. Witmer 4/8/91 – 7/23/2011

Wade T. Witmer was born April 8, 1991, and died July 23, 2011 at the age of 20 years old, but was an adult when he was born! He loved to talk to everyone; old and young. Sporting was his thing; hog hunting, fishing, deer hunting, and his wonderful dogs. He always said he would get the biggest hog in Clarksville, Red River, County Texas, and in 2009 he was Number 1 Hog Hunter. He loved everyone, always smiled, and had a joke for everyone. He had a wonderful life, but it was too short for his family and friends.

Wade was a Christian and wants to say, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strengths, they shall mount up with WINGS as EAGLES.”

Focused Care at Clarksville

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:40:00 GMT

Focused Care at Clarksville
2407 W Main Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3821

www.fpacp.com

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2005

Known as the Gateway to Texas, the town of Clarksville in the northeastern corner of the state is not only the Red River County seat, but also known as the Wild Turkey Capital. A proud part of this historic community, Focused Care at Clarksville employs many of its members and provides high quality care for area seniors.

Focused Care at Clarksville embodies the town’s commitment to fellow residents by taking care of those in need of short and long term care. Within minutes of Paris Regional Medical Center, our facility is a perfect choice for short-term rehabilitation, long-term care and post-operative recovery.

The team members at Focused Care at Clarksville focus on inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and 24-hour skilled nursing care. Our facility provides private suites for rehabilitation stays, transportation to appointments including dialysis, IV therapy, wound care, tracheostomy care and many specialized medical treatments and supervision of ostomy care, LifeVest, and wound vacs. Additionally, we have a music and memory program for dementia residents.

Stop by today, meet the Care Team, take a tour and discover why Focused Care at Clarksville is the premier skilled nursing facility in your community.

Lennox Health Resources Center

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:38:00 GMT

Lennox Health Resources Center
114 W Walnut
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-428-8500 / 903-428-9036 fax
lennoxhrc@cebridge.net

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Cypress Home Care, Inc

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:36:00 GMT

Cypress Home Care, Inc
389 US Highway 82 W
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-4598 / 903-427-4609 fax

Red River County Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Clarksville Nursing Center

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:32:00 GMT

Clarksville Nursing Center
300 E. Baker
Clarksville, TX 75426
www.clarksvillenursingcenter.com
903-427-2236

Rehkopf Enterprises

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Rehkopf Enterprises
707 W. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3046

Rio Verde Mexican Restaurant

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:44:00 GMT

Rio Verde Mexican Restaurant
400 E Main Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-428-0030 / 903-427-3156 fax

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Mountain Valley Spring Water

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:40:00 GMT

Mountain Valley Spring Water
103 N Locust
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-1426

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2009

McDonald’s Restaurant of Clarksville

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:36:00 GMT

McDonald’s Restaurant of Clarksville
506 West Main Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-0157

Dairy Queen

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:33:00 GMT

Dairy Queen
704 W Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3611
clarksvilledq@aol.com

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Mickey’s Flowers & Gifts

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:28:00 GMT

Mickey’s Flowers & Gifts
606 W. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3886
800-933-2387

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2003

Home Owned and Ready to Serve Your Every Need

Weddings and Anniversaries are Our Specialty

See Us for All of Your Flower Needs

Hours

We are open six days a week:

Clarksville Florist

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:26:00 GMT

Clarksville Florist
900 W. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-2228/903-427-1770 fax
cvilleflorist@neto.com

Adkins United Finance Co, Inc.

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:13:00 GMT

Adkins United Finance Co.
Phone Number: 903-427-5663
Fax Number: 903-428-1012
Email: becky@aufloans.com
Mailing Address: 100 E Main St Clarksville TX 75426
Physical Address: 100 E Main St Clarksville TX 75426
Website: www.adkinsunitedfinance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdkinsUnitedFinance/
@AufLoans (twitter)
auf_loans (instagram)

Rick’s Farm and Home

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:09:00 GMT

Rick’s Farm and Home
2909 W Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3395/903-427-4188 fax

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2007

Muthappa, B.C. MD

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:59:00 GMT

Muthappa, B.C. MD
120 Farm to Market Road 2825
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-2201

Kumar, Ravi Sreerama, M.D.

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:57:00 GMT

Kumar, Ravi Sreerama, M.D.
ETMC First Physicians clinic in Clarksville
3000 W Main, 2nd Floor
Phone – 903-427-5682
Hours: Monday – Thursday 8 am to 4:30 pm, Friday 8 am to 3 pm

Internal Medicine

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2005

Nix Mart

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:43:00 GMT

Nix Mart
909 West Main Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-2333

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Handy Foods

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:40:00 GMT

Handy Foods
1805 W Main Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-2951

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Donnie’s Plumbing & Electric

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:21:00 GMT

Donnie’s Plumbing & Electric
523 W. 7th St.
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-5774

Carson Quality Heat & Air

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:19:00 GMT

Carson Quality Heat & Air
7864 TX Hwy 37N
Clarksville, Tx 75426
903-427-0023

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2010

Sammy Gist Enterprises, Inc

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:17:00 GMT

Sammy Gist Enterprises, Inc
PO Box 722
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-8027

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Maye Construction

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:16:00 GMT

Maye Construction
504 W 6th Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-4042
mayeconstruction@yahoo.com

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2007

Highlands Building Materials Inc.

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:10:00 GMT

Highlands Building Materials Inc.
1008 E. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3808
highlandbldg@valornet.com

Full-service lumber yard and building materials center. Paint, plumbing, electrical, and all your building supplies.

First class, helpful service too!

Highland Building Materials

Allen Lumber Company

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:08:00 GMT

Allen Lumber Co
301 W. Broadway
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3255

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2000

Allen Lumber Company was founded by J. W. Allen and today it is operated by the third and fourth generation of Allens’. Billy Sam is the third generation and his son, Paul is the fourth generation.

Allen Lumber Company carries a complete line of building materials, can cut glass and thread pipe, and can handle your special requirements.

We offer a complete line of cattle feeders at very affordable prices.

Texas Farm Credit Services

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:07:00 GMT

Texas Farm Credit Services
401 North Locust Street
Clarksville, TX 75426
(903) 427-5675
www.texasfcs.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/texasfarmcredit

Red River Federal Credit Union

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:04:00 GMT

Red River Federal Credit Union
1501 W. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
800-822-3317
www.rrfcu.com

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 1997

First National Bank

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Life Net, Inc.

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT

Life Net, Inc.
136 South Bus 37
Clarksville, TX 75246
800-832-6395/800-832-8531
800-832-0215 fax

Red River County Chamber Member Since 2001

Clarksville Collision Center

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:46:00 GMT

Clarksville Collision Center
2305 W Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-1763 / 903-427-1941 Fax

Red River Auto Detail

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:43:00 GMT

Red River Auto Detail
200 E Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-3579

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2009

Red River Auto Detail

Harvey, J.P. Motor, Inc.

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:37:00 GMT

Harvey, J.P. Motor, Inc.
700 E. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903 427 2241
FAX 903 427 5851

Your Small Town Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac and Geo dealer….We Pride Ourselves on the SERVICE that We Give

Sales Department

Heath Harvey – Sales
Phone 903 427 2297

Service Department

Burrell Harvey – Service Manager
Phone 903 427 2296

Parts Department

Fred Taylor – Parts Manager
Phone 903 427 2241

Fleet Sales

J. P. Harvey
Phone 903 427 2241

Hours

Dave’s A1 Collision

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:33:00 GMT

Dave’s A1 Collision
606 E Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-5381

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2006

Auto Repair

D&P Auto Parts

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:31:00 GMT

D&P Auto
209 W Main St
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-2213

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2007

Auto Parts

Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:28:00 GMT

Bumper to Bumper
404 E. Main
Clarksville, TX 75426
903-427-5636

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 2003

Auto Parts

First Federal Community Bank

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:13:00 GMT

Clarksville Funeral Home

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:08:00 GMT

100 W. College Ave.
Clarksville, Texas 75426
Phone: 903-427-2244
Fax: 903-427-3054
www.clarksvillefuneralhome.com

Clarksville Funeral Home

History of The Courthouse Inn B&B

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:22:00 GMT

The Norris House is a two story Queen-Anne style home located just north of the historic Red River County Courthouse at 506 North Walnut Street. The house was completed in 1889. H.I. Norris was the original owner of the house and members of his family resided in the home for over 60 years.

Mr. Norris owned and operated the Trans-Continental Saloon on the square in downtown Clarksville for several years. At that time, Red River County was a thriving, cotton-producing area and the saloon flourished. In ____, when a wet-dry vote was taken and county residents voted to become a “dry” county, Mr. Norris left Clarksville and moved East into Bowie County. He gave the house to his spinster daughter, Louise Norris.

Louie, as she was known to the local residents, was a woman far ahead of her time. She kept a horse in the stable behind the house and she rode daily. She usually wore riding breeches or pants and had a fondness for small cigars. Few were the times that a German shepherd dog was not by her side. Louie has a reputation for being an accomplished pianist and she was not skimpy with expletives. Louie turned the house into a rooming house as a means of support. Many changes were made to the house in the early years of this century in order to accommodate the many guests that found rest here.

Because the house is located just two blocks South of the old depot, many traveling salesmen were among her guests. By the 1930s, the Norris House became a popular residence for many newly-wed couples and many of these are still living in Clarksville. Photographs of some of them are in the gallery off the dining room.

Your hosts, Cheryl and Perry O’Brian, Jr. enjoy sharing the historical background of their town and will accommodate you in any way possible.

We would love to have you stay with us, but if you cannot, please stop and see us and the Inn when visiting downtown Clarksville.

The Courthouse Inn Bed and Breakfast

Courthouse Inn Bed and Breakfast

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:09:00 GMT

The Courthouse Inn Bed and Breakfast-

Enjoy the ambiance of an 1885 Queen Ann Style home that has been meticulously restored and furnished with Victorian and other period pieces.

From the wicker swing on the wrap-around porch to the swing on the Juliet balcony, guests will feel pampered as they enjoy the beautiful and spacious rooms.

The Inn is just one block from the Historic Red River County Courthouse, Post Office and Library and only 4 blocks from the downtown square.

The Courthouse Inn History

The Rooms at the Courthouse Inn

There are four lovely single rooms and two, two-room suites. There are two parlors on the main floor for the use of guests, whether you would like to sit and read or enjoy a beverage and visit. Gourmet breakfast is served in the dining room daily.

A massage can be arranged in your room with advance notice and a day-spa is located just a few blocks away. The Clarksville Country Club, which is 4 miles north, boasts a great 9-hole golf course, rated among the top 25 in the US. There are several good restaurants in Clarksville and the surrounding area as well as several historic sites.

SHANNON SUITE
First floor

This charming suite consists of the large south parlor with bay window and fireplace, and an adjoining large bedroom with a second bay window and fireplace. Both of these rooms have private doors to the porch, giving access to the swing. Both fireplaces have gas logs.

The private bath is a fabulous retreat with a two-person whirlpool tub, and shower. Colors are cream, gold and pastels.

GOVERNOR’S SUITE
First floor

This suite is a cozy, comfortable retreat. It boasts a fireplace in the bedroom with gas logs. The large bathroom is handicapped accessible and has a large, two-person whirlpool tub and shower. The sitting room has windows on three sides and provides a light and cozy ambiance. Colors in this Suite are taupe, silver, brown and rich cream.

NORRIS
First floor

This room is light and charming. Although it is a single room, it boasts a private deck with chairs. The large bathroom has a tub with shower and a sitting area.

JULIET
Second floor

This lovely room is done in cream and gold and has windows to the east and south. It boasts a large balcony that always seems to enjoy a breeze, a wonderful place to sit and visit. The private bath has a claw foot bathtub with shower and lovely, beveled, art glass window. Colors are cream and gold.

ROMEO
Second floor

This wonderful room is done in rich, royal tones. Although it has a private entrance and bath, it adjoins the Juliet and together they make a two-room, two-bath suite. The exciting Romeo bathroom is large, with a six foot whirlpool tub, shower and lovely stained glass window.

TOWER
Second floor

This bright and cheery room puts you in the treetops, literally. Done in silver sage green and cream, it is enclosed in windows on three sides. The old beaded board has been left giving the feeling of an old-time sleeping porch. When the leaves are off the trees, you have a wonderful view of the Red River County Courthouse Clock Tower. The private bath boasts a shower and large claw foot soaking tub that is original to the house.

Please call or contact us if we can be of any assistance or for reservations.

903-517-0494
Fax 903-427-5735
pobrian1940@gmail.com
www.courthousebnb.com

Italian Bistro History

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:37:00 GMT

from The Clarksville Times
134th Year No. 8 Thursday, February 23, 2006

by Jennifer LaPrade

When Alekander Lleshi was a boy growing up in the Eastern European country of Albania, he always dreamed of going to the United States.

His parents, who were from Italy, owned a small Italian restaurant in Albania.

My family’s restaurant did very well in Albania, Lleshi said. People loved it.

Lleshi worked at his family’s restaurant while he went to college in Albania to become a veterinarian.

“I always loved working with animals”, Lleshi said. It was my favorite thing.

When he was almost finished with college, Lleshi found out his dreams were about to come true. He was chosen in a random lottery to get a green card to come to the United States.

“I always wanted to come to the United States because it was a big opportunity to really do whatever you wanted to do”, Lleshi said. You work hard and it will come back to you in the United States.

So once Lleshi finished college, he left his family of three brothers and three sisters, his parents, and his fiancée, Aurora, and came to the United States.

“It completely changed my life”, Lleshi said. It was my dream come true to come to the United States. I couldn’t believe it.

Lleshi came to the United States in 1998 and the first place he got off in was Brooklyn, New York. Since he did not know any English at all, he found it very hard at first.

“At the beginning, I was all alone. I had to find a place to live”, Lleshi said. “It was very, very, very hard for me. When I would meet people, I couldn’t really talk to them or be friendly because I didn’t know English. It was very hard.”

He ended up living in a basement in Staten Island, but still struggled very much because he couldn’t communicate with anyone.

Lots of people told me to go on welfare, Lleshi said, but I refused. This welfare is for people who are sick. People who cannot work. I didn’t come here for welfare. I came here to change my life.

Lleshi soon began to develop a plan for how to make it in the United States.

My first thing was to learn English, he said. This was very important my most important thing. Nobody knew who I was. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I didn’t have a chance in the United States if I didn’t learn English.

So Lleshi soon enrolled in a school to learn English where he went from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday. He then left school and went to work at an Italian restaurant in Staten Island where he worked until 11 p.m. He did this for two years all alone.

Everybody from my country thinks the United States is just easy all you have to do is come here and you will have all you want, Lleshi said. But it is not like that. You have to work very, very hard to change your life. I called my friends and told them, No, it doesn’t work that way.

Lleshi kept this schedule of going to school to learn English and working at the Italian restaurant everyday for two years.

I worked full-time and went to school full-time to pay my bills in Staten Island, he said. I just kept to myself. I had to.

Lleshi did keep in contact with his fiancée and family back in Albania.

I spent five dollars on the phone every day to talk to Aurora and my family overseas, he said.

After two years, he was finally able to speak, read, and write enough English to communicate pretty well with others.

Everything changed after I learned English, Lleshi said. I met lots of people. Everyone was very nice and respectful to me. Everyone was very friendly. Everything changed. It was really amazing.

Lleshi kept his job at the Italian restaurant since he enjoyed it so much.

I was a very fast worker, he said. I really tried to help everybody. My boss was very nice to me. When you work very good here in the United States, they will be nice to you.

Since he now had his days free, he decided to take a second job in New York City using his college degree from Albania as a veterinarian.

Once I learned English, I got a job working as a veterinarian, he said. I worked part-time in the clinic in Brooklyn until 4 p.m., then worked at the restaurant.

When he worked at the clinic, he said he took care of sick dogs and cats. He worked in surgery, gave x-rays, did blood work, and gave shots and vaccinations.

Lleshi found a lot of differences in working as a veterinarian in the United States compared to working as one in Albania.

It was totally different, he said. They actually treat animals like human beings in the United States. It was great. In Albania, sometimes they treat human beings like animals.

Lleshi found many things he loved about the United States.

Everybody trusts in God here, he said. They know God can be close. These are good words. When you believe or trust, God can be close. And that is what happened to me.

He also said he really appreciates what the United States has done to help Albanians.

“The United States is always helping other countries, he said. That is very great.

So for four years, Lleshi worked hard all alone and saved 20 percent of everything he made. He was also working all that time to get permission for his fiancée, Aurora, to come join him in the United States.

After four years, he was finally able to bring Aurora over from Albania.
When she arrived, Lleshi wanted to find a place to start a family with her.

New York is very nice for me, Lleshi said. Its amazing. It will always be my favorite place to go and visit. But I wanted some other place to raise a family.

Lleshi had become friends with a man who was a federal officer from Washington D.C. and came into the restaurant very often in Staten Island.

He was my friend, Lleshi said. He is someone I will always love and respect very much. He is a very special guy.

The friend suggested to Lleshi that he try out Dallas.

He said to me if you want to work and be like a country man (a cowboy), Lleshi said, everybody is talking about Dallas.

So he left New York City in 2002 and brought his new wife Aurora to Dallas to find out if that is the place he wanted to settle and start his family.

When I first came to Dallas, he said, I applied and worked at Albertsons at Frankfort and the Tollway.

He said when he started working at Albertsons, a grocery store chain in the Dallas area, he had a manager named Nancy, who really helped him because he was such a hard worker.

He also started working at another Italian restaurant in the Dallas area cooking food.

I worked seven days straight in the restaurant, he said. Sometimes I would go three days with no sleep. I would work in the mornings and afternoons at Albertsons and then late into the night at the Italian restaurant. Nobody could believe it. But I had to work that much so I could have a good life.

Lleshi also began working as a veterinarian again in Dallas after he left Albertsons.

They had very specialized and high-tech equipment, he said. It was amazing. I learned so much there. I worked there for three years and kept working at the Italian Restaurant.

Lleshi enjoyed his time in Dallas, but he still thought it was too big.

Dallas is a good city, but traffic is very bad, he said. It was still too much. Too big. When I came to Dallas, I only had a bicycle to get around in. Thats not good in Dallas.

So he began looking for smaller towns in Texas to start his family. By this time, his wife was pregnant with their first child.

So I found Clarksville, he said with a big smile.

Dallas was still just too many people, he said. There was no chance for people to say hi to you. Here they say hi to you.

At first, he was thinking of opening up his own veterinary clinic, which had always been a dream of his. But he found out buying all the equipment needed for a clinic would just be too expensive for him right now.

So he went with the other business he knew best, an Italian restaurant.

My mother-in-law said if you open up a restaurant, I can help you, he said. I liked Clarksville very much because its a small town, he said. Here if you are very good and very respectful, they will be good and respectful back to you.

So Lleshi came to Clarksville about six months ago looking for places to open his new Italian restaurant. He decided on a location right on the square in downtown Clarksville.

The building was not in good shape, he said. Lots of people told me you couldn’t make it.

But determined, Lleshi did much of the construction himself. He said it took a lot of painting and remodeling. After a month of working on the building, and bringing in stoves and a pizza oven from Dallas, he was ready to open.

He used all his experience in Italian restaurants, from the family-owned Italian restaurant in Albania, the Italian restaurant in Staten Island, and the one in Dallas, and brought it all together to create the Italian Bistro. He changed up the menus a bit and brought a little bit from each place. He also changed the prices significantly.

I knew I had to lower the prices first, he said. They were too high for a small town.

Lleshi opened the Italian Bistro on the square in Clarksville on September 30, 2005.

This was around the same time he and Aurora had their first child, Brooklyn, who he named after the first place he went after he landed in the United States.

The restaurant has been very good, Lleshi said. I can pay my bills. For right now, I am very happy. I try to work hard to make everybody happy everyday. I try to make very high quality food.

There are still several things Lleshi would like to do to make the Italian Bistro even better.

Id like to put in a big television so people can come in and enjoy sports, he said. Id like to bring live music to Clarksville, too.

As for being a veterinarian, Lleshi says you never know what will happen, but right now hes very happy living out another dream he has always had of owning his own Italian restaurant.

Id like to stay in Clarksville for the rest of my life and raise my kids here, he said. We love it here. Its very friendly here. We love the small town. I appreciate everyone here so much. They care. They ask me if I need anything. I’m not here to make money, its not about the business. I’m here to be happy and raise my family in a nice place. We love it here.

God Bless Clarksville and I thank everybody for all the help. Lleshi said. I’m very happy and very, very proud to be in Clarksville and in the United States.

<-- Back to the Italian Bistro

Italian Bistro

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:17:00 GMT

The Italian Bistro located right on the beautiful Historic Clarksville Square. Outstanding and affordable Italian food with a cozy atmosphere and yet plenty of room for your large gathering.

Address

106 North Walnut
Clarksville, Texas
903 427-5997

Hours of Operation

Sun: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mon: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Tue: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wed: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thu: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The Italian Bistro Menu (pdf)

Article: The Italian Bistro History

The Italian Bistro, on the square in Clarksville, Texas

Dinner at the Italian Bistro

Red River County Chamber of Commerce

The William Becknell/Robbinsville Historic Cemetery Dedication

Support the North East Texas Trail

Trailblazer Jump Start

Lennox Woods Preserve

How a Small Town Helped Our Veneer Business

Veneer Solutions

PRIDE Creek Walk and Fireman’s Park

dannytest

WCR Quail Hunting

Animal Hospital

Red River County Water Supply Corp

Windstream

ONCOR Electric Delivery

Suddenlink

Lamar Electric Cooperative Assoc.

Office Hours Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Drive Thru Hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm We provide safe reliable electricity at the lowest cost consistent with sound business judgment and improve the way of life in the rural areas we serve. Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 1997

Atmos Energy

Law Office of Dan Meehan

ANM Laundry

Home & Gift Gallery/Radio Shack

Century 21 Harvey Properties

Blackmon Pharmacy

The Clarksville Times

KCAR + KOOL 98.5

Magnolia Brush

Gooding Title Company

Edward Jones Investments

State Farm Insurance

Goodman Insurance Agency

Vine-Tique Wood Products

Martin Sprocket & Gear

K & B Steel

Red River Inn

03/02 — 03/05/2023 Wade T. Witmer Memorial Wild Hog Hunt

Wade T. Witmer

Focused Care at Clarksville

Lennox Health Resources Center

Cypress Home Care, Inc

Clarksville Nursing Center

Rehkopf Enterprises

Rio Verde Mexican Restaurant

Mountain Valley Spring Water

McDonald’s Restaurant of Clarksville

Dairy Queen

Mickey’s Flowers & Gifts

Hours

Clarksville Florist

Adkins United Finance Co, Inc.

Rick’s Farm and Home

Muthappa, B.C. MD

Kumar, Ravi Sreerama, M.D.

Nix Mart

Handy Foods

Donnie’s Plumbing & Electric

Carson Quality Heat & Air

Sammy Gist Enterprises, Inc

Maye Construction

Highlands Building Materials Inc.

Allen Lumber Company

We offer a complete line of cattle feeders at very affordable prices.

Texas Farm Credit Services

Red River Federal Credit Union

First National Bank

Life Net, Inc.

Clarksville Collision Center

Red River Auto Detail

Harvey, J.P. Motor, Inc.

Sales Department

Service Department

Parts Department

Fleet Sales

Hours

Dave’s A1 Collision

D&P Auto Parts

Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts

First Federal Community Bank

Clarksville Funeral Home

History of The Courthouse Inn B&B

Courthouse Inn Bed and Breakfast

Office Hours Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Drive Thru Hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm

We provide safe reliable electricity at the lowest cost consistent with sound business judgment and improve the way of life in the rural areas we serve.

Red River Chamber of Commerce Member Since 1997