Spring Hill-area residents and motorists traveling along Gilmer Road may have a new fast food option in coming months if plans for a new Sonic Drive-In materialize.

In plans filed with the city of Longview, Jimmy Martin is listed as the applicant for the proposed Sonic at 4100 Gilmer Road. The location would be on the east side of Gilmer Road directly north of Spring Hill Baptist Church.

Tops in the nation

Another Longview restaurant, Chick-fil-A located off North Fourth Street at Loop 281, recently reached a longtime goal the entire staff has been working on, according to Ikey Eason, general manager.

The Chick-fil-A, owned by Chuck King, now ranks in the top 10 percent of the chain's 765 locations based on sales with drive-through windows, Eason said. As of last week the location ranked No. 68 out of the 765 sites, putting it in the top 8.8 percent of Chick-fil-As with drive-through windows.

Towne Crossing activity

Lane Bryant, a women's wear store, was the most recent retailer to open in Longview Towne Crossing.

It joins Target, Kohl's and Catherine's at the northeastern corner of North Eastman Road and Hawkins Parkway. The next opening in Longview Towne Crossing will likely be Lifeway Christian Store, according to Crystal Aills, assistant manager.

She said Lifeway is scheduled to close its Brookwood Village location at 1412 McCann Road at 4 p.m. next Saturday. The plan is for the staff to have the new store open for business by the following Tuesday she said.

The grand opening event for Lifeway is tentatively scheduled for May 10, Aills said.

Honing in on housing

Longviewfellow Arms Apartments, a 216-unit complex recently completed at 115 E. Hawkins Parkway, will host a ribbon cutting and open house at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Marie Dowdy is the manager of the development on 14 acres located east of Judson Road. Roy Moran of Moran Development Co., of Dallas is developer of the complex.

Safety first gets a boost

The Safety Council of East Texas will be busy this week with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new training facility and an awards ceremony banquet both slated Thursday, according to board member Tim J. Cox.

Cox, who is also president of Cox Construction, said the council will hold the ceremony at 9 a.m. on property at 161 Garland Road, directly east of the Blue Bell Creameries facility at 3800 S. Eastman Road. The new facility will replace that council's longtime home at 440 N. Eastman Road, Cox said.

Expected at the event are Stephen Boyd, new OSHA Region VI director; state Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview; Longview Mayor Jay Dean; and James Ray, Eastman Chemical Co. vice president and general manager of Longview operations.

The council will hold an awards ceremony at Pinecrest Country Club beginning at 10 a.m. .

Mike Elswick is the business editor of the News-Journal. He can be reached at (903) 237-7737 or by e-mail at: melswick@longview-news.com.