QUESTION: I live on Cheryl Street. It's a shortcut between Pine Tree and Gilmer Road. The speed limit is 30 mph, but people fly through here at 60 and 70 mph. Why can't the city put in speed bumps or more stop signs to help slow drivers down?

QUESTION: There's a chunk of the curb that has broken off on one of the streets in my neighborhood. Is that the kind of thing the city of Longview will fix if I report it?

QUESTION: I work out several mornings each week at the Lifeway gym facility on Bill Owens Parkway in Longview. My route to the facility takes me north on Bill Owens from Marshall Avenue, across Fairmont Street, to the gym.

QUESTION: I am trying to find some information about the Rodden Building (3723 W. Marshall Ave.), particularly its age. It is surrounded by buildings that appear to be the same age and have unique brickwork.

QUESTION: The paper this past week described a situation where a person on a motorized scooter was hit while in a traffic lane. Your response stated that motorized scooters are considered pedestrians and must not be in traffic lanes. What about bicycles? I have been told that bikes must follows vehicles traffic laws and ride in lane with traffic. Can you clarify this?

QUESTION: What is the purpose of the mini medians that are being installed at various locations along Marshall Avenue?

QUESTION: In January, you wrote about a building downtown where part of the sidewalk had been torn up and some of the bricks had fallen off the building. It was a travel agency at one time.

QUESTION: I just recently received my appraised values from the Gregg Appraisal District. All of them increased dramatically — one by 40%. Will the taxing authorities reduce their rates? If not, it appears that all of the taxpayers will have a very substantial increase in taxes for 2023.

QUESTION: How does SWEPCO read your meter if it's behind a fence on a house (and not converted to a smart meter)?

QUESTION: When a resident of Texas turns 65, property taxes are supposed to be frozen. My question is: Are property appraised values frozen or is the just property tax rate frozen?

QUESTION: I currently live in an apartment community in North Longview. I and other people living in the complex have had some run-ins with foxes that live in the woods near our community. One barked at me once, and another ran at me when I was walking my dog. Is there something that can be done about this?

QUESTION: I have loved seeing the new sidewalks constructed on Loop 281 and Gilmer Road. What other sidewalk projects are planned?

QUESTION: An attorney representing me in a civil case has stopped communicating with me about the settlement I was supposed to receive and won't answer my phone calls and emails. What can I do?

QUESTION: My comment/question has to do with bus stops — or lack of bus stops — for the many people who have to depend on public transportation.

QUESTION: What is the new warehouse-type facility on the west side of U.S. 259 heading toward Diana? It is just north of FM 1650 and close to the Upshur County line. 

QUESTION: How does a homeowner correctly dispose of things like paint stripper, antifreeze/coolant or flammable liquids?

QUESTION: Is it true that parallel parking is still part of the required driving test? I heard that it was, but I’m not sure I believe that it is.

QUESTION: We have been receiving a notification from Gregg County about our "Smart911" information. Does the Answer Line know if this is legit or is it phishing? 

QUESTION: How do I get a voucher for the city's electronics recycling event if I don't have a smart phone or internet access?

QUESTION: There are a couple of houses in my neighborhood with boats, cars, trucks, trailers, buckets and equipment all over the yards.

QUESTION: Is there a time limit on when a will can be probated?

QUESTION: I recently received a jury summons from Gregg County. My issue is the way they are returned to the county. 

QUESTION: Is the AARP providing tax help again this year?

QUESTION: How can a person find out how the city is spending the stimulus money from the federal government?

QUESTION: Does a homeowner have any recourse against people who, walking their dogs down the street, allow them to stop and poop in someone's yard?

QUESTION: It seems that once a light goes out in Longview it stays that way for a long, long, long time. Seems to me, having our streets lit up a little better at night would be a safety benefit. Whose responsibility is it to get these lights fixed?

ANSWER LINE FOLLOW-UP: In 2022, Answer Line responded to a reader's question about why the city is requiring developers to build partial sidewalks at commercial construction project around town.

QUESTION: I've noticed that the road into the Christus Good Shepherd complex off Hawkins Parkway has a blue street sign for Good Shepherd Way. Why?

QUESTION: Is there a way for me to find out if my child’s teacher is certified to teach in the subject area to which he or she is assigned? 

QUESTION: Last fall someone asked, "Is there an electronic recycling event coming up locally?" The answer was, "Yes, an electronics recycling event will be after the first of the year, but I (Jo Lee Ferguson) don't have a specific date yet."

QUESTION: I have a portable generator which I keep stored in my garage. Recently, the off/on fuel valve disintegrated due to chemical reaction. Fortunately, I was home at the time and had only about two pints of gas in the tank. Many things could have happened if I would have had a full tank…

QUESTION: I have a question about two projects underway: One is the old Smotherman's location at Highway 80 and Bill Owens. The other is a large project on the west side of Judson Road, north of South Side Bank.

QUESTION: There is a building that once was a travel agency at the corner of Tyler Street and Center Street. Some of the bricks are falling off the building. Part of the sidewalk is torn up and barricaded. What is going on there? When will it be fixed?

QUESTION: I have been concerned as I watch the walkers and bikers crossing Fourth Street and Hollybrook where the lights have been installed to help those using the trail to cross the street.

QUESTION: Why is there no community center for seniors in the north part of Longview

QUESTION: Does Longview/Gregg County have a life alert program? Also, is there an at home care company that assists seniors (such as cleaning, bathing) on a part-time basis?

QUESTION: I noticed recently while taking a trip around the Dallas area that some cities had posted the typical green city limits signs and some didn't. Why is that?

QUESTION: It seems like there were a lot of fireworks being set off illegally in the city during the New Year's weekend. How many calls did the police department respond to?

QUESTION: I spend a good amount of time wandering around Lake O' the Pines, and I've come across what appear to be several abandoned parks.

QUESTION: Would you please provide the mailing addresses for the national Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties?

QUESTION: Weather Challenge just announced a tornado report for a certain part of the U.S. They went on to say, “It’s not safe if you live in a trailer park.”(And to think these guys went to college!) Why don’t they think of the single mother of two, who has no where to go. Simple. Get the c…

A few weeks ago, Answer Line was excited to print the recipe for the much beloved sauce that was once served at Dari Crème on South High Street in Longview.

I am following Answer Line tradition and taking a break from our normal questions and answers to recognize this holiday, with a look back at Christmases past in Longview.

QUESTION: Somebody told me there were UFOs or something over the Atlantic on Dec. 21, that they actually had films of them. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I haven’t read anything about it in the newspaper or in the news.