Commercial Roofing Contractors in Anna, TX

Builders have purchased prime properties north of McKinney in Anna with plans to construct two rental communities.

The just-sold sites are on U.S. Highway 75 south of White Street. Earlier this year, Anna zoned 65 acres on the east side of the highway for mixed-use development.

Rental community builders NexMetro Communities and HighPark Capital this month acquired the building sites to construct two rental projects.

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Dallas-based HighPark plans to build a 312-unit apartment community on its site that will be called Southgate. HighPark is finishing a 284-unit apartment development in nearby Melissa that’s called Farmhouse 121. The property firm has other rental projects on the way in Midlothian and Weatherford.

Construction wills start on HighPark’s Anna project in the fourth quarter.

On a nearby 24-acre site, Arizona-based NexMetro Communities plans to construct a more than 200-unit rental project with detached single-family and duplex home units. The development will also include a leasing center, swimming pool and outdoor spaces. Construction is set to start in the fourth quarter.

NexMetro has similar residential cottage-style rental communities across North Texas. NexMetro already has two of its communities in nearby Melissa.

The developers purchased their land from Irving-based Caalm Group, which also has sites for commercial and retail construction in the Anna development.

The HighPark Capital and NexMetro projects are just two of several new rental home developments in the works for Anna.

Colleyville-based Beall Development is building Anna Village, which will include 317 apartments. Dallas-based Palladium USA is building a $64 million, 239-unit rental community north of McKinney in Anna east of U.S. 75 on East Foster Crossing near State Highway 5. Irving-based apartment builder JPI is developing a 185-unit senior rental project in Anna called Parmore. The city of Anna is partnering on the 9-acre development.

Anna has a population of almost 28,000 and has seen dramatic growth in the last decade with several large residential communities on the way.

An Anna resident won $4 million in a Mega Millions lottery drawing on July 25, and a Lancaster woman took home a $1 million prize from Choctaw Casino & Resort.

DURANT, Okla. — A couple North Texas residents had a lucky week.

An Anna resident won $4 million in a Mega Millions lottery drawing on July 25, and a Lancaster woman took home a $1 million prize from Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.

The lottery winner, who chose to remain anonymous, purchased a ticket at a 7-Eleven at 1510 W. White St. in Anna and matched all five of the white numbers drawn on July 25: 3-5-6-44-61.

The ticket missed the Mega Ball number of 25, but the ticket was still good for $4 million. But that also means the biggest Mega Millions prize is still up for grabs, with the next drawing Tuesday at 10:12 p.m. The estimated jackpot is now $1.05 billion.

At the Choctaw casino, Rose Guia, of Lancster, on Sunday won the casino's monthly million-dollar drawing. The drawing is part of the casino's "3 months. 3 millionaires" giveaway promotion this summer.

Guia, a grandmother of 12 who works at an embroidery company, had won big before at Choctaw, taking home a $41,000 prize in 2017.

“I still can’t believe it. I can’t believe it because of how much it is. I know it’s real because I won $1 million tonight,” Guia said in a Choctaw press release. “I’m not sure what I am going to do with the money, but I have four children and 12 grandchildren. I think I will take them somewhere."

Choctaw's final $1 million drawing of the summer will be announced Aug. 26.

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"We really believe the level of education we are going to provide will supersede their concerns over time," said Anna ISD Superintendent Michael Comeaux said.

ANNA, Texas — The Anna Independent School District is now one of the largest school districts in North Texas to experiment with a four-day school week.

Classes will be scheduled from Monday to Thursday and also includes Friday "Boot Camp" days for students needing extra instruction for state testing.

"You're either the leader or the follower. If you're the follower you spend two or three years trying to catch up what other people do," said Anna ISD Superintendent Michael Comeaux. "The main focus has got to be the success of the kids."

This fast-growing district has been talking about the four-day week for nearly two years. The board unanimously decided to move to the model after undertaking a series of studies and surveys.

The district told WFAA that surveys of the plan returned from parents indicated a 72% approval of the plan and 87% approval from educators

It's a big move for the smaller district with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. It certainly has come with some detractors on social media who say the plan will adversely affect families with "working parents" and "low income" families.

The district said that the public had ample opportunities to share their opinions on the matter in December and January.

"We really believe the level of education we are going to provide will supersede their concerns over time," said Comeaux.

The Monday-Thursday schedule does mean families will have to make some decisions about Fridays, especially families who have working parents. The superintendent told WFAA that this is the reason the district moved quickly to make a decision in order to give families enough time to plan before the August start time.

"Parents have been calling last week. Yesterday, a lot of parents were anxious about where the kids will go," said Rachael Gadi, who is with AnnaKids Academy, a local daycare center. Gadi said she already has a waiting list for Fridays.

The district said that it has had conversations with the YMCA to offer day care services on Fridays for families interested in service. WFAA reached out to the YMCA and is awaiting a response.

For Comeaux, the other hope is this plan will attract and retain educators who want a more flexible schedule. The superintendent said educators rarely ever have the time to schedule appointments and the like, which results in most taking Fridays off.

"I've got to have the highest quality staff members I can attract and retain and we believe this is one way," the superintendent said.

The district said it will add about 35 minutes to each day and a full extra week on the backend.

Students like junior Karleigh Redwine don't know how to feel yet but said a free Friday could help.

"I have a job already so I will be able to work more than I already do," said Redwine, who balances school, sports and work.

The superintendent told WFAA that the three-year pilot program was never about cost-cutting. Comeaux said the district will re-evaluate if the model works by seeing if test scores remain high and if more teachers are retained.

While studying to be a physician assistant at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Anna Simmers de-stressed by making intricate polymer clay earrings in her McAllen apartment. Her first pieces, based on South Texas flowers, quickly sold out online thanks to Instagram, where she built a loyal following for her Ann Made Clay line. She sold enough to even cover her summer tuition. The 25-year-old now works as a breast surgical oncology PA at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, but at night she swaps her scalpel for an X-Acto knife to create mini masterpieces. Her collections have grown to include cityscapes as well as designs inspired by artists such as Vincent van Gogh. “I never really considered myself to be a creative person,” she says, “but I’ve always been very detail oriented.”

Texas Monthly: What drew you to clay?

Anna Simmers: I started following clay pages on Instagram in the midst of the pandemic and was inspired to try it, but I probably started selling a little sooner than I should have. Initially, I didn’t invest in the right equipment. I was using a wooden rolling pin and other little tools that I had around the house to make them at my kitchen counter. I was shocked by how fast things sold out, and that motivated me to make more and get better.

TM: What’s your process like now? How long does it take to make a pair of earrings?

AS: A simple set takes roughly an hour, but the more intricate designs can take twelve hours over the course of several days. I’ve invested in a desk and some new tools—like a pasta machine to ensure a consistent thickness—but I still do all of my designs freehand. I have a reference photo or painting up on my laptop in front of me, but that’s it.

TM: Has your science background informed your art or vice versa?

AS: I don’t think of clay as being really scientific, but I will say that since I started, it’s helped with my surgical skills. But really it’s more therapeutic. I’m in an operating room from about seven-thirty a.m. until five p.m. If I’m working on something I’m really excited about, sometimes I’ll come home and sit down, still in my scrubs, and start working on clay. Next thing I know, I’ll look up and it’s been three hours.

TM: How has your work evolved?

AS: Early on, most of my pieces were inspired by flowers, specifically flowers in South Texas, where I was living. One of my signature designs came from these really beautiful bird-of-paradise plants in the yard at my boyfriend’s parents’ house. Those three-dimensional flowers were the foundation for the cityscapes and everything that came after.

TM: The cityscapes feel very realistic. Are they based on actual buildings?

AS: I’ve been lucky enough to go to Europe three times. Last year, we went to London and Madrid, and while I was there, I took photos of the architecture. Those became my inspiration for an entire collection of cityscapes. But I also find images on Pinterest.

TM: What’s been the most challenging design?

AS: The London cityscapes were challenging because previously I had only done one building per earring, but I put two little townhouses on each, and that was a lot more detail than I’m used to. The art-inspired pieces, like Claude Monet’s Water Lilies and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, were also pretty challenging because it involved a pointillism technique with tiny bits of clay.

TM: Do you ever make the same design twice?

AS: Series may have a similar design, but I never make the same cityscape. Some customers have three or four cityscapes and consider them to be more of an art collection. I don’t really think of myself as an artist, but it’s always a very cool compliment.

TM: But they’re meant to be worn, right? How fragile are the earrings?

AS: Yes, people are always worried they’re breakable, but after it’s baked, polymer clay becomes almost like plastic.

TM: What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?

AS: Probably my Mediterranean cityscape. I really like Mediterranean architecture, and the neutral palette goes more with my personal style.

TM: Do you wear your own designs?

AS: Ironically, no. Dangly earrings are not really conducive to working at a hospital.

TM: What does the future hold for Ann Made Clay?

AS: I would love to experiment with even more three-dimensional pieces and do some commission-based work where I design cityscapes based on others’ favorite places. I’d also love to host virtual classes and maybe showcase other artists’ work—I like the sense of support in the art community.

TM: How often can fans expect a new collection?

AS: I would like to say every week or every month, but realistically it will probably be every other month. The best way to stay in the know is by following me on Instagram.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

An abbreviated version of this article originally appeared in the July 2023 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “The Earring Artist.” Subscribe today.

Anna Duggar’s living situation might have changed. She and her seven children, whom she shares with , had reportedly been staying in a warehouse located at and Michelle Duggar’s family compound in Arkansas while Josh serves his prison sentence for possession of child pornography. However, it was rumored in June 2023 that Jim Bob kicked Anna off the property after an argument. Keep scrolling to find out where Anna Duggar might live now.

Did Jim Bob Duggar Kick Anna Duggar Out of His Home?

Neither Jim Bob nor Anna has confirmed that Anna and her kids — Mackynzie, Maryella, Marcus, Mason, Michael, Meredith and Madyson — are no longer living on the Duggar property. However, a source told The Sun on June 29 that Jim Bob allegedly forced Anna to move out of the warehouse after an argument “a month and a half ago.”

There had allegedly been tension between Jim Bob and Anna ever since Josh’s hearing in May 2022.

“Jim Bob walked to Anna’s row to sit down when he entered the courtroom. Anna and her family just stared at Jim Bob while he waited for her family to make room for him,” a reporter in the courtroom told The Sun at the time. “Her family members eventually moved down so he could sit, but Jim Bob and Anna did not greet each other or interact.”

Where Does Anna Duggar Live Now?

Following the report of Anna getting kicked out, rumors swirled that she could be living in Texas with or near in-laws Hilary and Robert Spivey, whose daughter Claire Duggar (née Spivey) is married to Justin Duggar. Josh and Anna’s daughter Mackynzie was spotted in a bowling alley photo posted by Hilary on Instagram on July 3, although Anna was not pictured.

Josh is currently serving a sentence of just over 10 years at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Seagoville in Seagoville, Texas, which is about 45 minutes away from the Spiveys’ home in Fort Worth. It’s not clear if Anna and her kids visited Josh amid their visit to the Spiveys, but Anna has visited Josh in the past.

What Does Josh Duggar Think About Anna Moving to Texas?

Anna has reportedly thought about moving her family from Arkansas to Texas to be closer to Josh during his prison stay. However, an insider told In Touch in October 2022 that Josh was against the idea.

“The problem is that Josh doesn’t want Anna and their kids moving away from his family,” the source said. “He thinks it will create too much of a disconnection for her and his kids.”

The source continued, “Josh doesn’t want anyone but Anna and his immediate family to guide his children. He also fears that if Anna is distanced from his family, she might be influenced to leave him.”

Another source told In Touch in January 2023 that Anna was “questioning” her future with Josh and feeling conflicted.

“She took her wedding vows seriously and she wants to stand by her man and all that, but the reality of her situation is very difficult,” the source shared. “[She’s] trying to stay positive, but it’s not easy. … [She] wants Josh by her side, as a husband and as a father to their children,” but that “isn’t physically possible for now, or the near future.”