Nhill527- If you can get up to Olive Branch, MS you can fly at our field, good paved runway too.
AMA field. We have instructors and buddyboxes for the major brand radios. PM if you would like more info.
Tower trainer should be great to learn on and there are many radio/engine combinations that will work in your price range.
Those suggested by ScienceisCool and Ugo Ferrari are good.

Welcome and good luck.

I just checked Yahoo, says we're about 100 mi from you, probably too far to travel. Good luck.