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Another pleasant start to this morning with temps in the 60’s. Highs for today will range mostly in the 90’s. We are tracking a cold front that will move through the region today. This will allow for cooler temps for tomorrow. There is a potential for a lift in the atmosphere that will give us a few thunderstorms across our northern counties. There is a general chance for t-storms from the SPC for some strong winds. Everyone else stay dry this evening and tonight. Temps will be back into the 90’s as we end the workweek. The most significant cold front will push through the Panhandle over the weekend. Temps will fall into the 70’s and 80’s. Along this front expect to see some windy conditions with the rest of the days being on the breezy side. Lastly, the first day of Fall is tomorrow! | 2022-09-21T12:29:26Z | www.myhighplains.com | Tracking a cold front and northern storms | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/weather-headlines/forecast/tracking-a-cold-front-and-northern-storms/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/weather-headlines/forecast/tracking-a-cold-front-and-northern-storms/ |
Help out a local non-profit with McDonald’s Gives Back Day
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — McDonald’s is giving back to the community on Tuesday, Sept. 27 with their McDonald’s Gives Back Day.
A portion of all the sales from participating McDonald’s locations around the high plains will go towards the Turn Center of Amarillo. This is the second time the Turn Center has been chosen as a recipient.
The Turn center provides therapy services to children with special needs from birth through age 20. Their services include occupational, physical, speech, and feeding therapy.
So far, McDonald’s Give Back Day has raised over $45,000 for various non-profits and charities around our area like the Ronald McDonald House, Faith City Mission, and Amarillo CASA, among others. | 2022-09-21T14:48:34Z | www.myhighplains.com | Help out a local non-profit with McDonald’s Gives Back Day | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/help-out-a-local-non-profit-with-mcdonalds-gives-back-day/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/help-out-a-local-non-profit-with-mcdonalds-gives-back-day/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with BSA Health System recently announced that the Family Medicine Centers (FMC) Health Network and BSA have opened the BSA Behavioral Health Clinic at 2701 S. Georgia.
“Texas’ mental health workforce is simply insufficient to meet our needs, and that is particularly true in rural areas like the Panhandle,” Shaina Neely, BSA’s psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, said. “Our goal is to change that and make sure local people have a place to get mental health help when needed.”
According to the American of Family Physicians, it is estimated that as many as one in six children in the U.S. between the ages of 6 and 17 has a treatable mental health disorder.
Officials noted that the process to be treated for mental health in the area could take months as pediatric patients often had to travel to Lubbock for treatment.
“At the BSA Behavioral Health Clinic, we are scheduling patients within a week of them calling us, and we will treat anyone over the age of six,” Neely added. “We know that time is critical, and we want to get treatment started as soon as possible.”
The clinic, according to officials, offers mental health treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD and a full list of treatment options can be found on the BSA Behavioral Health website.
“We know the negative impact mental health illnesses have on our quality of life, relationships, and overall health,” Neely explained. “That’s why it’s important to seek treatment and for patients to know that there is hope and these conditions can be successfully treated.”
Additional information can be found by calling the clinic at 806-350-7601. | 2022-09-21T16:54:23Z | www.myhighplains.com | BSA, FMC open new behavioral health clinic | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/bsa-fmc-open-new-behavioral-health-clinic/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/bsa-fmc-open-new-behavioral-health-clinic/ |
CLOVIS, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Clovis Police Department released information on an early Wednesday morning homicide that reportedly occurred in west Clovis.
According to a news release, dispatch with the Clovis Police Department received a 911 call from a local hospital around 3:06 a.m. Wednesday, letting police know that a man had been brought to the emergency room with a gunshot wound. The man, identified as 48-year-old Joe Suniga, eventually died from his injuries.
Police later identified the scene of the crime as a home in the 300 block of Missouri St. in Clovis. The release said the department’s major crimes unit has been activated to investigate the homicide.
The department is asking if anyone has information about the incident, they should call the department at 575-769-1921. The release said information can also be provided anonymously by using the department’s tip411 app, which can be accessed through the department’s website. Anonymous tips can also be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers by calling 575-763-7000. | 2022-09-21T16:54:29Z | www.myhighplains.com | 1 dead after early Wednesday homicide in Clovis | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/curry-county/1-dead-after-early-wednesday-homicide-in-clovis/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/curry-county/1-dead-after-early-wednesday-homicide-in-clovis/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Safewise, an independent analyst surrounding safety and security, has named Canyon, the home of West Texas A&M University, the safest college town in Texas, according to a news release from the university.
The university announced that Safewise named Canyon the safest college town in Texas and the 21st safest college town in the United States. According to the release, the analyst group looked at various things to make this determination, including FBI data for violent crimes and property crimes, median income and poverty data, high school graduation rates, redlining practices, city budget allocations, unemployment rates and other socioeconomic factors.
According to previous reports by MyHIghPlains.com, Safewise named Canyon the 24th safest college town in the United States and the safest city in Texas last year. Canyon was the only city in Texas to make the top 50 on this list this year, or last year.
“We take a lot of pride in making Canyon one of the safest cities in Texas,” Canyon Police Chief Steve Brush said in the release. “Our partnership with WT’s University Police Department is important to uphold Canyon as a safe and secure place for both students and residents. The Canyon community really supports our efforts both on campus and in town.”
The release said towns that qualify for the list are required to have a population above the median for each state. Canyon was reported to have 0.86 violent crimes per 1,000 people and 8.12 property crimes per 1,000 in 2021, decrease from 2020.
“One of our top priorities is collaborating with our partners in the City of Canyon and the Canyon Police Department to keep the campus community safe,” WT University Police Department Chief Shawn Burns said. “It takes all of us to have an impact on crime.” | 2022-09-21T16:54:35Z | www.myhighplains.com | Canyon named safest college town in Texas | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/canyon-named-safest-college-town-in-texas/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/canyon-named-safest-college-town-in-texas/ |
Courtesy: City of Canyon Facebook page.
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the city of Canyon are looking for a regional candidate to fill its Business and Community Development Director position, a position which officials said would remain open until its filled.
According to a news release from the city of Canyon, the Business and Community Development Director position oversees the overall development, supervision and evaluation of the Canyon Economic Development Corporation, along with the organization’s Main Street program.
“We’re looking for someone who is ready to take Canyon to the next step of economic development growth,” Canyon City Manager Joe Price said in the release. “Our EDC is at a pivotal point in the city’s history, and we are excited for the next director to come in and continue to elevate and promote Canyon. We’re calling on anyone in the Panhandle and West Texas who is passionate about Canyon and its future to apply for this position. We are hoping to find an exceptional person to guide us into the future.”
Individuals who are interested in the position can find more information, along with the full application, on the city of Canyon’s website under the employment tab. | 2022-09-21T18:56:13Z | www.myhighplains.com | City of Canyon looking for Business, Community Development director | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/city-of-canyon-looking-for-business-community-development-director/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/city-of-canyon-looking-for-business-community-development-director/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with West Texas A&M University released details on the 2022 “WT Through the Decades” Homecoming events from Sept. 23 through Sept. 30 and ending on Oct. 1 with the annual parade and WT football game.
“Homecoming is always a special time when alumni and our current student body can celebrate the impact WT has had on their lives,” said Ronnie Hall, executive director of the WT Alumni Association. “Alumni can reminisce at a full slate of special events, and students will be making their own memories and seeing just how far a start at WT can take them.”
Here is the list of events, according to WT officials.
The Phoenix from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m on Sept. 29: A celebration of WT’s Distinguished Alumni Class of 2022 which includes a dinner with jazz music and dessert in Legacy Hall.
Tickets are $75 while tables are $500 to $1,500
Honorees include Col. Steven McCraw, Director of Texas DPS; Val and Pat White, ranchers and philanthropist; Betty Solis of Amarillo, longtime educational leader
Homecoming Scholarship Golf Classic from 11:30 a.m. with tee-off at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 30: Tee up for food and fun at Palo Duro Creek Golf Course at 50 Country Club Drive in Canyon.
Tickets are $125 for individuals or $500 for teams of four. Purchase tickets here or call 806-651-2400.
Celebration of Color at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30: Four WT alumni of color and two Amarillo businesses will be honored at the event in Legacy Hall.
Tickets are $30. Purchase tickets here of call 806-651-8482
Honorees include Dinga/Hollingsworth Group of Morgan Stanley; Education Credit Union; Pearlene Martin, educator and civic leader; Attorney J.E. Sauseda; Urban Developer Dr. David Willis; and U.S. Department of Defense civilian leader Jimmie Vaughn-Adams
“Don’t Bring Me Down” Homecoming Rock Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30: Amarillo band Flashback! will join the WT Symphony Orchestra for a concert that will feature music by Electric Light Orchestra in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall.
General admission tickets are $10 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the orchestra. Call 806-651-2840 for tickets.
Homecoming Parade begins at 1 p.m. at Oct. 1: The decades-themed parade will begin at the First United Bank Center to the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex along Russell Long Blvd.
Countdown to Kickoff Block Party: Tailgating activities will begin after the parade on 26th street across from Ban-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium on campus.
Alumni Association will host an open house and scavenger hunt
KWTS 50th Anniversary from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 1: The radio station will celebrate its 50th anniversary and its official switch to an all-90s format during the party.
Click here to RSVP or call 806-651-2807.
WT Football at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1: The Buffs will take on UT-Permian Basin in Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
Get tickets to the game here.
Check out a complete list of activities here. | 2022-09-21T18:56:19Z | www.myhighplains.com | WT details Homecoming Week celebrations | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/wt-details-homecoming-week-celebrations/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/wt-details-homecoming-week-celebrations/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar paid a visit to the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District on Tuesday after appearing at the Texas Panhandle Legislative Summit.
According to a release from Hegar’s office, the tour will include a handful of visits to water facilities across the state focused on topics such as desalination, aquifers, cloud seeding, surface water, canal systems, groundwater, and flood mitigation. During the visit to the PGCD, Hegar focused on the district’s weather modification efforts and discussed cloud seeding.
However, what is cloud seeding? How do its projects function, and how impactful is it as a water strategy? Further, why was the Comptroller talking about it?
What is cloud seeding?
Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification technique that is intended to improve a cloud’s ability to produce rain or snow. According to the Desert Research Institute, the process works by introducing particles into the atmosphere like dust or salts that water vapor can cling to as a base for precipitation, such as raindrops or snowflakes. This process can be completed by using ground-based generators or aircraft to release a compound, such as the often-used silver iodide, into the air.
As noted by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, cloud seeding efforts can use aircraft to put seeding materials into clouds and turrets of growing thunderstorms in order to get storms to expand and process more water from the atmosphere. Those seeding materials can take the form of flares holding a compound like silver iodide which are then burned, mounted on the wings of an aircraft, or dropped out from the underside. Otherwise, ground operations like those run by the Desert Research Institute might burn seeding materials in order to get the compound at their cores up into the clouds or storm systems.
DooFi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
What does the PGCD have to do with it?
Environmental scientist Gregg Eckhardt, via EdwardsAquifer.net, noted that cloud seeding efforts in different areas of Texas have been ongoing since the early 1890s, though the process as it is known today began with Dr. Vincent J. Schaefer in 1946 via his work to create artificial clouds in a chilled chamber. Schaefer’s experimentation led to the “cold rain” or “static method” process of cloud seeding as well as the “warm rain” process, which both focus on adding particles to the air that can offer a base for precipitation like raindrops and snowflakes to use to form.
After Schaefer’s discoveries, a range of independent researchers, businesses, and government agencies continued to develop cloud seeding as a weather modification process. In Texas, the Southwest Research Institute undertook rainmaking ventures as early as 1947, and rainmaking programs were made and otherwise funded by water management entities up through the current year. As noted in a release from Hegar, the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District hosts one of five cloud seeding programs in the state.
“To help supplement the Texas water supply, some areas of the state are using periodic cloud seeding attempts to increase rainfall.” said Hegar, “The PGCD conducts cloud seeding operations to augment groundwater recharge over the Ogallala Aquifer. This is a target area of nearly 4.1 million acres in the eastern sector of the Texas Panhandle, which allows access to cloud systems moving out of Oklahoma.”
According to the PGCD, the target area for its program includes Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Armstrong, Donley, Roberts, and portions of Hemphill, Potter, and Hutchinson counties.
The PGCD said that the program employs a meteorologist to run the operations from White Deer and two plots to operate the involved airplanes, which are located at the Tradewinds Airport in Amarillo.
According to TDLR, the other Texas rain enhancement projects conducted during 2022 include those run by the West Texas Weather Modification Association, the South Texas Weather Modification Association, the Trans Pecos Weather Modification Association, and the Rolling Plains Water Enhancement Project.
The TDLR noted that no state funds have been made available for the next two years for any cloud seeding operations in Texas. Rain enhancement projects currently are being funded by underground water conservation districts and other local political subdivisions, such as county commissions and aquifer authorities. PGCD said that its program is funded through the district’s regular budget, and noted that in 2021 the cost was about 3 cents per acre for the district.
Even if no state funding has been made available for programs like PGCD’s cloud seeding, the 2022 State Water Plan included financial assistance through the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas. The program, as described by the Texas Water Development Board, provides loans to political subdivisions and nonprofit water supply corporations with projects included in the state water plan, including:
River authorities
Special law districts
Water improvement districts
Water control and improvement districts
Irrigation districts
Groundwater conservation districts
Although the PGCD funded its program through its regular budget and does not appear to have filed a loan application with SWIFT, other areas of Texas have utilized the program to fund an array of water-related projects.
That depends on who you ask.
The National Research Council concluded, in a 2003 report on weather modification, that “there is still no convincing scientific proof of the efficacy of intentional weather modification efforts.”
Historically, analyses of cloud seeding operations and their effectiveness have been difficult for a number of reasons. In order to be certain that cloud seeding made the difference in precipitation for a particular storm, for example, researchers would need to be able to compare a seeded storm in the exact same area and with the exact same weather conditions that a not-seeded storm took place. Due to the chaotic nature of weather, that’s nearly impossible and would require advanced technology that hasn’t historically been available.
Quantifiable data about the impacts of cloud seeding is a recent development; the National Science Foundation only reported the first quantifiable observations of cloud seeding for increased snowfall in 2018, and the technology that has made such reports possible has developed to that point only in the last 20 years.
However, as drought conditions continue to grow more frequent and more severe and groundwater sources such as the Ogallala Aquifer continue to dry up, many water management agencies and communities have shown a willingness to continue to fund cloud seeding operations and research because of its possible potential to help mitigate the impacts of water supply issues. Even the NRC, in its 2003 report, still recommended continued research on weather modification.
TDLR said an analysis of Texas cloud seeding operations, produced at Texas Tech University in 2019, said that on average individual seeded thunderstorms lived 41% longer than untreated storms in the vicinity and covered about 44% more area. Rain output from seeded storms, on average, was 24% more than that from nearby untreated storms. The 101 single, isolated thunderstorms seeded appeared to produce around 101,000 acre-feet beyond what could have been expected without seeding, and more complex thunderstorm clusters that were seeded appeared to yield a bit over 956,600 additional acre-feet of rainwater.
Altogether, there isn’t a consensus on whether or not cloud seeding is an effective way to add to a region’s water supply. However, research and analysis into ongoing cloud seeding operations may be able to offer more conclusive data in the coming years as technology and research strategies develop.
The Texas State Water Plan 2022, cloud seeding, and the future
The Texas Comptroller’s office, as described on its website, serves as the state’s chief tax collector, accountant, revenue estimator, treasurer and purchasing manager, and overall chief financial officer. Hegar, who also serves as a member of the board of advisors for the SWIFT program, said that part of his “Good for Texas Tour: Water Edition” would include sharing results of a new Comptroller’s office report highlighting the role that water management plays in providing for the future of Texas families and businesses.
While cloud seeding isn’t a major source of new water in Texas, according to the Comptroller’s report, “it is one of many water management strategies that help ensure enough water is available for future needs.” The 2022 State Water Plan recommended that cloud seeding provide about 5,000 acre-feet of water annually for irrigation users by 2070, or about 1% of the total recommended strategy supplies for that year.
According to the 2022 State Water Plan, the majority of the water resource strategies going through 2070 will be focused on demand reduction, surface water, groundwater, reuse, and seawater.
The Comptroller’s water tour is expected to continue through Oct. 20. While Desalination, aquifers, and cloud seeding have been covered so far in the tour, the published schedule detailed that upcoming focus topics will include surface water, canal systems, groundwater, and flood mitigation.
READ MORE: Water and Drought on the High Plains | 2022-09-21T18:56:51Z | www.myhighplains.com | Cloud seeding, the Texas Comptroller, and the State Water Plan | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/water-and-drought-on-the-high-plains/cloud-seeding-the-texas-comptroller-and-the-state-water-plan/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/water-and-drought-on-the-high-plains/cloud-seeding-the-texas-comptroller-and-the-state-water-plan/ |
CANADIAN, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the office of State Rep. Ken King, R-Texas District 88 recently announced a series of town halls that King will conduct to discuss the upcoming 88th regular Texas Legislative Session.
According to a news release from King’s office, King will visit the following locations on Oct. 6, giving constituents the chance to bring forward issues important to them and their communities:
11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Swisher County Courthouse, district courtroom on the third floor, located at 119 S. Maxwell in Tulia;
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Dimmitt City Hall, located at 200 E. Jones St. in Dimmitt;
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Plainview Chamber of Commerce, located at 1906 West Fifth in Plainview.
“Before beginning another legislative session, it is important that I receive input and ideas from the constituents of District 88 to help me effectively represent and advocate for our community,” King said in the release. | 2022-09-21T20:50:44Z | www.myhighplains.com | State Rep. King to host town halls in October | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/state-rep-king-to-host-town-halls-in-october/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/state-rep-king-to-host-town-halls-in-october/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Healing through art, that’s the purpose of the Create Healing Art Studio.
They’ve got a number of classes coming up, some of them fun, some informative, some to teach a new way to heal what is happening in your life.
For more information click here, or look at one of the class schedules below. | 2022-09-21T22:56:06Z | www.myhighplains.com | Create Healing Art Studio Hosting Several Classes | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/create-healing-art-studio-hosting-several-classes/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/create-healing-art-studio-hosting-several-classes/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Family Support Services has a number of great resources for the community. One of those being the LOSS Team which helps survivors of suicide with resources, guidance, and connections with the community.
One way they’re helping the community is through the Survivors of Suicide LOSS Support Dinner on September 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Wolflin House.
Check below for details including a way to register for the event. | 2022-09-21T22:56:18Z | www.myhighplains.com | FSS LOSS Team Hosting Survivors Dinner | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/fss-loss-team-hosting-survivors-dinner/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/fss-loss-team-hosting-survivors-dinner/ |
AUSTIN (KAMR/KCIT) — The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) offers federally funded free and reduced meals at sites across Texas said Sid Miller, Texas Agriculture Commissioner.
Miller said in a news release that he wanted to remind people that the program, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, offers free and reduced-price meals at multiple sites.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and looks to make healthy meals and snacks available to eligible children and adults in need. TDA partners with approximately 12,000 CACFP sites including adult daycare centers, childcare centers, home-based daycares, and afterschool programs.
The news release states that Miller wanted to promote the connection between the program and Texas agriculture.
The meals meet specific nutrition standards and are available at no separate charge for enrolled participants at daycare centers and homes and in at-risk afterschool programs that include meals as part of tuition.
In centers, daycare homes, and at-risk afterschool programs where meals are charged separately from tuition, the following groups automatically qualify for free meals:
Children in households getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; or who are enrolled in Early Head Start; Head Start or Even Start Programs; or who receive Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits automatically qualify for free meals through participating CACFP providers.
Foster children placed with a caregiver by the state or courts are eligible for free meals. If you have foster children living with you and wish to apply for free meals for your foster child, contact your participating childcare center or daycare home for assistance.
Adults who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, and Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for free meals.
The following groups may qualify for free or reduced-price meals depending on their eligibility information as indicated in their application:
Children in households that do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income.
Parents or guardians who become unemployed may apply for free or reduced-price meals on behalf of their children at any time during the period of unemployment.
Children and adults in households participating in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women; Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Adults who do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income.
The news release said that applications can be found by requesting them at childcare centers, adult daycare centers, or daycare home providers that participate in the program. Sites that participate in CACFP can be found by calling 877-839-6325.
More information and income eligibility guidelines can be found here. | 2022-09-21T22:57:38Z | www.myhighplains.com | CACFP: Free, reduced-cost meals for eligible Texans | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/top-stories/cacfp-free-reduced-cost-meals-for-eligible-texans/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/top-stories/cacfp-free-reduced-cost-meals-for-eligible-texans/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Following Monday’s shooting at the Tri-State fair the 100 Club was notified almost immediately and stepped in to help.
100 Club Executive Director Suzzane Talley received phone calls until 3 a.m., notifying her of the event that occurred.
“The firemen and the policemen, they know who we are, said Suzzane Talley, Executive Director of 100 Club of Texas Panhandle. “And they know that when, when they’re in trouble that we’re going to have their backs and the phone starts ringing. And when there’s a tragedy…we wish there were never any, that they start calling us and they make sure we know so that we can respond in a timely manner.”
With the 100 club accepting donations year round, board members were able to respond in less than 24 hours of the shooting taking place. Tuesday morning the 100 Club visited with both the off-duty sheriff deputy and the volunteer fireman, presenting them both with money that helps to cover unexpected expenses they are facing.
“Before I knew it on the Facebook link we posted since last night we already had $4,800 in donations, said Talley.” “This area loves and protects those who protect and serve. I would encourage everyone to be apart of that, rally and be a part of this team who shows those who serve and protect that we see them, we appreciate them and we have their backs.”
100 Club began in 2004 and became a 5013c in 2006. The 100 Club said it is able to provide assistance at a moment’s notice and immediately responds with financial assistance for families following injury and death in the line of duty. Additionally, the 100 Club provides life-protecting equipment and educational opportunities for firefighting and law enforcement agencies.
According to Nancy Tanner, the Potter County Judge, the Potter County Deputy, and the firefighter are recovering well and have been released from the hospital.
The bystander who was injured is also recovering from their injuries.
Judge Tanner noted that the suspect in the shooting is awake and responding to treatment.
Clovis Police searching for 1 person in connection to Wednesday’s homicide
More information on the 100 Club can be found at the following link. | 2022-09-22T00:23:00Z | www.myhighplains.com | 100 Club responds to first responders injured in fair shooting | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/100-club-responds-to-first-responders-injured-in-fair-shooting/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/100-club-responds-to-first-responders-injured-in-fair-shooting/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Officials with West Texas A&M University announced that community leaders will gather on Thursday to hold the semi-annual steering meeting for the One West fundraising campaign, nearly exactly one year after its public launch in 2021.
Members representing the six Colleges, the WT Graduate School and other University divisions are expected to update the volunteer committee on the campaign’s progress, focused especially on the impact.
“For example, scholarships have grown by 20 percent in the course of this campaign,” said WT officials in the meeting’s announcement, “Faculty endowments have more than doubled. We currently stand at about $111 million raised from 5,500 donors who have made more than 43,000 gifts of all sizes and types.”
While more than half of the designated gifts for the One West campaign will be focused on people-oriented projects, through expanding scholarship opportunities and named professorships and chairs, officials noted that other campaign priorities also include improving existing buildings and enhancing academic offerings.
As previously reported on MyHighPlains.com, the One West campaign raised more than $73 million in major and yearly gifts between Sept. 1, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2022, which beat the amount raised in the 2021 fiscal year by $60 million. | 2022-09-22T17:38:26Z | www.myhighplains.com | WT marks 1-year anniversary of One West campaign | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/wt-marks-1-year-anniversary-of-one-west-campaign/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/wt-marks-1-year-anniversary-of-one-west-campaign/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with Amarillo College announced that the university had received an “unprecedented endorsement,” after receiving what amounts to a perfect score for its on-site visit on Thursday.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), officials detailed, conducted an on-site visit to AC which resulted in the committee fully endorsing the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is the “cornerstone of AC’s reaccreditation efforts.”
“I’m proud of our entire team, whose commitment to success clearly paid off in a huge way,” AC President Russell Lowery-Hart said. “I’ve never worked at an institution, or participated in an accreditation visit to another school, where there were zero recommendations. This speaks to the quality of our institution and the people who work here.”
Officials noted that colleges and universities must undergo an “intensive reaccreditation evaluation” every 10 years to maintain national accreditation through SACSCOC.
Tina Babb, AC’s director of institutional effectiveness, pulled together representatives earlier this year to prepare a preliminary SACSCOC compliance report for the on-site visit.
“What impressed me most about our team at Amarillo College was how they responded to the challenge,” Babb said. “They weren’t in it just to check to boxes and move on to something else; they were truly motivated to use this process to make actual institutional improvements.”
Babb continued, “AC rallied around the reaccreditation process to make the College better for the students and community we serve, and that’s how you come away with zero recommendations for the first time in the history of our school.”
The QEP is an important and mandatory part of the reaccreditation process, according to officials. AC’s QEP, called “Smart Start to Finish,” focuses on student engagement and incorporates a framework to guide students throughout their time at AC.
Officials added that “retention” is the goal of the QEP, with Babb explaining that official reaffirmation of accreditation from SACSCOC is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2023. | 2022-09-22T20:15:10Z | www.myhighplains.com | AC receives accreditation endorsement after on-site visit | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/ac-receives-accreditation-endorsement-after-on-site-visit/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/ac-receives-accreditation-endorsement-after-on-site-visit/ |
via Amarillo NAACP’s Facebook page
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Amarillo branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People released information regarding its 2022 election process.
According to an announcement from the Amarillo branch of the NAACP, the election of the nominating committee will occur at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Black Historical Cultural Center, located at 901 N. Hayden St.
Officials said the report of the nominating committee and the election of the group’s Election Supervisory Committee will occur at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Warford Activity Center.
After those two events, the 2022 Amarillo Branch NAACP election will occur via the “Election Buddy” platform through a smartphone or through email from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 12. Results of the election will be shared during the General Membership Meeting at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Warford Activity Center. | 2022-09-22T22:34:45Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo NAACP outlines 2022 election process | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-naacp-outlines-2022-election-process/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-naacp-outlines-2022-election-process/ |
AUSTIN, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the city of Dumas was recently designated as a Film Friendly Texas community by the Texas Film Commission.
According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, Dumas joins more than 160 Film Friendly Texas communities across the state, including Fritch, Amarillo, Canadian, Childress, Muleshoe and Shamrock. A news release from Abbott’s office said that the Texas Film Commission has helped grow local jobs and economies through production related to film, television, video games and animation.
“I congratulate the City of Dumas on earning the Film Friendly Texas designation and joining more than 160 other Texas communities that have received this recognition,” Abbott said in the release. “The Lone Star State is brimming with promise, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside all of our communities to ensure they have the knowledge and tools needed to succeed. Through the Film Friendly Texas training and certification process, communities large and small are readied to help match local businesses with production-related needs, creating jobs for Texas-based crew members and local residents, as well as spurring on-site spending at local small businesses. I am proud of all the Texas Film Commission has accomplished in helping communities like Dumas market their unique appeal and support local job creation through media production.”
According to the release, the Texas Film Commission in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism has created more than 183,000 production jobs and has caused around $1.95 billion in spending throughout the state since 2007.
“It is no secret that the natural beauty of the Texas Panhandle, with its spectacular views, stunning sunsets, and friendly people is attractive to filmmaking,” State Rep. Four Price, R-Texas District 87 said in the release. “Congratulations to the City of Dumas for achieving the Film Friendly Texas designation. Movies produced in Texas film-certified communities have significant and positive economic impacts on both the local and state economies.”
The more than 160 Film Friendly Texas communities around the state receive ongoing training and guidance from the Texas Film Commission on topics including media industry standards, best practices and how to effectively accommodate on-location filming activity in a community.
“Being designated as a Texas Film Friendly Community is so important on so many levels,” Carl Watson, the executive director of the Dumas/Moore County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, said in the release. “The economic impact provided by the film media industry, whether it be a motion picture or commercial, is one that has a ripple effect, providing revenues for so many members of a community; the lasting effect will continue to provide benefits for years to come. We are excited to be able to work with the Texas Film Commission to help promote Texas as the place to bring these great projects.”
For more information about Film Friendly Texas communities, visit its website. | 2022-09-22T22:34:51Z | www.myhighplains.com | Dumas designated as Film Friendly Texas community | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/moore-county/dumas-designated-as-film-friendly-texas-community/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/moore-county/dumas-designated-as-film-friendly-texas-community/ |
Man arrested for sexual assault of child in Randall County
RANDALL COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — A man has been arrested in Randall County for six counts related to having sex with a child, according to a complaint filed in the county in late August.
According to the complaint, 22-year-old Relles Garcia III was arrested on six counts, three of which were related to indecency with a child through sexual contact and the other three of which were related to sexual assault of a child. These counts were related to an alleged incident between Garcia and a child on or around June 1.
Officials set a bond for Garcia for $75,000. Randall County records show that Garcia still remains in the Randall County Jail. | 2022-09-22T22:34:57Z | www.myhighplains.com | Man arrested for sexual assault of child in Randall County | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/man-arrested-for-sexual-assault-of-child-in-randall-county/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/man-arrested-for-sexual-assault-of-child-in-randall-county/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Amarillo ISD changed the venue for Friday night’s rivalry football game between Amarillo High and Tascosa to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.
The two teams were scheduled to play at Dick Bivins Stadium on Friday, September 23, but the AISD administration decided to switch venues because the game falls on the last weekend of the Tri-State Fair.
AISD Athletic Director Brad Thiessen said the four districts in District 5-2A drew for their football schedules back in February.
“When you get that many districts involved, people are afraid of some advantage being taken,” said Thiessen. “So you end up with just the draw and the way the draw fell this ballgame ended up being right during fair week.”
AISD said it takes all school districts to agree to change dates after the draw, and all four did not approve of moving games. For that reason, the district is bound by the dates previously drawn.
According to AISD, the district anticipates a large crowd and has faced several problems in the past while hosting the game at Dick Bivins stadium during the fair.
“The last time that’s happened I think was about eight years ago, and that it was a mess, it really gave us some issues, we now have some more issues, because with safety being the way it is, we have to have a plan for emergency vehicles.”
Thiessen said typically they use the backside of the fairgrounds to stage emergency vehicles, which is impossible this year.
“If we have something that goes down during the game or at the stadium, we will have a hard time getting any kind of emergency vehicles into the stadium with the traffic that’s coming in from both sides,” said Thiessen.
After discussions, AISD’s administration agreed to move the game to Buffalo Stadium.
Thiessen said they expect between 10,000 and 12,000 fans at Friday’s game.
“It holds about 9,000 and they figured with about 3,000 and standing room all the way around, we anticipate that that’s about what we’ll have. So we think it’ll be fine. The the end zones will open up if we need to,” Thiessen added. “It’s going to be a crazy stadium. So the atmosphere is going to be pretty neat.”
But not everyone is happy about the change, including one football fan Myhighplains.com heard from Thursday afternoon.
“I really don’t like it. I think that it’s just too short to notice…to move the game from the current venue to out at buffalo stadium,” said Glynn Pride.
However, Thiessen said they are selling tickets just as quickly as they always have and does not expect the venue to change the rivalry.
“Obviously, there’s some trepidation from some parents who look at it that we’re losing a little bit of the tradition when their kid is playing. And so we understand that, but we think I really believe that atmosphere when this is over, and they see the atmosphere down there, and how intense the sound will be with all those fans right on top of them. I think they’re going to have a good time and really enjoy it,” said Thiessen.
He said the venue won’t make a difference in the game, which will come down to turnovers and big plays.
“I really believe when when this game is over, that the kids and the parents and the fans will have had a great time in WT’s fabulous stadium,” Thiessen added.
AISD is asking Tascosa fans to park in the lots on the north side of the baseball and softball fields and in the ag building parking lot, and Amarillo High fans to park across the street in the activity center and dorm parking lots. | 2022-09-23T00:49:12Z | www.myhighplains.com | Friday’s Amarillo High vs. Tascosa game moved to WT’s Buffalo Stadium | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/fridays-amarillo-high-vs-tascosa-game-moved-to-wts-buffalo-stadium/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/fridays-amarillo-high-vs-tascosa-game-moved-to-wts-buffalo-stadium/ |
WASHINGTON D.C. (KAMR/KCIT) — Today, US Senator John Cornyn and a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to improve the treatment of FBI child victims, and witnesses, according to a news release from Cornyn’s office.
The Respect for Child Survivors Act, inspired by the Larry Nassar investigation, was introduced today by Senators Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said the news release.
According to the news release, during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that examined the Inspector General’s Report on the FBI’s Handling of the Larry Nassar investigation, a victim testified of their treatment by the FBI personnel who interviewed her.
The news release states that the legislation, formulated with input from child welfare groups, looks at improving how the FBI handles child victims and witnesses by requiring trauma-informed experts to be a part of any interview of a victim who reports child abuse or trafficking to the FBI.
“It takes tremendous courage for young victims of sexual assault to tell their story and overcome the fear that they may not be taken seriously, may be ignored, or may be wrongfully blamed,” said Cornyn. “To avoid re-traumatizing victims during the investigation process, it’s imperative we give these individuals the support they need to ensure survivors feel respected during the interview process and abusers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The legislation states that victims would be interviewed by experts and require the FBI to use multidisciplinary teams when investigating child sexual abuse cases, child sexual abuse material cases, and child trafficking cases, including in situations where the interviewed victim is no longer a child.
The news release said the legislation received support from the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network, the National District Attorneys Association, the Army of Survivors, and the National Children’s Alliance. | 2022-09-23T02:55:30Z | www.myhighplains.com | Senators introduce legislation on FBI child victim protocols | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/political-news/senators-introduce-legislation-on-fbi-child-victim-protocols/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/political-news/senators-introduce-legislation-on-fbi-child-victim-protocols/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Multiple arts entities are expected to gather at Medi Park on Saturday morning, giving members of the community the chance to participate in a chalk drawing competition.
According to a news release, Art In The Park will be hosted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Medi Park, located at 1100 Wallace Blvd. The release said that more than 100 teams of all ages are expected to participate in Saturday’s competition.
Cash prizes and custom trophies will be announced in the competition around 1:30 p.m. According to the release, the first-place winners for both the high school and the community division will have the opportunity to paint their designs for the Hoodoo Mural Festival with the help of Blank Space Murals.
According to the release, local food trucks including Mimi’s Mini’s, Pappy’s Soda Jerk and J&R Family Catering will be on hand for the event. Rise Up Art Supply Co. will have a tent set up with art supplies for sale for artists of all ages. Representatives from the Hoodoo Mural Festival will also have a tent with tickers and merchandise for sale. | 2022-09-23T17:16:50Z | www.myhighplains.com | Art in the Park to host event at Medi Park Saturday | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/entertainment-news/art-in-the-park-to-host-event-at-medi-park-saturday/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/entertainment-news/art-in-the-park-to-host-event-at-medi-park-saturday/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — This week’s episode is all about the NFL as KAMR Local 4 News Anchor Ro Hamilton Jr. joins me to talk about his trip to the Denver Broncos versus Houston Texans game and recap the top trending highlights of the NFL.
In week two of the NFL, the Denver Broncos took on the Houston Texans. The Broncos found themselves victorious with Russell Wilson as their leading quarterback (QB).
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Cincinnati Bengals in a victory that was riddled with uncertainty, which ended in a final score of 20-17. Although starting QB Dak Prescott was inactive due to a hand injury, backup QB Cooper Rush lead them to victory.
In addition, Eli Manning went undercover as a college student at Penn State and attempted to make the football team. Using the name Chad Powers, Manning went on to the practice field with a fake nose and a long wing to disguise his obvious pro football skills.
Check out more local news, entertainment, and weather news on MyHighPlains.com. | 2022-09-23T17:16:56Z | www.myhighplains.com | WEB EP 22: Trending NFL topics of the week | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/entertainment-news/entertainment-bubble/web-ep-22-trending-nfl-topics-of-the-week/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/entertainment-news/entertainment-bubble/web-ep-22-trending-nfl-topics-of-the-week/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Department of Transportation Amarillo District is set to host an event to educate parents and caregivers on the safety of child car seats at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 27 at 5715 Canyon Dr. in the parking lot of the main building.
The annual “Save Me With a Seat” campaign is part of National Child Passenger Safety Week as TxDOT travels across the state with an “interactive digital truck” to bring attention to the proper use and installment of child care seats.
TxDOT detailed that 46% of all car seats are being misused, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. The report added that in 2021, 78 children younger than 8 years old died in traffic crashes in Texas while 22 of those deaths were “unrestrained” at the time of the crash.
The report also stated that children ages 8-12 in 2021 died in traffic crashes with 13 “unrestrained” at the time of the crash.
To sign up for a car seat check, visit www.safemewithaseat.org | 2022-09-23T17:17:41Z | www.myhighplains.com | TxDOT Amarillo to speak on child car seat safety | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/txdot-amarillo-to-speak-on-child-car-seat-safety/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/txdot-amarillo-to-speak-on-child-car-seat-safety/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — A man has been indicted in Amarillo Federal Court for two counts, one of which is related to drug possession and the other of which is related to him being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed Thursday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Amarillo Division, 28-year-old Seddrick Andrew Wright was indicted for one count of “possession with intent to distribute fentanyl” and one count of being a “convicted felon in possession of firearms.”
The documents state that the fentanyl possession count stems from an incident “on or about July 12,” where Wright allegedly possessed “with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.”
The second count that Wright was indicted for, being a “convicted felon in possession of firearms,” stems from an incident “on or about August 19.” The documents state that Wright allegedly possessed the following firearms after being “previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year:”
An FNH USA, model 509, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol;
A Walther, model PDP, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol;
A Taurus, model G3C, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol;
An Aero Precision, model M4E1 .556 caliber semi-automatic rifle;
an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15 .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle.
According to the documents, Wright will be required to forfeit any firearm and ammunition involved in or used in “the knowing commission of the offense,” including the ones previously listed in the documents. | 2022-09-23T20:28:24Z | www.myhighplains.com | Man federally indicted for fentanyl, gun possession | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/crime/federal-court/man-federally-indicted-for-fentanyl-gun-possession/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/crime/federal-court/man-federally-indicted-for-fentanyl-gun-possession/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Three people were indicted in federal court on Thursday on five counts of conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearm possession charges after a multi-year investigation and arrests in September.
According to court documents from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Amarillo Division, Joshua Reed Sobamiwa, Trinidy Rae Allen, and Dena Gonzales were charged with:
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm;
Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearms.
The first count, according to court documents, stemmed from the three defendants allegedly conspiring with one another to possess and distribute methamphetamine until Sept. 20. The other four counts were from January 2021 when, as previously reported by MyHighPlains.com, law enforcement officers executed searches on multiple Amarillo homes and reported to find evidence of illegal gun possession and drug trafficking.
Court documents detailed that Sobamiwa, Allen, and Gonzales were allegedly using two Amarillo homes to facilitate drug trafficking and that all three were previously-convicted felons found to be in possession of guns. | 2022-09-23T20:28:42Z | www.myhighplains.com | 3 face drug trafficking, weapons charges after 2021 search | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/3-face-drug-trafficking-weapons-charges-after-2021-search/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/3-face-drug-trafficking-weapons-charges-after-2021-search/ |
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Cannon Air Force Base announced that a group from the base will fly an aircraft during Friday’s Clovis High School football game.
According to a news release from the base, the base’s 27th Special Operations Group Detachment 1 will fly an MC-130J Commando II over Leon Williams Stadium at Clovis High School around 6:50 p.m. Friday to kick off the high school football team’s Military Appreciation Football Game.
The Clovis Wildcats varsity football team will face the Roswell Eagles Friday night, dedicating the game in honor of active duty and retired military service members, the release said.
“We are humbled Clovis High School chose to dedicate a game to past and present service members,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brent A. Greer, 27th Special Operations Wing vice commander. “Our people and mission are strengthened by our local community.”
According to the release, the MC-130J Commando II usually flies missions at night to reduce the probability of being seen and intercepted by airborne threats. For more information about the aircraft, visit its website. | 2022-09-23T20:29:17Z | www.myhighplains.com | Clovis High School to host Military Appreciation Football game | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/new-mexico/clovis-high-school-to-host-military-appreciation-football-game/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/new-mexico/clovis-high-school-to-host-military-appreciation-football-game/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — By now you’ve probably heard about 5G internet service, but do you know how it works and why it’s better than other types of internet?
Liz Archuleta, General Manager of AT&T explains how the service works, why it’s better, and how you can get that service through AT&T. | 2022-09-23T23:22:48Z | www.myhighplains.com | AT&T Details 5G and How to Get It | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/att-details-5g-and-how-to-get-it/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/att-details-5g-and-how-to-get-it/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Canyon Farmers Market is closing out their current season on September 24th with an Autumn Street Fest.
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. they’ll have vendors, live music, food trucks, and all things themed fall.
They will also have a pumpkin activity for kids and a free pumpkin for the first 100 kids 12 and under. | 2022-09-23T23:23:00Z | www.myhighplains.com | Canyon Farmers Market Hosting Autumn Street Fest | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/canyon-farmers-market-hosting-autumn-street-fest/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/canyon-farmers-market-hosting-autumn-street-fest/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — In the most recent set of court documents filed in Potter County District Court by Amarillo Businessman Alex Fairly’s legal team, the team, once again, lays out its allegations against the city of Amarillo, choosing to highlight their belief that the city of Amarillo had a “secret plan” to fund the expansion and improvements to the Amarillo Civic Center Complex.
On Wednesday afternoon, Fairly’s team filed a new document titled “Alex Fairly’s Special Exceptions, Second Amended Answer, General Denial, Defenses Pursuant to 1205 of the Government Code and Counter Claims.” This document outlines the overall case Fairly’s team has been pursuing since late May against the city of Amarillo and its use of anticipation notes to fund the Amarillo Civic Center Complex project.
According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, Fairly filed a lawsuit against the city of Amarillo in late May, aimed at preventing the city from moving forward with issuing more than $260 million in anticipation notes for the project, a measure which the Amarillo City Council approved during its May 24 regular meeting.
The city of Amarillo then filed its own lawsuit in Potter County, seeking a judge to validate the use of the anticipation notes under Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code, a lawsuit which was since combined with Fairly’s into one piece of litigation. The bench trial for this combined litigation is scheduled for early October in Potter County Federal Court.
What is this alleged “Secret Plan” these documents outline?
In the documents, Fairly’s team lays out a narrative saying that the city of Amarillo resorted to a “secret plan” after two events occurred. First, Proposition A, the measure which consisted of $275 million in bonds to pay for the project, was voted down in November 2020 which ultimately caused the second event, hiring Garfield Public/Private LLC to help the city explore funding options, including but not limited to public/private partnerships.
In March 2022, the documents claim that the collaboration with Garfield did not bear any results, ultimately failing “to provide the City with any viable private equity or private money to finance the construction of the complex.” Fairly’s team claims in the aftermath of that revelation, a plan was created by the city to finance the project without the need for voter approval.
Amarillo City Council votes to issue $260 million in debt for Civic Center project
“The Secret Plan’s scheme was to first add components of the proposed complex into a tax reinvestment zone, then finance the Complex with tax anticipation notes by vote of City Council without alerting the public, and then, at some point in the future and likely by a different city council, refinance the tax anticipation notes with refunding bonds extending the period for redeeming the notes from seven to 30 or more years,” the documents state. “…The Secret Plan, by its very nature, was meant to withhold certain information from the public while these plans were in development and to bypass, circumvent, and avoid facing the will of the voters.”
According to the documents, Fairly’s team claims that the city needed to amend the City Center Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1’s plan to include the Civic Center Complex. The team believes the city did that to “work around House Bill 1869’s statutory reform of tax-supported debt characterization requirements and limitations upon incremental tax rate increases provided in Chapter 26 of the Tax Code.”
During the May 5 meeting of the TIRZ One board, the City Manager’s office provided the board with an update to the plan, which Fairly’s team claims did not alert the public to what was occurring. An ultimate amendment to Ordinance No. 7980, the ordinance related to the goals of the TIRZ One plan, was approved by the Amarillo City Council after two readings.
According to the Amarillo City Council’s agenda transmittal memo for the measure considering the first reading of Ordinance No. 7980 on May 10, the item specifically listed that this would include the expansion and renovation of the complex, with the documents stressing that the city did not anticipate “the costs of these public improvements to be financed with TIRZ revenues” and allowed the Amarillo City Council “flexibility when evaluating any future methods to fund” the project.
Amarillo businessman sues city of Amarillo regarding Civic Center project
Prior to the May 24 meeting, where the Amarillo City Council approved the use of the notes, the documents said that Amarillo City Manager Jared Miller and Amarillo Chief Financial Officer Laura Storrs met with each member of the City Council to discuss the ordinance. The documents claim that there was only one recommendation to come out of the meeting, and that was to use the anticipation notes for the project.
“These discussions included an analysis of the tax anticipation notes and refunding bonds,” the documents allege, “including that the City had one offer to finance up to roughly 260 million dollars because of the City’s current credit posture.”
The documents also continue to allege that the city gave “vague references” in its agenda that they were even going to talk about the project during the May 24 meeting. However, in the agenda transmittal memo that accompanied the May 24 agenda, the memo specifies that the notes were for “acquiring, constructing, improving, expanding, and equipping the City’s convention center fasciitis, to-wit; the City’s civic center complex.”
However, Fairly’s team stressed that the agenda, along with the memo, stated that the funding mechanism that was listed as “Combination Tax and Revenue Notes,” instead of just “anticipation notes,” along with there not being a full-text draft of Ordinance No. 7985 accompanying the agenda and a notice of the anticipated impact on tax rates.
City of Amarillo asks Potter County Judge to affirm Civic Center funding
“Because of the failure to provide proper notice, the agenda also failed to give taxpayers an opportunity to be heard with respect to any proposed tax at the May 24 meeting,” the documents read. “A public hearing was never held regarding the imposition of the tax necessary to pay and service the anticipation notes later found in the published version of Ordinance 7985.”
With the vote on May 24, Fairly’s legal team alleges that the Amarillo City Council already knew what they were going to do, not needing any time to discuss and deliberate on the ordinance. Fairly’s team continues to claim that because of the difference in wording on the ordinance, as well as potential violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, the ordinance the council voted on is not valid.
“The City seeks herein a declaration of validity of securities that were not clearly authorized by the City Council, of which citizens were provided with no advance notice, that will result in debt that can be serviced only through tax increases, on a matter the voters previously rejected in an election,” the documents read. “This is wrong, and contrary to the Texas Constitution, Texas statutory law, and Texas history and tradition.
Like the other court documents filed previously by Fairly’s team, the documents continue to allege that the city violated various portions of the Texas Constitution, the Texas Government Code the Texas Tax Code, the Texas Open Meetings Act as well as the city’s own charter through this process.
The ultimate goal of Fairly’s lawsuit is for the court to declare that the Civic Center funding-related ordinance (Ordinance No. 7985) along with the TIRZ One ordinance (Ordinance No. 7980) is rendered void and that the city’s use of anticipation notes, in this case, is not considered debt per the Texas Tax Code, according to the documents.
“The City has made covert decisions regarding its intent for millions of dollars in obligations it seeks to impose on its citizen taxpayers,” the documents read, “with inadequate public notice and records and opaque accountability.”
As of Friday afternoon, the city of Amarillo’s legal team has not responded to Fairly’s team’s set of new documents. This comes as both legal teams prepare for the upcoming trial surrounding this litigation. The city of Amarillo has previously said they do not comment on ongoing litigation. However, Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson provided the following statement to MyHighPlains.com in July surrounding the litigation, saying:
“I remain committed to the ongoing legal process and I am certain this process will confirm the validity of the City Council’s action related to the tax notes for the civic center. My primary hope is that this matter can be resolved as quickly as possible with the least expense to our citizen taxpayers both in litigation costs and added expense to the project overall.”
Mayor Ginger Nelson
According to Potter County District Court documents, the pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sept. 30 in Potter County District Court. The bench trial for this litigation is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 4 in Potter County District Court. | 2022-09-23T23:23:27Z | www.myhighplains.com | Fairly’s team alleges city’s ‘secret plan’ in new docs | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/fairlys-team-alleges-citys-secret-plan-in-new-docs/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/fairlys-team-alleges-citys-secret-plan-in-new-docs/ |
via El Raton Media Works Facebook
RATON, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials from the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday, that $1.1 million will be donated in capital outlay to help a new studio, film and media school in Raton.
According to a release from the office of Lujan Grisham, the city of Raton along with El Raton Media Works a nonprofit organization aims to renovate the old Kearny Elementary School. Officials said the mission is to transform the elementary school into a Kearny Film Studio and Education Center.
Officials state that the center is set to open in the summer of 2023 with its first training course, followed by a professional soundstage and XR studio that is scheduled to open in the Winter of 2025.
According to the release, the City of Raton and El Raton Media Works plans to partner with Santa Fe Community College to teach film/media curriculum.
Officials said Lujan Grisham aims to expand economic opportunities to the rural regions in New Mexico and invest in workforce training so New Mexico residents can pursue opportunities closer to home.
The film and television industry broke records according to FY2022 with $50 million in spending in rural communities like Raton. The industry will also bring jobs at an average salary of $70,000 per year for film workers according to the release.
“We are very excited to be working with the City of Raton to open this XR soundstage and media training facility and hope to bring economic and workforce development to this Northern New Mexico region,” said Ann Theis, Film Liaison for the City of Raton.”This industry doesn’t just bring in one type of job, it brings in every type of job from restaurants to lodging, craftsman culinary arts and more. We hope to bring those skills and jobs to Raton and the surrounding area.”
For more information on the new film studio in Raton, visit here. | 2022-09-24T01:59:43Z | www.myhighplains.com | Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham grants $1.1 million for a new film studio in Raton | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/new-mexico/gov-michelle-lujan-grisham-grants-1-1-million-for-a-new-film-studio/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/new-mexico/gov-michelle-lujan-grisham-grants-1-1-million-for-a-new-film-studio/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Gracie’s Project helping local seniors with a low-cost shot clinic for their pets.
The first clinic will be held on Oct. 1 at the Wesley Community Center at 1615 S Roberts. It will from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The non-profit said they are going to take the shot clinic into communities that need them the most The plan is to hold the clinic twice a month.
For the upcoming holiday season, Gracie’s Project said the money from the clinics will be used to help the elderly spay and neuter their pets.
“Our elderly community is probably some of the most underserved that we have because you have people who can’t get out and they love their dogs just as much as you and I do. So it’s very important to help them as much as we can. At Gracie’s Project, we’re very blessed to have a wonderful following, the community helps us. So we’re always looking for ways to give back and this is a wonderful community to give back to,” said Cheryl Goswick, a volunteer with Gracie’s Project.
Gracie’s Project will be offering Parvo shots and microchips for $10 each. | 2022-09-24T04:22:37Z | www.myhighplains.com | Gracie’s Project low-cost shot clinic | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/gracies-project-low-cost-shot-clinic/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/gracies-project-low-cost-shot-clinic/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Crime Stoppers is asking for help finding a 2011 blue Nissan Altima for this week’s “Stolen Auto Day,” which was reported stolen on Saturday, Sept. 17.
According to Crime Stoppers, the vehicle was reported stolen from the 1000 block of South Williams. It should display a Texas license, RTJ-1372, and the last six of the VIN are 155919. | 2022-09-26T14:58:30Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Crime Stoppers Stolen Auto Day: 2011 Nissan Altima | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-crime-stoppers-stolen-auto-day-2011-nissan-altima/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-crime-stoppers-stolen-auto-day-2011-nissan-altima/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – According to the latest reports from GasBuddy, gas prices in Amarillo fell by 0.7 cents per gallon in the last week to reach an average of $3.34/gallon on Monday. Prices in Amarillo are 3 cents higher than a month ago and stand 61.9 cents higher than a year ago.
GasBuddy reported that the cheapest station in Amarillo was priced at $3.15/gallon on Sunday while the most expensive was $3.49/gallon, a difference of 34 cents. The lowest price in Texas on Sunday was $2.55/gallon, while the highest was $4.69/gallon, a difference of $2.14.
Nationally, the average price of gasoline rose 3.2 cents per gallon in the last week to reach an average of $3.67/gallon. The national average was down 17.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 49.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel declined 5.1 cents over the last week to stand at $4.88/gallon.
Oklahoma- $3.42/gallon, up 14.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.27/gallon. | 2022-09-26T14:58:36Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo gas prices fall less than 1 cent, average $3.34 | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-gas-prices-fall-less-than-1-cent-average-3-34/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-gas-prices-fall-less-than-1-cent-average-3-34/ |
via the Amarillo Fire Department
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Amarillo Fire Department released information on a fire in the area of I-40 and South Nelson early Monday morning.
According to the department, firefighters responded to a structure fire in the area of I-40 and South Nelson at around 6:50 a.m. on Monday. Upon arrival, crews saw fire showing from the roof of the back of a commercial building. Firefighters were able to cut through a chain link fence and force entry into the back door of the metal building, said officials, and extinguish the fire before it spread to the rest of the building.
The fire was just inside the back door in the ceiling area of a bathroom, said the department. There were no people inside at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. Department officials noted that the fire was under control by around 7:23 a.m. | 2022-09-26T14:58:43Z | www.myhighplains.com | Crews respond to early Monday fire on South Nelson | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/crews-respond-to-early-monday-fire-on-south-nelson/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/crews-respond-to-early-monday-fire-on-south-nelson/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The West Texas A&M Theatre will be performing its new musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” this week.
The show is about six quirky preteens who are battling it out to see who will take home the spelling bee trophy. They will sing songs that will illuminate their peculiarities, challenging home lives, and sometimes bizarre methods of correctly spelling the words.
The show will be at the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre inside the Syble B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m., and on Oct. 1 and 2 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for seniors and non-WT students. Any WT student, faculty or staff with a Buff Gold Card gets in free. | 2022-09-26T14:59:15Z | www.myhighplains.com | WT Theatre is spelling out a new musical | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/wt-theatre-is-spelling-out-a-new-musical/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/wt-theatre-is-spelling-out-a-new-musical/ |
AJ Swope Performance Plaza
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Friends of AJ Swope nonprofit organization recently released information regarding one of its community enhancement projects in Amarillo that is now under construction.
According to a news release from the nonprofit, Friends of AJ Swope has partnered with the Crouch Foundation to build the AJ Swope Performance Plaza within the renovated Arts in the Sunset Complex. The plaza will be located on the north side of the complex.
Completion of the performance venue is expected to be complete in early 2023 and the nonprofit is scheduled to host a public unveiling party of the venue in April, the release said.
“We are going to embrace what this venue was created for and invite the public out to enjoy live music throughout the day and into the evening, which is the perfect tribute to AJ,” Craig Vaughn, a member of the Friends of AJ Swope nonprofit, said in the release.
According to the release, the plaza will include a stage with an attached green room, dressing rooms, restrooms, a built-in bar along with an area for tables, chairs and a dance floor.
“We wanted to create a place where music can be nurtured, created, and enjoyed by people of all ages,” Vaughn said in the release. “Not only will the Performance Plaza offer residents a unique concert and event venue, but we are also working with Arts in the Sunset to engage area students with an annual Battle of the Bands contest. We will announce more details about that soon along with an outstanding lineup for the April unveiling of AJ Swope Performance Plaza.”
Officials with the Amarillo Art Institute who are overseeing the Arts in the Sunset renovation, are excited for the addition of this plaza to the Arts in the Sunset Complex.
“We are fulfilling the wishes of the late Ann Crouch to create a centralized place where the creative arts flourish in the Panhandle,” Amarillo Art Institute Executive Director Rachel Flores said in the release. “We are thrilled to be able to expand our reach into the musical realm with the addition of AJ Swope Performance Plaza.” | 2022-09-26T17:13:34Z | www.myhighplains.com | Friends of AJ Swope nonprofit releases details on new plaza | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/friends-of-aj-swope-nonprofit-releases-details-on-new-plaza/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/friends-of-aj-swope-nonprofit-releases-details-on-new-plaza/ |
FILE – In this July 18, 2018, file photo, a wild horse jumps among others near Salt Lake City. The U.S. government is seeking new pastures for thousands…
FILE – In this July 18, 2018, file photo, a wild horse jumps among others near Salt Lake City. The U.S. government is seeking new pastures for thousands of wild horses that have overpopulated Western ranges. Landowners interested in hosting large numbers of rounded-up wild horses on their property can now apply with the U.S. […]
CLOVIS, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) — The New Mexico Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that its wild horse and burro adoption event is set for Oct. 14-15 at the Curry County Events Center in Clovis where 120 wild horses and burros will be present for adoption.
The Bureau detailed that the event will begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 with adoptions from 12 to 6 p.m and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Oct. 15.
The BLM will offer $1,000 to adopt an “untrained animal” and, according to BLM, approved incentives on July 26, 2021, to require additional steps to ensure the safety and health of adopted animals. These incentives included conducting an inspection of wild horses and burros that were adopted through the program within six months of the adoption date.
The animals up for adoption roamed free on public lands in the West with BLM explaining that excess animals are often removed from the range to “maintain healthy herds and to protect rangeland resources.”
At the event, BLM staff will approve applications onsite as applicants must be at least 18 with no animal abuse record. BLM stated that homes must have a maximum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with food, water, and shelter access. In addition, a six-foot corral fence will be required for adult horses while a five-foot fence will be required for a yearling, along with a four-and-a-half-foot fence for burros.
BLM noted that adopted animals need to be loaded in a covered, stock-type trailer with swing gates and sturdy walls and floors.
The Curry County Event Center is located at 1900 E. Brady Ave. in Clovis.
For more information on the event call 866-468-7826 or visit the BLM website. | 2022-09-26T19:15:34Z | www.myhighplains.com | Wild horses and burros up for adoption at Clovis event | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/curry-county/wild-horses-and-burros-up-for-adoption-at-clovis-event/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/curry-county/wild-horses-and-burros-up-for-adoption-at-clovis-event/ |
Officials with the department said the second shooting at the business near southeast 10th and Grand was reported around 11:20 a.m. Saturday.
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Amarillo Police Department said two individuals were recently arrested in relation to a Friday evening homicide in northwest Amarillo.
According to a news release from the department, officers were sent to the area of northwest 3rd and Independence Street on a shooting, finding two women with life-threatening gunshot wounds when they arrived at the scene. Both were transported to area hospitals and 29-year-old Karlee Messer was reported to have died from her injuries.
Homicide detectives with the department determined that two individuals, identified as 20-year-old Matthew Aidan Brewer and 21-year-old Adrian Sebastian Ulloa, had shot the two women during a robbery. On Friday evening, the release said officers located Brewer at a home in the 2700 block of Royal Road. Brewer was arrested and booked into the Potter County Detention Center.
On Saturday, the release said Ulloa was located at a home in the 300 block of South Nelson Street. Ulloa was arrested at that point and booked into the Potter County Detention Center.
The release said when Ulloa was in custody, officers recognized him as being a suspect in an additional shooting that had occurred at a business near southeast 10th and Grand earlier in the officer’s shift. Officers said he had walked into the store, shot at the clerk, left, came back into the business and shot the clerk again. The release stressed that the clerk was not injured.
The release said that when they searched the home Ulloa was in, they located numerous firearms that were collected as evidence. The two incidents are under investigation by the Amarillo Police Department’s homicide and violent crimes units. | 2022-09-26T21:17:11Z | www.myhighplains.com | 1 dead, 2 arrested after recent Amarillo shootings | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/1-dead-2-arrested-after-recent-amarillo-shootings/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/1-dead-2-arrested-after-recent-amarillo-shootings/ |
by: Erin Rosas, David Gay
Officials with the Amarillo district of TxDOT said that FM 280 has now reopened as of 3:36 p.m. Monday.
HUTCHINSON COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Amarillo District reported a road closure in Hutchinson County on Monday at around 1:20 p.m.
According to TxDOT Amarillo on social media, FM 280 is closed from FM 2171 to the end of the pavement due to a fire.
Drivers should be aware of safety signs and drive carefully in the area.
This is a developing story. Stick with MyHighPlains.com for additional coverage. | 2022-09-26T21:17:18Z | www.myhighplains.com | TxDOT Amarillo: FM 280 to FM 2171 now reopen | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/hutchinson-county/txdot-amarillo-fm-280-to-fm-2171-closed-due-to-fire/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/hutchinson-county/txdot-amarillo-fm-280-to-fm-2171-closed-due-to-fire/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The deadline to apply for the next Amarillo Fire Department entrance exam is Sept. 28 with the exam set for Oct. 1 at the Civic Center, 400 S. Buchanan – South Exhibit Hall, Entrance #1 or #2.
AFD said the exam will be a general aptitude test and will include math, reading comprehension, and mechanical questions. The top scorers of the exam will be asked to schedule and pass a Candidate Physical Abilitiy Test, an oral interview, a background check, physical, and drug screen.
Those who are interested in applying must be at least 18 years old and no more than 35 on the date that they are hired. A High School diploma (or equivalent) and a valid Class C Texas driver’s license are required. Candidates who have honorably served in the United States armed forces, scoring a 70% or above, will receive five additional points on their final grade.
More information can be found at the City of Amarillo Applicant Portal or by calling the Human Resources Office at 806-378-4294. | 2022-09-26T23:10:34Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Fire Department entrance exam deadline Sept. 28 | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-fire-department-entrance-exam-deadline-sept-28/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-fire-department-entrance-exam-deadline-sept-28/ |
Hey, Bruce! Interactive Book Released by Ryan T. Higgins
This segment is sponsored by Disney-Hyperion.
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Interactive books help kids get engaged with a book in both a physical and mental way. Now Ryan T. Higgins in HEY, BRUCE!,adds to the fun of his best-selling Mother Bruce series of books for young readers with another laugh-out-loud adventure—with a twist: It’s interactive! (No, not hyperactive, as one of the mice misspeaks.)
To begin, little ones will rouse Bruce from slumber on a cozy tree branch with a tap of their finger on his shoulder. After Bruce crashes to the ground with an “Oof!,” followed by a “Grrrrrrrrr!,” they’re again called on to help get the big grumpy bear back to the safety and comfort of his napping log. Phew! But, with the turn of the page, Bruce’s nap is disrupted again. And that’s when the mayhem starts! Rupert, Thistle, and Nibbs guide captivated youngsters through a series of instructions, from pressing a piano key to turning the book upside down and then wobbling it back and forth. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as fans know, when Bruce is in the story, mishaps naturally happen—with plenty of hilarity along the way.
Filled with lively illustrations, kid-friendly jokes, and the high jinks of his lovable animal characters, HEY, BRUCE! is a book parents will enjoy reading with their little ones—again and again and again.
Ryan T. Higgins (ryanthiggins.com) is the author and illustrator of the New York Times best-selling Mother Bruce, which received the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor. In addition to the Mother Bruce series, Ryan is also the author and illustrator of Norman Didn’t Do It!, We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, We Will Rock Our Classmates, BE QUIET!, and What About Worms!?, an Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! book. He lives in Maine with his three children, three dogs, three cats, one gecko, one tortoise, and one wife. | 2022-09-26T23:11:30Z | www.myhighplains.com | Hey, Bruce! Interactive Book Released by Ryan T. Higgins | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/hey-bruce-interactive-book-released-by-ryan-t-higgins/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/hey-bruce-interactive-book-released-by-ryan-t-higgins/ |
Pints for Prostates Event Giving Incentive for Medical Screening
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Pints for Prostates, an organization helping to give men an incentive to do a test that should be done but isn’t always top of mind or a fun test to be a part of.
Pondaseta Brewing Co. is hosting Pints for Prostates on September 29th from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 7500 SW 45th. This is for men ages 45 to 75.
During this event men will get a blood test to screen them for prostate cancer, in exchange they will get a free pint of beer for their time. Prostate cancer is one of the top three cancers in the Texas Panhandle, and this simple blood test can help detect prostate cancer. | 2022-09-26T23:11:36Z | www.myhighplains.com | Pints for Prostates Event Giving Incentive for Medical Screening | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/pints-for-prostates-event-giving-incentive-for-medical-screening/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/pints-for-prostates-event-giving-incentive-for-medical-screening/ |
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Happening at WTAMU
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Laundry. Restaurant. Surpass.
Music director is Chloe Ridolfo, a graduate student in music from Los Angeles. Choreographer is Abbi Roe, a Roswell, New Mexico, native pursuing a second bachelor’s in dance. Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised more than $110 million.
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum
in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs. | 2022-09-26T23:11:42Z | www.myhighplains.com | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Happening at WTAMU | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-happening-at-wtamu/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-happening-at-wtamu/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the city of Canyon are asking members of the public for their opinion on the newest drafts of various city-related documents, including the city’s Downtown Master Plan along with drafts of the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations.
According to a news release from the city of Canyon, public comments surrounding the three documents will be open until Oct. 28. The documents are currently available on the homepage of the city’s website.
Canyon’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan suggested the development of the three documents, which are aimed at helping plan the city’s future developments and growth. Officials said in the release that the Downtown Master Plan comes after meetings with stakeholders, and city staff along with a public open house.
“The Downtown Master Plan Committee was formed in January 2021, and this group of citizens worked for 18 months to develop a plan which I believe truly addresses the current issues and future needs of the Downtown area,” Canyon Assistant City Manager Jon Behrens said in the release. “This plan addresses the obvious issues associated with the area, such as the drainage and traffic issues, and it also provides suggested ideas related to redevelopment of the area and the revitalization of 15th Street. This Plan is focused on the future and will provide the City with a planning guide as we begin the implementation of the projects it outlines.”
According to the release, the Subdivision Regulations document, along with the Zoning Regulations document, are updates that builders and developers will be required to adhere to while building within city limits. Officials said these documents were last updated in 1970 and 1999, respectively.
“The City of Canyon adopted a new Comprehensive Plan in 2019 with Freese and Nichols, LLC as consultants,” Danny Cornelius, the city of Canyon’s planning and development director, said in the release. “Since then, Freese and Nichols has worked with City staff to update the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. This being the first significant revision to either set of regulations in many years, it is our hope developers, builders, and property owners will take a close look at the draft documents and provide feedback. Zoning updates include a greater variety of residential zoning districts, buffering and screening requirements between zoning districts, and standards to reduce light pollution, just to name a few. The Subdivision Regulation updates will provide developers with a clear and expedited process as well as greater detail on design standards.”
According to the release, public comments for the Downtown Master Plan can be sent to Behrens at his email, and comments on the Zoning or Subdivision Regulations drafts can be sent to Cornelius’s email. | 2022-09-26T23:12:19Z | www.myhighplains.com | Canyon seeks public comment for new city documents | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/canyon-seeks-public-comment-for-new-city-documents/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/canyon-seeks-public-comment-for-new-city-documents/ |
“Folks who have a mental health issue, whether that be depression or anxiety or, or other things that might predispose to drug dependency or to a non-accidental overdose, we want those folks to be able to reach out and help and that’s the most important thing is that we want to be able to provide treatment for those folks that are suffering from these diseases, said Bell.” | 2022-09-27T08:35:40Z | www.myhighplains.com | Life expectancy continues to decline in US | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/life-expectancy-continues-to-decline-in-us/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/life-expectancy-continues-to-decline-in-us/ |
It is a cool start to the morning with temperatures in the 50s and 60s under clear skies. Very pleasant conditions as we start this Tuesday. We are forecasting temperatures to return to the 90s this afternoon with some upper 80s. Sunny skies will persist for today with some light winds. A ridged pattern continues over the region giving us warmer than normal temps. For the most part, for the next seven days, temps look to remain above normal, mostly in the upper 80s. There is a disturbance that looks to enter the area by Monday. Very minimal moisture is in the forecast with anything being picked up staying out in New Mexico. Expect winds to increase as we get closer to the end of the workweek with gusts for those days between 20-25 mph. | 2022-09-27T12:14:29Z | www.myhighplains.com | Temps return to the 90s for part of the viewing area | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/weather-headlines/forecast/temps-return-to-the-90s-for-part-of-the-viewing-area/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/weather-headlines/forecast/temps-return-to-the-90s-for-part-of-the-viewing-area/ |
Cows and calves in a drought-stricken pasture
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The amount of Texas experiencing drought conditions increased for the first time in eight weeks, according to the Texas Water Development Board’s Monday report for the week of Sept. 20. Further, the TWDB advised that additional increases are expected in the coming weeks due to weather conditions forecasted to be drier and warmer than usual.
Tracking the Tropics: Hurricane Ian’s track shifts south of Tampa Bay
via the US Drought Monitor
According to map data released by the US Drought Monitor, the High Plains appeared to range from experiencing “abnormally dry” to “extreme” drought conditions as of the week of Sept. 20, with the majority of the area remaining within the “abnormally dry” to “moderate” drought condition range.
The area increase in drought coverage across Texas, according to the TWDB, was about one percent. A week ago, 59% of Texas’ surface area appeared to be experiencing drought conditions, in contrast to the most recent 60% estimation. However, the difference remained stark in comparison to the 81% report from three months ago.
Still, after the weeks-long decrease in drought conditions, TWDB noted in its report that the National Weather Service has forecasted a third fall and winter in a row that will have La Niña conditions. Because of that, TWDB said that officials are expecting warmer and drier weather, which will likely contribute to an increase in drought coverage across Texas.
The TWDB noticed that the conditions will likely appear similar to those seen in 2020 and 2021, with lower cumulative precipitation levels and higher average temperatures.
As drought conditions continue to fluctuate across Texas, water managers and regulatory groups have continued to work to gather data and strategize, on both local and regional levels, to ensure water access and quality for the state. In Amarillo on Tuesday, the city council is expected to discuss water rights policy measures for the community, and water districts and legislators more broadly have continued to prepare for the next state legislative session. | 2022-09-27T16:21:26Z | www.myhighplains.com | Texas drought conditions worsen for the first time in 8 weeks | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/texas-drought-conditions-worsen-for-the-first-time-in-8-weeks/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/texas-drought-conditions-worsen-for-the-first-time-in-8-weeks/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The West Texas A&M University’s Center for the Study of the American West, along with the university’s Distinguished Lecture Series, will host two award-winning authors who will speak on their research through archives and archaeological sites from Spain, Mexico and the southwestern region of the United States.
According to a news release from the university, West Texas A&M University will host Richard and Shirley Flint for a lecture titled “To and Fro without a Road Map: Which Way the Coronado Expedition Chose to Go and Why.” The lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 6 in the Hazlewood Lecture Room at the Panhandle-Plans Historical Museum, located at 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon.
“We are pleased to have Richard and Shirley Flint to give us the latest and best word on the route and activities of the Coronado expedition in the Texas Panhandle—a truly significant event in our regional history,” Alex Hunt, the university’s CSAW director, a regents professor of English and a Vincent-Haley professor of Western Studies, said in the release.
According to the release, the Coronado expedition took place from 1540-1542 across what is now New Mexico, the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and into central Kansas.
“We will discuss results of our 40-plus years of archival research and fieldwork concerning the Coronado expedition,” the Flints said in the release. “Specifically, we outline factors that influenced the route the expedition took to travel from Pecos Pueblo in New Mexico to a Native Teya village in Blanco Canyon in the Texas South Plains and back.”
The authors will also participate in a student question and answer session titled “History, Archeology, Culture with Richard and Shirley Flint” at 3 p.m. on Oct. 6 in the Blackburn Room at the Cornette Library on West Texas A&M University’s campus. This event is also open to the public.
This event is the second of six lectures as part of the university’s Distinguished Lecture Series’ fall schedule. According to the release, the lecture will also be accessible via Zoom at this link. | 2022-09-27T18:14:35Z | www.myhighplains.com | WT to host authors’ discussion on Coronado expedition | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/education/wt-to-host-authors-discussion-on-coronado-expedition/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/education/wt-to-host-authors-discussion-on-coronado-expedition/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Police Department reports that one person was arrested in connection with an aggravated robbery earlier this month in the 1300 block of southeast 10th.
According to APD, Christopher Ty Garcia, 27, was identified as the suspect in an aggravated robbery in the 1300 block of southeast 10th Ave on Sept. 12. Police said the suspect entered the building and pointed a gun at a victim. The suspect fired the gun in the direction of the victim before hitting them with the gun and robbing them leaving them with minor injuries.
Amarillo Police said a member of the Amarillo Police Department Proactive Criminal Enforcement Unit found Garcia in the 3300 block of Paramount Blvd on Sept. 26 and arrested him on the warrant. Garcia was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.
Christopher Ty Garcia, 27, left; and Ubaldo Suarez, Jr., 45, right via The Potter County Sheriff’s Office
Garcia was booked into the Randall County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a warrant for Aggravated Robbery, and seven local municipal warrants.
The Amarillo Police Department said the weapon used in the robbery was found at a home in the 4300 block of Northridge Drive in Potter County. A search warrant was secured for the residence, and the weapon was located. Another person, Ubaldo Suarez, 45, was arrested at that location for Tampering with Evidence and booked into the Potter County Detention Center. | 2022-09-27T20:03:11Z | www.myhighplains.com | 1 arrested in connection with aggravated robbery | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/1-arrested-in-connection-with-aggravated-robbery/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/1-arrested-in-connection-with-aggravated-robbery/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Amarillo district of the Texas Department of Transportation provided information on the ongoing construction along I-27 in Amarillo.
Officials said construction began on I-27 in September 2021 with an anticipated duration of just more than three years. Phase one of the project is currently wrapping up, which included reconstructing the center median barrier and improving illumination.
Officials said phase two of the project will consist of moving the portable concrete traffic barriers to the outside lanes so work on ramp reconstruction can take place. This will cause traffic to continue to be reduced to at least two lanes.
Through this phase, officials said all the ramps north of 45th will have some form of work done. Officials stressed that the ramps between Georgia and Washington will be removed/reversed and improved. Officials also said the ramps north of Washington will also be improved.
Officials with the Amarillo district of TxDOT remind drivers that this area continues to be an active construction zone. Drivers are asked to slow down and practice “continued patience” as work is completed to “improve the quality and safety of the roads.” | 2022-09-27T21:47:55Z | www.myhighplains.com | TxDOT Amarillo: construction to continue along I-27 | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/txdot-amarillo-construction-to-continue-along-i-27/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/txdot-amarillo-construction-to-continue-along-i-27/ |
John Collins, provided by the city of Amarillo
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the city of Amarillo announced Tuesday that John Collins has been named the city’s director of utilities.
According to a news release, Collins will be responsible for water production and distribution, wastewater collection and water reclamation along with the environmental laboratory.
Collins previously served with Louisiana Facility Planning and Control, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and was the city engineer/public works director for the city of Grand Island, Nebraska, according to the release.
“John brings a wide array of expertise and experience to the City of Amarillo,” COA Assistant City Manager Floyd Hartman said in the release. “He has accumulated expertise with most types of public infrastructure over a four-decade career and has headed several major performance and infrastructure improvement efforts.” | 2022-09-27T21:48:20Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo names new city director of utilities | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-names-new-city-director-of-utilities/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-names-new-city-director-of-utilities/ |
HEREFORD, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Hereford Police Department reports that officers investigated a call of gunfire in the 200 block of Hereford Calle Tuesday morning.
According to police, at around 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, the department received a call for service in the 200 block of Hereford Calle on gunshots in the area.
Officers were told that a man was standing in the street near the 100 block of Hereford Calle and started shooting, hitting a nearby vehicle. Police said no one was injured in the shooting and do not know the identity of the suspect.
The Hereford Police Department is still investigating the incident. | 2022-09-27T23:28:06Z | www.myhighplains.com | Hereford police investigating morning shooting | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/deaf-smith-county/hereford-police-investigating-morning-shooting/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/deaf-smith-county/hereford-police-investigating-morning-shooting/ |
via the Don Harrington Discovery Center
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Don Harrington Discovery Center is hosting its Monster Bash 2022 event on Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The DHDC said adults and kids are invited to observe science experiments and activities at the Discovery Center. Activities include:
Science experiments by DHDC staff.
Activities are provided by the Sodpoodles, Aunt-Eeks, and Snapology.
The DHDC basement classroom transformed into a Monster Maze.
LN2 Glow-in-the-dark Sonic Slushes will be available for purchase.
Tickets will be available for two time-slots, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $5 for members who will get 30 minutes early access to event activities. Tickets for non-members will be $8. Tickets can be found online here. | 2022-09-27T23:28:18Z | www.myhighplains.com | Don Harrington Discovery Center Monster Bash 2022 | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/don-harrington-discovery-center-monster-bash-2022/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/don-harrington-discovery-center-monster-bash-2022/ |
1 man indicted on 5 counts of sexual assault of a child
POTTER COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — According to court documents filed by the Potter County District Clerk, Johnathon Paul Reyna, 23, was indicted on multiple counts of “Sexual Assault of a Child” on Sept. 23.
According to court documents, Reyna was indicted by a Potter County Grand Jury on five counts related to child sexual assault after an assault that allegedly took place in September 2021. | 2022-09-27T23:28:24Z | www.myhighplains.com | 1 man indicted on 5 counts of sexual assault of a child | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/potter-county/1-man-indicted-on-5-counts-of-sexual-assault-of-a-child/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/potter-county/1-man-indicted-on-5-counts-of-sexual-assault-of-a-child/ |
Hispanic Heritage Luncheon Honoring Organizations and Individuals
by: Sheryl Proctor, Sheryl Proctor
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Hispanic Heritage Month is a national celebration of the history and cultures that Hispanic and Latin Americans have made to American society and culture. It is celebrated September 15 – October 15. Organizers from three local organizations are hosting an event which will honor and recognize local leaders in our Amarillo community.
This year the national theme “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” exemplifies what local organizations dedicated to serving the Hispanic community are working to achieve. The Barrio was established in 1889 making it one of the oldest neighborhoods in Amarillo. A panel of speakers who were raised in the Barrio neighborhood will share memories of the past, changes in the present and hopes for the future. “We are excited to partner with the Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee and the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for this celebration,” said Mary Bralley, event chair. The Barrio has a long history of resilience and ingenuity, and we are glad to be able to share stories from residents to those in attendance.
When: October 12, 2022 – Lunch lines open at 11:30 a.m. – Program begins at 12 noon
Where: Amarillo Civic Center – Grand Plaza | 2022-09-27T23:29:02Z | www.myhighplains.com | Hispanic Heritage Luncheon Honoring Organizations and Individuals | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/hispanic-heritage-luncheon-honoring-organizations-and-individuals/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/hispanic-heritage-luncheon-honoring-organizations-and-individuals/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Junior League of Amarillo is coming off a great Best of Texas event, and now they turn their sights on the fall season.
They’ve teamed up with several organizations for the rest of 2022 and into 2023 including the High Plains Food Bank, San Jacinto Success, and Storybridge.
For more information on the organization or to get involved click here. | 2022-09-27T23:29:14Z | www.myhighplains.com | Junior League of Amarillo Details Fall Calendar | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/junior-league-of-amarillo-details-fall-calendar/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/junior-league-of-amarillo-details-fall-calendar/ |
Kids playing at Stephen F. Austin Park after the City of Amarillo’s Parks and Recreation Department updated playground equipment.
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Outdoor Amarillo is a new non-profit that is working towards improving area parks to grow the community and culture of Amarillo.
After the bond attempt meant to cover the cost of Amarillo City Park improvements was voted down local residents came together to bridge the gap between the passion for Amarillo parks and the funding needed to make the necessary improvements.
Outdoor Amarillo is a 501(3)c which allows the organization to fundraise and have access to grants and corporate partnerships that may not be accessible to individual citizens or to the city of Amarillo at large.
The organization is still in the early stages of hearing ideas from individuals and the community as well as fundraising to make improvements to the park.
When individuals donate to Outdoor Amarillo they have a say in where their money goes, ensuring that the areas closest to them receive support and funding.
“What we are recommending right now is a split of donations, where 70% of an individual’s donation will stay with the park that they designate, said Matt Morgan, Outdoor Amarillo Board Member. “So if you live in the Bivins area and you want your funding to go to the Bivins School Park 70% of your gifts will stay with that part and then 30% will go into a general fund which outdoor umbrella will use for projects at our regional parks or to help neighborhoods that may not have the funds available that other neighborhoods do.”
Outdoor Amarillo is working collaboratively with the Amarillo Independent School District and City of Amarillo. Once the organization has the ideas and funding they will take the information they have to both entities and show that there is not only a demand for improvements but funding to make the changes.
Larger projects will require city council approval due to zoning issues, equipment regulations and other factors. The current structure of Outdoor Amarillo allows them to address different issues as they arise with flexibility in the decision-making, building and construction process.
Outdoor Amarillo has biweekly meetings on Tuesdays where public feedback is allowed. The meetings are held at the old Zachary Engineering Building located on 5601 I-40 West, during lunch.
Project ideas, donating and purchasing merchandise can all be made on their website. | 2022-09-28T01:08:12Z | www.myhighplains.com | Outdoor Amarillo works towards city park improvements | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/outdoor-amarillo-works-towards-city-park-improvements/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/outdoor-amarillo-works-towards-city-park-improvements/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Tuesday, officials with the City of Amarillo Public Works Department provided an update on trash service.
Since July, the solid waste division has been operating on temporary cutbacks on residential dumpster collections, only picking up once a week.
Donny Hooper, the City of Amarillo’s public works director said in the past three months they have worked to get the solid waste division back on track.
“There are 16 things we looked at, but I bet if you looked at the entire list it’s probably more like 30. But there are 16 things we really found we could really follow a rabbit trail down and make some good use of that,” said Hooper.
Hooper said one of those things includes a pay raise for drivers.
“We were paying our CDL drivers in solid waste $16 an hour that has now been raised to $19 an hour. So quite a jump and we really think that is going to help to recruit CDL drivers and people that want to work for solid waste,” said Hooper.
Hopper added two of the newest things that solid waste is doing is keeping 23 of its roll-off containers out across the city, which were first put out during National CleanUp Day. Hooper said the public asked solid waste to keep them out.
He said the Public Works Department also has started an apprentice program.
“We have a great program we just started. It’s a CDL apprentice program. It’s basically now what we are going to allow is people, if you don’t have a CDL and you are interested in being a CDL operator, you can come to the City of Amarillo and come work for the solid waste department and we will train you on how to operate the equipment and we will train you to get your CDL so you can move up into that $19 an hour pay rate as well. It starts at $16 an hour and they can fill applications on our website,” said Hooper.
Hooper said they are also reaching out to people that used to work for solid waste to see if they want to come back to help fill those positions.
Since July, the solid waste department has hired 11 people but has had 15 separations and the solid waste department also hired five equipment operators but has separated with eight. Hooper added that the City of Amarillo as a whole since July has hired 73 people, but has had 74 separations.
Councilmember Howard Smith said he challenged the department to get back to twice-a-week pickups within the next 90 days.
“They are making every effort and that is what I want. I want them to figure out how to do it,” said Smith.
Hooper said that is the ultimate goal.
The number one goal for us is to get back to a twice-a-week collection. That is what we want to do. In the meantime, until we get there, we are trying to make sure everything we do is efficient,” said Hooper. | 2022-09-28T02:43:27Z | www.myhighplains.com | Public Works Department provides update on solid waste collection | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/public-works-department-provides-update-on-solid-waste-collection/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/public-works-department-provides-update-on-solid-waste-collection/ |
AUSTIN (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is deploying Texas A&M Task Force 1 to Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) according to a news release from the office of Governor, Greg Abbott.
According to the news release, Governor Abbott today directed the TDEM to deploy Texas A&M Task Force to Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall to support a request made by FEMA. Texas A&M Task Force 1 has deployed a Type 3 urban search-and-rescue team consisting of 45 personnel, 4 boats, and 2 canines.
Texas A&M Task Force 1 functions as one of the 28 federal teams under FEMA’s National Urban Search and Rescue System and is one of two statewide search and rescue teams under the direction of the TDEM said the news release.
Texas A&M Task Force 1 is sponsored by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), a member of The Texas A&M University System, and is headquartered in College Station. | 2022-09-28T02:43:31Z | www.myhighplains.com | TDEM to deploy Texas A&M Task Force 1 to Florida | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas/tdem-to-deploy-texas-am-task-force-1-to-florida/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas/tdem-to-deploy-texas-am-task-force-1-to-florida/ |
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Seven women athletes from West Texas A&M University, including an Amarillo native, were announced as the first recipients of a new scholarship endowment on Tuesday.
Each athlete represents one of the WTAMU women’s athletics teams, according to university officials, and were the first chosen for awards from the Judy Fugate Lady Buff Scholarship endowment that was established in April.
As previously reported by MyHighPlains.com, Fugate is an Amarillo resident who played badminton and bowled for WTAMU during the 1960s and 1970s, before Title IX guaranteed equal access and quality in the athletic programs of federally-funded educational institutions. She set up the endowment, a $1.85 million gift to the One West campaign, with the intent to help ensure that top women athletes receive annual scholarships.
“These recipients are outstanding representatives of WT Athletics—all of them terrific students, accomplished competitors and servant leaders,” said Michael McBroom, director of intercollegiate athletics. “They are shining examples of the positive impact Title IX has had on our country and our University, and I know they are honored to be part of this inaugural class.”
The student-athletes that received scholarships, according to WTAMU, included:
Emma Patterson, volleyball: Patterson, a sophomore psychology major from Amarillo, “is coachable, a great teammate, and pushes everyone to do the same in the most encouraging way possible,” said Coach Kendra Potts. “Emma is also one of the best teammates off the court. She takes the time to build relationships with her teammates and demonstrates the true definition of a servant leader.”
Jayla Burgess, basketball: Burgess is a sophomore biology major from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who was in the starting lineup of all 37 games of the 2021-22 season, with 159 rebounds, 50 assists, 41 blocks and 33 steals on top of a 51.9 percent shooting average and a 70.8 free-throw average.
Alyssa Campbell, golf: Campbell, a senior business management major from Lancaster, South Carolina, is captain of the women’s golf team and currently holds the third-best single season stroke average in the program’s history, among other records. In the 2021-22 season, she won her first collegiate event and helped the team set a new scoring record and place sixth in the national championships.
Elliot Harrison, track & field: Harrison is a sophomore sports and exercise science major from Artesia, New Mexico. A 2022 All-Academic for U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and two-time USTFCCCA All-South Central-Regional competitor, Harrison competes in 400-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles, 60-meter hurdles, heptathlon, long jump and pentathlon.
Reagan Matacale, soccer: Matacale, a senior finance major from Lucas, is known for her dedication to training and her exuberant playing style. She was chosen for the 2020 Lone Star Conference All-Freshman Team, the 2021 All-LSC Second Team and the 2021 LSC All-Tournament Team.
Antonella Periotti Omisolo, golf: Omisolo, a sophomore accounting major from Cordóba, Argentina, powered through a wrist injury during the spring 2022 season to finish sixth at the LSC Conference Championship, then 12th in the nation, the third-best individual placement in program history.
Emilee Wilson, softball: Wilson, an Esko, Minnesota, native, is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling. A member of the national championship team in 2021, Wilson pitched the winning game against defending national champions Augustana, helping the Lady Buffs advance to the championship series.
As noted by WTAMU officials, this is the 50th year since Title IX was passed. The university today hosts women’s teams in basketball, softball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. | 2022-09-28T16:26:44Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo native among first Fugate Lady Buff Scholarship recipients | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-native-among-first-fugate-lady-buff-scholarship-recipients/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-native-among-first-fugate-lady-buff-scholarship-recipients/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Get ready to fire up those grills, because the Amarillo Chamber BBQ Cook-off is almost here.
Teams from around the area will gather to show off some of the best barbecue, including all the trimmings and ice-cold beverages. They will also feature live music from Insufficient Funds and teams will compete for awards in the corporate, armature, and professional divisions for ribs, brisket, and other meats. The chamber barbecue is also a great place to network and meet people from around the Amarillo area.
It will be Thursday, Oct. 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the south parking lot at the Tri-state fairgrounds. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the gate. Tickets include all you can eat, drink, and network. You can buy tickets at any Panhandle Tickets outlet, including the Civic Center Box Office, any United Supermarket, Amigos, or Market Street customer service desk, or by calling (806) 378-3096, or online at panhandletickets.com. | 2022-09-28T16:27:20Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Chamber Barbecue Cookoff fires up at the Tri-state Fairgrounds | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/amarillo-chamber-barbecue-cookoff-fires-up-at-the-tri-state-fairgrounds/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/amarillo-chamber-barbecue-cookoff-fires-up-at-the-tri-state-fairgrounds/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Coalition of Health Services announced that it will host a celebration next month after the Nurse-Family Partnership program has been implemented in Amarillo for the last five years.
According to a news release from the coalition, the group will host a roundtable featuring State Rep. Four Price R-Texas District 87 at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9. The partnership is a national program that serves first-time moms and their children who are impacted by economic inequality.
“Nurse-Family Partnership makes a long-lasting difference in the lives of the children and families who participate in the program,” Carolyn Witherspoon, the executive director at the Coalition of Health Services, said in the release. “It is proven that communities are healthier and stronger because of the impact of Nurse-Family Partnership. After five years of offering NFP to local families, we expect the benefits to be seen for generations to come.”
During the roundtable, the release said Price will hear from nurse home visitors and their clients as they share their stories about their experiences with the program. The free Nurse-Family Partnership helps women pregnant with their first child by having a personal nurse who works beside them through their pregnancy and until their child’s second birthday.
According to the release, the coalition expects the partnership to serve around 100 families this year. | 2022-09-28T19:11:37Z | www.myhighplains.com | Coalition of Health Services to host celebratory roundtable | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/coalition-of-health-services-to-host-celebratory-roundtable/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/coalition-of-health-services-to-host-celebratory-roundtable/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — St. Andrew’s Episcopal School announced that its “Blessing of the Pets” will be from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 5 at the playground of the church, located at 1601 S. Georgia St.
St. Andrew’s detailed that dogs, cats, turtles, along with snakes, horses, goats, and more pets of students and their families, are all invited to be blessed near the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Students were encouraged by organizers to bring pets, favorite stuffed animals, or a photo or drawing of their pet to the blessing.
For more information on St. Andrew’s Episcopal School visit their website here. | 2022-09-28T19:11:52Z | www.myhighplains.com | St. Andrew’s to host ‘Blessing of the Pets’ | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/st-andrews-to-host-blessing-of-the-pets/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/st-andrews-to-host-blessing-of-the-pets/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is set to host, “They are Not for Sale: Human Sex Trafficking Symposium” from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Happy State Bank Auditorium at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. Attendance will also be available through Zoom.
“Health care providers need to be informed and equipped with resources and be mindful of the impact of decisions made in a clinical setting,” Angela Knapp Eggers, senior director of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health, said. “That’s what this symposium is intended for – ensuring our clinicians and staff know what to look for and how to react and who to contact. Every victim could be depending on us!”
TTUHSC announced that Ann Ream, founder of The Voices and Faces Project, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers include the following:
Teresa Baker, M.D., professor of OB/GYN at TTUHSC
Rachel May Anderson, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at TTUHSC
Grant Permenter, Supervisory Special Agent for Crimes Against Children Special Task Force for the FBI
Traci Rogers, Amarillo director of No Boundaries International
Pamela Kirby, Psy.D., clinical psychologist
Louise Rice, DNP, RN, CA-CP SANE, assistant professor of nursing at TTUHSC
The event, according to TTUHSC, will give health care providers information on the care of victims and survivors of human sex trafficking along with how to use human trafficking screens to assess the risk of exploitation, how to apply trauma-informed, rights-based strategies, and how to work with patients to determine safety and health needs.
TTUHSC noted that sex trafficking victims may have PTSD, depression, and anxiety along with physical effects including unwanted pregnancy or substance abuse issues.
“It is clear that sex trafficking damages or destroys many young people’s lives,” Richard Jordan, M.D., TTUHSC School of Medicine regional dean, said. “We know we won’t solve the problem with this symposium. All of us can be important parts of the effort to rescue victims and to fight sex trafficking.”
TTUHSC reminded the community that health care providers have a critical role “through empowering their patients by offering them choices in their treatments,” and giving them the opportunity to ask questions.
Registration for the virtual symposium will be $25 and can be made here. The deadline to register is set for Oct. 21. | 2022-09-28T19:11:58Z | www.myhighplains.com | TTUHSC to host human sex trafficking symposium | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/ttuhsc-to-host-human-sex-trafficking-symposium/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/ttuhsc-to-host-human-sex-trafficking-symposium/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with Workforce Solutions Panhandle, in partnership with the city of Amarillo, will host an in-person 2022 Fall Amarillo Job Fair, featuring more than 80 local employers, early next month.
According to a news release from the group, the 2022 Fall Amarillo Job Fair will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4 at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex’s North Exhibit Hall. The event is open to the public, with officials stressing that attendance and participation is free to all job seekers. For more than 25 years, this event has given Texas Panhandle residents the opportunity to meet with employers with open positions throughout the region.
This year’s job fair will feature a variety of employment opportunities, from entry-level to professional level. The release said this includes full-time and part-time positions in health care, management, production, customer service, sales and secretarial/clerical areas. Some of the employers that are expected to attend the event include:
Pantex;
City of Amarillo;
Cacique Foods;
Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
BSA Health System;
A number of other national brands, nonprofits, fast-growing startups and local flagship brands.
“To ensure success at the job fair, job candidates should come dressed appropriately for their chosen occupation and have childcare arrangements made,” the release said. “Introduce yourself to the employers, speak about career objectives, skills, and what makes you the right person for the company.”
For more information, visit the Workforce Solutions Panhandle website. | 2022-09-28T19:12:04Z | www.myhighplains.com | Workforce Solutions, city of Amarillo to host job fair | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/workforce-solutions-city-of-amarillo-to-host-job-fair/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/workforce-solutions-city-of-amarillo-to-host-job-fair/ |
via League of Women Voters of Texas Facebook
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Prior to the voter registration deadline of Oct. 11, the Amarillo League of Women Voters organization is providing a number of events throughout Potter and Randall counties, giving Amarillo and Canyon residents the chance to register to vote.
According to a news release from the Amarillo League of Women Voters, Oct. 11 is the deadline to register to vote or update a person’s voter registration after a name or address change. The organization will host voter registration drives on the following dates:
Sept. 30, 6 p.m. at the JBK Student Center on the Canyon campus of West Texas A&M University;
Oct. 1, 3 p.m. at the Hoodoo Mural Festival in downtown Amarillo;
Oct. 8, 10 a.m. at three United Supermarkets locations, including the one at Bell and 45th St. the one at Amarillo Blvd. and Gem Lake Rd. and the Market Street location on Georgia;
Oct. 9, 9 a.m. in front of Power Church, located at 1344 SE 10th St.;
Oct. 11, all day in front of the Santa Fe Building at Ninth and Polk, the Randall County Annex at 4320 S. Western and the Randall County Finance Building at 1604 Fifth Ave. in Canyon.
At these locations, the release said volunteers with the organization will be on hand to register voters and answer questions voters may have. The volunteers will also have information about voting dates and times, polling locations and what is on the ballot.
“This is a very important election, and we want to make sure that everyone is registered in time to vote,” Sonya Letson, the president of the Amarillo League of Women Voters, said in the release. “Texas has no online voter registration except for those who are updating driver’s license information online. Everyone else must register using a paper form, so that is why we try to be in as many locations as possible up to the deadline on Oct. 11.”
For more information, individuals are asked to contact the organization at 806-337-2148 or email the organization. | 2022-09-28T21:44:57Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo League of Women Voters hosts events before deadline | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-league-of-women-voters-hosts-events-before-deadline/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-league-of-women-voters-hosts-events-before-deadline/ |
MINNEAPOLIS (KAMR/KCIT) — Xcel Energy said it is sending support to Florida for restoration efforts as Hurricane Ian makes landfall, according to a news release from the company.
According to the release, Xcel is sending around 270 contract workers with the possibility of more support as the storm, right now classified as a category four hurricane, could increase in scale. The lineworkers are from Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas states the news release.
Xcel states that the company is part of the Edison Electric Institute’s Mutual Assistance program, a voluntary partnership of electric companies from across the country.
The program is used by electric companies to help speed restoration in the event of significant outages brought on by major storms said Xcel. More information can be found here. | 2022-09-29T00:03:05Z | www.myhighplains.com | Xcel sending support to Florida in wake of hurricane | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/national/xcel-sending-support-to-florida-in-wake-of-hurricane/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/national/xcel-sending-support-to-florida-in-wake-of-hurricane/ |
CHANNING, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Elizabeth Davis is a Channing native, she went through elementary, middle, and high school before studying in college and using what she calls her “Texas grit” to make a career in New York City.
Now the Tony nominated actress is starring in the revival of 1776, which was a Tony award winning show in 1969. Davis is among a unique cast of either LGBTQ or straight women. Unique as a cast, and unique that in 1776 none of those on stage now would have been allowed anywhere near government decisions.
Below is the synopsis of the Broadway show, and you can get more information and tickets here.
“What will it take to get two dozen powerfully passionate, exceedingly complicated, and all-too-human individuals to settle their differences, while they hold the very future of a nation in their hands? This Tony Award-winning Best Musical is tuneful, funny, and constantly surprising, especially in this revolutionary new production from directors Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus. You may never think about our country—who we are and why—the same way again.”
Davis is pregnant and due January 1st, so says she’ll be performing as long as she can until she has to step back to bring her daughter into the world. | 2022-09-29T00:03:29Z | www.myhighplains.com | Channing Native Performing “1776” Musical on Broadway | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/channing-native-performing-1776-musical-on-broadway/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/channing-native-performing-1776-musical-on-broadway/ |
Award-winning filmmaker to present new exhibit at WT
CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — An award-winning filmmaker is set to present a new art exhibit at West Texas A&M University beginning at 5 p.m. on Oct. 6 in the Dord Fitz gallery in Mary Moody Northen Hall, according to officials with WT.
Officials detailed that Michael Merriman is a 2016 WT Distinguished Alumni Award recipient who will showcase “Lost Moments,” an exhibit of new paintings which were inspired by his long career as a filmmaker and music video director.
Officials noted that the show will open on Oct. 6 in the gallery and will continue to be on view through Oct. 28.
“I started as a painter in the ’70s and thought I’d like to go back to it,” Merriman said. “I had attended a few of The Arts at WT subscription series events and was blown away by the quality of the work coming out of the University’s art department, so I decided to apply for graduate school.”
Merriman’s career blew up in Nashville as he was the creative mind behind the video of Michael Martin Murphey’s “Long Line of Love.”
Merriman, according to officials, has directed multiple documentaries for PBS and more than 220 music videos including Brooks & Dunn’s “Only in America” which won the 2002 Academy of Country Music award for Music Video of the Year.
After these accomplishments, Merriman decided to pursue a master’s in fine arts through the WT Graduate School, with this new exhibition established as the pinnacle of his studies as he will graduate in December.
“I don’t need this degree, quite frankly. I’ve had a career,” said Merriman, who’ll turn 69 in late October. “But I’ve learned so much, all the stuff I’ve needed to learn to be a painter again and have a new career.”
“I came up with the idea of using a single frame from several of my film projects as the source material and rendering them on canvas abstractly,” Merriman said. “Motion pictures made on film usually include 24 frames per second, so in a four-minute music video, there are a lot of frames in there. I had to go back and find scenes I remembered and was proud of.”
Jon Revett, art program director and Doris Alexander Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts stated, “Michael is an Amarillo legend, and we were lucky to have him come back to WT to study painting. It has been quite a joy to work with him, and his investigation has led him to some interesting places.”
Officials noted that gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and by appointment Friday and Saturdays. | 2022-09-29T16:05:32Z | www.myhighplains.com | Award-winning filmmaker to present new exhibit at WT | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/award-winning-filmmaker-to-present-new-exhibit-at-wt/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/award-winning-filmmaker-to-present-new-exhibit-at-wt/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Get Fit is showing off its activewear for the Survivor’s Night Fashion Show. Many of their brands have donated products to be modeled by real cancer survivors.
It will be on October 4th, starting at 6 pm. Tickets are limited and will be sold individually at $30. You can purchase them in the Get Fit store at 1911 S. Georgia in Wolflin Square. Attendees will receive a complimentary goodie bag that will include some of the products.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation. | 2022-09-29T16:05:51Z | www.myhighplains.com | Get Fit is hosting an activewear fashion show | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/get-fit-is-hosting-an-activewear-fashion-show/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/get-fit-is-hosting-an-activewear-fashion-show/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Celebrate Hispanic heritage here in Amarillo at the Hispanic Heritage Luncheon and Awards Celebration.
Los Barrios de Amarillo, the Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee, and the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are coming together to recognize the contributions that Hispanic and Latin Americans have made to society. This year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation”, highlighting what local organizations dedicated to serving the Hispanic community are working to achieve.
The event will be on October 12th in the Grand Plaza at the Amarillo Civic Center. Lunch lines begin at 1130 and the program begins at 12. | 2022-09-29T16:05:51Z | www.myhighplains.com | The Barrios Neighborhood is celebrating Hispanic Heritage here in Amarillo | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/the-barrios-neighborhood-is-celebrating-hispanic-heritage-here-in-amarillo/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/the-barrios-neighborhood-is-celebrating-hispanic-heritage-here-in-amarillo/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with Bob Mills Furniture recently announced that it will donate a number of mattresses to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch as part of the company’s “Friends and Family” event.
According to a news release from the company, Bob Mills Furniture will donate $10,000 in mattresses to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. This is a part of the company’s “Friends and Family” event, which runs through Sunday, giving customers the chance to participate in festivities within the Amarillo store, located at 6050 I-40 Frontage Road.
“For the past 20 years that we’ve been in Amarillo, we’ve seen how much Cal Farleys has positively impacted our youth and our community,” Bob Mills, the president of Bob Mills Furniture, said in the release. “One of our core values at Bob Mills is to treat everyone like family, and I believe the Boys Ranch exemplifies this same value. So, it’s my pleasure to help them during our Friends and Family event and recognize their outstanding service in Amarillo.”
According to the release, Bob Mills Furniture has been in business for more than 50 years and started in Oklahoma City. The company has stores in locations like Amarillo, Lubbock, Odessa, Fort Worth and Tulsa, Okla. For more information, visit the company’s website. | 2022-09-29T18:15:35Z | www.myhighplains.com | Bob Mills Furniture donates mattresses to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/bob-mills-furniture-donates-mattresses-to-cal-farleys-boys-ranch/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/bob-mills-furniture-donates-mattresses-to-cal-farleys-boys-ranch/ |
via St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Organizers with the Diocese of Amarillo invited community members to the 11th Red Mass, expected to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral on South Washington.
According to the Catholic Lawyers’ Guild of the Archdiocese of Boston, a Red Mass is used to ask for divine guidance for those in legal professions, from lawyers properly representing clients to judges administrating justice in court and public office. The first Red Mass recorded in the United States was in 1928 in New York City. Since then, the masses have been held each fall before the beginning of the US Supreme Court’s term.
In the Diocese of Amarillo’s upcoming Red Mass, organizers said that Bishop Patrick J. Zurek will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Following the mass, Patricia E. Roberts, Dean of St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, will be the keynote speaker.
During the reception, according to organizers, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served in the Monsignor Smyer Reception Room, and a Teen’s Corner with food from Chick-Fil-A will also be provided.
The diocese invited judges, lawyers, public officials, law faculty members and the community to the mass and reception. Organizers asked that those seeking more information call Brad Howard at 806-345-6310. | 2022-09-29T18:15:44Z | www.myhighplains.com | Diocese of Amarillo holds 11th Red Mass at St. Mary’s | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/diocese-of-amarillo-holds-11th-red-mass-at-st-marys/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/diocese-of-amarillo-holds-11th-red-mass-at-st-marys/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — It’s no secret, inflation has affected every walk of life.
From the grocery store, to home buying, to travel, no matter if it’s by plane, train, or automobile.
So how has inflation affected Amarillo’s travel and tourism industry?
“What we did see though, is lighter traffic compared to last year,” said Kashion Smith, Executive Director of the Amarillo Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “But last year was a huge year, we were hoping to keep that traffic coming through with the gas prices, and honestly I believe with with how hot we were this summer, those kind of factored in.”
Smith told us that while the traffic numbers decreased compared to 2021, the average amount of money people spend while they’re in town didn’t go down.
As time would have it, just like the leaves and mother nature, she explained traffic patterns tend to change from summer to fall.
“Summer we have a lot of tourism traffic that comes through, we really see a change in in the traffic over labor day. It slows down a little bit. But really it changes from that family traffic to the retired traffic. So we see more leisure come through like route 66, we see more flexibility in the stays,” she noted.
Smith told KAMR that Amarillo’s location gives it a unique advantage, which could help ease some financial pain.
“We’re an easy getaway. We’re a drivable market to a lot of Texans and Oklahoma and you know, New Mexicans, so we’re an easy trip where you can have a good time and maybe a little bit closer to home than what they would normally travel,” she said.
So, even on a bumpy economic road, a little High Plains getaway, is still on track.
For more information on the Amarillo Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, including a list of upcoming events, click here. | 2022-09-29T20:13:22Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo travel industry staying steady amidst bumpy inflation road | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-travel-industry-staying-steady-amidst-bumpy-inflation-road/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-travel-industry-staying-steady-amidst-bumpy-inflation-road/ |
Pierce the Veil return to Lubbock to perform at the Lonestar Amphitheater, September 23, 2022.
LUBBOCK, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — “We got lucky when we all met each other”, a humble answer from Pierce the Veil frontman Vic Fuentes just hours before going on stage in Lubbock Texas as they tour with I Prevail.
I caught up with Fuentes and bass player Jaime Preciado about two weeks into their first tour in about five years. I wanted to take it back to the moments right before they stepped on stage for their first show back, Fuentes saying that while walking up to soundcheck in New Jersey kids were in the parking lot, standing on top of cars and were pumped up, “that’s like the one things that you can’t prepare yourself for”.
I also asked about how the crowds have been, saying that we didn’t appreciate live shows fully until we didn’t have any to go to, and how artist after artist has told me that the crowds are more energized, and crazier than ever. Preciado agreed the crowds have been more energized and that they loved it but wasn’t sure what live music would look like in a post-Covid 19 world saying “I honestly didn’t think that live music was going to be the same again. I thought it was going to be a new world of either watching from home or going to like drive-in shows and stuff because it was like we are in the business of crowds” and Fuentes echoing that saying “appreciation is the number one word. I think that we felt a lot you know even being able to travel together, be practicing together, like it all…a new appreciation for literally every aspect”.
We did talk about the weird phenomenon of their song “King for A Day” coming back on the charts after being released in 2012. Both saying that thanks to TikTok the song gained more attention and that they couldn’t have planned it better for their song to gain attention just ahead of going out on tour. I asked if it settled some doubts that the fans were still excited to see them touring, both agreeing that it settled some doubts that people would come to shows after several years without new music followed by the pandemic.
We transitioned over the new single and the album, I asked when during the process did they find that this album was going in a different direction than anything else they had put out. Fuentes saying they started on it right after their last tour, but the pandemic halted work on it. When they did resume the record writing process he noticed a trend that all the songs were taking. You can hear the difference in their single “Pass the Nirvana” which is a heavier sound overall compared to their other albums. Not only a different sound, but a different recording process and a new producer. They talked about recording with Paul Meany in a house in New Orleans, having all of their equipment set up in one spot, Preciado saying “being able to wake up and just come downstairs into like a studio space, which was still a nice house. You know, that was super cool”.
I asked about their VIP sessions and being able to speak with the fans, and if any story or moment stuck with them. Being a music lover myself it was the only thing keeping me sane during the pandemic and beyond. A time when music became a second or third language to some as we maybe couldn’t express what we were feeling in words, but a lyric from our favorite band maybe said it all. They brought up a moment in San Antonio when they saw a sign in the crowd that said something along the lines of “you saved my life, it’s been 10 years since I wanted to see you” saying it was crazy to think about the fans and how long they’ve been waiting to see them perform.
My next to last question was about their longevity, in a time where the pandemic caused things to stop for a few months, a few years, or forever, what is it that keeps a group going for 15 years? Preciado joked it was Fuentes’ “devilishly good looks” saying “well I wake up every morning and I see this face”. After a laugh Fuentes says it’s their chemistry “we got lucky when we all met each other” saying they continue to get closer to one another over the years, and that they’ve learned the importance of communicating with each other, keeping that at the top of their priority list.
We ended things talking about their bucket list concert lineup, and I even tried to find out when a new single or the album was being released, Fuentes saying even his wife hasn’t been told the date. So for now, fans will have to see them on tour, appreciate that live music is back, appreciate the big lights, sounds, screams, and growls from the band, and know that eventually, we’ll get the rest of the album, and appreciate their single “Pass the Nirvana” until that happens.
For more information about this band or their touring schedule, click here. http://piercetheveil.net/ | 2022-09-29T20:14:04Z | www.myhighplains.com | Five Years Later, Pierce the Veil Resume Touring | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/five-years-later-pierce-the-veil-resume-touring/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/five-years-later-pierce-the-veil-resume-touring/ |
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) — A U.S. Air Force Airman was found dead in his home in Clovis on Tuesday, according to a news release from Cannon AFB Public Affairs.
The man, identified by Cannon Air Force Base officials as U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nathan M. Johnson, 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron MC-130 aerospace propulsion journeyman, was found dead at his home off of the base in Clovis on Tuesday.
“Team Cannon is deeply saddened by the loss of A1C Nathan Johnson. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nathan’s family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time,” U.S. Air Force Col. Terence G. Taylor, 27th Special Operations Wing commander said in the release.
The release states that details about his death are still under investigation. | 2022-09-29T22:06:45Z | www.myhighplains.com | Cannon AFB Airman found dead in home Tuesday | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/new-mexico/cannon-afb-airman-found-dead-in-home-tuesday/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/new-mexico/cannon-afb-airman-found-dead-in-home-tuesday/ |
Courtesy: West Texas A&M University
Canyon, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Dr. Priscella Correa is an assistant professor of nursing at West Texas A&M University who hopes to inspire the growing population of Hispanic students to pursue their education.
Dr. Correa has recently been named a leadership fellow for the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Ed. She has also been accepted as a Fellow of La Academia de Liderazgo of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to start in 2023.
From a young age, Dr. Correa knew she wanted to work in healthcare.
“Growing up as Hispanic, I would translate for my parents at doctor’s appointments and so that, you know, always gave me the interest, and I saw how much they cared for them,” she said.
So, she became a bedside nurse in critical care and recovery and then continued her education.
“Education has given me an opportunity that I would not have had otherwise. Finishing my PhD really has elevated me to be in a very specific elite group of Latinos, and Hispanics, with PhDs, and so that in itself has opened doors and opportunities for me.”
Correa has served on various national committees, addressing public and community health. She also has the Baptist Community Services endowed professorship, allowing her to do community service, including the inner city health fair. The fair provides screenings to medically underserved populations.
“If we are able to screen an individual and catch diabetes or high blood pressure, we might be able to educate them and prevent a stroke, or prevent any chronic outcomes that, you know, you see in vulnerable populations or underserved populations,” she said.
Correa said through outreach and education, she has the ability to make a change in the community and with students. She said as demographics shift in the U.S., the population of Hispanic students at WT is growing.
“It is important for them to be able to see individuals that look like them to have reached the goal of obtaining a PhD. They are able to, you know, look at me and be encouraged that they can do that,” she added. “I think it’s just sometimes being able to see key individuals that look like you and encourage you, really is helpful and really paved a path for me.”
She believes her accomplishments are possible because of her educational background and people who have gone before her, leading the way.
“What I love to impart with my students is my diverse perspective, from going up from my background to seeing how we can improve health disparities, how we can look at health inequities, and how we can as a health care profession be able to move towards more of an equitable system to provide care for all those who need.”
In addition to the committees she serves on, Dr. Correa is also involved in several community groups, including Los Barrios de Amarillo and Project Safe Neighborhood. | 2022-09-29T23:54:46Z | www.myhighplains.com | WT Nursing professor a role model for Hispanic students | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/hidden-history/hispanic-heritage-month/wt-nursing-professor-a-role-model-for-hispanic-students/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/hidden-history/hispanic-heritage-month/wt-nursing-professor-a-role-model-for-hispanic-students/ |
From War to Private Schools, Tim Oditt on Hey Amarillo Podcast
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — It’s a unique move from serving in the Army and fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to moving to working at private schools.
That’s just part of Tim Oditt’s story as he sits down with Hey Amarillo’s Jason Boyett. You can listen to this episode here.
“A conversation with Tim Oditt, Head of School at Ascension Academy. Oditt arrived in Amarillo in the summer of 2020 to guide this college-prep school, after having spent the previous decade at a private school in Ohio and a military academy in Virginia. Oditt is an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne. In this episode, he shares with host Jason Boyett about his career in private schools, the role Ascension plays in the local education sphere, and why his family was so glad to return to West Texas. This episode is sponsored by Shemen Dental, Blue Handle Publishing and KWTS “The One.”“ | 2022-09-29T23:55:17Z | www.myhighplains.com | From War to Private Schools, Tim Oditt on Hey Amarillo Podcast | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/from-war-to-private-schools-tim-oditt-on-hey-amarillo-podcast/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/from-war-to-private-schools-tim-oditt-on-hey-amarillo-podcast/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — If you can believe it, Dove Creek Equine Rescue has been working to save horses and humans for 10 years.
They’re celebrating with a sunset dinner which includes several things like music, food, drinks, and more.
Click here to RSVP by October 4th, if you can’t make it to the dinner, you can always donate to Dove Creek as they continue on their mission. | 2022-09-29T23:55:24Z | www.myhighplains.com | Sunset Dinner at Dove Creek Celebrating Milestone | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/sunset-dinner-at-dove-creek-celebrating-milestone/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/sunset-dinner-at-dove-creek-celebrating-milestone/ |
Updated Covid-19 Booster Shots & What You Need to Know
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — As COVID-19 variants and subvariants continue to spread throughout the U.S. and as we approach the fall season, which means people will be spending more time indoors, many Americans are not up to date on their protection from COVID.
Updated vaccines that are designed to be even more effective against the latest variants are now available to provide extra protection.
Three-quarters of American adults and two-thirds of all Americans have been vaccinated.
Boosters can provide continued protection and provide the best defense possible against COVID, including from variants that might be more contagious or cause more severe disease.
Updated vaccines that target Omicron and its subvariants can give extra protection.
Adults 50 and older who have not been vaccinated are twice as likely to be hospitalized with COVID as those who have been vaccinated and boosted.
Vaccines and boosters reduce the risk of long COVID, which leaves people with fatigue, pain, and memory problems that can last for months.
For more information you can visit vaccines.gov. | 2022-09-29T23:55:31Z | www.myhighplains.com | Updated Covid-19 Booster Shots & What You Need to Know | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/updated-covid-19-booster-shots-what-you-need-to-know/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/updated-covid-19-booster-shots-what-you-need-to-know/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — As the legal teams for both the city of Amarillo and Amarillo Businessman Alex Fairly prepare for Friday’s pre-trial hearing and Tuesday’s bench trial, both teams have filed an influx of documents arguing various items, including counterclaims from Fairly’s team and whether or not there should be a jury trial in this case.
These documents are all leading up to Tuesday’s bench trial, which comes after William Sowder, the visiting judge overseeing the ongoing Amarillo Civic Center Complex-related litigation in Potter County District Court, combined Fairly’s lawsuit with the city of Amarillo’s lawsuit because of his belief that they cover the same subject matter.
According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, Fairly first filed his lawsuit against the city of Amarillo in late May, challenging the legality of an ordinance the Amarillo City Council passed during its May 24 regular meeting, giving them the ability to use $260 million in anticipation notes for improvements and the expansion of the Civic Center. The city of Amarillo then filed its own lawsuit, asking for a judge to validate the use of the anticipation notes in this case under Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code.
Fairly’s counterclaims
In documents filed on Sept. 21 in Potter County District Court, Fairly’s legal team outlined the overall case and their numerous allegations against the city of Amarillo, highlighting what they thought was the city’s “secret plan” to push the Amarillo Civic Center Project forward.
According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, Fairly’s team lays out this “secret plan” narrative, alleging that the city planned to add the project to a tax reinvestment zone, ultimately finance the improvements to the Civic Center Complex with anticipation notes and refinance those notes with refunding bonds.
“The Secret Plan, by its very nature, was meant to withhold certain information from the public while these plans were in development and to bypass, circumvent, and avoid facing the will of the voters,” the documents read at the time.
In the city of Amarillo’s response to these counterclaims from Fairly’s team, they continued to stress that the Civic Center Complex project is “an important public work” and which is in “dire need of renovation and modernization in order to better serve the residents of the city.”
“The City’s efforts to issue the Notes and begin the process of updating and expanding the Civic Center Complex has been stalled, at enormous expense to the City, by a single citizen, Alex Fairly, who harbors the mistaken belief that, since he does not agree with the City’s actions, those actions must be illegal,” the response, filed Wednesday morning in Potter County District Court, reads. “Mr. Fairly has taken a shotgun approach to this litigation, haphazardly firing off accusation after spurious accusation – all entirely unsupported by any evidence whatsoever – that the City, the City Council and the City staff have concocted a vast conspiracy to ‘perpetuate a fraud on [Amarillo’s] citizens’ by hiding ‘the true nature of’ the ordinance that authorizes the issuance of the Notes. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
In its response, the city’s legal team said that there is no evidence that Open Meetings Act violations occurred at the May 24 Amarillo City Council meeting, along with alleged violations at the May 5 meeting of the TIRZ One board and the May 10 meeting of the Amarillo City Council.
What the city believes the depositions and documents show thus far in the litigation process, an opinion stressed numerous times in the document, is that officials recognize the needs at the complex and how important it was for the city to take “what it hoped to be the quickest path to obtaining funds for the repair and improvement” of the complex. They stressed that the ordinance was properly authorized and should be validated in Tuesday’s trial.
In the city’s response, they also claimed that Sowder does not have jurisdiction over claims surrounding the notes and their characterization as debt, per portions of the Texas Tax Code. The city’s legal team said because the city has not calculated, or adopted, a tax rate to cover debt service on the notes, that a determination cannot be made in court based on events that have not occurred yet.
“The City has already set its tax rate for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, which does not include debt service on the Notes,” the response reads. “…Here, there is no indication that the City will fail. To adhere to the Tax Code’s requirements relating to the calculation, publication or notice requirements set forth in the truth in taxation provisions of the Tax Code when it sets a tax rate that encompasses the debt service requirements of the Notes.”
However, in Fairly’s response to the city’s response, Fairly’s legal team focused on the fact that the city did not impose a tax in the ordinance, a fact they said is clear in the statutory law. They said because of what the city said in its response, Fairly “should be relieved of the necessity of any further proof that Ordinance 7985 did not impose a tax.”
“If the Court is inclined to grant the City’s plea, the City must be judicially estopped from denying that it did not impose a tax in Ordinance 7985,” the response from Fairly’s team, filed Wednesday afternoon in Potter County District Court, reads. “…This judicial estoppel would essentially invalidate the Ordinance and the notes as both would be in violation of Texas Government Code 1431.008(b).”
Ultimately, the response reads that Fairly’s allegations surround that the city violated “statutory substantive and procedural requirements” imposed by law surrounding tax-supported debt. The documents go on to say that Fairly believes that the city of Amarillo is seeking to “impose and allocate tax moneys illegally” through various means.
“These complaints relate to an illegal allocation of City resources directly from the imposition of tax revenues,” the documents claim. “These issues are ripe because the City Council has already voted upon the Ordinances Fairly challenges, which are inextricably intertwined to the plans for the Civic Center the City seeks to finance with the notes. So, all of these issues relate directly to the tax anticipation notes and the Ordinance the City is asking the Court to validate and declare legal.”
Fairly’s motion for a Jury Trial
In documents filed from Fairly’s legal team in Potter County District Court on Tuesday afternoon, the team once again requested that this litigation be conducted as a jury trial.
According to the document, this comes after Fairly filed a jury demand for this litigation on June 28, a request that Sowder denied on July 11, saying that Fairly is not entitled to a jury trial under Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code and that there are only legal issues to be resolved by the Court in this case.
Fairly’s team continued to stress that his allegations related to potential violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act at the two Amarillo City Council meetings and the TIRZ One Board meeting constitute a decision from a jury, determining if a quorum gathering occurred outside of a public meeting. The document stresses that Fairly “is entitled to a jury to make factual determinations in the trial of this case.”
The city of Amarillo’s legal team’s response to Fairly’s team’s motion for a jury trial mirrors the original answer Sowder gave on July 11. Officials said in documents filed Wednesday afternoon that there are not any issues in the case that must be decided by a jury. The city is asking for Sowder’s prior ruling to stand and that the scheduled bench trial proceed.
The city’s legal team cited the “plain text” of Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code, which “requires the court to resolve issues of both fact and law.” The team goes on to say that a jury trial, in this case, would “indefinitely delay the adjudication. of the Notes,” with jury selection potentially delaying the trial for months.
“…The clear intent of the (Expedited Declaratory Judgment Act) is to provide municipalities with a speedy determination of a security’s validity, preventing a single disgruntled taxpayer from injecting delay and unnecessary costs in what should otherwise be an expedited process,” the documents read.
In the Texas Attorney General’s legal team’s response, filed Wednesday afternoon in Potter County District Court, officials reiterated their position from the July 5 hearing.
“The Attorney General does not agree with the City’s position that Chapter 1205 does not provide for a jury trial and the expedited nature of Chapter 1205 does not allow for a jury trial,” the documents read.
The Texas Attorney General’s team cited portions of the Texas Constitution that “maintains a right to trial by jury,” along with the portion that says “In the trial of all causes in the District Courts, the plaintiff or defendant shall, upon application made in open court, have the right to trial by jury…”
“The City requests declarations which are likely questions of law to be determined by the Court, and Mr. Fairly must show that there are material factual issues that need to be decided by the jury,” the documents from the Texas Attorney General’s legal team state. “The Court previously ruled that Mr. Fairly ‘is not entitled to a jury trial due to the provisions of Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code and/or there are only legal issues to be resolved in this case by the Court.’ However, there remains a dispute between the City and Mr. Fairly as to whether the information obtained during discovery created a material factual dispute requiring a finding by the jury.”
In its response, the city’s legal team said that whether or not Fairly is entitled to a jury trial in this case, they believe the bench trial should still occur.
As of Thursday afternoon, no additional documents surrounding the counterclaims or the motion for a jury trial had been filed in Potter County District Court. According to previous reports, the pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday in Potter County District Court. The bench trial for this litigation is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday in Potter County District Court.
Click here for more information regaridng the Amarillo Civic Center Project | 2022-09-29T23:55:51Z | www.myhighplains.com | Back and forth continues in Civic Center litigation prior to trial | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/back-and-forth-continues-in-civic-center-litigation-prior-to-trial/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/back-and-forth-continues-in-civic-center-litigation-prior-to-trial/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo City Council announced the completion of the first comprehensive citizens survey.
The city council partnered with ETC Institute to conduct the surveys. ETC Institute is a market research and survey company that conducts surveys for organizations throughout the nation.
“What we were looking to do is survey our population on a variety of city services, and also wanting to hear what are the priorities of our citizens, said Laura Storrs, Assistant City Manager and Amarillo City CFO.” “Since this was our very first year to do this comprehensive survey, this establishes a benchmark for us that we can learn from that we can help shape resources towards, and then do this again in the future to look back and see if we’ve made any progress in those areas.”
Over a thousand citizens were surveyed with responses from each zip code to represent the overall population properly.
The survey found that citizens were pleased in four main areas and ranked higher than other cities across the state.
“A few things that we heard from the survey, we’re doing very well in comparison to others in the state and in the nation, when it comes to our public safety efforts, said Storrs.” “So there’s a sense of safety in our community that our citizens, what we heard is they do feel like our fire and our police services are performing very well response times are good.”
The survey said citizens also reported satisfaction with library services, city employees providing quality customer service back to the community and citizens saying Amarillo is a great place to live.
The survey also allowed participants to share what areas they believed the city needs to improve on and improve throughout the city.
Storrs continued, “we did hear from our citizens on things that they either have concerns about or they want to see improvements on the top three things that we heard, the first one was the condition of our city streets, and our city sidewalks.”
In addition to streets and side walks needing improvements, citizens would also like to see improvements to the flow of traffic in the community.
“There is a lot of road construction going on out there as we try to improve the streets, there’s a lot of road construction, and it can impede the overall flow of traffic. So those things can kind of go hand in hand, stated Storrs.”
The third improvement citizens would like to see is effective communication with them. Survey participants reported receiving the majority of information and updates surrounding the city council from the news.
The city council plans to put more information on the city’s website and social media accounts and continue sharing information with the news. In an effort to keep citizens up to date with what is happening in the city, know where their property tax dollars are going and see the progress being made.
According to Storrs, the city plans on conducting another survey in 18 months. From there, the city anticipates surveys will be conducted every two years to monitor progress and address new concerns and priorities that citizens may have. | 2022-09-30T01:39:41Z | www.myhighplains.com | Findings from city council comprehensive citizens survey | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/findings-from-city-council-comprehensive-citizens-survey/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/findings-from-city-council-comprehensive-citizens-survey/ |
by: Christian Rangel
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Here is a quick summary of our current Atlantic Hurricane Season.
We have had nine named storms so far. Four of them were hurricanes and two of them were major hurricanes. (That means they met or exceeded category three status on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.)
Here is a list of our named storms so far:
Alex (June Tropical Storm)
Bonnie (July Tropical Storm)
Colin (July Tropical Storm)
Danielle (September Hurricane)
Earl (September Hurricane)
Fiona (September Major Hurricane)
Gaston (September Tropical Storm)
Hermine (September Tropical Storm)
Ian (September Major Hurricane)
Before September, the Atlantic was extremely quite. According to the National Hurricane Center: “No tropical cyclones formed in the basin during August. This is quite unusual and is the first time that has occurred since 1997, and is only the third time that has happened since 1950. Based on a 30-year climatology (1991-2020), three or four named storms typically develop in August, with one or two of them becoming hurricanes. A major hurricane forms in August every one to two years. No hurricanes have formed in the basin so far this season.”
The cented added, “In terms of Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), which measures the strength and duration of tropical storms and hurricanes, activity in the basin so far in 2022 has been well below average compared to the long-term (1991-2020) mean.”
Now for this month, we received six of the nine named storms from our season’s total. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) still favors an above-normal 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season. | 2022-09-30T15:43:53Z | www.myhighplains.com | 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/national/2022-atlantic-hurricane-season-summary/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/national/2022-atlantic-hurricane-season-summary/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Zoo is preparing for the spooky return of Boo at the Zoo. It will be an evening filled with Halloween-themed activities, including costumed characters, animal enrichment, treat stations, crafts, games, and more. Boo at the Zoo will be on Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
And you can help out by volunteering for the Boo Crew. You can sign up here.
You can still check out the zoo’s new preschool program, AEPP (Animal & Environmental Preschool Program) for kids ages 3-5. It is a nature-based program designed to connect children to nature through hands-on activities, animal encounters, and inquiry-based learning. AEPP is a six-week program meeting once a week on a designated day and time. The total cost is $100 for the full six weeks.
Registration is limited, and you can sign up for the winter sessions here. | 2022-09-30T15:44:24Z | www.myhighplains.com | Playa the Kenyan Sand Boa is hanging out with the cast of Today in Amarillo | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/playa-the-kenyan-sand-boa-is-hanging-out-with-the-cast-of-today-in-amarillo/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/today-in-amarillo/playa-the-kenyan-sand-boa-is-hanging-out-with-the-cast-of-today-in-amarillo/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the Amarillo Police Department released information on a rumor of a possible threat toward a high school in the area that occurred Friday morning.
According to a news release from the department, school liaison officers at Caprock High School were made aware of a “possible threat via Snapchat.” While the rumors of the post reportedly mentioned “CHS,” officials stressed that after an investigation, they do not believe the post to be a threat to Caprock.
“APD Officers are working closely with AISD police to investigate these alleged threats,” the release read. “As always, we take school safety and our community’s safety very seriously. We ask that our students and community continue to say something if they see something.”
In the release, officials said that tips can be provided through the Student Crimestoppers tipline, 372-TIPS, through the P3 mobile application or through the Student Crimestoppers website. | 2022-09-30T18:33:04Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Police investigate potential threat at high school | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-police-investigate-potential-threat-at-high-school/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-police-investigate-potential-threat-at-high-school/ |
RANDALL COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with Randall County recently announced that a county-wide burn ban order was issued by the Randall County Commissioners’ Court.
According to a news release from the county, the burn ban order was officially issued Sept. 27, prohibiting “any and all outdoor burning of trash, debris and brush in the unincorporated areas of the county” for 90 days, or until the order is “terminated earlier” by the Commissioners’ Court. If implemented through the full 90 days, the order is expected to expire on Dec. 26.
According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, the other counties throughout the Texas Panhandle and surrounding region are currently under burn bans include:
Sherman County;
Moore County;
Hutchinson County;
Wheeler County;
Armstrong County;
Donley County;
Castro County;
Swisher County;
Briscoe County;
Childress County;
Cimmaron County in Oklahoma.
If an individual is found to have violated the burn ban, the release said they will be in violation of Local Government Code 352.081(h), a class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. However, officials stressed in the release that BBQ grills and smokers are still allowed to be used during the burn ban.
If a person has any questions about the burn ban, or wants more information, they are asked to call the Randall County Fire Department at 806-477-1750. | 2022-09-30T18:33:10Z | www.myhighplains.com | Randall County issues 90-day burn ban | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/randall-county-issues-90-day-burn-ban/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/randall-county/randall-county-issues-90-day-burn-ban/ |
Photo via Wayland Baptist University news release
PLAINVIEW, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with Wayland Baptist University (WBU) announced that the college has been named among 200 colleges for Indigenous students, according to “Winds of Change,” a publication of the American Indian Sciences and Engineering Society (AISES).
The college has made the AISES list for the third consecutive year which is set to be published in November. According to officials, the university’s ranking on the list has increased every year.
“The Special College Issue is a highly anticipated reference that students, teachers and counselors turn to year-round,” said AISES Senior Development Officer Candace McDonough. “It’s the only resource of its kind for the growing number of Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who are concentrating on a science, technology, engineering or math discipline in higher education.”
The research data about Wayland’s Indigenous students, officials notes, will be presented in a research-based roster with McDonough stating that the 2022-2023 edition will contain “statistical information and survey and research data tailored to indigenous students who are eager to find the right college based on their budget, anticipated major and other criteria.”
In addition, the print edition of the 29th Annual Special College Issue of “Winds of Change” is set to be mailed to more than 7,000 AISES members and subscribers. The digital edition will be available to more than 14,000 readers, said officials. | 2022-09-30T18:33:16Z | www.myhighplains.com | WBU ranks among top colleges for Indigenous students | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/wbu-ranks-among-top-colleges-for-indigenous-students/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/wbu-ranks-among-top-colleges-for-indigenous-students/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the city of Amarillo’s Animal Management and Welfare department announced that the department will offer residents free pet microchips throughout the month of October.
According to a news release, the department is providing the service as part of the Maddie’s Fund organization’s “Return to Home Challenge.” Officials said that microchips provide owners “valuable information” so a lost animal can be returned to its owner.
“One of the more effective ways to return a lost pet to its owner is for the pet to be microchipped,” said AAMW Outreach Manager Kayla Sell. “Microchipping is a quick and easy process for a dog or cat. If a pet gets lost, microchipping can identify the animal so the owner can be contacted.”
Officials said appointments are not necessary and walk-ins are welcomed. The release said the process takes less than five minutes. For more information on Maddie’s Fund, visit its website. | 2022-09-30T21:05:48Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Animal Management to offer free pet microchips | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-animal-management-to-offer-free-pet-microchips/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-animal-management-to-offer-free-pet-microchips/ |
“Out of the Darkness Walk” Drawing Attention to Suicide Prevention
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide can be prevented. Volunteers from Amarillo are joining the quarter of a million people who are walking in towns across the United States to draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention. The Out of the Darkness Walk, hosted by the West Texas Chapter will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, October 1st at Medi Park. This walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education and support programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual U.S. rate of suicide 20 percent by the year 2025. “Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. Our ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Tracy Sommers, West Texas Area Director. The Amarillo Out of the Darkness Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community and Campus Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 300,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. Last year, these walks raised over $21 million for suicide prevention.
“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight, the science is only going to get better and our culture will get smarter about mental health. With the efforts of our courageous volunteers, and a real investment from our nation’s leaders, we hope to significantly reduce the suicide rate in the United States.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. | 2022-09-30T23:26:29Z | www.myhighplains.com | “Out of the Darkness Walk” Drawing Attention to Suicide Prevention | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/out-of-the-darkness-walk-drawing-attention-to-suicide-prevention/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/studio-4/out-of-the-darkness-walk-drawing-attention-to-suicide-prevention/ |
Abbott and Democratic Party challenger Beto O’Rourke will appear in the first and only scheduled debate of the 2022 gubernatorial race at 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg. Nexstar will host and televise the debate locally in Amarillo and 13 other markets throughout the state, joined by KSAT-TV in San Antonio. | 2022-09-30T23:26:47Z | www.myhighplains.com | Abbott spotlights Operation Lone Star before gubernatorial debate | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas/abbott-spotlights-operation-lone-star-before-gubernatorial-debate/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas/abbott-spotlights-operation-lone-star-before-gubernatorial-debate/ |
Civic Center pre-trial hearing hosted in district court
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The legal teams for the city of Amarillo, Amarillo Businessman Alex Fairly and the Texas Attorney General’s office met virtually Friday morning, ironing out various details in a pre-trial hearing surrounding the ongoing Amarillo Civic Center Complex funding-related litigation.
This comes before the parties appear in front of Judge William Sowder in the 320th District Court of Potter County Tuesday morning to begin a bench trial. Through this trial, Sowder is expected to determine whether or not it was legal for the city of Amarillo to use $260 million in anticipation notes for improvements to, and the expansion of, the Amarillo Civic Center Complex.
During the hearing, the parties, along with Sowder, took the time to argue some outstanding motions and clarify certain topics prior to the two-day bench trial beginning on Tuesday. Some of the outstanding motions included Fairly’s team’s motion to abate the case, Fairly’s motion for the trial to be a jury trial as well as Fairly’s motion for in-camera review.
Fairly’s motion to abate
According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, Fairly’s team initially requested that the Court abate the proceedings in late August, as the city was in the midst of verifying a petition which was also aimed at overturning the ordinance that put in motion the city’s use of anticipation notes for the Civic Center project.
At the time, Fairly’s legal team said they expected that the petition’s outcome will “likely cause the (lawsuit’s) subject matter… to become moot.” The overall aim of the motion at the time was to abate all further proceedings of the litigation until the Amarillo City Council takes action on the petition and/or for an election to be hosted.
However, in early September, Fairly’s legal team removed the motion to abate. According to previous reports, Sowder indicated at the time that he wanted more discovery to be conducted in the case before the abatement motion is considered. Later that month, the city of Amarillo announced that the related petition was not authorized for submission due to it not conforming to portions of the city’s charter.
During Friday’s hearing, T. Lynn Walden, a member of Fairly’s legal team, said that the motion to abate was “not in play right now,” and not moving forward. Because of this, Sowder was not required to make a decision on this.
Fairly’s motion for jury trial
During the pre-trial hearing, Sowder also made a ruling surrounding Fairly’s team’s motion for a jury trial, reiterating his previous ruling that Fairly is not entitled to a jury trial under Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code and that there are only legal issues to be resolved by the Court in this case.
According to previous reports, Fairly’s legal team requested multiple times that this litigation be tried in front of a jury. Like in previous court documents, Walden stressed during the pre-trial hearing that the state gives entities a right to have a jury trial if there are factual issues at play, something which he believes this litigation has in relation to allegations surrounding potential violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Paul Trahan, a member of the city of Amarillo’s legal team, once again stressed their belief that Chapter 1205 is clear, giving the court the ability to decide all legal and factual decisions in cases like this. Trahan also said that in this particular case, he believes that the issues at hand are “purely legal” and there is no evidence of controverted facts.
Alyssa Bixby-Lawson, the representative from the Texas Attorney General’s Office who participated in Friday’s virtual hearing, reiterated the office’s belief that Chapter 1205 does not specifically prohibit a jury trial. However, she stressed that the office did not have a position on whether or not this particular case warranted a jury trial.
After hearing from all sides, Sowder ultimately denied Fairly’s team’s motion for a jury trial, citing his belief that there are only legal issues to consider in this particular case. Sowder also cited the necessity for this case to be conducted in an expedited manner.
Fairly’s motion for in-camera review
Lastly, the parties involved in Friday’s pre-trial hearing discussed Fairly’s request for “In-Camera Review.” According to court documents filed on Aug. 31 in Potter County District Court, Fairly’s team was requesting that the Court look at a series of emails from the city of Amarillo with legal counsel which they claim show that “a fraud was ongoing or about to be committed on the citizens of Amarillo.”
According to previous reports, this claim stems from testimony from Laura Storrs, the city of Amarillo’s chief financial officer and assistant city manager, during the July 21 hearing surrounding the wording of the agenda item for the funding-related ordinance passed during the May 24 council meeting. During the questioning in that hearing, Storrs confirmed that while the agenda item was written that the ordinance authorized the issuance of “combination tax and revenue notes,” the notes were just tax notes.
At the time, Storrs said it was a mistake. However, she said that in discussion during the May 24 meeting, officials said tax notes were only going to be used in this case. However, because of this mistake in the wording, officials from Fairly’s legal team claimed that it was a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act, prompting the request to look into emails that consist of conversations surrounding the ordinance prior to the meeting.
Through this request, Fairly’s legal team is asking if any city officials picked up on the typo on the agenda prior to the meeting being conducted. The documents said that the team also asked if “the proper description (was) discussed” and if the “revenue component (was) added to confuse the issue.”
In the city’s response, filed Wednesday in Potter County District Court, they said that Fairly’s legal team “seeks to invade the attorney-client privilege in an attempt to uncover something to support his case.” During Friday’s pre-trial hearing, officials said that there is no basis for this motion, saying the claim that “there might be fraud,” does not meet the threshold for this motion.
Sowder ultimately denied Fairly’s team’s motion to look at these emails, saying that there is no level of evidence from Fairly’s team that supports the motion. Sowder went on to say in his denial that a “fishing expedition is not evidence.”
What’s next and what can be expected next week?
At the end of the hearing, officials made the decision for next week’s bench trial to be live streamed on the 320th District Court’s YouTube page. Sowder said he expects for Tuesday’s proceedings to begin at 9 a.m. and the hearing can be accessed at this link.
After the pre-trial hearing, both legal teams also provided insight into what witnesses will be a part of next week’s bench trial proceedings. According to documents filed by the city of Amarillo’s legal team Friday morning, officials said the following fact witnesses will be expected to be a part of next week’s litigation:
Eddy Sauer, city of Amarillo councilman;
Freda Powell, city of Amarillo councilwoman;
Howard Smith, city of Amarillo councilman;
Cole Stanley, city of Amarillo councilman;
Ginger Nelson, city of Amarillo Mayor;
Laura Storrs, chief financial officer and assistant city manager for the city of Amarillo;
Jared Miller, city manager for the city of Amarillo;
Andrew Freeman, assistant city manager for the city of Amarillo;
Stephanie Coggins, city secretary for the city of Amarillo;
Alex Fairly, Amarillo businessman.
The documents also state that the following individuals will be expected to appear in the bench trial proceedings as expert witnesses:
Steven Adams, a financial advisor with Specialized Public Finance;
Jerry Danforth, director of facilities and capital improvement for the city of Amarillo;
Laura Storrs, chief financial officer and assistant city manager for the city of Amarillo.
According to documents filed Friday morning, Fairly’s legal team filed a subpoena for Stanley to appear at Tuesday’s bench trial. The documents state that Stanley is required “to attend and give testimony at the trial in this case on behalf of the Alex Fairly, and to remain in attendance from day to day until lawfully discharged.” The subpoena was said to have been delivered to Stanley’s counsel of record on Thursday.
As of Friday afternoon, no further documents have been filed in relation to this litigation. According to previous reports by MyHighPlains.com, the two-day bench trial, in this case, is expected to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the 320th District Court of Potter County. | 2022-09-30T23:26:54Z | www.myhighplains.com | Civic Center pre-trial hearing hosted in district court | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/civic-center-pre-trial-hearing-hosted-in-district-court/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/civic-center-pre-trial-hearing-hosted-in-district-court/ |
Abbott and Democratic Party challenger Beto O’Rourke will appear in the first and only scheduled debate of the 2022 gubernatorial race at 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg. Nexstar will host and televise the debate locally in Amarillo and 13 other markets throughout the state, joined by KSAT-TV in San Antonio. | 2022-10-01T01:35:30Z | www.myhighplains.com | Abbott spotlights Operation Lone Star before gubernatorial debate | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/texas-governors-debate-2022/abbott-spotlights-operation-lone-star-before-gubernatorial-debate/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/texas-governors-debate-2022/abbott-spotlights-operation-lone-star-before-gubernatorial-debate/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — This weekend downtown Amarillo will be filled with muralists, musicians, and food vendors as the Hoodoo Mural Festival returns.
Founder of the Hoodoo Mural Festival, Andrew Hall said muralists from all over the world will be coming to Amarillo to share their art.
“This is free public art and we are basically creating this free walkable, bikeable art gallery here in our downtown for everyone in the community to use and people visting to see as well,” said Hall.
Along with highlighting these worldwide talents, Hall added they will also be spotlighting local artists with their community wall.
“We have muralists from around the country but we also want to highlight what our community has to offer, whether its our local wall, we have nine local artists and groups painting their own murals,” said Hall.
One of those local artists is Anna-Kay Reeves, who is painting her first mural this year and is also sharing a little bit of the panhandle’s history as well.
“I choose this subject because it’s relative to the whole community. In the foreground is a portrait of Frenchy McCormick, who is an early pioneer out here in this area. She was a saloon girl at Old Tascosa before it became a ghost town. Kind of a tribute to her and the early women in the area. And then also Comanche riders leading their tribe out of this area, they were one of the last tribes to go to the reservations in Oklahoma,” said Reeves.
Reeves said painting a mural is not like painting on a canvas.
“You cannot do it alone, even if you are doing must of the work by yourself. You got to have support and someone to bring you a water, etc. It’s a lot more community, a lot more connected than just painting by yourself,” said Reeves.
Throughout the week, Hall said local schools have been doing mural tours in downtown Amarillo with over 700 students participating, showing them the possibilities of art.
“These kids are first through fifth grade and they are learning they are only a few years away from being a part of a high school group and they can be artist themselves through our program,” said Hall.
Hall added a lot of hard work and dedication have gone into these murals. He said these artists have been working on their mural nonstop for the last two weeks in preparation for the festival.
Hall said if you still have not purchased your tickets for Hoodoo, you can buy them at the door. | 2022-10-01T03:37:19Z | www.myhighplains.com | Hoodoo Mural Festival returns to downtown Amarillo | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/hoodoo-mural-festival-returns-to-downtown-amarillo/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/hoodoo-mural-festival-returns-to-downtown-amarillo/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Stephanie Coggins, the city secretary for the city of Amarillo, provided more information Wednesday on why the recent referendum petition surrounding the Civic Center funding ordinance was not able to be authorized by her office.
According to previous reports by MyHIghPlains.com, the city announced Monday that the petition seeking to overturn Ordinance No. 7985 was not able to be authorized by the city secretary because it did not conform to portions of the Amarillo City Charter. This comes after a group of Amarillo citizens began the petition process in early August, ultimately delivering the petition to City Hall on Aug. 29 with 12,575 signatures.
Amarillo residents begin petition process for Civic Center funding ordinance
The petition aimed at repealing the ordinance, which was approved by the Amarillo City Council during the May 24 meeting aimed at issuing $260 million in tax notes to help fund the expansion and renovation of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. The ultimate goal of the petition was to bring the measure back to Amarillo residents in the form of an election.
What did the City Secretary say about the petition?
According to previous reports, the city specifically said that the recent petition did not include an “affidavit of circulator,” a requirement per Article II Section 23 of the Amarillo City Charter. The charter states the following:
“Each signer of a petition shall sign his or her name in ink or indelible pencil, in his or her own handwriting, followed by place of residence by street and number, and any other information required by state law as amended. The signatures to any such petition need not all be attached to the same paper, but to each such paper there shall be attached an affidavit, by the circulator thereof, stating the number of signers to such part of the petition, and that each signature is genuine and that of the person whose name it purports to be and that it was made in the presence of the affiant.”
Article II Section 23 of the Amarillo City Charter
Coggins said that specific elements are required to be included in the affidavit of circulator that accompanies the petition.
City of Amarillo releases official Civic Center funding petition
“When someone goes out and obtains signatures, they are considered the circulator. At the end of the process, they swear that they’ve collected X number of signatures,” she said. “So, they have to swear to the number they’ve collected. They have to swear that each signature they collected is genuine and that of the person that signed it and they have to swear that it was done in their presence.”
Coggins said that an affidavit of circulator was not included in any of the 42 parts of the petition that was submitted in late August.
One other deficiency that the city secretary’s office found was that a written or printed copy of Ordinance No. 7985 was not included with the petition. Article II Section 23 of the charter states the following:
“All such petitions circulated for signatures shall be uniform in character and shall have attached to the same, exact written or printed copy of the proposed Ordinance or resolution, sought to be adopted or repealed.”
Civic Center petition delivered to city of Amarillo
“The charter also says (the ordinance) should be with the petition when it’s filed,” Coggins said. “So at the end, when we received the completed petition, there was not a written or printed copy of the ordinance submitted with the petition.”
Once a petition is received, the parties cannot revise or amend it, Coggins said. The committee’s course of action at this point would be to begin a new petition process and submit that to the city, following the rules laid out in the Amarillo City Charter.
“The charter makes it very easy. The charter is the roadmap for any citizen wishing to file a petition with the city of Amarillo,” she said. “It gives you… a checklist, if you will. So, our office was objective in reviewing the petition and asking, ‘were the items checked off the list?’ and we found that one wasn’t and therefore, it didn’t conform to the law.”
How did individuals respond to the city?
According to previous reports, Dan Rogers, the Potter County Republican Chair and one of the two citizens who delivered the petition to the city in late August, claimed that all petitions were presented with the affidavit of circulator attached.
“We presented them as we were advised by more than one election law attorney,” Rogers said. “This is another attempt to disenfranchise the voters by elected officials who despise good ordinary people.”
Amarillo Civic Center petition not authorized for submission
Cole Stanley, a member of the Amarillo City Council and a signer of the petition, said he believes the city made a huge mistake by not authorizing the petition, missing another opportunity to “hear the voice of the voter.”
“Specifically, I believe that everything that is of substance is in this petition, meaning everything that’s required for this thing to be validated is in the petition itself,” Stanley said. “I understand, and it appears that their issue with the petition is in the format in which it was presented.”
Stanley compared the error brought forward by the Amarillo City Secretary like if someone did their homework correctly, but it is invalidated because they put their name on the upper right-hand corner instead of the upper left-hand corner. To his understanding, Stanley said that the way the cover page of the petition, including the number of signatures, was titled was where the issue was.
“So, everything’s been done, everything’s been turned in. It’s the format to which they object to,” Stanley said. “It’s not that it doesn’t include enough signatures. It’s not that they can’t validate those signatures or that they aren’t voters. It’s that the way in which the affidavit was recorded doesn’t meet their criteria.”
Coggins said she could not respond to the comments surrounding members of the group’s belief that they had everything necessary for the petition. However, Coggins did stress the importance of her staying neutral in her role as city secretary.
Read more about the ongoing Amarillo Civic Center Complex project here
“I received the petition. I reviewed the petition against the Amarillo City Charter requirements and Texas Election Code requirements,” she said. “At the end of the day, they did not check all the boxes and because they didn’t, the law does not allow me, it does not authorize me, to move this forward and to present it to council… By law, I am not authorized to present this to City Council. So they will not be able to receive it or act upon it because the charter says, if all the boxes are not checked, then I don’t have the authority to present that to them.”
Coggins also stressed that no member of the Amarillo City Council, or members of the City Manager’s office, had anything to do with the review process of this petition.
“At the end of the day, it’s in our office. We stay neutral in reviewing and assessing to ensure that it conforms to the law,” Coggins said. “Our City Council and Mayor were alerted when we got the original statement back in early August and then I shared a communication with them earlier this week so that they would have the letter that went out to the referring committee… But they were not involved, nor did they see any of the documents related to the petition during that review process.”
Stanley said he would love to have a conversation like this in public before the Amarillo City Council. However, Stanley still believes that the petition in its current form can still move forward, despite what the city secretary’s office said.
“I don’t think that we would have another petition moving forward. I think that this petition can still move forward,” he said. “So, I still want to participate in this petition because this is our process that we have for our voice to be heard. So, I want to continue to actively advocate for this petition and the validity of it.” | 2022-10-01T23:42:06Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo officials clarify on not authorizing petition | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/amarillo-officials-clarify-on-not-authorizing-petition/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/amarillo-civic-center-complex-project/amarillo-officials-clarify-on-not-authorizing-petition/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials from the Amarillo Zoo (AZ) announced “Boo at the Zoo” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22. AZ states that admissions will end at 8:30 on the day of the event.
According to the AZ Facebook post, tickets are priced at $6 per person and are currently available, here.
Officials list a few activities the event will include:
Halloween-themed activities
Costumed characters
Animal enrichment
For more information on the Amarillo Zoo “Boo at the Zoo”, visit here. | 2022-10-02T21:36:19Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Zoo set to host ‘Boo at the Zoo’ | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-zoo-set-to-host-boo-at-the-zoo/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-zoo-set-to-host-boo-at-the-zoo/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials from the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce (ACC) announced the 26th Annual “Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-Off.” The cook-off will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Amarillo Tri-state fairgrounds.
According to an ACC flyer, all-inclusive tickets are now on sale through any PanhandleTickets site, priced at $30 per person if you pre-order or $40 per person at the gate.
ACC states that all-inclusive tickets include some barbecue with sides, beverages, networking, and live music.
Officials said the cook-off will have 80 to 100 teams competing and serving their work to the crowd in attendance.
For more information and updates on the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce cook-off, visit here. | 2022-10-03T02:05:59Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo Chamber of Commerce ‘Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook-Off’ Oct.6 | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-chamber-of-commerce-good-times-celebration-barbecue-cook-off-oct-6/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-chamber-of-commerce-good-times-celebration-barbecue-cook-off-oct-6/ |
Stock photo via the Amarillo Police Department
Update (9:45 a.m.)
The Amarillo Crime Stoppers announced that the 2022 grey Ram 2500 has reportedly been recovered.
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Crime Stoppers is asking for help finding a 2022 grey Ram 2500 for this week’s “Stolen Auto Day,” which was reported stolen on Thursday, Sept. 22.
According to Crime Stoppers, the truck was reported stolen from the 7700 block of I-40 E. It should display a Texas license, 7DV-1075, and the last six of the VIN are 143921. In addition, the truck has a black grill and black wheels.
If you know the location of this vehicle or know who stole it, officials asked that you call Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400. Officials said that you could also submit your tip by using the P3 tips app.
The Crime Stoppers stated that if your anonymous tip leads to the recovery and/or the arrest of the suspect you could earn a reward of up to $1,000. | 2022-10-03T14:51:48Z | www.myhighplains.com | UPDATE: Amarillo Crime Stoppers recover 2022 Ram 2500 | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-crime-stoppers-stolen-auto-day-2022-ram-2500/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-crime-stoppers-stolen-auto-day-2022-ram-2500/ |
In court documents, filed to the United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit on Sept. 30, officials said they have “tentatively scheduled” the case for oral arguments during the week of Dec. 5 in New Orleans. The document states that all additional appeal filings must be filed by 12 p.m. “on the workday immediately preceding argument.” | 2022-10-03T16:58:15Z | www.myhighplains.com | Oral arguments in Reagor’s appeal to begin in December | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/crime/federal-court/oral-arguments-in-reagors-appeal-to-begin-in-december/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/crime/federal-court/oral-arguments-in-reagors-appeal-to-begin-in-december/ |
AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Heads up Amarillo, if you’re looking to buy a house, you definitely want to pay attention to the latest actions from the federal reserve.
“The buying power of buyers has decreased over the past few months due to increased interest rates,” said Jessica Martin, a realtor for RockOne Realty Group in Amarillo.
But, she explains, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“That does in no way means that we’re in a bad market. The average interest rates since 1971 was 7.76 (percent) interest. We’re in a normal market right now,” she added.
It’s more like a byproduct of a housing market returning to pre-pandemic levels.
“It’s actually changing. It’s actually, I can see it probably become more of a buyers’ market here after a while, so we’ve been touring houses are staying on the market longer, and you’re also seeing house prices drop,” Martin emphasized.
She said the current interest rate is 6.25% with points, and with interest rates going up, your mortgage rates will follow, as will your taxes.
“So, coming out of the period where rates were super low, it caused the value of the house to increase, which also increases the amount of taxes to the point that legislation has passed a bill for homeowners to alleviate some of that problem,” she noted.
Martin told us even though rates are ultimately rising, it’s not necessarily fattening landlords’ pockets.
“So, with the landlord’s taxes, of course that goes back on to the renter. So no, they’re not just being greedy, it’s just the taxes they’re having to pay,” she said.
So, how long is it expected to stay like this?
“I don’t think it’s a long term or short, short term issue. I think we’re finally just getting back to normal because we’ve been abnormal for the past couple of years,” she explained.
Setting up for a home sweet home.
For more information on the homebuying process, including homeowners classes to walk you through the process, give Martin a call at 806-433-2133, or click here. | 2022-10-03T19:17:16Z | www.myhighplains.com | Amarillo housing market returning to pre-pandemic levels | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-housing-market-returning-to-pre-pandemic-levels/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/amarillo-housing-market-returning-to-pre-pandemic-levels/ |
GUYMON, Okla. (KAMR/KCIT) — The Guymon Police Department reports that an area school was placed on lockdown at around 9:51 a.m. Monday due to a sighting of a person carrying a possible assault rifle.
According to GPD, officers were called at around 9:51 a.m. on Monday to the intersection of Price Blvd. and 21 St. after someone was seen walking with what appeared to be an assault rifle.
Police said that because a school was near the scene, it was placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Officers said they made contact with the person seen allegedly carrying a weapon. They were taken into custody without incident and are currently under investigation.
The school has since been allowed to resume as normal. | 2022-10-03T21:15:01Z | www.myhighplains.com | Guymon school placed on lockdown Monday morning | KAMR - MyHighPlains.com | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/guymon-school-placed-on-lockdown-monday-morning/ | https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/guymon-school-placed-on-lockdown-monday-morning/ |
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