Amarillo area Our Town briefs for April 21, 2024
Amarillo Public Health: Unlocking potential with health data at free seminar April 24
Amarillo Public Health invites local health advocates, nonprofit leaders, grant writers and data enthusiasts to a presentation for those passionate about improving health through evidence-based information. The seminar, titled “Good Data: Unlocking Potential,” is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, at the Amarillo Area Foundation, 919 S. Polk St.
This free presentation emphasizes the pivotal role of credible health data in shaping effective community health strategies. Attendees will learn how to find and use quality health data to make informed decisions, understand health trends and address disparities in local and regional health. The discussion will also dive into the use of health data to understand and address health issues, social determinants of health and overall community well-being.
For more information about the presentation, visit www.AmarilloAlerts.com/GoodData.
In addition, the City of Amarillo Department of Public Health noted via social media that animal bite incidents are increasing in our area. Call Amarillo Animal Welfare and Management at (806) 378-9032 if you see a stray or injured animal. Although the risk for rabies is low in the dog and cat population, it is important to report all animal bites to Amarillo Welfare and Management and Amarillo Public Health at (806) 378-6321. Keeping this risk low will protect the people and animals of Amarillo.
Junior League of Amarillo presents: 2024 Golf Classic and After Par-Tee
The Junior League of Amarillo is thrilled to announce its much-anticipated 2024 Golf Classic and After Par-Tee, set to take place on April 26. This event promises a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and charitable support, all in the beautiful setting of Ross Rogers Golf Course and Reed Beverage.
The Golf Classic will kick off the day at noon, welcoming golf enthusiasts of all levels to participate in a friendly yet competitive tournament. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting, this event offers something for everyone. Players will navigate the course, showcasing their skills while networking with fellow participants. To participate in the Golf Classic, sponsorships and teams can be purchased through the Junior League of Amarillo at https://www.jlamarillo.org/golf-classic.
Following the tournament, the festivities continue with the After Par-Tee taking place at Reed Beverage from 6 to 11 p.m. Attendees can unwind and indulge in delicious food, refreshing drinks, and music by Insufficient Funds, creating an atmosphere for socializing and making lasting memories. Tickets for the After Par-Tee are available to the public for $25 each at https://www.jlamarillo.org/golf-classic.
Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Junior League of Amarillo's initiatives and projects, supporting our mission to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through effective action and leadership.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details on event updates by following the Facebook Event at https://fb.me/e/6JfimXpTz.
Sales Tax Holiday for emergency supplies set for April 27-29
AUSTIN — As we enter the severe weather season, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds Texans they can purchase certain items tax free during the state’s sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 29.
The Comptroller’s office estimates shoppers will save about $2.1 million in state and local sales taxes during the tax holiday, which was approved by the Texas Legislature in 2015. There’s no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase. These include household batteries, fuel containers and flashlights priced less than $75; hurricane shutters and emergency ladders priced less than $300; and portable generators priced less than $3,000. A list of emergency preparation supplies that may be purchased tax free can be found on the Comptroller’s website.
For purchases made online, note that delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. For example, if you purchase an emergency ladder online for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, the total sales price is $309. Because the total sales price is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.
Purchases that do not qualify include: batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles; camping stoves and camping supplies; chainsaws; plywood; extension ladders and stepladders; and tents.
City of Amarillo urges citizens to be stormwater smart as ordinance revised
Various pollutants can make their way into the storm sewer system, either from roadways during rainy weather or from residents disposing of waste/debris in storm drains. To reduce these pollutants, the Amarillo City Council approved Ordinance No. 8106 in January, amending the Amarillo Municipal Code.
The ordinance, which went into effect this month, helps prevent pollution discharge into the City of Amarillo drainage utility system and local playa lakes. The ordinance now applies to any “user” of the storm sewer system, meaning any resident, individual, business or entity disposing of materials in the city's drainage utility system. To see the ordinance, go to: bit.ly/3vUbwpC
The Amarillo Municipal Code includes general discharge prohibitions that have not changed and can be found at: bit.ly/4d2bI6U .
Stethoscopes and Stilettos’ Dinner to raise funds for WT nursing scholarships
CANYON — West Texas A&M University will celebrate 50 years of educating nurses on the High Plains at a May 3 fashion show and dinner.
Reservations are requested by April 26 for “Stethoscopes and Stilettos,” a fundraiser and celebration for the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing in WT’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The event will begin at 6 p.m. May 3 in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus.
Tickets are available for tables of four for $1,500, eight for $2,500 and 16 for $5,000. They may be purchased at wtamu.schoolauction.net/nursingevent24/register/ticket_sales. Individual tickets will be sold for $100 for one week beginning April 19. Funds raised will support student scholarships.
The event kicks off WT’s celebration of the American Nurses Foundation’s National Nurses Month, paying tribute to those who “relentlessly and consistently put the needs of others first,” said Dr. Holly Jeffreys, dean of WT’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
At the event, current students will model nursing wardrobes from every decade of nursing history, from the era of Florence Nightingale to today. The event, which will pay special tribute to 1974’s first graduating class of WT nurses, also will include a dinner of New York strip steaks provided by the WT Meat Lab in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, as well as scalloped potatoes, grilled vegetables, cheesecake and mascarpone cake. Masters of ceremonies are Ali Allison, morning news anchor for NewsChannel 10, and Laura Reyher, WT’s Baptist Community Services Professor of Rural Health.
Amarillo City Council renews Drought Contingency Plan
Amarillo weather has a bit of everything – from high winds to heat and cold to heavy rain. And also the lack of rain. While recent rainfall in the city has been a blessing, the Amarillo area is no stranger to drought conditions. As recently as 2018, Amarillo went without rainfall for more than 100 days, marking one of the worst droughts in the area since the 1950s.
With Amarillo’s ever-changing weather in mind, city council renewed the City of Amarillo Drought Contingency Plan. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires cities to have a Drought Contingency Plan. The plan is up for renewal every five years. Councilmembers renewed the 2019 plan without changes.
The plan includes stages for water conservation. Stage 1 consists of a voluntary outdoor watering schedule. Stage 1 is implemented when demand or normal operating condition results in a drawdown of the reservoir to or below approximately 60 percent of its capacity or when total daily water demand equals or exceeds approximately 70 percent of the available water production capability for five consecutive days. Stage 1 was last implemented in July 2022. Thanks to community response and timely rain, the city was in Stage 1 for only a week.
To see the Drought Contingency Plan, go to: www.amarillo.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/23835
Water usage in the city can be tracked on a daily basis at: bit.ly/3Ppql83
For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager David Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.
The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees
FORT WORTH – The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame recently announced the selection of its 2024 inductees, including Brenda Michael of Canyon for Western Heritage.
"This distinguished group represents a broad spectrum of the rodeo community, from legendary competitors and cherished animals to influential rodeo personnel and vital organizations," a news release states. The 2024 inductees by category include:
Men's Contestants: Neal Felton of Mountain Home, Bryan Fields of Silsbee, Brian 'PeeWee' Herman of Godley, Wes Stevenson of Granbury, Adam Gray of Weatherford, Women's Contestants: Fallon Taylor of Whitesboro, Mary Walker of Ennis, Rodeo Personnel: Pete Carr of Heath, Skidboot of Quinlan, Empty Saddles: Dennis Gee of Wichita Falls, Ronnie Helton of Haslett, Gold Card: Dr. Bob Patterson of Milsap, Jim Jones of Rio Vista, Rodeo Animals: Dirty Jacket of Heath, Organization: Parker County Sheriff's Posse of Weatherford, Johnny Boren Award: Bobby Kurten of Bryan, Western Heritage: Brenda Michael of Canyon, Director's Choice: R.D. 'Bob' Johnson of Eldorado, and Star of Texas: Jake Hooker of Decatur.
Founded in 1975 by Belton businessman and PRCA contestant Johnny Boren, the TRCHF has grown into a pivotal organization within the rodeo community, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the Texas rodeo cowboy and cowgirl. Over 400 individuals and groups have been honored, with their stories and achievements chronicled within the walls of the Cowtown Coliseum in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.A Golf Tournament at Canyon West Golf Course in Weatherford will be held April 25, with the Welcome Reception & Inductee Group Photo at the Hall of Fame/Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth on April 26 and the Induction Ceremony and Luncheon at River Ranch in Fort Worth on April 27.
For tickets and more information about the induction ceremony or the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, visit texasrodeocowboy.com.
USPS: Amarillo letter carrier Phillip Moon honored as National Hero of the Year
The United States Postal Service sent a news release after Amarillo Letter Carrier Phillip Moon was honored as the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) National Hero of the Year at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., for saving a woman from a vicious dog attack.
The Postal Service commends Mr. Moon, and is proud to have employees of his caliber representing the organization.
While on his route last fall, Moon saw a woman being attacked by a pit bull. He fought off the dog and pulled the woman into his truck. She was bleeding badly from bites to her left leg. Moon called 911 and used his shirt to stop the bleeding. He had to fight the dog off a second time when it forced its way into the truck and bit the woman's other leg. First responders and animal control officers caught the dog while EMTs tended to the victim's wounds. Police told Moon that he saved her life twice – first from the dog and again from bleeding to death.
Despite his heroic actions, Moon said he does not consider himself a hero. “I’m just very grateful, honored and thankful that I was in a place where I could be of some assistance to somebody in need,” he said.
WT’s Model UN Team earns honors at national conference
CANYON — A student delegation from West Texas A&M University recently earned honors at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City. The students, whose trip was sponsored by WT’s Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, earned honorable mention delegate awards on each of the three committees on which they served.
National Model UN is the world’s largest, most prestigious and longest-running university-level Model UN event. This year, more than 2,000 students from more than 300 colleges and universities from around the world took part in the conference, held April 1 to 6.
Participating WT students were Helena Barnett, a senior accounting major from Amarillo; Ubaldo Campa, a sophomore political science major from Amarillo; Joel Diehl, a senior political science major from Midland; Emmanuel Gonzalez, a freshman political science major from Bovina; Logan Johnson, a senior electrical engineering major from Amarillo; and Collin Williamson, a junior political science major from Clovis, New Mexico.
The WT students were assigned to represent Burkina Faso in simulated UN committees, participating in formal debates and negotiations on the General Assembly 2, International Atomic Energy Agency and UN High Commissioner for Refugees committees. They collaborated on drafting resolutions, which were then debated, amended and voted upon by committee members.
Playa lake levels, rain data now available on city website
The City of Amarillo Drainage Utility Department will be posting playa lake status levels on the city's Drainage Utility Department website, allowing the public to easily access information regarding water levels and potential impacts caused by high rainfall events.
These updates will be made available to the public and refreshed every Monday, offering citizens the opportunity to stay informed about the status of playa lakes within the community. Additionally, in the event of significant rainfall increases, the department may provide more frequent updates to ensure residents have the most up-to-date information regarding water levels.
Alongside playa lake levels, rainfall data will also be posted, offering an overview of current playa lake conditions and their potential effects on drainage systems.
“We recognize the importance of keeping our community informed about the status of our drainage systems, particularly during times of increased rainfall,” said COA Managing Director of Public Works Donny Hooper. “By providing regular updates on playa lake levels and rainfall data, we aim to ensure residents have the information they need to stay informed and aware of any changes in water levels.”
WT summer camp registration period opens
CANYON — Registration is now open for about 70 summer youth camps at West Texas A&M University.
Between now and September, WT’s Extended Studies program will offer camps, clinics, academies and more for youth from kindergarten through college interested in a variety of activities, from music to athletics to meat judging to engineering. A full list of camps can be seen online at https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/extended-studies/eod-summer-youth-programs/registration-dates.html.
More than 7,200 students swarmed the WT campus in 2023.
“Programs for minors are a vital part of our community outreach,” said Michelle Vinyard, Extended Studies director. “Youth camps and programs offer educational experiences and opportunities for the youth in our area and allow young folks to see and experience a college campus firsthand."
Costs and registration deadlines vary among the different camps. Youth programs are not eligible for credit at WT. Registration fees are subject to change.
WT launching new Summer Piano Camp; auditions due May 1
CANYON — Registration is now open for a new West Texas A&M University summer camp for young pianists.
WT’s first Summer Piano Institute is scheduled for July 22 to 26 on the University’s Canyon campus. Video auditions are due May 1. They may be submitted at apps.ideallogic.com/wtamureg?key=T6DM-JF52T_K9KH-5PTF_bc52ca92b1f3. Tuition and fees are $235, due June 15.
Students will take individual lessons, get chamber music coaching, and take music theory and history classes. Students also will have practice and rehearsal times throughout the day. Camp hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the week; students should provide their own lunches. A student showcase recital is set for 5:30 p.m. July 26 in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall.
WT professors win NSF grant to improve STEM education for underrepresented students
CANYON — A team of West Texas A&M University researchers have won a $200,000 National Science Foundation grant to improve success rates in science classes for underrepresented students.
Professors in WT’s Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences won the grant from the NSF’s Division of Undergraduate Education and its Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program for Hispanic Serving Institutions. The team also will establish a faculty development workshop and student support modules designed to enhance undergraduate research experiences in both departments.
WT, a Regional Research University, qualified for HSI status in 2016. To qualify, an institution’s Hispanic full-time equivalency must be at least 25 percent of the overall undergraduate population. As of spring 2024, WT’s student body is 31 percent Hispanic.
WT forensics student places third in nation; second student wins prestigious grant
CANYON — A West Texas A&M University forensics team member placed third in the nation at the American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament, and another team member earned a prestigious grant.
Isaac Doty, a senior sociology major from Lubbock, placed third in the nation in communication analysis. Alejandro Mata, a senior political science major from Hereford, won a $5,000 honorarium from the Dr. Bruce Manchester Scholar Series, for intensive study and research.
The team, which ranked 21st overall, competed in a range of events including prose, persuasion, informative, extemporaneous speaking, and dramatic interpretation. Members who qualified for and competed at the national competition also included Abigail Stilwell, a senior psychology major from Henrietta; Hannah Kamer, a junior psychology major from Sweetwater; and Willa Brackin, a freshman digital communication and media major from Thicket.
The national tournament took place at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire from April 6 to 8.
“I’ve been most impressed with this team’s dedication to advocacy and their willingness to expand their horizons,” said Dr. Kelsey Abele, assistant professor of communication studies and director of forensics. “We have found a balance of being competitive and also embracing our community around us.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for April 21, 2024
