Scholarship winners, Gateway Arches among this week's Amarillo community news
The Center City Gateway Arches Restoration Project began Saturday, Sept. 21 at four locations. The project will greatly enhance the Center City Gateway Arches, which have become a well-known Amarillo feature as motorists enter and leave downtown.
The project, which will include installation of a wide array of LED lights (which can change colors to reflect holidays), is funded through a collaboration of the City of Amarillo, Center City and Center City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 1 (TIRZ). The first phase of the project begins Saturday with the removal of the arches. Installation of the arches with new LED lights will be announced at a future date.
The restoration project will temporarily impact traffic. Motorists entering and leaving downtown to the south were expected to encounter lane closures Saturday, with traffic on Buchanan, Pierce, Fillmore and Taylor streets reduced to one lane during the initial phase. For more information, contact the city's Capital Projects and Development Engineering Department at (806) 378-9334. Also for more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at Potter County students awarded OSU scholarships
STILLWATER, Okla. – On Sept. 4, two Potter County students were honored by the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture with academic scholarship support for the 2024-2025 academic year. These scholarships are part of the more than $1.8 million that students receive from the Ferguson College and its academic departments.
Learn more about the Ferguson College of Agriculture at agriculture.okstate.edu .
State Sen. Kevin Sparks to host local town halls in PanhandleAUSTIN - Texas State Senator Kevin Sparks announced that he will be coordinating and attending several town halls throughout the Texas Panhandle. At these events, he will provide a legislative recap of the last session and outline his plans for the upcoming session, beginning in January 2025. These town halls are nonpartisan and offer an opportunity for constituents to meet Senator Sparks and learn more about his efforts as their representative in Austin, according to a news release. He will be joined by State Rep. John Smithee in Hereford, Vega, Dalhart, and Claude.
Below is a list of the dates, times, and locations for the town halls.
The Texas Panhandle War Memorial is hosting "War of the Wagons" on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4111 S Georgia, with an opening ceremony set for 10 a.m.
The War of the Wagons event will feature several food trucks that will battle to be named the best, live music, bouncy houses, corn hole, face painting, raffle prizes, resource fair, presentations and more. The purpose of this event is to bring the community together and raise awareness for mental health in partnership with the Amarillo VA Health Care System (AVAHCS) for Suicide Prevention Month.
Ascension Academy celebrates its AP Capstone Diploma recipientsAt Ascension Academy, three students, Sophia Hall, Caleb Drummond, and Everett Anderson, have earned the AP Capstone Diploma and the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2023-24 school year.
"We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program," said Head of School, Tim Oditt. "With the help of dedicated teachers, our AP Capstone students explored their passions through scholarly research as part of an impactful, multi-year program. This meaningful college readiness program will serve our students well in college."
To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams of their choice. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
With a paper titled "Nonprofit Organizations Facing the Challenges of Amarillo: Weather, Response, Awareness", Anderson sought to answer the question, "How does the lack of awareness in the community affect the response/role nonprofit organizations have in times of natural/weather related events in Amarillo, Texas?" In his paper, "Tasmanian Devils: A Search for Refuge," Drummond sought to answer the question, "Where in the Southwestern Hemisphere would be the most suitable location to translocate the Tasmanian devils to in order to help preserve their numbers?" Hall''s paper titled, "Better Accommodations, Better Education: A Study of Students with ADHD at Ascension Academy", sought to answer the question, "How can the admin of Ascension Academy, through the teachers, better accommodate middle/high school students with ADHD?" Hall is attending the University of Nebraska this fall, Drummond is attending Texas A&M University, and Anderson is attending West Texas A&M University.
Amarillo Habitat for Humanity homeowner applications openAmarillo Habitat for Humanity held application classes this past week for individuals interested in applying for the Habitat Homeowner Program, with submitted applications due to the Amarillo Habitat for Humanity administration office at 2700 S. Wilson by Wednesday, Oct. 9 by 3 p.m. Incomplete or late applications will not be processed.
"Homeownership is unattainable for many Amarillo families with current interest rates and inflation," says Director of Operations Sarah Curtis. "Habitat offers the opportunity to acquire a safe home with an affordable mortgage."
Amarillo Habitat for Humanity administrative office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, interested applicants can visit www.amarillohabitat.org or call (806) 383-3456.
WT posts increases in undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024CANYON — West Texas A&M University saw an overall increase across the board in undergraduate students for the fall 2024 semester, newly released figures showed.
The overall undergraduate enrollment is up slightly less than 1 percent from fall 2023. Both sophomore and senior enrollment rose more than 1 percent year-over-year, and freshman and junior enrollment also rose by 0.2 percent. WT's overall enrollment essentially remained steady from fall 2023, falling by only six students to 9,055.
WT officials attributed the rise not only to the university's diligence in helping students fill out their FAFSA in a timely manner, but also to several innovative strategies designed to increase enrollment. Buffs taking classes in the fall semester are the first to take advantage of no-charge-to-student textbooks and other educational resources in all core classes. WT also launched its first embedded associate degree this semester, with seven more planned to launch in the spring.
Join the Discovery Center to sip, sing, and support their mission at Dueling Pianos in OctoberThe Don Harrington Discovery Center's annual fundraiser Dueling Pianos is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19 from 7 to 11 p.m.
At the evening's event, guests request the songs, and the popular Pete's Dueling Piano Bar experts will play them. Guests 21 and over will enjoy live music, food catered by Cocina on the Go, open bars, and live science demos. Reserve your table and help support the Discovery Center's mission to create moments of discovery that reveal the inner workings of our world to learners across the High Plains. Tables are limited; tickets can be purchased at dhdc.org .
Spotlight sponsors are Atmos Energy and All Star Sheet Metal and Roofing. For event sponsorship opportunities, contact Daniella Ramos at Amarillo Club to host Set the Table to support Maverick Boys and Girls Club
Amarillo Club will open its doors to the public as it teams up with the Maverick Boys and Girls Club for the second annual Set the Table event on Thursday, Oct. 17. The event is set to take place 5-7:30 p.m. at the Amarillo Club, located in downtown Amarillo. Guests will peruse the latest creative table settings in keeping with this year's theme, world travel. This event is open to anyone who would like to attend, and tickets are $75.
"The Amarillo Club is passionate about giving back and supporting our community," Amarillo Club General Manager Jake Jenkins said. "Not only will this be a great event for Maverick Boys and Girls Club, but it's also a great opportunity for anyone in Amarillo to enjoy an evening enjoying the best views in town."
Event organizers said a silent auction will take place, as well as a raffle for a free one-year Amarillo Club membership. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be provided, and beverages will be available on-site for purchase. Reservations can be made by calling (806) 373-4361.
Mark your calendars, reserve tickets for PDC Chuckwagon RoundupThe Chuck Wagon Roundup will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Hosted by the Partners in Palo Duro Canyon Foundation and Texas Parks & Wildlife, the event will have 11 chuckwagons set up near the Pioneer Amphitheater, serving up chicken fried steak lunches for $25 (tax included).
Proceeds benefit the foundation, which supports many important needs within the park, most recently buying gates for all trailheads to keep hikers and bikers off the trails and safe when temperature alerts are issued in the summer.
Tickets are available online through the Sad Monkey Mercantile website; no tickets will be sold on-site. For more information, visit .
WT grant proposals up significantly, shows impact of regional researchCANYON — West Texas A&M University faculty submitted 46 percent more grant proposals, amounting to an 84 percent increase in requested dollars, in a year-over-year comparison, new figures show. The increase shows a deepening commitment to being a Regional Research University, the singular goal of the university's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, according to a news release.
"This has been the most productive year for grant proposals in recent memory—maybe ever," said Steve McLean, director of Sponsored Research Services at WT. "This shows that WT has an energetic faculty and supportive administrators. We have a great balance of new faculty and seasoned researchers actively pursuing grant funding."
Faculty members across WT's six Colleges submitted 121 grants in fiscal year 2024, requesting $39.5 million from federal, state and private funders.
Seasons change - mosquito awareness remainsSummer may be winding down, but the Amarillo community must stay vigilant against the dangers posed by mosquitoes and West Nile virus.
"With kids back in school, it is easy to shift our focus to fall, but we're still in the middle of prime mosquito-breeding weather," said City of Amarillo Director of Environmental Health Anthony Spanel. "Mosquitoes thrive in warm conditions, which makes the mosquito season in Amarillo run from April through November. "We must remain aware of the ongoing threat that mosquitoes pose, particularly with illnesses they can transmit, such as the West Nile virus, which is currently the most prevalent concern in our area."
The city's Environmental Health Department treats over 100 sites across the city and operates a comprehensive surveillance program to monitor and test mosquito populations for diseases. Several sites, including the Sundown Lane area and the intersection of 58th Ave. and Georgia Street, have shown mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus.
Residents can help reduce the mosquito population and protect themselves from illness by following the "Four D's:" drain all standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding areas; dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors; defend using repellant containing with DEET; daily apply these preventative measures. To report potential mosquito breeding areas, residents can contact the COA Environmental Health Department at (806) 378-9472 or via email at prevention tips can be found at: bit.ly/44oUz23
