Potter County | featured news

The Charles E. Warford Activity Center, formerly the North Branch YMCA, is in the first of four planned redevelopment phases, and Amarillo Parks & Recreations Director Rod Tweet told the board this week the center’s renovations will be completed, one way or another, with funding either from the bond issue or grant money.
“Everybody wants to get hung up on funding, but it’s for quality of life,” Tweet said.

Two Amarillo groups have formed in opposition to $340 million worth of bond proposals slated for the November ballot.
Members from both groups — one largely comprised of Baby Boomers and the other of Millennials — said poorly researched projects, speculative cost estimates and loose ballot language will push the city into major debt on the backs of homeowners. And they believe the city cannot afford it today, or for the next 30 years.
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WHEELER — Only 12 people in history have walked where Capt. Alan Bean walked. Only a handful were selected for the third wave of NASA astronauts in 1963.
So Bean, 84, could have regaled the 450 Wheeler students, kindergarten through high school seniors, plus others in the community on Wednesday on space exploration or what it was like to be the fourth man to ever step foot on the moon.
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West Texas A&M University looks to have again set a new enrollment record with a preliminary 12th-day count of 9,966 students, the school announced Wednesday.
That’s up from last year’s certified fall head count of 9,482, which marked the 10th straight year of growth.
“The University’s continued enrollment growth points toward WTAMU’s increasing appeal among students,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Dan Garcia said in a statement. “We’re pleased that students and their families see the cost and education values here.”

Amarillo Police Department is searching for a suspect in an attempted home burglary that happened in southwest Amarillo.
At 5:27 p.m. Tuesday, officers went to the 7500 block of Topeka Drive to investigate a report of a burglary in progress.
The homeowner, a 34-year-old man, was inside the residence when he heard glass on the back door break, according to an APD news release.
The man armed himself with a gun and went to investigate. He reportedly saw a gloved hand holding a gun reach through the back door.

An Amarillo teen missing for more than four hours has been found safe Wednesday morning and returned to his parents, according to the Amarillo Police Department.
Jonpaul Baker, 14, who police said was diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and autism, was found by officers about 8:15 a.m., according to Ofc. Jeb Hilton.
He was found in the area of North Whitaker Road and Loop 335, authorities said.

Clarendon College’s enrollment reached the second highest level in the school’s history, according to preliminary 12th-day enrollment numbers.
The head count totaled 1,482, according to a college news release. That’s up from last year’s certified number of 1,343.
“Our growth is due to increased enrollment in the correctional units, dual credit programs and distance education,” Clarendon College President Robert Riza said in a statement.

Amarillo College’s Competitive Gymnastics Program will host its fifth annual District Qualifier on Saturday with about 200 all-around gymnasts competing. Along with Amarillo gymnasts, girls from El Paso, Lubbock, Midland, and San Angelo will compete on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor for a chance to earn a spot in the North-state Competition.
The meet will be on the west campus of Amarillo College at 6222 S.W. Ninth Ave.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for adults over 60 and children 12 and under.

West Texas A&M University was ranked the 35st best public regional university in the west, according the 2017 U.S. News & World Report college rankings released today.
U.S. News ranked 653 regional universities based on factors that include graduation and retention rates, alumni giving, academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity and financial resources.
WT received an overall score of 27 out of 100. The school’s rank was not published in last year’s rankings.
U.S. News is a popular resource for college and graduate school rankings.

The cooler temperatures and gray skies that Amarilloans woke to Tuesday are predicted to remain through the rest of the week, and most likely into the weekend, with a light breeze and at least a 40 to 60 percent chance of rain each day.
That weather forecast may not be the most desirable for many people in the city, but it’s just fine for the region’s corn farmers, who are facing the fall harvest.
The increased chance of rain, combined with the disappearance of summer’s heat, is just what many corn growers have been hoping for.