Discover Canyon May 2024

DISCOVER CANYON

Canyon Cultivates with Western Art and Local Artists PAGE 34

Canyon ... One of the Top Retirement Communities in Texas PAGE 60

History

Iconic Cowboy Statue Towers Over Canyon

Texas Outdoor Musical Gears Up for 58th Season

Canyon Cultivates with Western Art and Local Artists

Splish-Splashin’ Fun this Summer in Canyon

Panoramic Palo Duro Canyon State Park One of Canyon’s Main Attractions

Old Lumber Yard Making Canyon an Entertainment Mecca

39 All-Inclusive Park Honors Legacy of Canyon’s Kylie Hiner

40 CHS’s Boren Sets high Standards for Her Faculty, Students

General Manager Robert Granfeldt, Robert.Granfeldt@hearstnp.com

Managing Editor Tim Ritter, tritter@hearstnp.com

42 Bryan’s Hall of Fame Coaching Legacy Shaped Many Lives in Canyon

44 Raidership Program Builds Strong Comradery Around Randall HS Campus

46 West Plain’s Gomez Encourages Students to ‘Leave Your Mark’

48 State of West Texas A&M University

50 Wendler’s Vision for WT Centers on Serving Rural Communities

52 Kuhlman’s Gift Helps Construct New WT Research Feedlot

54 WT’s Hill Institute to Promote Regional Values

56 WT Basketball Fills the FUBC with Madness

59 Canyon’s 4th of July Draws Thousands to the Square

60 Canyon ... One of the Top Retirement Communities in Texas

62 Agriculture Outlook Centers on Cattle Production, Higher Beef Prices

66 Canyon 101

72 Business Honor Roll

Regional Advertising Director Carmen Ortega, cortega@hearstnp.com

Classified Sales Coordinator Shannon Cook, scook@hearstnp.com

Special Publications Editor Kevin Scannell, kevin.scannell@hearstnp.com

Publication Designer Kelsi Pohlman

Editorial/Advertising Office

The Canyon News 1500 5th Ave. Canyon, TX 79015 806-655-7121 www.canyonnews.com

To advertise in The Canyon News’ print and digital products, contact the office at 806-655-7121.

To submit a story idea or inquire about freelance writing and photography opportunities, contact The Canyon News Managing Editor Tim Ritter at 806-655-7121 or tritter@hearstnp.com.

Discover Canyon is a publication of Hearst Newspapers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent.

FROM THE CITY MANAGER: WELCOME TO CANYON

As City Manager, I am excited to personally welcome you to the City of Canyon. I hope you find your home here and come to love this city as much as I do. Since you’re new here, I thought I’d take a moment to share with you all the great things Canyon has to offer:

Canyon’s historic Downtown Square is the heart of the town, and home to a wide range of amazing shops, restaurants, and events. Our Chamber of Commerce hosts signature events throughout the year, including one of the largest 4th of July celebrations in the state. Thousands of visitors come to experience the concert, Fair on the Square, parade, and dazzling firework show. There’s something for everyone on the Square, from farmers’ markets to Canyon Main Street’s summer concerts and Halloween Spooktacular. Make sure not to miss the sparkling Christmas Light Parade and tree lighting during the holiday season.

The City offers many things to do for all ages. The Canyon Area Library is a community hub that hosts free, public events for residents. You can check out more than just books there, including seeds, art and baking supplies, and audiobooks and movies. Palo Duro Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation course, that puts on several tournaments throughout the year and is the most played golf course in the region. During the hot Texas summer, the Canyon Aqua Park is a great place to cool down with discounted annual memberships for Canyon residents. There are a number of beautiful parks throughout the city that are

perfect for walking, biking, picnicking and enjoying nature. One of our parks is Canyon Trails at Buffalo Hills, with over five miles of trails that serve a range of outdoor enthusiasts from casual hikers to experienced mountain bikers. Located in Conner Park, The Kylie Hiner Memorial Playground will be the first fully ADA accessible playground in Randall County.

Families often move to Canyon because of the toprated Canyon Independent School District (CISD), and for good reason given its impressive academics and extra-curricular program. Canyon ISD offers the opportunities of a large school district, while maintaining a small community connection.

We are so proud of our namesake, Palo Duro Canyon, which is the nation’s second-largest canyon. Just east of town, PDC is open all year and we are blessed to have it in our backyard. With unmatched beauty, iconic hiking trails, camping facilities, and the TEXAS Outdoor Musical in the summer, there’s always a reason to visit the canyon. When you’re not at Texas’ most visited state park, Canyon is also home to the state’s largest historical museum. I encourage you to visit the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum for events and exhibits, conveniently located on the campus of West Texas A&M University.

It’s hard to miss WT in the middle of Canyon, and you won’t want to.

The university’s stunning campus is open to the public, and there’s plenty to do throughout the year. In the fall, visitors can tailgate on campus and then walk to the stateof-the-art football stadium to cheer on the Buffaloes. A city-favorite is the WTAMU homecoming parade where student organizations and local businesses compete for the best float. Sporting events happen all year-round and the Fine Arts Center on campus features a range of shows. In case you can’t tell, we’re so excited to have you here! Canyon is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and we are so happy you chose our little piece of the Texas Panhandle to call home. Every day is a good day in Canyon!

128 YEARS THE CANYON NEWS CELEBRATES OF PUBLISHING

The Canyon News has a well-founded history of newspaper publication in Randall County. A phrase “The Voice of Randall County” can be applied beginning in 1889, when John Wesley Engell began The Canyon City Echo.

Between 1889 and 1896, The Canyon City Echo was renamed The Headlight, followed by the Battleship.

In 1896, Mrs. R.W. Morgan, started a publication of The Stayer. From that date, The Canyon News traces its name in one form or another. This year is a celebration of 128 years. One of the unique characteristics of The Canyon News is that in 128 years there have only been eight owners. The Hearst Corporation purchased The Canyon News in May, 2007 and remains the current owner.

Providing readers of Canyon and outlying communities with up-to-date news and sports is a primary goal of The Canyon News. The staff is committed to providing a quality publication. Tim Ritter is the managing editor. Bradley Gonzales is the multimedia sales representative, Shannon Cook is the classified sales coordinator, Carmen Ortega is the Regional Ad Director and Robert Granfeldt is the General Manager.

Under Ritter’s leadership, The Canyon News has received the General Excellence Award four out of the past seven years.

The Canyon News is published on Thursday and Sunday. Numerous awards have been

received from the Panhandle Press Association and Texas Press Association through the years.

In 2016, The Canyon News received 16 awards from the Panhandle Press Association.

The Canyon News also won numerous awards from the PPA during 2017 and 2018.

This past March, The Canyon News collected 13 awards from the PPA contest and managing editor Tim Ritter was appointed the incoming PPA President for 2023-2024. The PPA Convention will be held in Borger this summer.

In addition to the news, sports, lifestyles and obituaries, The Canyon News also publishes special sections throughout the year. Some of those are: January - Spring WTAMU Edition and Progress Edition; February - Spring Bridal; March - Spring Sports Madness; May - Discover Canyon, High School graduation section; June - Spring Sports Wrapup; July - Reader’s Choice; August - Fall Get Buff Edition and Fall Sports Preview; October - Car Care Edition; November - Hoop Madness and Christmas Gift Guide; December - Christmas Greetings Edition.

Along with the printed edition, The Canyon News has an informative website, www. canyonnews.com. Facebook and Twitter are also locations where readers can find news updates. The Canyon News can also be mailed to you. For subscription information, call 655-7121. The Canyon News is located at 1500 5th Ave. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

DOWNTOWN CANYON BLESSED WITH MANY DINING, SHOPPING VENUES

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Shopping and dining are alive and well in Canyon. While other small towns may be drying up, Canyon continues to grow. New businesses are a common sight.

One new Canyon business is West Texas Sports Grill in the Shops on Fifth Avenue inside the square.

“Canyon reminds me of home; it’s a good community with a small-town environment,” Grill owner Jeff Beyer said. He discovered Canyon when he travelled back and forth from Clovis, N.M. to Amarillo for work.

Eventually, Beyer decided Canyon would be the right place to open his business in November of 2023.

Beyer believed if he offered “good food and good service, word would get around.” Recently, he hosted a “Canyon Chamber After Hours” to introduce his establishment to other Canyon business owners.

According to Canyon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Roger Remlinger, the Chamber has more than 400 members.

“Canyon Chamber After Hours” is a way for people to check out new establishments in Canyon, Remlinger

said. “This event is about members getting together and networking.”

Other dining establishments on the square include Mickey’s (Italian food), the Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe (sandwiches and ice cream), Sayakomarn’s (Thai cuisine) and Joe Taco’s (Mexican food).

Restaurants are also scattered throughout town. In addition to chain fast food places, Buff’s, Bears Burgers & Dawgs and Hil’s Burgers serve hamburgers and more. Mexican food enthusiasts can try Pepito’s, Taqueria El Tapatio, Pony Express Burritos and Buenos Dias. Those who favor Tai food can try Best Thai, The King and I and Thai Kitchen. Texas Rose Steak House offers steaks and more. La Bella provides take-out pizza. Ranch House Café and Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner serve a wide choice of meals. Creek House Honey Farm, east of Canyon, specializes in sandwiches.

Coffee drinkers can relax at Palace Coffee on the square or Journey Coffee across from the First United Bank Center. Popcorn and candy lovers can treat themselves at the Canyon Popcorn Company on 4th Ave. Those with a sweet tooth will have a hard time selecting from all

the goodies at The Cake Company on the square.

Shopping in Canyon hits a wide range of interests. Those looking for second-hand treasures can browse Reuze It Again on the square and Restoration Chic near the university. Thompson’s and Weathered Elements have a wide variety of gift items as do Stevens Flowers and H.R.’s Flowers & Gifts.

Book lovers can browse through stacks of new and used books at Burrowing Owl Books in the historic 1909 First National Bank building on the square.

Outdoor enthusiasts can find hiking/ biking clothing and accessories at Palo Duro Canyon Outfitters & Bike Co. on the square. Sports fans can support their teams with clothing from Blessed Buffalo Boutique.

Luxe Lane, The Rack Boutique and Running Water Dry Goods also provide unique clothing choices. Future brides don’t need to drive to Dallas to find their perfect wedding gowns because Ruthette’s Bridal on the square offers designer gowns.

Dining and shopping in Canyon can fit the bill for anyone.

NEW BUSINESSES BRING GROWTH TO CANYON

With the combination of a small-town feel and city conveniences, Canyon invites you to become a part of the community.

As of the recent census, 13,303 people lived in Canyon, and Randall County’s population stands at 120,725. Canyon is officially located 14 miles south of Amarillo and 107 miles north of Lubbock, and Palo Duro Canyon, for which the city is named, is located about 12 miles from Canyon.

The first wave of settlers arrived to Canyon in 1887 with L.G. Connor. Known as Canyon City until 1911, the city was selected as the county seat for Randall County in 1889 and officially incorporated in 1906. After Connor donated land for the site, West Texas A&M University, then known as West Texas State Normal College and later as West Texas State University, opened in 1910.

The Panhandle-Plains Historical

Museum opened its doors in 1933 following fundraising efforts from Dr. Heidi Anderson, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society and the community. Through the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Palo Duro Canyon State Park then opened in 1934.

A newspaper has served Canyon since 1896, and it has been known as The Canyon News since 1920.

Residents of Canyon value and appreciate the friendly environment here, and West Texas A&M University plays an important role in the community. Canyon springs to life in the fall with the return of students and the arrival of new students coming to WTAMU for the first time.

We think you’ll enjoy Canyon’s unique lifestyle and soon come to think of the city as home. During your time at WTAMU, we look forward to getting to know you, and we hope GET BUFF helps you to feel more comfortable in Canyon and learn more about your new community.

Many businesses in Canyon hold customer service as their top priority, and these shops and stores can provide almost all the goods and services you need. For anything else you may want, Amarillo offers many more options just a few miles down the road.

As you learn and grow at WTAMU, we hope you create lasting memories both inside and outside the classroom. You will have the opportunity to gain new skills, become a leader in organizations on campus, involve yourself with the community, and mold yourself into the person you will be.

Recognized for its academic excellence and affordability, life at WTAMU will provide you with a quality education, friends and the stories that you may one day tell your grandchildren.

Your university and the Canyon community is here to support you — enjoy the start of the rest of your life.

CANYON’S GROWTH EXPANDS NORTH TO SPRING CANYON ADDITION

BY TIM RITTER TRITTER@HEARSTNP.COM

As Canyon continues to experience more growth, developers are looking to construct new homes and commercial properties north, east and west of the city limits.

Spring Canyon, located at the corner of Soncy Road (VFW) and West Country Club Road, is one of several upcoming developments on the horizon for the city. The development will extend from Soncy/VFW to I-27, and then from West Country Club Road to Spring Lake.

In December 2019, Canyon Capital Group, LLC submitted a plat for Spring Canyon Unit No. 1 and an application for a change in zoning to the City of Canyon Commission.

The first phase in this development will consist of 84 lots, according to Davy Hamilton of Canyon Capital Group, LLC. Phase 1 will consist of constructing half-acre minimum lots starting at 1,800 square feet in the western portion of the development at the corner of Soncy Road and Country Club Road.

This development, according to Davy Hamilton of Canyon Capital Group, LLC, will have homes constructed around the new Spring Canyon Elementary School that opened in August 2021.

“Eventually, there will be 515 residential lots,” Davy Hamilton said. “A small amount of commercial stuff along Soncy and a larger amount (of commercial lots) along I-27. Phase 1 has already started with the dirt work, and Scott Wampler has been doing all the utility work. The water lines and fire hydrants are in, and things are progressing pretty good for the middle of winter.”

Davy Hamilton added, “Water and trash will be City operated. The only

thing those lots will have will be septic systems. There’s no sewer out there.

“It’s a really unique thing (out there) because this is the first place of this direction north of Lubbock that has half-acre lots with City water. That’s not possible unless you have a public water supply system. The state requirement is one acre unless you have a public water supply system which allows you to go a smaller lot.

“For most people, they are tired of these five acre lots. It’s too much to handle. Kind of something right in between is kind of unique.”

According to Davy Hamilton, “No lots have been sold yet, and we’re in the final process of all the stuff we need to do as far as the development. Actually, the end of February and the first of March, lots are going to be open for sale.”

Spring Canyon will primarily be developed for Single Family Residential with limited Commercial/Retail.

“(With our minimum square footage starting at 1,800), the price range of these homes will start at $275,000.

“Hopefully, they are really affordable with these smaller lots. And, then we have some rim lots down on the edge of the canyon and in that canyon that will eventually be developed. Those will be just gorgeous and some of your bigger homes,” Davy Hamilton said.

“Most of (the homes) in Phase 1 will be in the range of $225,000 to $275,000.”

According to Jeff Hamilton, of Canyon Capital Group, LLC, “It’s hard to say what is drawing the growth and people to Canyon. Obviously, the school system (Canyon ISD). The part of Amarillo and Canyon, Potter and Randall Counties, people want to be in (these cities).

“Canyon and Amarillo have been slowly connecting for 40 years, and now, just kind of last little bits of it, haven’t ever been developed. These

people that have grown up in these small (Texas) Panhandle towns are moving into the Amarillo and Canyon area and then don’t ever move back to the small towns.

“That’s why there is always an influx of people moving in.”

Jeff Hamilton added that Canyon is finally ready to grow.

“Thanks to the city commissioners, thanks to the Mayor, the new city manager for coming in and seeing the possibilities and seeing where we need to expand because it’s going to keep growing,” Jeff Hamilton said.

“They’ve been really good to work with to get this thing going.”

The development will consist of over 40 streets, according to Jeff Hamilton.

“Some of them are small because you have cul-de-sacs. We tried to design this where you have cul-desacs and corners, and you don’t have long stretches of straight roads,” Jeff Hamilton said. “There will be no alleys (behind the homes).”

According to Davy Hamilton, Spring Canyon will be compared to a combination of Greenways and Smoky Hollow, as well as Greyhawk.

Jeff Hamilton added, “You’re going to have smaller lots than Smoky Hollow and Greyhawk, but you’re (also) going to have larger lots than Greenways.

“But, you’re going to have the rolling hills off the side, streets with curves and just nice neighborhoods.”

Davy Hamilton said, “One of the essential features that we are going to try to put in this thing (development) is down in the bottom of this canyon at Spring Canyon Boulevard … our goal is to put a trust bridge that will be a defining feature of the canyon that will allow people to walk up and down the bridge and give it a neat feature.”

All of the main roads, according to Jeff Hamilton, will have landscaping, a lot like the Greenways area.

Davy Hamilton said he doesn’t, at this

time, expect West Country Club Road to be widened.

“What we’ve done to accommodate (the traffic) is on the boulevards (in Spring Canyon) there will be a left and right turning lane in place for (residents) to get out onto Soncy or West Country Club Road,” Davy Hamilton said.

With the constructing of Spring Canyon Elementary School already in progress, Davy Hamilton said, “We hope to see some building (of homes) later this summer.”

Davy Hamilton noted that one reason the location for this development interested Canyon Capital Group, LLC, was “the fact that you could put a halfacre lot in there. That’s just different. It’s different than anything else that’s out there and it’s such a beautiful canyon.

“That canyon is hidden. You can’t see it from I-27 and you can’t see it from Soncy near like you can when you drive down in there. When you get over that edge, it just opens up.”

Facts about Canyon

• Canyon’s population is estimated to be about 15,000

• County seat of Randall County

• Canyon is named for nearby Palo Duro Canyon and was known as Canyon City until 1911

• The town was surveyed in 1887 by L.G. Conner and platted two years later

• Conner did not want the town named for him

• Canyon named one of The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Texas by The Culture Trip

• Canyon is home to West Texas A&M University ... a NCAA Division II University.

• Canyon is home to TEXAS Outdoor Musical Drama every summer in the Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Give Us A Break...

CEDC STAYS BUSY ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES TO CANYON

BY NELL WILLIAMS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

If you see smoke rising from the Canyon Economic Development office on 5th Avenue, it just might be from the explosion of new growth and activity going on in Canyon. New announcements, updates on current projects, growth and developments are an everyday thing for CEDC Director Stephanie Tucker and her department and keeping them all on they move.

Topping the list of new developments is the expansion of Creek House Honey Farms, east of the city. The popular small-town business, which has expanded into a restaurant, brewery for delicious Meade made from fermented honey and gift shop is expanding even more.

The expansion will include a tasting room, an education room and expanded space to develop their cosmetics wholesale line.

Another large business will be the corporate headquarters and a working location for TireWorks, which will be located across from the old El Patio area, close to Grizzle. TireWorks is owned by Glenn and Phillip Kahlich who have locations in Hereford and Pampa. The new location will cover 11,000 square feet and will employ 20 fulltime workers. It will have 12 bay facilities also.

“There are two new businesses on the square,” Tucker said.

The Ranch Store has moved into the square next to Paul Blake’s Roofing. It brings a new twist on a specialty grocery store which features fresh local produce and meats. They have an amazing stock of local vegetables, as well as fresh eggs, cheese and great

grain finished beef. There is also a good selection of seafood including crab, alligator, crawfish and more. Alaskan seafood is also featured.

A new photography/creative studio has opened on the square. Starluck Photography, owned by Kait Bellmon and Kim Howard, moved into the former Blush location. They had their Grand Opening in March of this year. The rental studio features a variety of sets for customers to choose from, for a headshot, video or photos taken by individuals or by them.

Bellman and Howard are both photographers and wanted to create a rental space for other photographers and creatives to work in. Bellmon said that they have booked a music video there and have done a lot of maternity photos in the shop that was once Blush.

The natural light is beautiful for photographers, along with a full mural on the wall, according to Bellmon.

The Rack, a popular Canyon boutique, is under the new ownership of Jackie Bain.

Whataburger will be opening soon, bringing their popular menu to Canyon while Wendy’s has been remodeled and revamped.

Works in progress include the

Lumber Yard which held their first event in May and should be fully open this summer. Pondaseta Brewing is still eight to twelve months delayed due to the owners doing a lot of the renovations themselves and handling their bustling business in Amarillo.

Kaleb West, one of the owners, said that the metal building will house the brewing and canning operation. Bars have been positioned inside and work is continuing but West is not sure of the opening date yet.

The Lumber Yard should be going full speed by summer. Their first main event was May 18 with Josh Abbott in the concert area that can hold 10,000 fans. It is located in the south end of the area.

The red barn will be for rentals and anyone can cater for it. The large Quonset hut with the Texas Star out front will function as the restaurant and will not have live music.

The north end of the property will house a pole bar with 3 sides open where locals can perform and enjoy their time there. A huge patio will exist between the pole bar, where a beer wall will be placed. The beer wall will allow customers to get their own drinks with their designated ounces when they have a wrist band purchased at the

location. They will be automatically charged for the purchase without having to wait.

Tucker noted that a Dollar Tree or Dollar General would be coming in soon at an undisclosed location.

Another newcomer to Canyon will be TeaNergy & Wing Stop, which will be going in at 23rd and 5th Street across from Wendy’s. It is owned by Amanda and David Garten and features a variety of energy teas and will also

house the Wing Stop which has chicken wing choices. Tea choices include Gamma Energy, Wonder Woman, Superman, Purple Rain and Pink Flamingo among others.

HTeaO opened at 504 23rd Street in Canyon featuring energy drinks and special tea choices. They have several locations in Amarillo with sample cups of Georgia Peach Tea, Mint, Horchata along with coffee choices, as well.

Justin Howe is the founder and CEO,

whose parents owned Buns Over Texas. He noticed the jump in sales when they began offering a lineup of flavored ice teas and decided to take it a step further. There are now four successful locations in Amarillo.

Tucker said that she is seeing a need for office space for many companies.

CEDC is also keeping Small Business training going along with monthly training for non-profits, quarterly workshops and a 90-day grown planning seminar. CEDC is funded through city sales tax and hotel-motel taxes as well as short term rentals.

The future looks bright for Canyon and the Main Street area as people discover the treasure of the City of Canyon.

FORMER WT FOOTBALL STANDOUT

RICKY

CASH NAMED CANYON’S MAN OF THE YEAR

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Canyon Police Sgt. Ricky Cash came from Houston to Canyon to play football at West Texas A&M University, but he stayed because he loved the people.

“I came out here, and everybody loved on me,” Cash said. “I fell in love with the community. I still miss Houston, but I love it in Canyon.”

Earlier this year, Cash was named the Canyon Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.

Cash always wanted to protect people. He took a Crime in America class with Dr. Harry Heuston “and that’s all she wrote. I fell in love with it (law enforcement).”

Cash worked in the Randall County Jail and then started at the Canyon Police Department 13 years ago.

His role as a Canyon police officer is to be an “overall friend, guardian and protector,” Cash said.

“I’m just here to hear what people have to say and be there whether it’s bad or good because everyone makes mistakes and not be judgmental.”

Cash’s responsibilities include investigating cases and presenting them to the district attorney’s office. He also talks to troubled youth and witnesses to them. He is part of the police department’s emergency response team.

Additionally, Cash teaches new officers and also teaches the entire department defensive tactics such as use of a Taser and ASP (armament systems and procedures) baton.

Cash’s philosophy of law enforcement is to be “community-

oriented, pro-active and just to be sincere and passionate about what’s going on in my community.”

“Meeting people and affecting lives is just hands down the best part of this job. Making those contacts,” Cash said.

Cash married his wife Carrie 16 years ago. Their children are Kaiyah Gomez, 22; Javin Cash, 19 and Darion Cash, 17. Like their father, both sons will play football at WT. Cash played defensive tackle from 1999 to 2004. He graduated from WT with a criminal justice degree.

Cash has coached Little League football and helped with WT’s FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

The Canyon Chamber of Commerce accepts nominations for the Man and Woman of the Year but is not involved in the actual selection, according to Chamber Executive Director Roger Remlinger.

Selection “is by the community,” Remlinger added. “Winners are announced at an awards reception in February.”

“I was taken aback,” Cash said about being named Man of the Year. “I thought it was so awesome. It’s very nice to be appreciated, but everything I do is not for the recognition. It’s just to save lives, help people and just love on everybody.”

CHAMBER WOMAN OF THE YEAR

LACIE WHITE SERVES CANYON WITH A HAPPY HEART

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

West Texas A&M University brought Lacie White to Canyon, but the people kept her here.

Earlier this year, White was named the Canyon Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.

“It’s very humbling; I am honored,” White said. “There are so many amazing women in our community. I was honored just to be nominated.”

White graduated from Liberal (Kansas) High School in 2002 and WTAMU in 2005 with a business management degree. She opened her business, Farmers Insurance - Lacie White Agency, in 2007.

When she and her father were standing in line at Walmart to buy supplies for her first year at WT, people talked to her. That surprised and left an impression on her.

“I could tell immediately what a nice community Canyon is,” White said.

Since her college days and remaining in Canyon, White has become part of the nice community, serving in numerous ways.

For example, White has been involved in raising money for the American Cancer Society, first in Relay for Life and then in the Cattle Barons’ Ball. She also helped with the March of Dimes until COVID hit.

White has followed her children through school as an active member of their schools’ PTA from Crestview Elementary to Canyon Intermediate to Canyon Junior High and now serves as treasurer for Canyon High School’s PTSA (Parent, Teacher, Student Association). She also has served on the Canyon Council of PTA’s.

White serves on the board of Coffee Memorial Blood Institute. Her insurance agency has hosted a blood drive quarterly since the fall of 2021.

White was a founding member of the Palo Duro chapter of Business Networking International in 2018. She is also on the Canyon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and has served on the Board of the Education Foundation of Canyon ISD for several years. Currently, White is a member of the Education Foundation of Canyon ISD Executive Board.

As a Canyon Lions Club member for more than 10 years, White has served the community in many ways such as helping with the Eveline Rivers Coat Project, driving golf carts and working in the concession stand at high school football games.

Despite her busy schedule, White has time for her husband, Kelley White, and two children, Christian McGuire (a Canyon High School senior) and Faith McGuire (a Canyon High School sophomore).

White and her husband spend many hours watching Christian play football and baseball and Faith perform in the Soaring Pride Marching Band and play softball.

The family also serves at Hillside Christian Church. She is a greeter, and her husband is on the safety team. Christian drives a golf cart through the parking lot, greeting people and giving them rides to the sanctuary; Faith works with 3-to-5 year-olds in the children’s ministry.

In her free time, if there is such

a thing, White enjoys playing her piano. She was a piano student from kindergarten through the 12th Grade and later taught lessons. She also enjoys “anything outside, even if it’s walking around the block.”

The Canyon Chamber of Commerce accepts nominations for the Man and Woman of the Year but is not involved in the actual selection, according to Chamber Executive Director Roger Remlinger.

Selection “is by the community,” according to Remlinger. Winners are announced at an awards reception in February.

“They are outstanding community members,” Remlinger said of White and Man of the Year Ricky Cash.

“We couldn’t ask for a better community,” White said. “Our community, as a whole, is so loving, kind and supportive.”

CAKE COMPANY OWNER MANDY WILLIAMS … CANYON’S CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

You might say being named the Canyon News Citizen of the Year was “a piece of cake” for Mandy Williams because the owner of The Cake Company of Canyon fits the newspaper’s criteria so well.

“We look for citizens that are active in the community; they are dedicated,”

Canyon News Managing Editor Tim Ritter said. “They represent what a citizen from Canyon is about as far as they are caring and hard working. They have a compassionate heart. They are community driven; they believe in making Canyon what it is day – a special community that cares for others.”

Her reaction to being named Canyon News Citizen of the Year?

“I am still shocked,” Williams said. “Very surprised. Very surprised.”

The Cake Company celebrates its 25th anniversary in November. That’s a milestone for any business, but even more so for the bakery because Williams had never taken a formal baking or decorating class before opening the store in 1999.

“Growing up I always had a fascination with birthday cakes and the decorating aspect of it,” Williams said.

“Fast forward to when I was a teenager in Plainview, and I worked in a grocery store bakery.” After hours she taught herself cake decorating by reading Wilton (cake decorating supplies company) magazines … the days before YouTube … I learn by sight and practice,” Williams said.

Williams married her husband Billy in 1990, and they moved to Amarillo in 1991. She worked for Cakes and More from 1991-1995. She said that the bakery’s owner, Trudy Kemp, is her mentor “still to this day.”

“It was really neat to work in a grocery store bakery and a mom-andpop shop and learn how both operated,”

Williams said. “It gave me an idea of things I did want to do and didn’t want to do.”

Williams’ life isn’t all flour and sugar, however. She is very involved in numerous Canyon activities.

Williams has been a Canyon Lions Club member for 24 years, and was named the Canyon Lions Club Member of the Year in 2011-2012.

Also, Williams served as Canyon Lions Club President for 2017-2018. She has been a Century member of Lions Club that supports Texas Lions Club camp for children in Kerrville for 18 years. She received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, one of the club’s highest international awards.

“Me being in that group (Melvin Jones) doesn’t make sense,” she said. “It’s a group of people that go above and beyond in service to their club and community.”

for 34 years and have a son, Hayden (30), daughter Hannah (27) and granddaughter, Blakely (4).

Williams is past president of the Canyon Chamber of Commerce, past City Planning and Zoning Committee member and past Canyon Main Street Advisory Board member. She was named the Canyon Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2017.

The Cake Company earned Business of the Year in 2013 and has received nine Readers’ Choice awards.

Williams credits her 13 employees as a big reason for her success and said she is “blessed beyond measure” to have them.

Aside from civic duties and The Cake Company, Williams enjoys camping, fishing and hiking with her family and friends in Colorado and New Mexico. She said she is a “weekend warrior camper” because her rule is to not go past a four-hour radius from home.

“It’s a relaxing time to sit and slow the pace of life down a little better,” Williams said.

Billy and Mandy have been married

Even though Williams has an entire bakery, she and Blakely bake cookies together at home.

“It looks nothing like it does here,” Williams said. “I don’t want her to feel like what she’s doing isn’t good enough. It’s about the time spent together and not perfection.”

Also, Williams has three dachshunds that she’s obsessed with.

“They’re my world,” Williams said.

The Williams attend church at The Loft in Amarillo. She serves in the Golden Spread Emmaus community. How does the Citizen of the Year feel about Canyon?

“Living in Canyon is an experience I have never felt before,” Williams said. “I grew up in Plainview, a small town, but the people here are so supportive and caring, it’s really indescribable. It’s very different. This is the place I eventually moved my family to and my kids graduated here. Canyon is like none other.”

RANDALL COUNTY GROWTH ON THE RISE WITH NEW BUSINESSES

BY NELL WILLIAMS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Randall County is managing the growth in the county with the same vision that helped it become such a desired area to live and to have a business.

It has long been the goal of Randall County to bring in more businesses to help defray the taxes paid by citizens. With careful planning and good incentives, the plan seems to be working.

The recent announcement of an expansion totaling $31,500,000 for Affiliated Foods, Inc. (AFI) was music to the county’s ears. According to Kevin Carter, Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, the expansion is expected to bring 50 jobs with an average wage of $50,000 each to the area.

“Affiliated Foods, Inc., has been in a staple in the grocery business since 1946,” according to Carter.

Currently, Affiliated Foods is the second largest employer in Randall County with 1,600 employees, second to Canyon Independent School District with 2,030 employees. The economic impact is estimated to be $137 million over 20 years.

AFI is a leading wholesale

distributor for 770 stores in eight states, including Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

The addition will be for an expansion of space for the Panhandle Veg-Pak facility on South Washington and Farmers Avenue which is outside Amarillo city limits. It will add a total of 200,000 square feet to the facility and should be completed in late 2024.

Of the 200,000 square feet, 120,000 square feet will be will be across the street from their current location and 9,700 will be at the main campus.

According to Carter, “Affiliated Foods is responding to the rising demand for more healthy eating, such as fruits and vegetables.

“We have some amazing figures that are off the wall for the number of peppers that are distributed daily.”

Construction is currently in progress north of the main facility and is being done by Wiley Hicks Construction.

“The last five years we’ve been able to redo bonds (by paying the debt off early and thus freeing

up money in the budget) and saving the taxpayers money,” said Randall County Commissioner Bob Robinson. “Even though we are $50 million in debt, much of our interest rates are less than three percent and some at one percent.”

Randall County, as part of the 13th District, is also known as the most conservative district in United States, according to Robinson.

“That has always been part of our culture,” Robinson said.

People are wanting to come to Randall County because of our low taxes, conservative values, strong school system and a top-notch University, all while maintaining a

small-town atmosphere.

Growth is good but it comes with its own set of challenges and issues.

“One of the largest challenges we face is the tremendous growth we’ve experiencing,” Robinson said.

There are two parts to that and the main one is water. For every subdivision, there has to be a septic system and well for every acre of land. That’s a lot of straws in the drink. There have been some instances in Randall County where areas have run out of water. That will continue to be a challenge in the future.

“The former legislature passed a ruling on subdivisions which has helped Randall County. Planners and developers must show estimate an estimate by an engineer or hydrologist showing the water availability in 10-30 years,” Robinson said.

“There will come a day that people will have to buy water from a commercial source.”

There are two main water sources for our area, the Ogallala and the Santa Rosa, which is deeper. As most of us

know, the Ogallala continues to be depleted. There is less irrigated land, but the population increases.

The Santa Rosa is at 500 feet deep in some areas, but deeper in others, according to Robinson, who also serves as a Professor of Agriculture at West Texas A&M University.

The second largest challenge is population increase. Randall County now has 147,000 individuals while Potter County has 115,000.

As the county continues to develop, there is pressure to keep the roads built and maintained. As a result, Randall County is holding subdivisions to their high standards for safety and longevity. There is also pressure to provide needed services to new residences such as increased fire department employees and Randall County officers, as well.

To meet this challenge, Randall County recently increased the Randall County Fire Department to 24 hours a day service.

“Our Fire Department also serves as First Responders to car wrecks and medical calls,” Robinson said.

“As far as Randall County roads, we have over 800 miles of roads which are almost equally divided into dirt, caliche and pavement. Pavement is the most expensive and Randall County will be seeing more paved roads with strengthened road subdivision rules.

“In addition to roads, Randall County has the task of repairing from 16-18 bridges in the county at the cost of around half a million dollars per bridge.”

Another problem facing the Randall County Road and Bridge Department is that anyone hired for the department must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Randall County send their new hires to Amarillo College for the license and the drivers made around $40k a year. But commercial companies can pay up to $80K so retaining good employees is a challenge.

The future is looking bright for Randall County and its residents and businesses.

Leadership has always been a blessing in the county and continues to be one of the main strengths of the community.

CANYON NATIVES MAKE PONDASETA BREWING DREAM COME TRUE

BY NELL WILLIAMS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

The dream is still alive at 1001 2nd Avenue in Canyon with the renovation of the old Santa Fe Depot.

The beautiful, 7,000 square foot structure – the future site of Pondaseta Brewing - sat in its current place, empty and deteriorating for many years before the right project came along to claim it.

Many of the important original decorations in the building disappeared, according to co-owner Kaleb West. Decorative signs, memorabilia were

taken along with beautiful windows being smashed by vandals.

One important artifact, however, has reappeared.

An old bank vault that another Canyon bank purchased has been returned to the new owners.

“The bank contacted us and said they had it and it was really just in the way,” said Daryl West, father of Kaleb. “They said that they would just donate it to us, if we wanted. The old Santa Fe emblem was missing outside of it but is still inside the safe and visible when the door is open.”

Kaleb West said that they plan to

have it displayed at the new venue in some fashion, possibly with a sign identifying it.

The opening has been delayed to a time later in the year due to the enormous amount of work that still needs to be done. Much of the work is being done by the two owners and their family and helpers so it is moving slower than planned but is still showing a lot of promise.

In the meantime, Kaleb West and Trevor Martin are still busy managing and running their successful brewery in Amarillo.

A new metal building has been installed west of the original depot in colors matching the old train station. It will serve as a brewery and canning facility for Pondaseta and will feature large glass windows and doors so that people can see the gleaming stainless tanks and stroll about to enjoy the brewing process as it takes place.

“The idea is to keep it as open as possible for people to experience the smells and sights,” said Kaleb West.

The large area in the front, now filled with dirt, will be landscaped with pathways and zero landscaping for patio customers to enjoy outdoors with their favorite brew, appetizers and meal.

Pathways will decorate the patio and be covered with colorful umbrellas making it an ideal area to relax and enjoy the experience with friends and pets.

Kaleb West and Martin hope to put in a play area for kids and also have

cornhole games for adults to enjoy. The brick street that leads up to the front door will be kept and serve as the fire lane for access. ADA Parking will surround that.

Inside the main area of the business will be the restaurant which will have a large hostess station and bar in the central area. The kitchen will be toward the back of the structure, near the train tracks with trains visible as they pass, almost every 15 minutes. At the east end of the dining area is a separate room that will serve as a meeting room or party area which can be rented for individual events.

The area up the stairs to the west will be a more informal area with higher

tables and chairs which will feature a Beer Wall with their enormous selection of hand-crafted beers available to fit any taste. The outside door will lead to the outdoor patio area. Everything possible will be salvaged as it is and remain rustic in its element.

The wooden floors will be coated and varnished but remain rugged and the freight doors will be highlighted. The bare brick walls with signatures dating back to the 1930s will be coated and kept as they are. The rustic beauty and structural integrity of the building will remain, including rafters in the ceiling which will be exposed. Old streetlamps will be in the dining areas.

A small room that juts out north from the dining area and by the stairway will be a merchandise area for Pondaseta gear and products, including creative tee shirts and their beer-to-go.

Pondaseta owners are looking for old photos of the Santa Fe Depot to display on their walls. The depot was a popular

place for graduation, wedding and other photos in the past and the guys would love people to share them, to keep the history and importance of the once bustling station alive.

Kaleb West and Martin, co-owners, received a grant from CEDC in 2023 to begin their venture and later were awarded another $50,000 grant so that the massive brewing equipment will actually be stored in the new metal building now on the property a being completed.

“We are truly excited about being able to put such an incredible building back into use and give the public access to an iconic landmark in Canyon,” said Kaleb West.

“It’s been a goal of Trever and I to open a brewery in our hometown for a long time. Opening our second location here in Canyon allows us to grow our connection to our community, make more beer, increase our local presence and expand our distribution footprint to more parts of Texas.”

THE PEOPLE OF CANYON ARE ‘UNIQUE’ AND DOWN-TO-EARTH

For many years, I’ve often been asked, ‘What makes living in Canyon special?’

Simply put, it’s the people.

Canyon people care about one another.

Canyon people take pride in this small-town jewel we like to call home. Canyon people are dedicated and determined.

Canyon people lead by example and go out of their way to help others in need.

Canyon people are trustworthy, honest and hard workers.

And, most of all, Canyon people are leaders.

It’s those strong relationships with your neighbors and friends that impact your life for years to come.

It’s going into the grocery store or any of the locally owned businesses and people knowing your name.

School District or at West Texas A&M University and making a difference on a daily basis.

It’s being involved in city government as a city commissioner, the Mayor, Randall County Commissioner or a Canyon ISD Board of Trustee.

And, the list goes on and on how the people of Canyon make this small town special.

Though, I didn’t grow up here, Canyon holds a special place in my heart.

It’s a place I like to call my hometown, even though I was born in Amarillo and raised in the East Texas town of Longview.

A lot of my favorite childhood memories have been spent in Canyon.

From playing Yahtzee with my late grandmother to riding in ‘Little Orange’ with my late grandfather while holding on to the door as we turned the corner at nearly 35 miles per hour doing his Kiwanis Club flag route, my memories of Canyon are priceless.

The opportunities to serve in Canyon are endless. Whether it’s getting involved with Canyon Cares, I Heart Canyon, Fill With Hope, the Canyon ISD Education Foundation, or any of the other civic organizations, working alongside the people of Canyon can help shape your life forever.

Let’s take on this motto ... “WE CARE IN CANYON!”

It’s going to church on Sunday, greeting people with a firm handshake and flashing that million-dollar smile.

It’s getting involved in the Lions Club, Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club or United Way and giving back to your community.

It’s being a community leader or an educator in the Canyon Independent

George Ritter, otherwise known as my Gramps, was one of the best in Canyon at getting things done.

If Gramps had a vision, and a lot of times he did, his impact on Canyon spoke volumes.

Gramps’ involvement with the Kiwanis Club paved the way for me wanting to give back to the community.

He showed me what hard work and dedication to Canyon meant through becoming a member of Kiwanis and now, as a member of the Canyon Lions Club.

It’s through serving in leadership roles as the past president of the Kiwanis Club and being the Kiwanian of the Year many years ago that I developed an even deeper appreciation for Canyon.

As I continue to work towards serving and giving back to my community, I hope to go at it with this simple motto … Together Everyone Achieves More.

I’ve definitely been successful in my career with the help of many others.

Though my personal successes have taught me a great deal of humility, it’s not about what I’ve done.

It’s more about what can I do to impact others and make a difference.

And, that’s the vision and mindset that people have right here in Canyon.

So, when you see or here of someone in need of help or just needing a friend, remember that your service could touch a life and leave a lasting impression.

Let’s take on this motto … “WE CARE IN CANYON!” … and that’s who we are and who we want to be.

BUFFALO WILDLIFE REFUGE BREATHES NATURE INSIDE CANYON

Buffalo Lake Wildlife Refuge holds a treasure trove of nature within its almost 8,000 acres, and is just about 15 miles from Canyon.

The preserve is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and is one of the major waterfowl refuges in the central flyway, which is one of the major migratory routes over the continental U.S. Nearly 300 species of birds have been observed in the area, with the thousands of ducks and geese that winter there as the main attraction.

The refuge also provides habitat for endangered species, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons and mountain plovers. Other species in the refuge include the mule and white-tailed deer, prairie dogs, bobcats, coyotes, wild turkey, pheasants, bobwhite quail and rabbits.

The open grasslands around the lakebed provide habitat for a variety of animal life. Trees and grasses adjacent to the lake bed are used for feeding by neotropical migratory birds, deer and other wildlife species.

Nature trails are part of the refuge – a prairie dog town walking trail that begins two miles south of the Highway 1714 intersection and the Cottonwood Canyon Birding trail.

The refuge is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., April 1 through Sept. 30 and 8 a.m.-6 p.m.,

Oct. 1 through March 31. The refuge office is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The auto tour road is the most convenient way to observe wildlife and habitats. By driving slowly and watching carefully, visitors may see neotropical migratory birds, deer, hunting hawks and bald eagles nearby.

The best times to see wildlife are in the morning and afternoon as animals search for food and cover. The best seasons are spring and fall when birds arrive. Deer are best seen during the winter while feeding in refuge habitats.

The open grasslands around the lakebed provide habitat for a variety of animal life.

Photography is permitted on the auto tour road, the scenic overlook and observation blind, and designated hiking trails.

All refuge areas, except the designated camping area, are closed to the public after the official closing time including the auto

tour route. The refuge entry gate is timer operated. Campers may leave at any time by driving across the one-way exit. After the official closing time there is no entry or reentry into the refuge.

Buffalo Lake was the original name for the water that pooled behind the Umbarger Dam, which was built during the New Deal. Water in a dry land instantly attracted waterfowl along the Central Flyway. The Soil Conservation Service first managed the lake for water conservation, recreation and as a wildlife sanctuary. As the lake began to attract more diverse wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took over management of the area in 1958.

Tierra Blanca Creek and natural springs fed Buffalo Lake until the 1970s, when irrigation and urban water pumping sapped the water table. A decrease in the amount of rain at the same time eventually dried up Tierra Blanca Creek and Buffalo Lake. A torrential rain filled the lake to capacity in 1978, after which the dam was condemned and the lake drained. In 1992, the dam was replaced with a modern flood control structure to help manage the wildlife habitat.

Buffalo Lake Wildlife Refuge is west of Canyon on FM 168, south of Umbarger. For more information, contact the refuge at (806) 449-3382.

CANYON’S OLYMPIC THEATER BROUGHT LIFE TO SQUARE IN 1918

Y NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Back in the day, before television, going to the movies was a big deal in Canyon.

Just like in the movies (ironically), Canyon’s first movie house, the Olympic Theater, was a silent film theater with music provided by a player piano. Film companies provided sheet music for the pianist or rolls to be inserted into the piano, in which case the pianist pumped the foot pedals throughout the entire movie.

The Olympic Theater opened in 1918 and was located just east of where the Randall County Finance Building is now. Fifth Avenue was unpaved at the time.

The theater was moved to its new location Sept. 29, 1926, at 1511 Fourth Ave. The building still stands but is vacant. The marquee has been removed, but its original façade is the same as that of early photos.

“The building is one of the most modern and complete in Canyon and is a great credit to the business section,” a Canyon News caption said under an opening-day picture. In the news story, the paper wrote, “The theater takes its place among the most beautiful structures of the town and is also one of the most modern. The spirit behind its construction is in keeping with the progress being shown in Canyon.”

After the new Olympic Theater opened, the original one was renamed the Strand Theater but later accidentally burned.

The new theater had the latest machines but “talkies” didn’t come to the screen until 1929. It had a piano-organ that could be used for the movies or for vaudeville shows that were often presented on the 20’ x 40’ stage. It had 571 seats.

Leroy Wooten, son of owner W. J. Wooten, Sr., once said, “I always figured I could build a life-size statue from the chewing gum on the bottoms

of these seats.”

Wooten and his four brothers worked in the theater as they were growing up. Lifelong Canyon resident Harold Root remembers the Olympic Theater well. The manager “gathered some of the local kids and gave us a bundle (monthly calendars of upcoming movies). We delivered them door-to-door.”

They were rewarded with free movie tickets. The calendars also contained one free ticket per family.

“We lived and breathed by the monthly calendar,” Root said.

Tickets were 10 cents for children under 12 and 25 cents for adults into the 1940s.

“Kids didn’t have all the free time like they do now,” Root said. “Most kids had to work, so when we did get to go to the movies, it was a big deal.”

Root remembers Saturday night as the big night for the whole county. Predominantly farm families would parallel park their cars around the square. Children went to the movies while adults sat in their cars and visited.

“The ladies ‘car-hopped’ and caught up on gossip,” Root said.

Because there was only one restroom in the theater, patrons would leave

between double features and go to the restrooms across the street at the courthouse which was kept open.

After the movies, families went down the street to the Canyon Drugstore that had a full soda fountain that served milkshakes and Coke floats.

“In that era we did survive without TV,” Root said. “I guess maybe in some ways we were a lot better off.”

Later, W.J. Wooten, Sr. opened the Canyon Drive-in Theater where the county maintenance facility is now.

He also opened the Varsity Theater on Fourth Avenue nearer the university. Both have closed.

The Randall County Historical Commission has the Olympic’s popcorn popper in its meeting room in the Randall County Finance Building. The Commission also has movie posters from the Olympic. Members hope to frame them behind plexiglass so the fragile posters can be displayed.

The Commission is also researching W. J. Wooten, Sr.’s life to submit an application for a state historical subject marker to show his contribution to Canyon.

“A window into the way of life is what we are really looking at,” Root said.

PPHM OFFERS A WEALTH OF TEXAS PANHANDLE HISTORY

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Atrip through the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is a trip through time in the Texas Panhandle.

From dinosaur bones that were found in local counties, to the Pioneer Town that gives a glimpse into the lives of the area’s early settlers, to the Panhandle Petroleum Story that includes a real oil derrick, visitors will come away with a better view of life in the Texas Panhandle and beyond.

“The catalogue of life in this part of the world and how this story connects globally” is the best part of PPHM Executive Director Andrew Hay’s job. “The sheer magnitude of the collection, the uniqueness of the stories found in the collections, not only about life on the High Plains but also the one-of-a-kind items that are found nowhere else in the world …. I enjoy helping steward the stories of this region and communicating this unique history to future history makers.”

PPHM serves a 25,000 sq. mile radius – perhaps the largest square mileage that a museum serves in the nation, according to Hay. That doesn’t include visitors from across the nation and international visitors nor does it include the fact that PPHM loans artifacts to institutions across the state, nation and world.

The museum serves 75 independent school districts, grades K-12, across the Tri-state area. Some schools get one field trip a year and choose to come to PPHM.

“We want to make it matter for them,” Hay said.

The museum has 2.4 million artifacts, according to Hay. Perhaps

only five percent of those artifacts are on display at a time. To share those artifacts, the museum changes exhibit’s yearly, coming up with different themes to connect with public interest. “The Fall and Rise of an American Icon” is a current exhibit about the American bison.

The museum will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Second Battle of Adobe Walls with an exhibit that will open June 28 and run for a year. The museum owns and manages the historic site which is northeast of Stinnett.

Although some people may not realize it, the museum also has an unparalleled archives and research center, according to Hay. Ken Burns, famous for his historical documentaries, used the center to research bison for his documentary “The American Buffalo.”

In addition to its numerous exhibits, the museum also offers activities throughout the year to attract visitors.

In March the museum hosted PI (3.14) Day with science-themed activities including a pie-throwing fest. It hosted the Week of the Young Child in April to promote early learning.

Summer Fun Gallery Programs will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May 30-Aug. 10.

Museum employees will cancel the lights for “Night at PPHM” June 14. Families are encouraged to bring their flashlights and join the fun.

Another family event will be “Movie on the Lawn” June 21. “Sandlot” will be shown on the east side of the museum.

PPHM Summer Camp, “Boulders, Brands and Bones,” will run June 2528 for second to fifth graders.

“Campers will use their hands as much as their brains as they dive

into history, art, geology, the Old West and so much more,” according to promotional material.

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Camp is for third – sixth graders. It runs July 16 -19. Students “will be immersed in stimulating, hands-on projects” and have the opportunity “to explore their sense of wonder, enhance critical thinking skills, and collaborate with peers …. Campers will be exposed to the world of STEAM as it relates to daily lives and various careers as well,” also according to promotional literature.

Dino Days is a favorite museum archeology event in October with various dinosaur-related activities.

A tradition for decades has been “Christmas Open House.” Volunteers dress for their roles in Pioneer Town. Elementary school choirs perform throughout the event. Children decorate cookies, make Christmas crafts and take pictures with Santa.

All museum entrances are wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking is provided at the north entrance.

Wheelchairs and strollers are provided free of charge. Accessible restrooms are located at the People of the Plains entrance, in the Harrington Gallery on the first floor, and in the Petroleum Gallery on the second floor.

The Panhandle Plains Historical Museum is located at 2503 Fourth Avenue.

Its summer hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Winter hours are after Labor Day until Memorial Day and are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

ICONIC COWBOY STATUE TOWERS OVER CANYON

When travelers make their way into Canyon, one man stands tall and proud with a wellworn smile, ready to greet in the place he has resided since 1959.

Tex Randall, the 47-foot, 7-ton cowboy statue on U.S. Highway 60 next to El Patio Mexican Restaurant, has been totally restored. Canyon Main Street, along with numerous other donors from Canyon and the Texas Panhandle, has raised funds to help preserve Tex Randall. The

statue resides inside a park where donor bricks decorate the area, as well as colorful landscape and a voice activated machine tells the history of Tex Randall.

The statue, built by William “Harry” Wheeler, a Canyon High School shop teacher in the 1950s, is made of cement and steel and originally resided at Wheeler’s Western Store on U.S. Hwy 60. The store, which was not owned by William “Harry” Wheeler, sold Western clothing, so the 7-ton statue was outfitted with a bandana, a real Western-style shirt and a lengthy pair

of Levi jeans.

Decades passed and the Texas Department of Transportation re-routed U.S. Hwy 60 through an underpass, thus cutting off Wheeler’s drive-by traffic and driving the Western store out of business, according to www. RoadsideAmerica.com.

Panhandle winds shredded the cowboys’ canvas duds. A semi-truck crashed into his left boot, and the cigarette was shot out of his right hand, the web site stated.

In 1987, many local entities rallied for a “Save the Cowboy” campaign. The no-longer-fashionable cigarette was replaced with a spur. The cowboy was given a new face with a mustache, a new set of painted-on clothes and a new name – Tex Randall – in honor of his home in Randall County.

Later on, Canyon Main Street Director Evelyn Ecker began the ‘Tex Randall Project’ after Texas Panhandle winds ravaged Tex Randall once again.

Ecker said a special steering committee was formed in 2010 for Tex Randall’s renovation. The committee raised funds for the project, as well as helped to make the decisions involved with the work.

The renovation project was completed in late 2016, and the new statue was brought back to life.

The Canyon Main Street Program also hopes to revive Tex Randall so that he may be enjoyed by generations to come.

“The project has a positive impact on Canyon,” former CEDC Director Evelyn Ecker said. “The statue is restored, the site is being developed and the area serves as a welcoming point to visitors coming from the west.”

Now that the restoration of the statue and the landscaping of Tex Randall’s surrounding area has been completed, it is Canyon Main Street’s goal to maintain the area and preserve Tex Randall.

The need for community support and donations will always exist, in order to keep Tex Randall in good condition. If you have any interest in making a donation to Help Preserve Tex Randall, please contact the Canyon Main Street office at (806) 656-6833.

MODERN CLEANERS

TEXAS OUTDOOR MUSICAL GEARS UP FOR 58TH SEASON

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Margaret Harper’s dream of a musical in the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon will see the 58th season of TEXAS this summer.

Harper had seen a Reader’s Digest article about playwright Paul Green who wrote historical musicals about regions across the nation. She and supporters brought him to the Panhandle. After researching the area and seeing Palo Duro Canyon, he wrote TEXAS.

This will be the first season for “Shakespeare in the Canyon.”

The 2023 season had new music, choreography, costumes and “continued effort to tell the best story possible of our panhandle history,” artistic director Stephen Crandall said in the musical’s annual report.

“As always, producing TEXAS in the canyon is very challenging, but this season proved rewarding and inspiring,” Crandall added.

More than 31,000 tickets were sold last season. Although, 22,408 were to Texans, visitors came from across the country as well as 574 who were international guests. More than 100 groups of 20 or more attended.

Executive director Andrew Hay seeks audience members who are attending the musical for the first time.

He said they say, “I had no idea there was a canyon here, and I had no idea there was such a special experience like TEXAS in this area.”

According to Hay, “It’s a pleasure to offer people such experiences, both locally and abroad.”

Auditions start in January to find talent across the nation. The cast and crew rehearse three weeks prior to opening night in June. The musical will run each night from June 6 –Aug. 3, Tuesday - Sunday except for Shakespeare Tuesdays in July (9, 16, 23, 30).

The musical is performed in the Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon, just 25 miles from downtown Amarillo and 14 miles from Canyon, a Mainstreet town. Play attendees can enter the state park for free after 4 p.m. and explore the 16 miles of paved road through the canyon. Although the canyon descends 800 ft., it is accessible for motor homes, fifth wheels and campers.

A chuck wagon brisket/sausage dinner from Fat Boys is served from 6:30-8 p.m. Dinner will not be served on Shakespeare nights; however, special items will be for sale in the concession stand. One of those will be turkey legs.

Pre-show entertainment is on the Prairie Dog Stage from 7 – 7:45 when the Amphitheatre opens.

The musical begins at 8:30 p.m. with a lone horseback rider carrying a

Texas flag across the canyon rim.

After it ends at 10:30, cast members greet guests in the patio area.

An on-going campaign raised funds to replace seats with ADAcompliant chairs last season. A donor ceremony was held opening night with 466 new chairs.

Crandall summarized the upcoming season.

“The Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation’s 58th season of live performance in Palo Duro Canyon promises to be a great one,” Crandall said. “We’re gearing up for a new, spectacular season of TEXAS Outdoor Musical, as well as introducing of our new “Shakespeare in the Canyon” series featuring the bard’s most famous and magical comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, taking over the Amphitheater stage on Tuesdays in July.

“We’re hard at work preparing for an exciting audition season where we expect to see as many as 1,000 auditions over the course of two months. With new artistic staff added and a new company of multi-talented artists this summer, it promises to be one of the most exciting times in TPHF’s history down at the Pioneer Amphitheater. I encourage families from all over to come and experience the spirit and magic of our productions in one of the most beautiful and scenic state parks in Texas.”

CANYON CULTIVATES WITH WESTERN

ART AND LOCAL ARTISTS

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

It’s not necessary to go to New York City or Paris to see fine art. Canyon has an amazing amount of art and art history.

Georgia O’Keeffe the “Mother of American Modernism,” taught art classes from 1916-1918 at what was then the new West Texas State Normal College. She spent hours at Palo Duro Canyon, inspired by its beauty.

During her time in Canyon, she produced 51 watercolors; most were of the canyon but two, “House with Red Sky” and “Roof with Snow” were of a house across the street from where she rented a room. Both houses now have historical markers. The Panhandle Plains Historical Museum Art Gallery has a display of O’Keeffe’s artifacts as well as her painting “Red Landscape.”

Since it acquired its first piece of art in 1933, the museum’s Art Gallery has grown to 8,000 art objects:

“Every scrap of paper, drawings, paintings, statues, sculptures, decorative collections (vases, silver) …” according to Deana Craighead, Curator of Art.

The museum’s five permanent galleries are dedicated as follows: European and Eastern American art, Frank Reaugh, Southwestern Art, Early Texas Art and Western Illustrators. Its historic Texas collection is the state’s most comprehensive. The museum boasts that it has the “finest Southwestern American art collection between Fort Worth and Santa Fe, N.M.”

What was the “Bugbee Gallery” is now a rotating space. “On the Edge of the Canyon” opened Feb. 4 as the first exhibition in that gallery. It includes

20-25 works that center around O’Keeffe’s “Red Landscape.”

Local artist Marsha Clements opened her studio, Marsha Clements Art, at 1608 Fourth Ave. in 2017. She uses bright colors – reds and yellows – in her favorite subjects – poppies and sunsets. Buffaloes (for her alma mater) and Palo Duro Canyon landscapes also are featured subjects.

Passersby can’t help but notice her

“I’ve known all my life that I was going to be an artist,” he said on his website. “It’s like a preacher being called – it’s what I’m supposed to do.”

-Jack Sorenson

paintings displayed in the windows of her studio near downtown.

“You should paint what you know,” Clements said. “So you will see I paint the Texas skies, the landscapes around me and the plants and animals that live around me.”

Clements does commissioned work, especially of children and pets. She also sells prints of her work on metal, canvas, acrylic and wood. She was the featured artist for the souvenir program for “Texas

Outdoor Musical” in 2013 and 2021.

The former elementary educator teaches art classes in her studio Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 6 - 9 p.m. She welcomes guests to stop by the studio to view paintings and to watch her paint. She suggests people may want to call 806-6761733 for an appointment because her hours in the studio vary. Her artwork can also be seen on her website MarshaClementsArt.com.

Another Canyon artist is worldfamous Jack Sorenson. His Western paintings are a reflection of his life spent on and around horses. As a teenager, he drove a stagecoach and was a gunfighter on his father’s dude ranch and frontier town, Six Gun City, on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon. He worked breaking horses for years. Sorenson began painting full-time in 1974. Today he lives on the canyon’s rim and paints from his studio there.

“I’ve known all my life that I was going to be an artist,” he said on his website. “It’s like a preacher being called – it’s what I’m supposed to do.”

In his early career as an artist he had two goals: to have his paintings on the cover of a Western magazine and to have his work featured on Leanin’ Tree Christmas & Greeting Cards. In his 40-year career as an artist, he has had more than a dozen of his paintings featured on magazine covers, and he is one of the best-selling artists for Leanin’ Tree cards. He reached another goal when he was voted into the Cowboy Artists of America Group in 2021.

“I believe great paintings should tell a story – they should involve the viewer,” he said on his website. “So much of Western art today is basically a cowboy or Indian riding through a Western landscape. We have the opportunity as artists to

do so much more. I think that even a painting’s title should help tell the story.”

Joe Wade Fine Art of Santa Fe, NM, is the exclusive representative of Jack Sorenson’s original oil paintings. Prints can be purchased at prints. jacksorensonfineart.com

Other Canyon artists include Gary Ward, Kem Pirtle, Carl Smith and Paige Nester.

Not all art is framed.

Tex Randall, the 47 ft., 7-ton cowboy that overlooks Highway 60 is a Texas icon with his own Texas Historical Commission marker. Harry Wheeler, a local industrial arts teacher, built the statue in 1959 to attract tourists to his motel and curio shop. He covered his concrete cowboy with burlap to protect it from the weather.

Levi- Strauss provided pants and Amarillo Awning constructed the cloth shirt. The clothes were handstitched in the back with sailboat

thread. Unfortunately, over the years the West Texas wind, snow, heat, etc. destroyed the clothing, and the body deteriorated. In 1989, Tex received some TLC and a coat of paint. However, by 2015, Tex was crumbling badly.

Canyon Main Street, a non-profit organization, has owned Tex since 2010 and raised nearly $300,000 to restore the cowboy and surrounding land. Restoration started in 2015. After the repairs were made and large areas painted, Rhonda Timmons from near Lubbock painted details, working with a driver on a platform. The hardest and most time-consuming part of the job was painting stripes on Tex’s shirt. She had to get stripes in the right direction to shape his stomach and make the shirt look as if it’s tucked in straight. Her work took only two gallons per color of a special heavy-bodied paint. A clear coat was

applied afterwards to preserve the cowboy. Since he has been spiffed up, Sports Illustrated has photographed one of its models with him.

Another display of local art is the mural painted on the side of the Buff’s building on the corner of Fourth Ave. and 23rd Street. The mural depicts an oxen-drawn covered wagon with a young couple and their dog, a sheep herder, the Light House and Mount Rushmore with the heads of local notables Georgia O’Keeffe, Col. Charles Goodnight, Matthew “Bones” Hooks and Quanah Parker.

The legend at the left end of the mural says “A New Day” in large cursive letters and in print below “This mural is dedicated to our diverse culture.”

The “WT Mural Squad” (12 student artists) painted the mural in 2019. The squad has painted nearly a dozen murals since then, on campus and in other panhandle Texas towns.

SPLISH-SPLASHIN’ FUN THIS SUMMER IN CANYON

he Canyon Aqua Park, located in Conner Park next to Lois Rice Pavilion, will open its sixth summer season in late May.

The CAP offers a lazy river, two speed slides, a splash pad, a children’s play area with a spill bucket and playground, and a multi-purpose pool with diving boards and a basketball goal. The six-lane lap pool ranges from 4 ½ feet 12-feet deep with the water lapping over the top of the pool’s edge.

The facility also features an expanded concession stand menu and a CAP radio station for entertainment and summer enjoyment.

The CAP also works with the Canyon

Swim Team for its stroke clinic that is offered each summer. Behrens said that the city appreciated the swim team’s help during the bond election that provided the funds to build the CAP.

“They (the Canyon Swim Team) were supporters, that group was, and we use them as a sounding board and even grew that lap pool because they said they needed six lanes instead of four, so we listened to them and listened to that and started watching there specifically for them,” City of Canyon Assistant City Manager Jon Behrens said.

“Now that we’ve done those things, we want to make sure that we find opportunities for them to take advantage and grow their program.”

In 2017, the CAP welcomed United States Olympian Josh Davis for a oneday swim clinic at the CAP. The clinic had approximately 100 swimmers participate and meet Davis.

Admission to the CAP is $8 with free admission for children ages three and under, and the community can purchase season passes on the CAP website under the City of Canyon page. Swim lesson registration is also available on the CAP website with lessons beginning in June.

Check the CAP Facebook Page and the City of Canyon Website for CAP business hours and ticket information.

PANORAMIC PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK ONE OF CANYON’S MAIN ATTRACTIONS

BY NELL WILLIAMS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Our area’s main attraction and city of Canyon’s namesake, Palo Duro Canyon, celebrated 100 years in 2023.

A special event, Prairie Palooza – Back to the Future, kicked off the celebration on the weekend of September 16, 2023. The event focused on the past and the future.

The park staff has been busy designing a new headquarters to help streamline entrance into the park and provide some great updates, according to Thomas Milone, Palo Duro Canyon State Park Superintendent.

Last year, a major paving project was completed, repairing much needed areas of the park.

According to Milone, the new Lighthouse parking is not even recognizable.

Workers are in the process of constructing new trail gates at the entrance of main trail systems which allows better communication with guests and to help protect the wonderful resources enjoyed by thousands of visitors.

Brief History of the Park

Various people have inhabited Palo Duro Canyon for about 12,000 years. The Clovis and Folsom people first lived in the canyon, where they hunted large herds of mammoth and giant bison.

Other cultures, such as the Apache, Comanche and Kiowa, used the canyon’s plentiful resources more recently.

These early cultures left behind rock art and bedrock mortars, where they ground mesquite beans and roots for food. Park staff asks that visitors help to preserve the past by looking at but not touching any artifacts that they see.

It is believed that Early Spanish explorers probably discovered the canyon, naming it Palo Duro, Spanish word for hard wood. The state of Texas bought the land for the park from Fred S. Emory in 1933.

Soon after, Civilian Conservation Corps workers arrived, and spent the next five years creating a park, building roads and making camping sites still visible today.

First, they built a camp for their home base, and then they set to work in the immense canyon. The men built the winding road to the canyon floor. Until it was finished, they hiked in and out of the canyon on what is now the CCC Trail.

CCC workers made all of the park’s original improvements, including El Coronado Lodge (now the Visitor Center), the cabins on the rim and canyon floor, and trails. Designers planned the park to maximize views and complement the surroundings. The CCC used local stone and wood for building materials. In addition, workers forged decorative

metal and crafted furniture.

The park opened in 1934 before it was complete. It is the second largest park in the state parks system today, with about 28,000 acres.

ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY WHILE STAYING OR VISITING IN THE CANYON.

Adventure seekers can explore the canyon by foot, mountain bike, horse or car. There are more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Visitors can camp, geocache, study nature or bird watch.

During the summer, visitors can enjoy a performance of TEXAS Outdoor Musical.

CAMPSITES & CABINS

Those wishing to stay a while can choose from campsites with water and electricity, tent sites, equestrian sites, or backpack camping areas. Visitors can stay in one of three cabins on the canyon’s rim or four Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. One of the pavilions can be rented for a wedding, reunion or meeting.

TRY ‘GLAMOUR CAMPING’ IF ROUGHING IT ISN’T YOUR STYLE

New to Palo Duro Canyon is “Glamping’” (luxury camping)! Each glamping site is fully furnished with air conditioning, luxury rustic furnishings,

story continued on page 38

refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, games, bicycles, gas grills and gas fire pits, covered porches with rockers, porch swings, and much more. There is more information on glamping at Palo Duro Canyon visitors center or website.

VISITOR CENTER FOR INFORMATION, BOOKS

The Visitor Center on the canyon rim is a fun way to learn more about the park. The park store at the Visitor Center has books, pottery, jewelry and more. There are more souvenirs, snacks and meals at The Trading Post on the canyon floor.

RANGER PROGRAMS

We offer programs on the park’s history and natural features. Learn about birds or Longhorn cattle, or take a driving tour with a park ranger. Visit our Events page for upcoming programs. Call the park to schedule a group program.

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE CANYON

Those who like can take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map. Trails and backpack campsites may close due to wet weather or poor conditions. Contact the park, or check our Facebook page, for trail status.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Many people who enjoy horses enjoy Ride on trails through 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. You can also share two other trails with hikers and mountain bikers. Bring your own horses (original Coggins papers required). Park your trailer at the equestrian campground. Bring a water bucket for your horse.

Take a guided tour. Old West Stables on the canyon floor leads tours for the whole family to Timber Creek Canyon. They also offer souvenirs and a snack bar. Reservations required; call (806) 488-2180.

OLD LUMBER YARD MAKING CANYON AN ENTERTAINMENT MECCA

BY NELL WILLIAMS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Another Canyon landmark and historic treasure is getting new life due to the vision of a local entrepreneur.

The Old Lumber Yard, as it’s referred to, is actually Taylor & Sons Lumber Yard, just northeast of US Hwy 87 leaving Canyon. Plans are moving ahead to repurpose the area into an exciting, new multi-purpose venue.

Danny Byrd, Canyon entrepreneur who formerly owned Bourbon Street Café in Amarillo and also has Feldman’s One-Way Diner in Canyon, recently purchased the land from Wilford Taylor.

According to Byrd, “It was really just a lucky accident that I got it.”

Byrd was talking to the owner, who mentioned he might like to sell the 45-acre area, and he took him up on it. Then, Byrd said, “Now what do I do with it?”

But he had been toying with the idea of having an outdoor/indoor event center for a while, Byrd said.

“I used to have live music at Bourbon Street and wanted that to come back,” Byrd added.

Work is continuing at the Old Lumber Yard, northeast of Canyon. It has gone through the annexing process by the City of Canyon and getting more work done on the interior as well as finishing the exterior.

Driving down U.S. Hwy 87, the Red Barn and White Quonset Hut with a Texas star showcase the work already done.

To the south of the Red Barn is a large entertainment area with a stage in the process of being worked on. When completed, the area will hold 10,000 customers. The outside venue is sure to attract a bevy of entertainers and happy customers, too.

According to Byrd, the Red Barn will be the area people can lease for parties, events, banquets or whatever the public

wants. Next to it, the Quonset Hut is planned to be a large restaurant and bar with no live entertainment. There will be a Beer Wall with taps available to those wanting an adult beverage.

Customers need only to purchase a wrist band which will open a tab and automatically charge the customer by the ounce of wine or beer they choose.

There will be additional outdoor patio space to the north of the Quonset Hut where people can enjoy eating or drinking outside with easy access inside. Also, there will be a Pole Barn in the area.

The first concert took place May 18 with the Josh Abbott Band. The different areas may open at different times, depending on the completion date.

Byrd said he could envision car shows, conventions and all kinds of activities being held there without stealing any of the activities in downtown Canyon.

“I think it will be a draw to the city along with the museum and university and Palo Duro Canyon,” Byrd said. “It will all tie together.”

There will be some landscaped area for the patio which will be dog friendly, maybe even a dog park.

There is also a possibility of a driving range, “where you can come eat, have a beer and hit some golf balls,” Byrd said.

A grassy area will have VIP access and room to roam around.

Byrd said there are some old railroad cars out there we want to utilize.

“One was protected from the sun and says Super Chief on it,” Byrd added.

“I’ve had many meetings with the City and weren’t not going to charge the City to have an event, or people, just want people to come out and have a good time,” Byrd said.

Canyon is becoming a mecca for entertainment and arts and the Old Lumber Yard is positioned to be another widely popular, successful place for people far and wide to attend.

ALL-INCLUSIVE PARK HONORS LEGACY OF CANYON’S KYLIE HINER

BY NELL WILLIAMS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

The dream of an all-inclusive park for Canyon to honor one of the city’s most loved members has finally become a reality. It took around four years of planning, fundraising and hard work to make the dream happen, but now the colorful park is full of kids and family enjoying the special equipment made for all kids.

The formal Grand Opening took place in November, however the Southwest AMBUCS group was anxious to get the ball rolling earlier while the public could enjoy the fun before winter sets in. They held a ceremony Sept. 28 at the park. There were speakers, including Kylie Hiner’s mother who expressed her appreciation for the honor.

AMBUCS also gave away several AMTRYKES to individuals to improve their quality of life and ability to get around. The street leading to the park is still in progress and the official sign needs to be installed, but the equipment is ready to be used and is already becoming a fun spot in Canyon.

The idea for the playground for Canyon started with a conversation with the Southwest AMBUCS group to build the unique facility that will serve autistic and special needs children as well as their brothers, sisters and parents.

The new 9,000 square-foot playground is located at Conner Park across from the Canyon Aquatic Park and the cost of $1.2 million was raised by Southwest AMBUCS and other entities across the Panhandle.

It was decided by the Parks Committee to name the special playground after Kylie Hiner, an autistic Canyon resident who died in 2017. She left a lasting impression with everyone she met and was greatly loved by the Canyon community.

The plan was fulfilled to have 48 feet of ramps providing wheelchair access throughout the elevated play structure.

Vance Hall, one of the Playground Committee Chairmen for the Southwest AMBUCS said that they had been involved in four different inclusive playgrounds in Amarillo, including the Medi-Park playground and splash pad.

“AMBUCS is committed to creating independence for people with disabilities through our AMTRYKES and playground programs,” Hall added.

Former Canyon Mayor Quinn Alexander served as the chair for the Canyon Committee.

“There has been lots of planning and hours and it’s our challenge to get our Canyon neighbors to help raise this money. We’re going to make this a reality,” Alexander said.

According to the committee, $300,000 had already been raised for the project. There were also numerous grants applied for and other fundraisers held.

Finally, despite COVID-19 and other setbacks, the Kylie Hiner Memorial Park was dedicated Thursday at the park’s location, by Conner Park. Southwest AMBUCS spearheaded the drive to make a fully accessible playground for all kids in the Canyon community by raising $1.2 million for the project.

The AMBUCS ceremony included a ribbon cutting, speakers and a moment of silence to honor Kylie’s life.

Kylie was an exceptional girl who made friends with everyone she met and remembered their names and the

smallest details about them. She lived with Autism and instead of limiting her, it seemed to enhance her. She had an infectious sense of humor and shared it with everyone she met. She had the ability to make everyone feel special.

One of her favorite pastimes was going to the park and swinging. To honor her and her spirit, Southwest AMBUCS, a non-profit agency dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities, was proud to lead the movement to bring the park to life and offer a “Place where family fun has no limits,” and all children can play together.

The all-inclusive playground required special playground equipment that had to be ordered. The equipment includes a zipline feature with a safe, cuplike chair, an eclipse net climber that kids call the Spider Web and equipment like drums and a xylophone that explore tactile and musical experiences. Of course, there are swings and other park equipment with safety features such as straps. There is also a shaded picnic area connected to the playground.

The community spirit of Canyon came together to make this area possible.

CHS’ BOREN SETS HIGH STANDARDS FOR HER FACULTY, STUDENTS

BY TIM RITTER TRITTER@HEARSTNP.COM

Helen Keller believed that ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”

Every day that Jennifer Boren walks through the doors of Canyon High School, the veteran principal is striving to make a difference.

Starting her sixth year in the leadership role for her campus, Boren has strong goals for the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

“We have this unofficial motto here at Canyon High School … Good is the enemy of great. I’m really proud and I hope you agree, the Panhandle agrees that Canyon High School is an incredible place,” Boren said.

“We have had success in the athletic arena, of course, but also agriculture and fine arts and academics and all the things … really … we are amazing. So, always when we’re starting a new school year, we want to take a look at, even though we’re awesome, everybody can get better.

“So we uncover every stone … say this was really good but how can we get it even better. That will be our focus. Really kids, teachers, staff members, it’s going to be about how we maintain excellence and become even more excellent.”

Canyon High School has many new faces coming on staff this year, according to Boren.

“We didn’t have a lot of turnover this year. We have a total of 12 new staff members coming in,” Boren added. “6 of those are teachers … several of them are in coaching roles so they’ve been in the district at other places but they’re joining the Purple team. So, that’s a fairly average number for us. But, a couple of them are coming from Canyon ISD schools so they know Canyon ISD is excellent just like Canyon High School is excellent.

“So if they’re coming another campus or feeder pattern over to Canyon High, I know that they already know that we work really hard and we demand excellence. So, that’s a nice transition. Bringing in a couple of faculty members from other districts, we are excited that they are coming to join us.

“I feel really great about the hires we’ve made this summer, and I think one thing that stood out for each of the candidates coming in in their interviews was that they also hold high expectations for themselves and that their aspirations for educators are excellence. I think they will come right in and join our Canyon High family and deliver.”

According to Boren on upcoming endeavors for CHS, “I’m not

necessarily calling these challenges, but as you can see, we’ve got new construction going on. We are so excited for our new indoor turf room and the new turf on our existing field and the other two practice fields. But, it’s not ready yet. There’s been weather things this summer, there’s been construction issues, everybody is working hard, but we’re having to think about the bus lanes and parking and all of those things.

“So those will be early, I guess, challenges as a word, but we’re not going to call it that because we’re so grateful for our new things. But we’re going to have to reconfigure a little bit about where people park and drive and those things.

“The buses are going to run a little bit differently in the district this year.

They’re going to drop the younger kids off at their homes before they run the older kids so we’re just not sure yet. logistically, is that going to be a longer wait or not. I don’t know. I think it’s a good change, so I don’t want to call it a challenge.

“I think that’s one thing that will be a new endeavor. Endeavor is a good word because I wouldn’t want to put a negative connotation on it. I think always it’s a challenge in a good way too … the people of Canyon and the people of Canyon ISD, the stakeholders have huge expectations for us to be awesome and we take that very seriously and we intend to meet and surpass their expectations.

“When there’s expectations, clear communication is always a challenge. We work really hard at communicating well, but we hate it when there are misperceptions or miscommunication. We’ll continue to make a point of emphasis of communicating clearly and well and just take that on for what it is to show excellence.”

For many years, Boren faithfully served in the classroom and more importantly, the past 16 years, she’s been a valuable asset and mentor on the CHS campus in different roles.

“When I get to talk to people, especially when I’m interviewing in the spring or when I’m talking to someone down state or from somewhere else, I think the thing is most distinct about Canyon High School and one of the things I’m most proud of is we’re a little town with a BIG school.

“It is amazing that on Friday nights here in Canyon, Texas, the town is painted purple and everybody from nine weeks to 90 years old comes to the ball game and they come to our choir concerts, show up to the county barn for ag events. I don’t take that lightly that we’re like a little small town in the Panhandle where we have the huge support from our little purple town, that I like to call it.

We have this unofficial motto here at Canyon High School … Good is the enemy of great.

“When my husband and I relocated here to the Panhandle, we took a look at where to buy or build a home and we made a big decision to choose not just Canyon ISD but Canyon High School,” Boren said. “So I’m the proud parent of four Canyon High School alum. My blood is purple and I’m super proud of that. It’s been pure joy to watch Canyon High School, in particular, maintain the rich traditions and there is rich tradition here for well over 100 years. But also to embrace new opportunities, new adventures, new things. So that’s the thing that for me, personally, is very rewarding.

“But Canyon High School is a 4A high school that competes well every year in the Lone Star Cup, has national merit contenders, huge academic scholarships with millions of dollars coming to our seniors because we’re big enough as a school to offer AP programs, dual-credit programs and teams that go out and travel … we won a debate state championship last year and a state national ag title … so we’re a BIG school in our offerings with a little town mentality.

“I think that’s a win for the community and for the people. So that’s something personal that is very rewarding to me.”

Excellence, at CHS, starts with their fearless leader and Boren sets the standards high when she’s designing her team.

For the days going forward, and many years from now, impacting the minds of tomorrow’s leaders will always represent the foundation of excellence inside the classrooms of CHS.

BRYANT’S HALL OF FAME COACHING LEGACY SHAPED MANY LIVES IN CANYON

BY TIM RITTER TRITTER@HEARSTNP.COM

When it came to Blake Bryant and Canyon Eagles football, it was more than just Friday night victories.

It was more than just touchdowns and interceptions.

It was all about ‘commitment’ and ‘relationships’ … giving back to the community that gave so much to him and his family for the past 21 years.

On a night that brought many tears to Coach Bryant, his family and many others, Friday night inside Happy State Bank Stadium was one of reflection, celebration and honor.

Bryant, along with former Randall head football coach Alan Cornelius, Randall High School pitcher and alum Chance Douglass, Randall High School basketball player and alum Amanda Sandlin, Canyon High School football players and alums Cody Campbell and John Sellers, Canyon High School track star and alum Michael Stigler and the Hampton family, who represented many years of state championships with the Canyon Lady Eagles basketball program, were inducted into the second annual Canyon ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.

“It’s humbling,” Bryant said on being inducted into the Canyon ISD Athletic Hall of Fame. “I love this school district … I love this community and the people I got to work with. There’s so many great people that have been involved in CISD and athletics. What a great idea Toby (Tucker) had to form this thing.”

Bryant’s coaching career in Canyon spanned over 21 years with a final record of 158-82. He coached two State Semifinalist teams and was a recipient of the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Coach of the Year award.

Also, Bryant served on the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors and was the THSCA Tom Landry Region I Coach of the Year.

Bryant noted that he was coming back from a trip somewhere when Canyon ISD Athletic Director Toby Tucker called with the news that he was going into Canyon ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I was excited, my wife (Holly) was excited. You don’t get into coaching to get something like this,” Bryant said. “It never crosses my mind, but when Toby called … it was an honor and an honor coming from him, especially. Like I said because of what Canyon and Canyon ISD means to us and my family, it’s everything. I love this place.”

Standing on the 50-yard line awaiting his mentor, Blake Bryant and his family for the ceremonial moment, current Eagles head football coach Todd Winfrey couldn’t help but shed a few tears on this milestone night.

“That was a tough pregame,” Winfrey said on sharing the spotlight with Blake Bryant. “It was tough in a good way … You got me with that one by the way … Everything I have professionally is because of Blake Bryant. What he’s meant to this place, this school, this community to Canyon, but to me and Jen and my family it just means a lot.

“To get to come out and present his Hall of Fame ring to him (Bryant), one of the top three or four moments in my life … not just my coaching career and my life … but to be able to give that to him, that was a special moment and what we said to each other during that hug nobody will ever know but it meant a lot.”

Winfrey added that Bryant earned this night.

“Everything he did and I watched him do it … he let me help him do it … but nobody gives credit to everybody else more than Blake does. And there’s one of them right there. Blake did it the right way. I watched him do it the right way and I watched him grind,” Winfrey said.

“I came here with Blake that first year … those first three or four years were tough and Blake said it in media

luncheon the other day … that third or fourth year he was on the hot seat and we had to respond to the school, the staff and the team.

“And that ol’ Matt Lovorn’s class is the class that did it. And then it sent this thing in motion for him to have a legendary career and just to be a part of it … a tiny little part of it … and for him to let me along for the ride is really special.”

Blake Bryant has had a lot of influences in his life and throughout his coaching career, but none more important than his father, Bill Bryant.

“Obviously my father was a coach and his passion for the game and his passion for us as kids, it was something special. But I was surrounded by great coaches all my life and people who loved on us, cared about us and cared about us beyond the game of football. They wanted to see us be successful and gave us second and third chances, which I’ve tried to us as a coach myself. I was just so blessed to be around men like that,” Bryant said.

Throughout many years of pacing the Canyon sideline, Bryant had so many touching moments inside Happy State Bank Stadium … including coaching his son Bill Boy and sharing that sideline every Friday night with his father Bill and his brother.

“All those things are special … and experiencing it with them … my wife sitting in the stands for 21 years as a head coach in Canyon Texas … that’s not an easy thing to do. She (Holly) did it and did it well. So thankful for her,” Bryant said.

“And then you’ve got Todd (Winfrey) who with me the whole 21 years and John Doan and hiring a guy like Jed Anderson and Ernest Trejo … those guys just all worked so hard for Canyon and Canyon football.

“A lot of great memories … a lot of great kids. I can’t say enough about our coaching staff and the coaches I got to be around. I’m not a very good coach personally, but I can hire good people.”

* The Hampton Family: Johnny,

Sharon, Jordan, Brittany and Nicole have enjoyed 28 state championships. Johnny won 16 state titles as a girls basketball coach and one as a player; Sharon has four state championships as a player; Jordan has three state titles as a player; Brittany has two state titles as a player and Nicole has two state titles as a player. … Jordan, Brittany and Nicole played a combined 309 college basketball games at Lubbock Christian University and were all college All-Americans.

* Amanda Sandlin helped guide Randall Lady Raiders basketball team to the 1992 State Championship and she was All-State from 1990 to 1992. She was also a member of the 1992 State Tournament Team. … Sandlin holds the scoring record for most points in a game in the State Tournament. She finished her career at Randall with

2,331 points.

* Alan Cornelius was the head football coach at Randall for 15 years. He collected 97 total wins and one Class 4A State Semifinal appearance. Cornelius also guided Randall to multiple playoff appearances and three District Championships.

* Cody Campbell and John Sellers are two of the most distinguished Canyon High School alums with their Double Eagle business. Sellers played football for Texas Tech and is a member of the Texas Tech Matador Club and on the Board of Directors. Campbell also played for Texas Tech under the late Mike Leach and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2005. … Campbell serves on the Texas Tech University Board of Regents.

* Michael Stigler is a 2011 Canyon High School graduate and was a six-

time Big 12 Champion with the Kansas Jayhawk track team. He was a four-time All-American and the 2015 national champion in the 400 hurdles. Most notably, Stigler was a U.S. Olympic Trials Finalist and a two-time USA Silver Medalist as well as a world championship qualifier. At CHS, Stigler was a state champion in the 110 and 300-meter hurdles.

* Chance Douglass became the first Randall High School baseball player to get selected in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. Douglass played six seasons of professional baseball and was the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Baseball Player of the Year. Also, Douglass represented Randall in high school on the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Baseball team under former head coach Steve Ribera.

RAIDERSHIP PROGRAM BUILDS STRONG COMRADERY AROUND RANDALL HS CAMPUS

BY TIM RITTER TRITTER@HEARSTNP.COM

Teamwork makes the dream work.

For Randall High School principal Steven Singleton, it’s all about winning as a TEAM and doing it at the highest level.

Singleton, who grew up in Arkansas and bleeds Razorback Red, implemented a thought from one of the most powerful motivational speakers in America … Lou Holtz.

Holtz, in his book ‘Winning Every Day’, viewed the word, ‘WIN’, as ‘What’s Important Now.’

Those that know Singleton know just how important being competitive and winning are to his resume. As a former professional baseball player and later on as Randall’s first softball coach, he centered his life philosophy around ‘W.I.N.’

Every day that the Randall High School faculty and students open those campus doors, it’s all making a difference, growing and becoming strong leaders.

Singleton and his staff, along with a student group of nearly 80 kids … known as RaiderShip … put together a vision for the 2022-23 school year that culminated around being excellent in every area on campus.

“What was cool was we didn’t just sit with one group or one set of coaches or one set of kids or one set of teachers, we combined the teachers, the coaches, the kids … put everybody together … and just said, ‘Hey, what do want?’,” Singleton said on implementing

that RaiderShip vision for Randall High School.

“What do you want out of this school year? They wanted to do something that they’ve never done before, but they wanted buy in from every program. Man, if we have band going, they wanted to go and support our band. If our One Act play is going and all of that, they wanted to go watch One Act play. And, when academic meets are happening, they want to recognize those students and their performance, in addition to all the clubs and everything that we have (on campus).

“Everybody bought in and we switched from leadership to RaiderShip, which was really cool

and we started something called ‘For the Shield’.

“Everything we did was for the people … like the people on this campus … and we’re going to take care of them. That’s our community.”

Through the new RaiderShip program, Singleton witnessed a stronger bond and comradery that energized the campus.

“It’s funny … it went from those beginning of year meetings last year to we had 19 programs represent us (Randall) at the state level last year which is unheard of. Four team state championships and then three other state championships in individual side of things, plus we were the overall No.

1 Theatre Department in the state of Texas,” Singleton said.

“There’s a lot with it and you finish a year like that, one you’re exhausted … you’re just tired and man, that went all the way to June with baseball wrapping us up at the state tournament down in Austin.

“So, the environment on Monday, we started (our first day back at Hodgetown), with our staff was once you do something special, then it’s harder to maintain something like that than it is to do it one time.

“So, we talked about how everyday we’re going to show up and be our absolute best every day because our kids deserve it. Our kids are going to show up and give their best. We have high expectations … I think our expectations went up even more this school year and you can see it.”

Those expectations, according to Singleton, don’t just culminate around the athletic programs.

“If you go look at the Band’s Facebook page, you’re going to see relationships being built left and right to go and have a big year with them. You step out on the football field and you see the comradery of the coaches and the kids, you go talk to parents and there is a sense of pride when you talk to parents and the people in our community.

“I think we have some pretty big goals this year (2023-24). Number One, we’re looking to expand on what we’ve already done, as far as involvement and recruiting of our kids into our programs here. In other words, we have clubs, organizations available, but we may have 80 percent of our students involved in those. So, we want to get more of those kids and recruit those kids on our campus into the opportunities that we have.

“Our goal at the end of this year is looking to get 100 percent of our kids involved. … It’s kind of a big goal to have,

but could you imagine the environment you get when you do that.”

Around the Randall campus, it’s all about family and traditions.

“It’s funny, climate is something you see that is the pulse of a day. So climate almost looks like an equilibrium. It’s got this flow to it, it’s like a wave. Your culture is the thing that is stapled.  Your climate can fluctuate from day to day, but that culture is there,” Singleton said.

“We’ve had such a tradition here of just kind of being that chip on your shoulder kind of team … every team here, every kid here, every teacher here which I love and it’s not a negative chip of your shoulder, it’s just ‘Hey, you got dealt a hand, go make the best out of it.’ … And, they that as, ‘We are going to go do the best for our kids that we can.’

“Through that split last year (with West Plains), our goal was not necessarily what a lot of principals will do is focus on instruction or curriculum instruction and grading and assessment and those things, our goal last year was Culture and Climate.

“When you take a big wad of those kids or a big pot of those kids that are a big part of that daily climate and they’re no longer in it, you have to reestablish how your climate is going to be like on a daily basis. That’s some of things that I learned about that split. Our focus had to be on our kids in the climate of our campus and that we’re going to support each other here.

“It was electrifying, it was awesome. We even took a group of kids this summer to a leadership conference and just being down there with them rejuvenates you as an educator. It makes you excited and gets you pumped.

“Those are the kinds of things that I that if you have weak traditions and you didn’t have high expectations, then you probably wouldn’t have had a high success rate from something as big as the split and the decisions that

we’ve gone through over the last year.

“But, we’ve had some pretty strong traditions in place that just gave us the platform on campus to move forward and build off that.”

To win the Lone Star Cup, especially with the Class of 2023 and many others, was a pretty special feeling that Singleton will cherish for many years.

“They (those seniors) weren’t just athletic, they weren’t just bright, they weren’t just great students in the classroom … there was some GOOD people in that class,” Singleton said on the Class of 2023. “When I say good people, man just good souled people, the kind of people you want to be around and that just bleeds down to everything else on our campus.

“You could have feel it, sense it, but when you’re around them, even as a principal, I couldn’t wait to go see those guys at lunch and their out and about at lunch and ask them how their day is because you’re going to get a handshake, two eyes looking you back and you’re going to have some of those real mature conversations about life and being men and women and growing up and advancing out past high school. But, also about the moments they’re having here and how they’re contributing to those.

“I couldn’t find … if you had to go find flaws and where can I fix things and make them better … a group of better leaders. That group was made to LEAD and they did it with passion. They were servant leaders, they weren’t the tell you how to do things, they were ‘Hey, we’re about to go show you and you just sit right back and watch … we’re going to show you how to do this.’ It was a good group of kids.”

On the Randall campus, under Singleton’s leadership, it’s not the team with the best players that win. It’s the students and teachers with the best TEAM that wins.

WEST PLAINS’ GOMEZ ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO ‘LEAVE YOUR MARK’

BY TIM RITTER TRITTER@HEARSTNP.COM

Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that ‘aiming above the mark to hit the mark’ was the key to success.

For second-year West Plains High School principal Eric Gomez, the foundation is laid, a culture is established and now it’s time to ‘leave a mark’.

Gomez admitted that it took him less time to think about his message going into the 2023-24 school year than it did a year ago.

“We started that foundation in Year 1 and then about halftime of Year 1 we started looking at … where’s our gaps. So this year we’re going to fill the gaps and see the needs and the processes of some of those procedures,” Gomez said.

“This year, my charge to the staff was LEAVE YOUR MARK. We talked about the Brandon Burlsworth movie (Greater) and watched his life … just the people that gave him hope because we all know hope leads to desire and desire leads to determination.

“I gave each staff member a pencil and we talked about … in order for this pencil to be effective, it’s got to go through a sharpening process and it’s got to be grueling and sometimes painful; but to be effective, it’s got to be a sharp pencil.

“If you’re leaving your mark, that pencil will get dull. What happens when that pencil gets dull, you have a choice to define the moment … how you can either resharpen and go back through that grueling, painful time or you can stay dull. No matter what we do this year, we’re going to make ourselves effective in the classrooms and on the campus and we’re going to LEAVE OUR MARK on these kids.

“We’re going to share our stories, we’re going to help them (the students) write theirs.”

A year ago, Gomez entered the unknown … opening a brand new high school and doing so as the man in charge. Embarking on his second year, and looking back to last year, Gomez believes the success of West Plains stems from having that ‘amazing’ strong support system.

“We had a vision of just building culture, paint the town ‘Blue’ and with some help of the booster club and just our community, in general, they were ready and they took on the challenge,” Gomez said on the opening of West Plains High School in 2022.

“I will tell you that quickly, they partnered up with the school and together we were able to make last year a really memorable year with … we’ve already started some traditions and those traditions will just be rooted deeply throughout the years. But, in just the whole process, I’ve got to create a culture at this school and how am I going to do that?

“I don’t do that on my own … and so you look back and see the army of people that decided ‘Hey, look this is where we’re at, this is where we’re going and this is what we’re doing … the sky’s the limit.’ … And that was really fun to be a part of.”

According to Gomez, who grew up in Dalhart and leans on his small-town values, “It was fun to celebrate the kids because with the kiddos, there was some uncertainty. There was some ‘I don’t know this system … they didn’t know who I was … can we trust this?’ and to see them celebrate … that first group that did it for us was our band going to state and then from there, it was just one celebration after the other.

“To look back, it was exhilarating, and it was fun to celebrate. There was a time I sat with my admin team and I thought to myself, ‘Wow, how do we replicate that same excitement … going back to the pencil – how do we keep from going dull.’ … It’s just working to

get better in the classroom, and Adam (Cummings) is out there right now looking to get more wins and volleyball is doing their thing and chasing more wins.

“Our theatre arts program … ‘Hey, we can do this.’ … I think a lot of our students looked around at each other and said, ‘Wow, we can do this. We can maybe do something big.’ … It’s fun generating that culture and ‘Hey, we win around here, and we do big things around here.’”

In order to build that winning culture and help others LEAVE THEIR MARK, Gomez knows the importance of teamwork … especially being a former coach in Levelland.

“Somebody sent me a picture the other day that said, ‘As the leader, you build a team strong enough and capable enough that no one knows who the leader is on the team.’ … I feel like that’s what we’ve done here (at West Plains). Randi (Willard) and Jeff (Schenck) and Brittani (Hooks) are all strong, strong leaders and they help create that culture,” Gomez said.

“But our staff from Day 1, they bought in. They bought into our school, they bought into the Wolfpack Way, they bought into the beliefs of our vision and they just breath it into those kids. … We have a fantastic staff.

“I think what’s crazy is … talk about kids chasing programs (they want to be this, they chase that) … really, what I’ve learned is that kids chase people. And we have those kind of people on our campus. We have teachers, staff members, that students love and they chase them. They’re just magnets to our kdis. When they come here, they feel loved because they know those staff members are on our campus.”

When you have people that care and are there for students, it creates a family-like environment and brings positivity to the campus.

“I think I was talking to Marc

Hamil when I said this, ‘Last year, uncontrollably out of nowhere, I had this great sense of PRIDE in West Plains and the students. Almost overprotective when it came to the students and it came out of nowhere,” Gomez said.

“I’ve been to several schools and worked for a couple of school districts, but being here (at West Plains) it’s different and I can’t explain it … I loved every kid that I’ve taught and coached … but for some reason here, it’s just different. There’s a different sense of PRIDE and I love our kids, I love our

student body and I think we have one of the best student body.

“We have kiddos from all walks and naturally, because I’ve coached in the past, you see those kids quite a bit. But what I get excited about and the goals we have for West Plains is that every student on this campus … 100 percent of our students is involved in something whether that’s a club, an organization, fine arts, UIL, any of those things … athletics, extra-curricular. We want every student to be able to stand up and say, ‘I’m a part of West Plains because I do this.’”

Gomez added that it’s fun chasing the kids that maybe don’t have that avenue or that direction for fine arts or extra-curriculars.

“But their kids that … our Chess club … those kids are awesome and I’ve learned how to play chess. But, it’s fun to chase those kids around and see what makes them ticked,” Gomez said.

“I think that comes with the culture, and more than anything, our staff members and our teachers are driven that ‘Hey, you’re here, we love you, we care about you and we want you to fit in somewhere. … We want you to find your place, find you niche at this school.’”

Following up Year 1 and watching those 2023 graduates … first in West Plains High School history … leave their mark, Gomez couldn’t have been more proud of a group of individuals.

“They (the 2023 graduates) chose this school,” Gomez said on the first senior class at West Plains. “That’s what made them special. They chose to come to West Plains. They made a conscious choice to be a part of something new and to trust (the process). I talked in my graduation speech to them of how I thought I was going to get on that stage and give them words of wisdom, advice; but really, what happen is I learned from them that adversity is only a word. You can chase paths and overcome and they did it. They decided to start to be something new and I couldn’t be more proud of that senior class.

“I think they’ll come back year after year and know that … they started this or did that or the foundation started with them.”

Just like Brandon Burlsworth went from being a walkon at the University of Arkansas to an All-American and an NFL player with the Indianapolis Colts, having that passion, that desire starts with believing in yourself.

Inside the classrooms and the community of West Plains High School, there’s a pride in LEAVING YOUR MARK.

And it starts in believing in the ‘Wolfpack Way’ … getting 1 percent better every day.

STATE OF WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

BY DR. WALTER WENDLER WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

Spring of 2024 is a busy time on the West Texas A&M University campus. There is much to be excited about for the students, faculty, staff, and community, from new buildings to new initiatives to blossoming partnerships. While WT enrollment numbers are down slightly, we have much of which to be proud of. WT had a 1 percent growth in semester credit hours, including an 8 percent rise in credit hours taught on-campus, and an 18 percent rise in doctoral credit hours accompanied by almost 17 percent growth in doctoral students over Spring 2023. It is important to note more than 50 percent of WT undergraduates are first-generation college students. Interestingly, among all students, undergraduate and graduate, 38 percent are online-only, and 41 percent are Pell Grant-eligible. The number of Hispanic students grew slightly by about 4 percent over last spring, making up 31 percent of the total student body. Our goal at WT is to provide any student who wants to be here with a nurturing yet rigorous educational environment for learners at all levels.

One of the biggest and most exciting projects we are working on is the renovation of the third oldest building on campus, Old Ed. Construction is currently underway. As part of the historic $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, the Stanley Schaffer family agreed to donate $2.5 million to name the Geneva Schaeffer Education Building and bring it back to life. The building, which was the second academic hall built on campus, originally housed a demonstration school where education majors learned hands-on training in teaching young and bright minds, including Geneva Schaeffer herself. The new facility will be an all-in-one location offering a wide variety of digital education innovation and online support services to faculty and students. Dedicated classrooms,

private studios, and labs will help facilitate digital content production and delivery such as emerging technology like gamification, virtual reality, and augmented reality. We are optimistic the new building will help WT recruit graduate students.

The transition of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Center from Amarillo to Canyon further ensures that this University, The Panhandle’s University, and The Texas A&M University System is a powerhouse of agricultural research, education, and outreach. The new facility will be constructed to the northeast of The Charles W. “Doc” Graham ’53 DVM, The Texas A&M University System Center, which encompasses the Texas

Long Boulevard will become part of the campus with WT’s Agricultural Sciences Complex (which contains the Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building, Caviness Meat Science and Innovation Center, PiehlSchaeffer Pavilion, and Bain Event Center), the VERO building, and the TVMDL facility. Construction on the new building is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.

Our region is rich with distinctive landscapes, culture, and history. From canyons to Cadillacs, arrowheads to artists, and cowboys to Comancheros, the Panhandle is the true west. Our region is rich with a multitude of stories across all frontiers. The foundation for the future of Texas and for who we are as citizens is engrained right here.

Our region is rich with distinctive landscapes, culture, and history.

A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach (VERO) program and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). This move also complements WT’s sincere focus on agricultural issues across the Texas Panhandle and beyond. The most important aspect of the move is the unity it will create for programs and students. The educational opportunities that will be cultivated through the proximity of these enterprises are unique. There is no doubt putting all of these closely related institutions next to one another tightens the integration of Texas A&M AgriLife’s land-grant mission with WT’s educational and research missions. This new building on Russell

WT has always been the location for the archival and historical collections of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society. WT is currently conducting a feasibility study of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, outlining substantial improvements to the museum that will display the heart of the Panhandle and Texas history. The study articulates a path forward for preserving the history of the Panhandle Plains Region and Texas. We want to ensure the museum continues to provide upcoming generations, through interactive educational experiences, the opportunity to connect the past with their present and future. As a State museum, special exhibition space will showcase other aspects of the Texas culture through exchange and loan of collections and access to State resources. Because the museum is part of WT, the museum will include space for scholars to study and students to learn from stories that can only be told through the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

West Texas A&M University is THE Panhandle’s University. Since 1910, WT has proudly served the people and communities of the Panhandle, the region, the State, and, from here, the world.

WENDLER’S VISION FOR WT CENTERS ON SERVING RURAL COMMUNITIES

BY TIM RITTER TRITTER@HEARSTNP.COM

Staring out across the West Texas A&M University campus from the balcony of his Old Main office, President Dr. Walter Wendler embraces the Texas Panhandle spirit at its finest.

Students walking to class where professors give instruction that will forever change the lives of tomorrow’s future.

Relationships are being formed and represent the ‘centerpiece’ of Wendler’s vision for taking WT into the 22nd century.

Seven years ago, Wendler left Southern Illinois University in Carbondale for a new change of scenery and an opportunity to be a part of the Texas A&M University System once again.

The Texas A&M University alum became WT’s President in September 2016 and immediately went to work, developing a plan ‘WT125’ that would make the university one of the best regional responsive research institutions.

“My passion for regional university like WT is very strong and having been at national researching universities, this is the most regional university I’ve ever been at,” Wendler said. “We really do want to serve first the (Texas) Panhandle, and along with that, the South Plains and beyond. The trick for WT 125 is it serves the panhandle first, but then, we can reach the world by serving the panhandle well.

“The evidence of that is our new Doctorate in Education. It’s gone from 0-60 in literally three years. Those students and now we’re at 100 students in a doctoral program … and that is a good size for a doctoral program in a short period of time.

“When we started this, there were people that said, ‘We’re going to run out of people in West Texas to take the program …’ Indeed, they’re right. But,

the fact to the matter is, now we’ve got people from across the nation in rural settings that are engaged in this doctoral program online and they like the fact that it’s focused on rural settings … settings that are different than the metropolitan areas … just different sets of needs.

“Some people think because it’s a rural setting … we don’t have challenges and problems … you know as well as anybody, we have all kinds of challenges and problems in rural settings, but two things I recognize about them are they’re different than in high density urban areas but their equally perfect based on their impact

of the lives of individuals and families in the communities.”

Wendler noted that it’s important to focus on the rural communities that make up the Texas Panhandle and ask ourselves, “How can we best serve these institutions?”

Wendler stated that people have tried to sway him away from this movement, but he looks at this way, “I would argue that NYU is narrowly focused or the University of Houston is narrowly focused … Well, we’re (WT) going to be narrowly focused, too.”

“What I think keeps institutions like WT focusing on the issues that it tries to address in these local communities is

the fact that they’re small populations,” Wendler said. “I’ll never forget when I first worked with Chancellor John Sharp regarding this … trying to focus on rural issues … he (Sharp) said ‘you know the rural populations in Texas are shrinking.’ And, I said, ‘Yes, they are.’ … But, two things, one they’ll shrink to zero because these rural communities produce the food, fuel and fiber that feed, power and clothe the nation. That happens in rural communities. People on the upper west side aren’t producing food, fuel and fiber and they’re thankful for it. But, we are and we’ve got special issues that we need to deal with and I think when we deal with them in this region, that the solutions to problems … my response to this idea that rural populations is shrinking … ‘Yes, but there are rural populations all over the nation. The I-5 corridor in California, upstate New York, Central Pennsylvania, Central Florida, vast parts of Ohio and Indiana, they’re rural.

“Southern Illinois, where I came from before I came here (to WT), was rural. Actually, it was interesting, it was also ag and energy focused. No fiber up there, but had a huge corn and bean production on the ag side … row crops … corn as tall as the ceiling in this room … 12 feet high on these narrow country roads. You felt like a steel ball in a pinball machine driving. You couldn’t see anything except corn. And, I always made the same joke to my wife and she would just shake her head, ‘You know why you can’t tell a secret in a corn field, too many ears.’

“And, the energy up there (in Illinois) … there was some gas and some oil … but the big energy was coal. The problem is it was high as sulfur coal. We actually had our own power plant and created our own electricity on campus.”

Wendler’s belief in small communities stretches from the top of the Texas Panhandle at Booker to as far as in the South Plains at Smyer and Sudan.

According to Wendler in his WT 125 plan, “As West Texas A&M University evolves into a Regional Research University, the variety and type of offerings must be tailored to the strengths of each program represented. Distinctive competencies should be shared to avoid inappropriate

redundancies in capabilities. Some programs and capacities should be resident in only college or program, while others should be available everywhere.

“The commonly available programs should build a foundation for educational excellence. The special attributes should give character to particular offerings and build distinctiveness, while strengthening all parts of the campus.”

Wendler’s vision wants ‘Quality as the Cornerstone.’

“Defining and assessing quality is an immense challenge,” Wendler said as one of his principles in the WT 125 plan. “Quality is not always easily characterized in words and numbers. Some aspects of quality in higher education defy any quantification; most require multiple indicators.

“For example, student retention – a measure some value highly – should never be misinterpreted to mean our education efforts are of high quality just because student retention is good. Rather, given success in this indicator, our chances for achieving quality educational opportunities will probably increase, but only other indicators of effectiveness will demonstrate that.

“The way that we nurture students, the number effectively placed for employment or graduate/ professional study, their performance on professional examinations for certification all indicate quality in other dimensions. The synergy and interaction of the dimensions discussed are themselves an indicator of our aspiration for making WT a place known for a pervasive commitment to student achievement.”

Heading into the 22nd century, Wendler believes WT must serve Texas.

“A strong commitment to service still prospers at WT,” Wendler said. “The challenge as we enter the middle of the 21st century is to capture and confirm a contemporary notion of a Regional Research University coupled with a great land grant institution. This creates a distinctive philosophy.

“Our current understanding of how higher education can transform society

will have an impact on American life equal to or greater than that of the Morrill Act in the late 19th century. WT should lead in extending and amplifying what it means to be service oriented in the 21st century through action consistent with the ideals of the Morrill Act. We are a part of that mission.”

And with that focus, WT … under Wendler’s leadership … will always be about ‘building relationships and putting people first.’

“WT is first composed of people. Every effort will be made to recruit, retain and reward students, faculty and staff who challenge us with their commitment and excellence,” Wendler said. “Students are WT’s cause for being. Recruiting and retaining the very best, by our measure, requires much more than test scores and class rank. We will seek those who will lead.

“Faculty are needed to work with excellent students. The quality of our faculty and the work settings we nurture are important to our future success. Graduate students, that special breed who are at once learners and leaders, will form the foundation for excellence in teaching, research and scholarship for faculty.

“Staff, who support the academic enterprise, should be regarded for the commitment to excellence that they bring.”

The future of WT, under Wendler, is stretching the Texas Panhandle spirit to all parts of the world … one student at a time.

“The desire to be good, the fear of failure and the comfort familiarity provides are three fundamental conditions of human nature,” Wendler said. “Our vision should address these through a careful analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and steadfast determination to build on strengths, eliminate weaknesses, seek opportunities and face threats creatively and energetically.

“WT will be more distinctive in the future than it is today. That distinctiveness will be created on a foundation of quality that is widely recognized and measured by world standards.”

KUHLMAN’S GIFT HELPS CONSTRUCT NEW WT RESEARCH FEEDLOT

BY CHIP CHANDLER WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Nearly 43 acres of ranchland recently given to West Texas A&M University will facilitate the construction of a new feedlot for the University.

Brothers Mike and Gary Kuhlman made a land legacy gift of 42.84 acres of property adjacent to the Nance Ranch’s west property line. The gifted land, valued at $425,000, will serve as the location for a new WT Research Feedlot and Education Center.

“Working with the WTAMU Foundation, we have created a way for donors to make gifts of property for educational use and asset-generating income,” said WT President Walter V. Wendler. “Many Panhandle residents want to help WT, and their greatest

asset is the vast amounts of land which have been in some families for generations. We can accept such gifts to help the donors help WT and further fulfill the vision of serving and being responsive to the Panhandle region.”

Fundraising is ongoing for the research feedlot, an estimated $8 to $10 million project. Generous support has been provided by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and many industry partners, said Dr. Kevin Pond, dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

“This land legacy give comes at the perfect time,” Pond said. “It is ideal for the location of the new research feedlot due to its slope and proximity to the Nance Ranch and the WT campus. This gift, along with other generous gifts, will help us build a state-of-theart research feedlot and education

center, providing our students with rich educational and research opportunities and making a positive impact on the feedlot industry.”

WT is located in the heart of food animal production. The annual economic impact of beef and dairy cattle in the Texas Panhandle exceeds $20 billion.

The Kuhlman brothers are descended from a line of Randall County pioneers who settled here in the early 1900s. Their father, Herbert F. Kuhlman, worked the land, and both brothers raise cattle on the family property; they’ll maintain a portion of their land to continue to do so.

The Kuhlmans, including Mike’s wife Donna and Gary’s wife Debbie, are active supporters and have donated to the Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences for more than

20 years, largely through establishing endowed scholarships for beef cattle, rodeo and leadership.

The existing WT feedlot, located on Nance Road east of Canyon, has 72 soil-surfaced pens that house 10 to 12 animals each with 150 to 180 square feet of pen space and 10 to 12 inches of bunk space per animal. This provides a scale model of pen and bunk space representative of the larger commercial feedlot pens in the region.

A new research feedlot, which will be constructed south of the existing one, include an educational center with a classroom and small auditorium; 90 10head pens; 40 70-head pens; state-of-theart technology for monitoring and feed manufacture and delivery; and a top-ofthe-line animal-processing facility.

Approximately $1.5 million has been raised thus far.

“Mike and Gary are steadfast supporters who understand the importance of this gift and the new research feedlot,” said David Schaeffer, president of the WTAMU Foundation. “We are so grateful for their foresight and generosity.”

The Kuhlman gift further expands WT’s footprint on the ranchlands east of Canyon.

The Nance Ranch, located about seven miles east of Canyon, consists of 2,393 acres including the headquarters. Given to WT in 1971, it is used as a working laboratory for WT’s animal science program as well as the Semi-Arid Agricultural Systems Institute and the plant and soil science program, providing numerous research and teaching opportunities for faculty and students.

The Gerdsen family made a land legacy gift of the Gerdsen Family Centennial Ranch in 2021. The 1,772acre ranch sits on land near the Nance Ranch and offers more opportunities for hands-on learning experiences.

The planned feedlot is part of

a concerted effort to enhance educational opportunities in agriculture at WT through the Center for Advancing Food Animal Production in the Panhandle and through the Feedlot Research Group, which offers opportunities for applied research in animal health and epidemiology; environmental science; meat science; and ruminant nutrition and management.

CAFAP enables students to specialize in animal health, animal care, animal nutrition and pre- and post-harvest food science/food safety. A $6 million state allocation announced in June 2023 provided significant resources for CAFAP, enabling expansions in research for the food animal industry, in the use of water in animal production and other highimpact areas, through a combination of personnel from WT; Veterinary Education, Research and Outreach, or VERO; Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension; and the Charles W. Graham DVM Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. VERO is the unique 2+2 veterinarian training program housed at both WT and Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center of Amarillo announced in May 2022 that it would move to the northeast corner of WT’s campus, thanks to $30 million in funding from the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Construction is slated to begin in 2024. Since 2016, more than $120 million has gone into expanding WT’s agricultural programs, including the construction of WT’s Agricultural Sciences Complex, which contains the Happy State Bank Academic and Research building; the Caviness Meat Science and Innovation Center; the Piehl-Schaeffer Pavilion and the Bain Event Center; and The Charles W. “Doc” Graham ’53 DVM, The Texas A&M University System Center, which encompasses VERO and TVMDL.

The Land Legacy Advisory Council and the WTAMU Foundation provide oversight of gifts of land and other real property; facilitate its proper management; maintain good stewardship of gifts; are spokespersons for the program; and help WT fulfill its mission. Accepting and managing gifts of real property is in keeping with the values of the WTAMU Foundation for the benefit of the University.

Addressing regional challenges, including in agriculture, is the key mission of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

WT’S HILL INSTITUTE TO PROMOTE REGIONAL VALUES

BY BRAD NEWMAN THE WEST TEXAN

It’s not just any university. It’s a distinctly West Texas university.   And so the values of the West Texas region should be foundational to how the University forms students into engaged citizens.

That’s the impetus behind West Texas A&M University’s Hill Institute, a new initiative that highlights and seeks to instill 10 key values of the Texas Panhandle throughout the academic landscape.

“As a regional university, we serve the region first,” said WT President Walter V. Wendler, “and reflecting the values of this region, I think, is extremely important.

“We want to display these values and suggest to students that we’re here to reinforce these in you and shape who you are.”

The Hill Institute has selected a slate of 10 of those values to emphasize:

• Trust

• Family and Economic Prosperity

• Hard Work

• Regard for Others

• Personal Responsibility

• Compatriotism and Patriotism

• Private and Civic Virtue

• Faith

• Loyalty

• Rugged Individualism

“The Hill Institute specifically fits within WT’s vision for the future by taking seriously what makes this region of the country and world so important – its people,” said Dr. Todd W. Rasberry, WT’s vice president for philanthropy and external affairs and executive director for the WTAMU Foundation.

“People” is one of three priorities of WT’s One West campaign, the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign that supports

WT’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

“It’s important, as a regional university, that we serve the region first, and remember that it’s the people of this region, and their values, that we need to pay attention to,” Wendler said.  WT officials had been planning a project like the Hill Institute for several years. The Texas A&M Board of Regents approved the creation of the Institute in February 2022.

But a $20 million gift from WT alumni Alex ’85 and Cheryl ’84 Fairly provided WT the funds necessary to announce the project’s launch in October 2023.

“We have a chance to do something special that we believe is a once-ina-generation opportunity,” Alex Fairly said.

The Fairlys’ gift currently is the single largest family gift in the history of WT and in the One West campaign. Since September 2021, the One West campaign has raised more than $150 million. An updated goal of raising $175 million by 2025 has been set.

The Fairlys, both WT alumni, are prominent supporters of WT and both serve as members of the leadership committee for WT’s One West campaign.

“The focus on the region WT serves that Dr. Wendler has brought has become an incredible gamechanger,” Alex Fairly said. “We wanted to support the Hill Institute because of the opportunity to help WT become a beacon that champions the values

we believe in, and which we know the Panhandle and so much of the country believe in.”

The Fairlys were instrumental in choosing and fine-tuning the values of the Hill Institute, Wendler said.

“We’ve been working together, diligently coordinating a project that highlights the values and the value systems of the Texas Panhandle,” Wendler said.

Each of the 10 values is reflected in West Texas people, the president said — from rugged individualism (“the people here have a certain grit that would be asset anywhere”) to compatriotism (“Panhandle people know they belong to something bigger than themselves and work together”). It’s those regional characteristics that can enhance the quality of WT students, Wendler said.

“WT has embraced regionalism as a defining, not limiting, characteristic,” Rasberry said. “WT has a responsibility to be the Panhandle’s university.”   Increasingly in institutions of higher

education, commonly held societal values are not at the forefront, Alex Fairly said. But the 10 values of the Hill Institute are essential to developing citizens of a constitutional republic, regardless of their field of study, he added.

The Hill Institute will endow faculty positions in all six of WT’s colleges, funding research and scholarship related to the values. Hill Scholars will be selected – students who receive scholarships for exemplifying one of the values, or whose studies especially reinforce one of the values.

The Hill Institute also will underwrite premier speakers and lecturers at WT, as well as create publications related to the 10 values and the importance of promulgating personal values in society.

“The Hill Institute will make the role of values an essential part of the teaching, research, and service mission of WT,” Rasberry said. “This makes WT unique in many ways in the state and nation.”

The Hill Institute’s namesake is Joseph Abner Hill, the second and longest serving president of WT (then, West Texas Normal College).

“Joseph Hill was very inspirational. He never lost his focus or fortitude,” Wendler said. “He is a stunning example to me of someone who worked to create good citizens.”

Hill served from 1918 until 1948— through 30 years of significant challenge and growth for WT—and came to exemplify in ways the 10 values of the Hill Institute.

As WT leads its students and faculty to reflect on and emulate the values of the Hill Institute, these characteristics will solidify WT’s positive influence in the region and in the broader U.S., Wendler said.

“A long-term effort like the Hill Institute elevates the prestige of the University,” the president said. “Others will look to us to see how our success flows from an emphasis on the basic characteristics who we are.”

WT BASKETBALL FILLS THE FUBC WITH MADNESS

Whether packed with first-year students, basketball fans, lectures or proud families of West Texas A&M University graduates, the First United Bank Center serves as a home for many of the milestones of a college career.

Opened to the public in 2002, the First United Bank Center was designed as a facility with the versatility to host graduations (WT and Canyon High School), sports events (WT men’s and women’s basketball, high school basketball tournaments and playoff games) and a number of other functions (lectures, band concerts and Ag shows).

The First United Bank Center has since met that need, serving as the home court for the WTAMU Buffs and

Lady Buffs basketball games and as the venue for the university’s convocation and commencement ceremonies in May, August and December.

In 2022, the Lady Buffs hosted the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.

In 2024, the Buffs entertained the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.

Other events hosted at the First United Bank Center included high school basketball playoff games, Kids, Inc. Tournament of Champions, gymnastics and twirling competitions, banquets and craft and trade shows.

The 77,000 square-foot facility seats approximately 4,800 visitors for sporting events with a capacity of 5,800 for commencement and concerts.

The First United Bank Center has

hosted many famous entertainers – Robert Herjavec (Shark Tank) and Kellie Pickler - throughout the year, as well as Texas Country musicians Pat Green and the Josh Abbott Band for Fourth of July outdoor concerts.

Also, many Distinguished Lecture series speakers including Maya Angelou, Somaly Mam, Dr. Elie Wiesel and Khaled Hosseini have appeared at the First United Bank Center.

The First United Bank Center is located on the university campus at the corner of Russell Long Blvd., and Fourth Avenue. Tickets for athletic events can be purchased in the First United Bank Center box office on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at www.gobuffsgo.com.

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CANYON’S

4TH OF JULY

DRAWS

THOUSANDS TO THE SQUARE

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

At one point, the line to get into the annual Lions Club’s July 4th pancake breakfast snaked down the hall of the Cole Community Center, along the sidewalk next to the building, past the parking lot and almost to the Canyon Police Department.

“The event is a community favorite,” Stacia Hauser, second vice president of Lions Club and chairman of the breakfast, said. “We have people from all over the panhandle come to enjoy the pancake breakfast and the Canyon 4h of July celebration. Canyon Lions Club gets to do what we love the most, serve our community.”

Approximately 1,226 people attended the breakfast with 2,500 pancakes cooked. Some 72 Lions Club members volunteered to host breakfast. Earlier in the morning volunteers had put out 624 American flags along Canyon streets.

“It’s all hands on deck that day to make it successful,” Hauser said. “I’m very proud of our club!”

The club expects to make $4,000 profit that will help support

community organizations and projects.

“It’s a tradition for us,” Kay Ledbetter, Amarillo, said. “We really love starting out our 4th of July celebration each year with the pancake breakfast and parade.” She had bought advance tickets, so her family stood in a shorter line.

After the breakfast, people strolled over to the Fair on the Square to browse before finding their spots along Fourth Avenue from which to watch the parade. Others poured onto the square after the hour-and-a-half long parade.

One hundred vendors set up their booths around the square. Twelve food trucks plus five drink/snowcone/ popsicle vendors helped feed the crowd.

Cathy Welch, a Mary Kay consultant for 25 years, set up her booth on the north side of the square. The Amarillo resident estimated she has participated in the event more than 15 years.

“I love meeting the people,” she said. She conducted a “luscious lips” contest at her booth. Participants applied lipstick and kissed a piece of paper, leaving their lip prints. At the end of the event, Welch judged the “best kiss” winner. She said, surprisingly enough, that college guys often enter the contest. They removed their excess lipstick with

oil-free eye makeup remover.

Siblings Canyon Wilhite, Aspen Wilhite and Jack Canada sold rings they designed from silver-plated  spoons and forks they discovered at antique stores. Canyon researches the date and brand on the silverware backs. In addition to the rings already made, customers could also select a spoon or fork to have custom made on site.

Canyon started selling the rings at Canyon High School five months ago until his graduation in May. The trio “wanted to take it further” and started selling at the Canyon Farmer’s Market. This is their first time to participate in Fair on the Square.

“I hope everyone enjoys the jewelry,” Canyon said. “That’s the most gratifying part.”

Chamber of Commerce assistant director Elizabeth Carlson said the Chamber did not make any changes to the parade or Fair on the Square this year but added the Fourth Avenue Firecracker Mile which dew 100 runners from the area.

“Overall, we saw an amazing turnout!” she said. Although the Chamber does not have official totals of attendance yet, she said she thought it was as well-attended as ever with estimates being 30,000-40,000 people attending.

“A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their holiday to help make this another successful 4th of July in Canyon,” she said.

CANYON … ONE OF THE TOP RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Not only is Canyon a great place to live and rear a family, it’s also a great place to retire.

Palo Duro Retirement Village Cooperative, an independent living facility, fits the bill for those who want to downsize and leave the mowing behind. The Village consists of 67 apartments and 21 garden homes.

Activities include bingo games, movies, seasonal activities, creativity classes, exercise classes and Bible studies. Coffee is ready in the dining room every morning so residents can drink coffee, visit and settle the world’s problems.

The Village accommodates adults 45 and older. Amenities abound.

Residents can purchase lunches that are delivered from the United Supermarkets Deli five days a week. Transportation is provided to doctors’ appointments and errands. A nurse

comes every Wednesday afternoon to help residents monitor their health. An on-site family hair care center is available. Maintenance will change light bulbs and filters, and housekeeping is provided monthly.

Residents and their guests can enjoy fishing for eight varieties of fish from the dock or just relax on benches at the small lake on the property. Canadian geese call it home for much of the year and often raise their goslings there.

Property owners are permitted to have small, quiet pets such as dogs, cats and birds. Renters must obtain permission from their landlords to have pets.

“The community atmosphere is very welcoming and enjoyable plus provides the safety value,” director Sandi Allison said.

The Canyon Area Library offers hours of enjoyment whether reading, using the desk top computers or volunteering with the Friends of the Library. Volunteers sort, organize and sell donated books in the bookstore in

the library foyer. They hold a yearly flea market in the fall and a Christmas bake sale.

Profits are donated to the library to buy needed items. Funds also provide prizes for the Summer Reading Program, tween and teen reading area, and fish aquarium and equipment. The Friends also built and maintain The Little Book Houses in Hunsley Park, Madison Park and Canyon East Park.

Knitters meet for Knit Night every Monday from 4 - 6 p.m. in the library’s Hull Room.

The library hosts two book clubs. “Who Picked This Book?” meets the second Wednesday of the month in the Hull Room. Members select favorite books a year ahead and then feature a choice each month. The library has bookmarks with the calendar of upcoming books.

Cooking enthusiasts can join the Cookbook Book Club that meets the second Saturday of the month in the Tocker Room from 11 a.m. to noon. Members select a favorite recipe from

a cookbook and bring the prepared dish to share as they review the cookbook. They make photocopies of the recipes to give to other members. Each month has a theme such as “picnic food.”

The library serves Canyon and Randall County residents outside of Amarillo city limits. It is located at 1501 Third Avenue. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The library is closed Sunday.

“We have a lot of fun activities at the library,” library director Carlene Harguesss said. “It’s a great place if you want to get out of the house. The atmosphere is nice; the people are nice. We want to make it a cozy place to hang out.”

The Canyon Senior Citizens Center is located at 1719 Fifth Avenue and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some members do chair exercises at 11 a.m. until lunch from the United Deli is served at

11:30. Cost is $8.11 per meal. Members may also bring their own brown bag lunches.

Since its opening in 1976, the center has offered such activities as quilting, exercise classes, puzzles, guest

Canyon retirees have plenty to keep them as busy as they want to be.

speakers and card games. Currently dominoes is the preferred activity. It also has educational programs on topics of interest from time to time.

“Senior Citizens offers people over 55 an opportunity to come

together to enjoy food, fun and fellowship,” according to president Sandra Keith.

West Texas A&M University offers a wide variety of activities from guest speakers to theatrical productions to Buff athletics. The Virgil Henson Activity Center has a bowling alley, basketball courts, work-out facility and swimming pool.

Retirees can get their golf game on at Palo Duro Creek Golf Course or Canyon Country Club.

Nearby Palo Duro Canyon offers endless activities such as hiking and biking. A special birdwatching stand is nestled behind the Trading Post. Partners in Palo Duro Canyon offers numerous opportunities to volunteer at the park. The TEXAS Musical Drama is performed in the amphitheater during the summer with visitors coming from all over the world. Volunteers also help.

Canyon retirees have plenty to keep them as busy as they want to be.

AGRICULTURE OUTLOOK CENTERS ON CATTLE PRODUCTION, HIGHER BEEF PRICES

BY NOLA HOPKINS CANYON NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Drought, insects and weeds.

That’s what Randall County farmers faced in 2023, and 2024 looks about the same, according to Randall County Extension Agent Dr. J.D. Ragland.

Although the county received 10-17 inches of rain last May during the “flood episode that came hard and fast,” the water ran off with little soil penetration. When the rain stopped, it stopped for the rest of the year which meant an extremely dry growing season for wheat, corn and sorghum.

Cotton was wiped out by the May floods, and it was too late in the season to replant the 10,000 acres, so county farmers produced no cotton in 2023.

Ragland said Randall County farmers planted 85,000 acres of wheat, 40,00060,000 acres of grain sorghum and 2,500 acres of corn last year. He doesn’t think there will be much change in that acreage except some farmers may switch to more corn and sorghum silage which are high commercial crops for feed lots and dairies.

Controlling insects is always a major concern, according to Ragland.

Weeds are like COVID. There seems to be a new species every season as weed seeds blow in. Weed control, like insect control, is an annual challenge. Another challenge for farmers in 2024 will be the economic input cost to operate. Everything will be more expensive this year: machinery, seeds, fuel, etc. but the price for the crops has not increased.

Ragland provides educational sessions throughout the year. He said a hot topic this year will be a late season corn disease that many farmers are not aware of. Because the disease just appeared in 2023, researchers have not found a treatment for the crop-killing disease yet.

The bright spot in 2024 agriculture will be in cattle production. Beef prices will be high because many ranchers across the country sold their cattle due to the 2023 drought and high feed costs. It’s now a matter of supply and demand with a low supply and a high demand for beef; that’s good news for ranchers who were able to keep their cattle.

Randall County demographics are changing rapidly because housing developments are taking land out of agricultural production. Over the last three years, 22,000 acres, or 29 percent of Randall County

agricultural land, has been developed, according to Ragland. Water issues will be a concern for agriculture and homeowners in 2024.

Another facet of the Randall County Extension Agency is the 4-H Club.

Ragland said 450 members are on the club’s roll.

One program growing in popularity is shooting sports: trap shooting, skeet shooting, rifle and archery. With 70-90 students, the club always needs adult volunteers to help manage practices.

Another popular program is foods and nutrition. In Food Challenge, groups of three to four are on a team that is provided a recipe, equipment and a scenario. Around 30 Randall County 4-H teams compete at district and state levels.

Quiz bowl teams have competed at the national level in Livestock Skill-a-Thon.

A total of 194 exhibitors showed 486 animals in the 2024 Randall County Junior Livestock Show in January. Although sales totals vary year to year, Ragland estimated sales gross $450,000 for the students. Randall County exhibitors do well at the bigger shows, also. Last year a local student showed the grand champion steer at the Fort Worth Stock Show and won $470,000.

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CANYON 101

CHILDCARE

Friendship Ranch

The licensed program is for children 6 weeks to 13 years and is open year-round for their customers’ benefit. The program offers a structured curriculum, which cares and nurtures children from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. A plus for the ranch is afterschool pickup of students on all Canyon Independent School District campuses. Professional teachers on staff direct field trips, teach preschool classes and oversee a number of activity clubs including arts and crafts and science. For more information, call the center, located at 1108 24th St., at (806) 655-3454.

In His Hands Child Development Center

A division of First United Methodist Church at 1818 4th Ave., In His Hands offers children from birth to kindergarten a safe, friendly and structured environment from 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m.; and preschoolers from 8:15-noon daily Monday through Friday. Trained in early childhood development, staff members are dedicated to the care of the young. All preschool teachers hold Texas teaching certification and follow an approved curriculum. A number

of activities include field trips, music education and themed curriculums. For information, call (806) 655-5437.

Kids College

On the West Texas A&M University campus, childcare is available from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for children 18 months to 5 years old. The facility, located in the Virgil Henson Activities Center, is staffed by WTAMU students who are childhood education majors. Call (806) 651-2974 or contact Darla Clark, coordinator by e-mailing dclark@mail.wtamu.edu.

The Christian Learning Center Located at 1717 4th Ave., offers a Christian-based preschool in two- three- and five-day programs that last from 8:4511:30 a.m. daily, with extended care available from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Monday through Friday. They also provide transportation for students from kindergarten through fourth grade after school. On Tuesdays through Thursdays, the center is now offering classes for children six weeks through 3 years of age, not potty trained. Summer programs also are available with activities. For information, call (806) 655-3246.

St. Ann’s Little Lambs Pre-School Located at 605 38th St., in Canyon, St. Ann’s Little Lambs is a pre-kindergarten program that is from 8-11:30 a.m. Parents can also choose extended care, which is from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Certified teachers and a caring staff will teach social skills, language arts, math, science, music and art in a Christian, fun and loving atmosphere that will prepare the children for kindergarten. Call Karen Wyatt at (806) 5706873 for more information.

Sunshine Childcare Center

Located at 2108 13th Ave., Sunshine offers preschool, after-school and summer programs for children ages six weeks to 13 years from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Included are hot meals, structured pre-school programs, school delivery and pick-up, after school programs, arts and crafts and summer activities. For information, call (806) 655-9821.

University Church of Christ Located at 3400 Conner, offers preschool care, as well as regular daycare for children from 1-5 years old on a limited basis. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Call (806) 655-3952.

BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS

PUBLIC SERVICES

Canyon’s City Hall

301 16th St.

City of Canyon Business Office (806) 655-5003

Water, trash and sewer services

Canyon Police Department (806) 655-5005

Local traffic tickets and citations for Class C misdemeanor offenses

Animal control officer

Randall County Finance Building 501 16th St.

Tax assessor-collector (806) 468-5540

Voter Administration (806) 468-5539

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace (806) 468-5606

Traffic fines and other citations given within the precinct

Randall County Justice Center

2309 Russell Long Blvd. County and district clerks’ offices

Electricity Xcel Energy (800) 895-1999

Natural gas Atmos Energy (888) 286-6700

Cable SuddenLink (806) 358-4801

AUTO CARE

Having car trouble is not pleasant, especially if you’re away from home, but Canyon auto shops make fixing the problem a pleasant experience.

For oil changes, tire repair or more serious problems, or even updating that state inspection sticker, contact one of these shops to get you back on the road:

Canyon Tire Company, 711 23rd St, (806) 655-7189

Crabtree Automotive and Lube Center, 201 N 11th St., (806) 655-4434

Coffman Feed & Trailer Sales, 16303 I-27 & Rockwell Rd., (806) 655-1363

Consumer’s Supply Service Station, 100 W 1st Ave., (806) 655-2134

Monkey Wrench Auto Repair, 510 23rd St., (806) 655-3171

Muffler House and Automotive, 21636 City Lake Rd., (806) 499-3556

Take 5 Oil Change, 1201 23rd St., 655-0852, (806) 655-9891

Toot’n Totum, 31 Hunsley Rd., (806) 452-7800

Wal-Mart SuperCenter, 1701 N. 23rd St., (806) 656-0597

Woodard’s Garage, 2309 8th Ave., (806) 655-7759

CLUBS AND CIVIC SERVICE

Canyon Lions Club, Canyon’s largest civic club, meets at noon Wednesdays at Cole Community Center on 300 16th St. Anyone is invited to join the club.

Canyon Elk’s Lodge 2887, If you are a member of our Canyon community and want to give back to our great community, the new Canyon Elk’s Lodge 2887 might be your new organization. Lodge 2887 meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 22000 FM 2590, Soncy Road, Canyon TX 79015. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. Contact Ed Yeats at 303-748-8280 or Tim Parker at 806-671-5121 today for membership information. Canyon Elk’s Share – Canyon Elk’s Cares.

Canyon Masonic Lodge promotes community welfare through helping those in need. Membership dues are collected annually and meetings vary according to schedules. For information, call (806) 655-3001.

Jim Wilson Duplicate Bridge Club and the University Bridge Club, both of which meet at First United Methodist Church on 1818 Fourth Ave.

Jim Wilson meets at 10 a.m. Mondays and University at 11

a.m. Wednesdays. Residents are invited to attend either or both of these bridge clubs.

Canyon Rotary Club: The club meets at noon Tuesdays in the Buffalo Club Room at First United Bank Center.

Canyon Communications Speech Club: is open to anyone who would like to improve his or her communication or public speaking skills. The group meets for a bag lunch at noon Mondays in the University Church of Christ fellowship hall on 3400 Conner Dr. on the south side of the building. Guests and members give short orations, and members critique each other in a good-hearted but educational manner. For information, call (806) 655-0251.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 430, offers alcohol-free, smoke-free, family-oriented opportunities for fellowship and service. Each year, the organization hosts several special events and has monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the VFW hall on VFW Road northwest of Hunsley Park. Potluck meal served every third Thursday. For more information, call Sid Ricks at (806) 655-0284.

CANYON 101

HEALTHCARE

Family Medicine Center & Care Express

911 23rd St. (806) 655-2104 www.fmcclinics.com

- 7 days a week, 8amMidnight

Faith Medical Clinic 1205 23rd St #6 (806) 557-4674 www.faithmedicalclinic. org - Gloria Fuller serves as the Family Nurse Practitioner

Northwest Texas Physician Group 301 N 23rd St. Ste C (806) 452-5522 www.nwtpg.com

M-F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Texas Tech Physicians Obstetrics & Gynecology 3404 4th Ave Unit D (806) 414-9944

M-F 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

DERMATOLOGISTS

Canyon Dermatology 1101 4th Ave. (806) 655-7155

Palo Duro Dermatology 2005 N 2nd Ave. Ste. D (806) 510-3376

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Canyon Physical Therapy 907 23rd St. (806) 655-6824

CHIROPRACTORS

Canyon Chiropractic 2306 7th Ave. (806) 655-2373

Dr. Nancy Hinders

Fuller Chiropractic & Wellness

1205 23rd St., Suite1 (806) 452-8011

Dr. Stephen Fuller

Kershen Chiropractic 1613 4th Ave. (806) 655-8777

Dr. Russell Kershen Raef Chiropractic Clinic

402 15th St. (806) 655-1108

Dr. Kevin Raef and sons. 806 Chiropractic 10140 US Hwy 60 (806) 452-7575

Dr. William Braudt

DENTISTS

Dental Group of Canyon 710 23rd St 806-358-7633

Dr. Amy Stephenson

Dr. Brian Wilson 1801 4th Ave (806) 655-1104

Dr. Kenneth A. Crossland 2000 4th Ave (806) 655-4181

Full Smile Dental Group Of Canyon 2808 4th Ave Ste B (806) 557-4085

ORTHODONTISTS

Hodges & Hodges

Orthodontics 1801 4th Ave. (806) 655-4481

EYE CARE

Advanced Eye Care 1801 4th Ave. (806) 655-7748

Dr. Kevin Appel, Dr. Lauren A. Salazar and Dr. Aaron Stephenson

Epsy Vision 3406 4th Ave Ste B (806) 884-2743

Dr. Amanda Sappington

CHURCHES

There is a variety of places to worship in Canyon. With an array of denominations and service times available, Canyon is a community with many spiritual options. Sunday school and a nursery for regular church services are offered by a number of local churches.

Anchor of Hope 1208 8th Ave.

Arena of Life Cowboy Church 8827 S. FM 1541 (Loop 335 and Washington). Worship services at 10 a.m. Sunday. Wednesday night service and GRIT youth group for ages 12-18 at 7 p.m.

Bethel Baptist Church 1925 10th Ave. Worship services begin at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Bible Believers Baptist Church 12200 Rockwell Rd., 3 miles west of Interstate 27. Bible study begins at 10 a.m., and worship services are at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. A Bible study is conducted at 7 p.m. each Wednesday.

Calvary Baptist Church

800 8th St. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:40 a.m. Sunday. Wednesday 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Canyon Country Church 26000 FM 3331, Canyon

Canyon Primitive Baptist Church

1701 2nd Ave. 10:30 a.m. the first, second and third Sundays of the month.

Canyon First Assembly of God 2318 13th Ave. Life enrichment classes at 9:30 a.m. and celebration services at 10:40 a.m. Sunday. Bible study at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and youth at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Christ Family Fellowship Church 700 4th Ave. Service at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Church of Christ Canyon Hills Canyon Expressway and Buffalo Stadium Road. Adult

and children’s Bible studies at 9:45 a.m. Sunday. Morning worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and afternoon worship at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Wednesday evening services at 7 p.m.

Church of God of the Firstborn 1521 Fourth Ave. Services at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Prayer meetings at 9 p.m. Monday –Saturday.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

63 Hunsley Rd. Canyon Ward Sacrament meeting at 9 a.m. and Amarillo Young Single Adult Branch Sacrament meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday. Wednesday night youth activities at 7 p.m.

Covenant Fellowship Church 8501 Coulter. Worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Faith Community Church 2706 Fourth Ave. Classes are held at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. Sunday. Evening services are at 6:00 p.m. Sunday. Bible study begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

First Baptist Church

1717 Fourth Ave. Sunday worship service, 10:30 a.m.; Bible study for all ages, 9:15 a.m.; Adult, University, youth and children’s programs are conducted throughout the year.

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

2011 Fourth Ave. Sunday school at 9 a.m. and morning worship at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. Bible study at 10:30 a.m. Monday. GLORY night 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for fellowship, meal and Bible study.

First Presbyterian Church 904 19th St. Worship is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday; Wednesday Night Live! At 6 p.m.; monthly adult fellowship at various homes.

First Methodist Church

1818 Fourth Ave. 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. traditional service, 9:40 a.m. Sunday school for all ages, and 10:50 a.m.

contemporary service on Sunday. A variety of adult ministries, youth and children’s programs are offered. A user-friendly library is available.

First United Truth Center 1319 Fifth Ave. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday meetings at 7:30 p.m.

Freedom Fellowship Church

55 Hunsley Rd. Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Amp’d student ministries for junior and senior high students at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Various groups meet during the week.

Hillside Christian Church of Canyon 1800 23rd St. Service times at 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Youth at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Jehovah’s Witness 5141 Canyon Dr., Amarillo.

Living Water Christian Fellowship

10100 W. Hwy. 60. Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Kidzone and Momentum at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

New Beginnings Full Gospel Church

Meets at Cole Community Center on 300 16th St. Worship services at 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

Oasis Southwest Baptist Church 8201 Canyon Dr. Worship service on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Sunday night Bible study at 6 p.m.

Palo Duro Cowboy Church Hwy. 60, three miles west of Canyon. 9:30 a.m. campfire coffee and 10:30 a.m. cowboy church.

Palo Duro Canyon Church in the canyon. June – August. Old West Stables.

Pathpoint Fellowship Church 6215 Canyon Dr. Services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Youth services at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Rockwell Road Baptist Church Interstate 27 and Rockwell Rd. Sunday school at 10 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church 605 38th St. Weekend schedule: Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday and 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Christian formation is at 10:20 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Confession is at 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

St. Mark’s Anglican Church

1205 23rd St Ste 3B. Sunday service at 10:00 a.m. Eucharist. Wednesday Bible study at 6:30 p.m.

St. Paul Lutheran Church

2600 Fourth Ave. Sunday school at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. church services Sunday; University Bible fellowship at 6:00 p.m. Sunday and all college students are welcome.

Second Avenue Church of Christ

1701 Second Ave. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m.

Summit Church

2008 12th Ave. Worship experiences at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday. Services held at 7 p.m. on first Wednesday of each month.

Trinity Fellowship Church

5000 Hollywood Rd. Service times are at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday. Nursery and children’s ministries are provided for all services.

Twenty-First St. Church of Christ

6th Ave & 21st St. Canyon. Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday worship at 7:30 p.m

University Church of Christ

3400 Conner Dr. Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and morning worship at 10:25 a.m. with evening worship at 6 p.m. Sunday. Wednesday devotionals and children’s classes start at 7 p.m. (times change with season)

RESTAURANTS

If it’s good eats or a sweet treat, Canyon residents have good reason to stay close to home, with a wide variety of choices.

13/30 Coffee, 201 26th St

Bear’s Burgers & Dawgs, 2001-A North 2nd Ave.

Best Thai Restaurant, 210 23rd St.

Braum’s, 1101 23rd St.

Buenos Dias, 1202 23rd St.

Buffs, 2201 4th Ave

Burger King, 1301 23rd St.

Cake Company, 1502 5th Ave.

Chicken Express, 2106 N. 2nd Ave.

Creek House Honey Farm,

5005 4th Ave.

Dominos, 301 N. 23rd St

Ste. B

Double Eagle Grill & More, 50 Country Club Dr

El Tapatio, 2301 12th Ave.

Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Q, 104 23rd St.

Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner, 2100 N. 2nd Ave.

Flex Nutrition, 204 23rd St.

Got Donuts, 601 23rd St.

Hero Nutrition, 1911 4th Ave

Hudspeth House H&H

Coffee, 1905 4th Ave

Hil’s Burgers, 1302 23rd St.

Joe Taco, 502 15th St.

Journey Coffee, 3406 4th Ave.

King and I, 104 15th St.

PLACES TO SHOP IN CANYON

Ace Hardware, 900 23rd St

Burrowing Owl, 419 16th St.

Canyon Popcorn Co., 2304 4th Avenue

Canyon’s Edge Plants, 1401 5th Ave

Creation’s by MikEE Jewelry, 1607 4th Ave

Creek House Honey Farm, 5005 4th Ave.

HR’s Flowers & Gifts, 2010 4th Ave.

Luxe Lane, 419 16th St.

Marsha Clements Art, 1608 4th Ave.

Palo Duro Canyon Visitor & Gift Center, 11450 Park Rd 5. Palo Duro Canyon Outftters, 1601 4th Ave.

Panhandle-Plains Historical

Museum Gift Shop, 2503 4th Ave.

Pink Cadillac Boutique, 307 Country Club Dr.

Ranchers Storefront, 1505 4th Ave.

ReUze It Again, 1513 4th Ave.

Restoration Chic, 2316 4th Ave.

Runningwater Dry Goods, 418 15th St

Ruthette’s, 1517 4TH Ave.

Sad Monkey Mercantile, 9800 TX - 217

Stevens Flowers & Gifts, 1515 4th Ave.

TEXAS Musical Ticket Office & Gift Shop, 1514 5th Ave.

Jack B. Kelley Food Court (WTAMU campus)

La Bella Pizza, 700 23rd St.

Little Ceaser’s Pizza, 306 23rd St.

Mama DeLuca’s inside Walmart, 1701 N. 23rd St.

McDonald’s, 200 23rd St.

Mickey’s Place, 1512 5th Ave.

Palace Coffee Company, 420 15th St.

Pepito’s Mexican Restaurante, 408 23rd St.

Pizza Hut, 110 23rd St.

Pony Express Burritos, 2808 4th Ave. Unit C

Ranch House Cafe, 810 23rd St.

Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe, 404 15th St.

The Purple Zebra Boutique, 404 15th St.

The Rack Boutique, 1609 4th Ave.

The Sport Zone & Blessed Buffalo Boutique, 2306 4th Ave.

Thompson’s Gift Shop, 405 16th St.

United Supermarkets, 201 N 23rd St.

Walmart, 1701 N 23rd St.

Weathered Elements, 1521 4th Ave.

West Texas A&M University Bookstore, 101 25th St.

West Texas Western Store, 1206 23rd St.

Sayakomarn’s Thai and Lao Cuisine, 419 16th St.

Schlotzsky’s Deli, 901 23rd St.

Sonic Drive-In, 1007 23rd St.

Subway, 102 N. 23rd St.

Subway inside Walmart, 1701 N. 23rd St.

Taco Bell, 611 23rd St.

Taco Villa, 110 North 23rd St.

Texas Rose Steakhouse, 2811 4th Ave.

Thai Kitchen, 713 23rd St.

United Supermarket Deli, 201 23rd St.

Wendy’s, 407 23rd St.

West Texas Sports Grill, 1512 5th Ave Ste 204

Varsity Coffee, 2320 4th Ave

GROCERY STORES

United Supermarket 201 23rd St.

Offers groceries, a bakery, floral shop and pharmacy

Fully cooked meals also can be purchased at the deli area

Wal-Mart Supercenter 1701 N. 23rd St.

Everything from groceries to the latest fashions

Dollar General

400 Harrell Ln. Groceries, cleaning supplies, cards, clothing and miscellaneous items

LODGING

Canyon plays host to many attractions and sights around the city. Overnight visitors can find lodging in modern hotels, at homey inns, or outside under the Panhandle sky on warm summer nights. Every visitor can find a perfect fit for their traveling needs. A number of hotels and area bed and breakfasts in Canyon offer a wide variety of amenities for travelers and locals alike.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

2901 Fourth Ave.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, which consists of 66 guest rooms, offers numerous amenities, including spacious rooms, executive whirlpool suites and family options. The hotel begins each day with a unique expressstart breakfast bar. Guests can enjoy free high-speed Internet, on-site self-laundry facilities, an indoor pool, spa and exercise room. Visitors can stay “plugged in” via new technology. Family pets are also welcome guests. Special rates are available for groups, celebrations and family gatherings. To make reservations or secure additional information, individuals are asked to call (806) 655-4445 or go online to www.hiexpress.com.

Hampton Inn & Suites Canyon 3101 4th Ave.

Hampton Inn and Suites Canyon offers 91 guest rooms with a combination of Suites for both family and business guests.  Guests can enjoy a Full Hot Complimentary Breakfast, Free WiFi, EV Charging, a Business Center, and Streaming TV access.  Our fitness center boasts state of the art equipment.  The meeting room can accommodate large groups for baby showers, bridal

showers, weddings, seminars, trainings, etc.  Relax on our patio with a fireplace or take a dip in our indoor pool.  Come and enjoy our full-service bar that can cater to any of your events!  Additionally, there is an on-site laundry facility, a 24/7 Market, and all guest rooms have refrigerators and microwaves.  For Reservations call (806) 452-0044 or visit us online at https://www. hilton.com/en/hotels/amacthxhampton-suites-canyon/.

Palo Duro Best Western Inn and Suites

2801 Fourth Ave.

Guests in the 55 modern suites and rooms can take advantage of an indoor pool and hot tub, high-speed Internet connections (wireless and hard wire), free local calls, in-room hair dryers and coffee makers, DVD/VCR and free HBO/CNN/ESPN cable hookups. The hotel is pet friendly. To make reservations or secure information, individuals may call (806) 655-1818.

Buffalo Inn

300 23rd St.

Cable, HBO and ESPN television service, along with free high speed wireless Internet, are among the free services offered to patrons of the Buffalo Inn at 300 23rd St. Located across the street from the WTAMU campus, the facility is near the museum and a number of eating establishments. Free summer breakfast is available, along with a refrigerator and microwave.

Groups are welcome and winter weekly rates and senior citizen discounts are offered. For reservations or information, call (806) 655-2124 or (800) 5269968 or go online to www. buffaloinncanyontx.com.

Buffalo Junction Guest Home 1818 Fifth Ave.

This guest home is located in the heart of Canyon within walking distance to the downtown square and West Texas A&M University. The house was built in 1920 and has high ceilings and original wood floors. The kitchen has everything you need to make a home-cooked meal, and there is also a laundry room with a washer and dryer for your convenience. Cable TV and WiFi are provided, as well as a book nook, DVD collection, board games and outdoor games. Outdoor space offers seating and a barbecue grill. For reservation or information, call (806) 5704508.

Hudspeth House

1905 Fourth Ave.

The historic Hudspeth House was built in 1909 and operated as a boarding house for some faculty at West Texas Normal College, now recognized as West Texas A&M University. Mrs. Hudspeth, who was among the first faculty at the college, hired a cook and entertained students and staff. Artist Georgia O’Keefe ate her meals in the house during her two years on staff at the college. The home later was owned by private individuals and became a bed and breakfast in 1987. It is now the most unique lodging accommodation in Canyon, offering seven beautifully appointed rooms. Rates range from $105-$155 per night and include a delicious full breakfast. Call (806) 6559800 or go online at www. hudspethinn.com to make reservations.

Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast

100 Brentwood Rd.

Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast sits on the northern branch of the Palo Duro Canyon, surrounded by

a green oasis with nearly 100-year-old elm trees and skirted by the colorful canyon walls. The three cabins offer guests a relaxing and romantic getaway. The bed and breakfast also serves as a wedding venue. Call at (806) 622-2382. On weekend mornings, Starlight Canyon offers a hot, homecooked breakfast delivered to rooms to allow guests to stay in the comfort of the cabins. During the week, a continental-style breakfast with homemade cinnamon rolls is available. Check-in time is from 4 – 6 p.m., but arrangements can be made if guests make a request. Check-out time is 11 a.m., but many guests find it hard to leave. For an additional $55, a late checkout can be accommodated.

The Cottage Guest Home 2010 Third Ave.

The Cottage Guest Home, built in 1948, is like a home away from home. It is located two blocks from West Texas A&M University and is also near many shops. Amenities include household conveniences such as a guest snack basket, linens, towels and wash cloths, toiletries, a blow dryer, a front load washer and dryer, laundry soap and dryer sheets, robes, a Keurig coffee machine and coffee, high-speed Internet, cable television, a DVD collection and a kitchen furnished with all one needs to whip up a meal. Fun things to do include a hot tub, a patio and grill, a garden sitting area, four bicycles, a game closet, an outdoor washers board and a book nook. Special packages are priced in addition to nightly rates.

The honeymoon/romantic getaway includes a choice of wine or sparkling cider, a cheese and cracker tray, and a scented candle tray for

bedroom or hot tub area. The girls’ weekend package offers a paraffin wax treatment, facial masks and an ice cream and toppings set-up. The couples’ vision retreat allows for time to step away from busy schedules and refocus.

To make reservations or for more information, call (806) 223-3233, or go online to http://www. thecottageguesthome.com.

For those who would rather “rough it,” the Canyon area has three RV parks. Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers primitive and backpacking camping sites, four primitive cow camp cabins and a trio of threequarter century old cabins with canyon views.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park Sites at Palo Duro Canyon are available by phoning (512) 389-8900 for reservations.

Available are:

- Primitive and backpacking cabin, four persons, $12

- Campsites with electricity and water, four persons, $20

- Four primitive cow camp cabins, no water, two persons, $55

- Three 1930s-era cabins with views of the canyon: Lighthouse and Goodnight, $100; larger Sorenson cabin, $115. Each has restrooms. Four persons. Pets allowed.

RV PARKS:

Palo Duro Mobile RV & Mobile Home Park, I-27 and Texas 217; phone 488-2548.

West Rim RV Park - Located at state park entrance; 488-2241; nightly charges and special rates for senior citizens, military, police and firemen; gift shop and convenience store open at 8 a.m. Woodall’s - U.S. Hwy. 60; west of Canyon.

Palo Duro Lodging RV Park –24501 Hix Rd, 806-680-3401

The Silos at Canyon RV Park19671 City Lake Rd

GOLFING

Palo Duro Creek Golf Course

50 Country Club Dr. (806) 655-1106

Public golf course

Weekday green fees: $25 during the day and $18 after 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Weekend green fees: $30 during the day and $20 after 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday; Seniors over 60: $21 on weekdays and $26 on weekends; Juniors 18 and under: $15; Full-time college students age 24 or younger: $21 on weekdays and $26 on weekends; Annual permits: $1080 for an individual, with additional individuals in the family added for $360 each; Student senior permit: $240 for high school seniors and younger good June through August; Senior citizen permits: $690 for single weekday play Features of the course include a practice range and green and a golf shop

Canyon Country Club

19501 Chaparral Rd. (806) 499-3397

Semi-private golf course, which is open to the public

Member guest green fee: $17 for 18 holes or $11 for 9 holes Monday through Thursday; Weekend green fees: $20 for $18 holes and $11 for 9 holes; Seniors, Monday through Thursday, $14 for 18 holes; Non-Member green fee: $20 for 18 holes or $11 for 9 holes Monday through Thursday; Senior green fee $14 for 18 holes Monday through Thursday.

To get to the Country Club Golf Course, travel west on the U.S. Highway 60 for about two miles, turn right at the club sign, and travel one more mile to the club house.

*All rates subject to change.

LAUNDRY:

Buffalo Laundry

1302 23rd St.

32 washers and 13 dryers

Cost to wash a load is $1.50

The dryers cost 25 cents for every seven and a half minutes

Chairs and tables available

Palo Duro Laundry

2312 9th Ave.

28 washers and 18 dryers

Cost to wash a load is $1.50

The dryers cost 25 cents for every seven and a half minutes

Tables, rolling baskets and chairs

CLEANERS:

Modern Cleaners

411 16th St 806-655-3611

U.S. Cleaners

2005 N 2nd Ave. Ste A 806-452-8022

BUSINESS HONOR ROLL