Connie Taylor

The Maverick Club, a 74 year old youth club for both boys and girls in Amarillo, Texas may close by the end of this year if they are unable to get more donations. Many people are facing hard times, or are just plain scared about the economy, so they have stopped giving.

The Maverick Club is one of the oldest boys and girls clubs in the state. It currently operates on a $600,000 yearly budget. The club provides after-school care, and offers technology, sports, and arts programs to over four-hundred children in four locations. Students also get help with homework. To many children, the club is a safe haven.

The board is trying to do everything in their power to seek alternatives that will keep the school open. But, the club has not met its monthly budget this year. The clubs funding comes from different places. One-third comes from United Way, while two-thirds comes from personal donations. The club charges $20 a years per child to parents who have the money. Most of the budget goes to paying employees. The state requires the club to keep a certain number of staff per so many kids. The club has now exhausted all of its savings and is now asking for personal donations.

Amarillo residents are known for their big hearts. So, if you live in Amarillo, please help keep this wonderful youth club open for the hundreds of children who need it so desperately. If, the club can keep its doors open through these tough times, it will be around for many years to come.

Through the partnership of Amarillo College and Faith City Ministries, local Amarillo women are able to go to college for free. The college is called Success University. The name is perfect for its cause. This free opportunity is for homeless moms. It will help them to get the education needed to support their family without government assistance.

Many women struggle to earn minimum wage while trying to provide for their children, living paycheck to paycheck, making it very hard to live without extra financial help. But, through the courses provided at the Success University, these Amarillo, Texas women will be able to find better paying jobs.

The women attending Success University will begin with college preparatory classes that will help them get up to speed with college curriculum. In the future, Faith City Ministries is hoping to have men attend classes there also, but they are currently waiting on additional funding for the program.

Amarillo, Texas also has several other colleges and universities in the area, both private and public, offering an array of classes for everyone.

Over five-hundred Gustav Evacuees are expected to arrive in Amarillo, Texas in a few days, and Amarillo is welcoming them with open arms. To prepare for the evacuees, the American Red Cross is going to hold two training sessions for disaster volunteer teams.

Training sessions will be held today, August 29^th, at 1800 S. Harrison at the Red Cross building. Each class will be ninety minutes long. Evacuees will be housed at the Amarillo Civic Center until the end of Gustav.

This is a great training class for Amarillo residents who are interested in helping their fellow Americans. Each time Amarillo has evacuees coming in, the residents have been so good about volunteering to help out. It really shows what a great community Amarillo really is, and how friendly the residents are.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a must see while in Amarillo, Texas. Not only is it the state's most magnificent attraction, it is also the nation's most awesome scenic attraction. The park is open year round and is made up of 25,000 beautiful acres.

While in the park, you will see the most extraordinary colors and beautiful vistas, all from the comfort of your own automobile. You get to enjoy the same trails the Native Americans once used. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are very popular among visitors. There are also many great areas for picnicking. You can stay the night and camp at one of the many campsites in the park, or rent a cabin for more comfort.

Another great place to visit is the Palo Duro Riding Stables and Timber Springs. Here, you will find the finest miles of canyon. They have some of the most gentle horses around. The Palo Duro Riding Stables and Timber Springs is one of Texas' best kept secrets.

When visiting, you can enjoy natural springs, thousand year old Indian remains, old cottonwood trees, miles of magnificent trials, and much more. The stables also offer riding lessons for beginners.

If you're looking for some great outdoor fun while in Amarillo, Texas, whether you live here or you are just visiting, these places are a must to visit.

The saying "the third time is always a charm", is very true in this case. After two other failed attempts to renovate and expand the 32-year-old Amarillo Library, things are finally underway.

This week, sidewalk work began. This is the first step in many to come. The $680,000 project will also include a change of the interior layout, new carpet and new paint.

After the project is finished, there will be twenty-four new computer workstations. That's double what it is now. And, the second floor will be available for research. The Bush-FitzSimon collection will then be available on the first floor, instead of its current, second floor, location. The Bush-FitzSomon collection is made up of text books of early Texas and Southwest history, along with other historical documents. The first floor will also hold the children's area, the computer area and popular literature.

The library is getting its funding from library bonds that were issued in 1999 and funds left over from other Amarillo Library's that have been renovated.

I am happy to see that our Amarillo Library is getting the makeover it needs. It shows that our community is growing by leaps and bounds.