Amarillo, TX

Just over three years ago, one of the schools in the Amarillo, Texas area was becoming extremely over crowded and, to keep up their good education image in the community, the Panhandle Independent School District decided to build a new school to help relieve the population of the other and to do renovations on the other school to update it. Now, over 650 students in the Panhandle ISD are using the much needed new school facilities a year ahead of time.

Students will no longer have to walk from their classrooms to the gym or library in the cold because of the new enclosed walkway. And, they won't have to rush through lunch anymore because there are now two cafeterias to accommodate all the students.

All 110+ band students will no longer have to rub shoulders in the band hall. They now have plenty of standing and storage room for themselves and all their instruments.

The new facilities are huge, with a whole lot more room.

Scheduling for the school was due to be finished next year, but has finished ahead of schedule, after just 18 months of development. Only a couple things remain to be completed, including a new high school gym and landscaping, which should be complete within the next month.

The new additions were approved by voters and paid for with $27.5 million in bonds. The bonds also provided modern science labs, larger libraries, computers with high-tech screens, a connection bridge between the junior high and high school and a new 60,000-square-foot elementary school.

The new facilities are already a huge hit with students, parents, teachers and those looking to buy property in Amarillo, Texas. It looks, like in times of need, the community of Amarillo really pulls together and comes through for its students.

Your Sound Choice for Amarillo Real Estate - Realtor® Tom Kile

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Recently, I have discovered that many areas in Amarillo have dedicated themselves to enhancing their attractions so their visitors can get the best experience possible. And now, these major additions and new touches have really increased value all over Amarillo. Therefore, I have taken time to compile a list of these wonderful enhancements to Amarillo in my blog.

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum has come out with three fun new programs to help their visitors find their way across the state's largest history museum. Visitors can play PPHM Bingo at 10:30 a.m. each weekday. Family members actually compete with one another in a game of discovery and speed. They can play Chat with a Curator at 3:30 p.m. each week day, where visitors will get to meet a different curator everyday and learn about the artifacts and their job. They can also play Staff Favorites all day long. This game can be played and seen throughout the museum as each staff member describes their own personal connection to a particular artifact with a Staff Favorite label.

The Amarillo Zoo has many new programs and a new exhibit this summer. Combine that with free admission and it will top anyone's list as being a "must see". The zoo is opening the Herpetarium, which will include 60 animals from 30 species of exotic and native amphibians and reptiles.

Now, visitors can unlock zoo education with ZooKeys for the additional cost of $2.50. And, Zoo Fari carts can be driven around the zoo, giving the guests a chance to interact with and touch things like skulls, furs, snakes and feathers.

The Wonderland Amusement Park has opened up three new rides for this summer. Those rides include: The Hornet, a small but fast roller coaster with a sting, the Fiesta Swing and the Drop of Fear, a 200-foot tall tower of terror. All visitors can enjoy the park for $15.95 for adults and kids are $12.95; however, weekend prices are higher.

For anyone that loves horses, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame will now be open with longer hours during the summer. From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., you can take the extra time to enjoy the exhibit of the Quarter Horse Journal, a 60 year celebration, chronicling the entire Quarter Horse industry. The Hall of Fame & Museum is located at 2601 E. Quarter Horse Dr.

These all sound like awesome enhancements and additions to many of Amarillo's top attractions. I hope you get to take advantage of them before the summer is over.

Realtor® Tom Kile ~ Amarillo Texas Real Estate

Useful contact information in Amarillo, TX

If you are thinking about buying or selling your home in Amarillo, TX I thought I would provide you with some information that I thought might help you out.

UTILITIES

Electric Services

Xcel Energy XcelEnergy.com 800-895-4999

Gas Service

Atmos Energy 1-888-363-7427

Water and Sewer Service

City of Amarillo 509 E. 7th 806-378-3078

City of Canyon 301 16th St. 806-655-5003

TELEPHONE (Residential)

Alltel 7203 W Interstate 40 Ste M 806-336-0328

AMA TechTel Communications 4909 Canyon Drive 806-322-2222

AT&T 800-222-0300

NTS Communications 801 S. Filmore, Suite 130 806-376-7747

Sprint 800-877-7746

CABLE TELEVISION

SuddenLink Amarillo 5800 W. 45th Ave. 806-358-4801

Canyon 2201 8th Ave. 806-655-2114

NEWSPAPER

Amarillo Globe News 900 S. Harrison 806-376-4488

DRIVER'S LICENSE

Department of Public Safety 4200 Canyon Drive 806-468-1 400

VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Potter County Tax Office 900 S. Polk, Suite 1 06 806-342-2630

Randall County Tax Office-Annex 4111 S. Georgia 806-468-5654

or Canyon Office 400 16th St, Canyon 806-468-5540

FOR EMERGENCIES CALL 911

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

AISD 7200 1-40 West 806-354-4200

Bushland ISD 3rd and Wells, Bushland 806-359-6683

CISD 508 16th St, Canyon 806-677-2600

Highland Park HPISD 1800 Ave F 806-335-2823

River Road RRISD 9500 US 287 North 806-381 -7800

Many people travel through downtown Amarillo daily and don't realize how much history they are missing. However, with a handy guide and a careful eye, everyone can enjoy a stroll through downtown Amarillo and see that the city contains more than just tall buildings.

When one sets out on foot through the streets of downtown Amarillo, you see it and experience it very differently. All you have to do is slow down and take the time to pay attention to the details.

Polk Street alone contains nine sites of history. Therefore, I am taking advantage of my blog to list some of these sites as a guide for anyone interested in discovering Amarillo's downtown history for themselves.

High Plains Public Radio is located at 500 S. Polk St. It was built in 1902 by Stafford Lightburne. This is the oldest commercial building still standing in downtown Amarillo.

The Fisk Medical Arts Building is located at 724 S. Polk St. It was built in 1927 by Guy Carlander. This brick building features beautiful terra cotta ornamental trim. Don't forget to look for the blue statues that are on top of the building.

White and Kirk Building is located at 516 S. Polk St. It was built in 1938 by Guy Carlander. The style of this building is based on the Art Deco movement in the Pueblo Deco style.

The Santa Fe Building is located at 900 S. Polk St. It was built somewhere between 1928 and 1930 by E.A. Harrison. This building is a 14-story skyscraper that features a great mix of modern and Gothic ornamentation. Check out the lobby. It features marble and bronze.

The Kress Building is located at 702 S. Polk St. It was built in 1932 by R.R. Rowe. Like several other Kress retail stores of this time, the building features high-end architectural details. This building also represents the Pueblo Deco movement.

The Barfield Building is located at 602 S. Polk St. It was built in 1927 by Wyatt Hedrick. This building is a 10-story structure that was once home to a bank and other offices. It now stands vacant; however, it will soon be converted into apartments.

Polk Street United Methodist Church is located at 1401 S. Polk St. It was built in 1928 by J. Roy Smith and R. H. Hunt and Co. The main complex of the church features a Gothic style design and the adjoining parsonage features an English Tudor style. Look for the Good Shepherd in the stained-glass windows.

Acapulco's is located at 727 S. Polk St. It was built in 1972 by an unknown person. This particular building features some of the most elaborate artistic architectural work that can be found in downtown Amarillo. There are also beautiful flower details around the top of the building.

The Paramount Theater is located at 817 S. Polk St. It was built somewhere between 1928 and 1930 by E.A. Harrison. This building was once Amarillo's finest movie theater before it was converted into office space in 1969. There is a 33.5-foot neon sign that was restored in 2006.

I hope this guide helps make the most of your experience the next time you are in downtown Amarillo.

Realtor® Connie Taylor ~ Amarillo, Texas Real Estate

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Because of the Swine Flu scare (aka H1N1), there has been discussion of cancelling the Greater Southwest Music Festival. However, the organizers of the event have decided to keep the event scheduled as planned. This is great news for many middle and high school musicians throughout the area that come for the musical competition. The festival will proceed on May 6^th, 7^th and 8^th as planned.

The organizers of the festival have decided to keep the event on schedule since so many pieces are already in place. The trophies are ready, the plane tickets have been purchased for the judges and the venues have been booked. The Amarillo Civic Center cannot be booked again for awhile, as well. It is booked until June.

Some of the smaller schools have already opted out of participating in the event. Many schools are following the UIL recommendations of postponing any travel until after May 11^th.

The organizers of the festival want to stress to everyone participating that safety precautions will be observed throughout the festival. There will be sanitizers available at all times, restrooms will remain clean and much more.

The Greater Southwest Music Festival will be held at the Amarillo Civic Center, the Center for Performing Arts and the Globe News Center, with almost 9,000 students expected to attend.

It sounds like this will be a great event for everyone attending with many health and safety precautions in the works. It will be a great event for the musicians in the Amarillo area to get together as planned and have a good time.

Visiting or relocating to Amarillo and want community information? Find it here.

Homes for Sale in Amarillo, Texas ~ Realtor® Tom Kile