Localism: Potter County, TX

Help Fill Amarillo's Empty Stocking Fund

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:11:07 -0600

For the last 34 years, Amarillo Globe-News newspaper has sponsored the Empty Stocking Fund. The fund provides some basic necessities for local Amarillo families as well as individuals, which may include a small gift for needy children. Every penny donated to the Empty Stocking Fund goes directly to the fund. The newspaper absorbs all the operating costs of the fund. To help raise funds, the Amarillo College Community Band and two choir groups from the Amarillo Youth Choir will give a concert on December 7th from 3-5pm at the Globe-News Center. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds benefit the fund. If you would like to send a donation, please make checks out to:

The Empty Stocking Fund

PO Box 2091

Amarillo, TX 79166.

If you would like to donate online using your credit card, please click here. For more information or to donate over the phone, please call 806-345-3363. If you are a family or individual in need of some assistance this weekend, please click here to download an application for help. Thank you for any help you can give this holiday season.

Affordable Homes For First Time Buyers

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:52:44 -0600

Everyone wants to find an affordable home, especially first-time buyers. So, a great place to begin your search is in Amarillo , Texas . The community has some wonderful little fixer-uppers. A fixer-upper is a home that needs repairs or upgrades. These types of properties are usually small, but can also be a cost-effective way to buy a home.

Okay, I know what most of you are thinking. Size matters. But in today's economy, you have to ask yourself, "How much does size really matter?" Affordability is what most first-time buyers are looking for, so they will have to expect less space and expect the property to need a little tender loving care.

If you're a first-time buyer looking for an affordable home, you may want to consider a fixer-upper. Of course, you will also have to overlook the imperfections. That's why it's called a fixer-upper. One of the top benefits to buying a fixer-upper is the equity you can build over time. Hey, face it; the equity you build now can put you in your dream home later.

As always, when buying a home, it is important to get an inspection. This is even more important when buying a fixer-upper. You don't want to get stuck in a money trap. Some basic repairs to expect with a fixer-upper is new flooring, paint, window treatment, landscaping, and other minor repairs. Anything more than that, you will have to use your better judgment and weigh the price of the home versus the repair costs.

Just remember to take your time when buying any home. It would not hurt to look at 10 to 20 homes before making a final decision. Good luck with your house-hunting experience.

Amarillo, Texas Real Estate

Amarillo, Texas Homes For Sale

Amarillo, Texas Neighborhoods

Amarillo, Texas Realtor

Amarillo High School: LADY SANDIES WRITE HISTORY: THIRD CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:42:44 -0600

LADY SANDIES WRITE HISTORY: THIRD CONSECUTIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

A FIRST FOR CLASS 5A SCHOOLS

The Amarillo High School varsity volleyball team beat Austin Westlake in the State volleyball

finals Saturday, Nov. 22, to become the first Class 5A team in the State's history to win three

consecutive state volleyball championships.

The Sandies vs. Westlake match finished 19-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-19, and 15-11. The match was

held at Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos. Last year, the Lady Sandies also played Austin

Westlake for the state title. This year's win is coach Jan Barker's 7th state title as a volleyball

coach at Amarillo High.

Senior Aryn Bohannon was named most valuable player for the Class 5A state tournament, with

14 kills, 13 digs, two blocks and an ace.

WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!

Free Tutoring For Amarillo , Texas Students

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:37:29 -0600

Amarillo, Texas has some really great schools in the community. But even with good schools, sometimes bringing home a report card can be very traumatic for some students. Some students just need a little extra help. So, one local organization has started the Brainfuse program. Brainfuse is an online tutorial that helps students bring up their grades.

Brainfuse has been funded by the Harrington Library Consortium, available to almost all libraries in the Texas Panhandle. The program gives students the opportunity to get one-on-one tutoring from a professional. The program is available from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the week in both English and Spanish.

Library officials can assure parents that the program is safe and reliable for children to improve their studies.

The professional tutors working with Brainfuse each have four year degrees, are specialists in their subject, and are all current educators. They have even had background checks. The tutors range from graduate students to retired teachers.

To access the program, students only need a library card and pin number.

If you have a student in Amarillo , Texas schools, you can access the program by clicking on any of the links below:

http://proxy.harringtonlc.org:2048/login?url=http://main.hlc.tx.brainfuse.com

http://www.brainfuse.com/

http://www.harringtonlc.org/

http://www.amarillolibrary.org/

Amarillo, Texas Real Estate

Investors Beware of REO Scam

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:39:54 -0600

For investors looking at buying an REO (Real Estate Owned) property, please be on the lookout for one of the latest scams to hit the real estate market when investigating a potential investment. As a property goes into foreclosure and becomes empty, con artists are renting out the property to people for bargain, cash only rents to make a quick buck before the property is sold. Since the renter is unaware that this is a scam, they may become hostile when you try to check out the property before purchasing it. The scam artists get information on default loans and properties about to enter foreclosure through the same public records as potential investors. Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when going to check out a bank owned property:

1. Check out possible neighborhood risks before heading out to a property. Always make sure someone else knows where you are going and which route you intend to take to get there and back as an extra security measure.

2. Scan the exterior of the property to see if there are any signs of forced entry (such as a broken window or back door) before entering the REO property. Always knock on the front door and verbally make your presence known BEFORE entering.

3. Always bring a heavy flashlight with you...even in broad daylight. A heavy flashlight is not only a good tool to view the inside of a home that has had the electricity turned off, but it can also be used as a defensive tool in case of an altercation.

Make sure to use common sense when investigating any property. No investment is worth getting hurt over.