News

 The Amarillo Civic Center Complex has announced the official renaming of the box office hallway near Entrance 1 as Artisan Commons at Civic Center, marking a renewed commitment to celebrating community heritage, cultural impact and local creativity.  The Artisan Commons at Civic Center will serve as a welcoming, art-forward corridor connecting guests to events, exhibitions and community gatherings throughout the Civic Center.  As part of the renaming, the Civic Center will debut a curated display of artwork from Amarillo-area artists, provided in partnership with Arts in the Sunset. This installation will be featured along the length of Artisan Commons at Civic Center, offering visitors an immersive look at the region’s artistic talent and strengthening the hall’s role as a cultural showcase.  “Renaming this hallway and filling it with local artwork reflects Amarillo’s dedication to honoring our past while uplifting the voices shaping our future,” said Amarillo Civic Center General Manager Christopher Post. A public dedication ceremony will be held on October 7 at 2 p.m. inside the Civic Center near the box office at Entrance 1. The event will include remarks from city leaders, a ribbon-cutting, an unveiling of new signage and a viewing of the Arts in the Sunset collection.  The Amarillo Civic Center Complex continues to serve as a central hub for conventions, entertainment and community events. The renaming of Artisan Commons at Civic Center and the introduction of local artwork represents the next chapter in the facility’s evolution as Amarillo invests in modernization, expanded programming and deeper community engagement.  For more information about the dedication ceremony or upcoming events at the Amarillo Civic Center, please contact Christopher Post at 806-378-9480 or by email at Christopher.Post@Amarillo.gov.  Also for more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov.

 An unauthorized discharge of approximately 200,000 gallons of untreated wastewater has been contained at Lift Station 40 located at 7100 Cliffside Road.  Wastewater did not reach any natural waterways.  The discharge began on Sunday (September 20) at 12:30 p.m. and was contained at 3:15 p.m. The cause of the discharge was a pump malfunction causing the lift station to overflow from the manhole. Remediation and disinfection of land surface areas is complete.  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been notified of the spill. Repair and remediation efforts have been completed by City of Amarillo Wastewater Collections personnel.  For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov. 

John Baines tells a story that symbolizes Repair Cafe and its unique mission. At a recent Repair Cafe event at the Warford Activity Center (WAC), two small girls brought in their bicycles with flat tires. “They pushed their bikes to Warford,” said Baines, 77, a U.S. Army veteran and retired registered nurse for more than 40 years, including at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. “No one knew how or was willing to fix them for them.” A Repair Cafe volunteer stepped up and patched the tires and repaired the bike chains. And the girls were on their way. “The girls were so excited when they got to ride their bikes home,” Baines said. “They were tickled to death. They had not been able to ride their bikes for months.” This is what makes Repair Cafe special for the Amarillo community. Baines is one of more than 20 volunteers for Repair Cafe, a free semiannual event by the City of Amarillo (COA) Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) where volunteers help residents repair/fix broken items such as lamps, bicycles, clothing, etc. Repair Cafe returns Saturday at the WAC from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many of the volunteers are active in the 50 and Better programs provided by the WAC. Myrl Betts is another volunteer and most likely one of the first faces you see when you enter the WAC for Repair Cafe. She is more or less the official greeter for Repair Cafe.  “People come in for repairs that they probably would not have been able to pay someone to do,” said Betts, who is 84 years young with two grown sons, five grandchildren and five great-granchildren. “Just seeing the joy on their faces when they leave with their items repaired is really special.” Betts, who retired from Pantex three times (they kept asking her to come back, Betts said with a laugh) and IBM once, serves the

There is hope for that broken appliance, torn sweater or bicycle that needs a repair. Don’t toss it. Bring it to the Repair Cafe (a program of the City of Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department – PARD) on September 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Warford Activity Center, located at 1330 N.W. 18th Ave. The free semiannual event is about building community while helping residents repair broken items. Whether it’s a lamp, a favorite sweater, or a small appliance, volunteer fixers will be on hand to work and repair it. Plus, participants get the chance to learn simple repair skills to fix items themselves in the future. Here are the details: Each family is welcome to bring one item for repair. If time allows, volunteers may be able to accommodate additional items. Residents must stay with their items during the repair process – this is a hands-on experience, and residents will be learning alongside volunteer fixers. “Repair Cafe isn’t a typical repair shop. It’s a fun, community-focused event centered on sustainability and sharing knowledge,” said PARD Senior Services Coordinator Kari Bachman. “It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and learn new skills.” No registration is required. For more information, contact Kari Bachman at (806) 678-8359. Also for more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov.

Repairs are underway to a sewer main that has resulted in an unauthorized discharge of 750,000 gallons of untreated wastewater located at a manhole immediately to the east of East Amarillo Creek between West Chaparral Road and East Chaparral Road. Wastewater has reached East Amarillo Creek and possibly flowing towards Thomspon Park Lake. Laboratory tests will be conducted for any possible levels of contamination. The City of Amarillo Water Utilities Department was notified of the unauthorized discharge at 11:30 a.m. Friday (September 11) and immediately dispatched personnel to the location. The crews were able to stop the unauthorized discharge at 3:25 p.m. Repair work is still needed and ongoing. As the wastewater has travelled into the waterway of East Amarillo Creek, it is advised that all recreational contact with the waterbody of Thompson Park Lake and East Amarillo Creek between West Chaparral Road and W Hastings Avenue be temporarily discontinued. Recreational contact includes activities such as wading, paddling, kayaking or fishing. Site remediation has begun and the repair location has been barricaded for public safety. Laboratory samples will be collected routinely following the completion of the repair to monitor any environmental impacts. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been notified of the spill and remediation efforts are being conducted by City of Amarillo Wastewater Collections personnel.