Panhandle Magazine Summer 2020

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Summer 2020 Edition

Ryan Palmer: Interview

Musical Dreams Come True

Texas Route 66

Palo Duro Canyon W W W . P A N H A N D L E M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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WELCOME

Ryan Palmer: Interview

Welcome to Panhandle Magazine. This edition is packed full of articles, pictures and additional online content.

His career, his foundation and his family, all questions answered

Panhandle Magazine celebrates one year of bringing interesting stories about people, places and things that make the Panhandle a great place to live.

During this unique time in history, we take a moment to highlight people making things happen, capture interesting images, tips we can all use.

Palo Duro Canyon What to know before your visit PAGE 35

We would love more positive stories of people, companies and groups that are making a difference. Please share those stories on our Facebook page, so others can learn and be uplifted.

Musical Dreams...

Ed Montana plays at the Ryman PAGE 31

PAGE 33

Lindsey Lane plays music full-time

Gardening Master Gardeners Panhandle Greenhouse Pete's Greenhouse Water Wizards

@PANHANDLEMAGAZINE @PANHANDLEMAGAZINE

PUBLISHER / EDITOR NewsChannel 10 Staff PROOF EDITOR: Carol Winn PAGES 9, 11, 37 & 38

Money, Food & Radio Amarillo Area Foundation broad reach Community Market Thrives PAGES 5, 17 & 29

PM Magazine is a division of Gray TV and KFDA-NewsChannel10 Media

Contributors Include: Nick Gerlich Lance Lahnert Amarillo Area Foundation Ben Parks Zachary Davis Beth Duke Tyler Frazer

RT Hicks Courtney Oxley Ed Montana Linsey Lane Cindy Hassell NewsChannel10 Staff

Cowboy Songs

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By Broc Carter

The Amarillo Area Foundation has always led by example to serve as an agent for change in the Texas Panhandle. Those who understand a volunteer’s generous gesture know that the individuals who step forward to share their passion, energy and talents make life in the Texas Panhandle better for others. The Amarillo Area Foundation was founded in 1957 by a remarkable group of far-sighted individuals who knew that Amarillo citizens working together engendered a strength that working separately could not. Our mission to improve quality of life for Texas Panhandle residents isn’t something the board, staff and donors of the Foundation take lightly.

Formed as only the second Community Foundation in Texas, the initial goal to develop the Medical Center dramatically transformed healthcare and the future of healthcare in this region. The bequest from Don D. Harrington enabled the Foundation to begin grant-making, and

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this early healthcare-focused vision grew into a $250 million organization with the strength, breadth and innovation to make a region-wide impact.

Providing grant funds to charitable organizations throughout the Panhandle of Texas is one of the roles for which the Amarillo Area Foundation is best known. The Foundation and its supporting organization, The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation, consider funding requests during multiple grant cycles each year. In 2020, a new strategic plan ushered in a renewed emphasis on grant programs. The Foundation will focus on health, education and economic opportunity. These three categories represent the biggest needs to make our area an even better place to live.

Additionally, our investment in education has long been a fundamental part of our organization. Through our traditional scholarship program, which

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has been providing money for higher education since the first scholarship fund was set up in 1971, the lives of thousands of students have been positively impacted. The ACE, THRIVE and Boomtown Scholarship programs are community-based and built on partnerships between institutions working together to ensure quality postsecondary education for our students.

In 2020, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention our Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund. In many ways, it feels like March was more than a year ago. The pandemic and subsequent shut-down have certainly been a challenging time for us all. Many found themselves both working from home and homeschooling in the same week.

Others found themselves without a job, their business, or essential supplies.

To say the time was tumultuous is an understatement. It felt as if the very way we live was under attack. We were confined to our homes without a lot of

concert live on their Facebook page.

These nine nights were successful not only because donors showed up and helped raise over $8,000 but also, more importantly, because they created a renewed sense of connection between artists who missed their audiences and people who were stuck at home. We heard great feedback from many who said they needed that escape. We have the best neighbors on earth!

As an organization, we have had ten PDRF grant cycles with more than answers. And, when we did get answers, Immediately, we funded food security $502,000 distributed to 45 organizations they were constantly changing. In only programs and childcare for first across the Texas Panhandle. Emergency one week, our local, state and national responders and essential employees. food grants comprised 60% of the economies were effectively shuttered.

Donors and businesses joined the effort funds with a total of $278,000. Next and added to the available funds. Our was medical equipment/PPE at 20% The Foundation immediately saw the staff were receiving the requests and or $111,000. There are still limited needs of our nonprofit partners. We sending the dollars out within the same funds available, so these numbers will recognized that with people out of week. People were sharing the message. continue to grow in the coming weeks. work and children out of school, food All our amazing media outlets ran PSAs, We are so proud that 100% of the gifts insecurity was going to become a and Lamar gave us digital billboard go to the Texas Panhandle. serious issue for many families around space. It was an amazing example of the Panhandle. Already vulnerable neighbors helping neighbors!

We are also focusing our efforts on this populations were going to need even year’s The Panhandle Gives campaign. more assistance as the virus spread. In Stories of nonprofit organizations Many of the participating organizations addition, we could see that personal turning their missions into battle report that the success of this fundraising protective and medical equipment cries and meeting the increased campaign will be instrumental in their would be needed by nonprofit demands were being told all over the ability to provide services beyond 2020. medical personnel. The Amarillo Panhandle. Organizations also shifted We are striving to raise $500,000 for Area Foundation and The Don and their priorities to meet critical needs the Amplification Fund, which means Sybil Harrington Foundation Board during the crisis. With unemployment the donations received during The of Directors acted swiftly, reopening spiking, many organizations that serve Panhandle Gives campaign will have an the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund vulnerable populations found their even greater impact. We are also working (PDRF) and allocating $200,000 to help client numbers growing. Innovation and to equip nonprofits for their campaigns meet these critical needs. new ways of thinking took center stage. and create space for sharing best That is a strength among nonprofit practices. Additionally, the remaining The PDRF was created in 2006 to help organizations: they adapt quickly and 2020 Discretionary Grant Cycles for the combat disasters that inevitably plague continuously as situations evolve.

Amarillo Area Foundation will focus on our area. Although in the past that nonprofit organizations who have been typically meant wildfires and tornadoes, Two truly unique grants went to rural adversely affected by the COVID-19 our board felt that COVID-19 posed hospitals. Moore County Hospital pandemic. an immediate threat to area nonprofit Foundation and Hemphill County organizations and the people they Hospital District both received funding We know that COVID-19 will continue serve. We were ready to begin making for ventilators, which is one of the to affect nonprofit organizations and grants from the fund, but our staff was primary needs to save the lives of the clients they serve for the foreseeable now working remotely, and this type critically ill COVID-19 patients. future, but we also know that in times of undertaking requires coordination of crisis, people who live in the Texas and collaboration between every Our staff wanted to get more people Panhandle shine even brighter by department. Fortunately, technology directly involved in PDRF, so the coming together. We all have something was quickly put into place, and we Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ nine- to give. prepared to deploy funds to the 26 night virtual concert series was born. counties of the Texas Panhandle within We identified nine diverse, local musical Find out what you can do to help at www. days. artists who agreed to play a one-hour amarilloareafoundation.org WWW.PANHANDLEMAGAZINE.COM | SUMMER 2020

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RESPONSE TO COVID-19

By Courtney Oxley

Before COVID-19, healthcare was everchanging, moving fast and making progress in many areas. Before COVID-19, Pampa Regional Medical Center (PRMC), like other healthcare facilities, focused on quality delivery and expanded access to healthcare in the Texas Panhandle.

With the advent of COVID-19, however, the world changed. Many people became afraid to seek necessary care, and as a result, what our community needed from healthcare changed. A new kind of access became the primary focus.

Edwin Leon, CEO for PRMC, explains, “We continue to work towards providing the best care for our community and are diligently planning on bringing new services to Pampa and the surrounding region. No one wants to wait weeks to be scheduled to see a doctor or make the drive and effort for a 15-minute consult.

This is why we are pushing to bring our community quality physicians that can provide the care locally.”

Having physicians and a team that are willing to be part of the community is important to the administrators when building a team. That hasn’t stalled due to COVID; the progress has sustained in order to help shape the future. Leon credits the doctors and the entire PRMC healthcare team for their response to the needs of the community. Some key members of that team include: • Dr. Strain, a new surgeon, started in June 2020. He is trained as a general surgeon but has also trained in bariatrics, colorectal and endocrine surgery.

• Dr. Akhigbe, interventional cardiologist, joined PRMC in December 2019. Dr. Akhigbe also has extensive training in vascular interventions and has already made a significant impact on lives in our community by saving hearts and limbs from permanent damage or death.

• West Texas Anesthesia Partners will open their doors this summer to interventional pain management for those suffering with chronic pain. They will collaborate with the hospital to perform high level anesthesia for surgeries and procedures to treat chronic pain.

• Long term and loyal physicians continue to provide high level care for our community, including Dr. Hampton with orthopedics and Dr. Grabato with urology.

• These complex procedures and surgeries could not be successfully completed without the entire healthcare team, which includes every nurse and clinical expert in their respective field. We rely on all of our non-clinical team to be successful.

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Part of the uniqueness of the facility is the so has the hospital. Now fully reopened clinical care in more areas through the investment that the staff and physicians for both emergent and elective procedures, hospital and our clinics but had concerns have in the community. “Pampa Regional PRMC has made new adaptations to about losing the personal connection is the people of Pampa and the people patient care, both within the hospital to patients. COVID helped push us of Pampa are Pampa Regional,” explains and the clinic. These new precautions, out of our comfort zone, and we used Twilla Thomas, Chief Nursing Officer coupled with those in place pre-COVID, telemedicine more than ever throughout at PRMC. “Most of the staff that work at allow the facility to treat and protect the hospital and clinic.”

PRMC have lived in the community all its patients and ensure that necessary their lives, their parents might have once diagnostics or treatments are not delayed. The new normal standards of healthcare worked at PRMC, they might have even and community awareness and the been born in this hospital. Some of the “I am very hopeful that we have learned perception of healthy behaviors will physicians and staff have worked here 30- from this virus that we need to take better certainly be impacted by the changes left plus years, and they have dedicated most care of ourselves and need to focus more behind by the first wave of COVID-19. of their lives to the community. There is on preventive medicine,” says Thomas. Leon suggests ongoing personal and a sense of ownership by all staff, and they “We learned that the patients most critically community precautions in the months strive to make it the best.” affected by the virus were those that ahead. “The solution is not a magic already had health issues such as COPD, pharmaceutical remedy but an ongoing Thomas provides one example of the obesity, heart disease and diabetes. If we dedication to public health standards, staff’s commitment to their community. can learn healthier lifestyles and habits, which include staying home when sick “Recently, during patient rounds, an we are more likely to be less affected by the and frequent hand hygiene when in elderly gentleman said, ‘I watched that COVID virus or whatever new virus that public. Businesses should have sanitation young girl grow-up (referring to his nurse). comes our way. We need to focus more on wipes and hand disinfectants available for I love knowing that these kids are staying preventive medicine and education.” the customers and employee safety. This here to take care of their community.’ In was already done by some before COVID, the midst of rural hospital closures, the PRMC and Pampa Medical Group have but it was not a widespread practice. Well, COVID pandemic, and the unrest of the embraced telemedicine and other types now it should be. nation I believe PRMC will remain in the of distance healthcare to benefit patients, community, providing quality healthcare particularly for the at-risk population “The challenge to the community is not because of the fortitude of the staff and who need to see their interventional forgetting how terrible the necessary community.” cardiologist, urologist or obstetric response to COVID has been and abiding specialist. One of the biggest benefits of by the public health standards to keep Changes in procedure and processes providing care to a rural community is everyone safe,” continues Leon. ”There as well as special attention to the use the ability to treat on a personal level and needs to be care, if not love, for one and preservation of personal protective provide a team approach to care. Weighing another in the community. There needs equipment have become a top priority. in the preferences of the patient has always to be personal accountability for good According to Thomas, “Another valuable been a priority; however, now thanks in personal and community health.” lesson that we have learned is to be part to the fluid and spontaneous nature careful where we make budget cuts. One of COVID-19, healthcare facilities have “COVID caught the US and the world by area we can control cost is supplies, so even more avenues available to provide surprise, but it has taught us valuable [prior to the COVID-19 outbreak] we cut care at the comfort level of individual lessons about cleanliness and public back on the amount of PPE we ordered patients. health etiquette which had gone largely and then found ourselves without the ignored, but it is time to move forward,” stockpile of PPE that we once had. When Patient flow and access changed with each Leon concludes. ”Although new and we started ordering it again, we were told wave of the virus, and the emotional and unique, COVID-19 is a mutation that we would have to wait because we were physical stress became evident. “It was is not uncommon, in fact, it happens ordering more than our usual allocations. hard telling patients that they were not on a regular basis. Just as vaccines are Thankfully, we have been supported going to get to have loved ones with them introduced virtually yearly to combat through donations and other avenues, so at their bedside,” Thomas admits. “We flu season strands of influenza, COVID we have not had to go without.” understand that being in the hospital can will be a focus for pharmaceuticals and be one of the scariest times for people, healthcare providers nationally to provide The waves of COVID-19 are becoming and they need the support of their friends the best health care possible.” smaller in the area, but they still exist and families. The nurses used tablets and will continue, and the hospital is and phones to help patients FaceTime still prepared to handle any impact that family to try to keep them connected. We surfaces. However, time marches on, and had talked about using telemedicine for Located in the center of the Texas Panhandle, Pampa Regional Medical Center is a 109-bed, acute-care hospital serving many communities in the Panhandle, providing short-term treatment for severe injuries or illness, urgent medical conditions or surgery recovery. PRMC is home to a stroke and trauma certified emergency department and also holds accreditation specific to geriatric focused care.

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Beautiful, serene and cozy are seldom words you hear when someone describes a greenhouse.

Well, Pete’s is unique, and those words describe the love story between Amarillo and a little Garden of Eden that has flourished along Bell and the Canyon E-Way for decades.

Jordi and Devin Velasquez know this story well. When dating as a young couple, they frequently found themselves walking Pete’s Greenhouse aisles together. Before long, they fell in love with each other and with Pete’s. You see, they are the new owners of Pete’s and have embraced the legacy of the greenhouse’s history and look forward to writing their own chapters.

“When Buffy and I came to know Jordi and Devin and could see how our staff enjoyed seeing them, we knew when it came time for us to turn the page in our own life and sell our family business, they were perfect to carry on the Pete’s Greenhouse legacy,” recalls Darren.

When asked what their vision was for the future of Pete’s, Jordi and Devin quickly replied, “We just want to continue what the Ruthardt family has provided customers for decades and learn from them as they mentor us over the next couple of years. We do have many new ideas and look forward to introducing them to guests from across the Panhandle.”

“We are privileged and honored to embrace Pete’s Greenhouse as an integral part of our lives and to continue this wonderful story,” stated Jordi. “My grandpa worked here, and I remember coming here with my mom many times. And, now, for the three of us – Devin, myself and our daughter Marin – Pete’s is part of our family. It’s where guests can stop and smell the roses, gardenias, wisteria or There’s much more to this story, but guests will just have to sweet alyssum... you get the idea,” Jordi added with a smile. stop in to see Pete’s Greenhouse for themselves.

Over the years as customers, Jordi and Devin grew closer in their relationship with the greenhouse’s owners, the Ruthardts – Darren, Buffy and Darren’s mom, Glenda – as well as getting to know and love the incredible staff at Pete’s.

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In the early 1990’s James Cathey, patriarch of Panhandle Greenhouses, and his wife Rhonda were visionaries who could see enormous potential in growing plants south of Amarillo.

As they describe it, their early years were difficult to say the least. Fortunately, two different men recognized something special in James’s dedication and hard work and became a significant part of helping James grow the successful greenhouse business that he and Rhonda enjoy today.

faith and remain open-minded to new ideas. They know how to grow what the younger generations are looking for,” Aaryn said. “Honestly, after my dad watched how dedicated Jordan was to our family business, he could see in Jordan what James’s two mentors saw in him,” Aaryn added.

Now, James and Rhonda themselves have inspired a younger generation who are stepping into the Eden-like aisles of the growing houses and caring for hundreds of thousands of God’s beautiful and colorful creations.

Jordan, Caitlyn and Aaryn think like the younger generation, who enjoy growing plants and gardening as much as their parents and grandparents. However, they take even greater interest in conservation and cultivating creations with xeriscaping.

Aaryn, James and Rhonda’s daughter, was the first family member who bought into the business in 2013. The newest owners, Jordan and Caitlyn Johnson, took stock in the family business in 2018. “Mom and Dad have always been the ultimate inspiration for all of us by their willingness to put in the long hours of hard work, hold strong to their

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Jordan sums it up: “Caitlyn and I have always loved working with the Cathey family, serving customers, sharing the workload and passion for plants in our growing houses.

And, now with our young daughter, Lakynn, we share an even greater interest in growing James and Rhonda’s vision.”

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By Ben Parks, Sound Wrangler American Cowboy Radio

I’m Ben Parks, basically a lifelong resident of Amarillo and jack-ofall-trades, from sales to restaurants to railroads. In 2018 Jim Turvaville, my friend of thirty-some-odd years, mentioned that he had a construction permit to build an FM radio station in Guthrie, Texas, but he planned to let it expire. He didn’t see any commercial potential since the coverage area for the radio permit was limited to King County, the second least populated county in Texas. With only 277 residents, Guthrie is the county seat for King County.

Ranch, the Tongue River Ranch and the Pitchfork Ranch. In the cattle and horse world, Guthrie is well known.

I’m not a cowboy myself, but I grew up on ranches around Amarillo and eastern New Mexico and had the pleasure of helping (read - getting in the way of) the real cowboys on these ranches when they were working cattle and branding. The music of the cowboy was instilled in me early, with songs like Eddy Arnold’s “Wagon Wheels” and the Sons of the Pioneers’ “Cool Water” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.”

could never understand why Roy would want to spend time with Dale Evans when he could be playing his guitar or riding Trigger into the sunset.

I’ve been exposed to most music genres, but the one I keep coming back to is known as western or cowboy music.

It’s different from country; its roots are founded in the strong values of the American cowboy rather than the honky-tonk tales of country music. I once discovered an internet radio station that played the format I longed for, but when the lady who created it passed away, the music went off the net.

When Jim said Guthrie, my ears perked up, and I verified that it was Guthrie, Along with this musical influence, Texas - not Guthrie, Oklahoma. I I would get up early on Saturday Western music isn’t a format that is immediately saw the potential for mornings and watch the test pattern readily available on your radio, so other combining the broadcast radio station until the station came on the air bringing than building your own playlist, it’s with an internet station playing cowboy Roy Rogers and Trigger into the living hard to find. There is a lot of good music music - at a location where there are real room. Remember the fist fights on top out there with a lot of great independent cowboys. Guthrie and King County may of moving railroad cattle cars? Roy artists producing new songs every day, be short on population, but those folks would never lose his hat, and when the but they need an avenue to get their art know cowboys! It’s part of the big ranch train stopped, Trigger was right there to the public. Although many stations country of West Texas, home to the 6666 to chase down the bad guys! As a kid, I across the country may have a cowboy

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or western music program or two, they only highlight these artists for a couple of hours a week. I have been unable to find a station that was fully dedicated to cowboy culture.

That’s why I was so excited when Jim mentioned the radio permit in Guthrie.

Jim and I had talked about the nuts and bolts of building an internet station or streaming western music, and it was always just rolling around in the back of my mind. I knew that if I had this heartbeat for all things cowboy, scores of other folks around the world were probably looking for the genre too.

Jim and I were able to secure a transmitter location in Guthrie and began to broadcast on October 4, 2018.

Our FCC call letters are KJAG for Jaguars, the Guthrie School’s mascot, and we also broadcast the services from the First Baptist Church of Guthrie.

The great people of King County have embraced the station, and even though I live in Amarillo, I feel affection for the people and places there.

in Albuquerque and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, and I’ve been well received by the artists in those organizations. In Albuquerque I had the opportunity to Before powering up the transmitter interview Lisa Sutton, Lynn Anderson’s I established a website www. daughter, and discuss her project with AmericanCowboyRadio.com and began Sony as they recently released a 50th formatting the material I wanted to hear. anniversary edition of the I Never I spent about six months fine tuning Promised You a Rose Garden album (in this streaming service to attain a sound pink vinyl, of course). that I believed others would enjoy hearing also. American Cowboy Radio Another highlight was accompanying Ed is now trademarked, and I believe it Montana backstage when he appeared will grow into a worldwide source of on the Grand Ole Opry. I never had a entertainment for those wanting to hear reason to dream that I’d walk across the cowboy music, stories and poetry. alley from Jack’s BBQ into the back door of the Ryman Auditorium or visit oneThis project has already exceeded my on-one with Michael Martin Murphey vision and has introduced me to people and Red Steagall. and experiences that I never dreamed of. In the past year I’ve attended I don’t know where this ride will end, the International Western Music but I’m having a great time.

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Texas Route 66: In The Middle Of It All

By Nick Gerlich

Texas. The very word causes eyes to widen and pulses to skip a beat. It’s a place whose name is its own marketing campaign, tag line and all. Even though Texas had only the second-most miles of Route 66, with 178 miles beelining across the Panhandle, the eastern border at the 100th meridian is where Mother Road tourists know that this is the spot where the old road really kicks it up a notch. It’s the very middle of the route, literally and figuratively, and the perfect place to take a breather along the 2,400 mile journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, or for those who live nearby to take a day trip.

or who (like more than 20% of all Route 66 travelers) live outside the US, all of these things are new to them and part of the mystique and legend that makes Texas the great state it is.

through canyons and arroyos, from pasture to pen. In the process, they created the place that now serves about 30% of the beef this country eats.

And most Route 66 guests through So when motorists cross the 100th these parts would feel they missed heading west, an entirely new world out if they didn’t at least stop to have opens before their eyes. Gone is the a big, juicy steak somewhere along Midwest with its lush tall grasses and those 178 miles, be it at the Red River trees. Gone is the transitional zone west Steakhouse in McLean, the fabled of Oklahoma City, where the trees and Big Texan in Amarillo or any number the population start to thin out. In their of independently-owned restaurants place are short-grass prairies, trees that doing their best to keep it local. only grow where God put them, skies that scream for our attention and stars From the Art Deco styling of the 1936 at night so big and bright that—well, Tower Station and U-Drop Inn in For those who call this part of Texas you must be deep in the heart of Texas. Shamrock, to the eerie ghost town of home, we take for granted the wide Glenrio—the only Route 66 community open spaces, the abundant sunshine But it’s also where the west was won, with a state line running through the (did you know that Amarillo is the where cowboys were not just mythical middle of it—Texas has a lot to offer 16th sunniest city in the US?), the ever- creatures of lore but the folks who anyone wishing to take a drive or ride in present breeze, sunrises and sunsets that tamed the land before it could tame the past lane. Amarillo sits conveniently you can almost reach out and touch. But them. They drove cattle over the plains near the middle, offering everything for those who live elsewhere in the US, across which you could see for 20 miles, tourists would expect in a bigger city,

from modern and historic lodging to professional sports, from entertainment to comfort foods, breweries and progressive American fare.

No matter how you want your serving of Texas Route 66 prepared, we’ve got it covered, and you can count on it being well-done.

Route 66 across Texas is pretty easy to follow because it tends to hug Interstate 40 most of the way, diverting only to go through the dozen or so towns and communities along the way. From the clackety-clack of the old Portland

cement slabs in the east, to where you fall off the Caprock in the west and head into the land of mesas, Texas’s portion of Route 66 calls us to slow down, take lots of photos, enjoy hospitality the Lone Star way and say howdy to the folks who call it home.

Texas can lay claim to several inspirations and portrayals in Pixar’s Cars movie (2006). Thanks to the Pixar team taking multiple drives across parts of Route 66 a few years earlier with author Michael Wallis, they met the people, saw the land and buildings, heard the stories. On the big screen, the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn appear as Ramone’s Body Shop, while a closed business sports the name “Glenrio” and bears a striking resemblance to the Little

Juarez diner in Glenrio. The Leaning Tower of Tires seems to be inspired

by Britten’s leaning water tower near Groom, and the outline of Amarillo’s tail-finned Cadillac Ranch appears as the silhouette of the nearby mountain range outside Radiator Springs. Oh, and Fran Houser, renowned for her years at Adrian’s Midpoint Cafe, played a big role in how Pixar created the character of Flo at the V-8 Diner.

Not bad for only 178 miles. You could make a day of just tracking down Cars references.

Just east of Amarillo, the world-famous Cross of Groom stands 190-feettall, with statues depicting the stations of the cross and inviting the faithful as well as other seekers to ponder the significance of it all.

There’s much more, of course, especially in Amarillo. Enter town on Amarillo Boulevard from the east, and notice the steady parade of mid-20th-century relics from when Route 66 was the only highway shuttling people east and west. The Triangle Motel still stands, as does its neon sign, although it is no longer in business. An old Whiting Brothers gas station is on the north side, followed by Cattlemen’s Cafe and the Cowboy Motel. Watch for the rusting sign with the large “A” on top; this was the home of the Aviatrix ballroom decades ago. Numerous other motels and restaurants are still being used today, interspersed with new structures that give the Boulevard a multigenerational vibe.

blocks west on 6th Avenue are many reminders of the 1950s, from auto dealers to diners, a motel and Amarillo’s first public hospital. The Route 66 Visitors Center is right across the street in what was once Myers Fried Chicken, dating back to the mid-1940s.

But wait, there’s more! Starting at Georgia Street on 6th and continuing west for one mile to Western is the famous Historic Route 66 neighborhood of shops, cafes and bars. It provides one of the most concentrated offerings of 66-themed businesses anywhere along the Route.

Heading west from Amarillo is Vega, where the Milburn-Price Culture Museum offers a top-drawer collection of regional artifacts. And in Adrian, the Midpoint Cafe is still serving comfort food with a slice of American pie for dessert.

The last thing to see along Texas Route 66 requires a short hop on the freeway for 18 miles to Exit 0, where Glenrio awaits.

Founded in 1903 when the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway forged eastward from Tucumcari, New Mexico, Glenrio is a portmanteau combining the Scottish “glen” for valley and the Spanish “rio” for river. Unfortunately, neither exist, but the town’s name is a far cry better than its original moniker, Rock Island.

When the freeway came through in the mid-1970s and bypassed the town, it was like flipping a switch. The lights went out on Glenrio, leaving only a handful of residents and barking dogs.

The remains of this town straddle two states and provide an hour or two of photo ops.

While the journey across the Texas Panhandle may not take long in the grand scheme, there is much to see Downtown has the 1926 Herring Hotel and do along old Route 66. It’s the at the corner of 3rd Ave and Pierce, perfect speed bump for those doing which opened six weeks after Route 66 the whole Route, but it is just as grand was signed into law. The old Barfield for those who live nearby and want an Building is being transformed into a exhilarating staycation. Either way, you posh Marriott Autograph hotel. A few are in the middle of all the excitement.

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Ryan Palmer

By Lance Lahnert The first golf fairway that PGA Tour player and Amarillo High graduate Ryan Palmer ever walked down is now a row of houses in south Amarillo.

Nine-year-old Palmer had borrowed a set of golf clubs that day to play scruffy Southwest Golf Course (closed in 2005) with his dad, Butch.

Nobody - not Ryan, not Butch - had a clue those 18 holes of golf would eventually lead to: • Golf scholarships at North Texas and Texas A&M. • A current 20-year pro golf career.

• A foundation in his name donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to scholarships and helping children.

• Four PGA Tour wins.

• 20 appearances in major tournaments including a 10th place finish at the 2011 Masters.

• Career earnings of $27,129,580.

“I was 9 years old, and I had to borrow a neighbor’s golf clubs,” Palmer quickly recalls after being asked if he remembered his first time playing golf. “I shot 118. That was my first round of golf. Now with all those houses, people probably don’t remember there was a golf course there. We wound up having many high school qualifying rounds there and at the old Air Base.”

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Palmer is now 43 living in Colleyville, Texas, with his wife Jennifer (Amarillo High grad), and two kids Mason (a youth hockey player) and Madelyn (on a riding competition team).

at the Children’s Hospital of Northwest Texas Healthcare System and include a healing garden, a Palmer Playhouse and Palmer Sportszone.

Palmer turned pro in 2000, grinding it out on the mini tours over three years before earning his PGA Tour card in 2003. He has played in 412 PGA Tour events including 20 majors; his best major finish was fifth at the PGA Championship in 2014.

“I always knew I wanted to do something for kids,” Palmer said. “Something that would have both an immediate and long-term benefit.”

Palmer is also dedicated to the Ryan Palmer Foundation which serves the Amarillo area and metroplex, branching out to help diverse causes such as providing scholarships for students, bringing brighter smiles to children by paying for dentistry work and helping breast cancer patients.

The Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and has popular areas

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Palmer’s heart for helping others was in full flight recently when he took to his Twitter account and announced he was donating $20,000 to help the charities of the nearly 10 PGA Tour events cancelled because of COVID-19. He was motivated by fellow golf pro Steve Stricker and urged other pros to join the cause.

“Many of these charities support underserved children who need our help more than ever,” Palmer said. “It’s sad right now in today’s world.”

Palmer was kind of enough to take time out from his schedule to answer a few questions for Panhandle Magazine.

DID THE GOLF BUG BITE YOU THAT

FIRST TIME PLAYING AT SOUTHWEST?

“It bit me enough where I kept on playing. But at that point in my life I was so into baseball and basketball. I was lucky enough to make all-stars in both sports and travelled a bit to play both those sports. But I kept playing golf.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF: IMAGES OF GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

YOU WERE A MEMBER AT TASCOSA COUNTRY CLUB GROWING UP. DOES TCC ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN YOUR HEART?

“No doubt. That’s where I was at all day during the summer. I’d get dropped off and spend all my time there. Don Allen made sure I didn’t swim all day and would make me go hit balls. Of course, I also spent a lot of time with Ty Cox at Ross Rogers Golf Course. We’d leave first thing in the morning with his dad (pro Sherwin Cox) to open the golf shop and we’d play 36 or 45 holes a day at Ross Rogers. I ate enough chili dogs out there to last a lifetime. A lot of great memories.”

DURING YOUR AMATEUR CAREER YOU QUALIFIED FOR THE 1998 U.S. OPEN AND PLAYED A PRACTICE ROUND WITH THE LATE, GREAT PAYNE STEWART. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

“I walked up on the tee and he was there in slacks and a regular ballcap. You wouldn’t have recognized him. We got to play nine holes. What a gentleman. What a guy to treat me the way he did. Then the more I learned and read about him, that’s who I wanted to be like. Everybody liked him. Just how he was with everybody in the golfing world and fans liked him. Payne and Fred Couples’ swing were my two idols after that great experience.

What a memory getting to spend those 2 ½ hours with Payne.”

YOU WERE PLAYING IN THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TOURNAMENT WAS HALTED AFTER ONE ROUND BECAUSE OF COVID-19. HOW DID THAT PLAY OUT?

“The NBA season was postponed that Wednesday. That was the beginning of the domino effect. On Thursday the players were hearing the rumblings of no fans... Throughout the day on the golf course we heard March Madness had been cancelled, so we knew then they had to be thinking about cancelling this. I was actually waiting to hear the horn during the round to pull us off the golf course.

They had no other choice. It was the right decision. We would have felt odd and an uncomfortable feeling being out there playing when every other sport had been cancelled.”

HOW STRANGE WOULD HAVE THAT BEEN, PLAYING WITH NO FANS IN ATTENDANCE?

“It’s a weird feeling. I’ve done it twice before. Once at Pebble Beach after a big storm came through, there was a lot of debris so no fans were allowed for safety reasons due to fallen trees. We did the same thing at Congressional one year after a tornado went through and caused a lot of tree damage, so they didn’t allow fans because of a safety factor. Of course, Tiger Woods somehow ended up with 1,000 people around him. It’s a different feeling with no fans, for sure. It would have been odd, an eerie feeling for sure.”

continued on page 25

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DO YOU THINK THE MASTERS WILL BE PLAYED LATER THIS YEAR? IF SO, HOW DIFFERENT WILL THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL COURSE BE IN THE FALL COMPARED TO APRIL?

“I keep hearing maybe in October. The climate is the same. I’m not sure how the course would play compared to April.

They say the temperatures are the same, and there is a lot more chance for rain.

I saw where Jack Nicklaus said he didn’t think the Masters would be played this year. October is during the Korean and Japan tournaments, so I’ve heard that’s when it could be played. There’s really no telling about the schedule right now, so I can’t really tell you if they will have it at all.”

MAN, YOU LIT IT UP AT THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN EARLIER THIS YEAR SHOOTING A 62 IN ROUND TWO. WHAT WAS THAT DAY LIKE FOR YOU?

“Oh yeah, it was one of those days. You never know when you get up what’s going to happen on the course that day. I was playing well and hitting the ball good.

But no, you never know. I found a little nice hold on my putter before the round on the putting green. And those greens are bent opposed to poana greens on the

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South Course. So, all it took was one or two putts early, and then I was hitting it so well I was looking at 15-20 footers all day. But you never go out and expect to make 10 birdies. I know I am capable of that each week. It just happened to be that day.”

YOU AND JON RAHM WERE QUITE THE TEAM LAST YEAR WINNING THE ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS. WHAT MEMORY DO YOU HAVE FOR THAT? WITH COVID-19 CANCELLING THE 2020 TOURNEY, WILL YOU TWO BE BACK IN 2021 TO DEFEND?

“That was a lot of fun. It’s truly sad we won’t be back to defend this year because I truly love New Orleans and what Zurich does with that tournament. Jon and I were very much looking forward to defending. Last year was a cool experience.

Jon is such a great guy and great player.

We will definitely be out there next year to defend.”

AS A DALLAS COWBOYS FAN AND LIVING IN DALLAS COWBOYS COUNTRY, HOW ARE YOUR ‘BOYS GOING TO DO THIS YEAR?

“It’s kind of disturbing $105 million guaranteed isn’t enough for some of these guys... Signing Amari (Cooper) was huge.

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I think they will be successful because the team is set up too good not to be good. There are a few holes on defense they need to fix. But as long as that line is healthy and Zeke’s healthy, they are going to contend. They are going to play well.

I’m excited to see how Mike McCarthy does. He’s proven to win so it’s going to be exciting to see how it all unfolds.”

MAKING MEMORIES SINCE 1951

THRILL RIDES

FAMILY CLASSICS

KIDS RIDES

WATER RIDES

Featuring New Rides in 2020!

WONDERLANDPARK.COM • HWY 287 NORTH • LOCATED IN THOMPSON PARK (806) 383-3344 • GET $2 OFF AT WONDERLANDPARK.COM Did you grow up going to Wonderland Amusement Park? Do your kids make lifelong memories there every summer? Do you have pictures of your family over the generations enjoying their fun in the sun? If so, we want to hear from you!

Wonderland Amusement Park is gearing up for its 70th birthday bash in 2021 and we want to share your memories from the Park over the past seven decades. From first rides and first jobs to sharing a laugh over funnel cake... if it’s important to you, it’s important to us!

We’re looking for photos, videos and stories that help tell the wonderful story of Wonderland Park through the years dating back to 1951 when it first opened.

It’s hard to imagine Wonderland with only three rides, but that’s how it started in August of 1951 on a bleak stretch of land north of town. Known as Kiddie Land at that time, the Park featured the Hershell Kiddie Boat

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Ride, the Lil’ Dipper Roller Coaster and the Kiddie Car Ride.

Over the years, founders Paul and Alethea Roads would continue to expand the Park, adding rides that appealed to all ages including the Fantastic Journey, which Mr. Roads built by hand, and the world famous double-loop Texas Tornado Roller Coaster.

Today, Wonderland features more than 30 rides including water rides & slides, thrill rides, kids rides, family classics and much more! The Park also has games, great food and Amarillo’s most challenging mini-golf course.

Over the decades, generations of families have created lifelong memories of friends, family, fun and laughter at the park. It’s a legacy honored every spring when Wonderland opens its gates and starts another year of making memories.

While Wonderland has an amazing collection of photographs dating back

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to opening day and documenting its 69-year history, we want to see the WOW’s from your perspective.

There is, no doubt, a treasure trove of history saved in phones and photo boxes across the region.

If you have a great family memory to share, we encourage you to upload them at WonderlandPark. com/70years. We are so excited to see your Wonderland memories and even more excited to celebrate this milestone with our friends across the region.

Thank you for helping make Wonderland Park what it is today. We are honored to have helped create fond family memories for so many years and look forward to many more.

We’ve sure enjoyed the ride!

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By Beth Duke, Executive Director Center City of Amarillo

Amarillo’s historic downtown is once again a shopping destination.

In the 1950s and ‘60s, Amarillo’s downtown was the retail center of the Panhandle.

As shopping patterns changed, more people began shopping closer to their homes. One by one, stores moved to suburban malls and shopping plazas. By 1990, downtown was a place to work, not a place to shop.

A group of concerned citizens met in the early ‘90s and founded Center City. They founded Center City as a nonprofit organization dedicated to making downtown vibrant.

In 2008 the city of Amarillo adopted a Strategic Action Plan for Downtown.

From that plan, Center City once again became a destination. The Downtown Dining District has grown to include 37 restaurants in a one-square-mile area. Hodgetown, an award-winning baseball stadium, welcomed record first-year crowds in 2019. The Courtyard by Marriott at the Historic Fisk building and the Embassy Suites convention center hotel opened in downtown. A third hotel, The Barfield, is set to open in the fall of 2020 in one of Amarillo’s historic skyscrapers.

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A R T I CCOURTESY L E B Y : N E W SOF: C H ARAPLH N N E L 1 0DUKE S TA FF PHOTOS

With downtown revitalization, a group of young people contacted City Hall about starting a community market. Their vision was to have a market that would sell produce, baked goods, art, jewelry, craft items, meat, eggs and honey from local vendors.

By connecting with Center City, the Amarillo Community Market opened in July of 2016.

As the crops come in, sellers bring live music, food trucks and plenty of tomatoes, peaches, corn, squash, samples. black-eyed peas and okra. You can make a salad from the fresh-cut greens Most of all, the Amarillo Community and microgreens sold at the market.

Market has brought back a sense of community to the Center City Amarillo Community Market is more neighborhood as people from than a farmer’s market. Artisans sell throughout the city and the region their handmade jewelry, pottery, glass, have built relationships with the and textile items. Everything at the vendors who return week after week. market must be original.

Originally on the grounds of the For more information or Center City offices at 1000 S. Polk The Amarillo Community Market is to become a vendor, go to Sreet, the market has moved to the a success in so many ways. Vendors amarillocommunitymarket.com. historic Santa Fe Depot at 401 S. Grant have found a way to make their hobby Street. The market opened with 35 into a business. Businesses have found Amarillo Community Market is a project vendors. Today more than 80 vendors a new market. Customers have found of Center City of Amarillo. Center City is recognized as a National and Texas Main Street have applied to sell their goods at the new sources for fresh produce, home- City. Center City was designated as the Amarillo market. baked goods and original arts and Cultural District by the Texas Commission on crafts. Families bring their children the Arts in 2016.

With free parking and free admission, and their dogs to market for a fun the Amarillo Community Market outdoor shopping experience with draws a crowd of about 500 people each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Vendors sell a variety of homemade, hand-crafted and homegrown items.

Jam That’s Good, the Pretzel Guy, Sweet Revenge Mustard and Peace Love & Cookies are just a few of the treats for sale at the market. Baked goods range from breads and pies to cinnamon rolls and muffins. Locally sourced eggs, honey and hormonefree beef bring customers back week after week.

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ED MONTANA:

A Dream Come True

By Ed Montana

Wow, what an adventure! I remember my first professional gig, playing in my father’s band at age 10. It was December of 1966 in a cool place called the Military Inn, located in Detroit, Michigan. I was so nervous at the beginning, but then something happened. I began to like being there. I loved being on stage and playing music!

As time went on, I played more and more gigs and realized that this was exactly where I wanted to be. Dreams of larger spaces with oversized stages filled my head, dreams of even more cool places to play music.

Well, the years came and went. I played with my dad, brother and sister for more than 20 years. We were the “Coors Cowboy Band,” and we traveled all over the country, performing at major and minor fairs, rodeos and livestock shows as representatives for Coors Brewing Company, a major sponsor of pro rodeo.

But as time passed, things changed. My sister stayed home with her husband and new family. My brother went another direction. Dad slowed down and played mostly solo at Colorado ski resorts.

Finally, I struck out on my own, me and Mr. Gallagher, my guitar. All of us pickers name our guitars.

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The bug that bit me early on never let go.

I’ve been very fortunate and played many famous places with lots of big names in the business. I played at all of the biggest PRCA rodeos here in the USA: Cheyenne, Salinas, Houston, Calgary, Reno and the NFR, mostly as a solo act, just me and Mr. Gallagher. I traveled to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and many of Europe’s Best of Country Music Festivals.

you? Because that’s when we’d like you to perform with us on The Grand Ole Opry!”

The rest of the call is a blur. When I hung up, Verlyn and I were both in tears. We couldn’t believe what had just happened.

I looked at her and said, “I’m gonna be on The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium.”

But, I was never invited to play at When the big moment finally arrived and THE stage of all stages ... The Ryman I faced the lights from the stage in Ryman Auditorium, home of The Grand Ole Auditorium, I sang an original tune called Opry. That place was always the ultimate “Dos Rios,” a song I wrote while at the goal, the gold medal, the mother church ranch working longhorn cattle with the of country music, the pinnacle of every guys. It’s also a song that we recorded in country musician’s dreams, including my Nashville and is available on EdMontana. own. com. It was such a thrilling experience to be playing on that stage with my friends One cold December evening in 2019, my and musical idols. All the performers that wife Verlyn and I were at the dinner table night made me feel welcome, including a when the phone rang. On the line was big group hug at the side stage with John one of the finest musicians I know, a man Conlee and Connie Smith. They even I have known and admired for over fifty commented, “You’re one of the family years, Joey Miskulin, Grammy Award now! We’ll see you here again!” winner and Country Music Hall of Fame member of the legendary group, Riders I’ve learned in this business that dreams in the Sky. really do come true! Thank you, Joey Miskulin, for helping my dream become I heard Joey’s voice saying, “Hello, Mr. reality. I hope to join you again soon in Grand Ole Opry.” I swallowed a lump Ryman Auditorium on the stage of The as big as Texas. Then he added, “How Grand Ole Opry. does Saturday December 14th look to

WWW.PANHANDLEMAGAZINE.COM | SUMMER 2020

Hometown: Born and raised in Lubbock, TX. currently reside in Amarillo, TX your style of music: progressive alternative country WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PLAY MUSIC?

As a five year old sitting at a bar ordering Shirley Temples, I watched my dad perform as my mom operated his sound. I sat in my Tweety-Bird pajamas and waited for him to invite me to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and if I was lucky he may throw in a little Shania Twain. Since that moment I knew I loved music and most of all performing. I would often put on “concerts,” dancing on the kitchen counter in our little non-airconditioned, single-wide trailer wearing oversized high heels and worn play dresses. It’s hard to explain, but I’ve known since then that this is what I’m made to do.

DESCRIBE BEING ON-STAGE AND PERFORMING:

The stage is a little slice of earth that forces me to share my soul.

It’s the bridge between the music and the audience. It’s where relationships are built and courage is made, where the music comes alive and the story hits the heart. The very best part of making music is sharing it live. It’s incredibly vulnerable and amazingly free.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR STORY THAT PEOPLE WOULD FIND INTERESTING:

During my first five years of performing I also worked full-time as a third grade math teacher at a low-socioeconomic, dual language campus. After much prayer and deliberation, I decided to leave the teaching industry to pursue music. What kind of teacher would I be if I continuously encouraged children to chase their dreams without ever chasing my own? I want them to see that it can be done... that your wildest dreams can come true no matter what kind of hand you’re dealt in life.

Stay up to date with Lindsey Lane at www.lindseylaneofficial.com

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Upcoming performances mid-July to September: 7/15 Teddy Jack’s Amarillo, TX 7/17 Tulia Picnic Tulia, TX 8/8 Rodeo Dance Springer, NM 8/12 Teddy Jack’s Amarillo, TX 8/14 Back 40 Grill Lubbock, TX 8/21 Back 40 Grill Canyon, TX 8/28 Georgia St. Taphouse Amarillo, TX 8/29 At the Ranch w/ Curtis Grimes Borger, TX 9/5 Amarillo Community Market Amarillo, TX 9/11 Back 40 Grill Lubbock, TX 9/12 Georgia St. Taphouse Amarillo, TX 9/19 Biker Rally Tulia, TX

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Palo Duro Canyon

By NewsChannel10 Staff

As the second-largest canyon in the United States, Palo Duro Canyon has long been a destination for locals and visitors from all over the nation, but its role as an economic engine has been more challenging this year.

Typically one of the most visited parks in the state of Texas, the pandemic completely shut down Palo Duro Canyon State Park for two weeks. Since reopening, the park that never had to worry about capacity has found itself limiting entrance and cancelling events.

annual budget was $2.6 million in 2018, including salaries for 23 employees.

Although the park has cancelled tours and many usual visitors will not be traveling due to the pandemic, the park is relying on local Texans to continue enjoying the park.

Davis believes this is what will get the park back to normal. “We have a lot of things that people can do and still follow social distancing,” he said.

The coronavirus brought a never-beforeseen virtual shift to the world, but there is “The whole situation in general has of no virtual replacement for the smell and course dropped our revenue and visitation sound of nature. The park offers hiking but not enough to endanger the park,” trails, equestrian trails and camping sites said Jeff Davis, Assistant Superintendent that are now open with reservations. at Palo Duro Canyon.

The most popular hiking trail would be the Guests totaled almost 400,000 visits in three-mile “Lighthouse Trail” that leads 2018, the most recent number available. to a 300-foot-high, lighthouse-shaped About 336,000 of those spent a day, and rock that is the trademark park formation, 61,000 stayed overnight. Visitor totals earning the canyon its National Natural for 2020 will not be available for some Landmark title. time, but based on closures, cancellations and entrance limits, the reduction in Camping still has a capacity cap at the number of visitors, and therefore in the moment, but with an early, online revenue, will be significant. reservation, people can escape to the outdoors, either with their own gear or In a more normal year, visitors spend by renting a cabin. To book an online about $9.5 million in the region, according reservation, visit www.texasstateparks. to an economic impact study last year by reserveamerica.com.

Texas Parks and Wildlife. Not only does that spending benefit local businesses, In addition, visitors can enjoy the park but it generates more than $300,000 in Texas-style, with horseback riding and sales tax. Some of the big beneficiaries are biking. Locals can bring their own horses businesses that sell food and beverages, or take a guided tour with on-site horse gasoline and retail goods. Of course, and equipment rentals. hotels and motels gain too with about $2 million in room charges.

Summer time is usually the busiest season at the canyon, and for those planning to On top of visitor spending, the state visit, it is important to keep the heat in pumps money into the local economy mind. The canyon is usually 10 degrees through the park’s budget. The park’s hotter at the bottom than it is at the top or

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entrance. Due to the humidity in the air, people begin to sweat and lose moisture right away. Park officers recommend that people take a gallon of water and extra water bottles to stay hydrated during their trip.

The park plans to continue enforcing their coronavirus guidelines until the state gives the final okay to return to normal operations.

These guidelines request that visitors: • Do not attend in groups larger than ten.

• Maintain six feet distance from other groups.

• Wear face masks (strongly recommended).

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is already making plans to get back to normal and expects to host their previously delayed “24 Hours in the Canyon” event in August.

Find out more about the park and its many attractions at www.palodurocanyon.com.

Tip Box

1 Thermometer at 80° or higher, don’t start.

2 Take 1 gallon of water per person .

3 Pace yourself.

4 Rest at benches and shade shelters.

5 Check pets regularly for signs of stress.

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Master Gardeners

By Zachary Davis

On a Panhandle Friday night, thunderstorms roll through the High Plains, and the gardens at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial are pummeled with rain, hail and high winds.

Hail breaks the stalks of many beautiful flowers. Larkspur has already seeded and begun to dry, but as hailstones strike the seed pods, an explosion of seeds scatters among the other plants. Rose petals are torn from their buds and strewn along the paths, painting brush strokes of red across benches left to honor those who gave their all for our great nation.

Above the flag posts, a flash of light illuminates the sky as lightning reveals darkened monuments for various wars, listing names of many more who also made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Loud rumbles of thunder echo across the land that those heroes died to protect. The storm ushers in the changing of the season in the gardens, from spring blooms of red, white and blue to summer blossoms of red, white, blue and gold to last through the hot days of summer.

The next morning, volunteers from the Randall County Chapter of the Texas Master Gardeners arrive one by one with buckets, shovels and garden shears to repair the storm’s damage.

They brave the COVID-19 pandemic to come together for the sole purpose of keeping the garden beautiful. Shattered stalks are removed. Broken yellow flowers that once stood proud and tall are now pruned back to their healthy foundations. Battered roses are dead headed, exposing lush green leaves.

Larkspur is pulled out to uncover lantana that will soon bloom in brilliant shades of yellow and red. Leaves ripped from the trees by the storm are swept up to be used as compost. Plants that have become root bound are separated to ensure that they continue to thrive.

Weeds are pulled, revealing the beauty of the remaining plants. A damaged bush is noted, and plans are made for its replacement. By the time the volunteers leave on Saturday morning, the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Garden is ready for summer to begin.

A year ago I began a journey, working toward my goal of becoming a Certified Texas Master Gardener. During that time, I worked in the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Garden. I found it very humbling. During the Iraq war, my hometown community of Ralls lost one of our heroes in active combat.

When I entered the Texas Panhandle War Memorial, memories flooded my mind as I recalled the good times we had back in school, playing together in the Jackrabbit Band. Each of the gardeners gets something different from volunteering; for me, this is a way to honor the memory of those we have lost.

The Texas Panhandle War Memorial Garden is just one of several public gardens maintained by the Randall County Master Gardeners. This is done not only as a benefit to the community but also as research through the Texas A&M AgriLife. The goal is to find out what grows best in this area as well as to better support plants in our community.

To learn more about the Texas Master Gardener program and find out how to become a Master Gardener yourself, visit their website at https://txmg.org/ randall/.

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WWW.PANHANDLEMAGAZINE.COM | SUMMER 2020

Water Wizards:

The Magic of Xeriscapes

Xeric may sound like a word for a Scrabble game. But for conscientious gardeners who want to conserve water while creating a colorful home landscape, xeric gardening is a responsible and rewarding approach. Don’t know much about xeriscaping? That’s okay. It’s easier to implement than it is to spell!

Neal Hinders, owner of Canyon’s Edge Plants in Canyon, recommends the following steps to start your own xeriscape: Plan, Prepare, Plant, Preserve.

Plan small at first. Think about the location for your xeric garden. The optimal spot will be mostly sunny, with little to no shade. Consider the level of activity around the site. Ongoing movement by pets, people and vehicles can have an impact on your site’s popularity with more subdued visitors such as butterflies, birds and bees. Try starting with two or three plants in a quiet corner of your yard before committing to a larger area.

Now for the fun part: selecting and planting.

Hinders recommends established plants to start your xeric garden. “I just haven’t had much luck with seeds,” he says. The most popular xerics are those that are colorful and attract a variety of birds and pollinators, like bees and butterflies. Three good plants to consider are Butterfly Bush, Red Yucca and salvias appropriate for our zone, such as Wild Thing.

Xeric plants require more water at first, but you’ll soon be able to limit watering to once every week or two. “Keep the water close to the plant root,” says Hinders, “so that you’re not watering anything but the plant.” With these simple practices, you will preserve and perpetuate your xeric

By Cindy Hassell

plants for many seasons.

Water conservation is critical in our moody climate, and the summer heat tends to snatch a hefty share of precious moisture. Why not teach your children and grandchildren environmental stewardship by inviting them to garden alongside you? Discover the water-saving magic of xeric plants, create a beautiful haven in your yard and play an active part in protecting the future of water for all of us.

You can visit Canyon’s Edge Plants at 1401 5th Avenue in Canyon, or take a look at their Facebook page, Canyon’s Edge Plants.

Next, it’s time to prepare your site. Clear away any old plants, leaf debris and weeds.

Hinders prepares for planting with just a couple of soil amendments. He uses a combination of good fertilizer and cotton burrs. The burrs act as a mulch to protect the plant roots from too much sun. They also help nourish the soil and concentrate water distribution to the plant.

WWW.PANHANDLEMAGAZINE.COM | SUMMER 2020

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Summer Grilling Tips from 1) Keeping your BBQ grill clean.

Start with an old towel wet it down with water. (It can be trashed when you are done). Light your fire, get the grill hot, and then take a pair of tongs to pick up the wet rag. Wring it out, and then gently mop the grill with the damp rag to remove old grease and debris. Keeping your grill free of old grease and carbon will help prevent a flash fire.

2) Picking out what to grill and lighting a traditional charcoal fire.

I like the charcoal chimney starter because you never have food taste like lighter fluid. Using charcoal, be sure you start your fire one hour before you plan to cook. The hour lead time will insure the charcoal will be on fire and glowing orange It won’t taste like smoke or lighter fluid.

3) Choosing what to cook first.

Today we are cooking red bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, squash and chicken. First prep your veggies: wash them off, cut them into 1 inch squares and put them on skewer. Once the veggies are skewered, drizzle with olive oil and dust with salt, black pepper and garlic. Then check your fire. If it’s been about 45 minutes since you started the fire and it’s glowing orange, you can put your veggies on. Cook the veggies about 10 minutes each side until they brown and almost blacken; then flip them. Once you have grilled both sides to the desired doneness, set them off to the side a little where they are on indirect heat.

4) Chicken prep.

After your veggies are done, then it’s time to put the chicken on. First, run cold water in a clean sink, wash off the chicken, and then pat it dry with paper towels. Place it on a clean sheet pan. Then take your poultry rub and olive oil; rub the oil on the chicken, and then rub on the poultry seasoning. Let it rest 15 minutes. Now it’s grill time. Be careful when putting your chicken on the grill not to drip chicken juice on the cooked veggies to avoid cross contamination! Place the chicken on the hot grill over the orange coals; when it turns white then slightly brown, then it is time to flip it (approximately 12 minutes each side). Then when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, it’s ready. Remember the veggies! Plate them on top of the chicken and serve.

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WWW.PANHANDLEMAGAZINE.COM | SUMMER 2020

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