Amarillo community news in brief
Amarillo League of Women Voters begin voter registration work
The Amarillo League of Women Voters will be registering voters, for the November general election, starting this month and continuing through the voter registration deadline of Oct. 11. The group had its first signup this month on July 23 at the Amarillo Community Market, and the next registration opportunity will be Saturday at the Sod Poodles game.
Other opportunities to register to vote include:
Saturday and Sunday August 6-7 at AMA-CON, the Amarillo Public Library’s pop culture convention, Civic Center.
Saturday, August 20, 8:30-12:30, Community Market at 1000 Polk Street.
Tuesday, Sept. 20 at all Palace Coffee locations for National Voters Registration Day.
There will be many more opportunities to register to vote in September, as well. If your organization, business, nonprofit, or church, is interested in having the Amarillo League of Women Voters register your employees or members, please contact them at amarillolwv@gmail.com or 806-337-2148.
Task force to crack down on Move Over/Slow Down violators
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers and Amarillo Police Department (APD) Motors Unit are conducting a joint task force on Thursday to increase enforcement of the Move Over/Slow Down law. Enforcement efforts will be focused on the major roads in Potter County, according to a news release.
The Move Over/Slow Down law requires motorists to move over or slow down when certain vehicles are stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. These vehicles include police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) vehicles and tow trucks.
Specifically, Texas law states that a driver must either:
Vacate the lane closest to the applicable vehicles stopped on the side of the road (if the road has multiple lanes traveling in the same direction), or
Slowdown 20 mph below the posted speed limit. (If the speed limit is below 25 mph, the driver must slow to 5 mph.)
Drivers should only move over if they can do so safely and legally; otherwise, they should only reduce speed.
Violators could face a fine up to $200; the fine increases to $500 if there is property damage. If violators cause bodily injury, they can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, resulting in possible jail time and maximum fine of $2000.
Police officers, emergency personnel, tow truck drivers and TXDOT workers are more vulnerable on the side of the road and are at a greater risk of being struck by passing motorists. Remember – move over or slow down.
Full Smile Orthodontics offering free mouth guards to youth in sports
Just in time for the upcoming fall sports season, Dr. Steve Astuto of Full Smile Orthodontics is launching his first community initiative encouraging local youth to protect their smiles while playing sports. During the first Defend Your Mouth Day event, Full Smile Orthodontics invites youth ages 8–14 and their families to attend at their office on Friday, July 29, where they will receive free professionally fitted mouth guards and learn about the importance of dental trauma prevention.
Appointment slots are available from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at Full Smile Dental Orthodontics, 7901 SW 45th Ave. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting fullsmileortho.com/defend.
Research shows that 60% of dental injuries can be eliminated by wearing a mouth guard. Many sports and activities that involve the risk of injury require mouth guards to protect the teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw from severe and costly dental trauma, according to a news release. Astuto and his staff want to make sure local youth are protecting their teeth while playing sports this upcoming school year. Approximately a third of all sports injuries are to the face, and more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year, often due to sports-related injuries. Wearing a properly fitted mouth guard is an easy way to protect teeth, and mouth guards help avoid 200,000 oral injuries every year.
Community forum on Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and memory loss to be held Thursday at TTUHSC
Amarillo residents are invited to take part in a Community Forum on the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and memory loss on our community. The event will take place at Texas Tech University Health Science Center, School of Pharmacy Room 100, on Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
A news release says the forum provides an opportunity for residents of all ages to come together to ask questions about the disease, share their personal experiences, learn about available resources and discover volunteer opportunities to support families affected by the disease.
“Alzheimer’s disease is a growing concern. Maria Llamas, Program Director with the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a statement. “We invite families to join us so we can better understand community needs and address support for the Amarillo area communities.”
Community forums hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association bring together families affected by the disease with dedicated staff and volunteers to open conversation in an effort to bolster resources, programs and services to support families in their communities. The event is free and open to the public. To register or for more details, contact Ameka Mobley at 806-414-4402 or Maria Llamas at 915-257-0246.
TxDOT: Bridge on 152 to be closed Monday for repairs, with detour in place
On Monday, Aug. 1, a bridge on SH 152 will be closed between Pampa and Borger for pavement repairs. The closure is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and will most likely be complete by the evening commute, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The work was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed due to weather.
“Our goal is to improve the safety and ride quality of the roadway while minimizing the impact on area drivers,” says Pampa Area Engineer Zachary Mayer.
While repairs are underway, drivers going from Borger to Pampa will be detoured at FM 280 to FM 1059. Likewise, drivers going from Pampa to Borger will be detoured at FM 1059 to FM 280.
Remember to follow TxDOT’s Amarillo District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TxDOTAmarilloTX, Twitter at www.twitter.com/TxDOTAmarillo, and now on NextDoor.
Aaron Watson returns to touring after long hiatus for vocal rest
After a long road to recovery from a granuloma in his throat that left him unable to sing, off the road from touring since Mid-April, and at times speechless as he sought treatment and therapy from specialists, Aaron Watson has finally returned to the road with tour dates covering the country throughout 2022.
Watson's third stop on his current tour will be Saturday in Amarillo at the Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Dr., with doors opening at 8 p.m. and the show starting at 8:30 p.m.
In over 20 years of his career, Watson has never before been forced to cancel a string of shows, yet he demonstrated grit and grace in the face of adversity, as the ailment hit him amid the release of his latest album, "Unwanted Man," according to a news release. Now healthy, Watson is more eager than ever to return to the stage for a sensational summer. "It was definitely a frustrating and scary time, especially in the beginning not knowing what was going on with my voice, but that something was definitely wrong,” Watson said of the experience in the release. “I’m so grateful to have had the best care and prayers from the best fans to get me through these past few months.”
While Watson wasn't able to use his voice, his friends and fans spoke up across social media platforms with an overwhelmingly positive reaction to his current album, which takes the listener on a full circle journey from isolation and despair to loving redemption. Watson wrote and/or co-wrote all eleven songs on the album, showcasing both his trademark love songs in “When I See You” and “Nothing On You” to his popular classic up-tempo romps with “Cheap Seats” and “Heck Of A Song.” His independent spirit and strong work ethic are symbolic of the western lifestyle; virtues which have taken him from humble honky-tonk roots to a bona fide fixture in the country music landscape.
"I’m really excited to be back out on the road, playing music with the band and seeing all the fans. It feels really great to be on stage again and I’m looking forward to all the dates we have coming up performing across the country,” said Waston.
For more information on the Amarillo concert, visit prekindle.com/event/97176-aaron-watson-live-at-starlight-ranch-amarillo .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo community news in brief
