AFD TIPS FOR SAFE AND FUN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the Summer season, complete with swimming pools, barbecues and good times with friends and family.

Jacob Ohlert with the Amarillo Fire Department said  when having fun this weekend don't neglect your safety. "first of all, medicals are a big part of our duties anymore as the fire department. So, we start looking at maybe problems with people getting dehydrated from being out in the sun and not having the proper water intake."  

Oehlert said  when grilling, your best bet, to avoid a fire, is to grill on concrete but if you have to grill on the grass  "you want to be careful and if your grilling out and the grass is real dry have a water source there  with you just in case. If you lose an ember or something comes off of the grill and catches the grass, or something next to you on fire, that way you have some water on hand to take care of it as soon as possible."

Ohlert also advises to keep those left over fire works put away because not  only is shooting them off illegal but even possession of fire works, in Amarillo, is against the law.

2 ARRESTED AFTER EARLY MORNING SHOOTING

According to Amarillo Police, A.P.D were called to the area of Amarillo Blvd west and North Washington, just after 2am Friday morning, due to reported gun shots.

Soon after the cops pulled over a suspected vehicle, that was described by a witness, they found a semi-automatic pistol in the back seat.

No one was injured but 29 Year old Yancey Lajuan Phea and, 29 year old, Blake Welch were both booked in to Potter County.

APD INVESTIGATE THURSDAY NIGHT GUN SHOTS

Reports of gun shots in 3 different locations around the city, Thursday night, all originated between 5:45pm and 6:30pm.

According to the Amarillo Police the reports came in back to back in the 1300 block of North Lincoln, the 1800 block or North Garfield, and the intersection of Oak Drive and Maple.

Jerry Neufeld with the A.P.D told KGNC they get calls about shots fired in Amarillo quite often "and never find anything. We get to the area, we don't find a house, we don't find a car, or anybody that says this happened or didn't happen. So, what those may have been, who knows, it could have been somebody poppin off fire crackers for all we know."

No one was hurt in any of the shottings nor were any homes hit.

2 men were detained for the shooting on North Garfield but witness descriptions of the incident conflicted, not leaving enough evidence for an arrest.

ENERGY STAR TAX FREE WEEKEND

If your thinking about buying appliances for the home, this may be the weekend to do it.  

Comptroller Susan Combs has announced the states annual Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday starting Saturday and running through Memorial Day.

The tax free offer is restricted to Energy Star qualified air conditioner $6,000 or less, refrigerators $2,000 or less as well as with ceiling fans, fluorescent light bulbs, dishwashers, and dehumidifiers.

Clothes washers are also on the list but unfortunately they don't cut you a break on the matching set because clothes dryers are not Energy Star certified.

TASTE OF SUMMER AS AREA POOLS OPEN

Summer is gearing up as the Amarillo City Pools are opening this weekend. 

All 3 pools will be open Saturday and Sunday.

The hours on Saturday are noon-6:00pm  Sunday  1 - 5:00pm.

Shelley Gallagher with Amarillo Parks and Rec said, because schools are in session on Memorial Day. They are closing Southwest and Thompson Pools on Monday and leaving the  Southeast Pool open on Memorial Day.

Tuesday through Friday all 3 pools will be closed again until Saturday June 1st.

Gallagher also gave as overview of some of the pool rules this year.

"12 And under must be accompanied by an adult 18 or over. There is no outside food or beverages allowed in the pool area. There's no alcohol allowed at all, that's for private parties as well as our regular operation. Other then that it's the basic rules as most pools. We don't want any running on the deck, or dunking your friends, or that stuff." 

For a list of pools rates and hours visit www.amarilloparks.org

FUGITIVE OF THE WEEK

The Amarillo Police Department  is asking for your help locating a wanted fugitive.

The Amarillo Crime Stoppers fugitive of the week is Luis Jasso Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is wanted on Potter County warrants for a aggravated sexual assault of a child & indecency with a child. 3

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 374-4400.

Tips will remain anonymous and could get you a reward of up to $300. For more information visit www.amapolice.org.

HIT AND RUN LANDS AMARILLO MAN IN HOSPITAL

An Amarillo man has been hospitalized after a hit and run accident Wednesday night. 

Police say just before 9:30pm, a motorcycle ridden by, 23 year old, Randall William Tuz was hit in the 6000-block of 45th by a white SUV that had left the scene. 

Tuz was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

The driver of the SUV was a juvenile who returned to the scene with a family member. 

She told police that she had exited the Toot 'n Totum at 45th and Bell when she hit Tuz. 

The incident remains under investigation.

SALVATION ARMY RESPONDS TO OKLAHOMA TORNADO STRIKE

As soon as the 2 mile wide tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma on Monday the salvation army had an immediate response with a facility less then 2 miles away. 

They have been able to send out personnel, equipment and set up mobile canteens with food and water.

Major Harvey Johnson with the Amarillo salvation army says they also have been focusing on spiritual relief as well.

"those individuals at that point in time, whether you are a person that was effected from your household or school and that significant impact that's made, but also those first responders trying to assist can be very taxing emotionally. So, we are there  to lend that kind of support as well."

Major Johnson says this is just the beginning. The salvation army will be involved long after the initial outreach is over.

"after that we will be moving in to helping families get in to permanent housing; helping them with other kinds of things that they need for long term recovery. We will move from this response, to the disaster, to recovery mode."

Johnson  says, he appreciates the support of the community when something like this happens but people can get a little too zealous. What sounds like a great idea to you is a just another disaster for them.

"one of the things we encourage people not to do is to get a trailer and get a bunch of stuff together and cart it over there or send it down to us and expect us to cart it to Oklahoma City. It creates another disaster with how do you handle all this stuff coming in?"

Johnson says,  they don't have people ready to distribute spontaneous truck  loads nor do they  have any place to store those supplies.

The best way to help is to make a cash donation at  1-8-0-0-s-a-l-a-r-m-y. The number doubles as a web site.

VENOM COACH SAYS TEAM NEEDS CONSISTANCY

The Amarillo Venom are gearing up for a road game on Monday at Abilene, a team which the Venom have already beaten twice this season. At his weekly news conference on Wednesday, Venom head coach Julian Reese said they won't have any problem getting up for playing the Bombers since the teams really don't like each other. He also said they have plenty of room for improvement after last week's 48-38 win over San Angelo. Reese said they really haven't put together a complete game where they are clicking on all cylinders.

Gametime is 6:05 p.m. on Monday in Abilene. 

KGNC Agribusiness Hour

The KGNC Golden Spread Agribusiness Hour is your daily opportunity to hear from agriculture newsmakers from around the region. The program airs Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. on KGNC-AM.

In addition to bringing you the insights of ag experts from around the High Plains region, our show also offers up-to-the-minute market information, veterinary news, wildlife reports, and features that explore the daily endeavor of those good people – the farmers and livestock producers – who provide us with the food and fiber we all need.

If you are unable to listen to the Agribusiness Hour live, remember you can hear recordings of past programs in podcast form by going here: http://multimedia.kgncam.com/audio/ag.htm 

DCP, ACRE Deadlines Approaching

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is urging producers to enroll as soon as possible for the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE). The deadline for DCP is Aug. 2. The deadline for ACRE is June 3. FSA officials say delaying enrollment until the deadlines are imminent can mean producers will face long waiting times in FSA county offices. For more information, go here:

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=ner&newstype=newsrel&type=detail&item=nr_20130516_rel_0085.html

CRP Announcement

Here's a reminder for farmers and ranchers: A four-week Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up began May 20. Also, there has been a re-start of sign-up for continuous CRP that began earlier this month. More information is available here

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/05/0093.xml&contentidonly=true