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.

AQHM LENDS HAND TO OKLAHOMA

The American Quarter Horse Museum is getting involved with the Oklahoma tornado disaster relief.

Sarah Davidson with the A.Q.H.M says they are currently collecting donations of very specific items.

"Right now our donations are the immediate needed items, non-perishable food items, toiletries, buckets, shovels and gloves. We are asking that you only bring the items that are on our list."

Davidson says they will have a trailer set up at the main entrance to the A.Q.H.M from Wednesday till Friday, 8am to 8pm.

Davidson says any monetary donations should be directed to the www.redcross.org.

TORNADO STIKE NEAR OKC LEAVES RED CROSS IN NEED OF FUNDS

A massive tornado, estimated at nearly 2 miles wide, devastated an area outside of oklahoma city on Monday.

The twister reduced 1000-plus homes, along with schools, and highways to rubble.

Martha Riddlespurger with the Amarillo Red Cross says, there will be Red Cross teams, sent from Texas, to help with the Oklahoma disaster relief...but right now its just too dangerous.

"We are not going to send our own volunteers in to danger. So, theres nothing we can do until theres been given an all clear so the Red Cross can get out there. Local people, we can't send them out because they are not going to be able to help anybody if something happens to them. So, we have to wait for the weather to clear a little bit before the Red Cross can head out."

Riddlespurger says, in wake of this tornado, hitting so soon after last weeks tornado strike in North Texas, the Red Cross is in major need of financial donations.

"If people want to donate financial assistant the thing to do is to put 'for disaster relief' and not to say for Moore, or for Crystal City, or for Granbury but just for disaster relief in general. Because as you can see, the way our weather patterns are going, it can be another town tomorrow and we wouldnt be able to use that money for another town."

To donate visit www.redcross.org.

MASKED MAN ROBS AMARILLO BANK

For the third time in 6 months, an Amarillo bank has been robbed. 

Police are investigating at the First Bank Southwest, at 5701 Southwest 34th, where a man entered just after 10:30am Monday morning carrying a bag and a short-barreled shotgun. 

He pointed the gun at employees and then climbed over the counter. 

He took money from more than one drawer in the bank, the climbed back over the counter and fled. 

The suspect had a Gray cloth completely covering his head and face, and he was wearing sunglasses. 

No one was injured and no arrests have been made so far.

DPS FIND NEARLY $3/4 OF A MILLION WORTH OF DRUGS

The Department of Public Safety made another big drug bust this weekend.

Just after 2pm, Saturday afternoon, D.P.S. Troopers stopped a truck and trailer, heading east on I -40, in Potter County.

A search of the vehicle revealed  9,797 grams of cocaine and 14,696 grams of methamphetamine, with a combined  value of $731,464.

The driver, 65 year old Morris Arnold Welcome, was booked in to the Potter County Jail.

Authorities believe the drugs were on their way to Albuquerque, NM from Brooklyn, NY.

AMARILLO MAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER COLLISION

A nasty wreck between 2 pickup trucks sends one man to the hospital.

According to the Amarillo Police,  the collision occurred,around 11:30am Monday morning, on the west bound 1-40 Frontage Road and Julian Street.

Witnesses say, 21 year old, Bradly Wilson St. Claire ran a red light on Julian and hit, 69 year old, William Norman Holleyfield who was traveling west on the access road. 

Holleyfield was rushed to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

The wreck is currently under investigation.

VENOM STOP BANDITS

The Amarillo Venom won at home on Saturday over San Angelo 48-38 in Lone Star Football League play. Venom quarterback Nate Davis threw five touchdown passes and ran for a score. Reveiver Doug Williams returned to the line up following a concussion and snagged 8 catches for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Amarillo defense also came through with a big game, holding the Bandits to just 38 points and making a key stop late in the game. Amarillo improves to 5-2 on the season. The Venom next play at Abilene on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th.  

CANYON NATIVE TO LEAD LADY RAIDERS

Candace Whitaker is returning to her alma mater to become the sixth head coach in Lady Raider basketball history. Whitaker was the starting point guard for a pair of Sweet 16 teams at Texas Tech. She spent last season as the associate head coach at Oklahoma State after serving as head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for six seasons. In high school she was known as Candi White and played for Canyon High School under Coach Joe Lombard. 

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