Amarillo in miniature?

Click to enlarge:



Not really - just a new Photoshop technique I've been experimenting with.

It's Monday ...

Have a good week!

Amarillo getting IMAX theater!

AMARILLO, TEXAS KVII

--It's something that has taken years to make its way to Amarillo, up until now the closest IMAX theater was in Lubbock, but now Amarillo will be one of the newest places in the United States to get an IMAX theater.

Thursday morning, we learned of the exciting news that our city will join two others in the country to get an IMAX, Eugene, Oregon and Shreveport, Louisiana.

Construction is scheduled to start this month at the United Artists Theater, on West Amarillo Boulevard. We've been told the theater will be renovated for the new IMAX, which means a new convex screen and sound system.

It's the kind of premiere that just about everyone is excited to hear about.

"It's a unique entertainment opportunity to have an IMAX. IMAX was originally for educational films less and less now, so now it's mostly Hollywood films...those get ported over to IMAX format. Still some wonderful films get made," said Joe Hastings, Executive Director of the Discovery Center.

According to Regal Entertainment, when possible the new IMAX will also show IMAX 3D.

Photo of the week: Lights and Shadows ...

Photographed on the south wall on the abandoned Saturn dealer on Georgia. I think it made for a nice abstract.

-Steve Douglass

Mayor McCartt not seeking reelection ...

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- KVII : Debra McCartt says she will not seek reelection as mayor of Amarillo. She says in her time as mayor she has seen some wonderful things in Amarillo and had a chance to serve with some amazing people, both elected officials and city employees. She says it's been a privelege to serve as mayor. She's come to understand it has been a calling for her because of her passion for people and her passion to serve.

During the press conference she went on to say it was a very hard decision to make, but it's time for a change. She says she's looking forward to seek out new challenges, and can't wait to see what's ahead for her.

It took her several months to come to the decision. During that time she looked at what she had accomplished, and if those accomplishments were what she wanted when she first ran. She also spoke with her family a got their thoughts before making up her mind.

She also stated that, Ron Boyd and Madison Scott's decision to not seek reelection as city commissioners did affect her decision.

McCartt has served as Amarillo's mayor since 2005.

The filing period for city elections starts on February 14th, and runs to March 14th. The citizens of Amarillo will take to the polls on May 14th to elect city leader

Canadian Rivers Sand Drags endangered??

This just in:

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- UPDATE: Updating a story we brought you Sunday night, the Sand Drags will go on this year. There was uncertainty about the event's future because of the Mass Gathering Act. The act requires that the event organizer provide certain amenities, like bathroom facilities, to large public event.

The Potter County Commission granted a Mass Gathering permit to allow the event to continue it's nearly 40 year history. The price of the permit was $25.00


KVII: Connect Amarillo
Matt Hamilton reports

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The sand drags are an annual event that have been going on at the Canadian River for almost 40 years come February. But this years event is in jeopardy of not happening.

The reason? Potter County wants them to get a mass gathering permit. They didn't have to get one last year because it was waived, do to the permit process and paper work.

They do expect the permit to be cleared through Potter County Monday, but there is always the chance that the application could be turned down. If that does happen, it could mean bad news for business.

"It brings a lot of money to the area both in food and beverage, lodging, there's just hundreds of dollars that get spent just for this one weekend. It would be a travesty to get something like this to not continue," said Brian Wallace, Texas Off Roader's Association Vice President.

Read more and comment at connectamarillo.com

Airport gets renovation nod ...

AMARILLO, Texas — A $52 million renovation of Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport is expected to put a new concourse into operation by May.

The Amarillo Globe-News reported Monday that city aviation director Pat Rhodes says they're "down to putting the final pieces together."

Terminal project general contractor Western Builders has moved its focus to the inside of the new concourse and to reconfiguring the terminal airline ticket counters.

Western Builders in December completed the roof on the new concourse. Rhodes says the current concourse eventually will be demolished.
The bulk of the project is being paid for with federal funds.
The airport is named for Amarillo native and astronaut Rick Husband, who died in the 2003 shuttle Columbia disaster

Vaporous West Texas Moon

Contrails stretching across a West Texas sky seem to lead to a vaporous moon.

-Steve Douglass