This is the Panhandle

This week in our Season 2 finale, we talk with legendary girls' basketball coach, Joe Lombard.  Coach Lombard shares about his time at Canyon High School, how he builds a team, and what skills he develops that will stay with the girls throughout their lives.  Joe's son, Tate Lombard, joins him on the bench this year as an assistant coach.  Coach Lombard shares what Tate has added to the team and t...

This week we sit down with Dr. Nick Gerlich, professor at West Texas A&M, and Route 66 enthusiast.  Dr. Gerlich talks about how he ended up here and why he loves to call the Panhandle home.        

We sit down with Crystal Moroney this week, the owner of Milk House Market in Friona, Texas.  Crystal and her husband also are the owners of the Del Rio Dairy in Friona.  They moved to Friona from the Phoenix area.    Crystal, who has a degree in fashion design and merchandising, talks about how the store, Milk House Market, came to be and how the community and region has responded since its openi...

This week we sit down with Amy Sheets, owner and designer at Marrs Makers, a fashion brand in New York.  Amy grew up in Amarillo and is the granddaughter of legendary saddle maker, Bob Marrs.  Amy is honoring the heritage of her grandparents with a new spin on tooled leather and western fashion.  Learn more about Marrs Markers: Website: https://marrsmakers.com/ Email: amy@marrmakers.com Facebook:...

This week we talk with Jeff Blackmon, owner of several local newspapers in the Texas Panhandle.  About a year ago, The Hereford Brand announced it was going to shutter .  Jeff and his wife ,  Angela ,  jumped  at the opportunity to make the paper their flagship investment in our area.  Jeff talks about how local newspapers are important to rural communities and why he's working hard to make sure t...

This week we sit down with Jill Goodrich, Executive Director of Opportunity School.  She shares the mission and vision behind the program and why, after 50 years, Opportunity School is expanding in our community.  To learn more about Opportunity School go here: https://www.opportunityschool.com/ To submit your question for Questions from a Boot go here:  http://bit.ly/TITP_QFAB  

This week we sit down for a great discussion with Marcy McKay.  In 2017, Marcy's family lost their home in a fire. The aftermath resulted in an emotional breakdown, but it also helped her find her new path as a life coach.  You will learn how Marcy overcame being stuck and how she moved from hurting to thriving.  To learn more about Marcy's work, go here: https://marcymckay.com/ To submit your que...

Aaron King has spent his entire life in the trucking industry. Together with his family, Aaron has developed several vertically aligned businesses that help the individual truckers in our area. Aaron has a real passion for each trucker and is in the process of creating a nonprofit to help them in times of crisis.   To learn more about Aaron's companies, you can go here: https://www.deekingtrucking...

Carlos Lopez grew up in Spearman ,  Texas and left the Panhandle for an amazing career in marketing and advertising in the Dallas-Fort Worth  m etroplex. He worked for Dr. Pepper / Snapple ,  and JC Penney's.  He and his wife ,  Kathy ,  were looking for a way to get back to the Panhandle and opened a business, Little Bees  Play House .  Entrepreneurship is nothing new for Carlos  -  his mother ha...

Josh Butler and his wife, Allison, are the owners of Butler Benefits and Consulting in Amarillo. In this episode, we speak with Josh about a project he's working on to absolve $1,500,000 in medical debt for people in Potter and Randall Counties. You'll learn why he so passionate about this project and how it came to be.   You can give here:  https://secure.qgiv.com/event/butlerbenefitstx/ More abo...

This week we sit down with Wayne Craig, the Executive Director of Cactus Cares, the philanthropic arm of the employee-owned Cactus Feeders.  Wayne gives background on Cactus Feeders, how the organization became employee-owned, and how Cactus Cares is working to strengthen the communities they serve.  To learn more: http://cactusfeeders.com/ To submit your question for Questions from a Boot go here...

This week we sit down with The Harrington House's Board Chair, Dr. Sue Park, and Executive Director, Phyllis Rice.  Both share how the former house of Don and Sybil Harrington was founded and why Mrs. Harrington chose to open her home for people to tour.  To learn more about this historic home, log on to https://www.harringtonhousehistorichome.org/   To submit your question for Questions from a Bo...

This week we talk to Wendie Cook who is the Executive Director of the Citadelle Art Foundation in Canadian, Texas.  She also serves on the Canadian City Council.  Wendie shares her experience and how she got to the Panhandle, as well as information about the incredible collection of art on display at the Citadelle.  To submit your question for Questions from a Boot go here: http://bit.ly/TITP_QFAB...

This special episode features three grants the Amarillo Area Foundation awarded in 2019 to combat homelessness in our area.  We will hear from all three of the grant recipients and discuss how those funds will help our friends and neighbors who are dealing with homelessness.  This is just another way AAF is improving quality of life in the Texas Panhandle.  To submit your question for Questions fr...

Benny Barraza grew up in Mexico and came across the border when he was just a young boy.  He talks about his days growing up in Borger, Texas "in the shadows", making sure he didn't draw attention to himself.  He's now a principal at Amarillo ISD.  Learn more about Benny's story and how he went from constant worry to an extremely successful elementary principal.  To submit Your Questions from The...

This week we sit down with the Executive Director from Borger Inc., Katie Lingor.  As the economic development corporation for the city of Borger, Katie talks about how Borger Inc. is investing in improving the quality of life.  She shares what is happening now and the Boomtown Scholarship that was just announced in October.  More on Borger Inc.: Web: CLICK HERE To submit Your Questions from The B...

We tried something new when we sat down with Jason Herrick for a live episode at Six Car Pub and Brewery to discuss the innovative model of #ThePanhandleGives 

This week we sit down with Dr. Dan Posey who is working on a new initiative at West Texas A&M University in conjunction with Texas A&M. Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach is a new program that allows students interested in veterinary medicine to begin their education at the WTAMU campus and then finish the last 2 years at A&M in College Station.  Dr. Posey is from the Panhandle and after ye...

Lo van Pham came to the US as a refugee from Laos.  He assimilated very quickly and found a love of sports through Amarillo ISD's schools.  After college, Lo started at Western Builders as a project manager.  His love of sports led him to an interesting "side hustle" as a Division 1 on-field official for the NCAA.  In 2019's Fall season, Lo was on the field at Camping World Kickoff Florida Gators...

Julian Kitten is the Director of Community Development for the City of Amarillo. She sat down with us to talk about homelessness in Amarillo and the City's new pilot program called Coming Home, a housing first model.  Kitten's passion for the homeless and her commitment to ensuring that the city receives all the funding possible gives the listener a sense that Amarillo's homelessness issues can be...

This is the season finale of "This is the Panhandle" and we have two guests this week.  Earlier this year, there was news about the development of a hospital laundry service being built in the North Heights neighborhood on the former Inn of Amarillo lot, just off Amarillo Boulevard.  We speak with two people working with this local, grassroots group to ensure this project comes to fruition.  Puff...

Nestled in the square, just off highway 287 in Claude, is a little coffee shop called The Burrow.  This week we sit down with co-owner Leslie Burton and talk to her about why she and her business partner, Tessa Morrow, decided to make this space special while adding to the quality of life in Claude. Leslie explains their philosophy and motto: Be Kind, why they are investing in their community, and...

This week we sit down with Pampa Superintendent and Region 16 Superintendent of the Year, Tanya Larkin.  She has been a lifelong resident of the Panhandle and has been in education for more than two decades. Tanya talks about Pampa ISD's innovative approach to teacher recruitment to create a competitive advantage, which is important in a time when there is a shortage of teachers. Her dedication to...

This week we sit down with Sridevi "Shree" Veeramachaneni ,  the Executive Director of Panhandle Behavioral Health Alliance.  PBHA is working to enhance access  to mental healthcare, as well as to  mitigate the stigmas associated with mental health.    Shree moved to this country as an immigrant and  has lived in  the Amarillo area with her husband  for  more than 20 years , where they have raised...

Dr. Tedd Mitchell, Chancellor of the Texas Tech System and President of the Health Sciences Center, talks with us about the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and the newly approved Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.     TTUHSC has been serving the needs of Panhandle for over two decades.  The future TTU Veterinary School is slated to be built and open classes in 2021. More about...