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🌱 How a December Amarillo house fire turned even more tragic

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Hey hey Amarillo! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a December Amarillo house fire turned even more tragic
  • How soon can Amarillo seniors move into the Commons at Saint Anthony’s?
  • What changes could Amarillo see under its incoming police chief?

Also on today's calendar: The Grinch Brunch 2025 and 1 more event.

Find out what's happening in Amarillofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Amarillo? Post it to Amarillo photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Amarillofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Sunshine, with a high of 65 and low of 31 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 69, low: 39.
  • Thursday: Breezy and cooler, with a high of 55 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. December house fire leaves one woman, two animals dead (myhighplains.com) — A woman critically injured in a December 2 house fire on the 5300 block of Albert Avenue in Amarillo has died from her injuries, according to the Amarillo Fire Department. Firefighters also found two dogs and a cat dead inside, and officials estimate more than $200,000 in combined property and content losses while the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
   

2. Construction for Commons at Saint Anthony's nearing completion (newschannel10.com) — A long-anticipated senior housing project in Amarillo is nearly finished, with the Commons at Saint Anthony’s expected to open to residents in February. Potter County commissioners just approved a final extension of fiscal recovery funds, and they’ll tour the building on Jan. 14. The 124-unit facility will serve adults 55 and older with lower incomes, and applications are already open online.
   

3. City officials discuss selection of new Amarillo police chief (abc7amarillo.com) — Amarillo officials have chosen Thomas Hoover of Irving as the next chief of the Amarillo Police Department, pending a background check and City Council confirmation on Jan. 13. After a national search and community input, city leaders say Hoover’s experience with technology, homelessness, and real-time crime centers fits APD’s current needs while praising interim chief Jimmy Johnson’s steady leadership.
   

4. Heart of the High Plains: Make-A-Wish Texas Panhandle (myhighplains.com) — Families across Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle are turning to Make-A-Wish as the local chapter works to grant 24 wishes while 34 more children still wait. Development manager Denay Hooks, herself a former wish mom, describes how wishes restore a sense of control and create lasting memories. The group is gearing up for its January 10 Tri-State Open Chili Cookoff fundraiser and is asking the community for continued support.
   

5. Man who helped save Amarillo police officer receiving highest civilian honor for heroism (abc7amarillo.com) — An Amarillo man who rushed to help Officer Steven Kennedy during a 2023 alley struggle is being posthumously awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal for heroism. Christopher Scott Copeland helped disarm a suspect who fired the officer’s gun, later received an APD citation, and was tragically killed in the same alley months afterward.
   

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★ Featured events ★

    Sunday December 21
  • DC Young Fly
    Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, Globe-News Ctr for the Performing Arts, 500 S Buchanan St, Amarillo
    7:00 pm

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I we have a dog that has lost his people.
    He is a very sweet guy. We need to find his owners. I can tell he has been well cared for. We have him in our home where he is warm and safe for the… (Nextdoor Western Plateau)
  • Ive had these dogs for almost a week now.
    Found starving and cold. They really need a home, i can’t keep i have to many dogs and mine arnt that friendly so they have to stay in a room all day… (Nextdoor Green Acres)
  • Junior High & Middle School Coordinators- mark your calendars! @AmarilloISD will host a JHAMS Satellite Session for Regions 1-2 on Monday, January 26... (X: teamaisd)
  • Texas' first Bird flu case of 2025 found in Shelby County... (X: KAMRLocal4News)
  • Chuy's Tex-Mex Restaurant posted a job opening for Janitorial in Amarillo. Apply here.
  • Texas Staffing posted a job opening for Warehouse Janitorial Cleaner in Amarillo. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Amarillo here.

Ok Amarillo! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
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