Editor’s note: The City of Amarillo Snapshot is a monthly offered feature highlighting the city’s employees.
The old saying that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life, characterizes Rochelle Kenneybrew and Frank Bascom, two of the 44 drivers with Amarillo City Transit (ACT). (Not all driver positions are currently filled, the city noted.)
“I would work on Sundays if they would let me,” Kenneybrew said.
“I actually enjoy being home every night and we are off on Sundays,” Bascom said with a laugh. “I have been doing this for more than 20 years in different places. This is a great place to work, and the buses are awesome. They are fun to drive.”
Kenneybrew, an Amarillo native and former certified nurses assistant, has been with ACT just more than two years. “I wanted something different, and I love to drive, so this seemed like a great fit,” she said. “I enjoy coming to work. I don’t want to miss any days. This is like a second home.”
Kenneybrew is a driver for ACT-Connect, a unique resource for persons with certification who cannot navigate or physically use the ACT traditional fixed route service. “One of the best parts of the job is meeting people and talking to people,” she said. “There are customers that we truly get to know.”
Bascom, a Minnesota native, is a veteran of public transportation, having worked more than 20 years for Greyhound in places such as Dallas and Seattle.
“People are more laidback here than Dallas or Seattle,” said Bascom, who has been with ACT for five years. “Here, you can get to know your customers because some ride every day.”
The city of Amarillo said that, for the record, both Kenneybrew and Bascom can basically time their routes in their heads.
“After you drive for a while, you pretty much know your time stops,” Bascom said.
“I have a clock in my head now,” Kenneybrew said. “Traffic can be difficult sometimes, say on Coulter after 5 p.m., but just take your time and it is fine. Safety is always first.”
For more information on ACT and ACT services, go online to www.amarillo.gov/amarillo-city-transit/act-connect/ Also for more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov.
Other community news
McDonald’s is teaming up with High Plains Food Bank for the next McDonald’s Gives Back Day, which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29. On that day, a portion of sales from participating McDonald’s locations in Amarillo, Canyon, Dumas, Dalhart, and Borger going to the food bank. “High Plains Food Bank has been working to fill the gap after the USDA canceled 13 truckloads of food earlier this year,” explains Stephanie Khayat, Marketing Coordinator for McDonald’s. ”This is our way of helping fill that void during a time when they are experiencing a historically high need.”Zivorad Filipovic, HPFB director of marketing and communications, called it the highest need they’ve seen in their 43-year history, as they work to continue serving households throughout the top 29 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Learn more at amarilloareamcdonalds.com/gives-back or the food bank’s website, hpfb.org
This week’s Furry Friend is Topper. “Topper was surrendered to Amarillo SPCA due to her owner going into the Navy. Topper is very active and wants lots of attention. She likes to be around people. She also likes to play with toys, and to be in the water in the doggie pool in the hot weather of the summer. This friendly girl likes babies, toddlers, children of all ages, and adults. She doesn’t know a stranger. You will fall in love with her when you meet her.” APSCA adoptions can be made at the shelter, 11901 S. Coulter, noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call 806-622-0555, or visit www.amarillospcashelter.com or www.adoptapet.com.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center will be hosting its annual Wizarding School on Aug. 2. Young participants will explore hands-on “classes” like genetics, chemistry, astronomy, and care of creatures as they learn about the science behind the magic. The timed, ticketed event has two “class” sessions to choose from, noon to 2 p.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Space is limited, so early ticket purchase is encouraged. Tickets are $5 for members, or $8 for nonmembers. Butterbeer for all ages is available for purchase at this event. DHDC’s gift shop will also be stocked with magically themed items, and the event will have a “Diagon Alley” set up with local vendors selling their items.
In addition, DHDC will show an adults-only screening of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” in their Space Theater at 7 p.m. Aug. 2. With the purchase of a wristband add-on to their movie tickets, individuals at the 21+ only event will also get unlimited refills on popcorn and a themed cocktail provided by DHDC. Space is limited, so interested community members are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Movie tickets are $10, with the wristband add-on costing $15. Tickets can be purchased on their website at: https://discoverycentercollective.org/don-harrington-discovery-center/public-programs-events/fantastic-beasts-screening-info/ Follow the Don Harrington Discovery Center on Facebook and Instagram or visit dhdc.org for more information on their community programs.
DHDC is also hosting a supply drive now through Aug. 13 for their outreach programs, field trips, and public demos. The center will be accepting donations as a drop-off location during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Specific needs include soda cans (not crushed), soda bottles (no water bottles or electrolyte beverage bottles), plain cardboard (no tape or lettering) and small chip bags (snack sized). Those who donate will be entered into a raffle to win a free membership or a free membership renewal to DHDC and Wildcat Bluff. Bringing in 15+ items will grant a donor free admission into the museum the day of the donation, in conjunction with their raffle entry. Raffle winners will be announced on DHDC’s Facebook page on Friday, Aug. 15.
The Amarillo Museum of Art’s Family Day will take place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. The afternoon offers free fun for the whole family, including live music by Mike Fuller, yard games, face painting, and hands-on art making. Inspired by artworks from AMoA’s summer exhibition, “Home, Love and Loss,” art activities will include jewelry making, watercolor postcards, and home sculptures, among others. Outdoor activities will also include events from AMoA’s sponsor, Little Bee’s Playhouse. Families can enjoy a gallery hunt through the museum with prizes. Lunch will be available for purchase from food trucks That Weird Place and Seoulmate Korean Snack House.
The Amarillo Rainbow Room is holding its annual “July Back to School Drive” benefitting CPS-involved children and families. “We feel every child deserves the opportunity to have the supplies they need to be successful and confident in school,” said Jennifer Sugg, Amarillo Rainbow Room Coordinator. “We’re asking the community to help with donations of backpacks, pencils, paper and more.” They have established an Amazon school supply wish list, and the drop-off location for school supplies is Texas DFPS, 3521 SW 15th Ave. in Amarillo. Corporate and monetary donations are also welcome. For more information, please contact Sugg at 806-673-7569 or jennifer.sugg@dfps.texas.gov.
Amarillo’s Northside Toy Drive will continue its 13th year of Christmas festivities and giving, starting Saturday, Aug. 2 when partygoers will purchase tables at the formal Black Tie Affair Table Sales Kickoff, 1-5 p.m. at Crush Wine Bar on the Rooftop. The Northside Toy Drive will sell tables to raise funds to purchase toys and provide scholarships for local children. Diamond Tables for $500 will seat 8 people and come with a buffet, and VIP Tables for $,1000 will seat 8 with a plated dinner at the formal charity event, set for Dec. 12 at the Amarillo Civic Center. Learn more on Facebook or at www.northsidetoydrive.com.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host two single-day grain grading workshops 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14 in Amarillo at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd. The $100 cost of each workshop covers equipment, materials and lunch. Register online at https://tx.ag/2025GrainGrading/. Each class is limited to 40 participants, and the registration deadline is Aug. 12. Presenters include DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist and program co-coordinator, Department of Agricultural Economics; Vinícius Gouvêa, DVM, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research ruminant nutritionist and assistant professor, Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, Amarillo; and Tim Hall and Clayton Hanson, U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Grain Inspection Service, Kansas City, Missouri. For more information, contact Jones at 806-677-5667 or dljones@ag.tamu.edu.
The upcoming 48th Annual Randall County Crops Tour will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at the Kuhlman Extension Center, located at 200 North Brown Rd. in Canyon. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., with the first presenter beginning at 9 a.m. and afternoon tours concluding at 4 p.m. The event is free and is sponsored by Happy State Bank, Pala Duro Soil & Water Conservation Service and Plains Land Bank. People need to register by 5 p.m. Aug. 23 for meal count purposes. For more, contact the Randall County Extension Office at (806) 468-5543.
The Foster Grandparent Program is recruiting volunteers to mentor children as the program celebrates its 60th anniversary this summer. As part of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the program provides an opportunity for people 55 and older who have limited incomes to mentor children with special and exceptional needs or who are in circumstances that limit their academic, social or emotional development. Volunteers receive a monthly tax-free stipend and serve 15 to 40 hours a week. Unlike traditional foster parenting, children don’t live with their foster grandparents. Learn more at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/about/community-engagement/foster-grandparent-volunteer-program .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Need a lift? Amarillo City Transit is ready to give one
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
