KGNC-AM Local News

Lake Meredith wildfire

kgncam — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:35:08 +0000

OVER 2-THOUSAND ACRES BURNED IN A WILDFIRE AT LAKE MEREDITH OVER THE WEEKEND. OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE ROSITA OFF-ROAD VEHICLE AREA SATURDAY AFTERNOON. NO STRUCTURES WERE BURNED, BUT A NUMBER OF COTTONWOODS WERE DESTROYED BY THE FLAMES. THE TOTAL AREA BURNED WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,228 ACRES – 95-PERCENT OF THAT ON PARK SERVICE LAND. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

One man dead in 4 vehicle accident

kgncam — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:08:40 +0000

ONE MAN IS DEAD AND ANOTHER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER A 4-CAR ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENED THURSDAY EVENING AROUND 9:30 ON THE 12,400-BLOCK OF EAST I-40. 30-YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER EASTERDAY OF AMARILLO WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-40 AND CROSSED THE CENTER MEDIAN INTO THE WESTBOUND LANES. HE STRUCK A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 20-YEAR OLD KENDRICK RAY POWELL OF CANYON STARTING THE MULTI CAR ACCIDENT. EASTERDAY WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. POWELL WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. DRIVERS OF THE OTHER TWO VEHICLES WERE UNINJURED IN THE CRASH. SPEED AND ALCOHOL ARE BELIEVED TO BE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

Railroad crossings patrolled

kgncam — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:58:49 +0000

THE TEXAS HIGHWAY PATROL IS CRACKING DOWN ON DRIVERS WHO FAIL TO FOLLOW THE LAW AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS. BEGINNING YESTERDAY, DPS OFFICERS WERE OUT PATROLLING RAILROAD CROSSINGS LOOKING FOR DRIVERS WHO IGNORE WARNING SIGNS, TRYING TO “BEAT THE TRAINS” ACROSS THE TRACKS. ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, THE MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN DRIVERS TRY TO RACE ACROSS THE TRACKS, OFTEN GOING AROUND ARMS AND GATES, IN ORDER TO BEAT THE TRAIN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.

Cause of N.E. 9th fire released

kgncam — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:57:11 +0000

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WEDNESDAY MORNING ON NORTHEAST 9TH THAT DISPLACED FOUR FAMILIES HAS BEEN RULED ACCIDENTAL BY THE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN OUTDOOR PROPANE COOKING APPLIANCE THAT WAS BEING USED INSIDE. OFFICIALS REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUTDOOR COOKERS SHOULD NOT BE USED INDOORS. THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR OUTDOOR USE ONLY.

Texting while driving ban possible

kgncam — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:18:26 +0000

A UNANIMOUS VOTE WEDNESDAY BY THE AMARILLO TRAFFIC COMMISSION RECOMMENDING A CITYWIDE BAN ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING WILL NOW BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COMMISSION. THE TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS SAY THAT A BAN IS WARRANTED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE PANEL’S RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES STRESSING THE NEED FOR AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING. THE RECOMMENDATION NOW GOES TO THE AMARILLO CITY COMMISSION, WHERE IT WILL BE VOTED ON IN THE FUTURE.

4 families homeless after fire

kgncam — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:17:14 +0000

FOUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS AFTER A TWO-ALARM FIRE WEDNESDAY MORNING. FIRE CREWS RESPONDED TO AN ALARM IN THE 5900 BLOCK OF NE 9TH AROUND 10:30 AND FOUND HEAVY SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM A MULTI-FAMILY UNIT. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE ATTIC AND CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE STRUCTURE. THE BUILDING IS BEING CALLED A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AND DAMAGES ARE ESTIMATED AT 150-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE TEXAS PANHANDLE CHAPTER OF THE RED CROSS IS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE FOUR FAMILIES. THE INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL ONGOING.

Taylor Food Marts sold

kgncam — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:24:02 +0000

THE TAYLOR FOOD MARTS CHAIN OF CONVENIENCE STORES HAVE BEEN SOLD. FIKES WHOLESALE INC., PARENT COMPANY OF THE CEFCO CONVENIENCE STORES CHAIN BASED IN TEMPLE, HAS SUCCESSFULLY ACQUIRED THE RETAIL INTERESTS OF 63 TAYLOR FOOD MART STORES FROM TAYLOR PETROLEUM COMPANY BASED IN AMARILLO. THE TAYLOR FOOD MARTS ARE LOCATED IN WEST TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND NEW MEXICO. TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WERE NOT DISCLOSED.

Man found dead at BNSF railway

kgncam — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:23:09 +0000

A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD AT THE BNSF RAILROAD TRACKS MONDAY MORNING. POLICE SAY IT HAPPENED ON THE 100-BLOCK OF SOUTH WILLIAMS WHEN OFFICERS FOUND A B-N-S-F EMPLOYEE IN HIS 50′S WHO HAD BEEN STRUCK BY EQUIPMENT. THE MAN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, AND HIS NAME IS BEING WITHHELD PENDING NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN. POTTER COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE GARY JACKSON HAS ORDERED AN AUTOPSY.

Bell Helicopter to make civilian helicopters

kgncam — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:21:31 +0000

BELL HELICOPTER HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL BEGIN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMMERCIAL HELICOPTERS AT IT’S PLANT IN AMARILLO. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE AMARILLO FACILITY WILL BE USED FOR CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION. BELL PREVIOUSLY HAD RESERVED ALL PRODUCTION OF CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT TO IT’S SITE IN MIRABEL, QUEBEC. DETAILS ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAGELLAN AIRCRAFT PROJECT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.

Lady Buffs Prepare for Lone Star Showdown

kgncam — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:45:38 +0000

West Texas A&M basketball teams try to remain unbeaten in Lone Star Conference play as they host Texas A&M-Commerce tonight in Canyon. The WT women’s team is coming off a non-conference loss to Shaw University last week that broke the Lady Buffs 7-game winning streak. Even though the Commerce women’s team is just 1-9 on the season and winless in the LSC, WT head coach Krista Gerlich sees some similarities with Shaw and says the Commerce record is very misleading. The Buffaloes routed Oklahoma Panhandle State in their last outing and face a Commerce team that is 5-6 overall and 0-3 in the LSC. You can hear tonight’s doubleheader on Newstalk 710-KGNC. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m.