Story and photos by Cathy Martindale

The 17^th Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Championship Rodeo drew thousands of spectators to the Amarillo Civic Center for four performances Nov. 8-11. Twenty teams representing ranches from as far away as Florida and Wyoming competed in events similar to what might be necessary on a working cattle ranch.
The WRCA also announced that the event will remain in Amarillo through 2015. Approximately 40,000 people attend one or more of the rodeos and the trade show, and the overall event has an estimated $2 million impact on the area's economy.

The WRCA promotes the Western heritage and values through sanctioned ranch rodeos. Its philanthropic arm, the Working Ranch Cowboys Foundation, annually awards thousands of dollars in college scholarships and through its crisis-assistance fund.

Laney Easter, of Sayre, Okla, age 4 from Kaytha Russell, Amarillo.

The stray gathering event is part of the WRCA rodeo.

Although divorced dads may identify with this most easily, every dad faces relationship barriers of some kind, and all dads can benefit from being reminded about a few simple truths.

ClarkDaveColorIt seems every day that I hear from a man who is divorced or going through the court process. As I sit and listen I am overwhelmed at the magnitude of the emotions I hear expressed — either in complete sadness or a lot of anger. I have learned not to judge if I am hearing pain, anger, disappointment or whatever term a counselor would like to place on the words. In my years of listening and drinking a lot of coffee at a local coffee shop I think I hear mainly pain. It may come out in harsh and bitter words called anger, but I think the seed within the soul might be called pain. The conversation usually involves talk about an affair (on either side). After you listen to the aches, pains and devastation, the discussion is then about the kids.

Center City Block Party

Band Lineup Aug. 18, 2012

Circle A Title VIP Area

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.                          Andy Chase

8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.                          Yvonne Perea

Happy State Bank Stage 10^th & Polk

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.                          Beyond Country

6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.                          AJ Swope & the Last Train Home

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.                          The Smeetones

9:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.                       The Smeaton Brothers

10:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.                     Vic Fontana & The Automatics

Street Toyota Tundra  Zone Stage- By Paramount Bldg.

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.                          The Invisible Blues Band

6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.                          Wayne Williams & Just 2 Guys

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.                          Cruise Duke

8:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.                         Mike Fuller

10:15 p.m. – 11:15 p.m.                      The Carol Huddleston Group

Underwood Law Firm Stage 8^th & Polk

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.                          Texas Heat

6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.                          Hurry Sundown

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.                          Kracker Jack

8:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.                       Insufficient Funds

10:15 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.                      Noah Jenda

 Xcel  Energy Power Stage  7^th & Polk

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.                          Smooth Condition

6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.                          Rock Bottom

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.                          Bryan Kelley

9:15 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.                        Remedy

10:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.                      Chancy Bernson

Coca-Cola Monster / Toot ’n Totum Stage 6^th & Polk

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.                          Atteberry Station

6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.                          Dry County Drifters

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.                          Rocking Plowboys

8:45 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.                          Union Street Band

10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.                      Tom Velasquez & the Global Nomads

ClarkDaveColorWe all get into “routines” of life. We have set ways of doing particular things and most of the time we do them without thought. For example: My wife gets up every morning at 5:45 and has a quiet time or a time to herself meditating. The coffee has been made the night before and set to be brewed before 5:45. She lets the dog out, pours herself a cup of coffee and has her morning devotion till approximately 6:45. I hear the shower running and that is my cue to get up and get my coffee and get going into my routines. I shower, grab a quick breakfast snack and head up to my office at home. She comes and kisses me good-bye and the day has started. With some exceptions, I would say that is a pretty consistent “routine” most days of the year.