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stipulate

By David GayAmarillo Globe-News

With a backdrop stat-ing “We will survive. Our staff is resilient. We are humbled. We are grateful. We are hopeful,” attendees filled the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Saturday evening

for a historic, and potentially record-breaking, 11th annual Mardi Gras Party, raising money for Family Support Services.

This party came in the after-math of an accidental fire that destroyed the organization’s location at 1001 S. Polk St. According to AGN Media archives, the organization has

currently found space in the Park West Office Complex, provided to them by the build-ing’s owner, the Amarillo Independent School District. The Veterans Resource Center, also housed in Family Support Services, remains in its space in the Guyon Saunders Resource Center.

FSS decorated the space

of the Heritage Room with decorations and Mardi Gras themed items, made new for the party. Attendees danced to the music of Noah Jenda and his band, perused the silent auction with various high-profile items and par-ticipated in casino games.

Family Support Services hosts 11th annual Mardi Gras party

By Douglas ClarkAmarillo Globe-News

Department of Justice grant funds are assisting the Amarillo Police Department's effort to upgrade its supply of tasers. The Amarillo City Council has approved an award of $92,075 to Axon Enterprises for the equipment.

Per the agenda, the award consists of the purchase of 60 tasers, 100 taser batteries, 50 right hand and 15 left hand taser holsters, and 300 taser cartridges.

The funding summary indi-cated Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) 2017 and 2019 funds would be used to aid in the purchase.

In August 2019, the Amarillo City Council approved a reso-lution authorizing APD to use the JAG application to pur-chase 37 tasers, with officials noting the grant is based on a formula from crime data, annually.

With regard to the August transaction, APD officials said the department pur-chased tasers two years prior. Additionally, officials said detectives were using some of the tasers when they were in uniform, and new officers are coming on board.

“We need to ensure our police officers have the nec-essary equipment to do their jobs,” Amarillo resi-dent Esther Rainey said.

Grant funds aid APD tasers purchase

Kwahadi Winter Show

Performers dance during the Kwahadi Museum 55th annual Winter Show titled “Tyuonyi.” The dancers are presenting the show during February; for more information and photos, see Page A8. [NEIL STARKEY

/ FOR THE AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS]

By APD Sgt. Carla BurrGlobe-News staff

T h e A m a r i l l o P o l i c e Department recognized Cpl. Bryan Jackson, Officer Ray Soto, Officer Juan Guerrero, Officer Andres Ramirez and Officer Tre Galvan for its weekly Feather in Your Cap Friday honors.

O n J a n . 1 1 , R a m i r e z and Galvan were finish-ing a traffic stop and saw a silver SUV pass them. They recognized the vehicle as possibly one that had been stolen earlier that morning.

Ramirez checked the license plate and found that it had been reported stolen. They began following the vehicle and were able to stop them in the 700 block of South Jefferson.

Jackson, Soto and Guerrero arrived, and the driver and passenger were removed from the vehicle without incident and placed in two separate patrol cars. Both were lawfully detained for being in a stolen car. The suspects were searched, and paraphernalia was found on the driver. He was also

checked and found to have an outstanding warrant for possession of paraphernalia.

The driver was found to have the spare keys to the vehicle and key ring, as well as other property belong-ing to the vehicle owner, on his person. Once the vehicle was searched, several items of drug paraphernalia were also found, along with other clothing items and property that did not belong to the vehicle owner, according to an affidavit.

Officers find stolen car, earn APD’s Feather in Your Cap

Marcus Rye and Phillip Prece dress the part as they visit during the 2020 Family Support Services Mardi Gras Party fundraiser in the Heritage Room of the the Amarillo Civic Center complex Saturday evening.[NEIL STARKEY / FOR THE AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS]

See CAR, A3

See PARTY, A3 See TASERS, A3