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It rained (finally). Are we still in a drought?

Just days after the City announced it was moving into a Drought Contingency Plan— which we mentioned in the most recent Brickly newsletter—the city has lifted those voluntary water restrictions. Over Friday evening and Saturday morning, locations throughout the area received from two to seven inches of rain.

This included a whopping six inches of rainfall in an hour’s time in Goodnight, more than five inches on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon, and nearly three official inches in Amarillo, according to the National Weather Service.

There are additional, slight rain chances on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Despite the rain, most of the Texas Panhandle is still experiencing either “Extreme” or “Exceptional” Drought conditions based on this chart. The region remains two inches below normal rainfall, and Lake Meredith is still just at 31 percent of capacity.

Local Focus

“National Night Out” at AC: The Amarillo College Police Department is hosting a free event tonight (Tuesday, Aug. 2) at the Washington Street Campus, from 6-9 p.m. The theme is public safety, and kids are encouraged to bring their bicycles and try out a bike-safety course on one of the college’s parking lots. The event also includes inflatables, free hot dogs and snow cones, and other family-friendly activities.

Johnson appointed to 47th Judicial District Court. After winning a Republican runoff election, Dee Johnson has already been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the 47th Judicial Court in Armstrong, Potter and Randall counties. She faces no opposition in the November general election.

What’s the future of the Tri-State Fairgrounds? Last week, the city of Amarillo, Potter County, Amarillo Independent School District, Amarillo-Potter Events Venue District and Tri-State Expo invited the public to a meeting discussing the future of the Fairgrounds. Leaders are hoping to modernize livestock facilities, improve parking and increase multi-use facilities. The various stakeholders are currently finalizing a master plan, which eventually will have a five-to-10-year implementation timeline.

Chip Chandler’s “Can’t Miss”

XIT Rodeo & Reunion: It’s a full weekend of fun in Dalhart with the 86th-annual throwdown, featuring hot rodeo action, a watermelon feed Thursday, a pork chop feed Friday, the world’s largest BBQ feed Saturday and music from Amarillo country band 9 Eyes on Thursday, Cory Morrow on Friday and Randall King on Saturday. (Thursday through Saturday; ticket prices vary; xitrodeoreunion.com)

First Thursday Art + Music: The 806 Coffee + Lounge offers a selfie-themed art show with tunes from Derek Porterfield & All His Friends. (7 p.m. Thursday; 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.; donations accepted; 806-322-1806)

Matt Moran: The touring singer-songwriter hits town for a show at Leftwoods. (9 p.m. Thursday; 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-367-9840)

CMA Silver Jubilee: Celebrate 25 years of Chamber Music Amarillo with this ritzy fundraiser in the Fairly Club at Hodgetown, featuring food, drinks and a wine pull. (6 p.m. Friday; 715 S. Buchanan St.; 806-376-8782)

Dive-In Movie Night: Enjoy a screening of “Moana” after an evening swim at Canyon Aqua Park. (7:30 p.m. Friday; tickets $3; 1900 12th Ave. in Canyon; 806-655-5016)

Ama-Con: Take in two full days of actors, cosplayers, artists, authors and much more at the 10th anniversary of Amarillo Public Library’s pop culture celebration. (11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex, 401 S. Buchanan St.; admission $5 one day, $8 two days; 806-378-3051)

806 Day: Enjoy a full day of fun at Zombiez Bar & Grill with vendors, beer pong and music from The Vacant, DloeSkoe, Erratic Soul, In The Mind of Asterion, Big Head Benji, Outsiders By Intoxication, Toxic Menace, Empresario Music, Adnama & Akasia, Corrosive Wrath, Jeffrey Neurotic, Ely and headliners 806ICK. (5 p.m. Saturday; 711 S. 10th Ave.; cover $5; 806-331-7305)

Steve-O: The “Jackass” star brings his sure-to-be-brutal Bucket List Tour to town for a show at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. (7 p.m. Saturday; 500 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $35 to $55; 806-378-3096)

Boots vs. Badges: Firefighters and law enforcement officers face off on the diamond in this 14th annual fundraiser for 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle and Coffee Memorial Blood Center. (7:05 p.m. Saturday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $10; 806-331-4100)

Streaming/In theaters:

“Bullet Train”: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji and Bad Bunny star as assassins all stuck on the same train to Kyoto in this madcap thriller. Also opening: family comedy “Easter Sunday” from Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy. (Opens Thursday; Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive; Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square; and Regal UA Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd.)

“Kiki’s Delivery Service”: This delightful anime classic hits screens for the Studio Ghibli Fest. (7 p.m. Wednesday; Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive)

That’s not all. For a list of more entertainment options this week in and around Amarillo—including films and streaming shows—read Chip’s full list on our website.

Eye on Amarillo

Darla Wright is an avid local hiker, and headed out to Palo Duro Canyon after the Friday/Saturday rain to see the impact of a five-inch overnight rainfall on the park. “Trails are underwater, bridges are washed out, and there’s a boil water order for the park. A week ago the river was dry and late summer wildflowers were withering. Now the park is awash,” she wrote.

Check out the photo below and many others on her Instagram.

Mindset: Adapting to Change

In our most recent issue, Licensed Professional Counselor Tricia Bradford wrote about adapting to sudden life changes and adjusting to “the new normal” when so much of the world seems to be shifting around us.

She writes, “For so many, the pandemic has transformed our perspectives on life and connected us to the world in new ways. We can’t hide from the changes around us, but we can grow stronger and more resilient when we recognize them and choose to embrace them. This is part of our path toward finding joy in this new normal.”

Change is constant, and our world is unpredictable. Bradford offers several ways for readers to cope with stress and anxiety, while still staying aware of current events. Read the full article here.