Golden Chick recently announced its newest location in Hereford, located at 536 N 25 Mile Ave. and around the corner from several educational institutions including Hereford Junior High School and Amarillo College, making it the perfect spot for a quick bite before or after class. This opening continues the company’s growth trend into the new year.
The new Golden Chick restaurant is owned and operated by franchisee Emilio Chavez, and it will be the fifth location in his Golden Chick portfolio. He is the owner of two locations in Amarillo and one each in Dalhart and Dumas. The new restaurant will bring the brand’s total number in the Amarillo area to six.
“Amarillo and the surrounding cities are markets that we’ve been familiar with for years, letting us better understand what the community wants out of a new restaurant,” said Mark Parmerlee, CEO of Golden Chick. “Moving forward, our brand is continuing its growth efforts into areas that already have some degree of familiarity with Golden Chick, building off a community’s demand for our delicious offerings. We are so excited to be kicking off our 2025 store count growth with Emilio’s latest restaurant, and we congratulate him for this milestone opening.”
The Hereford restaurant is the brand’s second opening of the new year, with two others slated for the latter half of the month, according to the company. Founded in Texas in 1967, Golden Chick is a growing quick-service restaurant franchise that prides itself on providing delicious food and great customer service. For more information, visit http://goldenchick.com/, or follow them on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X.
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FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) is excited to welcome Chris Jensen as Executive Vice President Associate General Counsel. With nearly 30 years of legal experience, Jensen brings extensive knowledge and leadership to its institution, according to a news release.
Jensen has built a distinguished career representing clients in commercial issues, real property, natural resources, construction, and eminent domain. Prior to joining FBSW, he served as President of Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC and worked with a diverse range of clients, including utilities, financial institutions, and agricultural enterprises. His accolades include being named a Texas Super Lawyer for 11 consecutive years and serving as a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He has held leadership roles in the Amarillo Area Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee.
“We’re honored to have Chris join the FBSW Family,” said Andy Marshall, FirstBank Southwest President & CEO. “His decades of legal experience here in the Texas Panhandle, combined with the innumerable business and personal relationships he forged during that long and successful career, will make him an invaluable asset in our bank’s continuing trajectory of growth and expansion.”
FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) recently announced the appointment of Kelsey Ward as Commercial Lender. With 14 years of banking experience, Ward brings a wealth of expertise to her new role, where she will serve local businesses by providing tailored financial solutions and fostering strong relationships.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Kelsey to our team,” said FirstBank Southwest Amarillo Market President, Matt Mathias. “Her experience in banking, combined with her dedication to understanding the unique needs of local businesses, makes her an invaluable addition. We are confident that Kelsey will continue to enhance the exceptional service FirstBank Southwest is known for.”
Ward, a native of the Texas Panhandle, earned her Finance degree from West Texas A&M University after running cross-country at Dallas Baptist University. Her banking career includes roles at Happy State Bank, Amarillo National Bank, and Education Credit Union, where she gained extensive experience in consumer lending and branch management. A dedicated community leader, Ward is involved with the Amarillo Angels Community Partnership Committee, the Canyon Lions Club and the West Plains Lions Club Board. She was honored as the Canyon Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Woman of the Year, and served as a Canyon City Commissioner (2021 2023) and Canyon Lions Club President (2020-2021).
For more information about FBSW, visit them on social media platforms or their website online at www.fbsw.com.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will hold the annual Right-of-Way, ROW, and Ornamental and Turf, OAT, conference on Jan. 30 in Amarillo.
The AgriLife Extension offices in Deaf Smith and Potter counties will host the conference, which will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Amarillo, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd. Registration is $25 and begins at 8 a.m. The program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.
Five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available. Topics and speakers include the following:
For more information, contact Josie Strnad, AgriLife Extension agent, Deaf Smith County, at 806-364-3573 or josie.strnad@ag.tamu.edu, or Megan Eikner, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Potter County, at 806-373-0313 or megan.eikner@ag.tamu.edu.
Education Credit Union (ECU) announced it has been honored with two prestigious accolades showcasing its commitment to workforce development and exceptional service.
Workforce Solutions Panhandle awarded ECU the 2024 Local Employer of Excellence award for its comprehensive efforts in cultivating a skilled workforce pipeline, empowering individuals through education, and contributing to a strong and engaged Panhandle community. Nationally, ECU has been named, for the second year in a row, one of Newsweek’s 2025 Best Credit Unions, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the credit union industry.
“We are incredibly proud to receive recognition at both the local and national levels,” said Marcus Smith, President & CEO of Education Credit Union. “These awards reflect our unwavering dedication to empowering our community and members through service, education, and innovation.”
Newsweek’s 2025 Best Credit Unions recognizes financial institutions that excel in customer service,trustworthiness, and member satisfaction. The recognition comes ahead of ECU’s milestone 90th anniversary. For the full list,visit https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-regional-banks-credit-unions-2025. For more information on ECU, visit their website at educationcu.com.
CANYON — Austin-area Buffs are invited to hoist a pint with their fellow West Texas A&M University graduates. The WT Alumni Association and the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business will jointly host a social event at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Zilker Brewing Co., 1701 E. Sixth St. in Austin.
“We are proud to see WT Alumni thriving in cities like Austin,” said Ronnie Hall, executive director of the WT Alumni Association. “This event offers an excellent opportunity for WT Alumni to not only reconnect with fellow Buffs but also a chance to strengthen their ties with the Engler College of Business.”
Attendees will get two free drinks. To register, visit wtamu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5iEwCTCh7u7NqHY.
Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas announce a new Customer Discount Day. Public Service workers, including teachers, now receive a 10% discount on Sundays at all Goodwill Retail Stores.
Goodwill offers the following discount days: Monday, Senior Discount Day; Tuesday, Military Discount Day; Wednesday, Student Discount Day; Sunday, Public Service Discount Day. All discounts require a valid ID and do not apply to the Goodwill Pound Store.
“Goodwill thanks all public service workers for their dedication to the people and students in our community. Goodwill is a local nonprofit helping people overcome challenges, build skills, find jobs and grow careers, when the community shops or donates at Goodwill, the funds generated support Goodwill’s Career Resource Center at 1904 Bell Street.” said Robin Raney, President & CEO.
For more information about Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas, please call (806) 744-8419, email amarquez@ginwtx.org or visit goodwillnwtexas.org goodwillnwtexas.org/job-training/
MARSHFIELD, WI – Nelson-Jameson, part of the food processing distribution industry, announces its designation as a Great Place to Work Certified company for the second consecutive year.
The company said 87% of employees rated the company as a great place to work, highlighting its commitment to fostering a culture where employees feel valued and supported. According to survey results, 94% of employees reported feeling welcomed when they joined the company, 95% said they feel comfortable taking time off, and 94% expressed pride in the company’s contributions to the community. Additionally, 100% of full-time employees earn a living wage.
Nelson-Jameson operates distribution centers in Turlock, California; Jerome, Idaho; Amarillo; and Marshfield, Wisconsin. The Great Place to Work Certification is based on comprehensive employee feedback gathered through the 2024 Trust Index Survey, a global standard for evaluating workplace culture. This survey measures five key dimensions: leadership credibility, respect, fairness, workplace pride, and a sense of belonging. For more information, visit www.nelsonjameson.com.
Optimum and Nexstar have reached an agreement, and all Nexstar’s content has been restored to Optimum TV lineups, the company announced over the weekend.
Optimum values local programming, and this deal focused on providing customers with the content they want to watch and the best value, the company said. Optimum felt strongly and understands that viewers in New York do not watch the same content or have the same interests as viewers in Texas, Arkansas, or California.
The company issued this statement: “At Optimum, we have a clear mission: provide the programming that our customers want at an affordable price and give them choice and flexibility when selecting their desired TV content. We are proud to continue our track record of successfully partnering with programmers who put customers at the center.”
The Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House in Amarillo is offering Valentine’s Day Specials for Feb. 13 after 4 p.m. and Feb. 14-16 (all day, while supplies last).
A Prime Rib Dinner, served with house salad and choice of one side is $32 for the 12 oz. or $37 for 16 oz. option, with craft cocktails available. A PiggyBack Old Fashioned is $17 and features whistlepig piggyback rye, whistlepig maple syrup, bitters and fat ice. A Pretty in Pink for $15 has Tito’s Vodka, St. Germain, passion fruit, grenadine and lemon.
