Bomb Threats at BSA show more need for mental health awareness

(Editorial)

Scary moments today over at BSA Hospital here in Amarillo when someone decided to call in a bomb threat. Honestly it's been a headline we have seen before in the Panhandle along with threats. They aren't going away and it's just a matter of time before we see the next one.

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Fortunately for patients, staff and visitors alike the all clear came early this afternoon and police were able to resolve without any incident. Let's start with this question? Who calls these in? Why BSA? Healthcare and hospitals are places of healing and the idea of someone wanting to take life at a hospital just doesn't make sense to me. For the most part folks there are just like you and me, they just want to work, pay their bills and get back to their loved ones. Then again, people who are in the situation that calls for calling in bomb threats or any other for that matter are desperate and looking for a means to an end, bomb or no bomb (usually the latter). I hope the person responsible today gets the help they need.

Michael J. Rivera, Townsquare Media

We all just need to Chill...

Maybe it's just someone who has had enough. I'm not talking Michael Douglas in "Falling Down," but I get it. "There's been a lot of change lately, for most of us our world has been rocked, shaken, stirred and beat up in ways we never were thought possible. People are more angry or are more easily prone to anger because that's a convenient coping mechanism . Things won't ever be what they were and learning how to take it in stride is a big thing. I'm an optimist. I think we can get there. It's going to take all of us helping each other, because quite frankly that's all we have.

Be excellent to each other.

Amarillo On 'America's Most Wanted'

I was surprised to find out recently that we also have a bit of a history with the show America's Most Wanted.

Digging through old news articles, I found several separate occasions where Amarillo and America's Most Wanted crossed paths. It makes me wonder if there are some that I've missed.

Say You're From Amarillo Without Saying You're From Amarillo

Amarillo is a pretty quirky place. We've got the Big Texan, the weird signs, and (obviously) the famed Cadillac Ranch. But more than that, there's a distinct culture of close-knit community, eccentrics, a thriving arts scene, and much more.

The point is, living in Amarillo is a unique experience. Because of that, it's really pretty easy to tell who's a native or a long-time resident. And I can prove it.

Here's a couple of ways you can say you're from Amarillo.....without saying you're from Amarillo.