Due to the Iran war, rising fuel and fertilizer prices are adding to the challenges facing Panhandle farmers.

Wes Beal with Equity Exchange recently told KXDJ’s Chris Samples that the Strait of Hormuz continues to be the epicenter for all of these issues. “There is so much energy that rolls through that strait and there is so much fertilizer that rolls through that strait. As goes the Strait of Hormuz goes the market. We get some of our energy and fertilizer coming through there but if there’s zero coming through there, it messes with the total logistics of where things flow from,” he said.

Click here to listen to more.

He said other factors that have contributed to wild prices this week was the postponement of the President Trump’s scheduled meeting with China’s President Xi.

In today’s KXDJ “Did You Hear That?” segment with Chris Samples, he shares more from a recent interview with Kevin Lane, Interpretive Ranger with Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

So, what do we know about the formation of Palo Duro Canyon?

Click here to listen.

Samples also asked him about the people groups that have lived in the canyon and what artifacts have been recovered to prove it.

Listen here.

If you hike the Canyon, you can see the many layers of the formations. So, what do the layers tell us about the history?

You can listen to Lane explain that here.

He also discusses flooding and how that has contributed to the formation of the canyon, as well as the dangers of just a small rain.

"That erosion is an ongoing process. We often joke that the trails change every time we have a good rain. We try to mitigate some of that but it is a natural process so we do let it occur. That mitigation typically is getting some good drainage in or closing roads when we know there is a potential danger for any of our hikers or campers. We try to direct that water as much as we can but when we get heavy rains, those washes can fill and we will see the water come up to the bottom or even over the bridge decks in some cases," Lane told Samples.

He said in 2025 they had a lot of rain and plant growth and they have projects underway to clear some of that out so they can get better drainage moving forward.

More can be heard here.

Lane added when there is a chance of rain, they watch the weather very closely because just an inch of rain can be dangerous.

Palo Duro Canyon is on track for its biggest attendance ever in March. In this segment, Ranger Lane explains some of the engineering involved in turning an amazing natural creation into an attraction thousands enjoy.

“In the 70s, there were several men that worked there and Red Spicer was one of the key rangers that pioneered a lot of the expanded trail system. Two of his friends, Givens and Lowry, helped as well. They actually put in a lot of those trails and developed that system out. Now, keeping those maintained is an ongoing challenge,” he told Samples.

More can be heard from them here.

If you want more information on visiting Palo Duro State Park, click here.

Canadian’s new city manager James Rawls recently sounded off on the greatest challenges facing the River City.

“Number one is going to be figuring out how to diversify the economy a little bit and what kind of opportunities we have to do that to get it stabilized. I think number two is the housing situation. We have a lot of businesses here that want to expand, and we want new businesses to come in, but also even our schools and hospital district are having trouble with staff because there’s just not the housing here. The problem for the community beyond that is even people they are hiring that are moving into the neighboring communities, they are taking dollars with them,” Rawls explained to KXDJ’s Chris Samples.

Listen to more here.

He added that one of the other challenges will be the City Hall building and the failed bond election.

It will be summertime hot over the next couple of days.

Temperatures in the upper-80s to upper-90s are expected today through Saturday across the Panhandles. Although these temperatures are common through the late spring and summer, it's still only March! That means we have not been exposed to these temperatures in months which makes it potentially hazardous for those susceptible to being affected by heat.

Heat Risk takes into account factors such as how much warmer the temperatures are compared to normal, seasonal acclimation, and duration of heat. Considering these factors, Heat Risk is showing a minor Heat Risk for the Panhandles from through Saturday, with localized areas such as Palo Duro Canyon showing a moderate Heat Risk.

Very dry and hot conditions on Saturday will create critical fire weather conditions across the Panhandles. Winds will be breezy from the southwest during the afternoon.

Strong winds behind a cold front along with slow humidity recovery will provide the potential for critical fire weather conditions for Sunday afternoon.

There was one arrest on Thursday, March 20. Jose Miguel Quevedo, 21, was arrested on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

Newman Memorial Hospital is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Brian Gillis, D.O., board-certified physician and surgeon, further expanding specialty and surgical services across Northwest Oklahoma.

Born and raised in Arnett, Oklahoma, Dr. Gillis returns to the region where his journey in medicine first began. A graduate of Arnett High School, he also attended the Shattuck and Ellis County Vocational Technical Program, now known as High Plains Technology Center in Woodward, where he trained in several departments at Newman Memorial Hospital as a student. Those early experiences helped ignite his lifelong passion for medicine and patient care.

Now, after building an accomplished national career spanning more than 25 years in gastrointestinal health and surgical care, Dr. Gillis is returning home to serve the communities that helped shape him. (more)

Tindle Ramon OPSU Scholarship Application Now Open

Panhandle First Bank is proud to offer the Tindle Ramon OPSU Scholarship, created to honor the lifelong service and leadership of Tindle Ramon, whose more than 40 years in community banking helped shape PFB and the Panhandle communities we serve.

This annual scholarship supports graduating seniors from Panhandle First Bank communities who plan to attend Oklahoma Panhandle State University—recognizing students who show academic potential, leadership, and a commitment to furthering their education.

Applications are now open through March 31, 2026.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.mypfb.bank/about-us/about/tindle-ramon-opsu-scholarship-application

Today, we discuss more about the pros and cons of wind farms. While some Panhandle people love them, some hate them, and others could not care less, Hansford County Judge Tim Glass recently said the financial benefit to counties like his is undeniable.

“Basically, the tax dollars that have come into the county have allowed us as a commissioners’ court to lower the tax rate over the last few years. We were supposed to be around 54 cents in 2025, and we went down to 52 and in 2026 we were supposed to be at 48 cents, and we dropped it to 45 cents,” he told KXDJ’s Chris Samples.

Of course, two area school districts that have greatly profited from the wind farms are Balko ISD and Gruver ISD. Samples asked Judge Glass about the impacts to the Gruver school district in Hansford County, and he said he has noticed a lot of construction happening over there. “They have passed some bonds to utilize that tax money. We, as a county, have been able to upgrade a lot of equipment that we normally would not have the funds to,” added Glass.

More can be heard here.

Unchained Foods is an app that helps users find local hidden gem restaurants no matter where they are across the country.

Founded by Antu Radhakrishnan and Tommy (Trey) Butler, this app was built to help people on road trips discover new restaurants rather than eating at the same chain restaurants they can find at home.

Tommy (Trey) Butler is a graduate of Perryton High School and is in his fourth year at Texas
Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Antu Radhakrishnan is a professor of small animal internal medicine at Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He and his wife have four daughters and, on road trips, they preferred to eat at local places rather than chains.

Frustrated with the difficulty in finding local restaurants, the idea of Unchained was born.

Antu and Tommy partnered to build the app that can now be found on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Users will see a map of their current location with nearby locally-owned restaurants. After
clicking a location, the user will find images, hours, address, phone number, website and more.

Currently, restaurants can be searched by city or restaurant name. Users may create an
account to save favorite restaurants and tell the Unchained team more about a restaurant.

Restaurant owners can create an account and claim their restaurant, update information, and post photos. If a local restaurant is not on the app, any user can submit a restaurant to be reviewed and approved by our team.

Features currently under development include users’ ability to leave ratings and reviews; and
restaurant owners will be able to post specials visible to users within a certain radius of their
location. These and other updates to optimize search and identification for foodies and
restaurateurs are underway.

Unchained Foods partnered with Tracemark Impressions to manage their social media and
marketing. Tracemark was founded by two friends, Austin Bergeron and Anthony Castaneda, in Spring, Texas. Tracemark Impressions’ values, excitement over this project, and content
creation made the partnership a seamless match.

You can find Unchained Foods on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok or visit their website
unchainedfoods.com. You can also try the app yourself by downloading it from your app store.

Stay Unchained!

Ochiltree County is located in the northern Texas Panhandle, where agriculture, history, industry — and even beloved Western literature — continue to shape a strong and forward-moving community.

Created in 1876 and organized in 1889, Ochiltree County was named after William Beck Ochiltree, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas. Its county seat, Perryton, is the northernmost county seat in Texas and serves as the county’s economic, educational, and cultural hub.

U.S. Route 83 runs directly through the county and becomes Main Street in Perryton, connecting local businesses, historic landmarks, and agricultural operations. The county’s reputation as the “Wheatheart of the Nation” reflects real production strength. Between 1900 and 1910, the economy transitioned from livestock to wheat farming, and by 2002 Ochiltree County ranked first in Texas for wheat acreage. Large-scale farming operations remain central to the local economy, supported by modern equipment, grain handling facilities, and a strong regional workforce.

Ranching laid the groundwork for that success. In the 1880s, pioneers such as Henry W. Cresswell established major cattle operations, initially living in dugouts near Wolf Creek. That early investment in land and livestock positioned the county as a serious agricultural producer long before wheat became dominant.

Ochiltree County is also widely recognized as the home of Hank the Cowdog, the self-proclaimed “Head of Ranch Security.” Author John R. Erickson created the beloved children’s book series while living and ranching in the Perryton area, drawing directly from the landscapes, ranch life, and Panhandle culture that define Ochiltree County. First published in 1983, the Hank the Cowdog series has sold millions of copies and introduced generations of readers to life on a High Plains ranch. The character remains a point of pride for the community and reflects the enduring spirit of ranching heritage in the Texas Panhandle.

The area’s history reaches back centuries. Prehistoric “Plains Villagers” (c. A.D. 1100–1500) left stone ruins in the Canadian River Valley. Even earlier groups constructed pueblo-like structures referred to as the “Buried City.” The Comanche later dominated the region until their removal following the Red River War. Today’s cultivated fields sit on land with deep cultural and archaeological significance.

One of the most defining moments in county history occurred in 1919, when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway bypassed the original town of Ochiltree by eight miles. Rather than accept economic decline, residents moved homes and businesses on steam-powered rollers to the new railroad townsite of Perryton. Citizens from Ochiltree and nearby Gray relocated entire structures to maintain rail access. The original Ochiltree site later became a ghost town, with only the Ochiltree Cemetery remaining along Highway 70. That relocation effort remains one of the most remarkable community actions in Texas Panhandle history.

Heritage preservation is a priority in Ochiltree County. The Museum of the Plains, founded in 1975 in a single courthouse room, has grown into a large, multi-building complex. The museum houses approximately 10,000 artifacts, including wagons, antique vehicles, agricultural equipment, and bones from an ancient Imperial mammoth. Outdoor exhibits include a Santa Fe depot and caboose, a 1906 farmhouse, the Gray Community Church, and a relocated general store. Interior displays document Native cultures with projectile points, a Kiowa teepee, and a replica Kiowa calendar drawn on deer skin. On February 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM, the museum will host Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation for an educational program.

Perryton’s downtown reflects both history and ongoing investment. U.S. 83 passes the 1928 Classical Revival-style Ochiltree County Courthouse and the historic Ellis Theater, originally constructed in the 1930s. The theater was heavily damaged in the tornado that occurred in 2023. Local retail, service industries, energy operations, and agricultural businesses contribute to a stable economic base. The 1950s oil boom added another layer of development through successful oil and gas drilling, further strengthening the county’s infrastructure and tax base.

Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Fryer & Wolf Creek Park, offering space for fishing, boating, and community gatherings.

Ochiltree County combines documented history, productive agriculture, energy development, literary legacy, and community investment. Its past demonstrates resilience; its present reflects stability and growth. For visitors, businesses, and families, it offers both substance and opportunity in the Texas Panhandle.

Area tax rates (city) adopted for the next fiscal year include:

Cactus $0.314208
Canadian $0.846380
Borger $0.606807
Dumas $0.614928
Fritch $0.547556
Gruver $0.2770
Pampa $0.703304
Perryton $0.501485
Sunray $0.302340
Stratford: $0.820486

As the area taxing entities wrap up their public tax hearings, we are finally able to publish the information as each community and county adopt local budgets and tax rates for the upcoming year.

Have you ever wondered just how your taxes are calculated?  Be an informed taxpayer!

To learn more click (more)

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We have many different businesses looking for employees.

Michael Crain, a former state investigator, joined KXDJ's Chris Samples for installment number nine in their series on the Tom Brown case recently.

Crain has been looking closely at the case out of Canadian and he agrees with all of the investigators from the state of Texas on down that believe Tom committed suicide and there was a coverup. He has now taken the steps to become a licensed private investigator as well.

He has found many inconsistencies in the story from the family as well as statements made by the private investigator they hired, Philip Klein of Klein Investigations and Consulting.

In this episode, Crain shares more from Klein and his multiple versions of parts of the case as well as information he received from Trace Sargent, the handler for the cadaver dog that was used in the case.

If you are interested in listening to previous episodes, they are all linked below.

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Latest Episode - November 2025

Thank you to HPO Reader Laura Alexander from Tulsa, Oklahoma, for sharing this postcard for our readers to enjoy!