Independent News Drop

KELI From Inkwell, this is the Amarillo News Drop. I'm Keli, with Hast.

HAST Potter County grand jury has indicted three people for felony murder in the May shooting death of George Glen Eggleston. The victim, 61, was found dead May 11th at the Fifth Season Inn. Indicted: Tabitha Pauline Thrasher, 48; Christian Anthony Matthew Eaglin, 31; and Clyde Andrew Casey Jr., 41. All three face felony murder charges.

KELI That's the charge structure — all three on the same count. No plea information in the Tribune yet, but the grand jury action moves this case toward trial. Prosecutors will need to establish which defendant fired the shot and whether the other two were present and acting in concert. The mechanics here matter: under Texas law, felony murder can attach to all parties present during the commission of an underlying felony, even if only one pulled the trigger. Watch for the state's theory of the case when they file their trial brief.

HAST Different kind of death this week — Amarillo Police responded to a major crash Wednesday morning at Lakeside Drive and Triangle Drive. Five vehicles involved, three pedestrians struck. One of those pedestrians, Richard Hayes, 67, was transported to a local hospital. He died from his injuries. The investigation remains open.

KELI Five-vehicle pile-up with pedestrian fatalities — that usually means traffic engineering questions after the fact. Road conditions, sight lines, signal timing. Expect the department to release more on what triggered the initial collision.

HAST Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, up in Oldham County, lifted an evacuation order after the Canadian River Fire threatened the property. Officials gave residents and staff the all clear to return to campus. The fire had forced them out, but it's now contained enough that the Ranch deemed it safe to go back.

KELI That one moved fast. The evacuation was precautionary, and the all-clear came within hours. No reported structures lost at the Ranch itself, but the fire ran close.

HAST Canyon City Commission signed off on alcohol service changes for special events on the Canyon Square. The TABC — that's the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission — requires property owners to authorize alcohol sales on their land. Canyon owns the Square. The city's clearing the paperwork so that Canyon Farmers Market and other gatherings can serve alcohol without violating state regs. It's a municipal housekeeping move, but it opens up revenue for event organizers.

KELI And one more piece before we close. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new outdoor fitness court at John Ward Memorial Park is set for August 20th at 10 a.m., open to the public.

HAST That's the Amarillo News Drop. Full script and sources at inkwell.wiki/news/amarillo.

KELI Before we close, a word from Inkwell. The same workshop behind this drop just published the Magnificat — the song Mary sings in Luke, where the powerful are pulled down from their thrones and the hungry are filled.

HAST It reads less like a carol than a manifesto. Find it at inkwell dot wiki, slash giv.