The corn pit is a real crowd pleaser at Wieck Farms, located in the Texas Panhandle near Etter, Texas – two miles east of Hwy 287. For more info or a map for directions visit their website at www.wieckmazeandpumpkins.com or call (806) 922-3721.
By HEATHER BRIDWELL
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Need a day to relax, have fun, but use your brain a little? Well, you should take a trip to the maze and pumpkin patch that Willie and Mildred Wieck have created and have a great, fun family experience. The Wieck have designed three different sections: the Texas Maze, the Confusion Maze and the No Left Turn Maze covering about 20 acres. The Confusion Maze is a diagonal maze with dead ends in all directions “Confusion is quite a deal, keeping you concentrating and keeping you thinking on where you need to go, where you have already been,” Willie said. The Texas Maze outlines the state of Texas with some of the cities inside the maze, marked with highways and signs to offer a simple explanation of each city. No Left Turn Maze has some short rows and some long rows where you have to try to “take no left turn” because the only way out is to turn right. “A lot of the older kids and adults like to get out their flashlights and try to make it through the maze in the dark. They have a fun time doing it,” Willie said. There is also have a straw playground featuring two cornpits, a small petting zoo, a miniature maze for the little ones and straw bales for climbing. “That is one of the most fascinating things you will see the kids play in. They can play in those cornpits for hours,” Willie said with a laugh. After a fun day of walking and playing on the playground,it’s time to visit the 10-acre pick-your-own-pumpkin patch with 80 plus different varieties of pumpkins. These pumpkins are still on the vines, offering the youngsters the harvest experience of letting them cut their chosen pumpkin off the vine. Select pumpkins from huge to small in a variety of colors – gray, white, pink, red and more. Just in time for Halloween to use as a Jack-O-Lantern or as a decoration for the fall or Thanksgiving season. The pumpkins are priced by size and variety. According to Willie, last year the biggest pumpkin that has come out of the patch so far was a least 100 pounds and the smallest was about 3 ounces. “We have had a lot of school groups, lots of folks from the Guymon area and church groups, too,” Willie said. "If you have kids that suffer from allergies, no worries because they only grow sterile forage (which means no pollen) so your visit will be sniffle free." Wieck Farms is located in the Texas Panhandle north of Amarillo, a stone’s throw away from Etter, Texas – just two miles east of Hwy 287. They are open on weekdays from 4- 7 p.m., Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for 6-13 years of age and 5 and under are free. School groups and tour buses are welcome, but the Wiecks request please to call ahead so they can be prepared. Other times are also available by appointment. For more information or a map for directions visit their website at www.wieckmazeandpumpkins.com or call (806) 922-3721.
Recent Tornado watchs call for refresher on preparedness and reaction tips
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
SHAWN YORKS/GDH
'This storm near Texhoma was part of a string of thunderstorms which resulted in Texas County’s first Tornado Watch of the season.
By MIRANDA GILBERT Managing Editor Guymon's storm sirens have been tested, and tornado devastation flashes over the TV each night. Tornado season is upon us and the best thing anyone can do is freshen up on preparation and safety advice. When a warning to seek shelter is announced, people have no time to prepare, especially in this land where many don't scare so easy until the final moments.
As a result, how you respond is critical. And how you should react depends on where you are. The best tip, regardless of all the details, is to make sure you have a portable radio, preferably a NOAA weather radio which are sold locally, for up to the minute information and sign up for The Weather Channel's free alerts on your mobile phone and by email. Develop a Family Preparedness Plan that includes the following: Decide where to go if at home, school, work, outdoors, or in a car when a tornado warning is issued. Update these plans every school year and as places of employment and residence change. Compile a family emergency supplies kit. Make certain everything you need is in one specific, easy-to-access location. These contents can be assembled over a five-month period on a weekly basis, and perishable items should be changed or replaced every six months. Now, here's some advice for where you may stand the moment the sirens blare. In a Frame Home Seek shelter in the lowest level of your home (basement or storm cellar). If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway, a smaller inner room, or a closet. Keep away from all windows. You can cushion yourself with a mattress, but do not use one to cover yourself. Do cover your head and eyes with a blanket or jacket to protect against flying debris and broken glass. Don't waste time moving mattresses around. Keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier. Multiple tornadoes can emerge from the same storm, so do not go out until the storm has passed. Do not leave a building to attempt to "escape" a tornado that is close.
In a Mobile Home Leave your mobile home immediately and take shelter elsewhere.
Outside Try to get inside and seek a small protected space with no windows. Avoid large-span roof areas such as school gyms. If you cannot get inside, crouch for protection beside a strong structure, or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area and cover your head and neck with your arms or a piece of clothing.
In a Car Ideally, you should avoid driving when tornadoes or other kinds of dangerous weather threaten, because a vehicle is a very unsafe place to be. If, however, this is not possible, stay as calm as possible and assess the situation. Your best option might be to get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area that is sufficiently deep enough to protect against the wind. If you do so, beware of water runoff from heavy rain that could pose a hazard; get as far away from the vehicle as possible and shield your head from flying debris. Or, if possible, take shelter immediately in a nearby building.
The United States has the highest incidence of tornadoes worldwide, with more than 1,000 occurring every year. This is due to the unique geography that brings together polar air from Canada, tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico, and dry air from the Southwest to clash in the middle of the country, producing thunderstorms and the tornadoes they spawn. Tornadoes can come one at a time, or in clusters, and they can vary greatly in length, width, direction of travel, and speed. They can leave a path 50 yards wide or over a mile wide. They may touch down for only a matter of seconds, or remain in contact with the ground for over an hour. To protect assets, determine your insurance eligibility now. In addition to high winds, rain and floods are sometimes associated with tornadoes. Find out more from your insurance agent or call the National Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-800-942-4242) or The Insurance Information Institute (1-800-331-9146).
