Memorial Park was doggone packed with animal lovers and their canine counterparts for the Amarillo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ 20th annual Muttfest, the “Barkin’ Birthday Bash.”

“We’ve had probably at least double from what we had this year,” in attendance, Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department event coordinator Rene’e Stovall said.

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Russell Towery is ready for it all to be over. He wants Brittany Marlowe Holberg, the woman who was convicted of killing his father, to be put to death.

“Seventeen years of tax money went to feed that demon,” he said. “She saw my dad take his last breath. I want to see her take her last breath.”

This week, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a hearing to investigate claims Holberg’s attorneys admitted throwing the trial to a realtive of hers who is now dead.

In 1998, Holberg was sentenced to die for the November 1996 murder of 80-year-old A.B. Towery Sr.

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Boys Ranch is making a robust effort to recycle rechargeable batteries, part of a pilot project overseen by the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission that could spread to other rural areas around the country.

“We started with two 55-gallon drums full that we sent in,” said Robert Miller, environmental quality and compliance manager at Boys Ranch. “Now we send off about 40 pounds every quarter — equipment batteries from hand tools, emergency power backups for computers, laptop computers.”

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Entertainment

Smoking Rabbit: 8 p.m. Crush Wine Bar and Deli, 701 S. Polk St. No cover. 806-418-2011.

Ashtree: 9:30 p.m. Leftwood’s, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave. Cover $5. 806-367-9840.

Sports

Old Tascosa Cycling Club ride: 6:30 p.m. Gander Mountain, 10300 W. Interstate 40. 806-223-8328 or www.oldtascosacycling.com.

Amarillo Sox vs. Winnipeg Goldeyes: 7:05 p.m. Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium, 3303 E. Third Ave. Tickets $5 to $7. 806-242-4653.

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■ On May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y., aboard the Spirit of St. Louis on his historic solo flight to France.

■ In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which was intended to encourage settlements west of the Mississippi River by making federal land available for farming.

■ In 1902, the United States ended a three-year military presence in Cuba as the Republic of Cuba was established under its first elected president, Tomas Estrada Palma.

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WORD OF THE DAY

plebeian

■ ple·be·ian

■ pli ́bē ən

Definition: (n) One of the common people

Example: “The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics.”

— Richard Rorty