Police and Fire Department were called to the scene of a 4-vehicle involved crash at the corner of College Avenue and Highway 114 on Thursday. Teams performed traffic duties as wreckers cleared the roadway, no injuries were reported in this incident. According to Fire Department reports, the call went out about 2:30p Thursday afternoon, with units clearing the scene at 3:30p.
Provided By SPC :
LEVELLAND – South Plains College will give area high school seniors a preview of college life during the annual Senior Sneak Preview set for Feb. 10 (Friday) on the Levelland campus.
The half-day event begins with registration at 9 a.m. in the Texan Dome. South Plains College President Dr. Robin Satterwhite and student leaders will welcome seniors and guests during the opening assembly at 9:30 a.m.
High school seniors will have the opportunity to talk with SPC faculty members and current students about career choices, programs and student life during the Program Showcase which starts at 10 a.m.
Family and friends will be included in the festivities with their own special session in the Physical Education Complex. At 10 a.m., a panel of experts will give information on topics including financial aid, scholarships, academic transfers, career planning, TSI, housing and admission.
Campus tours will begin at 11 a.m. followed by an Open House at noon in the P.E. Complex. Representatives from Student Services offices, as well as members of clubs and organizations, will be on hand to meet and answer questions. Housing tours will be conducted during the Open House. Lunch also will be served. Entertainment will be provided by the SPC Creative Arts Department.
For more information, contact Lindsey Sharp, coordinator of New Student Programs, at (806) 716-2115.
Levelland ISD graduated several staff members from their First Year teacher Academy Thursday. This program aims to help first year teachers to understand their role in LISD, learn to control their rooms and reach their students, continuing LISD’s efforts to both train and retain their staff. In an email sent out by Cristal Isaacks, Public Relations Office for LISD, she states: “These first-year Texas teachers have had the opportunity to learn from one another as well as from their teaching Coaches and Christy Barnett, Christi Peck & Shannon Copeland. The First Year Teacher Academy gives new teachers a way to build relationships and learn from one another on the ins and outs of daily teaching routines. Congratulations to these LISD teachers who are making a difference in students’ learning every day!”
Provided By DPS:
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is pleased to announce that in 2022, it had the highest number of Most Wanted Offenders captured in a single year since the program’s inception in 1993. Last year DPS, in cooperation with state, federal, local, and Mexican authorities,* captured a record 72 fugitives and sex offenders. That is more than double the previous record set the year prior.
“Public safety is a top priority in the State of Texas, and I am proud of the brave DPS troopers and law enforcement partners who have contributed to this record-breaking achievement,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Through the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program, our brave men and women of law enforcement have taken some of the most dangerous criminals off our streets and made our communities safer for all Texans. Texas will always be a law-and-order state, and together we are keeping it that way.”
In addition to the 72 captures, $88,000 in reward money was paid in anonymous tips that resulted in arrests.
“The success of this program is largely due to the public speaking up and reporting the whereabouts of these criminals to law enforcement,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “It truly takes the public working with law enforcement to make our communities, and all of us, safer. We want to thank all of our law enforcement partners, who helped successfully bring these criminals to justice.”
The 72 people captured in 2022 include 34 convicted sex offenders and 24 gang members – the most in program history. In addition to the most total captures ever, the program also set several other new records with the most warrants cleared (220) and the most out-of-state captures (14). This included arrests in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon and Mexico.
For more information on the fugitives captured in 2022 as part of the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program, visit the captured fugitive archive.
The Texas Crime Stoppers Office recently recognized Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division (ICT) Analysts Hannah Robinson and Adam Unnasch, both assigned to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program, for their role in making the program a huge success. Each was presented with a letter of recognition from Governor Greg Abbott.
Working collaboratively with DPS’ Criminal Investigations Division, Robinson and Unnasch provide critical information and analysis to help law enforcement partners around the state and nation capture the fugitives on the Top 10 Most Wanted Lists. Through their tremendous work, these analysts help law enforcement protect and serve their communities by getting wanted criminals off the streets.
DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives and Sex Offenders lists who pose the most significant threat to public safety in the state. You can find the current lists — with photos — on the DPS website.
Texas Crime Stoppers, which the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division funds, offers rewards to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives or Sex Offenders.
Crime Stoppers programs enable citizens to anonymously report information about crimes for cash rewards, helping put criminals behind bars and assist in crime reduction efforts.
To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods:
All tips are anonymous — regardless of how they are submitted — and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.
LHS Had several band members compete in the Abernathy Music Festival and earn a chair in the ATSSB Region 16 Band. They will join Honor band competitors at the Region Band Weekend coming up Friday and Saturday January 27th & 28th.
List Provided by Director John Barry:
| ATSSB REGION 16 3A/4A BAND QUALIFIERS | ||||
| First Name | Last Name | Instrument | Chair | |
| 1 | Kai | Gay | Flute | 5th Chair |
| 2 | Kaydence | Escarcega | Flute | 10th Chair |
| 3 | Devanee | Almager | Flute | 12th Chair |
| 4 | Israel | Gutierrez | Bb Clarinet | 1st Chair |
| 5 | Matt | Almager | Bb Clarinet | 7th Chair |
| 6 | Damian | West | Bb Clarinet | 13th Chair |
| 7 | Jaycee | Webb | Bb Clarinet | 16th Chair |
| 8 | Isabella | Sanchez | Bb Clarinet | 17th Chair |
| 9 | Joleen | Caballero | Bb Clarinet | 18th Chair |
| 10 | Katelyn | Turner | Bb Clarinet | 22nd Chair |
| 11 | Robert | Cage | Bass Clarinet | 2nd Chair |
| 12 | Tristan | Escobedo | Bassoon | 2nd Chair |
| 13 | Caleb | Miller | Alto Saxophone | 6th Chair |
| 14 | Austin | Ellis | Tenor Saxophone | 2nd Chair |
| 15 | Caleb | Miller | Bari Saxophone | 1st Chair |
| 16 | Michael | Osornio | Trumpet | 3rd Chair |
| 17 | Jose | Bejarano | Trumpet | 13th Chair |
| 18 | Sarahi | Munoz | F Horn | 1st Chair |
| 19 | Nathan | Ellis | F Horn | 3rd Chair |
| 20 | Olivia | Hinojosa | F Horn | 4th Chair |
| 21 | Ben | Childers | F Horn | 5th Chair |
| 22 | Brittany | Rosales | Trombone | 8th Chair |
| 23 | Ari’Yana | Young | Trombone | 10th Chair |
| 24 | Chase | Pickering | Tuba | 5th Chair |
| 25 | Alfredo | Ruiz | Tuba | 7th Chair |
AUSTIN – 2022 was a tremendous year for the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) program. IPC is a human trafficking and crimes against children program that trains front-line officers to recognize indicators that a child may be a victim, at risk of victimization or missing.
“Time and time again, the IPC program has saved the lives of children,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “We are proud of this program and all the good it does, but we’re even prouder to be able to share this critical training with other agencies and law enforcement personnel across the country. We are confident more children, in more communities will be saved because of it.”
In the last year, DPS’ IPC personnel have traveled to seven states and Canada to get this valuable training into more areas. In 2022, the department has given 19 IPC basic classes and trained a total of 709 students. Personnel have attended 22 conferences and briefings to present to more than 1,800 people.
Here are some additional 2022 highlights:
IPC training has resulted in the rescues of thousands of trafficking victims and the opening of hundreds of criminal investigations. Since its inception, in Texas alone, over 500 children have been rescued and over 300 criminal investigations have been initiated.
More About IPC
DPS developed the IPC program to help front line law enforcement officers identify and rescue endangered or exploited children and identify those who pose a high-risk threat to a child. While law enforcement officers are well-trained and highly proficient in making observations of suspicious behaviors leading to arrests and successful interdictions of illicit drugs, weapons, and currency, this program works to expand their training and knowledge so they can take a victim-centered approach in working child victimization cases and identifying those who offend against children.
IPC is a comprehensive training course covering topics from understanding victims and offenders, legal issues and authority, working with children, the officer’s role to understanding indicators, intelligence reporting as well as identifying and working with local/state resources such as child and victim services.
As of December 2022, IPC has trained more than 12,000 law enforcement officers and child service professionals in over 30 states, U.S. territories and tribal nations. The program’s core message is to Stop Waiting for Children to Ask for Help.
Provided by the Governor’s Office:
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today congratulated Texans and Texas employers for helping make Texas the national leader in job creation, following the December employment release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing Texas led all states for job creation in 2022. Texas added 650,100 nonfarm jobs over the year and grew jobs at 5.0%, the fastest rate in the nation.
“It is no surprise that Texas leads the nation for job creation, adding more jobs in 2022 and growing at a faster rate than any other state,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Freed from the burden of over-taxation and the stranglehold of over-regulation, businesses continue to invest in Texas and in the best workforce in America. As a result, more Texans are working than ever before, putting even more Texas families on the path to prosperity. Texas works when Texans work, and in this legislative session, we will continue expanding opportunity and ensuring Texas remains the best state to live, work, build a business, and raise a family.”
Today’s BLS employment release follows the Governor’s announcement on Friday celebrating Texas again surpassing its all-time record for total jobs in December for the 14th consecutive month. With employers adding 29,500 nonfarm jobs in December and more than 650,000 added over the year, total jobs in Texas reached a new high of 13,705,500 at year end.
This list will be updated throughout the morning
School District Delays – 10AM
University Delays
Monday, January 23rd saw the Whiteface Volunteer Fire Department called out to a serious blaze on a chemical treater near CR 177. 3 units were activated around 8:55a and made their way to the location, meeting the Cochran County Sheriff’s Office and EMS. Upon arrival a treater was found to be blowing burning oil, and a company employee had isolated the pump. Fire teams assisted the pumper and checked for any fire extensions in the area, then all that was left was to simply wait until the fuel had burned itself out. In a Facebook post, the dept. says: “Quick and coordinated response from company and fire personnel turned a potential disaster into a routine call.” All units wrapped up and returned to the station by 11a.
Levelland City Council had their regular meeting Monday night in City Hall to cover a short agenda of mostly formality items. All members were present for this, the second meeting of the new year.
Long plaguing the Planning and Zoning Commission has been the issue of a carport ordinance. Originally striking up the issue when they began their comprehensive zoning review last year to modernize the City’s zoning codes, the issue of carports struck a nerve of several in the community who made their voices heard in various public forums for months after. This led to the development of a new set of designations for structures throughout the city dubbed SF-1(CA) or Single Family 1 Carport Allowed districts. This new designation would be extended to areas in town where carports are already prevalent and would include Crestview, Capitol Terrace, Kauffman, Lea & Brown, Breshears, College Heights, Colonial Heights, Wills, Western Meadows, and Cherry Additions. In these locations a variance would no longer need to be granted by the Building Inspector, but plans for any carport additions must still be brought to the Code Enforcement Department. Another issue brought to the P&Z Commission’s attention is the property at 211 Clubview Drive. Occupied by various businesses throughout the past several years, according to City records the plot has been operated as a commercial business plot since 1995. Despite this, it is technically still zoned as SF-2, a residential code. After an analysis of the property, staff discovered that the plot is of an odd shape, and too small to fit a residence on while still being within code. Council took this chance to change the designation to B-2, a business designation, to continue to allow commercial businesses on the lot.
Recently the City was approached by the company Renegade, which has been leasing land from them next to the Oxy Sports Complex, and was inquiring whether or not the City might be inclined to sell that land. After taking a look at the future plans for the Oxy and seeing no need for that particular tract of land for any further expansions, the City agreed, going out for Public Bid back in December. Only 1 bid was entered, that being by Renegade for approx. $20K. In their bid proposal, submitted to the council, they state “We employ over 400 employees in 6 states across the country, including 76 employees at our Levelland location. Our company has been in Levelland for 12 years. We believe this purchase will allow us to continue to grow and give back even more to this community.” It was previously stated that this land purchase would allow Renegade to build more permanent structures on the land (something that is forbidden in the current lease agreement), and expand their operations. The Council happily obliged by accepting the bid for purchase.
KLVT News 