Traffic Accident on East Cactus Leaves One Person With Critical Injuries

Emergency crews from Hockley County were called to a major traffic accident Friday evening on East Cactus Drive, just east of South Plains Church.

Information has not been released by the Levelland Police Department, which continues their investigation. Preliminary information indicates that it involved a Ford Pickup and a four door car. The pickup driven by David Duffee of Levelland, rolled at least one time and came to rest on its top. The driver of the car was not identified. Law Enforcement continue to investigate to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Duffee was transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock with serious injuries.

This accident remains under investigation of the Levelland Police Department.

Texas DPS Continues Investigation into Two Vehicle Accident Friday

The Texas Department of Public Safety continues their investigation into a two vehicle accident which occurred on East Highway 114 on Friday evening.

According to DPS reports, vehicle 1 was traveling east on HIghway 114 driven by David Flores. Flores attempted to turn north onto Veretto road and failed to yield right of way to another vehicle which was traveling west on Highway 114. The second vehicle was driven by Jeremiah Gonzales. The two vehicles collided in the intersection. Flores fled from the scene on foot, he was located at his residence at the Lone Star trailer park. Flores was not injured. Gonzales was treated for minor injuries, passengers in the second vehicle were not injured.

Flores was cited for various offenses according to DPS reports. This accident remains under investigation.

10 New Cases of COVID-19 In Hockley County

The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed 10 new cases of COVID-19 in Hockley County.

The information for the cases are below. They are all under investigation and no further information is available.

1. Levelland Resident between the ages of 10-20
2. Levelland Resident between the ages of 40-50
3. Levelland Resident between the ages of 50-60
4. Levelland Resident between the ages of 70-80
5. Smyer Resident between the ages of 50-60
6. Levelland Resident between the ages of 20-30
7. Levelland Resident between the ages of 0-1
8. Levelland Resident between the ages of 20-30
9. Levelland Resident between the ages of 70-80
10. Levelland Resident between the ages of 0-1

With the new information, Hockley County has a total of 67 cases with 32 recoveries and 1 death leaving 34 active cases.

Two People Arrested on Drug Charges

Two people was arrested in Levelland Friday on drug charges by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to DPS reports, special agents executed a search warrant in the 300 Block of North College Avenue Friday and arrested two people on Manufacture of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana charges.

As part of the warrant execution, agents found a bag containing methamphetamine as well as a white crystal like substance. The total weight for Methamphetamine located was 61 grams. Agents also located multiple bags of marijuana weighing just over 2 pounds total. Agents also seized approximately $2,000 in cash as part of the investigation.

Teddy Ralph Johnson, 57 and Tabitha Christine Romo, 33 was arrested on charges of Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance between 4 and 200 grams and Possession of Marijuana between 4 ounces and 5 pounds. They were both booked into the Hockley County Jail.

One Additional Case of COVID-19 Five Recoveries Confirmed Friday

Hockley County Judge Sharla Baldridge has confirmed that the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed an additional case of COVID-19 in Hockley County.

According to information from the Health Department it is in a Levelland Resident between the ages of 80-90. No further information is available, the case remains under investigation.

The Health Department has also confirmed five recoveries in Hockley County. With this update information, there is a total of 57 cases of COVID-19 in Hockley County with 32 recoveries and 1 death leaving 24 active cases.

Governor Orders Face Coverings in Counties With 20 or More Positive COVID-19 Cases

Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions. The Governor also issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10 people, and making it mandatory that, with certain exceptions, people cannot be in groups larger than ten and must maintain six feet of social distancing from others. 

“Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another—and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces. Likewise, large gatherings are a clear contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Restricting the size of groups gatherings will strengthen Texas’ ability to corral this virus and keep Texans safe. We all have a responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe. If Texans commit to wearing face coverings in public spaces and follow the best health and safety practices, we can both slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep Texas open for business. I urge all Texans to wear a face covering in public, not just for their own health, but for the health of their families, friends, and for all our fellow Texans.”

For the full details on both new orders click below.

Executive Order mandating Facial Coverings:

eo-ga-29-use-of-face-coverings-during-covid-19-image-07-02-2020Download

Proclamation Limiting Outdoor Gatherings to 10 People or Less:

disaster-proclamation-amending-ga-28-mass-gatherings-image-07-02-2020Download

Texas Department of Public Safety Investigating Fatal Accident from Thursday Morning

Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers are investigating a traffic accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian Thursday morning.

According to information from the DPS the accident occurred Thursday morning at approximately 8:30 am on State Highway 114, approximately two miles east of Opdyke West. According to the report, a pedestrian identified as Glenn Shirley, 33 of Levelland was in the process of transferring personal items to a waiting vehicle from a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado which had broken down and was parked on the shoulder of the road. Shirley stepped into the roadway and was struck by a 2003 Ford F350 pickup driven by Vicci Bownds, 68 of Levelland. Bownds was not injured in the collision. The vehicle Shirley was moving items to, fled the scene after the collision. DPS continues to look for the vehicle and driver.

This accident remains under investigation of the Department of Public Safety.

Affidavit Filed to Start Petition Drive to Remove Levelland Mayor

Levelland City Secretary, Beth Walls announced Thursday morning that an affidavit has been filed by Kimberly Young has filed an affidavit to start a petition to recall Mayor Barbra Pinner.

According to the City Secretary’s office, Young will have until August 1st to return the petitions to the City Secretary. There will have to be 735 valid signatures presented in order for the petition to be verified. Every signature will require the person to signing to provide either their voter ID number or their date of birth.

Once presented, the City Secretary will then go through the list of registered voters as of July 2nd and verify the signatures on the petition and determine if each name represents a registered voter in the City of Levelland. The City Secretary has 20 days from the day that the petitions are returned and submitted to do the verification.

If enough valid signatures are received, the City would then have to call an election for the voters of Levelland to decide on the final outcome. If enough signatures are not received, the petitioner can present another affidavit and start the process again.

19 New Cases of COVID-19 Confirmed in Hockley County

Hockley County Judge Sharla Baldridge has released information from the Texas Department of State Health Services on 19 new cases of COVID-19.

The details on the 19 new cases is as follows. They all are under investigation of the Department of State Health Services and no further information is available at this time.

1. A 20-30 year old Levelland resident
2. A 0 to 1 year old Levelland resident
3. 10-20 year old Levelland resident
4. 70-80 year old Levelland resident
5. 10-20 year old Levelland resident
6. 70-80 year old Levelland resident
7. 50-60 year old Levelland resident
8. 10-20 year old Levelland resident
9. 90-100 year old Levelland resident
10. 40-50 year old Levelland resident
11. 10-20 year old Levelland resident
12. 20-30 year old Levelland resident
13. 20-30 year old Levelland resident
14. 50-60 year old Levelland resident
15. 60-70 year old Levelland resident
16. 60-70 year old Levelland resident
17. 30-40 year old Levelland resident
18. 30-40 year old Levelland resident
19. 10-20 year old Whitharral resident

With the new cases it brings the total number of cases in Hockley County to 56 with 27 recoveries and 1 death leaving 28 active cases.

Levelland Community Development Corporation Approves Audit, Tables Action on Next Years Budget

The Levelland Community Development Corporation Board of Directors met Tuesday in a regular meeting.

The board received the 2018-1019 fiscal year audit from the accounting firm of Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert and Moss. It was a clean audit report and was approved with little discussion.

City Manager Erik Rejino reminded the board that the LCDC budget currently has $565,000 budgeted towards several projects in the Levelland park system. The first project in the proposed budget is funding for a windbreak around the Levelland Oxy Sports Complex and the second project includes funding for a Tot Land playground for ages 2-5 at the Country Club Park. Both of those projects are complete. The LCDC has also budgeted the necessary cash match to apply for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Recreation Grant in the amount of $500,000 to implement the City Park Master Plan adopted in 2018. The grant requires a dollar for dollar match equal to $500,000. If the grant is received we will have enough funding to do a $1 million project at City Park. Due to COVID-19 the Outdoor Recreation Grants submitted throughout the state will not be considered by the TPWD Commission until August of this year. As a result the LCDC will carry over the $500,000 match towards the project into the next fiscal year.

The board also discussed the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Following some discussion, they have tabled action on the budget pending further information from the City Parks Department on future projects.