Funeral Services are set for Ernestine Clevenger, 85 of Levelland and formerly of Morton. Services are set for Friday, October 30th at 2:00 pm in the Missionary Baptist Church in Morton. Burial will follow in the Morton Cemetery. She passed away on October 26th. Services are under the direction of Krestridge Funeral Home.
Levelland police were recently dispatched to a vehicle accident at the intersection of County Road and Highway 114 in the early morning hours.
When officers arrived on the scene they located a Chrysler 200 on the South side of Highway 114, over the railroad tracks. Their was not a driver located in the vehicle, however, officers located a passenger inside. The passenger told officers that the driver took off running after the wreck. Officers noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle, the passenger said she had been drinking. EMS transported the passenger to Covenant Hospital Levelland with a possible broken ankle. The driver was located a short time later at a residence in the 100 Block of Bobby, he was transported back to the scene by officers, there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver as well.
Officers attempted to complete a Field Sobriety Test on the driver, however, he refused. He was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. Officers said he could not walk without swaying from side to side and he had the key to the wrecked car with him. He was uncooperative with officers and would not answer questions and resisted arrest by attempting to pull away from officers.
Adrian Leyendecker, 31 of Levelland was transported to the Hockley County Jail, charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Resisting Arrest or Transport and Intentional Assault with a Motor Vehicle, as he knowingly caused a wreck while intoxicated causing injury to the passenger.
Levelland Police officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 700 Block of MLK. When officers arrived on the scene they encountered a male subject sitting on the trunk of a white car. Dispatch informed officers that at least one male subject on the scene had a knife.
Officers detained the first male subject for officer safety and placed him in the back of a patrol car for further questioning. Officers than approached the apartment and was met at the door of the apartment by another male subject. Officers detained him while they conducted an on scene investigation. Officers were told by the first subject that the two suspects were in a physical altercation and the second subject grabbed a knife.
Officers were then told that their were kids in the household at the time of the altercation, however, they had left with family prior to officers arrival. After an initial investigation officers arrested Aron Fitts on a charge of Assault Family Violence. Officers also notified Child Protective Services due to the fact that children were present at the time of the altercation.
Funeral Services are scheduled for Mary Gunn, 93 of Levelland. Services are set for Thursday, October 29th, 2020 at 1:30 pm the Krestridge Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the City of Levelland Cemetery. She passed away on October 26th. Services are under the direction of Krestridge Funeral Home.
The city’s event committee met Tuesday and decided events that had previously been approved would now be cancelled, including Ladies Night Out and the Festival of Lights & Christmas on the Square due to the healthcare system being overwhelmed at this time with high hospitalization capacities and drastic increases in cases of COVID-19 in our region.
Levelland is part of the 22 counties that make up the Lubbock Trauma Service Area B (TSA B). When the committee met to discuss these events on Tuesday afternoon, the percentage of hospitalizations from COVID-19 in our region was over 21 percent. Tuesday also marked the eighth day for our region to have 15 percent or higher hospital capacity from COVID-19 patients. In Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, after seven consecutive days of exceeding the 15 percent threshold, certain re-openings would be scaled back. As a result, effective October 26, 2020, all restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and all libraries were required to return a maximum 50 percent occupancy level and bars to close. In addition, all licensed hospitals in the TSA B were required to discontinue elective surgeries as set forth in Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-31.
“We discussed the events at length on Tuesday, none of us want to have to cancel these things! We know how important they are for our community, for health and well-being, for the economy, etc. But the reality is that our numbers have quadrupled in a very short period of time. We would rather cancel events that might help lessen the burden on our hospitals than have the governor step in and close our businesses and schools again,” says Missy Passmore, Main Street Manager.
Levelland Mayor Barbra Pinner has also stated she will not be approving any more outdoor events exceeding 10 people until hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients drops below 15 percent.
Once the TSA B has had seven consecutive days in which the number of hospitalized patients as a percentage of hospital capacity is 15 percent or less these additional restrictions will be lifted or if for a 14-day period there are no more than 30 confirmed new COVID-19 cases the County Judge can do an attestation to the State and reopen businesses back to 75 percent and 50 percent to bars. At that time the Mayor has indicated she would consider outdoor events.
“It is important that our region as a whole get control of the number of COVID-19
hospitalizations to ensure that the Governor does not step in and do additional closures which would be even more detrimental to our local economy,” says Erik Rejino, City Manager.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed 22 additional cases of COVID-19 in Hockley County as of Tuesday at noon.
16 Cases in Levelland Residents:
Two–Ages 10-20
Three–Ages 30-40
Two–Ages 40-50
Three–Ages 50-60
One–Ages 60-70
Three–Ages 70-80
One–Ages 80-90
One–Ages 90-100
Three Cases in Anton:
One–Ages 50-60
One–Ages 70-80
One–Ages 80-90
Three Cases in Sundown:
One–Ages 10-20
One–Ages 20-30
One–Ages 50-60
Based on the new information, Hockley County has 645 total cases with 355 recoveries and 10 deaths leaving 280 active cases.
Hockley County Judge Sharla Baldridge announced late Monday that the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed 22 additional cases of COVID-19.
20 Cases in Levelland Residents:
One–Ages 10-20
Three–Ages 20-30
Four–Ages 30-40
Four–Ages 40-50
One–Ages 50-60
Five–Ages 60-70
One–Ages 80-90
One–Ages 90-100
One Case in Anton:
One–Ages 90-100
One Case in Ropesville:
One–Ages 60-70
Based on the new information, Hockley County has a total of 623 cases with 355 recoveries and 10 deaths, leaving 258 active cases.
The City of Levelland and Hockley County are part of the 22 county Trauma Service Area (TSA) B as designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). At this time TSA B has hit seven consecutive days where the percentage of COVID-19 patients in regional hospitals as a percentage of available hospital beds has exceeded 15 percent.
In Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, after seven consecutive days of exceeding the 15 percent threshold, certain re-openings will be scaled back. As a result, effective October 26, 2020, all restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and all libraries are required to return a maximum 50 percent occupancy level.
In addition, all licensed hospitals in the TSA B are required to discontinue elective surgeries as set forth in Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-31.
Once the TSA B has had seven consecutive days in which the number of hospitalized patients as a percentage of hospital capacity is 15 percent or less these additional restrictions will be lifted.
Bars may be required to close per GA-32. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is expected to provide further instruction to the city and county.
Annette and Patrick Sykora, along with Nicole and Tell Campbell and Holden Sykora, are excited to announce their investment in Levelland with the groundbreaking of Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center of Levelland. Construction by McCutchin Construction is set to begin immediately at 502 College Avenue and completion is expected in the Spring of 2021.
Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center provides vehicle maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, multi-point inspections, and many other express services. Quick Lane will also specialize in light repair services such as brake repairs for all makes and models. The facility will have 11 service bays and carry a large tire inventory.” The goal is to serve Levelland and the surrounding communities with quick and quality service in a fine facility” says Annette Sykora, “According to studies performed by Buxton on behalf of Quick Lane will be an ideal place for SPC students, owners of all make vehicles, and fleet customers to service and maintain their vehicles without traveling to do it.”
Not only will Quick Lane offer added convenience for customers, it will also add employment opportunities for the community with 12-15 expected openings. “There’s a talented workforce available to us in Levelland. We’ve enjoyed the benefits of South Plains College Automotive students for years at Smith South Plains.” says Tell Campbell, “Quick Lane will be another opportunity to open jobs for those great students and allow them to gain experience while furthering their education.”
“The facility itself will have exciting features such as a comfortable lounge with plate glass views into the shop. However, our favorite feature is the location,” says Sykora, “being right on College Avenue, customers can choose to wait in the lounge or enjoy one of the many local establishments within walking distance.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed 51 new cases of COVID-19 in Hockley County according to County Judge, Sharla Baldridge.
42 of the new cases are in a Nursing Home while the other 9 are Levelland residents. Based on the information:
42 cases are in Lynwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center staff and patients:
Three cases in ages 50-60
Four cases in ages 60-70
12 cases in ages 70-80
21 cases in ages 80-90
2 cases in ages 90-100
9 cases in Levelland residents:
Two cases in ages 0-10
Two cases in ages 20-30
One case in ages 30-40
One case in ages 40-50
Three cases in ages 50-60
With the new information, Hockley County has a total of 601 cases with 355 recoveries and 10 deaths leaving 236 active cases.
Our Regional Trauma Service Area is on Day 8 of above 15% hospitalization rate. Currently there are 19.75% of the patients in hospitals are COVID patients. According to the Governor’s latest order, any service area remaining above 15% hospitalization rate for 7 consecutive days, would face additional restrictions including restaurants and businesses currently operating at 75% capacity would have to go back to 50% capacity and Bars and other establishments currently operating at 50% capacity would have to close. Elective procedures at medical facilities would also be suspended.
