Levelland EDC Holds Industry Appreciation Luncheon

Levelland EDC Board presents Pipeline Plastics with the Business of the Year award.

The Levelland Economic Development Corporation held their annual Industrial Appreciation Luncheon Thursday.

During the luncheon Pipeline Plastics was recognized as business of the year.  They were recognized for their planned expansion in the Rail Park.  The company recently announced the expansion which will add multiple extrusion lines to their Levelland operation highlighted by a high capacity extrusion line with the ability to produce High Density Polyethylene pipe.  With the expansion Pipeline Plastics’ facility in Levelland will be the largest producer of polyethylene pipe in the United States. The expansion is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The annual report was given by Levelland EDC Director, David Rushing.  He reported that a recent survey of sales tax collected in Levelland indicated that 20% of all sales tax collected in Levelland comes from the Levelland Industrial Rail Park.  The rail park which was constructed in 2013 had 1,816 rail cars through the park in 2013 and as of September 30, 2018, 6,417 rail cars went through the park this year.  Unemployment in Levelland in 2013 was at 4.9% and currently in 2018 is at 3.0%.

The Levelland EDC also recognized all of the businesses in the Industrial Rail Park including Independent Electric, Butch’s Rathole and Anchor Service, Allied Oilfield, Titan Transloading, Pipeline Plastics, Penny Newman Grain, Norton Drilling and Hampton Farms Peanut Processing, as well as the automotive dealerships across from the rail park on Highway 114 including, John Roley Autocenter, Smith South Plains, South Plains Autoplex and Scoggin Dickey.

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Obituary: Dr. Annette Smith, 58 of Lubbock

Funeral Services are scheduled for Dr. Annette Smith, 58 of Lubbock.  Services are scheduled for Wednesday, November 14th at 3:00 pm in the Sundown Room of the South Plains College, Levelland campus.  She passed away on Sunday, November 11th.  Services are under the direction of Lakeridge Funeral Home in Lubbock.

For more information:  klvtnews.wordpress.com/obituaries

Quinn Family Offering $10,000 Reward for Information on Murder

 

A six month old murder of a Levelland woman and still no arrests.  The family of Jeannie Quinn of Levelland are now offering a $10,000 reward for any information that helps the case.

Quinn went missing from Levelland in April.  Her body was found hanging in a wooded area in Abilene just days later.  The Abilene Police Department began investigating the death as a homicide.  The last update from the Abilene Police Department was from a search warrant where police searched the cellphones of two men, one of those men were identified in court records as Quinn’s boyfriend and the last person she was seen with.

Quinn’s family is looking for answers and justice for Jeannie.  The family said the Abilene Police Department needs fresh information to keep the investigation active.

The Abilene Police Department  has set up a special tip line dedicated to Quinn’s investigation.  Anyone with any information is asked to call the Abilene Police Department at 325-676-6598.

Obituary: Joe Wheeler, 65 of Levelland

Funeral Services are scheduled for Joe Wheeler, 65 of Levelland.  Memorial services are scheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday, November 10th, 2018 in the George Price Funeral Home Chapel.  He passed away on Thursday, October 4th in Levelland.  Services are under the direction of George Price Funeral Directors of Levelland.

Motorists Advised Detour will be Put in Place on South Hwy 385 Next Week

Texas Department of Transportation has announced that a detour will be put in place on South Highway 385 beginning at the FM 300 intersection.  It was noted this will be an extensive project and will take approximately one year to complete.

Area driving are asked to use extreme caution if you are traveling on that rad and also to never text and drive.

TxDOT crews said that the detour will move all traffic on Highway 385 will be moved over to the west side of the road and it will be two way traffic.

According to TxDOT, speed limit in the area has been reduced to 40 mph and drivers are asked to use caution through the area.

“Ladies Night Out” Event Wins State Awards

Levelland Main Street Director Missy Passmore and Main Street Board Member Jody Drennan receive awards for Ladies Night Out event at Texas Downtown Association Awards Gala Wednesday.  (Photo Courtesy:  Levelland Main Street Program)

The Levelland Main Street Programs, Ladies Night Out event was recognized on Wednesday by the Texas Downtown Association during their annual conference.

The Ladies Night Out event received the President’s Award for the Best Promotional Event as well as the Peoples Choice Award for the Best Promotional Event.  For the President’s Award, 111 entries were submitted in eleven different categories from communities across the state.  Judges reviewed entries online and then met in person to make their final selection of award finalists and winners.  Winners were announced last night at the Awards Ceremony in Corpus Christi last night.

The idea of Ladies Night Out came 12 years ago from three downtown business owners according to information from the Levelland Main Street program.  Meleta Atchison, owner of Atchison’s Jewelry; Toni Methvin, owner of Your Shop; and Mary Shakespeare, owner of LouDee’s Floral came up with the idea to host a combined event that would give their customers an experience unlike anywhere else.  We  have kept that atmosphere going from year to year and now average 15 stores participating in the event.” said Missy Passmore, Levelland Main Street Manager.

Sundown High School Marching Band-2nd in State

Photo Courtesy of Sundown ISD

The 2A State Marching Band competition was held on Tuesday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.  In the preliminary round of competition Tuesday morning, Sundown High was awarded fifth in the ranking and advanced to the final round of competition.  New Deal High School was awarded ninth and was not able to advance to the final round of competition.

The final round of competition was held Tuesday night and Sundown High School was awarded second in the state.  Valley Mills High School was first and Thorndale High School in third.  Union Grove, Forsan High School, Honey Grove High School and Shiner High School come in forth-seventh respectively.