Levelland CARES Grant Application Process to Start Over

The City of Levelland began accepting grant applications for the Levelland CARES Small Business Assistance Fund on Tuesday September 8th at 8:00 AM. Applications would then be considered on a first come first serve basis among eligible applicants and were going to be accepted until Tuesday September 15th at 5:00 PM. All applications were accepted through a newly created email, levellandcares@levellandtexas.org

Unfortunately the email did not work properly in the initial opening of the application period. This resulted in several applications not being received despite being submitted shortly after the program was intended to open on Tuesday morning.

At this time the City of Levelland has worked with its IT provider and the email issues have now been resolved. The email was inadvertently not active during the initial application period resulting in early submissions not being received. In order to give everyone a fair opportunity that may have experienced submission issues as a result of the email not working properly the City of Levelland is beginning the application process over.

Beginning on Monday September 14th at 8:00 AM, the City will accept applications via the LevellandCARES@levellandtexas.org email and will accept applications through Monday September 21st at 5:00 PM. In order to simply the application process the only item that will be required to be submitted during the initial application period will be the two page application form. The remaining documents required for submission during the first attempt will be collected at a later date after the initial application period is over.

Any applicants that were able to successfully submit will be asked to resubmit their application in order to be considered. Please refer to www.levellandtexas.org/LevellandCARES to find an updated
application and guidelines.

For more information please contact the City of Levelland, Levelland Economic Development Corporation, or the Main Street Program at 806-894-0113.

Wallace Theater Selected As Finalist for Texas Downtown Association President’s Award

Finalists for the 2020 President’s Awards Program were recently announced in Austin.  For over 30 years the awards program, sponsored by the Texas Downtown Association (TDA), has recognized outstanding projects, places, and people of Texas downtown’s.

The Wallace Theater in Levelland, TX was recently selected as a finalist for the TDA President’s Award Category of “Best Downtown Partner.”  For almost 30 years the Wallace sat vacant until community leaders came together inspired by the formation of Levelland as a Texas Main Street Community, with a passion to see downtown Levelland flourish once again. The Wallace exists to “Create Experiences that Entertain, Inspire and Empower” in the heart of downtown Levelland.  Through a variety of events including art shows and art walks, outdoor movies, live theater productions, murder mystery dinner events, comedy shows and concerts it partners with Levelland Main Street, neighboring businesses and community leaders to increase the vitality of downtown Levelland.

TDA was established in 1985 to connect and serve communities that are committed to downtown vitality.  The organization is an independent, statewide nonprofit that represents cities and towns of all sizes, economic development corporations, chambers of commerce, local associations, small businesses, and individuals.

“We are thrilled and honored that the Wallace Theater has been selected as a finalist for this award! The Wallace is an iconic building for downtown Levelland and their work the past few years to breathe life back into what was once a beloved treasure in our community has been a catapult to the momentum of continued downtown revitalization.  Main Street could not exist without partnerships and the Wallace Theater is a great example of the kind of partnerships we hope to continue to cultivate all over the community,” says Jody Drennan, Levelland Main Street Program Board President.

One hundred and four entries were submitted in eleven different categories from communities across the state. Due to the number of entries, the entries were divided up into two categories – Design and Achievement – with separate judging panels for each group.  

The judges for achievement entries were: A. J Fawyer, Verdunity; P.A. Geddie, County Line Magazine; Lynda Humble; and Julie Kunkle, Open Sky Media, Inc.

Winners will be announced virtually, on the TDA Facebook page, in a series of Award Announcement Videos as follows:

Design Awards: Tuesday, October 27th at noon

Achievement Awards: Wednesday, October 28th at noon

People Specialty (Individual Awards): Thursday, October 29th at noon

The award announcements will lead to the kick-off of the virtual 2020 Texas Downtown Conference from November 9-12. For more information about the President’s Awards, Conference, or other programs of the Texas Downtown Association, please visit www.texasdowntown.org.  Applications for the 2021 awards program will open in the spring.

Five Cases of COVID-19 Confirmed in Hockley County Tuesday

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

One case in a Levelland resident between the ages of 10-20, one case in a Levelland resident between the age of 20-30, two cases in Levelland residents between the ages of 30-40 and one case in an Anton resident between the ages of 40-50.

With the new information, Hockley County has a total of 287 cases with 231 recoveries and seven deaths leaving 49 active cases.

Updated COVID-19 Numbers Released for Hockley County

Hockley County added 20 new cases of COVID-19, along with 23 recoveries and two additional deaths during the last week running from Saturday, August 29th through Friday, September 4th.

Sundown had eight new cases including 2 cases from age birth to 10, 1 case from 20-30, 1 case from 40-50, 1 case from 50-60 and 3 cases from 60-70.

Levelland had 12 new cases including 1 case from birth to age 10, three cases from ages 10-20, three cases from ages 20-30, three cases from ages 30-40, one case from ages 40-50 and one case from ages 50-60.

The Texas Department of State Health Services also reported two new deaths, one is a Levelland resident between the ages of 80-90 and one was a Smyer resident between the ages of 70-80.

23 new recoveries was also reported over the last week.

Based on the new information, Hockley County has 282 total cases with 231 recoveries and 7 deaths, leaving 44 active cases.

Levelland Police Make Arrest for Burglary of a Vehicle

Levelland Police were dispatched to the area of 13th Street and Avenue C in reference to the Burglary of a Vehicle.

When police arrived in the area the caller met officers and reported that they had seen the suspect open the door to their vehicle and make entry to the vehicle. Officers were told the vehicle was parked on Avenue E at the time of the incident. When officers responded to that area, they located a male subject walking away from a vehicle. Officers asked the suspect to stop so they could talk to him, he said he would not stop for them, officers then gave a more forceful command to stop and the suspect stopped. He then admitted to opening the car door and stated to officers, “he was checking the mileage on the car in case it was for sale.”

Officers arrested Nicholas Gardecki, 28 of Levelland, he was charged with Burglary of a Vehicle. He was taken to the Hockley County Jail.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murder, Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

Source: Hockley County Jail

A Levelland Murder defendant has plead guilty in the 286th District Court according to the 286th Judicial District Attorney Angela Overman.

Matthew Cruz, 23 of Levelland pled guilty today in the 286th Judicial District Court to the first degree felony charge of Murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Judge Pat Phelan. Mr. Cruz was a Co-defendant named in the Murder of Mathew Ryan Sanchez in April, 2018. Members of the victim’s family were in attendance; the victim’s sister provided a statement in open Court via Zoom.

Canyon Brent Faull, the primary suspect who fired the fatal shot, killing Sanchez, pled guilty on March 25, 2019 on a lesser charge of Manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison pursuant a plea agreement extended by former District Attorney, Christopher E. Dennis.

District Attorney Angela Overman stated that this was a senseless killing and though Cruz did not pull the trigger, he is equally guilty for the murder of Mathew Sanchez. “The message is clear: If you act with intent to promote or assist another in the commission of a crime by soliciting, encouraging, aiding, or directing the other person to commit an offense, you will be held accountable for your actions and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law given the circumstances of the case”.

Levelland Police Make Arrest Following Hit and Run Accident Friday Night

Levelland Police were called to the area of Hickory and College Avenue Friday night at approximately 11:55 pm, where a vehicle had hit a utility pole and left the scene.

Police were notified that the suspect vehicle was a white Chevrolet Silverado pickup, and was last seen turning east on Highway 114. Officers were able to locate the pickup turning into the Lone Star Trailer Park. Officers questioned the three subjects in the pickup and noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver.

The driver, Jose Luis Acevedo, 24 of Levelland was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Leaving the scene of an accident.

Three New Cases of COVID-19 Confirmed in Hockley County

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

All three cases are in Levelland residents, two between the age of 10-20 and one between the age of 1-10.

Based on the new information, Hockley County has a total of 262 cases with 208 recoveries and five deaths leaving 49 active cases.

Obituary: Paul Esch, 76 of Levelland

Funeral services are scheduled for Paul Esch, 76 of Levelland. Graveside services are scheduled for Tuesday, September 1st at 10:00 am in the City of Levelland Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, August 31st 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Krestridge Funeral Home. He passed away on Friday, August 31st. Services are under the direction of Krestridge Funeral Home.

Inmate Escaped From Bailey County Jail Has Been Captured

Source: Muleshoe Police Department

UPDATE: 8/29/2020 8:40 pm: Muleshoe Police Department officials have announced that the escaped fugitive has been captured by law enforcement and is now BACK IN CUSTODY.

(Prior Story)

Bailey County officials are asking for the public’s help in locating an escaped inmate from the Bailey County Jail.

The inmate has been identified as Mark Lucio, he escaped from custody at approximately 9:45 am Saturday morning. He is described as 5′ 9″ tall weighing approximately 170 pounds, he also several tattoos and is bald according to law enforcement. It is believed that he fled the Bailey County and Muleshoe area in a black Chevrolet Impala.

According to an update from the Muleshoe Police Department, federal authorities are investigating several leads with the assistance of various law enforcement agencies searching the area in a concentrated effort.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this individual is asked to contact your local authorities or the Muleshoe Police Department at 806-272-4569