The Olton Enterprise

Olton EMC Director Jimmy Brooks examines the front windshield of this Chevrolet to determine if the driver might have struck it. Olton EMS and a Lamb County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded Saturday afternoon to a one-vehicle colission at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 168 and Texas 37/County Road 222 in Hart Camp. Olton Volunteer Ambulance Association medical personnel treated the driver. The vehicle collided with a utility pole on the southeast corner of the intersection. A farmer used a tractor to move the vehicle out of the roadway.

Read the complete story in the May 7, 2021 issue of the Olton Enterprise

A year after one of Olton’s grandest annual attractions was postponed due to the COVID pandemic, the 41st Sandhills Celebration is scheduled to take place Aug. 4-7 on the grounds of Pavilion Park.

And Olton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, the organization that has sponsored the four-day celebration for more than four decades, is making big plans — including landing Curtis Grimes as the featured entertainer on closing night.

“We can’t wait for the Sandhills Celebration,” said Chamber Manager Adrienne Synatschk.

The Sandhills Gospel Sing will kick things off of Wednesday night, and it will be followed by the Chris Jones Memorial Ice Cream Social. The ice cream social was renamed to honor Jones, who coordinated the event for years prior to succumbing to COVID-related illness in December. 

On Thursday night, the Sandhills Sweetheart Pageant is scheduled. It’s the only Sandhills Celebration event that was allowed to take place last year, although it had to be moved to The Roxy Theater.

Friday’s activities will include a host of high school class reunions, and vendors will open in Pavilion Park. Synatschk said the Chamber is now accepting vendor applications. To get a vendor application go to oltonchamber.org. The deadline for securing vendor space is July $15. Regular fees and late fees will apply again this year. Other Friday events will include the Sandhills Volleyball Tournament, a dog show, and a dance under the pavilion from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. featuring Froilan Reyna as the DJ.

The final day of events on Saturday begins with the W.B Dickenson Memorial Sandhills Celebration Parade. Several years ago the parade was renamed to honor the long-time organizer of the event. Other Saturday events include vendors in Pavilion Park, inflatable slides in Stiles Park, the Sandhills Car Show, the Sandhills Horseshoe Tournament and a new event, the Sandhills Truck Show. The car show will feature vintage and antique cars and pickups, while the truck show will be for semi trucks. There will also be a Chamber-sponsored give-away again this year, but the details will be announced at a later date.

After the event was postponed last year, the Chamber will need lots of volunteer help to stage the 41st celebration.

“If you would like to help during Sandhills Celebration, please let me know,” Synatschk said.

The Chamber manager can be reached by calling 806-241-9384.

The four-day celebration concludes with a performance under the pavilion by Curtis Grimes, who was a finalist on The Voice before launching his musical career as a Country-Christian artist.

Read the complete story in the April 7, 2021 issue of the Olton Enterprise

FRAN RAMAGE

RDCC Board

It was the vision of several Olton residents to see a facility built in the city to take care of our aging citizens — something local that would keep area community members close to home and their families.

Years of planning took place before a care center in Olton became a reality in 1993.

Through the years, many local and area men and women have passed through the doors of Runningwater Draw Care Centerm as well as Sandhills Village Assisted Living. The vision came a reality, and the facility has been hailed as one of the best care centers in Texas.

Under the leadership of Administrator Dona Kelley Thompson for 27 of those 28 years the care center has been existence, the non-profit facility has employed many local nurses, nurse aides, and other employees.

There have been good times and hard times, ups and downs, happy times and sad times, and that was especially true in 2020, when the COVID-19 virus entered the building with a vengeance. Almost all of the residents became sick with the virus, and many lost their lives.

We are proud of and acknowledge all the hard work and sacrifices of each Runningwater Draw Care Center and Sandhills Village Assisted Living staff member before, during and after the pandemic.

With several rooms still vacant, the 10-member RDCC board has decided that this is a good time to begin a remodeling project to update the rooms with new windows, shutters, paint, and flooring. Twenty-eight year-old curtains and wallpaper need to come down, and some furniture and bathroom fixtures need to be replaced.

We will begin in the Honeysuckle wing with six rooms and eventually work our way around the entire building. This is a long-term project, and one that will be costly.

But it has been our experience that the residents of Olton and the surrounding communities have been very generous to support Runningwater Draw care Center and Sandhills Village Assisted Living. That is why we want you to know what is happening in your care center, and give you an opportunity to support our residents, many who were once very active members of your community.

If you would like to contribute to this remodeling project, please send your donation to Runningwater Draw Care Center, Box 409, Olton, TX 79064, and designate it for the remodeling project. All donations, large or small, are very much appreciated.

If you have questions about the project or the care center, please contact any member of the RDCC Board of Directors. Those directors include Dewey Hukill, Danny Byers, Mark Parish, Mike Perry, Alan Debnam, Melanie Hoskins, Pam Roberson, Ashley Cox, Becky Smith, and Fran Ramage. 

A four-member team of Olton 4-H Club members captured first place in Junior —Main Dish at the District 2 Food Challenge.

Ellie McCasland, Ella Azam, Bella Reyes and Lillie Elam competed as Lamb County Team 1 in the Junior Division of the contest held on April 26 at Mallet Center in Levelland. They were competing against 32 other teams made up of 4-H members ranging in age 9 years old to fifth grade.

And they were not the only Olton 4-H Club team to win at the District 2 contest. A three-member team Olton-4-H Club members won third place in Intermediate — Appetizer.

Manoah Elam, Reagan Holmes and Claire Lostroh competed as Lamb County Team 4 against 41 other teams in the Intermediate Division. They were competing against 4-H Club members in the sixth through eighth grades.

Also competing were two other Lamb County teams comprised of Olton 4-H members. Lamb County Intermediate No. 1 team was made up of Makayla McCarver, Eden Elam, Dax Light and Wyatt DeBerry. Lamb County Junior Team 2 consisted of Macee Parkey, Makenzie DeBerry, A.J. Elam and Ryland Holmes.

Read the complete story in the April 7, 2021 issue of the Olton Enterprise

The eigth annual Mark Marley’s Go BIG or Go Home BBQ Bash will be held May 14-16 at Running Water Draw Park in Plainview.

The three-day event includes a state-sanctioned barbecue cook-off, concerts featuring Micky & The Motorcars and Cooder Graw, as well as many other activities.

The Kansas City Barbecue Society state-sanctioned barbecue cook-off begins Friday night and includes a KCBS Steak Cook Off, Cooks Choice – Dessert cContest and a Margarita Mix-off. Entry fees for the Steak Cook Off is $75 and all other entry fees are $25.

Saturday begins with a Kids Q – a cook-off for kids. Kids will cook steaks in two age categories — 6-11 and 12-17. Entry fee is $25.

New this year is the Celebrate Real Pork Series Kids’ Q in conjunction with KCBS and the National Pork Board. Kids have an opportunity to cook pork chops and win prizes.

The event features a Saturday and Sunday KCBS Cook-off. Both events include four meat categories — pork ribs, chicken, pork and brisket — and offer cash prizes of $6,500 for each contest. Entry fees are $225 for the first cook off and $200 for the second cook off. KCBS association is not required. Grand champion for each cook off qualifies for the American Royal Invitational and a chance at the Jack Daniels Invitational, as well as points from the competition apply to the KCBS team point scores and Texas BBQ Society scores.

The contest also includes a Celebrate Real Pork Chop Series ancillary competition. Prizes are sponsored by the National Pork Board and there is no entry fee for this event.

Participants who don’t want to compete in the cook off are encouraged to enter the Backyard Brawl, the competition for master weekend grillers who enjoy cooking but don’t wish to chase points. Entry fee is $50 and the meat is supplied by Ben E. Keith. Cash prizes will be awarded.

To enter any of the cooking events, contact RaeAnne Warren at 806.292.3288 or rking@countyserv.com.

“This year, we are the only one in Texas so far to have a double header event,” said RaeAnne Warren, event co-chair. “Moreover, our partnership with the National Pork Board & KCBS provides more opportunities for cooks to hone their skills and win prizes.”

Besides the cook-off, the event features Saturday night headliner bands Micky & the Motorcars and Cooder Graw. Other musicians scheduled to play Saturday include Hogg Maulies, Jack Cryver Band and Mitchell Ford and the Volunteers. Friday night bands include and The Dave Martinez Band and Dan Patterson.

A car show in memory of Cody Spencer will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the parking lot of the park. The entry fee is $25 per car. To enter the car show, contact Trixie Pendergass at 806.774.8325.

Read the complete story in the April 7, 2021 issue of the Olton Enterprise

Covenant Health Plainview has acquired West Texas Family Medicine, according to Covenant Health Plainview CEO Cassie Mogg.

Covenant Health’s mission is to not only provide for the medical needs of our region, but also support the community as a whole. In a statement released today, Covenent Health officials said this mission was once again put into action with the acquisition of the Plainview-based West Texas Family Medicine. 

“Acquiring West Texas Family Medicine clinics will have a great impact on our community and the surrounding communities that we serve” said Mogg. 

“Changes in the healthcare industry have made it increasingly difficult for stand-alone medical groups such as West Texas Family Medicine to stay financially viable. It’s Covenant Health Plainview’s mission to ensure our communities have access to quality care. West Texas Family Medicine has a significant patient base not only in Plainview but in Hale Center and Floydada. This acquisition will ensure those patients will still have access to their providers while at the same time creating opportunities to bring more advanced care closer to home.” 

The West Texas Family Medicine clinic was established in 2009 and is operated by physicians, including Dr. Mark McClanahan, Dr. Jon Watkins, Dr. Monte Swanson and Dr. Craig Horton. 

Read the complete story in the April 23, 2021 issue of the Olton Enterprise