Top Stories
Special election draws three candidates
Filing deadline for candidates for regular elections is Feb. 15
Three candidates will vie for an unexpired term on the Olton City Council, but unless something changes before 5 p.m. today, the city’s mayoral and regular council election might get canceled.
But that won’t happen in the election of two people to the Olton Independent School District Board of Trustees, where at least three candidates have filed to compete for two seats on the school board.
Today — Feb. 15 — is the last day to file as a candidate for mayor, councilman or school trustee. Filling as a candidate for mayor or councilman takes place at Olton City Hall, which is located at 900 Main St., while filing as a candidate for school trustee takes place at the OISD Administration Building, which is located in the 700 block of Sixth Street.
Last Friday — Feb. 8 — was the last days for candidates to file for the unexpired term on the council, and three candidates did just that. Jimmy McCurry, Michael Reyes and Steven Rodriquez all filed as candidates for the seat vacated by the death in December of long-time Councilman Ronnie Digby. The special election takes place April 11.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
US 70 speed limits won’t be changing
Don't get your hopes up about changes to the speed limits along US 70.
It’s not going to happen.
In some places the speed limits along US 70 through town depend on which direction you are traveling — greater in one direction and less in the other direction. That can get pretty confusing unless you watch the signs closely, but the members of the Olton City Council decided Monday night to not try to make any changes because that could be a disaster.
Why?
Because Texas Department of Transportation at one time recommended changing the speed limit all along US 70 through Olton to 55 mph. Just imagine tractor-trailer rigs, farm implements and other vehicles trying to cross US 70 at Farm-to-Market Road 168 with motorists traveling 55 mph east and west. You get the picture. That’s why the council doesn’t want to push for a change.
Police Chief Reggie Holmes came to the regular council meeting Tuesday night with a thick set of papers detailing the steps require to get the speedlimits changed. One of the first steps is to request a speed zone study through the TxDOT district office in Lubbock.
When City Administrator Keeley Adams told the council that one such study had already been conducted and that the findings were that the speed limit needed to be increased to 55 mph from one end of town to the other, the council was not impressed.
“Maybe we need to be happy with what we got and leave it alone,” Mayor Mark McFadden commented.
“Someone will get killed if that happens,” chimed in Councilman Derek Roberson.
Their concern center around the turnoffs to FM 168 as well as people slowing to enter businesses along that stretch of highway. So, no action was taken.
Speed limits were not the only numbers considered during the meeting. The council also looked at the 2017-2018 city audit.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
OISD seeks online input into creation of school calendar recommendations
Olton Independent School District wants your opinions about how the 2019-2020 school calendar should look.
And you can provide those opinions by completing a nine-question online survey at http://bit.ly/2N2mfnj .
The link has been texted or emailed to many in the community and it’s posted in the district’s Web site and Facebook page, but district officials want to make sure they reach everyone, including those with no affiliation with OISD. So they are reaching out to the community in more traditional ways, like the newspaper.
“When we started talking about the calendar for next year, we started realizing there are things that people in the community want or would prefer and we don’t know what those things are,” said Superintendent Kevin McCasland. “So, after talking about it, we decided we should just ask.”
And that’s what they are doing. The survey is going out to the whole community.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Local News
Students give A+ Food Service a mouthful
Call it food for thought, if you will.
Members of the Olton High School and Olton Junior High student councils got to tell A+ Food Service last week what they think about what’s served at Olton Schools Cafeteria.
“We have been visiting with them and visiting with students,” Olton Independent School District Superintendent Kevin McCasland said about measures taken to improve what’s served in the cafeteria so that more students will take trays. “We’ve visited with students about what they do and what they don’t like about the cafeteria food.”
Last week, A+ Food Service and school administrators decided to cut out the middle man.
“A+ showed up at our student council meetings,” McCasland said. “They visited with the students firsthand and heard what they do like and don’t like — what they prefer.”
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Businesses to be recognized at Olton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Banquet
The anniversaries of eighth local businesses will be recognized March 2 when Olton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture rolls out the red carpet for the annual Chamber Banquet.
Businesses to be honored include Cattlemen’s Feedlot, 50 years; Goen Irrigation, 40 years; Mayo Agency, South Plains Waste and PumpCo, 25 years; South Plains Irrigation, 20 years; and Ag Producers and Proforma LaDuke, five years.
Tickets are $20 per seat and can be reserved at the Olton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Office as well as The Olton Enterprise, Happy State Bank and Wellington State Bank.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Valley Ag Electric Inc. donates to Snack Pak 4 Kids
Valley Ag Electric Inc. raised more than $800 for Snack Pak 4 Kids during the company’s annual open house. JJ Guerrero, owner of Valley Ag Electric Inc. present the donation check to Ben Wagner of Wagner Insurance and Tax, a Snack Pak 4 Kids representative. Snack Pak 4 Kids is a volunteer organization that provides food to students so that they will not be hungry during weekends.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
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Sports
Mustangs face Floydada for bi-district
Tipoff at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Monterey high School in Lubbock
Coach Bobby Workman is preaching offense this week while looking for revival as his Olton Mustangs prepare to play the Floydada Whirlwinds for a bi-district title.
After clinching a playoff spot earlier this month, the Mustangs have struggled on offense. They fell 47-35 last Friday night to Farwell in a game that would have given them a share of the district title, and then fell 45-38 Tuesday night at Vega. Instead of polishing a gold ball as district champions, they find themselves having finished third in district and trying to polish up the offense to get ready to play the No. 14 team in the state in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.
Workman described the Vega game as “a tough loss.”
A win over Vega would have pitted Olton against unrated Post in the first round of the playoffs next week. Instead they have to play a top rated team armed with lots of weapons.
“They have really quick guards and a couple of big post players,” Workman said of Floydada. “It will be a tough matchup, but our guys know we can play with them because we did the first time.”
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Regional News
Springlake VFD hosting Texas Independence Day benefit
Springlake Volunteer Fire Department is hosting their fifth annual Texas Independence Day Celebration at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 2 at the Springlake Fire Station in Springlake.
Tickets for the event are $30 each for a steak meal and a chance to win a Kenneth Wyatt print.
Also, there will be a drawing for a Texas made handgun, the STI 1911 9mm. Tickets are $10 each. The winner does not have to be present to win, but the winner must qualify for gun registration.
For tickets for either the meal or the drawing, contact any Springlake Volunteer Fire member or call 806-292-9778.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Happy State Bank promotes Smith
Happy State Bank has promoted David Smith to Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Support.
J. Pat Hickman, chairman and chief executive officer, made the annoouncement.
“David and I worked together 30 years ago. He is uniquely talented at making good things happen,” Hickman said. “He is fanatical about providing outstanding customer service. And while I believe that our service level is second-to-none, I think David may help us take the Happy customer service experience to a whole new level.”
Smith joined Happy as Senior Vice President, Special Assets Officer in 2018, working with the lending and credit groups. He started his banking career with First National Bank of Amarillo and has 30 years of banking and business experience.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Obituaries
Aubrey Frank Smyth
JAubrey Frank Smyth, 91, of Olton, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Olton. Services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, at First United Methodist Church in Olton with Brother Larry Holder and Brother Neely Landrum officiating. Interment followed at Olton Cemetery under the direction of Ramage Funeral Directors.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 85, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE
Dorothy Mae Ott
Dorothy Mae Ott, 89 of Mineola, passed away Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 in Tyler.
Interment was at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 in Springlake Cemetery in Springlake.
READ MORE IN THE FEB. 15, 2019, ISSUE OF THE OLTON ENTERPRISE