ICYMI: 5 big stories you may not have seen in the A-J over the holidays

Hey, folks! Happy New Year!

We're hoping to help you start off 2023 informed by looking back at some of the biggest news you may have missed.

Over the holidays, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal shared 124 articles in print and across our website, and we understand that some of our best work can easily slip by our readers.

Covering everything from Tech football's refute against racial slur allegations and Lubbock's new businesses and expansions in 2023 to the Arctic blast that plunged through the nation and a Hale ISD teacher's arrest after an alleged improper relationship with a student, the A-J told a lot of big stories.

We get it! It's hard to read them all — but we want to ensure our readers have every opportunity to stay informed.

Texas Tech Football won the Rodeo Bowl

Texas Tech won five events to Ole Miss's two in the seven-event Rodeo Bowl competition staged annually as a fun-filled lead-up to the Texas Bowl, which unfolds Wednesday night at NRG Stadium.

Tech head athletic trainer Drew Krueger held his breath Monday night during the Rodeo Bowl. So did Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire.

"Yeah, there was a couple of times I was a little nervous," McGuire said. "Whenever (Trey) Wolff grabbed the calf's tail, I (thought), 'Don't get kicked.' I mean, that'd be a heck of a deal, our kicker get kicked by a calf and not be able to play in the game."

Read the story:Two games in one: Texas Tech won the Rodeo Bowl, but can it conquer Ole Miss for the real prize?

Wanted Lubbock man accused of illegally using dead father's bank account

Texas troopers on Tuesday arrested a 43-year-old man authorities believe illegally used a debit card belonging to his father whose body was found in October dumped in a field in East Lubbock County.

Daniel Lopez Jr. was arrested in the 2200 block of 26th Street a day after Lubbock County Sheriff's Officials publicly sought help finding him, saying a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to a Lubbock Sheriff's Office news release.

Lopez was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a charge of credit card or debit card abuse of an elderly person. His bond is set at $150,000.

Read the story:Wanted Lubbock man accused of illegally using dead father's bank account

West Texas saw record-low cotton harvest this year, but global production prevailed

Not a single state in the U.S. Cotton Belt was able to bring an abundant cotton crop to harvest this fall — and the major markets in Texas were especially spread thin this year. Although the state headed into the growing season with its highest planted area since 1954, totaling about 8.7 million acres, extreme drought conditions and record abandonment levels yielded the lowest-ever cotton harvest Texas has seen.

This comes as no surprise to the region's farmers, local officials, and industry experts, as many had already predicted such a jarring scenario months ahead of harvest.

In the best-case scenario, this loss could cost up to $2.1 billion in regional economic activity and more than 17,000 jobs.

"You know, we're just dying out here," said Mike Lass, a resident of Floydada, which sits about 45 minutes northeast of Lubbock. "And as water continues to dwindle, I'm afraid that's going to be our theme."

Read the story:West Texas saw record-low cotton harvest this year, but global production prevailed

Argo Blockchain in debt, sells flagship Dickens County bitcoin facility to Canadian group

Despite much fanfare and excitement in May, the company behind a Dickens County cryptocurrency facility has sold the months-old flagship.

Argo Blockchain completed a sale of their Helios facility, stationed in Dickens County, Texas, to Canada-based Galaxy Digital Holdings for $65 million. They also struck a deal to refinance "asset-backed loans, and entered into a hosting agreement with Galaxy to maintain Argo’s mining machine at the Helios facility," according to a company news release. The refinancing included a $35 million loan from Galaxy.

The funds from the sale will "be used to repay all existing indebtedness, prepayment interest, and other fees of approximately $84 million (£70 million) and $1 million (£1 million), owed to NYDIG ABL LLC and North Mill Commercial Finance, LLC, respectively," a release stated.

This reduced Argo's debt by $41 million.

Read the story:Argo Blockchain in debt, sells flagship Dickens County bitcoin facility to Canadian group

A tradition lives on: Family, friends carry on T.J. Patterson's Christmas jail visit

For 34 years, T.J. Patterson spent a portion of his Christmas Day spreading love and cheer to inmates at the Lubbock County Detention Center.

Patterson, a longtime Lubbock City Councilman and beloved community member, died Sept. 21, but family and friends made sure his legacy lives lives on by continuing his tradition for a 35th year on Christmas Sunday.

Faye Dunn, who made the annual visit with Patterson for more than 30 years, organized this year's event.

"Mr. Patterson's goal and focus was to give back to the community, to the people that couldn't help themselves," Dunn told the Avalanche-Journal. "Some of the people there don't have a visit. They don't even get a phone call or commissary. So, if a piece of candy can change that person's way of thinking, we did what God has asked us to do.

"He tells us to go inside the jails and the prisons and carry the message of love. This is all about love, that we would sacrifice our day to go in and spend it with someone else," Dunn continued.

Read the story:A tradition lives on: Family, friends carry on T.J. Patterson's Christmas jail visit

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 5 big stories you may not have seen in the A-J over the holidays