Here are some of the Lubbock A-J's top stories from 2022
Last year brought reasons to celebrate, moments of outrage and sorrow as well as times to look ahead to our future.
The year 2022 saw stories that prompted conversations in our community - many that will continue into the new year and beyond - and the Avalanche-Journal team looks forward to helping share those.
Here are some of the top stories from 2022 that made an impact in Lubbock and the South Plains.
Hobbs teen accused of discarding baby in trash
A Hobbs teen faced first-degree felony charges of attempted murder and child abuse after officials say she wrapped her newborn baby in trash bags and abandoned it in a store's Dumpster Jan. 8 in that New Mexico city.
Alexis Avila, 18, was arrested Saturday after Hobbs police say they tracked her down using surveillance video that showed her throwing the newborn in a Dumpster behind Rig Outfitters and Home Store. She was released on bond later Saturday pending two felony charges, and an arraignment will be scheduled in Lea County District Court.
Speaking during a news conference Monday afternoon, Hobbs Police Interim Chief August Fons thanked three people who admitted they were searching for valuables in the Dumpster when they discovered the infant.
"Their collective, quick response to this emergency, including notification of 911, was absolutely pivotal in saving this baby's life," he said.
A trial date has been moved to April.
Nine killed in Andrews County crash
Nine people died in a fiery, head-on collision in West Texas, including six students and a coach from a New Mexico university who were returning home from a golf tournament, authorities said.
A pickup truck crossed the center line of a two-lane road in Andrews County, about 30 miles east of the New Mexico state line on Tuesday evening and crashed into a van carrying members of the University of the Southwest men's and women's golf teams, said Sgt. Steven Blanco of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Six students and a faculty member were killed in the crash along with the driver and a passenger in the pickup truck, Blanco said. Two students were taken in critical condition by helicopter to a hospital in Lubbock.
DNA testing results later confirmed 38-year-old Henrich Siemens, not his 13-year-old son, was driving the Dodge 2500 pickup that caused the crash.
Tech bounces back for Sweet 16
The future looked uncertain for Texas Tech's men's basketball program after the 2021 season.
Former head coach Chris Beard had just announced his departure for his alma mater and in-state rival Texas in Austin, leaving a Tech program that had seen three straight years of success under his watch - including three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and its first-ever win in the Final 4 in 2019 - seemingly in the lurch.
However, under first-year head coach Mark Adams and a talented roster of players, the Red Raiders were back for another deep run in the tournament this month. Although it ended with the March 24 loss 78-73 to Duke in the Sweet 16 - but didn't end fans' confidence that Tech will remain a force in college basketball.
Carruth not indicted after deadly shooting
No charges were filed against Kyle Carruth in connection with the Nov. 5, 2021 fatal shooting of Chad Read at a south Lubbock residence, a grand jury determined in late March.
Carruth's attorney, David Guinn, on Thursday evening, March 31, said officials with the Texas Attorney General's office, which was investigating the case, said a grand jury, specially impaneled to review the shooting, declined to indict Carruth earlier that day.
The shooting stemmed from a child custody dispute between Read and his ex-wife, Christina Read, at Carruth's residence in the 2100 block of 90th Street, according to police officials.
A confrontation between the men erupted with Carruth firing a warning shot at Read's feet and the two men struggled over the weapon. During the struggle, Carruth is thrown off several feet, but still holding the rifle. He spins around and fires twice at Read, who was struck.
As Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit investigators worked on the case, Lubbock County District Attorney Sunshine Stanek recused her office from the case, citing the suspected shooter was related to a local elected official who could testify in the case. Court records showed that during the shooting, Carruth was in the midst of divorcing then-district Judge Anne-Marie Carruth, who presided over the 72nd District Court in Crosby and Lubbock Counties.
Bart Reagor reports to prison
Bart Reagor reported in early May to a federal prison in Louisiana to begin serving his 14-year sentence.
Federal prison records online show Reagor, the former CEO of the Reagor-Dykes Auto Group, is being held at the Oakdale unit, a low security federal correctional institution.
Reagor was convicted in October by a federal jury in Amarillo of one count of making a false statement to a bank. He also faced two counts of wire fraud but jurors acquitted him of the charge.
The verdict came after a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk during which jurors heard from from International Bank of Commerce president William Schonacher, who said he believed the $10 million loan would be used as working capital for RDAG. He said he would not have approved the loan had he known Reagor would be using portions of it for his personal use.
Mayor Payne, new council members elected
Results of May's municipal election marked a new era in Lubbock.
Amid tearful goodbyes from four now-former Lubbock officials, the city's new Mayor Tray Payne and three new city councilmembers — Christy Martinez-Garcia, Mark McBrayer and Jennifer Wilson — were sworn in and officially began their public service to the City of Lubbock Tuesday afternoon, May. 17.
Following his swearing-in, Payne said, "I think you're called to serve, and I believe with all my heart that I've been called to serve this city."
West Texas' 6666 Ranch sells for over $320 million
The ink is officially dry on the sale of the historic West Texas 6666 Ranch, which carried a price tag of over $320 million for 266,255-plus acres. Taylor Sheridan, fellow Texan and American screenwriter, now owns a property filled with the history starting in the 1800s, the Avalanche-Journal reported in June.
The ranch, also known as the 4-6's, was founded in 1870 and covered multiple counties. It had three divisions - The 6666’s Ranch in Guthrie with 142,372 acres, Dixon Creek Ranch in Carson and Hutchison Counties with 114,455 acres, and Frisco Creek in Sherman County with 9,428 acres.
While the sprawling lands cover a large area, the headquarters was on the 4-6's near Guthrie. The "Big House," though a more recent addition, is one spot that stood out in the compound, totaling at 13,280 square feet of living area.
It contains 13 bedrooms, 13 baths, three powder rooms, two kitchens, dining room and three fireplaces, according to an article from 2020.
Headquarters also has:
Pilot’s quarters.
Two bunk houses.
The famous 6666’s loft barn.
Several horse sheds.
Shop building.
Equipment storage.
Feed building.
Round pen.
Dog kennel.
Two laborer houses.
Approximately 20 employee houses.
The 6666’s Supply House.
And a 3,600 square foot enclosed airplane hangar with a 65 foot x 6,000 foot asphalt lighted private landing strip.
Marking 50 years of Title IX
Implemented through federal legislation in 1972, Title IX states that no one, on the basis of sex, can be barred or discriminated from any university or college receiving federal financial assistance.
Fifty years later, Title IX has paved the way for women to gain a closer semblance of equality in the world of academia, empowering women leaders on the Texas Tech campus as well as creating a way for universities to work toward ending discrimination based on sex.
The Avalanche-Journal reported on the anniversary of Title IX and its impacts on higher education, as well as Texas Tech Athletics' efforts to come into compliance with some elements of Title IX's requirements for equitable funding for men's and women's athletics.
T.J. Patterson remembered as trailblazer
T.J. Patterson was remembered for his dedication to the community he often proudly referred to as Lubbock, Texas, U.S.A.
Patterson, who served in many key roles including as Lubbock’s first African-American city councilman, a weekly newspaper publisher and a life-long advocate for equal rights, died Sept. 21. He was 85.
Friends and loved ones recalled that Patterson spent his life doing something, largely focused on service to the city and Black community.
Alan Henry, who served as Lubbock's mayor at the start of Patterson's tenure on the council in 1984, praised Patterson as "a gift to the city."
"Everyone knows T.J. was a very optimistic person, very encouraging and articulate, but he was also someone who was very thoughtful and aware of the seriousness of issues facing the community," Henry said.
Top banks by deposits report shows unsteady increases since 2019
Lubbock County's banks have reported increases in deposits between 2019-2021, continuing a decade-long trend. Though increasing, data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. showed a sudden drop in deposit increases for Lubbock County banks through 2021, the A-J reported in October.
The updated data shows PlainsCapital Bank, City Bank and Wells Fargo rounding out the top three banks in Lubbock County by in-market deposits for 2021.
Including in- and out-of-market deposits, 2019-2020 deposits jumped $966 billion. Between 2020-2021, deposits only grew by $452 billion, an estimated 47% decrease from the prior year.
The top three banks, by the combination of in- and out-of-market deposits, between 2019-2021 were JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America.
Though they took two of the top three spots, Chase and Bank of America's in-market deposits were less than 1% of their totals. Their market shares tended to be low as well, with 1.55% for Chase and 4.3% for Bank of America in 2021, respectively.
Wells Fargo had a 9.77% market share in 2021. It was one of the top three by market shares, behind 17.18% for City Bank and 19.65% for PlainsCapital Bank, which took the No. 1 spot.
A tough year in agriculture
It was undeniably one of the toughest summers on record for farmers on the High Plains as unrelenting heatwaves loomed over the region for weeks and several months had passed without a single drop of rain, the Avalanche-Journal reported through the year.
Midway through growing season, many farmers were already certain that the unwavering drought would decimate their entire fields of crops. They had all witnessed the same devastating scenario: Thirsty, scorched plants that dwindled in size each day (though small patches of green fared here and there).
And by the time harvest rolled around, most fields wore a dark brown hue and carried rows of plant remnants — completely lifeless.
Not a single state in the U.S. Cotton Belt was able to bring an abundant cotton crop to harvest this fall. But major markets in Texas were especially spread thin this year, according to a story in Sunday's A-J.
Although Texas headed into growing season with its highest planted area since 1954, totaling about 8.7 million acres, extreme drought conditions and record abandonment levels have yielded the state's lowest-ever cotton harvest.
Work to begin after voters OK $200M road bond package
Back on Nov. 8, voters in the City of Lubbock overwhelmingly passed a $200 million road bond package to rebuild and expand more than 22 miles of Lubbock thoroughfares. But shiny new roads don't just pop up overnight. What happens now to get these streets built?
Lubbock voters pass $200 million road bond in general election
The Avalanche-Journal spoke recently after the election with Lubbock City Manager Jarrett Atkinson, who shared the city's foremost goal: Get these projects started as soon as possible.
"We are going to get going and we're gonna go fast," he said.
Atkinson expects bond funds will be available in February when market conditions and interest rates are more favorable. A broker will take the bonds to the open market where, typically, large banks, insurance companies and similar firms will purchase them.
Texas Tech community mourns passing of Mike Leach
Former Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach's passing drew an outpouring of remembrances from Red Raiders as well as the extensive line of coaches he worked with over the years and others he inspired.
Leach was 61 when he died overnight Monday into Tuesday after he suffered a heart attack and other medical issues Sunday.
Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach dies at 61
He served as the Red Raiders' head football coach from 2000 to 2009 and was the program's winningest coach, later coaching at Washington State and Mississippi State.
News of his sudden passing shocked the football community, sparking reactions on social media from the Tech community and those he inspired around the nation.
Calls for justice
Dec. 17 marked a somber milestone.
Four-year-old Cornelius Carrington was killed in a drive-by shooting on Dec. 17, 2021. One year later, no arrests have been made and police continue to making public pleas for the public to bring tips to help solve the case.
And Cornelius' family, especially his great-grandmother who helped raise him, still feel the hole left in their heart.
His grandmother joined Lubbock police during a news conference ahead of Dec. 17 to help raise awareness about the ongoing investigation and to serve as a reminder that those with information about the drive-by shooting should call Crime Line at 806-741-1000. Callers may remain anonymous.
A $15,000 reward is being offered for information that could help them solve Carrington's death.
Tech Wallops Ole Miss in Texas Bowl
HOUSTON — Tyler Shough had been planning to buy a cowboy hat anyway. Now he doesn't have to, because he went out and won one.
Texas Tech put a whipping on favored Mississippi on Wednesday night, Dec. 28, at the Texas Bowl, and the Red Raiders' quarterback led the charge. He ran for 111 yards, a career high, and two touchdowns, both on fourth-and-goal. He threw for 242 yards and another touchdown in a 42-25 victory that showcased a galaxy of Red Raiders stars.
The people in the press box voted Shough the game's most valuable player. And it gets better, because standing on the podium on one end of NRG Stadium, Shough just came out with it: He's sticking around for the 2023 season, one of at least 14 seniors on this year's team exercising the option to use the COVID-bonus year.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech sports, Kyle Carruth, bond election, 6666 Ranch top stories
