From start to finish 2021 was a year in which change roiled the familiar, especially in leadership. From elected officials to business leaders to school administrators to legendary ranch ownership, the torch was passed throughout 2021.
Not even the worst winter storm in modern Texas history, Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, could slow down the transitions.
In January Trig Overbo was named superintendent of Glen Rose ISD, after almost eight years at JGISD. Layne Sheets, superintendent of Dawson ISD, was named in June to replace Overbo.
Drew Springer, the state representative who had served for four terms in House District 68, announced in December 2020 that he was running for the state senate, and in January and February five candidates to succeed him began barnstorming across Dickens and Kent counties.
On February 23 David Spiller of Jacksboro defeated Craig Carter of Nocona in a runoff.
In March Jayton’s first Hispanic mayor, who had been in office only since 2019, passed away, and the following month George Chisum, a Jayton councilman, was named to replace Martinez.
One of the area’s longesttenured leaders, Eric Swenson, stepped down as CEO of Spur Security Bank in March, after serving the bank for 52 years. Kevin Bass, who grew up in Spur but now lives in New Home, took over as CEO.
In May new ownership was named for the legendary Four Sixes ranch in nearby Guthrie. Texas rancher Taylor Sheridan, a film and television executive and screenwriter most recently known for the “Yellowstone” TV series, represented a group that bought the ranch which was sold after Anne Marion’s death in February 2020.
In June JGISD principal Lyle Lackey accepted the position of principal at Decatur High School. Lackey had served as principal for six years. Lackey’s wife, Katie, recently elected as Kent county attorney, agreed to a remote working arrangement with the county.
In July the longstanding Robert Hall Chevrolet franchise became Robert Hall Motors. After Robert Hall, Jr. passed away in 2020, the family agreed to sell the Chevrolet franchise to Mitch Hall Chevrolet, which has several locations in West Texas, the closest in Snyder.
The City of Spur saw three changes in the city secretary’s position in 2021, with longtime city clerk Ashley Carothers named city secretary in late September.
The City of Spur spent much of 2021 searching for new police chief. Previous chief Robert Garcia resigned in January 2021. Billy Spears, most recently from Sweetwater, was named police chief in late September.
In late October Kent County Judge Jim C. White announced that he would not be seeking re-election. Upon retirement in 2022, White will mark 20 years in the office.
In November the Texas legislature rolled out a new redistricting plan following the release of the new census numbers. As a result, Kent and Dickens counties’ representation shifts westward toward Lubbock. Voters in these counties will no longer be served by House District 68 representative David Spiller; they will now be served by House District 83, a seat currently held by Lubbock attorney Dustin Burrows.
In December more than 20 candidates filed to be on the March ballots in Kent and Dickens counties.
MONTH BY MONTH
January
• Area nursing home residents/staff start to receive Covid-19 vaccines
• City of Spur accepts resignation of police chief and deputy • Trig Overbo named Glen Rose
• Trig Overbo named Glen Rose ISD superintendent • Candidates barnstorm the region
• Candidates barnstorm the region to replace Drew Springer (HD-68). David Spiller of Jacksboro won the race in a region now redistricted to a new representative, Dustin Burrows, who has already visited Dickens and Kent counties.
February
• Winter Storm Uri, Feb. 13–17, leaves many homes and businesses across the region without electrical power, heat and water. Nursing-home residents are put at risk, and damage forced utility crews to work around the clock; repairs take weeks to complete.
• The Spur VFD took delivery of a new grant-funded brush truck, greatly expanding firefighting capability
• High school basketball playoffs delayed due to Uri
• Spur’s Palace Theater floods due to water line damace during winter storm Uri
• Area residents begin receiving Covid-19 vaccines
March
• Jayton mayor Joe martinez passes away
• Spur Security Bank changes leadership
April
• Spur’s downtown Farmers Market resumes
• Kent Lions hosts Meet the Candidates with multiple contested school board races
• The Texas Spur hosts Meet the Candidates with multiple contested city council races
May
• Creator of “Yellowstone” TV series Taylor Sheridan heads up a group purchasing Four Sixes ranch in nearby Guthrie
• All city incumbents win reelection in Spur
• Jayton-Girard ISD One Act Play goes to state, first time ever
June
• Lyle Lackey, JGISD principal, takes position in Decatur, Texas
• Palace Theater finishes winter storm repairs, opens for new season
• Two annual events return to Spur: the 9th Annual Adult Softball Tournament and the Big Dog BBQ Cook-off
July
• Spur VFD hosts a 4th of July celebration for the first time in a generation
• Robert Hall Chevrolet becomes Robert Hall Motors
• Former Texas Spur publishers, the late Joe and Jo Ann Harrison, inducted into Panhandle Press Association Hall of Fame
• Argo Blockchain, an international bitcoin mining company, announces that it will build its first U.S. location in Dickens County, near McAdoo
August
• Jayton’s 9th annual Gridiron Classic, and the 98th Annual Motley Dickens Old Settlers Rodeo & Reunion, go off without a hitch
September
• All three area schools celebrate homecomings with full festivities in 2021, after tamped-down events in 2020 due to Covid-19
• Historic Spur church moves to National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock
October
• Argo Blockchain hosts a community-wide meeting, announcing that it will fund repair of Spur swimming pool
• Billy Spears named new police chief in Spur
• Ashley Carothers promoted to Spur city secretary
• Across the region the cotton harvest appears to see best prices since 2011—more than a dollar a pound— and the for many, the highest yield in almost as many years
November
• Legislative redistricting changes who will be state representative for Dickens and Kent counties
• Spur Bulldogs win district football crown after going undefeated and with two games scoring 100 points or more, a feat not seen in Spur since the 1030s
• Supplementing the downtown Farmers Market, a grass-roots initiative, the Spur Third Saturday Trade Days, an inside event at the community center or show barn iss launched the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jim C. White of Jayton announces he will not run for re-election as Kent County judge
December
• In early December temperate weather give Winterfest in Jayton and Late Night Shopping in Spur robust crowds.
• Spur Area Chamber of Commerce provides Christmas lamppost lights to light up downtown
• Spur enjoys its first lighted Christmas parade ever with the Spur Hardware Lighted Christmas parade on December 18, and Spur Area Chamber of Commerce sponsora a Christmas Ball featuring music by the Fabulous Sandbillies that same evening
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