Sarah Self-Walbrick

Business reporter at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

May 10, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Ceremonies canceled, but Texas Tech graduates persevere then and now

The Texas Tech University class of 1970 entered post-graduate life in the midst of a crisis, too, 50 years before the coronavirus pandemic uprooted 2020 seniors’ final semester plans. The May 11 tornado hit on a Monday, starting its deadly path near…

May 3, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Self-Walbrick: Working at hometown newspaper was a dream, but so is my next move

Some may call me persistent, others would say annoying, but I wanted to work at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal so badly that I emailed management incessantly when I learned there was a reporter job opening in 2017. I was about to graduate with my…

Apr 30, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Bankruptcies filed April 23-29

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert L. Jones CHAPTER 7 Isic Carlos Gomez and Jennifer Nicole Gomez, filed April 24 Christi DeAnn Zeiss, filed April 27 Mary Contreras, filed April 27 Sharon Marlene Weise, filed April 28 Sylvia Laverne Seales, filed…

Apr 29, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

9 new cases brings Lubbock’s COVID-19 total to 516

The City of Lubbock confirmed nine new cases of the coronavirus Wednesday - there were also 16 more people who recovered. The city has identified 516 cases of COVID-19 since March 17. As of Wednesday, 214 of those patients have recovered and 43 have…

Apr 28, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Lubbock businesses decide whether to open under new guidelines

Lubbock businesses allowed to open under Texas’ relaxed restrictions are grappling with if they should and what that looks like. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that restaurants, retail stores, malls and movie theaters can open to a quarter of…

Apr 25, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Self-Walbrick: Amid economic uncertainty, businesses open and close in Lubbock

Business re-openings are on the horizon as local and state leaders are expected to announce multi-phase plans to restart the economy this week. The stay-home orders didn’t stop Lubbock restaurants from opening in April with compliant services, and in…

Apr 24, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Lubbock adds 13 cases of coronavirus, 2 possible exposure sites

The City of Lubbock confirmed an additional 13 cases of coronavirus Friday. The new diagnoses brings the total cases to 494, with 166 people recovering and 40 deaths linked to the disease. Friday’s new cases include the first patient under…

Apr 24, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Business bulletins: AMD Engineering announces purchase of company, Albertsons pledges donations

Cory Dulin and Jimmy McDaniel, owners of AMD Engineering, LLC, recently announced the purchase of Stevens Surveying Company. AMD Engineering has provided consulting civil engineering services since January 2006. Stevens Surveying Company, founded by…

Apr 22, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Another Lubbock facility sees coronavirus, but nursing home cases leveling off for now

Another nursing home facility has confirmed cases of COVID-19, but the high rate of diagnoses in Lubbock nursing homes is leveling off, local data suggests. On Wednesday, Lubbock health director Katherine Wells confirmed two employees and a resident…

Apr 22, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Buddy Holly Hall worker tests positive for COVID-19, construction stalled

A subcontractor at the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences tested positive for COVID-19 this week, closing the construction site through at least April 27. Organizers were notified of the diagnosis late Tuesday afternoon and immediately…

Apr 21, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

4 arrested after shots fired during disturbance in East Lubbock

Police arrested four people early Tuesday after responding to a shots fired call in East Lubbock. Police received a report of a large group in the area that led to an altercation and shots fired about 12:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of East Baylor…

Apr 20, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Lubbock’s economic recovery taskforce meets, planning for data-based reopenings

The Lubbock Economic Recovery Taskforce held its first meeting Monday to begin the process of a data-informed reopening of the city. The 22-person group plans to advise the city council on April 28 of what will likely be a multi-phase proposal to…

Apr 19, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Lubbock businesses benefit from small biz loans

Less than two weeks after it launched, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program exhausted its $349 billion loan pool Thursday, but Lubbock-area businesses were able to benefit before the well ran dry. The loans, one of a few…

Apr 18, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Buddy Holly Hall organizers continue to plan for fall opening season

The Lubbock Memorial Civic Center was built to commemorate the tragedy of the 1970 tornado that devastated the city and killed 26. The venue was a part of economic recovery efforts and has brought the community together since it opened in…

Apr 18, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

1 dead in Saturday morning domestic disturbance

One woman died in an early morning domestic disturbance in Central Lubbock. Police were called around 3 a.m. Saturday to the 2400 block of Quinton Avenue. When officers arrived, they found 42-year-old Jennifer Rayburn unresponsive. She was later…

Apr 17, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Meeting the demand: South Plains Food Bank sees spike in food insecurity

Demand at the South Plains Food Bank has more than doubled in the weeks of the “new normal.” Vanessa Morelion, communications manager at the food bank, said they have seen a 50-60% increase of families in need. Before the coronavirus closed much of…

Apr 17, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Texas schools closed for rest of school year

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday schools will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. The order impacts public, private and higher education institutions. Distance learning through online mediums and other means will…

Apr 16, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Raider Ranch a hit on TikTok

Once dominated by Generation Z, users of all ages are joining video-sharing app TikTok — including residents at Lubbock senior living center Raider Ranch. A 15-second video of Paul Mohr and Bill Warren, both in their 90s, having a dance off has gone…

Apr 15, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

One citation issued in Lubbock for gathering on Easter

Only one citation was issued for violating Lubbock’s stay-at-home order on Easter Sunday. Mike Jones, assistant fire marshal, said Sunday was one of the quietest days the department’s had since the stay-at-home order was issued March 29. The cooler…

Apr 15, 2020

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Lubbock’s Pinkerton Distillery making hand sanitizer

A Lubbock distillery is concocting a different kind of alcohol product these days. Pinkerton’s Distillery, which makes rum and vodka, is now making hand sanitizer to donate to area first responders and healthcare workers who need it. “We’re trying to…