LIfestyles

An eerie tension hung in the air on Halloween as community members left work, planning for a Monday night filled with frights and treats. That tension became more than a feeling as darkness fell, and witches, goblins, princesses and all manner of creatively dressed Olneyites marched down Main Street to meet up at the gazebo for a trunk or treat celebration, a real “Spooktacular” event. The mood quickly changed from eerie to excited cheer as hundreds of kids and their parents made their way from trunk to trunk extracting as many treats as little hands could grab, filling bags with sweet happiness for children and quite possibly a sugar-filled late night for parents. The town gathered around trunks and displays by Tower Extrusions, the Olney Police Department, the City of Olney and other community members, to eye costumes and socialize as the Olney Chamber of Commerce announced winners for this year’s costume categories. Judges had a nigh impossible task picking winners this year but managed to make their selections. After winners were announced, families and friends hung out to chat about plans for Thanksgiving. For some, the Halloween event announced the start of Christmas decorating and shopping. Deidre Brown-Olney Chamber Director gave an update of upcoming events. “The next Chamber community event will be the Annual Tree Lighting on Nov. 27,” she said. “There will be a one-mile Fun Run to kick off the event, where participants will receive jingle bells for their shoes. Imagine the sound of sleigh bells cast throughout the streets of Olney!”

The Young County Historical Commission announced that starting on Nov. 5, the public is invited to visit the 1921 Young County Jail on the first Saturday of each month. The old jail, which was recently listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, will be open between noon and 3 p.m., said commission co-director Susan Smith.

District Attorney Dee Peavy resolved four criminal cases involving Olney residents or crimes committed in and around Olney with guilty pleas by four individuals in October, her office said in a statement. Darius Noellopan Keilani Paia, 34, of Olney pleaded guilty to assaulting a family or house member by impeding breath or circulation, the statement said. He was sentenced to five years of community supervision and ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs, the statement said.