West Texas Town Fears Growing Sinkholes In Their Area
By: Jenne Anderson
Updated: March 5, 2013
WINKLER COUNTY-- There's a growing problem in Winkler County, and it's only getting bigger with time.
In 1980 a construction crew showed up at a site along Highway 115, only to see the land crumbling into a gaping hole in the ground.
"It just collapsed," said Winkler County Sheriff George Keely. "One day it wasn't there, and then they came to work the next day, and it (the sinkhole) was there."
Then, more than 30 years later, an even bigger hole caved in about a mile away from the first, causing concern for people in Winkler County who fear the unstable land could continue to sink.
"It's dangerous," stated Sheriff Keely. Even the roads out there are dangerous."
Keely says since the holes keep growing in size, there's a chance they could collapse Highway 115, which runs between Wink and Kermit, right alongside the sinkholes.
"If you drove them, they actually drop in height in places where we think a possible crevice could form," explained Keely.
Aside from the obvious dangers of the sinkhole, one of the biggest challenges for the Winkler County Sheriff's Department are the frequent number of calls they get out from trespassers entering to look at the site.
This is why they tell us they've put several gates in place to keep people out.
"Kids mostly," said Keely. "And some of them went there and were swimming over the years. But not recently, we've got it fenced off, and we spent a lot of time making sure nobody's in it."
And while the holes attract people from all over, Sheriff Keely says they're still active, and advises everyone to keep their distance.
"They're kind of an interesting, scientific phenomenon," said Keely. "But they're very dangerous."
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In 1980 a construction crew showed up at a site along Highway 115, only to see the land crumbling into a gaping hole in the ground.
"It just collapsed," said Winkler County Sheriff George Keely. "One day it wasn't there, and then they came to work the next day, and it (the sinkhole) was there."
Then, more than 30 years later, an even bigger hole caved in about a mile away from the first, causing concern for people in Winkler County who fear the unstable land could continue to sink.
"It's dangerous," stated Sheriff Keely. Even the roads out there are dangerous."
Keely says since the holes keep growing in size, there's a chance they could collapse Highway 115, which runs between Wink and Kermit, right alongside the sinkholes.
"If you drove them, they actually drop in height in places where we think a possible crevice could form," explained Keely.
Aside from the obvious dangers of the sinkhole, one of the biggest challenges for the Winkler County Sheriff's Department are the frequent number of calls they get out from trespassers entering to look at the site.
This is why they tell us they've put several gates in place to keep people out.
"Kids mostly," said Keely. "And some of them went there and were swimming over the years. But not recently, we've got it fenced off, and we spent a lot of time making sure nobody's in it."
And while the holes attract people from all over, Sheriff Keely says they're still active, and advises everyone to keep their distance.
"They're kind of an interesting, scientific phenomenon," said Keely. "But they're very dangerous."
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