DRB MEDIA Communications

09/25/2025

OPD is currently investigating a crash 87th St. and E. Loop 338 and another at 87th St. and Dawn. Both southbound lanes on E. Loop 338 and both westbound lanes on 87th St. (between E. Loop 338 and Dawn) are currently shut down. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and use alternative routes until further advised.

09/24/2025

Join OPD for the annual Local Hero Night on Wednesday, September 24th from 5-8pm at the Chick-fil-A, located at 4109 Faudree. Specialized units will be on display for this kid-friendly event. All local first responders (OPD, OFR & Dispatch) will be there, and the public is encouraged to attend. There will also be an Adoption Clinic courtesy of Odessa Animal Services. We hope to see you there!

09/24/2025

As a follow up to the statements provided last week by Midland ISD regarding the investigation related to Special Education classrooms at South Elementary, the district remains fully committed to continued transparency with our families and community. While we will continue to share updates, we ask for your understanding that there are certain details that cannot be disclosed while the investigation is ongoing.
On Friday, September 12, a member of the district’s Special Services Department reported a concern related to classroom practices in a Special Education classroom to district administration. An investigation of the report was immediately initiated, which included a review of video footage from two Special Education classrooms at South Elementary. A report was then filed with Child Protective Services, a full administrative investigation began, and our Midland ISD Police Department opened an investigation.

As a precaution, district special education staff were immediately assigned to South Elementary to oversee both classrooms. They have remained on campus since and will continue to do so for the next several weeks.

To date, six employees have resigned, and two administrators remain under investigation. The teachers who have resigned are Justin Butler and Heather Thomas. The paraprofessionals who have resigned are Hilda Atamenwan, Keishla Collazo, Anavelia Enderby, and Jennifer Loving. We are required to report incidents such as this to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), and all employees have been reported to SBEC for an additional investigation, which will determine if sanctions will be placed on their educator certificates.

The District Attorney’s office indicated they will be expanding the investigation. As a result of this recent information, and to err on the side of caution, the district has placed two district level administrators on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Midland ISD Police Department continues the investigation and is working directly with the Texas Rangers, the District Attorney’s office, and Child Protective Services to address any and all charges that can and should be filed.

The Special Services Department has carefully reviewed preventive measures and is developing a comprehensive plan of action to prevent an incident like this from happening in any of our specialized classrooms in the future. Midland ISD has communicated with families who have children served in specialized classrooms across the district, will be hosting Open Houses at each campus in the coming weeks, and will continue to work to ensure we maintain open lines of communication with all families whose students are served in specialized classrooms.

The district will continue providing updates throughout the investigation.

-Dr. Stephanie Howard, Superintendent

09/24/2025

Odessa College to Host “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band

ODESSA, TX – For the first time, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band is coming to Odessa, TX as part of the band's National Concert Tour, performing a free 7:30 PM concert on Friday, October 24, 2025 at First Baptist Church Odessa, presented by Odessa College and the Odessa College Department of Music. For full details, please visit www.marineband.marines.mil/Tour. Free tickets are available now at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/marineband/odessa2025 (limit 4 per request). Seating is general admission and ticket holders must be seated by 7:15 PM; remaining seats will be released to the standby line at that time.

“We are incredibly excited to continue the tradition of our national concert tour,” Marine Band Director Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin said. “Musicians of the band are more eager than ever to share their musical talents with audiences live, and in-person on this year's tour.”

Nowlin has programmed musical selections in the style of the band’s 17th Director John Philip Sousa, who initiated the concert tour tradition in 1891. Concertgoers can expect a mix of works including traditional band repertoire, Sousa marches, contemporary compositions, vocal and instrumental solos and a patriotic salute to the Armed Forces.

“We have tremendously appreciative patrons who come to Marine Band concerts for all types of different experiences, so our programs are designed to include a great variety of music that mirrors the wonderful diversity in our national musical heritage,” Nowlin said.

Since Sousa was first granted permission to tour the country by President Benjamin Harrison in 1891, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band has delivered a White House experience from Washington, D.C., to the far-reaching corners of our nation, and these special concerts have been shared by generations of Americans. During the 30-day National Concert Tour, the Marine Band will perform 28 concerts in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Founded in 1798, the band has performed for every U.S. President since John Adams. Known as “The President’s Own” since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band’s mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

09/21/2025

Odessa Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet & Awards Dinner 2025

09/21/2025

On 9-21-25 at approximately 1:46am, OPD responded to 8th St. and Dixie in reference to a major crash. Investigation revealed that a 2017 Ford F-350, being operated by 22-year-old Benjamin Pearce of Schertz, Texas, was traveling westbound in the 1300 block of E. 8th St.

Both westbound lanes of the 1300 block of E. 8th St. were closed for construction, with traffic cones set up to guide motorists safely around the work zone. Pearce disregarded the cones and continued traveling in the closed westbound lanes before striking a parked backhoe.

Pearce was pronounced deceased on scene and next of kin were notified. The investigation is ongoing.

09/21/2025

09/20/2025

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the 2nd Annual Odessa Dia De Los Mu***os

09/20/2025

Update: The lanes have since been reopened.

Original Summary: The Odessa Police Department is currently investigating a crash on the North Service Road of IH-20 just east of West County Road. Both lanes on the North Service Road are currently shut down. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and use alternative routes until further advised.

09/18/2025

Medical Center Hospital to Host Ribbon Cutting for Newly Renovated Playroom & Book Vending Machine at MCH Center for Women & Infants Funds donated by Atmos Energy through Medical Center Health System Foundation

09/16/2025

Hispanic Heritage of Odessa Celebrates 16th of September with Music and Pan Dulce at City Hall in Odessa

09/15/2025

A male assaulted an employee at the Wingstop located at 1613 N. County Rd. W. Anyone who recognizes the suspect shown in the surveillance footage is encouraged to contact Detective H. Hughes at 432-335-3345 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS and reference Case #25-0009293.