The Odessan

08/06/2025

It's the last day with us this summer for our intern, Emma Jones. We've appreciated Emma's hard work this summer covering Odessa's business community and the Odessa R-7 School District. Please join us in wishing Emma well as she heads back for another semester at Mizzou!

08/06/2025

Melody got to ring the bell at the Lafayette County Courthouse today! We'll have a look at the roof project in next week's issue.

08/04/2025

Please bring or send all results from your organization’s Puddle Jumper Days events today if possible as we are actively working on our coverge pages. We cannot guarantee the ability to run any results we receive after our noon, Tuesday deadline. We’re excited to celebrate your Puddle Jumper Days activities!

07/25/2025

Look out next week for the Odessa City Guide!

Published each summer, the Odessa City Guide is our supersized 80-page guide to all things Odessa — City government, local schools, available services, community organizations and local businesses. Whether you're passing by, a new resident or a lifetime Odessan, if you have a question about Odessa, the answer is probably inside.

The City Guide will be included in all copies of the July 31 issue of The Odessan, and will then be distributed around town.

07/16/2025

We're excited to share that news editor Hannah Spaar and reporter Melody Cook received second place in the National Newspaper Association's 2025 Better Newspaper Contest for In-Depth or Investigative Story or Series for the "Covert County Business" series. This makes The Odessan one of 102 newspapers in several size categories nationwide recognized this year.

06/18/2025

Due to the Juneteeth holiday, subscribers will receive this week's paper in the mail Friday. It will still be available on racks around town tonight.

05/14/2025

Melody is looking for families living in the Odessa, Bates City, Wellington, Napoleon, Mayview and Lake Lafayette areas to feature for Kitchen Witchin! Please message us with contact information for those who would be great to feature.

05/09/2025

There’s been some confusion about the location of Odessa’s congratulatory graduation ads in this week’s issue. They are on pages 6B and 7B. Section B this week includes Wellington-Napoleon graduation, Odessa celebratory ads, the classified page and sports from both schools. Don’t miss out on the full issue!

04/25/2025

Today's deadline day for senior information forms and remember when photos for Wellington-Napoleon and Oak Grove high schools! Remember all of this information is FREE to submit and helps make sure the graduation section showcases your student!

04/23/2025

Cleaning out your closets for the Odessa City Wide Garage Sale? Don't miss out on your chance to get on the map! Running in next week's issue of The Odessan.

04/21/2025

1. If you did not meet last week's deadline, do not fear, we can still accept your senior information sheets for the Odessa graduation section! For a limited time, we will also accept one solo Remember When photo with the application, but once the Remember When page is finalized, we will no longer be able to take additions. So get them in fast!

2. Our phone system is back up! Thanks for being patient with us. You can reach the Odessan office at (816)230-5311 as normal.

04/18/2025

Reminder, today's the deadline to get senior information sheets turned in for the Odessa High School graduation section!

You can find the graduation information sheets on our website, theodessan.net/graduation . There is no cost to submit senior information sheets! The $50 congratulatory ads are separate and not due until next week.

Our phones remain down, but we can be reached at [email protected] or by stopping by.

Help us celebrate local graduates. Our annual, award-winning graduation sections run the week prior to graduation and are given to each graduate as a keepsake. Start with the explanatory information below for each school. All information on the senior information form is free. The celebratory senior...