Author: Danny Barrera

MIDLAND, TEXAS/MAY 11, 2021-THE MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT HELD THE SPRING GRADUATION CEREMONY ON MONDAY EVENING, MAY 10^TH AT THE MIDLAND COUNTY HORSESHOE ARENA AND PAVILION. GRADUATES FROM THE ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT, TRANSITIONAL TREATMENT COURT AND DWI COURT RECEIVED DIPLOMAS AND CERTICATES OF COMPLETION.

(GARRETT JOINER, GRADUATE-MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT)

THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT IS TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WELL AS BREAKING THE CYCLE REOFFENCE WHILE REDUCING THE COST TO THE TAX PAYER.

(JUDGE ELIZABETH N. RAINEY, MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT-MIDLAND, TEXAS)

MICHAEL BATTLE, A GRADUATE OF THE MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT, WAS CHOSEN TO BE THE GRADUATE CLASS SPEAKER.

(MICHAEL BATTLE, GRADUATE-MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT)

THE CEREMONY CONCLUDED WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE OFFICER ROCIO GORDILLO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, AWARDED TO SEVERAL DRUG COURT GRADUATES FOR THEIR DEDICATION IN COMPLETING THE PROGRAM. THIS AWARD WAS CREATED IN OFFICER GORDILLO’S NAME AND IN HER HONOR. OFFICER ROCIO GORDILLO PASSED AWAY ON OCTOBER 24^TH, 2020.

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

ODESSA, TEXAS/MAY 9, 2021-ON SATURDAY, MAY 8^TH, AT 10 AM, ODESSA COLLEGE HELD THE SPRING 2021 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AT THE OC SPORTS CENTER. THE CEREMONY ALLOWED GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AND EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON, WHILE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WATCHED VIA LIVE STREAM ON THE ODESSA COLLEGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

(TRAMAINE ANDERSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTRUCTION-ODESSA COLLEGE)

OVER 700 STUDENTS GRADUCATED DURING THE TWO DAY 2021 CEREMONY. ARIANNA GONZALEZ, ONE OF THE 318 OC STUDENTS THAT GRADUCATED AT THE SATURDAY MORNING CEREMONY, RECEIVED HER ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN APPLIED SCIENCE – SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY.

(ARIANNA GONZALEZ, 2021 OC GRADUATE-ASSOCIATES IN APPLIED SCIENCE-SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY)

PAULINA RIOS, THE SPRING OF 2021 ODESSA COLLEGE GRADUCATE RECEIVED HER ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN GENERAL STUDIES. SHE WILL GRADUATE FROM PRESIDIO ISD LATER IN MAY 2021 AND PLANS TO CONTINUE HER STUDIES AND MAJOR IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND MINOR IN BIOLOGY AT UT PERMIAN BASIN, AND HOPES TO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE.

(PAULINA RIOS, 2021 ODESSA COLLEGE GRADUCATE-ASSOCIATES IN GENERAL STUDIES)

PAULINA’S OLDER SISTER CARMEN RIOS SAYS THAT HER LITTLE SISTER IS THE FIRST CHILD ON HER FATHER’S SIDE TO HAVE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.

(CARMEN RIOS, PAULINA RIOS OLDER SISTER)

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

ODESSA, TEXAS/MAY 6, 2021-THE HISPANIC HERITAGE OF ODESSA HELD THE CINCO DE MAYO 2021 CELEBRATION AT LA MARGARITA FAIR GROUNDS IN SOUTH ODESSA. THIS CELEBRATION COMMEMORATES THE MEXICAN VICTORY OVER THE FRENCH AT THE BATTLE OF PUEBLA, MAY 5^TH, 1862.

(ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ, ECTOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT 4-ODESSA, TEXAS)

(MAYOR JAVIER JOVEN, CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS)

AWARDS WERE GIVEN TO MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL, ODESSA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, MIDLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND MIDLAND HEALTH AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING FRONTLINE MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES IN BRINGING COMFORT TO PATIENTS WITH COVID-19.

(DELMA CHAVEZ, OWNER-ST. JOSEPH’S HOME HEALTH)

(ARACELI ROMERO, FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER)

A SPECIAL AWARD BY THE HISPANIC HERITAGE OF ODESSA WAS GIVEN TO STUDENT JACOB CHAVEZ FOR MAKING MASKS TO HELP REDUCE THE COVID-19 VIRUS AMONG THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

(JACOB CHAVEZ, STUDENT)

THE ODESSA MARRIOTT HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER ALONG WITH THE ODESSA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTED THE CINCO DE MAY EVENING FESTIVITES FEATURING THE ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL MARIACHIS, BALET FOLKORICO DE ESTEBAN PUERTA, AND MARIACHI ARMONIA DE JEREMY HERNANDEZ.

(SONDRA EOFF, OWNER WITH HUSBAND, THE ODESSA MARRIOTT AND CONFERENCE CENTER)

(PAUL GARZA, PRESIDENT/CEO-ODESSA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

(DR. BENJAMIN QUIROZ, CHAIRMAN, HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF ODESSA)

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

ODESSA, TEXAS/MAY 3, 2021-THE TASTE OF LATIN CAR CLUB HOSTED THE CINCO DE MAYO FAMILY PICNIC AT MCKINNEY PARK IN ODESSA. SEVERAL CAR AND MOTORCYCLE CLUBS, AND VENDORS ATTENDED THIS FREE EVENT. CAR CLUBS SET UP TENTS AND FEATURED DELICIOUS FOODS LIKE: BRISQUIT, HOT LINK SANDWICHES AND OTHER TASTY ITEMS.

(JANEY GUERRERO, NEW CELESTIA KNIGHTS ODESSA, TEXAS CAR CLUB MEMBER)

JANEY GUERRERO, WHO ATTENDED THE CAR CLUB PICNIC IS NEW MEMBER OF HER FAMILY’S CAR CLUB, KNOWN AS THE CELESTIAL KNIGHTS.

(JANEY GUERRERO, NEW CELESTIA KNIGHTS, ODESSA, TEXAS CAR CLUB MEMBER)

THE CINCO DE MAYO CAR CLUB GET-TOGETHER BEGAN IN 1972. THIS EVENT IS ALSO IN MEMORY OF FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BROWN BARETTS AND CIVIC RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS OF THE 7O’S.

(NICK HERNANDEZ, TASTE OF LATIN CAR CLUB/SUPER TEJANO CAR SHOW)

CINCO DE MAYO IS CELEBRATED AMONG THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEFEATE OF FRENCH FORCES BY THE MEXICAN ARMY AT THE BATTLE OF PUEBLA ON MAY 5, 1862.

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

MIDLAND, TEXAS/APRIL 30, 2021-MIDLAND CRIME STOPPERS HELD THE 9^TH ANNUAL CAMPUS CRIME STOPPERS POSTER CONTEST AT THE BOWIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY. THIS CRIME STOPPERS EVENT HONORS AND RECOGNIZES STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE POSTER CONTEST IN SEVERAL SCHOOL GRADE LEVELS.

(ANGIE VALENZUELA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-MIDLAND CRIME STOPPERS-MIDLAND, TEXAS)

THE CRIME STOPPERS POSTER CONTEST AWARDED HONORABLE METIONS, AND CASH PRIZES WERE AWARDED FOR THE BEST POSTER IN TWO CATEGORIES.

(ANGIE VALENZUELA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-MIDLAND CRIME STOPPERS-MIDLAND, TEXAS)

THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMPUS CRIME STOPPER POSTER CONTEST IS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO SHARE THE MIDLAND CRIME STOPPERS HOTLINE NUMBER, AND THE MOBILE APP.

(ANGIE VALENZUELA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-MIDLAND CRIME STOPPERS-MIDLAND, TEXAS)

THE CAMPUS CRIME STOPPERS POSTERS ARE JUDGED BY A MIDLAND CRIME STOPPER BOAD MEMBER, MISD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MIDLAND CRIME STOPPERS, ANGIE VALENZUELA.

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

ODESSA, TEXAS/APRIL 27, 2021-UNITED SUPERMARKETS AND MARKET STREET DONATED 42 HUNDRED POUNDS OF APPLES TO THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK IN ODESSA. UNITED SUPERMARKETS CELEBRATED ITS 11^TH YEAR BY CONTIUING THE COMPANY’S COMMITMENT TO THE TAKE A BITE OUT OF HUNGER PROGRAM.

(RICKY HOLMAN, MIDLAND/ODESSA REGIONAL PRODUCE SUPERVISOR-UNITED SUPERMARKETS)

UNITED FAMILY STORES IS A ORIGINAL PARTNER OF FIRST FRUITS MARKETING OF WASHINGTON, WHICH WAS CREATED TO FEED THE UNDERSERVED AND BY BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

(RICKY HOLMAN, MIDLAND/ODESSA REGIONAL PRODUCE SUPERVISOR-UNITED SUPERMARKETS)

THE APPLE DONATION FROM THE FIRST FRUITS MARKETING OF WASHINGTON AND UNITED SUPERMARKETS HELPS THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK PROVIDED HEALTHIER CHOICES TO THOSE FAMILIES IN NEED.

(CRAIG STOKER, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DIRECTOR, WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK)

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA