Author: Danny Barrera

ODESSA, TEXAS/APRIL 22, 2021-XTO ENERGY, A SUBSIDIARY OF EXXON-MOBIL, ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANDREWS ISD, ODESSA COLLEGE AND SUL ROSS UNIVERSITY TO HELP ADDRESS THE SEVERE TEACHER SHORTAGE IN THE PERMIAN BASIN.

(COURTNEY WARDLAW, XTO ENERGY-PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVISOR)

THE NEW TEACHERS’ ACADEMY WILL ALLOW ANDREWS ISD STUDENTS TO EARN AN ASSCOCIATES DEGREE THROUGH ODESSA COLLEGE WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN SCHOOL.

(JONATHAN FUENTES, EXECUTIVE DEAN OF ACADEMICS-ODESSA COLLEGE)

THE TEACHERS’ ACADEMY IS A FAST-TRACK SOLUTION FOR STUDENTS TO EARN THEIR DEGREE AND TEACHING CERTIFICATE WITH IN 12 TO 24 MONTH, THANKS TO THE FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM BY XTO ENERGY.

(COURTNEY WARDLAW, XTO ENERGY-PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVISOR)THE PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT THE STUDENT BY PROVIDING REIMBURSED TUITION COSTS FOR ALL PASSED COURSES; STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO EARN THEIR ASSOCIATE OR THEIR BACHELOR’S DEGREE, STUDENTS CAN REMAIN IN ANDREWS, AND ELIMINATE ADDED EXPENSES OF ROOM AND BOARD.

(KOBIN SCOTT, STUDENT-TEACHERS’ ACADEMY

(CHELSEA VALENZUELA SENIOR STUDENT-ANDREWS ISD)

THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE THE MUCH-NEEDED TEACHERS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN BY GRADUATING 8 TO 10 STUDENTS EACH YEAR.

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

MIDLAND, TEXAS/APRIL 21, 2021-THE CITY OF MIDLAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES HELD A GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 20^TH, AT THE CITY’S RECLAMATION FACILITY. THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE 2013.

(MAYOR PATRICK PAYTON, CITY OF MIDLAND, TEXAS)

THE RECLAMATION FACILITY WILL ENABLE PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES TO USE APPROXIMATELY 250 THOUSAND GALLONS OF INFLUENT WATER DAILY.

(RICH DEALY, PRESIDENT/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER-PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES)

PIONEER HAS OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES THAT SURROUND THE CITY OF MIDLAND, AND THE COMPANY’S WORKFORCE ARE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE AND RAISE FAMILIES IN THE CITY.

(RICH DEALY, PRESIDENT/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER-PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES)

MAYOR PATRICK PAYTON SAID THAT PIONEER IS LEADING THE WAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDLAND TO SHOW THAT THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY CAN BENEFIT FROM RECYLED WATER RATHER THAN USING OUR PRECIOUS RESOURSE OF FRESH WATER.

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE TEXAS RANGERS-TRAILER/PROMO FOR ESPISODE 1

MIDLAND, TEXAS/APRIL 17, 2021-THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK AND KEEP MIDLAND BEAUTIFUL PARTNERED FOR THE THIRD YEAR TO HOST EARTH DAY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 17^TH. FAMILIES FROM MIDLAND AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES CAME OUT TO SEE THE MANY DIFFERENT DISPLAYS AND INFORMATION RELATED TO EARTH DAY.

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

VISIOTORS AT THE EVENT WERE INTRODUCED TO THE VARIOUS NON-PROFITS LOCATED IN MIDLAND.

KIDS, MOM & DAD LEARNED ABOUT RECYLING, HOW TO PROTECT HONEYBEES, DEMONSTRATIONS ON PLANTING AND GROWING TOMATOES.

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

KEEP MIDLAND BEAUTIFUL PROVIDED INFORMATION AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON PLANTING, WATER AWARENESS AND OTHER INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES.

(DOREEN WOMACK-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK)

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

ODESSA, TEXAS/APRIL 17, 2021-THE ODESSA FAMILY YMCA HELD ITS ANNUAL HEALTHY KIDS DAY EVENT. THIS HEALTHY KIDS DAY EVENT THROUGH Y NATIONAL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE TO ENJOY FRESH AIR AND TO KICK-OFF SUMMER.

(DESIREA BRITO, MARKETING DIRECTOR-ODESSA FAMILY YMCA)

DESPITE THE COLD WEATHER FAMILIES ENTHUSIASTICALLY CAME OUT TO MIKE NEELY PARK, AND EMJOYED THE JUMPERS, GAMES, MASCOTS AND THE PERMIAN DRUM CORP. 35 AGENCIES NON-PROFIT TO BUSINESS PROVIDED INFORMATION OF SERVICES TO FAMILIES AT THE HEALTHY KIDS EVENT.

(DESIREA BRITO, MARKETING DIRECTOR-ODESSA FAMILY YMCA)

THE FAMILY YMCA OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR KIDS THIS SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

(DESIREA BRITO, MARKETING DIRECTOR-ODESSA FAMILY YMCA)

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

ODESSA, TEXAS/APRIL 14, 2021-ODESSA ARTS HOSTED ARTS AFTER HOURS AT PROTEUS HAIR SALON LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN ODESSA. THIS QUARTERLY AFTER HOURS EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER “THE ARTS” COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP, SUCH AS THE ELLEN NOEL MUSEUM, THE PERMIAN PLAYHOUSE, THE MIDLAND-ODESSA SYMPHONY AND OTHER ART ORGAINZATIONS TO DISCUSS PROJECTS IN A RELAXED SOCIAL SETTING.

(RANDY HAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-ODESSA ARTS)

THE ARTS AFTER HOURS AT PROTEUS FEATURED WEST TEXAS PHOTOGRAPHER, RICHARD ACOSTA. ACOSTA’S PHOTOGRAPHY IS A COLLECTION OF THE NIGHT SKY, LANDSCAPES, AND WIDE VARIETY OF EXTERIOR LOCATION SHOTS.

(RICHARD ACOSTA, WEST TEXAS PHOTOGRAPHER)

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CAUSED THE CANCELLATION AND SHUTDOWN OF THE ARTS AFTER HOURS EVENTS. COVID-19 NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN, AND RESIDENTS ARE BEING VACCINATED, ALLOWING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND MUNINCIPALITIES TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES AND SOCIAL EVENTS.

(RANDY HAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-ODESSA ARTS)

THE HOT SUMMER NIGHTS CONCERT SERIES WILL KICK-OFF JUNE 4^TH, AND ON OCTOBER 28, ODESSA ARTS PRESENTS AUTHOR/HUMORIST DAVID SEDARIS.

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA