Author: Danny Barrera

MIDLAND, TEXAS/NOVEMBER 24, 2020-THE MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL HELD A SPECIAL MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD ON ITEMS REGARDING A LOCAL MASK MANDATE AND ENFORCEMENT OF A MASK MANDATE. PRIOR TO THE SPECIAL MEETING, SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND OTHERS PROTESTED OUTSIDE OF MIDLAND CITY HALL AGAINST BUSINESSES POSTING NOTICES THAT “FACE COVERING MUST BE WORN” AND TO REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS TO WEAR FACE MASKS PROVIDING FOR A MAXIMUM PENALTY OR FINE OF $500 DOLLARS FOR A VIOLATION OF THE NOTICE POSTING REQUIREMENT. (JENNY CUDD, MIDLANDER/BUSINESS OWNER) (VASTI LOREDO, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER) THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOULTION APPROVING A GRANT OF FUNDS TO THE MIDLAND COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,376, 572.00 DOLLARS FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO COVID-19. (DR. LAWRENCE WILSON, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER/V.P. MEDICAL CARES-MIDLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL) SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP THEM DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS. ONE PERSON SPOKE AGAINST PROVIDING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS COMING IN TO MIDLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF MIDLAND AREA. (MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING) (DR. LAWRENCE WILSON, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER/V.P. MEDICAL CARES-MIDLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL) VARIOUS VERSIONS OF THE LOCAL MASK MANDATES AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE MANDATES BY THE MIDLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT FAILED. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WERE PLEASED THAT THE MANDATES DID NOT PASS. HOWEVER, OTHER ATTEMPS OF A MASK MANDATE BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL AT A FUTURE TIME. (MICHAEL TROST, MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL-AT LARGE) (JACK LADD, MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL-DISTRICT 3) (MAYOR PATRICK PAYTON, CITY OF MIDLAND, TEXAS) THE MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER REQUIRING INDIVIDUALS TO WEAR A FACE COVERING, AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS POSTING SIGNS STATING THAT WEARING A FACE COVERING IS REQUIRED WHEN INSIDE THE BUSINESS. (MAYOR PATRICK PAYTON, CITY OF MIDLAND, TEXAS) FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

ODESSA, TEXAS/NOVEMBER 27, 2020-ECTOR COUNTY ISD HAS PARTNERED WITH GERMBLASH TO HELP REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OF ILLNESSES AND INFECTIONS IN THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE DISTRICT. GERMBLAST WILL COMING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THREE TIMES A YEAR PROVIDING THIS IMPORTANT SERVICE AS WELL AS EDUCATING ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STAFF ON IMPLEMENTING A CHANGE IN BEHAVIORS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. (CHRISTY HAYNES) ALL THE DISENFECANTS USED BY GERMBLASH ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND ARE EPA APPROVED. THE DISINFECTANTS REDUCE CORONA VIRUS AND BACTERIAS ON SURFACES AS WELL AS MOLD AND MILDEW WITHIN THE CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL BUILDING. (CHRISTY HAYNES) ONCE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TREATED AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FACE COVERINGS ARE STILL NECESSARY. CHRISTY HAYNES) STUDENTS CAN LEARN PROPER HAND HYGENE TECHNIQUES THOUGH EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AND MATERIALS PROVIDED BY GERMBLAST. (CHRISTY HAYNES) THERE ARE THREE TO FOUR GERMBLAST TEAMS OF 2O TO 25 TECHNICIANS CURRENTLY WORKING FROM EARLY MORNING TO LATE NIGHT DISFENFECTING ECISD SCHOOL. FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION REGARING THE BRANDON SWEENY MURDER INVESTIGATION CONTACT ODESSA CRIME STOPPERS AT 432-333-TIPS. THIS IS DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS.

MIDLAND, TEXAS/NOVEMBER 22, 2020-THE MIDLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PARTICIPATED WITH THE MIDLAND SOUP KITCHEN MINISTRY TO HELP SERVE A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING LUNCH TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. SINGLES AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ENJOYED A TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING MEAL. (NANCY IVY, MANAGER/OWNER-MIDLAND SOUP KITCHEN) DURING THIS SPECIAL THANKSGIVING LUNCH, SHERIFF DAVID CRINER, DETECTIVES, INVESTIGATORS AND STAFF DONATED THEIR TIME TO SERVE ANDHELP BRING JOY TO THOSE THAT CAME TO THE SPECIAL LUNCH. (SHERIFF DAVID CRINER, MIDLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE) THOSE THAT ATTENDED THE SPECIAL THANKSGIVING EVENT, SAID THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE MIDLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS DURING THIS SPECIAL TIME. (EMILY RODRIGUEZ, MIDLAND RESIDENT) THE MIDLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE GAVE STUFFED ANIMALS TO CHILDREN THAT ATTENDED THE EVENT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND RECEIVED OTHER GOODIES. FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.

MIDLAND, TEXAS/NOVEMBER 22, 2020-ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK AND MIDLAND COLLEGE HELD A HOLIDAY OUTREACH FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE FOOD BANK AND MIDLAND COLLEGE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR ABOUT 6 TO 8 WEEKS. THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK IS DOING THE HOLIDAY OUTREACH IN SEVERAL COUNTIES WITHIN THE 19 COUNTIES THAT THE FOOD BANK SERVICES. (GREG CLARK, SENIOR MANAGER-WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK) COVID-19 AND THE DOWNTURN IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY HAS CAUSED FAMILIES AND THE ELDERY TO SEEK HELP FROM THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK. (GREG CLARK, SENIOR MANAGER-WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK) THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANKS PROVIED FAMILIES WITH VARIOUS PANTRY FOOD BOXES. FARMERS TO FAMILIES IS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO HELP FARMERS AND HELP PROVIDE FOOD TO NEEDY FAMILIES ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN THE PERMIAN BASIN/WEST TEXAS REGIONS. (GREG CLARK, SENIOR MANAGER-WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK IT WAS REVEALED TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER ANMINISTRATORS AT MIDLAND COLLEGE OF THE NEED FOR FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND THE SCHOOL. (WENDY KANE, DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE-MIDLAND COLLEGE) STUDENTS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF MIDLAND COLLEGE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO HELP THE WEST TEXAS FOOD BANK PLACE FOOD BOXES IN THE VEHICLES GOING THROUGH THE LINE. (WENDY KANE, DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE-MIDLAND COLLEGE) TAG: IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 500 FAMILIES PASSED THROUGH THE LINE TO PICK UP FOOD BOXES AND OTHER PERISHABLES ITEMS. FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA.