DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS (111221)-OPD INVESTIGATION SHOOTING 900 BLK W 40TH STREET

Odessa, Texas/November 11, 2021-On November 11th, the Odessa Police Department responded to the 900 block of W 40th Street in reference to multiple 911 calls Thursday night. Upon arrival, officers found two people deceased from gunshot injuries.

No identifications are being released. OPD Detectives, Crime Scene Unit, and the Texas Rangers are conducting the investigation.

The investigation is on going.

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News.

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS (111121)-ANNUAL VETERANS’ DAY FLAG RAISING CEREMONY AT OC

Odessa, Texas/November 11, 2021-On Thursday morning, November 11th Odessa College employees and students gathered to honor veterans and observe the annual Veterans’ Day Flag Raising Ceremony.

Odessa College board of trustees member Bruce Shearer was honored with a plaque during the ceremony in recognition of his service to the nation, Odessa College and to the Odessa community.

(Gloria Rangel, Veterans Affairs Coordinator, Odessa College)

The Odessa Police Department Honor Guard performed the flag raising ceremony infront of the Saulsbury Campus Center.

(NAT SND)

Veterans who want to attend Odessa College can get in touch with the Veterans Affairs Department at the college to get information on what benefits are available to them.

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera

 

 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(111021)-MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT GRADUATION 2021

MIDLAND, TEXAS/NOVEMBER 10, 2021-THE MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG GOURT HELD THE THIRD SESSION OF THE 2021 ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT GRADUATION ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH. THE MIDLAND DRUG COURT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 BY MIDLAND COUNTY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH CRIMES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

(ELIZABETH RAINEY, JUDGE-MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT)

THE ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT IS A 14 MONTH MINIMUM PROGRAM FOCUSING ON HIGH-RISK HIGH-NEED SUBSTANCE ADDICTED OFFENDERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY FAILED A TYPICAL PROBATION AND FOCUSES ON REHABILITATION.

(ELIZABETH RAINEY, JUDGE-MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT)

CRYSTAL OCHOA, A GRADUATE OF THE ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT, BEGAN USING HARD DRUGS, STEALING VEHICLES AND OTHER CRIMES,  HAD BEEN ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A SPECIFIC YEAR. IT WAS WHILE IN JAIL SHE HEARD OF THE ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT PROGRAM

(CRYSTAL OCHOA, ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT GRADUATE/SPEAKER)

CRYSTAL OCHOA’S SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION FROM THE MIDLAND COUNTY DRUG COURT HAS GIVEN HER HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

(CRYSTAL OCHOA, ADULT FELONY DRUG COURT GRADUATE/ SPEAKER)

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(110721)-ANNUAL PERMIAN BASIN ROAD SAFETY COALITION EVENT 2021

Midland, Texas/November 7, 2021-The Permian Basin Road Safety Coalition hosted the annual PRSC Stand Down for Road Safety. The event was held at the Barbara and George H.W. Bush Convention Center, and featured educational and inspirational speakers focused on improving road safety.

(Tyson Dever, Motivational Speaker)

The Odessa District of TxDot was at the Permian Basin Road Safety Coalition with END THE STREAK TEXAS, a campaign to end the streak of fatalities on Texas roads and highways.

(Gene Powell, Public Information Officer, TxDot-Odessa, Texas Region)

Several participants at the Permian Basin Road Safety Coalition were affected by distracted drivers. The Kailee Mills Foundation was started after 16 year-old Kailee Mills took her seatbelt off for a moment and lost her life in a vehicle accident.

(Briana McCulloch, Executive Director-Kailee Mills Foundation)

Janie Villanueva, who lost her son to a drunk driver has been part of the NATE Non-Profit Organization with Tara Dawn Crossland, who also lost her son Nathanel Silvas to a drunk driver on south highway 385 in Ector County about three and a half years ago. Tragically, Tara Dawn Crossland died in a vehicle crash on September 14th, 2021 at south JBS Parkway in Ector County.

(Janie Villanueva, NATE Non-Profit Organization)

Students from Andrews High School in Andrews, Texas competed with 7 other high schools in Safe 2 Save, a competition to bring awareness of distractive driving to high school students through the Safe 2 Save app and a student produced public service video, that was funded by SHELL and Permian Road Safety Coalition.

(Briana Lopez, Senior- Andrews High School, Andrews, Texas)

(Ashton Hernandez, Senior- Andrews High School, Andrews, Texas)

(Haley Renteria, Junior-Andrews High School, Andrews, Texas)

The Safe 2 Save is an app that can be downloaded to your device. This app rewards users for not teching and driving, and is a fun way to earn points, get free food and discounts at participating stores.

(Marci Corry, Founder/CEO Safe 2 Save)

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera

 

 

 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(110621-PAUL GARZA FORMER CEO ODESSA HISPANIC CHAMBER ARRESTED

Odessa, Texas/November 5, 2021-Paul Garza former CEO of the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was arrested earlier this afternoon without incident.

According to the affidavit, Garza was charged with unauthorized transaction for the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Transactions were made over a period of 6 months for an estimated total of approximately 52 thousand dollars. Theft of Property, 2nd Degree Felony.

Paul Garza was booked at the Ector County Law Enforcement Center.

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DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(110321)OPD UNVEILS THE NEW ODESSA POLICE TRAINING CENTER

Odessa, Texas/November 3, 2021-The Odessa Police Department unveiled the new Odessa Police Training Facility located directly behind the police station. This newly repurposed facility was the original Odessa Central Fire Station.

(Police Chief Michael Gereke, Odessa Police Department-Odessa, Texas)

The conversion from the old central fire station to the new Odessa Police Department Training center took approximately 8 to 9 years to complete. Early on, a segment of the building was constructed as a multiple OPD specialty vehicles storage facility.

(Police Chief Michael Gereke, Odessa Police Department-Odessa, Texas)

The Odessa Police Department Training Center has offices, various classrooms for continuous training and the VirTra, a virtual reality training simulator for veteran police officers and recruits attending the Odessa Police Academy.

(Lieutenant Caleb Lacey, Odessa Police Department-Odessa, Texas)

TAG: The Odessa Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony, prior to a tour of the center. The Odessa Police Department Training Center will be available to law enforcement agencies from surrounding counties and municipalities for high end police training.

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.