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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues to make a difference for children across Ector County

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(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

THIS IS DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues to make a difference for children across Ector County, helping young readers build a strong foundation before they enter school. Danny Barrera has the story. 

Odessa, Texas/August 27, 2026-Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an important literacy program offered through the Ector County Library. Once children from birth to age five are enrolled, they receive a free, age-appropriate book delivered to them each month. The program is designed to help young children develop a love of reading and encourage early literacy skills. 

(Howard Marks, Library Director-Ector County Library/Odessa, Texas 

“Dolly Parton is putting out and her foundation are putting out these free materials zero to five. And she, from what we hear, is even putting out videos, thanking them and congratulating them on completing the program. And so, it’s a real it’s a real boon to West Texas. And, you know, it’s an honor to be part of this program, first of all. And second of all, what an opportunity for kids to get a head start and excel in literacy and reading and, and all these fundamentals that will help them greatly throughout life.” 

The plans Dolly Parton and the Dollywood Foundation put in place weren’t a single funding model, but a multi‑layered strategy designed to keep the program alive through partnerships, matching systems, and private philanthropy. 

(Celeste Potter, Executive Director-Education Foundation of Odessa) 

“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will continue there. The Dollywood Foundation has already reached out to all of the local affiliates and let us know the program is still continuing. She had plans in place after her passing, so the program is not going anywhere so long as we continue to have the funding. And right now, our funding looks really good. If we ever get into a position where funding is, we’re not so sure we will be reaching out to. The Ector County community to help us keep this program going.” 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is funded locally by the Education Foundation and Chevron, while the Ector County Library also received a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to help support the program. the program, giving them a strong foundation in reading and helping prepare them for kindergarten. 

(Celeste Potter, Executive Director-Education Foundation of Odessa) 

“I actually had a parent reach out to me. Her little boy was the very first child we had signed up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. He graduated in February and this year enrolled in kindergarten at Austin Elementary. And on his first day of school. Saying what he loves more than anything is to read. And she attributes that to the books that he received through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.” 

So far, approximately 1,500 children have graduated from the program, giving them a strong foundation in reading and helping prepare them for kindergarten and their educational journey ahead. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

Follow us on Facebook, X Formerly Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and visit DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS.TV. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

 

 

Odessa Arts Our Town Everywhere 100-Year Anniversary 2027

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(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. Odessa Arts has a new project for Odessa’s 100-year Anniversary in 2027. Danny Barrera has the story. 

(Jessenia Corco-Team Member-Odessa Arts/Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa, Texas/August 24, 2026-Odessa Arts has launched a new project in preparation for Odessa’s 100-year anniversary in 2027. The project, called “Our Town Everywhere,” will highlight the people, businesses and institutions that help make Odessa unique. 

(Jessenia Corco-Team Member-Odessa Arts/Odessa, Texas) 

As part of the project, Odessa Arts plans to visit various businesses and institutions throughout the community to create self-characters representing the people and organizations they encounter. These characters will eventually be featured in a special publication celebrating Odessa’s centennial. 

The project is designed to capture the spirit and personality of Odessa and the people who have helped shape the city over the years. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

Follow us on Facebook, X Formerly Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Visit DRB Media Communications Digital News. Tv.  I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching.  

Faith In Uniform Inaugural Event Honoring Veterans and First Responders

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(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor- DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

This is DRB Media Communications. Crossroads Fellowship Church hosted its first Faith in Uniform community event. Danny Barrera has the story. 

Odessa, Texas/August 17, 2026-Crossroads Fellowship Church held its inaugural Faith in Uniforms event, honoring veterans, local law enforcement officers and first responders. Families came out to enjoy an afternoon of music, free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks. Children also enjoyed jumpers, volleyball and other fun activities. 

(Steven Ramirez, Investigator-Midland County Sheriff’s Office/Group Leader-” Faith In Uniform”) 

“It’s a way to get back to the community for the ones who, who, uh, who backed us and supported us. So, we’re here to give back to the community and just kind of, uh, have, have everybody get together from all the permanent bases. This event is for active and retired military and first responders. So, you’re going to have everybody from, uh, Air Force, military, retired, active; they’re all walking around here. Um, and it’s just a way just, just to say thank you for their service as well.” 

Faith In Uniform is a veteran and first responder Christian-based support group at Crossroads Fellowship Church. The group provides support to veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD, depression and other challenges that can arise following military service or as a result of the demands of their jobs. 

(Trey Hammond, Discipleship of Groups at Crossroads Fellowship Church/Odessa, Texas) 

“As a church we are. For the basin is one of our mantras. It’s our our desire to to reach out to the basin area, uh, to be able to serve our community with different types of outreaches. And this is one of those where we can reach families that are involved in our first responders, you know, military, retired, veteran, active duty, uh, just a chance for us to serve.” 

To find out more about FAITH IN UNIFORM contact Crossroads Fellowship Church.  

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor- DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

Follow us on Facebook, X Formerly Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS.TV. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watchingl. 

Faith In Uniform will have a Special Event Honoring Veterans and First Responders at Crossroads Church

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(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. Faith In Uniform will be having a special event Saturday, August 15th at Crossroads Church. Sgt. Luis Godina with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has the details. 

(Sgt. Luis Godina, Investigator-Martin County Sheriff’s Office/Group Leader “Faith In Uniform-Crossroads Church) 

Odessa, Texas/August 12, 2026- “So, the purpose behind this event is getting together with the family of all retired and active military first responders, and to kind of just have a outing. You know, we have free food jumpers and kind of like meet and greet everybody to bring that community together that hasn’t really been there. It’s open to the entire community because there might be, you know, a neighbor that someone might not know about the event that they can invite or a family member, you know, that they could bring along as well. And it’s also for the family of the military, first responders, you know, kids, wives, grandparents, parents, you know, everyone just to kind of go and enjoy that Saturday. We do have a faith in uniform event once a month. It’s usually every third Thursday of the month. And we meet there at crossroads. We meet from about six thirty to eight thirty, and we do have a guest speakers every single month. And it’s a different topic every single month. So, some topics you might correlate with and other topics you might not, but it’d be great to have plenty of people go and maybe you see a certain topic that you’re very interested in, and you would like to hear different personalities approaching different, you know, items, the way that they approach it.” 

(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

Follow us on Facebook, X Formerly Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS.TV. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

Ector County ISD New 2026-27 School Year Begins-Adela & Gilbert Vasquez Middle School

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(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. For most ECISD Students, today, August 11th, was the first day of school. Danny Barrera has the story. 

Odessa, Texas-West Ector County/August 11, 2026-Students from Pre-K 3 through sixth grade, along with ninth-grade students, began their first day of school. 

(Keeley Boyer, Superintendent of Schools-Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

“Kids are happy, kids are coming and smiling, but they’re sixth graders and sixth graders are nervous on the first day of school. But lots of happy kids today. Staff was also out here greeting kids and families. And so, it’s just a great day for our kids here at Vasquez.” 

The new Adela and Gilbert Vasquez Middle School in West Odessa has opened its doors to students living in West Ector County. The new campus provides students and families in the growing area with a modern educational facility designed to support learning and academic success. 

(Laura Echeveria, Mother who has a son that attends Vasquez Middle School-Resident of West Odessa in West Ector County) 

“Esta escuela es una bendición para todos los del West porque teníamos que viajar hasta la Héctor y aparte que ya estaba muy sobrepoblada esta escuela, pues ahora aquí nos queda bien cerquita, ya no tenemos que viajar hasta allá y los niños van a convivir con niños de su vecindario porque son los del área. Allá la Héctor Pues si van niños más de otros, de otros lugares.” 

The new middle school was named in honor of Adela and Gilbert Vasquez, who both attended schools in the Ector County ISD district before returning to the district as educators. Their dedication to education and service to the community is now being recognized through the school that bears their names. 

(Gilbert Vasquez, the husband of the Late Adela Vasquez-Middle School Named in honor of Adela and Gilbert Vasquez) 

“I feel very humbled and very honored. And I’m going to speak on behalf of Adela, who’s up in heaven. Um, I never would have thought that this day would come, that she and I would have been honored by the educational community of Odessa, Texas. Ector County Independent School District to name a facility after her and myself. Um, I’ve been told by some people that they did it because of the seventy-nine years of combined service that we gave to students and staff in Ector County ISD. But the feelings that I’m feeling in my heart right now is just just humbled and honored.” 

Representatives of the Ector County ISD School Board and Odessa City Councilman At-Large Craig Stoker were at Adela and Gilbert Vasquez Middle School to welcome and greet students on their first day of school. 

(Tammy Hawkins, School Board Representative-Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

“The teamwork that we have with now with the county. And, you know, Craig Stoker came today from the city. So, we are blessed that the entire community has been a part of this project because, you know, our future is sitting in these classrooms. And so, we’re honored to be a part of this.” 

Adela and Gilbert Vasquez Middle School will have about 75 teachers and 90 staff. Middle school expects around 1100 students.  

(Raquel Rodriguez, Principal, Adela and Gilbert Vazquez Middle School-Ector County ISD) 

“The classrooms are huge. They are very big. They are very spacious. Um, they’re off in their own section, which makes a lot of sense. The bathrooms are very central to each grade level hub. Um, there’s a teacher’s workroom at every grade level hub. Teachers have access to the printer. They have access to the bathroom. They have access to anything that they need. Work wise is right there for them in each grade level hub. You’ll also find the counselor for the grade level, the AP for the grade level, and the attendance clerk. So everybody is very, um, very easily accessible by the grade level.” 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

Follow us on Facebook, X Formerly Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit DRB Media Communications Digital News.TV. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for  watching. 

 

Odessa Police Department’s 7th Annual Back To School Block Party at the Ector County Coliseum

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(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. The Odessa Police Department held their 7th Annual Back to School Block Party at the Ector County Coliseum. Danny Barrera has the story. 

Odessa, Texas/August 10, 2026-Local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community vendors came together to provide school supplies, giveaways, and other goodies to families as they prepare for the first day of school. The event gave families an opportunity to get much-needed school supplies while enjoying a fun community gathering before the new school year begins. 

(Officer Destiny Jones, Community Relations Officer-Odessa Police Department/Odessa, Texas) 

“So, our main goal for this entire event is to really relieve that financial burden from parents having to buy school supplies and also set the kids up for success. So, they’re prepared and have what they need. So, they just have to worry about learning. They don’t have to worry about anything else. Um, and then secondly, we also have this so we can build relationships with the community. So, we can build that trust, um, with the kiddos and also have a little one last little fun event before they have to go back to school.” 

The Odessa Police Department provided 500 backpacks, while the Ector County Sheriff’s Office contributed another 300 backpacks, all filled with school supplies to help local students prepare for the upcoming school year. 

(Elina Woods, Grandmother-Attendee/Odessa PD Annual Back to School Block Party) 

“This is a very important and, um, to have this type of events, uh, with all the community coming together, the churches, uh, the police department, the fire department, all the, the military, the swap canines. And, um, I’m very grateful. Even, uh, one of the ladies prayed over me and, uh, over the, uh, for, for my family and the children.” 

Sewell Family of Companies was the title sponsor of the 7th Annual Odessa Polce Department’s Back to School Block Party, as well as providing all the raffle prizes that were given away during the event. 

(Officer Destiny Jones, Community Relations Officer-Odessa Police Department/Odessa, Texas) 

“So, Ford family of companies sponsored this entire event. They are a sole sponsor for this event, as we really want to thank them for everything that they’ve done. They’ve provided everything here, the raffle prizes that you see, the school supplies, backpacks, this, this wouldn’t be we wouldn’t be able to do this without their support.” 

The Back-to-School Block Party featured various Law Enforcement vehicles and Canine demonstrations and Odessa Fire Rescue giveaways. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News) 

Follow us on Facebook, X Formerly Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS.TV. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching.