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Odessa Chamber of Commerce Hosts 4th Annual National Civics Bee

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

This is DRB Media Communications. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted the Fourth Annual National Civics Bee. Danny Barrera has the story. 

Odessa, Texas/April 12, 2026-The Odessa Chamber of Commerce hosted the Fourth Annual National Civics Bee® on Saturday, April 11th at the Odessa College Wood Health Sciences Building. This event was open to all 6th, 7th, or 8th grade students in the area.  More than 180 students submitted an essay to “Identify a problem facing our community” 

(Renee Earls, President/CEO-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas) 

“The United States is about to celebrate our two hundred and fiftieth birthday, and these students today are really focusing on the very beginning. The civics aspect of our entire country and what our country was based on.” 

The National Civics Bee® is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

(Renee Earls, President/CEO-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas) 

“So, the students all submitted an essay on something in their community that they would like to fix. So, we have essays from drug abuse to child abuse to human trafficking, to the litter that we see around the community to water issues. Um, all types of very interesting topics that these students have some very good solutions for.” 

Twenty local middle school students will compete for the top prize, which is $1,000.   

(Renee Earls, President/CEO-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas) 

“So, of our twenty finalists, our top three students will go on to the state. Be in Austin in June. Uh, today’s first prize winner will walk away with one thousand dollars cash. And then our second, third, fourth, and fifth grader. Uh, fifth prize winners will also walk away with some cash. They’ll get some other prizes. So, you know, they’re tremendous winners to make it to today’s event.” 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

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

Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

Odessa Fire Rescue Annual Community Open House at Fire Station Six

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

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. Odessa Fire Rescue had their Open House event at Fire Station 6. Danny Barrera has the story. 

Odessa, Texas/April 12, 2026-Odessa Fire Rescue welcomed families to its annual Community Open House at Fire Station 6 on Saturday, April 11th. The event brought together children and their parents for a day of fun, learning, and community connection. Families had the opportunity to visit with a variety of local organizations, including the Odessa Family YMCA and Odessa Arts. Each group offered information about their programs and services while also handing out candy and engaging with children. 

(Jason Cotton, Fire Chief-Odessa Fire Rescue/City of Odessa, Texas) 

“Kind of just gives a better idea of, of everything that’s involved in offer. What we do and the entities we work with, the community partners we have and everything that we do with them.” 

The event provided a welcoming environment for residents to interact with first responders and community partners, while giving kids a chance to explore and enjoy a safe, family-friendly atmosphere. 

(Jason Cotton, Fire Chief-Odessa Fire Rescue/City of Odessa, Texas) 

“What we focus on. Mostly out here a lot is the kids, right? We’ve got a lot of things for kids to do, a lot of swag for the kids, an obstacle course that’s over there for the the kids to run through and, and just let the kids enjoy it. Enjoy a day at the park.” 

The annual event is typically held in October; however, this year the Odessa Fire Rescue Open House was moved to April to help kick off the spring and summer season. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

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

Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscdribe to our YouTube channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

 

 

Odessa Family YMCA New Playground

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

Odessa, Texas/April 11, 2026-The Odessa Family YMCA will soon unveil the all-inclusive Playground at Mike Neeley Park. Danny Barrera has the story. 

The Odessa Family YMCA has unveiled a new, modern playground designed with inclusion, safety, and fun in mind for all children. The upgraded space places a strong emphasis on accommodating children with disabilities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play, explore, and interact in a welcoming environment. 

(Royal McGregor, Public Relations and Communications Director -Odessa Family YMCA/Odessa, Texas) 

‘The playground had been in need of renovation for a while, and we wanted to build something that was going to be inclusive for for everybody, no matter if they were in a wheelchair or if they were able bodied, whatever it was. We wanted to make sure that everybody, um, in our new playground, um, had, um, the ability to play on it and to make something like that for the community is, is incredibly special.’ 

Funding for the new playground came from a combination of grants awarded by several organizations, along with generous donations from local businesses, community groups, and individual supporters who recognized the importance of creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging space for children of all abilities. 

(Royal McGregor, Public Relations and Communications Director-Odessa Family YMCA/Odessa, Texas) 

“Was two hundred and sixty-six thousand. A majority of the funding came from grants. The other part of the funding came from donations from businesses, private donations, everything like that. Um, last week we were at about twenty-two thousand that was left um, but we got a few donations in since then. So, um, I believe we’re somewhere under, under twenty right now.” 

“We do have the, uh, wheelchair, um, uh, merry go wall that has slots if you’re in a wheelchair. Um, we do have musical instruments, so we have drums and then a xylophone, and then we also have, uh, shaded seating areas. Um, there’s one here, here, and then there’s one, uh, behind the structure as well. And then the flooring is, um, uh, like a soft rubber. Um, it is springy. Um, so it’s easier on us kids if, um, they’re in a wheelchair or they’re running, let’s say they fall down. Um, but it’s easier, um, on them, uh, with, with that flooring.” 

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the playground inside Mike Neeley Park, located across from the YMCA, followed by the annual Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday, April 18th. 

(Royal McGregor, Public Relations and Communications Director-Odessa Family YMCA/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

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

Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

 

MCH celebrate donors in honor of National Donate Life Month

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

Odessa, Texas/April 9, 2026-This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. Medical Center Health System Hosted Donor Memorial Service at the Donor Memorial Gardens next to the Wheatley Stuart Medical Pavillion. Danny Barrera has the story. 

In recognition of National Donate Life Month, the Life Champion Committee at Medical Center Health System hosted its annual Donor Memorial Service. The ceremony honors both local community members and hospital employees who made the selfless decision to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. 

(Gracie Smith, Chest Pain Coordinator/Member of Life Champion Committee at Medical Center Health System) 

“We work really closely with Southwest Transplant Alliance, and they’re able to get us in touch with the family members of our donors. And having them here means everything. It was through their generous gift of saying yes to organ donation and allowing their loved one’s wishes to be fulfilled. Who had already signed up to be an organ donor. Um, to be so impactful and save so many lives.” 

Local and employee donors shared powerful personal stories about how organ donations have impacted their lives and the lives of their families. 

(Gracie Smith, Chest Pain Coordinator/Member of Life Champion Committee at Medical Center Health System) 

“Here in the unit in the ICU, we only get to see one side of it. We don’t get to see the full circle. We don’t get to see, um, you know, the recipients or learn more about how those family members meet the recipients, um, or get to create that bond with them. Um, you know, they’re, they get to share a special bond with, with a receiver of an organ from their own loved one and that, that loved one continues to live on. And that’s beautiful.” 

In 2025, there were 15 organ donors at Medical Center Hospital, resulting in 55 organs transplanted, and 20 tissue donors in 2025. 

(Kelli James, Representative-Southwest Transplant Alliance) 

“So as a transplant recipient, some people wait months; some people wait years for the transplant community. There’s a huge need out there, and they’re unfortunately about seventeen people who die every single day while they’re waiting for an organ transplant because there’s just not enough organ donors to go around. So really, just even by registering your decision, you’re giving hope. We hope that nothing happens anytime soon. But when that time comes and all lifesaving efforts have been exhausted, why not give that gift to somebody else?” 

The service ended with a powder cannon release in honor of those 2025 donors 

(Gracie Smith, Chest Pain Coordinator/Member of Life Champion Committee at Medical Center Health System) 

“Every year for the last four years, we set off a powder cannon for each organ donor that we have. Um, April is our windy month here in West Texas, so we all get painted a very beautiful blue and green. Blue and green are the colors for organ donation. So that’s why we use those two colors. Um, but we invited our family members to join in with our committee members this year to set off those powder cannons. And we were so grateful to Odessa Fire Rescue for being here as well.” 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

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

Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

 

City of Odessa & Ector County EAS-IPAWS Test

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

The Texas Division of Emergency Management requested that cities and counties across the state participate in a coordinated Emergency Alert System drill. Danny Barrera has the story.  

Odessa, Texas/April 5, 2026- On Thursday, April 2nd, the City of Odessa and Ector County joined agencies statewide in conducting the Emergency Alert System test. The drill was designed to ensure that communication systems are functioning properly and that critical alerts can be delivered quickly and effectively during emergencies. 

(Oscar Menchaca, Assistant Chief of Emergency Management-City of Odessa, Texas) 

“The EAS system. Basically, you had to either be by a radio and listening to the radio or watching your regular TV channels in order for you to get that message where the system that we’re using is called IPAWS, it’s integrated public alerting and warning system. It actually sends to all those things. So, you’ll get if you notice today you got a wireless emergency alert over your cell phone. Sometimes you may have received multiple of those. Then you also received or if you were watching TV, you may have noticed that. And then some radio stations also transmitted that warning message as well. And then there’s a possibility of also distributing that message over Non-weather emergency radio as well.” 

The goal of the local Emergency Management authorities for the City of Odessa and Ector County is to reduce the time it takes to activate the Emergency Alert System and deliver critical information to the community.  

(Esperanza Gochicoa, Emergency Management Coordinator-Ector County, Texas) 

“One of the reasons why we really wanted to make sure this was working was the winter storm. That would have been very helpful. Um, you know, to send out alerts to our citizens about shelters and updates and how the weather was looking. Um, as well as last year’s pleasant farms, um, the microburst disaster, that was another one that we probably could have. Um, sent out an alert once we found out. So, knowing that, um, we can now provide those answers to our citizens, um, that’s, that’s what helps us rest assured that we’re doing what we can.” 

The system is web-based and can be activated quickly from a cell phone, iPad, or laptop, allowing officials to respond faster during emergencies.  

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

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

Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching. 

 

Texas Mutual Awards $100K to Odessa College Safety Institute

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

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. Texas Mutual recently awarded $100 thousand dollars to Odessa College Safety Institute. Here’s the story. 

Odessa, Texas/April 4, 2026-Texas Mutual Insurance Company, the state’s leading provider of worker’s compensation insurance awarded a $100,000 grant to Odessa College to continue funding for the college’s safety institute, providing workplace safety courses for employers, employees and the general public. 

(Jose Torres, Regional Safety Services Manager-Texas Mutual Insurance Company) 

“This check is utilized by the college for a number of things, but more specifically their risk management institute. It’s to enhance their training capabilities for the public and local employers to be able to send their employees out to receive safety training and get them field ready. So, when they do step out, they’re aware of the exposures and hazards that they’ll see on a day-to-day basis.’ 

In 2025, the Texas Mutual grant has supported training for 920 students at Odessa College, including 442 participants in CPR certification, 220 students in early childhood safety, with additional students completing courses focused on workplace safety and energy industry practices. 

(Dean McCann-Odessa College) 

“I’ve trained over twenty-six different rescue companies that’s come here from California, Uh, Oklahoma, North Dakota with that word of mouth. They come in here, and the Texas Mutual Insurance grant helps to fund some of that training for these companies.” 

Over a 27-year period, Texas Mutual has awarded $1.2 million in safety education. The grants are one way Texas Mutual is delivering on its commitment to build a stronger, safer Texas. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

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

Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching.