West Texas Food Bank Receives 4,860 Pounds of Apples from United Family of Supermarkets and Market Street

Odessa, Texas/April 26, 2024-On Wednesday, April 24th, United Supermarkets and Market Street donated 4,860 pounds of apple to the West Texas Food Bank. The donation is part of the “Take a Bite out of Hunger” program. 

(Kris Phillips, Store Director-Market Street-Odessa, Texas) 

The United Family and Market Street provide special packages of apples that is sold to store guest that go towards the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” program 

The United Family has partnered with FirstFruits for 14 years. The two companies have donated more than 600,000 pounds of apples and fed 167, 000 families. 

(Libby Stephens, Chief Executive Officer-West Texas Food Bank/Odessa-Midland, Texas) 

Emergency food boxes are distributed on Wednesdays at the West Texas Food Bank in Odessa, and on Thursdays at the West Texas Food Bank in Midland. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Respond to Hostage Situation at Sundance Creek Apartments

Midland, Texas/March 14, 2024-On Wednesday, March 13th, around 11pm Midland Police Department responded to a welfare check call at the Sundance Creek Apartments, located at 3700 Edwards Street off of East Wadley. When officers arrived, a male was barricaded inside an apartment with possibly two adult females and a minor child. 

(Brian Rackow, Deputy Chief/Field Operations Division-Midland Police Department/Midland, Texas) 

Sometime last night or during the early morning hours of Thursday, March 14th residents in Building 8 were asked to evacuate their apartments due to the disturbance. It is unknow how many Sundance Creek Apartment residents are currently displaced. 

(Brian Rackow, Deputy Chief-Midland Police Department/Midland, Texas) 

Several Law Enforcement Agencies that included the Odessa Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI assisted the Midland Police Department in hopes of diffusing the hostage situation and bring a favorable end to the situation. 

(Brian Rackow, Deputy Chief-Midland Police Department/Midland, Texas) 

It is unknow currently the motive of the alleged hostage situation. Family members as well as co-workers of the alleged hostage suspect had been assisting law enforcement to bring an end to the hostage situation. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

35th Annual Junior Leadership Odessa Program Hosted by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce

Odessa, Texas/January 28, 2024-Junior Leadership Odessa Program held the first day of the retreat hosted by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. Thirty-eight high school juniors from Odessa began lessons in leadership. 

(Jude Mendez, Junior-Holy Cross Catholic High School/Midland, Texas) 

Jude Mendez’s father participated as a high school student in the Junior Leadership Odessa Program. 

(Jude Mendez, Junior-Holy Cross Catholic High School/Midland, Texas) 

Junior High School students learn to engage in various activities to learn how to work together. Students will also be participating in field trips hosted by local law enforcement, first responders and representatives of the City of Odessa. 

(Wayne Finger, Human Resources-Saulsbury Industries/Odessa, Texas) 

The Junior Leadership Odessa Program is in its 35th year and is held at Odessa Regional Medical Center. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Hotel Santa Rita and Escamilla Media Host Preview of New Hotel coming to Downtown Midland

Midland, Texas/January 21, 2024-Hotel Santa Rita and Escamilla Media recently held a preview of the new 4 Star Hotel coming to downtown Midland and is locally financed by a group of investors and foundations, who love and understand the city of Midland. 

(Michael McWilliams, Hedloc Investment Company/Midland, Texas) 

The 4-star Hotel Santa Rita will have 135 rooms, a three-meal restaurant, a market cafe, and additional parking available to guests and visitors. 

(Michael McWilliams, Hedloc Investment Company/Midland, Texas) 

Hotel Santa Rita reflects the hard-working spirit of West Texas and will bring an increase of economic stability and prosperity to Midland. 

(Al Escamilla, President-Escamilla Media/Midland, Texas) 

For more information go to www.HotelSantaRitaMidland.com and @Hotelsantaritamidland on Instagram and Facebook for updates. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Midland ISD Presents Awards to Teachers Totaling $1 5 Million

Midland, Texas/May 23, 2022-During the final week of school, Midland ISD awarded 193 teachers at 33 MISD campuses a total of $1.5 million dollars as part of the Teacher Incentive Allotment. 

(Morgan Robertson, Principal-General Tommy Franks Elementary-MISD/Midland, Texas) 

The Teacher Incentive Allotment program has three levels: The Recognized, The Exemplary and The Master’s.  

(Morgan Robertson, Principal-General Tommy Franks Elementary-MISD/Midland, Texas ) 

Receiving this type award is a motivator for teachers to inspire their students to be better at achieving educational goals, while setting goals for themselves, the teacher as well. 

(Dakota Runnels, 3rd Grade Math/Science Teacher-General Tommy Franks Elementary/MISD-Midland, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera  

Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center Groundbreaking Ceremony at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center

Midland, Texas/April 30, 2023-On Friday, April 28th, The Texas Facilities Commission, Midland Health and Medical Center Health System along with Texas State Senator Kevin Sparks, District 31, Shelby Landgraf representing the office of State Representative Brooks Landgraf, District 81 and former State House Speaker-current State Representative Tom Craddick, District 82 joined members of the law enforcement community and invited guests to the groundbreaking ceremony of the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center. Due to poor weather conditions the special event was moved to the recital hall inside the Wagner-Noel Performing Arts Center. 

(Tom Craddick, Republican Texas State House of Representatives, District 82/Former Speaker of the Texas State House of Representatives) 

Project representatives appropriated $40 million in funding during a special State Legislative session in 2020. The additional funding will be raised from private donations from Midland and Odessa. Land for the project was donated by Diamondback Energy but will retain the mineral rights. The original cost of the project was more than $80 million due to rising construction costs. 

(Tom Craddick, Republican Texas State House of Representatives, District 82/Former Speaker of the Texas State House of Representatives) 

The Midland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office are the only agencies that provide mental health care to inmates. The Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center will be a much-needed facility to help law enforcement ease the burden on the costs of travel time and the safety of law enforcement officers having to transport inmate/patients out of the county to a mental health facility. 

(Mike Griffis, Sheriff-Ector County Sheriff’s Office/Odessa, Texas) 

The Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center is a mental health facility located between Midland and Odessa. The Center will provide inpatient and outpatient mental health services to individuals of all ages. 

(Russell Tippin, CEO/President-Medical Center Health System-Medical Center Hospital/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.