Odessa City Council Holds Special Staurday Work Session at the Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Odessa, Texas/January 12, 2025-On Saturday, January 11th, the Odessa City Council held a special work session at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and conference Center. Every
department within city government presented updates to the council. The
common issue is a shortage of workers and staff and a low PayScale and problems with building infrastructure.

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas)
The 2023 audit that has caused an issue for the City of Odessa was discussed during the work session. 

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas)
The City’s IT department during their presentation assured the Odessa City Council that the Cyber-attack was contained and the City of Odessa is secure.
(Richard Morton, Interim City Manager- City of Odessa, Texas)
 The City’s Utilities Director presented to the city council the water plant and other water issues currently affecting the city as well as projects that the city of Odessa is engaged in. 

(Craig Stoker, Odessa City Councilman At-Large-City of Odessa, Texas) 

The Odessa City Council may consider to continue Saturday 

work session to bring the residents and local government together. 

(Eddie Mitchell-Odessa City Councilman, District 1- City of Odessa, Texas) 

 For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Jesus House Providing Blankets And Other Cold Weather Items to Those That Need Them

Odessa, Texas/January 8, 2025-Jesus House in Odessa is now providing free blankets and other weather-related items to those in the community that need them during the cold winter months. 

(Jamie Gill, Properties Manager-Jesus House/Odessa, Texas) 

Business organization, Mom and Pop businesses and individual have donated blankets as well as monetary donations for thermal clothing, gently used coats, new socks and other items. 

(Jamie Gill, Properties Manager-Jesus House/Odessa, Texas) 

Follow Jesus House on Facebook for updates and other information. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Odessa Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Open House 2024

Odessa, Texas/December 13, 2024-The Odessa Chamber of Commerce held their annual Christmas Open House. Members of the chamber and guests took time out from busy schedules to enjoy the festive event. 

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

The Christmas Open House featured a wide variety of food cuisines from various local restaurants, Christmas music and other treats. 

(Shem Culpepper, Chairman-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick and City of Odessa Councilman At-Large Craig Stoker attended the Odessa Chamber of Commerce Christmas Open House that was filled with Christmas Spirit and hope for a better and prosperous Odessa. 

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

New City of Odessa Council Leaderships Holds November 26th Council Meeting

On Tuesday, November 26th the new leadership of the Odessa City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting. Several items were on the agenda that included a street reconstruction, the demolition and rebuild of the Odessa Police Departments parking garage and the appointment of Councilman At-Large Craig Stoker as Mayor Pro Tem. 

The council convened to an Executive Session to consider the termination of several contracts that are detrimental to the City of Odessa, especially the TGAA contract and others. 

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Contracts for the City Attorney and the City Secretary were re-negotiated to 1-year contracts. The Odessa City Council voted to void the $700,000 and components of the contract payout to former city manager John Beckmeyer. 

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

The Council voted to hire retired and former Odessa City Manager Richard Morton as Interim City Manager to help the new council navigate through issues that the previous administration may have created. 

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

(Richard Morton, Retired & Former City Manager-City of Odessa, Texas) 

A court hearing regarding the TRO connected to the Beckmeyer payout is scheduled for December 9th. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

 

 

Los Toxicos Cantina in Odessa Hosts Representative August Pfluger’s Morning Town Hall

Odessa, Texas/September 8, 2024-Los Toxicos Cantina in Odessa hosted United States Representative August Pfluger of the 11th District of Texas. City of Odessa officials, business owners and residents came to morning event. 

(August Pfluger, R-Tx-United States Representative, 11th District of Texas) 

Representative Pfluger talked to the crowd about oil and gas, emissions and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 

(August Pfluger, R-Tx-United States Representative, 11th District of Texas) 

In late August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott removed 1 million ineligible voters, noncitizens, undocumented immigrants and foreign nationals from the Texas voter rolls. 

(Brooks Landgraf, R-Texas-State Representative-District 81) 

Daniel Leyba, owner of Los Toxicos Cantina a news Hispanic owned business in Odessa, was the site for Representative August Pfluger’s morning Town Hall visit. 

(Daniel Leyba, Owner-Los Toxicos Cantina/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Scott Muri Retires as Ector County ISD Superintendent of Schools

Odessa, Texas/August 16, 2024-On Tuesday, August 13th, the Ector County ISD School Board held a special meeting to officially accept the retirement of Dr. Scott Muri, Superintendent of Schools at Ector County ISD during an executive session.  

(Delma Abalos, ECISD School Board Member-Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

Delma Abalos, ECISD School Board member hopes to find a new superintendent that will be an advocate for school district students as well as connecting with the local community like Dr. Scott Muri did in the five years as Superintendent of Schools. 

(Delma Abalos, ECISD School Board Member-Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

Dr. Scott Muri had started his 37th year in education and has decided to make a change in his career path. 

(Scott Muri, Superintendent of Schools-Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

During the executive session of the ECISD Special Meeting the school board voted to name Dr. Keeley Boyer, Chief of Schools as the Interim-Superintendent of Schools at ECISD. 

(Scott Muri, Superintendent of Schools-Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.