Green & Pink Ribbon Ceremony for Flash Flood Victims at Memorial Gardens Park

Odessa, Texas/July 13, 2025-Residents of Odessa, Odessa Police Department, Ector County, and Pastors came to Memorial Gardens Park on Friday Evening to join other families in a special remembrance ceremony honoring the victims of the Texas Hill Country Flash Flood, also taking the lives of OPD Officer Bailey Martin, Jayda Floyd an Ector County Juvenile Probation Officer and girlfriend to Officer Martin. 

(Debi Hays, Former Ector County Judge) 

The flash flood impacted various communities in the Texas Hill Country along the Guadalupe River and affected the lives of residents in Odessa, Midland, Andrews and other Permian Basin Families. 

(Debi Hays, Former Ector County Judge) 

Annabelle Coultress was preparing to join friends at Camp Mystic this week. She joined the 70 plus people at Memorial Gardens Park to tie green and pink ribbons around trees located throughout the duck pond. 

(Donna Kelm, Ector County Republican Party, Chair) 

(Annabelle Coultress, Camp Mystic Camper) 

Ector County Law Enforcement and Official will be escorting the body of Jayda Floyd to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 15th. For DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, I’m Janet Michaels. 

 

Ector County ISD Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New CTE Center

Odessa, Texas/June 17, 2025-Hello social media friends, I’m David Gomez for DRB Media Communications Digital News. Ector County ISD officially held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new CTE Building. Jennifer Sanchez has the story. 

ECISD leaders hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning, June 17th. Voters approved the November 2023 Bond for the new Career & Technical Education Center. Located in southeast Odessa. 

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

Partnerships with local industry and the Permian Strategic Partnership who donate 10 million dollars to the CTE program will be a key aspect of the ECISD-CTE Campus to prepare students for high-wages in-demand careers in the Permian Basin. 

(Tracee Bentley, President/CEO-Permian Strategic Partnership/Midland-Odessa, Texas) 

Ector County ISD leadership believes that the new CTE Building will develop a stronger workforce in the Permian Basin. 

(Becky Galvan, Registered Nurse-CTE Instructor/Ector County ISD/Odessa, Texas) 

Several programs will be provided at the new ECISD-Career and Technical Educational Center focusing on the workforce needs of the Permian Basin such as welding. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Jennifer Sanchez. 

Follow DRB media Communications Digital News on Facebook, X formally Twitter, Instagram. Subscribe to our channel on YouTube, and on our website at DRB media communications digital news.tv. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, I’m David Gomez 

Bustin 4 Badges Check Presentation to Odessa, Ector County and Midland Law Enforcement

Midland, Texas/June11, 2025-Law enforcement Officers with the City and County of Midland, the Odessa Police Department and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office along with the Bustin 4 Badges Board handed out checks to all four-law enforcement agencies. 

The Bustin 4 Badges Clay Shoot event sponsored by Exxon Mobil was held during the month of April in Martin County. Over 600 shooters attended and participated in the fundraiser. 

(Jimmy Young, Executive Vice President-Bustin4Badges/Midland-Odessa, Texas) 

All four of the local law enforcement agencies received one thousand and fifty thousand dollars. These funds help supplement the needs each department has. 

(Leith Hall, Lt. Over Administration-Midland County Sheriff’s Office-Midland, Texas) 

(Greg Snow, Chief of Police-Midland Police Department-Midland, Texas) 

Each local law enforcement agency uses its acquired funds from the Bustin for Badges fundraiser. This includes bullet proof vests and tactical gear. 

(Micheal Gerke, Chief of Police-Odessa Police Department-Odessa, Texas) 

Midland Mayor Lori Blong explains the importance of the Bustin for Badges fundraising program and how it benefits the citizens of Midland and the Police Department. 

(Lori Blong, Mayor-City of Midland, Texas) 

The Bustin for Badges program has raised 4 to 5 million dollars over last 12 years. For DRB Media Communications Digital News, I’m Daniel Franco. 

City of Odessa Introduces David A Vela, the new City Manager to Employees and Staff

Odessa, Texas/June 2, 2025-The City of Odessa held a special press conference to formally introduce David Vela the new city manager to employees and staff and to the citizens and residents of Odessa. The Odessa City Council under the leadership of Mayor Cal Henrick, voted unanimously for David Vela for the city manager position. 

(David Vela, City Manager-City of Odessa/Texas) 

David Vela has a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and is finalizing his Doctorate studies related to government, with the discipline study on local government. 

(David Vela, City Manager-City of Odessa/Texas 

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick along with members of the City Council are excited and hopeful for a new and better direction for Odessa. 

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

David Vela started day one as city manager visiting departments and staff and acquainting himself with city of Odessa protocols. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

Farewell Reception in Honor of Richard Morton, Interim Odessa City Manager

Odessa, Texas/May 30, 2025-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa held a farewell event for interim City Manager, Richard Morton at Ajuua’s Mexican Food Restuarant. City of Odessa staff including members of the city council, Eddie Mitchell, District 1, Greg Connell, District 4 and Gilbert Vasquez of District 3 attended the special event. Representatives with Hispanic Heritage of Odessa say that Richard Morton had a major impact on reshaping city government and building relationships with the Hispanic community. 

(Liliana Marquez, President-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

Richard Morton had been in Odessa for about 20 years and served as City Manager from 2002 to 2017. In early 2025 the new Odessa City Council asked for his help in finding a qualified city manager. 

(Richard Morton, Interim City Manager-City of Odessa/Texas) 

David Vela is now the new Odessa City Manager and will begin his duties on Monday, June 2nd.