Odessa City Council Vote in Favor of Not Enforcing Imposed National or State of Texas Covid Mandates

The Kent Companies Celebrate the 89th Convenience Store with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Odessa, Texas/August 29, 2023-The Kent Companies celebrated their 89th Kent Kwik convenience store located at West 8th Street and West Loop 338 in Odessa with a ribbon-cutting ceremony presented by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. The West 8th Street convenience store is the new model for future Kent Kwik stores. 

(Meredith Bright, Director of Corporate Communications-The Kent Companies/Midland, Texas) 

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, The Kent Companies presented a check in the amount of 85 thousand dollars to Buckner, an international ministry that protects vulnerable children, strengthening families, transforming lives for generations, and serving senior adults through Christ-centered values. 

(Patricia Acosta, Executive Director-BUCKNER-Midland, Texas) 

The Kent Companies have a goal of bringing restaurant quality food to all Kent locations. The plan is to be consistent by developing a dining experience for the 

Customer when they come into a Kent Kwik convenience store. 

(Mike Scafuri, Senior Field Coach/Oversees Food Service Division-The Kent Companies/Midland, Texas) 

The Kent Companies supports local merchandisers by providing space for their products and promotional items. 

  (Bill Kent, Chairman/CEO-The Kent Companies/Midland, Texas) 

Al Escamilla of RIG-ID located in Midland is growing his business at many of the Kent Kwik convenience stores by providing a wide variety of caps for sale. 

(Al Escamilla, Owner/President-RIG-ID Workwear/Midland, Texas)  

The new Kent Kwik convenience store at West 8th and West Loop 338 is a one-stop convenience store providing a mini truck stop and diesel fuel for all types of large commercial vehicles and a large self-service gas station. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Odessa City Council Introduces New City Manager

Odessa, Texas/August 17, 2023-Mayor Javier Joven and members of the Odessa City Council formally introduced in council chambers, John Beckmeyer as the new City Manager. 

(John Beckmeyer, New City Manager, Odessa, Texas) 

Mr. Beckmeyer has been working as city manager for a little over a week and has been visiting the city of Odessa departments and department heads and employees. The new city manager refers to all staff as “Team Members” 

(John Beckmeyer, New City Manager, Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa City Councilman, District 1, Mark Matta is very pleased with the selection of John Beckmeyer as the new city manager. 

(Mark Matta, City Councilman, District 1-City of Odessa/Texas) 

This past March the Odessa City Council and T2 Consulting held Benchmarks meetings to come up with requirements and expectations the council wanted in a city manager. A couple of the requirements: A bachelor’s degree in a related area or 3 to 5 years of experience as a department head or city manager. 

(Mark Matta, City Councilman, District 1-City of Odessa/Texas) 

John Beckmeyer, the new City Manager will be introduced to the public at the next scheduled Odessa City Council meeting. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

Ector County ISD Holds School Bond Proposal Town Hall Meeting at Travis Elementary

Odessa, Texas/August 4, 2023-Ector County ISD held a Town Hall meeting at Jordan Elementary in North Odessa and at Travis Elementary in South Odessa.  Residents heard a presentation by Scott Muri Superintend of Schools at ECISD on a $427 million dollar plus bond proposal. Chris Stanley, President of the Board of Trustees, Delma Abalos and other school officials also provided information on the needs of the school district. 

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

Scott Muri has heard from residents of Odessa and Ector County who are in favor of the bond proposal. The Permian Basin Strategic Partnership has agreed to add more funding if the bond proposal is passed. 

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

An issue that was brought up during the town hall meeting was the increase in property taxes. 

(Natividad Armendariz, Odessa Resident-Supports School Bond Proposal) 

Natividad Armendariz added that if the School Bond Proposal does not pass, residents will pay more in taxes on any future school bond proposals. 

(Natividad Armendariz, Odessa Resident-Supports School Bond Proposal) 

The more than $427 million dollar school bond proposal includes a new middle school, maintenance and repairs, transportation, fine arts, athletics, transition learning Center, Technology Department and Agriculture. The next town hall will be on August 7th at 6:00pm at West Elementary and Permian High School. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

Odessa Police Department’s Annual Block Party at Floyd Gwin Park

Odessa, Texas/August 4, 2023-Bring the kids and the entire family to the Odessa Police Department’s Annual Block Party, Saturday, August 5th from 10am to 2pm at Floyd Gwin Park located at 10th and North County Rd. West. 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. 

Westminster Presbyterian Church Food Box Distribution Event

 

Odessa, Texas/July 30, 2023-On Saturday, July 29th, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Odessa held its monthly food distribution event. Cars began lining up at 7:30am from the Church’s west parking lot around Tanglewood street. Westminster Presbyterian Church provides this service to those in need within the city and county. 

(John Wamsley, Pastor-Westminster Presbyterian Church/Odessa, Texas) 

The food distribution event is scheduled on the last Saturday of the month with the exception for Thanksgiving and Christmas, food boxes are given out prior to the holidays. The boxes are loaded up on Thursday prior to the event. 

(John Wamsley, Pastor-Westminster Presbyterian Church/Odessa, Texas) 

Westminster Presbyterian Church members and volunteers from across the community that included a former University president, educators and employees from the local school district came out to help with the food box distribution event. 

(Lesia Young, Volunteer-Westminster Presbyterian Church Food Box Distribution Event/Odessa, Texas) 

(Barbie Dunston, Volunteer-Westminster Presbyterian Church Food Box Distribution Event/Odessa, Texas) 

There is a registration form process that includes providing an ID and income status that can be taken while in the line. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.