City of Odessa Ends Funding to Downtown Odessa, Inc-Returns as an Independent Nonprofit Corporation

Odessa, Texas/March 18, 2024-Odessa, Texas/March 18, 2024-During a recent meeting of the Odessa City Council, City Manager John Beckmeyer presented a resolution to the council to cut the funding and support to Downtown Odessa, Inc. and removing the organization from the City of Odessa. 

(John Beckmeyer, City Manager-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Downtown Odessa, Inc was originally called Main Street Odessa, a non-profit Corporation that presented 

events downtown that included the summer bash 4th of July center piece Firecracker Fandango. The organization is currently located inside Municiple Plaza. A previous Odessa City Council Administration brought the non-profit corporation to the City of Odessa as a department. It is unknown if Downtown Odessa, Inc., will be able to remain at Municiple Plaza. 

(John Beckmeyer, City Manager-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Several longtime Odessa residents that included a Downtown Odessa, Inc Board 

member and a Downtown Odessa business owner voiced their support of Downtown Odessa, Inc as a City department. 

(Resident) 

(Business Owner) 

(Board Member) 

There is a Task Force made up of several City of Odessa department heads that include the Communications Director are now looking at unessential programs within the Odessa Police Department. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

 

 

 

Medical Center Health System Diabetes Clinic for Sub Low Income Residents

Odessa, Texas/January 5, 2024-Medical Center Health System, The City of Odessa and Texas Tech Health Science Center Permian Basin recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the MCH Center for Primary Care located on East 42nd Street in Odessa. The Clinic will provide Diabetes information and treatment for sub low-income residents within the 19 counties Medical Center Hospital serves. 

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

Mayor Javier Joven and the Odessa City Council provided $500,000 dollars in funding from ARPA Funds and challenges the business community and other entities help fund the Medical Center Hospital Foundation 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Medical Center Hospital will provide the staffing, meds and clinic infrastructure. Texas Tech Health Science Center will provide the medical staff. 

(Rama Chemitidanti-Regional Chair, Internal Medicine-Director of Center of Excellence Diabetes and Endocrinology-Texas Tech Health Science Center/Permian Basin) 

The Diabetes MCH Clinic is scheduled to open towards the end of February, sooner if possible. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.  

Work for a Cause Not Applause Community Event-Praise and Worship Christmas Concert

Odessa, Texas/December 23, 2023-Mayor Javier Joven and the City of Odessa recently held an event called WORK FOR A CAUSE, NOT APPLAUSE. Residents came out to the former Hollywood Theatre location inside Music City Mall to meet Officers with the Odessa Police Department and Odessa Fire Rescue. Several non-profit and faith-based non-profit organizations were part of the event, providing information of community services offered. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

A praise and worship Christmas concert was also held near the Carousel area of Music City Mall. 

(Jake Sanchez, Musician-Event Organizer/Work for a Cause, Not Applause Event-Music City Mall/Odessa, Texas) 

Kids and families enjoyed hot coco and received freebees and goodies in celebration of the Christmas Season. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

City of Odessa and Project One-Eleven Held Fentanyl Awareness for Parents

Odessa, Texas/October 31, 2023-The City of Odessa and Project 1:11 hosted a Fentanyl Awareness for parents at Woodson Park in South Odessa. Parents brought their children in costumes to the Halloween themed event. 

(Denise Swanner, Councilmember At-Large-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Fire Rescue and Odessa Police Department brought emergency vehicles and the SWAT team assault vehicles and hardware. Information was handed out to parents on the dangers of Fentanyl. 

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

NARCAN, which is used to neutralize an overdose of a controlled substance, is available over the counter. 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. 

City of Odessa Parks and Recreation Department Host Fall Festival 2023

Odessa, Texas/October 22, 2023-The City of Odessa Parks and Recreation Department hosted the annual Fall Festival at Mckinny Park. The fun family event featured food trucks, games, jumpers and Fire Trucks and Police Vehicles from Odessa Fire Rescue and Odessa PD. as well as a concert by Tall City. 

(Meagan Mendenhall, Special Events and Recreation Coordinator-Parks and Recreation Department/Odessa, Texas) 

Kids and parents dressed up in costumes and enjoyed the unofficial kick-off to the fall season celebrating Halloween and the Holiday Season. 

((Meagan Mendenhall, Special Events and Recreation Coordinator-Parks and Recreation Department/Odessa, Texas) 

Follow the City of Odessa website and Facebook for upcoming family fun events for the remainder of 2023 and for the New Year 2024. 

 For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.   

City of Odessa Held Special Memorial Wall Ceremony

Odessa, Texas/October 13, 2023-The City of Odessa held a special ceremony in the east parking lot of City Hall to honor those employees who have served the City of Odessa. A past Mayor and City Council administration that included then Councilman Javier Joven came up with the idea to create a memorial wall to honor those city employees that have since passed away. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

Families of employees that served the City of Odessa came to the ceremony as far as Houston. Mayor Javier Joven plans to continue the tradition of a remembrance ceremony.  

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Fire Rescue Chief Jason Cotton has a personal connection to the Memorial Wall. 

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

The City of Odessa Memorial Wall is located on the front east corner of City Hall near the main entrance. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.