🌱 Ector County Teacher Found After A Month + Deadly Single-Car Crash

Hey, friends. It's Wednesday in Odessa-Midland and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Partly sunny and windy. High: 88 Low: 66.
• Thursday: Windy with clouds and sun. High: 88 Low: 66.

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Here are the top three stories in Odessa-Midland today:

1. After being missing for an entire month, Ector County ISD Middle School Teacher Brittany Sawyer has been found safe. Sawyer went missing on Apr. 28 after leaving school early and sending a text to her supervisor two days in a row stating that she would not be at work for the remainder of the week and the following week, the independent school district conducted a welfare check to find an empty home. She was officially named a missing person by the police department on May 10. No information has been released on where Sawyer was or what happened in her month of being missing. (San Angelo LIVE!)
2. DPS Troopers responded to a single-car crash just south of Odessa that resulted in one man dying and one being hospitalized on May 26. The accident happened on Loop 338 and it has been concluded that the Chevrolet Impala swerved off the west side of the road and into a fence for some reason that has yet to be determined. Driver 51-year-old Luis Carlos Lujan-Gameros of Odessa was pronounced dead at the scene, while the unidentified passenger of the vehicle was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital for treatment. (San Angelo LIVE!)
3. Midland High School had its graduation last Friday, and the day was especially special for a former football player who walked while battling cancer. LeBrian Perez played football for his first three years of high school, making varsity as a sophomore. During his senior year, he had an injury that was later diagnosed to be leukemia and brought his football career to an abrupt end. Although he wasn't able to receive a football scholarship, he does intend to pursue a nursing degree at Lubbock Christian University and continue his recovery and life, never giving up. (CBS 7)

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Today and tomorrow in Odessa-Midland:

Wednesday, May 31

• Walk-In Reiki Energy Cleanses At Earth, Body, & Soul Midland, TX (12:00 PM)
• Bookmobile At Freeland Park Midland, TX (2:00 PM)
• Live Music with Kacey Greathouse At Venezia Restaurant (6:00 PM)

Thursday, June 1

• Special Guest Storytime At Centennial Library Midland, TX (11:00 AM)
• Animal Adventures CAMP At The Little Gym Of Midland (1:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Earlier this week, the Midland Fire Department held a brief water and CPR training course at the Doug Russell Aquatic Center with the summer season officially upon the city. It is important to have these skills up-to-date so the department's firefighters are able to perform CPR and execute water rescue situations. (Midland TX Fire Department via Facebook)
• If you and a couple of your friends are looking for a fun way to stay active this summer, then you should look into the Adult Sand Volleyball Co-Ed League that is every Tuesday and Thursday night at Sherwood Park. The games are six against six, with at least two males and females on the team. The season runs from Jun. 6 through Jul. 27, so be sure to hurry up and get your team registered. (City of Odessa, TX via Facebook)
• The Midland Police Department wants to remind everyone to be more cautious in neighborhoods. School is officially out, which means more children will be out running and playing. It is important for parents to remind their children to be mindful and look both ways before going in the street to avoid pedestrian fatalities that can easily be avoided. (Midland Police Department via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.