🌱 Fatal Single-Car Crash + Ring Of Fire Visible In Odessa And Midland

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through the most important things happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Some sun; becoming windier. High: 73 Low: 55.
• Thursday: Windy; mostly sunny, a shower. High: 77 Low: 33.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Odessa-Midland who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top stories today in Odessa-Midland:

1. Outside of Midland last Thursday, 19-year-old Gomez-Hernandez passed away in a single-car accident where he went off the road and his vehicle rolled multiple times in a field. The accident occurred south of County Road 1040 where Gomez-Hernandez reportedly lost control of his Chrystler due to driving at excessive speeds. Gomez-Hernandez was ejected from his car and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigations are still ongoing into the incident as officials try to determine if the driver was impaired in any way during the accident. (Nationwide Report)
2. The Odessa Police Department has made two arrests that appear to be connected to a Mar. 3 report of an aggravated robbery. This incident stemmed from something called "bank hugging" which is when suspects follow a victim after they conduct a bank transaction and then proceed to rob them. Officers set up cameras around several local banks and were able to track down the suspects during a similar incident. Frederick Lamont Pierson and Dairus Russell of Houston were arrested, charged with multiple crimes, and transported to the Ector County Law Enforcement Center. (KOSA)
3. Odessa and Midland are in perfect placement to see the annual solar eclipse known as the "ring of fire." The ring of fire is when the moon blocks out nearly the entire sun at the furthest point from the Earth and leaves just the image of a burning ring for those watching. This will be seen on Oct. 14 of this year according to NASA right before a total solar eclipse takes place on Apr. 8, 2024, which will also be viewable in the state of Texas. (Subscription: Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Odessa-Midland Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Odessa-Midland Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Odessa-Midland:

Wednesday, March 15

• Book Babies Storytime At Centennial Library (10:30 AM)
• Toddler Tales Storytime At Centennial Library (11:30 AM)
• Digital Literacy And Learning Workshops, Mobile Device Basics At Library At The Plaza (5:00 PM)

Thursday, March 16

• Toddler Tales Storytime At Downtown Library (11:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Odessa Animal Shelter will be having a shot clinic on Saturday, Apr. 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The shots are coming individually and packaged. The clinic is cash-only for the shots! (Odessa Police Department via Facebook)
• Come out Saturday, Mar. 18 at 6:00 p.m. for First Responders Night which is offering free admission for all first responders and their families. You can see some of the police department's specialized units and take pictures with the officers! (Odessa Police Department via Facebook)
• Did you know that there are four types of multiple sclerosis (MS)? Midland Health wants to educate the public as part of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. Recognizing the different types of MS will go a long way in understanding the condition as well as helping those with the condition. (City of Midland Public Information via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— 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.