🌱 Man Dies In Car Crash + Mural Fest + Sexual Assault Cover-Up Trial

Hey, Odessa-Midland. I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Sunny; becoming windier, warm. High: 90 Low: 60.
• Thursday: Plenty of sun. High: 85 Low: 53.

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? 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 three stories today in Odessa-Midland:

1. A man died in a car crash at 42nd and Tanglewood in Odessa on Friday, Apr. 14. According to Odessa Police, 21-year-old Zachary Rosier was driving a Tesla on 42nd when the driver of the GMC Acadia turned onto Tanglewood going south from 42nd. The cars crashed and the Tesla hit a traffic signal pole. Rosier was taken to Medical Center Hospital and died from his injuries. The driver of the GMC was treated on the scene. (KOSA)
2. The selected artists for Odessa Arts' MuralFest have been announced. 152 artists applied for the mural commissions and four of the best — Nekoda Witsken, Dan Thompson, Maxilie Martel, and Jeremy Flores — have been selected to bring their talents to Odessa. The work for the murals is set to begin the week of May 7. Additionally, 17 artists will be installing designs on 12 traffic boxes and five donated pianos downtown. (Subscription: Odessa American)
3. The trial for the Midland Trinity School administrator's sexual assault coverup is underway. Four administrators — Shelby Hammer, Todd Freese, Chrystal Myers, and Adrianne Clifton — have been accused of attempting to cover up a sexual assault and are now on trial in Midland, according to court documents. Jury selection began Monday, Apr. 16. In Feb. 2022, the four were arrested after officers with the Midland Police Department learned that a child under the age of 14 had been sexually assaulted. Later in their investigation, police discovered that the four administrators attempted to get the victim's family to sign a covenant not to sue. Witnesses in the trial will include police officers and other school administrators. (San Angelo LIVE!)

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, April 19

• Bookmobile At Freeland Park (2:00 PM)
• Mental Health Matters with Angela McCree of Aspiring Wellness At Ector County Library, Third Floor Rotary Room (5:30 PM)

Thursday, April 20

• STEAM Program: Exploration Station At Centennial Library (4:30 PM)
• Bookmobile At Ulmer Park (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Odessa Police Department attended the Harmony Home's "Party in the Parking Lot." The department was able to interact with visitors of the event and officers were able to show off a little bit of what they do in the community. (Odessa Police Department via Facebook)
• The City of Midland has announced the 2023 lineup for their Movies in the Parks Series! This summer, they will show a total of seven movies, with the first being DC League of Super Pets on May 19. (City of Midland - Public Information)
• The Midland Fire Department is excited to announce the promotion of four personnel at the central station. Jeff Dickson was promoted to Battalion Chief. Lance White, Roberto Sanchez, and Bryce Langdon were all promoted to Captains. (Midland TX Fire Department via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be back in your inbox soon with a new 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.