Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a Midland–Odessa band is putting West Texas on the map

And on the Odessa Patch calendar - Winter solstice candle make & take

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Good morning Odessa! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a Midland–Odessa band is putting West Texas on the map
  • How a quiet Midland project could safeguard your family’s paper trail
  • How two Midland teachers just raised the bar for local classrooms

Also on today's calendar: Winter solstice candle make & take.

Find out what's happening in Odessa-Midlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Odessa-Midlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Colder; breezy in the morning, with a high of 42 and low of 37 degrees.
  • Monday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 60, low: 38.
  • Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 71 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Treaty Oak Revival brings West Texas to the national stage with new album (firstalert7.com) — A rising West Texas band with roots in the Midland–Odessa area is taking their hometown stories to a national audience with their new album, “West Texas Degenerate.” Packed with local nods, including Ector County references and familiar landmarks, the record channels the band’s struggles, sacrifices, and pride in representing real West Texans far beyond the Permian Basin.
   

2. Midland County's Records Preservation Project (firstalert7.com) — From right here in Odessa, KOSA highlights a major effort next door in Midland County to digitize about 30,000 historic courthouse records so they’re preserved and searchable online. The project, led by County Clerk Alison Haley, protects fragile documents dating back to the 1800s, helping families, property owners, attorneys, and historians access Midland’s past without digging through dusty files.
   

3. Midland ISD teachers earn National Board Certification (star-telegram.com) — Two Midland ISD teachers have earned prestigious National Board Certification, a rigorous credential that often leads to better student outcomes and higher pay. Their achievement, supported in part by the Permian Strategic Partnership, aligns with regional efforts to grow and retain top educators. Odessa readers may recognize the story from the Odessa American, which first published it.
   

4. Selena Quintanilla's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., dies at 86 (firstalert7.com) — Reported from Odessa, the death of Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father and former manager of Tejano icon Selena, marks the loss of a major figure in Latin music history. Colleagues who worked with him and the Quintanilla family remember his dedication and the key role he played in guiding Selena’s groundbreaking career.
   

5. The 12 Best Football Movies We've Ever Seen (moviemaker.com) — One of the films highlighted here, “Friday Night Lights,” is rooted in the real high school football culture of Odessa capturing both the pride and pressure locals know well. The broader list runs through classic football movies, from emotional true stories to goofy comedies, offering ideas for what to watch when there’s no live game on TV.
   

📸 Around Odessa

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Odessa

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • LOST FERRET PLEASE HELP
    Our boy sonic got out of our back gate while we were cleaning. He is sick and has to be taking medicine twice a day. He’s also my daughter’s baby. If… (Nextdoor Kenwood Estates)
  • Someone’s very old girl is wondering on meadow in Odessa.
    She has a collar but no tags. She can hardly walk, and has a few tumors. I can’t take her with me, but don’t want to leave her. Is anyone missing… (Nextdoor Permian East)
  • Take the next step & join our amazing team! We are currently looking for: Solid Waste Driver Utilities Field Crew Leader Journeyman Plumber Building... (X: CityofOdessa)
  • A huge turnout — and even Santa made an appearance — at the annual Holiday Open House Party hosted by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. The festive... (X: CityofOdessa)
  • Burlington Coat Factory Corporation posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Odessa. Apply here.
  • Sonic Corporation posted a job opening for Crew Member in Odessa. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Odessa here.

Ok Odessa! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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