OLMW21

1 hometown living at its best

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4 odessa living magazine 12 24 C O N T 40 TRAVEL GUIDE This year take a drive to some surrounding towns and don’t be surprised if you feel a world away. 46 HOW BIG IS TEXAS? A Lifelong Quest to Explore the Lone Star State. 54 EXPRESS YOURSELF Eight-year-old, Kori Ryan, brings thought-provoking tales to the Boys and Girls Club. 12 PACKING A PRAYER Operation Christmas Child partners with local churches to share God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. 24 BUILDING UP DOWNTOWN Odessa natives, Sondra and Toby Eoff, fuel life back into downtown. 32 A CULTURE OF OPPORTUNITY In 2020 Ector County ISD implemented a new program, Opportunity Culture, that would ultimately affect all aspects of the district. g

5 hometown living at its best 64 E N T S 54 60 HOMETOWN KIDS’ CORNER This interactive section is perfect for kids and kids at heart! 64 THE TEXAS STATE PARK POLICE: 50 YEARS OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC AND THE LAND Over the past five decades, the Texas State Park Police have been on duty so people and the parks can thrive in each other’s company and built a long narrative of good memories. 22, 38 HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS 38

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8 odessa living magazine Odessa Living Magazine© is published semi-annually by hometownmedia.group 502 NMain Street PMB 116 | Weatherford, TX 76086 817.599.6167 | PROUDLY PRINTED IN THE USA All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice. WRITERS Avery Pullin Sarah Blevins Sabrina Forse Rebecca Sanchez CREATIVE | DESIGN Susan Avery, Lead Robin Harrison, CG2 CLIENT RELATIONS Lindsey Kruger content@hometown-living.com PUBLISHERS Matt &Heather Martin Casey & Trisha Perkins VP OF DIGITALMARKETING Tia Minzoni tia@hometown-living.com Freelancer Wanted! We are always in search for great local talent. If you would like to take pictures for Odessa Living or for any of our area markets please contact our office at 817.599.6167 or email us at content@hometown-living.com Publ i sher ’ s Note but when life happens it is important to remember to be thankful in each season (easier said than done, right?). But, instead of terrible two’s I love to say terrific two’s because it really is all about perspective. As my sweet Great Uncle Lefty has always said, “Be thankful for the season you are in...you never know, the next onemight be worse.” This was said in jest but really how often are we guilty of not being present and instead thinking, “I will be happy when {insert your future plan of contentment here}. . .once we move, my child is potty trained, the kids are out of college, I get a better job, we have a new President in office {so on and so forth}, then I will make more time or be content.” Instead, I challenge our readers (&myself) to be present and thankful in the now. Let’s go out and live today to the fullest for His kingdom instead of our own. After 12 years of featuring various articles across this great state of Texas, I see a trend of people who have gone through hard things and yet they chose to walk them out with courage and thanksgiving. Let’s go out today and follow their example! Thank you for reading Odessa Living, “Now listen you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there buy & sell & make a profit.” Why, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is life? It is a vapor that appears for a little time & then vanishes away. (17) Anyone then that knows the good he ought to do & doesn’t do it, sins.” - James 4:13-17 Matt, Heather, Gatlyn (10), Georgia Lee (6) & Guy David (2) Martin Heather Lundgren Martin Life is not always picture perfect...

9 hometown living at its best Who do I to when i f i nd myself i n a THE PAGE TO SEE !

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12 odessa living magazine Prayer PACK I NG A Written by SABRINA FORSE Photos provided by OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD AND CRYSTAL WILSON OPERATIONCHRISTMAS CHILDPARTNERSWITH LOCAL CHURCHES TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE INA TANGIBLEWAY TO CHILDREN INNEEDAROUNDTHEWORLD. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all.” Mark 6:15 ECUADOR: Jamyleth (right) who received a shoebox gift as a child enjoys helping a new generation of children discover God’s love for them through simple shoebox gifts. ABOVE RIGHT: Hayden, Audra, Evelyn, Crystal and SeanWilson

13 hometown living at its best Each year, hundreds of volunteers from the Permian Basin gather empty shoeboxes and fill them with toys, school supplies and hygiene products. The most important addition is a prayer. “Every shoebox is a gospel opportunity. We are giving these kids the chance to know Jesus and know that He loves them. Every child that receives a shoebox also receives (in their language) a booklet called, The Greatest Journey. These kids may be living inwar-tornor impoverishedareasand feel like there is no hope. Jesus can give themthat hopewhen they hear the good news about howmuch he loves themandwants to have a relationshipwith them,” said Crystal Wilson. Wilson is the Operation Christmas Child Area Coordinator for the Permian Basin. It’s a year-round volunteer effort that helps coordinate the collection of gift-filled shoeboxes for children all over the world. “Operation Christmas Child is a division of Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization that helps deliver these shoeboxes which are tangible expressions of God’s love.” Wilsonfirst startedvolunteering for the organization when she heard a presentation at church. “I was a stayat-home mom at the time with a two-year-old daughter. I thought it might be something fun for us to do.” EVERY SHOEBOX IS A GOSPEL OPPORTUNITY GIVING THESE KIDS THE CHANCE TO KNOW Jesus AND KNOWTHAT HE LOVES THEM.

14 odessa living magazine That initial holiday volunteer experience was eleven years ago. Since then, Wilson has had two more children andOperationChristmasChild isnowsomething theentire Wilson family enjoys participating in. “Life is busy when you have kids and not everyone is in a position to go on a mission trip. This is a great way for me to tell my kids, we can still do something right here in Odessa, Texas. We can go to the store and fill up a shoe box and send it across the worldand let a childknowthatwe love themand that Jesus loves them.” The Wilson children enjoy packing themed shoe boxes filledwith some of their own favorite things such as a Disney LightningMcQueen shoebox, a princess shoebox or one with all pink items inside. “Last year, we packed one-hundred shoeboxes as a family. We did about twenty or thirty a night. Our personal goal is to strive to pack a few more thanwe did the year before.” The Wilson’s attend Sherwood Baptist Church in Odessa where church members also gather each year for an Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing party. “It has been a wonderful way for our church family to come together and be unified in sharing the good news of Jesus. “LIFE IS BUSYWHEN YOU HAVE KIDS AND NOT EVERYONE IS IN A POSITION TO GO ON A MISSION TRIP. This is a great way for me to tell my kids, we can still do something right here in Odessa, Texas. WE CAN GO TO THE STORE AND FILL UP A SHOE BOX AND SEND IT ACROSS THE WORLD AND LET A CHILD KNOWTHATWE LOVE THEMAND THAT JESUS LOVES THEM.” EvelynWilson, National CollectionWeek 2020 - Crystal Wilson

15 hometown living at its best HaydenWilson Sherwood Baptist Packing Party 2019

16 odessa living magazine ABOVE: Permian Basin Area Team: Melissa Sosebee, Nicki Milliron, Crystal Wilson, Michelle Owens, Barbara Ferguson, David Willingham. BELOWLEFT: Sherwood Baptist Church Packing Party 2020 BELOWRIGHT: Audra and HaydenWilson

17 hometown living at its best The youth group gets involved and makes their own items. They’ve made fishing kits, sewing kits and first aid kits. It gets them to think globally. “In Odessa, it’s easy for us to take these things for granted. We can get a band-aid from a cabinet or go to the store for a notebook. It’s been a great way for our kids to realize that a lot of kids don’t have the luxuries we do.” Wilson suggests making the boxes personal. “The most important thing is the prayer that you can pray over a shoebox. The secondmost important is a personal letter. I have received several emails from those that received a shoebox. Last year, I received a letter from a young man who had received one of the home-made fishing kits that the youth group had made. He said, ‘It was like you were reading my mind. I really needed fishing stuff.’ It’s really cool to think that something as simple as a homemade fishing kit made such a big impact for this youngman.” AS VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN ARE BUILDING BOXES, they’re building memories and helping children ACROSS THEWORLD BUILD A RELATIONSHIPWITH JESUS. Youngmanwho received the fishing kit KIRIBATI: These island boys heard about the Good News of God’s love for themwhen they received shoebox gifts at Kiribati Uniting Church in Bairiki.

18 odessa living magazine Learn more about Operation Christmas Child, how to volunteer, and how to build a virtual shoebox online through Dec 31. samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child Drop off locations are made available in the Permian Basin every November. Last year, 12,943 shoeboxes were created in the Permian Basin and 620 of those were built online. Volunteersmandrop-off locations the thirdweekof November each year, but virtual boxes canbemade online throughDecember 31st of eachyear. “I’mamazedbypeople andtheirgenerosityeachyear. SoftSuds inMidlandcollects money when people go through getting their car washed and theyuse thatmoney tobuycontents for the shoeboxes. Oneof theoil companiesusedpacking shoeboxes as a team building exercise.” As volunteers across the Permian Basin are building boxes, they’re building memories and helping children across theworldbuildarelationshipwithJesus. “Operation Christmas Child has given our family great memories but what I love most are hearing the shoebox stories,” said Wilson. “There was one boywho had been praying that he would get a shoebox with a pair of shoes and he ended up getting one with shoes in his exact size. It’s moments like this that I can showmy own kids how amazing God is and how present He is in the tiny details. We see evidence of that in every shoebox.” † MONGOLIA: Boys and girls listen to a teacher of The Greatest Journey share a lesson from their student workbook.

19 hometown living at its best MEXICO: More than 12.5million children inMexico have received a shoebox gift as a tangible expression of God’s love. BOTSWANA: More than 1.1 million children in Botswana have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox since Samaritan’s Purse began delivering gifts there in 2001.

20 odessa living magazine MARRIOTT ODESSA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER 305 EAST 5TH STREET • ODESSA, TX 79765 • 432-580-5805 • MARRIOTT.COM/MAFMC THE FINEST DINING IN ODESSA Nightlife is happening at White Buffalo, our trendy hot spot offers signature cocktails, craft brews, and wine. Barrel and Derrick, our fullservice on-site restaurant, offers the very finest dining downtown. Come and sample our first class entrees in sophisticated setting with modern, locally inspired decor. Private dining rooms are available.

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22 odessa living magazine PermianBasinRainbowRooms collaborated this summer to coordinate efforts to supply children inCPS/foster carewith necessities to begin the school year. Local businesses, as always, were very supportive. Drop boxes were placed atWest Texas National Bank and SouthWest Bank locations for donations. American Momentum Bank del ivered a large donat ion and First Basin Credit Union presented a check after sponsoring a monetary drive. In Odessa, they welcomed donations fromMerle Norman and Vintage Deluxe, as well as First Baptist Church. Also, Antioch Christian Church volunteers prepared some drop boxes and the Downtown Lions gifted a vehicle full of supplies. In Midland, the Downtown Farmers Market and Nines Apparel also took donations. FedEx reached out, delivering several boxes after their on-site drive. Many individuals, of course, dropped items at the various locations. 15+ volunteers helped staff prepare 425+ backpacks with donated supplies. Midland and Odessa Rainbow Room board members are grateful for the continued support of a generous community! hometown | happenings Drive 2021 SCHOOL SUPPLY Jessi Willmann, Janis Smith, Evalina Jacobo, LyndseyWhite, Nanette Stapleton, Megan Fleming, and DeAnna Maldonado, along with Rainbow RoomCoordinator Jannine Seymour and FBCE Specialist Marci Leffler. Chelsie Porter picking up backpacks for her caseload

23 hometown living at its best FBCE Specialist Marci Leffler and Rainbow RoomCoordinator Jannine Seymour Joyce Medina with our drop box at SouthWest Bank

24 odessa living magazine BUILDING DOWNtown

25 hometown living at its best Downtown is typically thebirthplaceofmost cities and the history of Odessa, Texas is no different.Odessawasplattedin1886and300 acres of that original map are at the center of downtown. Whether you were going to work, church or to shop, downtown was the place to be. “The Ector Theatre was built in 1951 and downtown was really thriving then. During our childhood, I remember going to the movies there. We went to parades and most other family events downtown,” said Sondra Eoff. Like many other places, suburban sprawl extended city boundaries. “Odessa built its first mall in the 70’s and by the 90’s, the downtown area was on the downslide. It really stayedstagnant for quite some time,” saidTobyEoff. Thestagnantperiodhowever isnowover. TobyandSondra Eoffare leading the charge to change thenarrative and the ODESSA NATIVES, SONDRA AND TOBY EOFF, FUEL LIFE BACK INTODOWNTOWN. Written by SABRINA FORSE / Photos Provided by THE EOFF FAMILY AND HOMETOWN MEDIA GROUP skyline of downtown Odessa. “We had sold our business and were looking for something new to do. Not too many developers would take on this type of risk but we have always wanted to give back to Odessa. It’s where we both grewup andhave beenblessedby theOdessa community so this is our way to give back,” said Sondra. That risk was building a 150,000 square foot fullservice hotel in the heart of downtown Odessa. Located at 305 East 5th Street, the Odessa Marriott Hotel & ConferenceCenteropened inthe fall of 2019. “Thebuilding is themed after the style of Frank Lloyd Wright. We took an aerial photo of Odessa and if you look at the façade you may think it’s just randomsquares and rectangles but it’s actually the geography of the Permian Basin,” said Toby. “With the help of Odessa Arts, we held a national search for an artist to produce sculptures for the hotel.

26 odessa living magazine Wewantedsomething that representsnotonlyoil and gas but the other economic factors for Odessa,” said Toby. “Onesculpturerepresentsoil andgasat thebasebut, it also represents wind and atomic energy because it’s spinning an atom in the air. We also have a solar flower sculpture that powers the hotel’s Starbucks.” The hotel is connected to a 74,000 square foot convention center that was funded by a public/private partnershipwith the City of Odessa. That’s connected to a 365-car parking garage andanewly restoredEctorTheatre which is now the stage for live performances. “Some people look at the hotel and say you overbuilt for the neighborhood. Some saywhy did you build a hotel like that in the desert? I say, haven’t you ever been to Las VegasorDubai?Wewant tochangepeople’smindset about Odessa.Most of themoneymade inOdessa leavesOdessa. Webelieve inputting thatmoneyback intothecommunity and creating better lifestyles,” said Toby. For the Eoffs, downtown is the prime spot to create that lifestyle. “When you go to Austin, you can go to 6th Street and go from bar to bar or choose from several restaurants and shops. The hotel, the Ector and the HERE INODESSA, OUR VISION IS TOHAVE PEOPLE COME DOWNTOWN, WALK AROUND, AND LISTENTOMUSIC, “

Starbucks are all on 5th Street. We’d love 5th Street in Odessa to become like the 6th Street of Austin,” said Sondra. “6th Street wasn’t always popular. It was once in a blighted area of town, but someone had a vision to change that. Here in Odessa, our vision is to have people come downtown, walk around, and listen to music, see art, grab a drink, eat at a restaurant, visit with friends and just enjoy their community.” Sondra also serves on the Board of Directors for Downtown Odessa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown. “We’ve done a lot of research on metro areas that have renovated their downtowns like Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Pensacola, Florida. We met a man in Pensacola who had sold a business just like us. Quint Studer and his wife put a new store inadowntown.Most everything around them SEE ART, GRAB A DRINK, EAT AT A RESTAURANT, VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND JUST ENJOY THEIR COMMUNITY.” Sondra Eoff 27 hometown living at its best

28 odessa living magazine was vacant but, they got involved and now there are 200 plus businesses in their downtown. It’s been nice to have himas our mentor,” said Toby. New businesses are already moving to downtown Odessa. There’s a Torchy’s, El SinaloenseMarisco and Bar and the Side Bar and Grill. The Downtown Odessa Board assists with grants for businesses that want to revamp their facades. “We also try to mentor to new businesses as they come inandhelp themworkwithcontractors and permitting,” said Sondra. The Eoffs are also planning to renovate another building and turn it into amicro-mall, “Sondra and Iwant to help those businesses get started. We’d like to be angel investors; support them, guide them and mentor them. In five years however, we’d like them to become 100% independent and be able tomentor and invest in another business owner.” The idea of businesses supporting businesses also translates to citizens supporting the community where they live. “I love the people of Odessa. Some may be transplants from other cities that have had to move here but end up loving it and never want to leave. I love our strong, hardworking community,” said Sondra. The vision for downtown continues to be a work in progress but, it’s one that’s actively moving forward thanks to new businesses investing in the heart of the city. “Activity in downtown has definitely picked up. We built a suite in the hotel and live there and we get a good pictureof 5thstreet.We see a lot of peoplewalking around downtown nowand that wasn’t the case a couple of years ago,” said Toby. “We choose to live in Odessa because its home and every business we ever ran had Odessa in the name. It’s a proud legacy to represent Odessa.” † I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF ODESSA. SOME MAY BE TRANSPLANTS FROMOTHER CITIES THAT HAVE HAD TO MOVE HERE BUT END UP LOVING IT AND NEVER WANT TO LEAVE. I LOVE OUR STRONG, HARDWORKING COMMUNITY. “ ” Sondra Eoff

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Written by Avery Pullin Photos provided by Ector County ISD OPPORTUNITY A Culture of IN 2020 ECTOR COUNTY ISD IMPLEMENTED A NEW PROGRAM, OPPORTUNITY CULTURE, THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY AFFECT ALL ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT. IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR ECISD AND the community of Odessa. 32 odessa living magazine

33 hometown living at its best WhenDr. ScottMuriwas hiredbyEctor County ISD, it wasn’t just his knowledge of student learning he brought with him. He also knew howtodevelop teachers. One vital tool he implementedat ECISDwas a new initiative: Opportunity Culture. Though grants were given to kickstart Opportunity Culture, it is nowa fully sustainable, self-fundedprogram that allows thedistrict toutilize theirbest teachers to train other teachers on their team. These teachers, known as multi-classroom leaders (MCLs), go through a rigorous interviewprocess bothwith the district andwith campus administration. They must show their knowledge of teaching students, coaching colleagues, and analyzing data. “With the teacher shortagewe’veexperienced inWest Texas,” says Executive Director of Talent Development AshleyOsborne, “weneededtothinkdifferentlyabouthow to get people in the classroom, and howwe keep them in the classroom.” ForOsborne andmany at ECISD, one clear answer is Opportunity Culture. To encourage teachers to pursue this role and spread their knowledge around the campus, ECISD offers a $15,000+stipendforMCLs. Theyarealsopairedwitheither a Reach Associate or Teacher Resident who aides in their classroomwhen an MCL is working in other classrooms with other teachers. Reach Associates are paraprofessionals with at least 2 years of college who not only help theMCL but work in “When One Teaches, Two Learn” -Robert Heinlein Sheila Wilson at Ross Elementary is teaching a small group of students.

34 odessa living magazine multiple classrooms pulling small groups of students or aiding the teacher in a particular area during that lesson. SomeReachAssociates evenfind their niche ineducation and ultimately choose to pursue a 4-year degree and become a certified teacher. Teacher Residents come from UTPB and spend the entire school year inan internship.While theydo get paid for the internship, it is likely thehands-onexperiencewith a master teacher that benefits residents the most. After the year in their internship, many Teacher Residents find work inthedistrict, evenmore specificallyonthecampus, where they interned. ThefundingforOpportunityCulturerolescomesfrom unfilledvacancies or other unused funding oncampuses, making themodel sustainable and self-funded. And inan effort to work with instead of against Midland ISD (who alsoimplementedthismodel in2020),Osbornehasworked closelywiththeneighboringdistrict toalignprogramsand incentives.Midland ISD’sDirectorofOpportunityCulture , Chris Hightower, says of working with Osborne and her team, “The camaraderie I’ve had with Ashley and Jessie hasbeen incrediblyvaluable.We learnsomuch fromeach other’spursuitsandacknowledgetheeffortsandsuccesses on both sides. If we help one another, everybodywins.” Osborne adds to this, “My department and Chris worked together so well. We implemented bi-monthly touchbases.We sawaneedbetweenour twodistricts to support one another.” Making Progress While teacher retention and recruitment are vital to the district, Opportunity Culture extends beyond these factors. In anECISDsurvey, Osborne and teamfound that team teachers feel more supported byMCLs than they OPPORTUNITY A Culture of “We learn so much from each other’s pursuits and acknowledge the efforts and successes on both sides. If we help one another, everybody wins.” DIRECTOR OF OPPORTUNITY CULTURE CHRIS HIGHTOWER Dana is anMCL at Ross Elementary. In this picture she is working with a student.

35 hometown living at its best Lennie is an MCL at Dowling Elementary. In this picture is her assigned Teacher Resident as well as a team teacher. They are planning.

36 odessa living magazine OPPORTUNITY A Culture of

38 odessa living magazine Every year over 80 volunteers help with the Community Christmas Tree presented by Pilot Club of Odessa. The volunteers arePilotmembers andcommunitymembers. Theprogramgenerally last one hour of pure fun and smiles. For every$10.00ormoredonationa light is lit ontheCommunity Christmas Tree in memory of or in honor of a loved one or friend. There are over 1200 lights on theWest Texas style tree! All proceeds from this project benef it the pat ients at the Permian Basin RehabilitationCenter inOdessa. Lastyear, thepatient representative was Dalilah Ramos who turned the lights on with her magic wand! There are also four levels of sponsorship available: STAR SPONSOR - $2,500 Platinum Star Sponsor – $1,000 to $2,499 Gold Star Sponsor – $500 to $999 Silver Star Sponsor – $250 to $499 This year’s Tree Lighting will be on December 6, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at Optimist Park. The 2022 patient representative from the Permian BasinRehabilitation Centerwill be there to light the tree and kick off the Christmas holiday season in Odessa. TheCommunityChristmasTreewas startedby thePilot Clubof Odessa in 1985 to raise funds for the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center. Over $407,355.00 has been raised over the years to provide therapy and specialized equipment for children and adults who depend on the Permian Basin Rehabi l itat ion Center for the therapy they need to improve their lives academically, socially, and vocationally. Donations can provide a variety of services in the area of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language pathology, audiology and support groups so people in need can reach their full potential as they strive to achieve equality, dignity, independence and the best possible lifestyle! For more information, please contact Mary Blain at 432-332-8244 Ext 322, email pcodessa@outlook.com, or go to website www.pbrehab.org. Send check or money order to Pilot Club of Odessa – P.O. Box 4042 Odessa, TX 79760-4242 Together we can do more for patients at the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center. hometown | happenings 37 th Annual COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

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40 odessa living magazine { { travel guide

41 hometown living at its best The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. - Eleanor Roosevelt { { travel guide

42 odessa living magazine { { travel guide

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45 hometown living at its best { { travel guide www.VisitLawtonOK.com Learn more at:

A Lifelong Quest to Explore the Lone Star State How Big is Written by SABRINA FORSE Photos provided by DIANN BAYES AND UT PERMIAN BASIN HOWBIG IS TEXAS? It’s an answer that Diann Bayes has been chasing most of her life. “Out of the 1,221 towns I found on a list of incorporated Texas towns, I’vebeentoalmost 600. Thereareseveral unincorporated towns in Texas and my best guess is I’ve been to an additional 100 of those. Of the 254 Texas counties in the state, I only have 20more to visit.” The urge to explore was inspired by the small screen. “My favorite shows growing up were Fantasy Island and Love Boat, so I guess it was a subliminalwayof inspiringwhat I finally ended up doing for a living. I was also inspired by Bob Phillips with Texas Country Reporter. Seeing him travel around the state had a great impact onmy future career choices.” 46 odessa living magazine

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48 odessa living magazine In 2016, Bayes took a break from work as the Vice President of the San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau to do what she loved best…travel. “My husband was already retired by then, so we sold almost everything we owned and moved from an 1,800-square-foot home into a 387-square-foot RV with our two dogs.” Branding themselves the Eccentric Nomads, the couple took a year-long RV trip throughfive states. As anamateur photographer, Bayes captured memories behind the lens. She previously blogged her trips while working for the Texas Travel Industry Association, so she wanted to do the samewith this one. “Being on the backroads is a favorite pastime. You can always have interesting experiences that youdon’t have on the interstate, like seeing historic courthouses, abandoned barns, and visiting interestingpeople. I’vevisited theStonehenge replica in Odessa which is fascinating. I don’t know that I’ll ever have the opportunity to see the original so having the chance to understand exactly what it looks like fromOdessa is a treat.” When the pandemic shut-down the country, the travel and tourism industry and the positive multibillion-dollar impact it has on Texans also came to a halt. “It was devastating to see friends get laid off and hear about businesses closing permanently and not being able to do anything. When the Governor announced that the Lone Star State would reopen, I wanted to do something impactful for the travel industry and for Texas.” Bayes decided to answer the question “How Big is Texas?” by driving the perimeter of the state with travel industry friends, Morgan Taylor and Debra Bustos. Not only would they drive, but Bayes would also blog about it, take photos, and video. They drove more than 3,100 miles for a true Texas-shaped road trip in justninedays. “Oneofmy favoritesigns isat the Louisiana/Texas border. It reads Beaumont 23miles, El Paso 857. I laugh every time. People who don’t live here don’t understand howbig Texas is.” How Big is

“Being on the backroads is a favorite pastime. You can always have interesting experiences that you don’t have on the interstate.” 49 hometown living at its best

50 odessa living magazine How Big is TEXAS ROAD TRIP TIPS FROM TRAVEL EXPERT DIANN BAYES • Pack for comfort. • Visit Chamber of Commerce & CVB websites for towns where you want to go. • Trust tips from locals. They know the best places to eat and best places to go. • Create a great road trip play list. • Collect memories, not stuff.

“I’m not going to apologize for my Texas pride. I love this state.” Bayes andher friends shared their road triponTexasCountryReporter. Youcan also follow Bayes as she continues to explore Texas via the How Big is Texas website, Facebook page, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. “I created the Official WorldHeadquarters forHowBig is Texas in my backyard. I have a blog and am planning a podcast. I’ve always been a proponent of getting off the interstate and seeing the small towns for a more authentic look at our state.My intention is to tell the storyof those towns.” By reading the blog, you can learn how to pronounce towns, find the best Texas photo ops for wildflowers, sunsets and much more. “Travel opens your mind. During our perimeter trip, we each saw the same thing but with different eyes. It truly was enlightening.” Bayes has crisscrossed the state, driving from the piney woods to the Gulf Coast and up to the Panhandle. She’s sampled local dishes, sat onbenches in multiple town squares and taken photographs of places nowconsidered ghost towns. “I’mnot going to apologize formyTexas pride. I love this state. Iwould hope that others have the same pride for theirs. No place is perfect orwithout controversy, but Iwouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” For now, Bayeswill continue chasing the answer to thequestion that canonlybe capturedby traveling and experiencing the Lone Star State for yourself. Howbig is Texas? “The opportunities are endless.” † www.howbigistexas.com @howbigistexas – Facebook @howbigistexas – Twitter @howbigistexas – Instagram @howbigistexas – Pinterest @howbigistexas - TikTok 51 hometown living at its best

52 odessa living magazine 500 West 4th Street • Odessa, Texas 79761 • (432) 640-4000 • mchodessa.com Your SOURCE for HEALTH

53 hometown living at its best Your choice of adoptive parents Pre- and post- natal medical support An adoption plan made by you Help with housing and other living expenses Contact with adoptive parents, if desired Help and encouragement Call or Text an Options Counselor Today 800-GLADNEY An Unplanned Pregnancy Changes Everything

WR I T T E N BY SARAH B L E V I N S PHOT O S P ROV I D E D BY THE BOYS AND G I R L S C LUB O F ODE S SA AND HOME TOWN MED I A GROUP 54 odessa living magazine

55 hometown living at its best MartinLuther Jr. once said “if youwant to change theworld, pick up your pen and write.” No one takes that more to heart than eight year old Kori Ryan, who has beenwriting since she could hold a pencil. For Kori, reading and writing is more than a hobby to pass the time at the Boys and Girls Club in Odessa. Writing is her overall passion. “Kori has always read and wrote at a higher age level,” says Adam Lucio, the Unit Director at the Boys and Girls Club in West Odessa. “She’s exceptionally bright, witty and pays attention to everything.” The Boys and Girls Club’s overall purpose is to help young people to become productive, caring, and responsible citizens by providing enriching experiences in a positive environment. One of the many ways they do so is by finding ways to cultivate their overall potential. For Kori, the Boy’s and Girl’s club has done just that. Kori would come to the club after school with only one thing in mind: bringing the stories in her head to life. “She absolutely loves writing fictional and story-book type stories,” Lucio says. “She usually writes stories that have a moral or some type of lesson within the story.” As her creativity continued to flourish, Kori attained the courage to do the one thing that many beginner writers have difficulty doing: sharing her stories and poems with those around her. “She would write every day and would ask if she could read them to the group.” Lucio says. “During snack time she would read her poems and stories to the other kids and they would talk about what these stores mean for them.” Eight year old Kori Ryan brings thought-provoking tales to the Boys and Girls Club she attends. Her stories bring smiles to other children as well as pave a way for others to express themselves creatively.

56 odessa living magazine For younger members at the club, Kori’s tales were not just to pass the time. Each of her stories and poems held purpose and an underlying meaning. “Kori’s poems and stories really resonated with the other kids,” Lucio explained. “They would actually listen and put them into perspective. They would have these very deep discussions. For them it’s not just a story.” Kori’s desire to convey her passions created a ripple effect throughout the club. It wasn’t long until others wanted to express themselves as well. “Pretty soon all of Kori’s friends wanted to join in.” Lucio chuckled. “Her confidence was very contagious.” As time progressed, others at the club started writing and sharing their own stories and poems with one another. It eventually became somuch of a routine that there is now a moment at the club nicknamed “Express Yourself.” The purpose of the segment is to allow others at the club who are interested in creative expression to share their works with one another. "They would actually listen and put them into perspective. They would have these very deep discussions. For them it’s not just a story." - Adam Lucio

I ’m a s u p e r he ro ? Once upon a time ther was a boy named Alex. He was 12 years old with brown hair and blue eyes. Every day he would walk to the park and hang out with his friends, Walter 13 years old, and Sam wich is short for Samanthah 15 years old. “Hey you want to start a band?” Walter said to Sam and Alex. “Sure” Alex replied. “Why not.” Sam said. “I can do guitar.” Alex said. “I may be a boy but I can sing,” Walter said. “What will I do?” Sam asked. But before anyone could answer Sam yelled, “I call drums!” Walter and Alexes eyes were so wide they looked like they just saw a dead chiken lay an egg or a little kid grow a beard in less then 5 seconds. That made Sam laugh so hard she almost started crying. After choosing wich instruments to play they all went home ate dinner and went to sleep. When Alex woke up in the morning, he walked to the kitchen and said to himself, weekends are the best. On the way to Sams house he saw the school bus passing by of cours his dog, Rover followed him so when rover saw the bus he ran right in front of it. Alex got so scared he picked up the bus and his dog ran back home. Alex screamed alike a girl and put the bus back down he ran to his freins house but instead of regular human running, he yous super speed he got to his friends house in 5 seconds but thene he ran back to his moms using super speed again and shoved the door open MOM! I have super powers Alexes mom said “It’s happening” she called the dad and told him everything the dad qukly drove over when he got home Alex could see a smile on his dads face. “Do you think it’s time to transfer him?” The mom said to the dad. “Transfer me where?” Alex asked. Your going to super hero high Alex smiled so hard his cheeks hurt. He was so happy plus he was very sure he would make very good friends. Part 1 Part 2 T he End Written by Kori Ryan, 8 years old

58 odessa living magazine Its overall purpose is to encourage others to express themselves through any form of creative means. From writing to rap to theatrics, all forms of expression are welcome, and it has made a big difference. “It has allowed them to express themselves,” Lucio explained. “Many would be nervous, but with continued participation so many kids want to get involved. It has brought some acceptance among the groups.” It was then that Adam Lucio took it a step further by having a stage made for them. “I saw the need, and I didn’t want them to stand on the bench,” Lucio said. “They deserved more of a platform, so I reached out to carpenter friends on Facebook. And a stage was created.” By listening to her stories and seeing her passion ignite a drive in others, it is easy to see that Kori is going to be someone that changes the world. And she will do that one story or poem at a time. † “They deserved more of a platform, so I reached out to carpenter friends on Facebook. And a stage was created.” - Adam Lucio

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Take up the shield of FAITH with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 62 odessa living magazine

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66 odessa living magazine 50 YEARS The Texas State Park Police: of Protecting the Public and the Land By Rebecca Sanchez Photos by Kyra Freeman Photography and provided by TPWD and Hometown Media Group OVERTHEPASTFIVEDECADES, THE TEXAS STATE PARKPOLICEHAVE BEENONDUTY SOPEOPLEAND THE PARKS CANTHRIVE INEACH OTHER’S COMPANYANDBUILTA LONG NARRATIVEOFGOODMEMORIES. Monahans State Park Police Officer, Jacob Barton

67 hometown living at its best Monahans State Park Beneath an expanse of wide skies, stretches Monahans State Park sand dunes. Opened in 1957 and covering 3,840 acres, the park covers only a portionof the dunes that run up from the south, out west and on up into NewMexico. People inhabited the area as long as 12,000 years ago, and later itwas ameetingplace for theComanche andApache. Spanishexplorersevenmadenoteof it intheir reports, and itwas once awater stop for theTexas andPacificRailroad. The dunes area is very desert-like with unmarked trails, and where not held in place by Shin oak roots, the sand shifts and changes the landscape. Whether sliding down the sandy hills for fun, riding horses nearby, or enjoying the outdoors while camping, the dunes and the land surrounding are truly a Texas treasure. Texans have many treasured land areas. In 1923, the Texas StateParks boardwas created toprotect them. Park personnel had the duty to protect their park’s unique history, geology and wildlife, to protect the land from the influx of public visitors and to protect the public fromthe land’s hazards. While the parks drew great numbers of guests, the staffhadno lawenforcement authorityof their own to support those protections until 1971. Since their commissioning 50 years ago, the Texas State Park Police have been on duty so people and the parks can thrive in each other’s company. Over theyears, populationspikes, foranynearbytown and the park itself, increased the need for community education and law enforcement. State parks require different management strategies than hunting lands or communities. Personnel manage the park lands and the visitors. Before the existence of state parkpolice, certified lawenforcementwasoftenfaraway.Withoutdocumented authority, personnel did their best to mitigate problems and present an air of command. Itmeant looking the part when communicating with people about inappropriate behavior while visiting the park. “We had no enforcement authority and ‘pushed the envelope’ when confronting violators for speeding, campsite infractions, etc.,” says Dennis DeWitt, Bee County commissioner and retiredTexas StateParkPolice commander, “by keeping a gasoline issue ticket book on

68 odessa living magazine our pickup dashboards in plain view. Whenwe exited the vehicle,wewouldmakeadisplayof retrieving thegasoline issue book and carrying it much as youwould a violation ticket bookwhenwe confronted the violator.” Texas’s 61st legislature allowed for commissioning park employees as peace officers. It started with a small group, just12.DeWittandtheothersdidnotknowtheywere about tobethefirst forofficial commissioning.However, in December 1971, operations director Bob Hauser gathered several trainedofficers together andswore theminaspark peace officers as he stood on the tail gate of his pick-up truck. “Theprocesswas extremely selective,” saysDeWitt, “as the enforcement genesis and ideawas so tentative the slightest slipupor officer infractioncould result in loss of jobof all involved including theAustinsupervisors. If you were one of the selected individuals, it was made clear it was voluntary and no extra pay or compensation would be issued.” Park personnel trained at local law enforcement academies. DeWitt attended Lamar University in Beaumont for 160 hours of Texas law and regulation, one week of firearms training, including a full day of quick draw practice. Need was high, but budgets were low, so DeWitt drove himself back and forth to the school and borrowed a sidearm for training. He describes one of his issuedworkvehicles inanearlyassignment asmanager of theFairfieldLakestateparkas“abrand-newgreyChevrolet Vega station wagon with a large magnetic, rotating red light, complete with ten-inch-tall egg-shaped red lenses” that thecar couldhardlysupport since “whenthe lightwas activated and turning, the small stationwagon swayed in unisonwith the rotation.” It started with a small group, just 12. DeWitt and the others did not know they were about to be the first for official commissioning. However, in December 1971, operations director Bob Hauser gathered several trained officers together and swore them in as park peace officers as he stood on the tail gate of his pick-up truck.

69 hometown living at its best Roles and service fluctuated with the continued rise in park population around seasons and events. Officers needed to be dynamic. Each park’s needs differed based on its natural features, but elements such as communication, education and emergency skills remained consistent responses to continually unique challenges. In many cases, community policing circumvented the need for citation or further potential problems. With alcohol use and violation of public consumption laws being the primary issue, DeWitt hand delivered a copy of the park regulations to unknowing offenders or alleviated them of the alcohol itself. In one case, someunderageyoungmen inpossession

procedures for enforcement and investigationas their role called themtowards both legal and generalmanagement. Theywerealsosupportedwith longevitypay, necessary in a jobwith unpredictable schedules and events. Training and command organization changed over time, such as when state park police cadets began attending the same academy as the Texas game warden cadets. In 2015, the Texas Parks andWildlife Department restructured its policing programtobemore alignedwith the practices of other state policing entities. A year later, a chain of command was established, which no longer combined parkmanager and police officer roles. Naturally at such an anniversary milestone, the question arises about what is in store for the next fifty years. “Onward and upward,” saysMajor DougHuggins of the Texas State Park Police. “Recruitment and retention of a talented and diverse workforce continues to be a challenge.” One of the issues, explainedMajorHuggins, is thedifference inpaywhencomparing statepoliceofficers 70 odessa living magazine of alcohol, that they were merely transporting for their mother, discussed the situationwithDeWittwho let them know he would hold their mother’s beer until morning when she could pick it up. Needless to say, a mother did not arrive the next day, and DeWitt’s park management poured out the alcohol. Adjustments and changes in training, policing and public education continued due to changing park needs, culminating in the spring of 1974 with the Park Enforcement and Safety Program. A central office was established with one trained officer, which later grew to two, who doled out instructions, managed reports and provided training. All officers attended annual training together, and the Park Peace Officer Handbook was their resource for routine work. Further training included workplace health and safety, including first-aid training. Centralized support came from staff to train, advise and assist officers in their law enforcement activities. Officerswerekept up todateonnewcourt rulings, the law,

to state park police, and that closing the gap will help. “Visitation continues to grow and along with that the need for more officers,” he added. “We want to continue to utilize communityoriented policing as a way to connect with the 10 millionvisitors eachyear. I knowthevisionof the state park police leadership team is to continue providing professional law enforcement and emergency response services for Texas State Parks and the state as a whole. We have come so far but have plenty of room for growth.” State park police serve millions of people and more as the number of park visitors grows. They are monitoring approximately 630,000 acres and are in ready assistance to a park’s local community. Visitors can take comfort in the decades of training and service behind eachpark police officer. † “ the vision of the state park police leadership team is to continue providing professional law enforcement and emergency response services for Texas State Parks and the state as a whole. We have come so far but have plenty of room for growth.” MAJOR HUGGINS 71 hometown living at its best

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