Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Odessa’s massive wastewater plant upgrade means for your future services

And on the Odessa Patch calendar - Classic Albums Live - Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

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Thursday August 20th Patch AM
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Hi there, Odessa! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Odessa's massive wastewater plant upgrade means for your future services
  • How an Odessa custom shop became the center of burglary allegations
  • How Odessa's reopened Salvation Army thrift store keeps neighbors housed and cool

Also on today's calendar: Sound Healing Sessions and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Odessa Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Odessa Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Sunny and toasty conditions, with a high of 101 and low of 77 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Sunny and toasty conditions, temps: high: 100, low: 76.
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 101 and low of 76 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Carollo Engineers selected to design new Bob Derrington Water Reclamation Plant (h2oglobalnews.com) — Odessa's Bob Derrington Water Reclamation Plant is getting a major overhaul, with Carollo Engineers chosen to design a modernized facility aimed at improving reliability, safety, and reuse service for residents and industrial users. The upgrade replaces aging 1970s-era infrastructure, adds better odor control, power systems, and controls, and is expected to be completed by spring 2033.
   

2. Owner of Odessa car modification business arrested for alleged auto burglaries (newswest9.com) — Odessa police say a local car modification shop owner has been arrested in connection with a scheme that allegedly used customers' vehicles to steal tools and electronics around town. Investigators linked suspect vehicles through license plate cameras, are still seeking an associate, and urge residents to mark or record serial numbers so stolen property can be returned.
   

3. Salvation Army reopens Odessa thrift store, seeks volunteers (yourbasin.com) — A key Salvation Army thrift store in Odessa has reopened after repairs, offering 50% off all items and urgently seeking volunteers to keep services running. Proceeds support the local shelter on East 10th Street, which houses around 50 people nightly, and both the Odessa and Midland locations are accepting donations and arranging large-item pickups.
   

4. Permian's annual watermelon feed kicks off 2026 football season (yourbasin.com) — Permian High's annual Watermelon Feed just brought Odessa families, students, and alumni together to officially kick off the 2026 football season. Fans met the Panthers, cheerleaders, dancers, and band while sharing plenty of watermelon, and now Mojo Nation is counting down to the August 28 home opener against Amarillo Tascosa at Ratliff Stadium.
   

5. 'It was a traumatic experience': New footage shows damage from Odessa four-vehicle crash; woman charged with DWI (firstalert7.com) — Newly released footage shows the aftermath of a four-vehicle crash at Faudree and Eastridge in Odessa, where a 71-year-old driver is accused of hitting parked cars near Dollar Tree and iWash. Several people, including young children, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver has been charged with DWI and cited for traffic violations, according to Odessa police.
   

📸 Around Odessa

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Odessa

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Odessa Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday August 20
  • Ken Womack's 'GIANT' at the Museum of the Southwest in Midland, opening June 11 →
    Midland Chamber of Commerce Museum of the Southwest
    10:00 am
  • Ribbon Cutting: Twin Stars Compression
    Midland Chamber of Commerce 4015 S County Rd 1210 Midland Tx
    4:30 pm
    • Friday August 21
  • 15th Annual Pull for a Promise Clay Shoot
    Midland Chamber of Commerce Midland Shooters Association 7400 W County Road 170 Midland, TX 79706
    8:00 am
    • Saturday August 22
  • 50 Years at the Brown-Dorsey Home Celebration
    Midland Chamber of Commerce Brown-Dorsey Historic Home 213 N. Weatherford Midland, TX 79701
    6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Our cat is missing 😭 he goes by chandler.
    He has no collar. My cats roam the backyard and he usually comes back but this is the longest he has been gone. Please let me know if you see him!… (Nextdoor Ratliff Ridge)
  • I used to think that leaving someone meant losing an entire world.
    Later, I came to realize that divorce isn't a failure in life, but rather the final chapter in a relationship that was no longer right for both of us… (Nextdoor Southside Central)
  • Deerings Nursing & Rehabilitation posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Odessa. Apply here.
  • Cavender's posted a job opening for Stocker - Store 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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