Odessa Poverty Series Highlights Hidden Struggles in Prosperous City
In Odessa, more than 18,400 residents live below the poverty line, a figure that would stretch 10.5 miles. The piece explores how the poor are ubiquitous yet overlooked, with families on $150 weekly, difficulties finding care and work, and welfare seen as a stopgap rather than a solution.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Odessa
Ector County
Interstate 20
Schlemeyer Field
Lawndale Subdivision
North Loop
West Texas Oil Center
Odessa American
Bruce Carter
Ector County Children’s Services
Texas
Florence Dixon
Faith helps families in crowded southside apartment
Elizabeth Simpson profiles Dominga Vega and two Odessa families sharing a three room flat. Despite monthly food shortages and weekly rent pressures, Vega smiles at her 9 month old and relies on faith, saying Dios nothing more. The piece highlights daily struggle of economically disadvantaged families in a cramped home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dominga Vega
Odessa
Times laugh they cry family amid hardscrabble life
The piece describes a family’s struggle to make ends meet in a three room apartment with shared spaces and beans for every meal. Despite hardship, the narrative highlights warmth, generosity, and resilience as laughter persists amid daily challenges.
Council slices sewer charges
The Odessa City Council unanimously passed an ordinance cutting residential sewer charges. Minimum monthly fees drop from 4.50 to 3.85 while maximum gallons charged fall from 20,000 to 15,000 limiting the top bill from 23.70 to 16.65. Bills reflect the rate after January 1 1983. City officials cite reduced sewer improvement spending as enabling the cut, amid public concern from laundry and car wash owners and residents about rising bills since switching to user fees.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chester Nolen
Keith Weddell
John Harrison
Odessa
Gloria Chalambaga
Midland home fire claims two young children
A Midland mobile home fire early today killed two children aged 2 and 4 and left a 6 month old girl critically burned. Four-year-old Bradley Dewitt and others were wounded while Edwin Dewitt and Robert Jennings survived. The blaze fostered救 an investigation into its cause.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Midland
Brian Ray Dewitt
Tammy Marie Caufield
Midland County
Charles Sprayberry
FM 1788
Angela M. Dewitt
Midland Memorial Hospital
Lubbock General Hospital
Midland Hospital
Lubbock
Bradley Dewitt
Robert Jennings
Edwin Dewitt
Jennings
Midland Fire Department
Jerry Petry
Petry
Harrelson found guilty in Wood murder case
Harrelson and two co defendants were convicted of murdering federal judge John H. Wood Jr in 1979 for a 250000 fee. Jo Ann Starr Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra were found guilty on all charges. Sentencing set for March 8 with potential life terms and other penalties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Antonio
Charles V. Harrelson
John H. Wood Jr
Harrelson
Jo Ann Starr Harrelson
Elizabeth Chagra
Wood
Also Mentioned on This Page
Faith
Elizabeth Simpson
Council
Julie Bird
By Timmadigan
Ray Jahn
U.S
Ed Prado
Cery
Justice
Jahn
Charles
Charles Campion
William S. Sessions
Sessions
Patricia Schultz-Ormond
Mrs. Harrelson
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