The Year in Review

The year 2019 provided plenty of both good news and bad news for the Town of Odessa. The town’s youth did well both athletically and academically. Efforts to bolster the business community were less successful overall, but the local Chamber of Commerce, the Public Development Authority and individual business owners continue to strive toward revitalization of the downtown core.

January

Margie and Michael Sgobba moved to Odessa, Margie’s former place of residence, from west of the Cascades, where they were involved in a ministry for those incarcerated in prisons and jails. From their base in Odessa, they continue their ministry by visiting city and county jails throughout eastern Washington.

The downtown reader board owned by the school was changed in January to reflect the status of the home team as having reverted to their original mascot and colors, the orange and black Tigers. The Odessa-Harrington athletic co-operative with the Titan mascot has been retired.

The trapshooting contest sponsored by the Spokane daily newspaper, the Spokesman-Review, entered its 100th year. Beginning on the first Sunday in January, trapshooting teams from throughout eastern Washington meet at their club houses to compete with one another in several different categories. Men, women and youth all participate.

Odessa’s newest Town Marshal Brent Dell was sworn into office by Mayor Bill Crossley at the first town council meeting of the new year.

The state 1B football champion Odessa Tigers gathered for an awards ceremony. The coaches presented the captain’s award to quarterback Camden Weber, and the Thunderbolt Award to running back Marcus King. The Iron Man Award went to Joshua Clark, the Gale Martin Memorial Award to Theron Schlomer and the Hardest Hitter Award to sophomore Tim DeWulf.

Varsity basketball began in December of 2018 following the championship football game. When play continued in January 2019, junior basketball standout Ryan Moffet was awarded a basketball signed by every member of the Tiger team in recognition of his having reached the 2,000-point mark in his high school career at the beginning of his junior season.

February

The Odessa Lions Club annual crab feed was held in the community center. The fresh Dungeness crabs were delivered directly from the waters of the Pacific Ocean by club members. For the seafood intolerant, prime rib was prepared on an outdoor grill by members of the Riders Club.

The Grand Columbia Health Alliance was formed as a mutual support network comprising six area hospitals: Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, East Adams Rural Healthcare in Ritzville, Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, Othello Community Hospital, Quincy Valley Medical Center and Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. The purpose of the Alliance is to provide mutual aid and assistance rather than competing with one another.

Odessa High School freshman Charleigh Cornett, daughter of Miranda Taylor, has her sights set on becoming a surgeon. Her mother sent her to Envision EMI’s National Youth Leadership Forum STEM Program to explore careers in medicine, robotics, civil engineering and forensic science. She was then nominated by her teacher Larry Weber to attend a similar medical program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the summer, before leaving for Baltimore, Charleigh worked hard at raising funds to pay for her expenses while taking the program.

March

The 2018/2019 boys basketball team took fourth place in the state tournament and also walked away with the award for academic state champions with a combined grade-point average of 3.750.

The Marlin-Odessa Gun Club won first place in its division in the Spokesman-Review-sponsored trapshooting contest. The two clubs are allowed to combine their scores for the contest even though each has their own club house near their respective towns.

The third annual Daddy-Daughter Dance was held at Any Occasion Banquet Hall and was a rousing success.

Les Jimerson was sworn in as a deputy to town marshal Brent Dell at a March meeting of the town council.

The Odessa High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America won $10,000 for the non-profit of its choice, which was the Old Town Hall Rejuvenation Society. The money will be used to replace all of the windows in the Old Town Hall.

The annual business meeting and banquet of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce was held in the community center. An award for the Business of the Year was awarded to Odessa Office Equipment. Owners Marlon and Melissa Schafer accepted the award. The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to James and Vivianne Poe, relative newcomers to Odessa who have thrown themselves into civic activities wherever they can find them.