ODESSA RANSPORTATION T THAT LEFT A MARK... EPARTMENT OF D EXAS T ISTRICT OF THE D DESSA O EWSLETTER FOR THE N ABOVE: Area Engineer Chad HE Surveying the district T Page 2 Windham, Assistant Area | Engineer Freddy Herrera, Graduates Andrews supervisor Cleon 2012 Payton and Andrews Page 3-6 employee Danny Webb inspect the overpass that UNE Bits & Pieces -J Page 7 takes Highway 158 over AY Highway 385 in northern Ector M Retirements County after an over-height Page 10-11 load struck several of the beams of the overpass. The Safety Corner overpass will be closed for Page 17 several weeks. Surveying the district By Mike C. McAnally seen in 30 years and most of you are still able to District Engineer smile when I see you. Thank you very much for the dedication and professionalism you are show- It is that time again for me to have a little say in ing. this issue of the district newsletter, but I am going As dedicated and hard working as you all are, to make this a short one. I know you are all very PLEASE do not forget to take a moment before busy, and I appreciate that more than ever. performing those job duties every day and make I have been out through some of our areas, and sure that you and your co-workers are safe. Not I just want to personally thank each and every one only are the roadways busier than ever, they are of you for the outstanding jobs you are doing. It more dangerous than ever, and it is my job to seems that we have more of everything out on our make sure you stay safe! highways these days: traffic, trucks, trash, potholes, mesquite, people, accidents, high temperatures, rubber, and the list goes on and on. Thanks So Much Throughout all this, each of you continue to work through some of the most difficult times I’ve and Be Safe!! Back in the saddle Director of Operations Bryan Raschke, left, chats with Director of Transportation Planning and Development Gary Law during a breakfast celebrating Law’s return from a yearlong military deployment. Law came back to work June 1. A FEW WORDS FROM COL. GARY LAW: It has been a tremendously enjoyable occasion for me to return to the TxDOT Family. I wish to thank everyone for your support of my service to our nation and especially to my family during my absence. Without your continuous support, Citizen-Soldiers such as myself could not serve in the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces, and that would create a significantly greater challenge to our national defense as well as fiscal budgets. Together, we all serve our nation. Myself in uniform, and you by filling to voids left behind and providing a wonderful employment environment to return to. THANK YOU. Congratulations she participated in four years High school graduates of volleyball, cheer and Austin Ray Betancourt recently graduated from basketball as well as three Seminole High School, home of the Seminole Indians. years of track, softball, Austin is 18 years old and National Honor Society and is the son of Rick and Kristy Student Council. She also Betancourt. Rick is a recently received the UIL Scholar licensed engineer and works Award, was named All-State in the Odessa design office. Academic, won a Presidency In high school, Austin was Award and was named involved in football, track Student of the Month. and powerlifting. He also Dynesha plans to continue played in the school band. her education at McMurry Austin’s hobbies include University in Abilene on a Dynesha Savon Dingle skateboarding, stunts, writing four-year academic music lyrics, drawing and scholarship. She plans to major in Petroleum Engineering. helping dad with his never- She’s also a 2012-2013 Warhawk Cheerleader. ending list of projects. & & & Austin plans to attend Austin Ray Betancourt Yumira Garcia is a 2012 South Plains College in graduate of Odessa High. Levelland where he will start pre-engineering classes. He She is the daughter of hopes to transfer to Texas Tech University after completing Jesus and Teresa Garcia. his basics and shoot for either a Civil or Petroleum Jesus works in the Odessa engineering degree. Construction Office. & & & According to her dad, Jaekob Ladd Blewett recently graduated from Smyer Yumira won’t drift far away High School in Smyer, Texas. (It’s a few miles west of to continue her eduction. Lubbock on Highway 114.) Jesus said Yumira will begin Jaekob, 18, is the son of her college career by Lance Jenkins, assistant studying biology at UTPB. maintenance supervisor in the Yumira has been known to Stanton section office. play a little soccer in her day. Yumira Garcia Jaekob has been hired on & & & as a summer hand in the Grabiel Ray Salcido recently graduated from Balmorhea Midland maintenance office, High where he was in the National Honor Society, FFA and so he’ll be hanging out with the Texas High School Rodeo dad and beating Lance at Wii. Association. After a summer of The son of Candie and working, Jaekob wants to Ruben Salcido (Balmorhea play baseball at a junior maintenance supervisor), college. So far he’s Grabiel has qualified as a considering Corpus Christi Jaekob Ladd Blewett team roper for the second Junior College, South Plains time to compete in the High College in Levelland, Howard College, Midland College School finals in June in and Odessa College for his future diamond exploits. Abilene. & & & Grabiel plans to attend Sul Dynesha Savon Dingle is the daughter of Luwana and Ross State and rodeo for the David Dingle of Kermit Maintenance. university while studying to She recently graduated from Kermit High School where be a game warden. Grabiel Ray Salcido & & & High school (continued) Permian High School 2012 graduate Regan McNatt is We don’t exactly have the daughter of Donnie (IT) another Aggie in our midst, and Heather McNatt. She’s but Kaylie N. Griner recently also the granddaughter of graduated from A&M Don (Odessa TP&D) and Consolidated in College Rosemary McNatt. (Regan’s Station. older brother Michael worked Her dad is Joel Griner, at the Odessa Maintenance supervisor in the Pecos office last summer and is a maintenance section. senior at North Texas.) Dad said Kaylie is Regan was President of planning on attending Blinn her senior class. She also Junior College with an eye sang with Permian’s “Black toward majoring in Magic” and was the top officer of Permian’s top elementary education. Kaylie N. Griner Regan McNatt Dad said Kaylie enjoys choir. A member of the shopping, reading and spending time with friends. National Honor Society, Regan graduated in the top 10 & & & percent of her class, was a Texas Scholar and served as vice Annebelle Hartwig walked across the stage with the president of the French Club. Regan was also active with 2012 class from Odessa High Student Senate, served as vice president of the Junior School recently. Board, played soccer for two years and was manager a third Annebelle is the daughter year. Other accomplishments includes making 1st chair of Lee and Carla Hartwig. Soprano I in All-Region her senior year and the Area Choir Lee works out of the Odessa the past two years. Construction Office. She is active at First Baptist Church where she is a Annebelle’s future plans member of the New Creation Ensemble, Student Choir, include attending Odessa FBC Youth and also teaches in the 4-year-old Kidzart class. College with a goal of getting Regan loves music, fishing, sports and hanging with into the Odessa College friends. Nursing Program. Her Regan already has 30 hours of college credit. She will lifelong dream is to be a attend Texas A&M in pursuit of a Nursing Degree. She Registered Nurse, so that is wants to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. & & & what she is aiming for. Annebelle Hartwig While in school, Annebelle Brandon Munoz graduated with honors from Permian was in the OHS choir for three years. She loves to read, High School in Odessa this shop, hang with her friends and play with her pets. year. By the way, dad Lee just finished his course work with a Brandon was recognized goal of becoming a professional licensed engineer. for his participation in the & & & dual credit and early Haley Lara is now a admissions college program Permian High School alum as a Silver Panther Scholar. after walking across the stage He was also recognized for with the Panther Class of the numerous volunteer hours 2012. he completed as a Texas Haley is the daughter of Scholar. Becky and Lonnie Lara. Brandon is the son of Roy Lonnie is an inspector out of and Elaine Munoz. Elaine the Odessa Construction keeps Operations in Odessa Brandon Munoz office. headquarters going as the office manager. Haley plans to attend the Brandon plans to attend UTPB to study accounting and University of Texas at San hopes to work for a major corporation one day. Antonio. She plans to major But that’s in the fall. For now he enjoys hanging out with in sports medicine. Haley Lara his friends. Tiffany Rodriguez is a graduated Panther of a different High school (continued) stripe — the Fort Stockton High variety. Tiffany is the daughter of Felipe and Araceli Rodriguez. Araceli is the office manager in the Fort Stockton section. Tiffany is the reigning Miss Fort Stockton and is busy with all the functions involved in representing her city. Tiffany is preparing for her last go-round in the annual Water Carnival Show, an event that involves a short play with synchronized swimming and dancing Tiffany Rodriguez Jason Wayne Payton William Lee Payton routines.