Our Opinion

ODC shakeup not necessary

THE POINT — There’s no reason to remove a current member of accommodate appointee.

ODESSA AMERICAN

Recent discord over who should serve on the Odessa Development Corp. board has created a lot of talk, but the substance of the situation is what matters.The newest member of the Odessa City Council, Benjamin Velasquez, wanted to name Art Leal to the board,... Full story

Workout limits aren’t necessary

THE POINT — Coaches should be free to deal with summer heat as needed.

ODESSA AMERICAN

A warning from the National Athletic Trainers Association about two-a-day workouts for high school football teams in the heat of August seems to be a bit of a generalization. It is, in effect, a one-size-fits-all suggestion for a much more complex issue.Indeed,... Full story

Vaya con Dios, Coach Neely

BY DAVID A. JOHNSON

Mike Neely, longtime president of the Odessa YMCA, is retiring. Maybe you saw the article in the paper or, like many, knew him personally. I didn't, or at least I never knew anyone by that name. There was a Mike Neely who seemed to practically rebuild... Full story

More health care for less money?

THE POINT — The more we learn about Obama’s health care plan, the less attractive it looks.

You have to admit that it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to try to sell expanding the role of government in health care as a way of controlling costs and improving services. Yet judging by recent statements and his speech Monday to the American Medical... Full story

OHS starting to piece together anniversary party

BY GENE POWELL JR.

David Munger, a budding documentary film producer whose day job is being a student assistance services counselor at Odessa High School, has some questions for you. Do you have any memorabilia from the early days of Odessa High School? Can he borrow it?Obviously,... Full story

Iranian hope

THE POINT — A new regime is no guarantee that Iran would be less of a hinderance in the region.

It is almost impossible not to be inspired and inspirited by the sight of brave protesters in Iran filling the streets of Tehran with their strategically silent pleas to have their votes counted and their dignity respected by the cruel regime that rules... Full story

A short history of everybody for the past 13,000 years

BY DAVID A. JOHNSON

Editor and fellow columnist Gene Powell reads much more than I do and usually does the book reviews. Well, I've read two books, written by different authors for different reasons, and written years ago, but together they're histories of the world, part... Full story

Skatepark fills community need

THE POINT — Keeping skateboards off public and private property promotes safety.

For the most part, skateboarders feel a lot like the late comic Rodney Dangerfield, and for the same reason because they "don't get no respect." But the City of Odessa is changing that perception. Work is scheduled to begin any day now on a facility... Full story

Let’s take care with ‘free’ cash

THE POINT — Using stimulus funding to address shortcomings seems reasonable.

Ector County Independent School District is expected to receive a hefty chunk of change from federal stimulus funding and plans for how the money will be used sound feasible at this point. Naturally, district officials see the windfall as an opportunity... Full story

Obama wants higher taxes

THE POINT — Health benefits may be treated as taxable income and the rich get hit again.

After a period in which his administration declined to get too involved in the details of a planned major overhaul of the way health care is delivered, presumably to avoid the mistakes of the first Clinton administration when Congress was presented a... Full story

'Our Opinion' Archives | 'News' Categories