First white Christmas for Odessa in several years

After several years of no or very little snow for Christmas, Odessa has finally had a white one. Much welcome snow began coming down in mid-December. Right before the holiday, there was snow, then warm enough temperatures to melt some of the snow, then some very wet snow or a mix of rain and snow (those who shoveled any of it know how heavy it was), followed by a cold snap and more snow. So now folks are having to drive on streets that did not all get cleared and have deep ruts frozen solid and covered with more snow. It is very slick on many roads and sidewalks.

So there you have it. The good news and the bad news all in one paragraph. Happily, the Odessa Chamber of Commerce's grand New Year's Eve party is tonight in the community center, with local entertainment by Staff Infection (Larry Moffet and Jeff Wehr), hors d'ouevres supplied by Chamber volunteers and cash bar provided by Chiefs Bar & Grill. So unless sitting at home in front of the TV is how you like to to celebrate the new year, get on downtown to the community center and join the fun, games, food, music and dancing.

Lions lighting contest

The Odessa Lions Club has awarded three prizes to Odessa homeowners who decorated their homes and yards for the Christmas holiday. Members of the club viewed all the decorated houses in town and then selected the three they judged worthy of special appreciation.

In first place, winning $100 from the club for her efforts was Kathy Anderson. In second place were Keith and Becky Kolterman, who received $50, and in third place were Pete and Lisa Martin, winning $25.

For those who can't wait to see the back end of the holidays and their hectic preparations, tension-filled gatherings of family, friends or acquaintances, unmet expectations left over from childhood and so forth, normal everyday activities are just around the corner.

Getting back to normal?

In fact, some regular activities began this week, with O-H Titan basketball games in Ritzville Tuesday and the final Ryan Floch Memorial Basketball Games coming up Saturday, January 2, 2016, at Big Bend Community College. The college women play the BBCC Alumni team at 2 p.m., and the men play against the Alumni team at 4 p.m. The Flochs' daughter Elizabeth will play on one of the teams during a demonstration and short game of wheelchair basketball during the halftimes of each game.

Odessa residents are urged to attend this final game, contribute to the scholarships awarded to athletes in Ryan's name and visit with the Floch family.