Jackalyn Rainosek - A True Child of West Texas

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Jackalyn Rainosek - A True Child of West
Texas
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Growing up an only child in Odessa, Texas,
Jackalyn Rainosek is familiar with the shortgrass
prairie of far western Texas. Odessa is said to
have been named in response to the terrains
resemblance to the steppes pf Russias Ukraine.
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Odessa began its life in 1881 as a place to water
and ship cattle on the Texas and Pacific
Railroad. Odessa added a post office, and became
a county seat, but was not officially recognized
as a city until 1927 when oil was discovered in
the county. The population of Odessa has grown,
or diminished, with the prosperity linked to oil
droughts or oil gluts. Todays population sits
around 115,000, and unfortunately, its violent
crime rate is the highest in Texas today, which
was not the case as Jackalyn Rainosek grew up in
its hot summers, mild, dry winters, and perpetual
high winds.
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Odessa struggled during Jackalyn Rainoseks youth
there, with its economic dependence on the
variations in the price of crude oil, as it
watched boom and bust cycles for years adversely
impact the economic support for education, health
and social services. To find greater economic
sustainability, Odessa has attempted to
capitalize upon its location, centralized along
major roadway and railroad routes through the
western region.
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City officials have been moderately successful in
these efforts, as major retail distribution
facilities have located in Odessa, including
Family Dollar and Coca Cola. Energy
diversification followed these efforts, as the
building of a wind farm and plans for a clean
coal plant have the potential to add over 8,000
new jobs. There is also interest in building a
solar collector in the area of Odessa, which
would further wean Odessa away from total
dependence on oil to power its citizens energy
needs.
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Jackalyn Rainosek may have been among the first
residents to hear the efforts of the newly
established Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale,
founded in 1962. Odessa College offers two year
associates degrees in a variety of technical
careers, and also boasts an exact replica of the
Globe Theatre of Shakespeare fame, hosting annual
Shakespeare festivals. The renovated Ector
Theater offers a venue for concerts and
productions throughout the year for the Odessa
community, along with the Permian Playhouse.
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As in most of Texas, high school football
dominates the sports viewing offerings in Odessa,
with Ratliff Stadium, famous for its feature in
the Friday Night Lights movie, one of the top ten
largest high school stadiums in the state.
Ratliff offers regularly scheduled games of the
Odessa Bronchos and the Permian Panthers, and
Jackalyn Rainosek would have enjoyed those
traditional contests with fellow students.
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Thank You