MERTZON, Texas — After a multi-county manhunt ended in Mertzon with the death of Odessa murder suspect Trevor Myrick, Irion County residents have turned their focus toward a bond issue on the May 4 ballot.
The bond issue would set aside $55M for the Irion County Independent School District. A large portion of these funds would be used to construct a new building to replace its aging elementary school facility.
As it stands, the district's pre-K students are housed in a separate building from the rest of the elementary students. If the bond issue passes, all of the elementary aged students would move to the new facility.
"If anything has shown us that we need this, it is this week’s events," Irion County resident Joli McDowell said. "I mean, it went from a need for a growing population and a growing community to an absolute necessity."
McDowell said the new building would make things significantly safer for the district's students.
Monday, after Myrick stole a car and fled to Mertzon, a group of fathers parked their vehicles outside Irion County High School. John Paul Parker said he and the rest of the group wanted to act as a buffer between the suspect and their children.
Parker insisted that he and the other fathers just made themselves a presence and commended the job law enforcement did in Mertzon. When asked about the bond issue, Parker said he was for it.
"I think that our teachers and staff put in a lot for these kids," he said. "I think that they deserve some facilities that reflect the amount of hard work that they put in."
Early voting for the May 4 election begins April 22.