Hopes and dreams of being together…

Samuel who is 14-years old, is described by his caseworker as being friendly, assertive, and athletic. He enjoys playing basketball, football, and running track. Samuel is a child that loves to interact with people and makes friends easily. He is charismatic and does all he can to accomplish goals he has set for himself.
Ethan is a 13-year old boy, who is a caring, adventurous, and has a great sense of humor. As he loves to joke around and interact with people, he is very engaging.  Ethan also loves to play sports, with his favorites being; basketball & football. And like many children his age, he loves playing all types of video games.
Aubrey is a joyous, energetic, talkative 9-year-old girl, who loves to create art projects, play with her dolls, and help people. Aubrey loves to interact with everyone she meets. Aubrey’s smile lights up the room and her personality is one of a kind.
Samuel, Ethan, and Aubrey are an amazing sibling group seeking to be adopted all together, and are excited about finding a loving forever home.
These children are very bonded to each other and will do well with a family who will share that loving bond with them, as they guide them into adulthood. The adoptive family who has an extended family & friend network, would be great as to allow the children to create new bonds and build strong family connections.
If you think you could this sibling group forever family or for another Texas child please contact the department at 1-800-233-3405, for more information about adoption or visit www.adoptchildren.org where the schedule of adoption information meeting for the Rio Grande Valley are posted.

Education Foundation awards new teachers gift card

Devine Education Foundation awarded all DISD new teachers a $50 gift card to Walmart to help them with expenses of setting up a classroom.
“Certainly, we want to all DISD staff to know how much we appreciate them, and what they do for the students of this community. Our mission is to support teachers and students,” Mrs. Brenda Gardner, DEF executive director, said.
She added that the expense of setting up a new classroom is huge. All teachers spend lots of their own money, and the foundation just wanted help in a small way.
Foundation members Heather Miller and Kristi Summerlin went to each campus Thursday, August 18 to provide snacks for staff members. They also had a drawing on each campus for a DEF t-shirt and hat.
“This is just something we could do to celebrate each campus staff, and to do something a little special for them,” Miller said.
Applications for teaching grants have been sent to all staff members. After review and selection, those will be awarded in late October or early November.
The foundation also has an Amazon Smile account. Amazon will pay DEF a percentage of each purchase made through DEF’s Amazon Smile page. That URL is https://smile.amazon.com/ch/87-2366535.
“If you are an Amazon shopper, and lots of people are, and will use this site as your entry to Amazon, the foundation will receive that percentage from the company. We will certainly put it to good use helping kids and teachers,” Gardner said.

Lytle approves $16.6 million budget, staff says utility rates must go up soon amidst growing city/ infrastructure projects

Today’s technology is amazing…Lytle City Administrator Matthew Dear, standing, addresses the city council Monday night, including District 5 Alderman Charles Cate who attended via internet connection (see laptop at right where he is on screen). Cate, an Air Force reservist, is currently deployed to an undisclosed location overseas, Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said.

By Anton Riecher
The Lytle City Council voted Monday to approve a proposed 2022-2023 budget of $16.6 million, not including expected federal stimulus funds.
On a motion by District 3 Alderman David Emery seconded by District 2 Alderman Sam Cortez the proposed budget was approved by a vote of 4-0. District 1 Alderman Joseph Morrow was absent from the meeting.
City Administrator Matthew Dear announced that the city’s total taxable value for the new budget year is $234.3 million. To collect the same revenue as the current year a no-new revenue tax rate of $.3443 per $100 valuation would be necessary.
“The new budget will raise $88,205 more than the current year, an 11 percent increase,” Dear said. “A lot of that is based on increased values as well as new properties added to the property roll this year.”
Under state law, the maximum tax rate the city can approve without voter consent is $.3654 per $100 valuation.
If an expected $379,885 in relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act comes through the city will show an income of $17.8 million under the proposed budget.
“We do not have that number built into the coming year’s budget because we haven’t got that money yet,” Dear said.
The biggest obligations would be $6.1 million in water system improvements, $1.4 million in sewer system improvements and $985,000 in roads and sidewalks.
To make the new city budget work, Dear warned that the council will have to increase Lytle utility rates to bring them in line with surrounding communities in the coming year. For water, Lytle residents pay $12.00 a month compared to $38.14 in Devine, $32.47 in Hondo and $30 in Castroville,
For sewer, Lytle residents pay $18 a month compared to $30 in Castroville, $27.06 in Hondo and $23.57 in Devine.
“If we’re not going to change those we might as well put the brakes on everything we’re doing,” Dear said. “Tell the developers ‘Thank you, but not today.’”
A presentation by the Finance Director LaNet Hester noted Lytle experienced a 22% growth in 2021-22 and a 28% growth is expected each year until 2025.
District 5 Alderman Charles Cate, an Air Force reservist on deployment overseas, voted for the increase via an internet connection.
The council set 2:30 p.m. Aug. 30 as the date for a council workshop on utility and inspection rates.
In other action related to taxation, the council voted to approve a tax assessment and collection contract with Atascosa County. The county will charge the city $1.50 per parcel to collect, plus 10 cents for the central appraisal district.
If the city choses a different firm to collect delinquent taxes the cost goes up an additional 10 cents per parcel. The city’s current contract for delinquent tax collection lapses at the end of this year.
The council voted to authorize the city staff to issue requests for proposals to select a consulting firm to help Lytle apply for a $500,000 Texas Community Development Block Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
“We’ve been told that the two top priorities this year will be wastewater and storm water,” Dear said.
First to apply for the job was GrantWorks. Michael Place, a client services representative for the company, works with the Alamo Area Council of Governments, which includes Atascosa County, and other regional COGs in obtaining grant funds.
Part of the grant process is “pre-scoring” the cities making application, he said.
“When we come to you and say we pre-scored you (it means) you rate pretty high and there is a good chance you are going to get funding,” Place said.
GrantWorks charges on a percentage basis but only if the grant application is successful, he said. The grant application would be required to benefit a low to moderate income area. Also, the city would have to provide a current audit.
The grant would also require a two-percent match of $10,000 from the city. The motion to search for consulting help was made by Emery and seconded by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez.
Regarding the recent controversy concerning the proposed 170-plus lot Lytle MHC Mobile Park, the council voted to suggest 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the city community center as the date for a town hall meeting on the project.
“The main objective out of this meeting is to have the developer present the plans and let the community actually get an idea of what is happening,” Gonzalez said.
“Although the meeting will be posted to the city hall website the city has no plans to make any formal presentation,” Dear said.
“It’s not a city meeting,” Dear said. “We are just facilitating a location.”
Citizen voices concerns on flooding around Lake Shores
A thunderstorm raging outside city hall set the stage for one resident concerned about high water. Trace Joyce spoke during the public comment period of the council meeting to warn that recent work in the Lakeshore Drive neighborhood to add an earthen crown above a pipeline increases the risk of flooding.
“It will increase the water that is going to be held,” Joyce said. “It increases the danger of a greater overflow when it has crested and it is finally pushed out of the way.”
Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said that a new drainage study is being discussed.
Ethics Comission created
On a motion by Emery seconded by Rodriguez the council voted to create an ethics commission to establish standards of conduct for city officials who volunteer to serve as city officials.
“Council members volunteer as full-time employees,” Dear said. “This is going to set forth our ethical standards on what is expected of you.”
The ordinance creating the commission establishes requirements for such volunteers to make financial disclosures and other reporting to avoid conflict of interest.
“For example, the planning and zoning commission is all volunteer,” Dear said. “If they had a financial interest in property being zoned it is information that we as a city need to know. They need to recuse themselves from that decision.”
Step toward Ozone ordinance
The council also voted to take the first steps toward an ordinance limiting the idling of heavy vehicles for lengthy periods of time inside the city limits.
“As we continue to grow and get more gas stations along the I-35 corridor we are going to continue to get trucks that are stopping and idling all night,” Dear said. “Bexar County is probably going to become an ozone nonattainment area.”
An ozone nonattainment area is one where air quality does not meet the federal ozone standards.
“Many truckers keep their vehicles idling overnight to provide air conditioning or heat while sleeping inside. An alternative is to park at a truck stop that provides electrical hookup to keep the vehicle comfortable,” Dear said.
Emery, who made the motion supporting development of an ordinance, urged the city to reach out to local truck stops to find out what alternatives are available. The motion was seconded by Rodriguez.
Other Matters
In other matters, the council:
•Approved $700 to finance the Veterans of Foreign Wars post to cook for a Sept. 11 memorial event to honor emergency responders.
•Appointed Martha Ellis of Lytle and Wanda Eggerton, an Atascosa County resident living near Lytle, to serve on the Atascosa County Library Board.
•Nominated Evangelina DeLeon, Margaret Wilson, Robin Cantu and Barry Sanders to serve on the Annual Citizenship Award Committee.

9th Annual DJ Carlson Memorial BUST N BURN shoot, bbq event Sept. 9-10

The 9th Annual DJ Carlson Memorial BUST N BURN will be on September 9-10, 2022, the second weekend of the month yearly. The two day weekend event will feature a barbeque cook-off, sporting clay shoot, cornhole and washer tourneys, live music and entertainment!
Champions Barbeque Alliance Cook-off will feature chicken, ribs, brisket, and pork butt; with a $5000 Pay Out.
The 12 station registered sporting clay shoot always draws a lot of sponsors and teams and many awards are given including scholarships.
Friday during the day there will also be a cornhole and washer tournament and Friday Night DJ Rockin’ Reece/ Karaoke.
On Saturday there will be entertainment all day during.
Saturday night will round out the night with a dance featuring the Jeremy Richards Band from 8-12 midnight.
A $10 cover charge wrist band will cover both days.
The event is hosted at the Levy Ranch in Moore each year at 2111 W. FM 462, Moore, Texas 78057.
To register for the BBQ contact Misty Stricker at 830-200-1015.
To register for the clay shoot or any further question contact Shannon Frazier 210-471-1856 or Stacie Mann 210-410-4712 or Denise Trapani 210-464-4642.
For details and photos of previous years see bustnburn.com.
DJ Carlson Memorial is a 501-C3 charitable organization established in the memory of DJ Carlson who lost his life way too early in an automobile accident. The organization uses the proceeds to give out scholarships to local youth in area communities and other worthy causes to help youth and families.

Devine Youth Football League Sign-ups August 21 & 28

The Devine Youth Football League (DYFL) will host sign-ups on Sunday, August 21 and August 28th from 10 am to 2 pm at 717 Tuttle Drive in Devine. The registration fee for tackle football is $100.
There will be a JR division which consists of 3rd and 4th graders and a SR division made of 5th and 6th graders. Games will be played against surrounding towns. The student must attend Devine ISD.
In order to register you must bring a copy of the child’s Birth Certificate (required).
If you have any questions please call Jack Zimmerle at 210-215-4944.

Devine council mulls over possible 2022 “no-new revenue” tax rate

Mayor Thompson, Deborah Randall and Josh Ritchey discuss the tax rate and budget at the meeting this past week.

By Anton Riecher
An unofficial majority of the Devine City Council favors a 2022 property tax rate of $.4527 per $100 of valuation based on increased taxable value of $274.1 million.
“The majority at the table wants to go with the no-new revenue tax rate,” Mayor Cory Thompson announced during an Aug. 16 regular session of the council.
Truth-in-taxation requires most taxing units to calculate two rates after receiving a certified appraisal roll from the chief appraiser — the no-new revenue tax rate and the voter-approval tax rate. The voter-approval tax rate — $.4866 – is the maximum rate the council can approve without a vote by local taxpayers.
The city’s current tax rate is $.5298 per $100 of valuation. By adopting the no-new revenue rate, the city will only gain $28,000 over the current tax rate.
With the increase in valuation, the no-new revenue tax rate amounts to a reduction for local taxpayers, District 5 council member Debbie Randall said.
“We still get a tiny, little bitty bump but it will be less taxes for the individuals,” she said.
The no-new revenue agenda item was not a final vote but simply a review in preparation for approving a final budget, Thompson said.
Two preliminary city budgets are being prepared for consideration based on a “wish list” compiled by the city staff, Thompson said. However, in preparation for the proposed budgets, District 4 council member Josh Ritchey asked for a list of all city job positions and their pay.
“My thought process here is every organization over five people has got some fat you can cut,” Ritchey said.
Randall replied that the city does not have enough employees to meet requirements now. However, she said she did agree with Ritchey that any pay increases for city employees should be based solely on merit.
“Technically, at my company there is no such thing as across the board,” Randall said. “You have to earn what you get.”
In other action, the council voted 3-0 to restrict all city council meeting to no more than four hours. Any agenda item not addressed in that time would be moved to a special session to be scheduled within two weeks.
The vote was taken on a motion by Ritchey seconded by Randall.
Initially, Thompson proposed a three-hour limit on any council session.
“If you can drive to Corpus in three hours you should be able to have a council meeting in three hours,” he said.
However, Randall argued that in her experience very few council meetings are able to work through a full agenda in only three hours.
“We would celebrate when it was done in three hours alone,” she said. “I’m thinking four maybe. We have been able to do it in a four-hour period.”
The proposed action came in the wake of complaints by city staff hard pressed to attend the lengthy council sessions, some lasting until midnight, and then putting in a full eight hours the next day.
“It’s hard on everybody,” he said. “Everybody has a job.”
Thompson noted that the council meeting in session had barely made quorum with only three of five council members attending beside the mayor. Under state law, a special session requires four voting members to establish a quorum.
The mayor said he would not support further restrictions on the time available for public comments during council sessions. However, those wishing to address the council might be better served by contacting their district council member.
“At the end of the day, the council person is the one that votes,” Thompson said.
Randall said she agreed that speaking to the district council member first can be more effective. But sometimes nothing can replace addressing the entire council.
“I tell them to bring their voices,” Randall said. “Sometimes we have to have them.”
The council voted to give city director of public works Robert Flores the authority to approve a certificate of occupancy upon the final inspection of the new Golf Clubhouse.
Action to set procedures for hiring a new city administrator was tabled.

JV Horses ambush Panthers 5-1;
Open season Thursday at S.A. Memorial

The JV Horses came out firing on all cylinders last Thursday in Geronimo as they defeated Navarro 5-1 in teach team’s final scrimmage. Below, Coach Poppe talks strategy with the team.

Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
The JV Horses came out firing on all cylinders last Thursday in Geronimo as they defeated Navarro 5-1 in teach team’s final scrimmage before their season openers this Thursday. Devine takes on San Antonio Memorial. The JV and Freshman teams will combine for a single game at Veterans Memorial Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 5:30pm.
“We were much improved this week after scrimmaging Pleasanton and getting another week of practice under our belt,” said JV Offensive Coordinator Heath Poppe. “The offensive linemen and tight ends created some huge holes for our running backs to get through.”
Poppe was referring to Wyatt Stevens, Sam Diaz, Luis Jimenez, Robert Hernandez, Henry Ramirez, Adam Guerrero, and Ethan Appling as the studs of his offensive line group while the referenced tight ends were Gavin Socarras, Tate Wisenbaker, and Aidan Salazar.
“Quarterback Jacob Rodriguez did an excellent job passing the ball the week,” Poppe continued with his post-scrimmage assessment. “His pocket presence has really improved and his arm strength has increased considerably.”
Devine got things started quickly with Eli Contreras hitting paydirt from 4-yards out to put the first of five touchdowns on the board for the JV. Anthony Saldivar got the first of his two touchdowns on a 2 yard run to make it 2-0 Horses.
Edward Perez made it 3-0 on a 1-yard run before Navarro flipped the script with their own 1-yard run to pull within 3-1.
Contreras got his second touchdown of the evening on a 15-yard pass reception from Rodriguez to give Devine its three-touchdown lead back at 4-1.
Saldivar scored the final touchdown for either team on an 18-yard run, providing the 5-1 final score.
“I can’t wait for these games to start counting. Hopefully we can continue this offensive onslaught throughout the season,” Poppe said in closing.
Give ‘em the D!
Devine’s five-touchdown performance on the offensive side of the ball is well worth highlighting. However, with the type of offensive numbers Navarro has consistently put on the stat lines the last couple of decades one might have expected the Panthers to get more than just a single touchdown.
“I feel like our kids really showed up on both sides of the ball,” said JV Defensive Coordinator Bart Oropeza. “Even that one touchdown took a lot of effort for them to execute. All of our players brought out their full intensity on their side of the ball.”
According to Oropeza, spotlight players defensively were all the defense players. Tate Wisenbacker, Eli Contreras, Gavin Socarras, Adam Guerrero, Tony Saldivar, Jacob Rodriguez, Robert Hernandez, Ethan Appling, Aiden Salazar, Alfredo Ramirez, Edward Perez, Sam Diaz, and Trinidad Hernadez.