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Tour the public Fiber Mill in Devine-the only one in Texas

Sarah Winterstrom and Grandma Kathy holding a homemade, homegrown afghan. As you can see, they also have a great variety of colors from yarn they’ve harvested, processed and dyed. They also have some adorable handmade dolls and lots of fun stuff.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
There’s only one public fiber mill in Texas, and it’s right here in Devine, says Sarah Winterstrom proudly. The Winterstrom family moved here from California and started this mill in Devine about a year ago, and they are plenty busy already.
“I had no idea we were going to be the only fiber mill for the public when we came to Texas,” Mrs. Winterstrom said with a chuckle.
You’ll find alpacas, lamas, all kinds of chickens, guineas, and ducks at the farm to greet you, and the fiber mill at the back of the property. Right at the front, there is a whole wall full of colorful yarns that were all processed right there at the farm.
An impressive operation, Mrs. Winterstrom showed us how it all worked, from start to finish–processing the wool of Alpaca and sheep for themselves and for others who raise wool-bearing animals.
“I had a friend in Oakhirst, California who shut down her business and all of our equipment came from there,” Mrs. Winterstrom said. “I had volunteered there at one time and that’s where I learned everything I knew about the fiber mill business.”
They produce yarn, roving, bats for quilting, and felted bats.
They also make beautiful afghans, crocheted dolls and animals, shoe insoles, felted soap, dryer balls, and bird pod houses from the fiber they process.
The Winterstroms sell products at farmers markets or to customers visiting the farm.
“People sheer and skirt their wool themselves, and then drop it off with us. We wash it, pick it, card it, and pin draft it into roving (the long braided rope like product). Then we spin it, ply it, skeinwine it, do a final wash, and ship it back to the customer.”

Party of Five

By Lindy Teetsel
Foster care has always been near and dear to our hearts. As an educator of 9 years, I have had many students who were directly affected by foster care and my husband actually aged out of the foster care system in Ohio. When we began trying to grow our family, we were faced with years of infertility. At the time, I was angry and resentful. Ever since I was little, all I wanted to be was a mom. I couldn’t understand at the time why God wasn’t answering my prayers. I now know it was because He had another plan in store for us.
We began the licensing process in October of 2019. After a lot of classes, paperwork, and interviews, we were finally licensed as a foster-to-adopt family, meaning we understood that the primary goal of foster care is reunification, however, in the event that reunification is not possible, we were willing to adopt.
After we received our license we waited for the call. We were ready to help for however long was needed, whether the child would be with us for 3 days, 3 months, or forever. After several days we had not received any calls. It seemed odd because we knew there had to be kids out there that needed us. During this time, my grandmother’s health had severally declined. All the medical staff kept saying she would be passing any day but she hung on. No one understood why.
On March 16th, I received the call saying my grandmother had passed away. We knew it was her time and found joy in knowing she was no longer in pain. Everyone was so surprised she had hung on so long. Less than an hour later we got the call about our daughters. I like to think that my grandmother helped bring these sweet girls to me.
Over the next month, we were able to meet the girls and provide respite for their current placement. At the time, the girls had just turned 2, 3, and 4. It was overwhelming but my husband and I loved them already. Shortly after that, they were placed us.
The first week was a huge adjustment for everyone. We went from having zero children, a spotless house, a completely free schedule and sleeping through the night, to juggling 3 kids, a house that looked like a zoo, running back and forth to appointments and living on caffeine and prayers. My husband would often joke and remind me that every girl in the house (including me the dog and I) had cried that day.
But the days got easier. We bonded as a family more and more each day. We worked through big feelings, explored new places, practiced giving grace, and so much more. We learned it truly does take a village to raise children and we cannot thank our village enough for all the love and support you have shown us.
If you are interested in “Being the Village” for youth in foster care, there are many ways you can help. First and foremost, I highly suggest educating yourself in Trauma Informed Care practices. These wonderful kiddos have experienced so much trauma in their little lives that their brains now process differently. It’s our job to be the calm to their storm. You can also become a licensed foster parent, respite provider, or baby sitter. You can contact local foster organizations and see what donations are needed, sponsor their back-to-school shopping, or even donate gift cards. If you know a foster family and would like to provide help to them, offer to drop off dinner or a gift card for a family outing so they can bond with new placements and make memories together. Have a gently used suitcase? Donate it to a local foster closet. No child deserves to carry their belongings in a trash bag. For more ways to help youth in foster care, contact your local foster care agencies and foster closets.

No rain.

No rain. No rain. Sounds like the crowd chant at Woodstock. Times were simpler back in the late 60’s. Nowadays, with runaway inflation, a President that don’t know what’s going on (and don’t care) and an ineffective Congress we are at the mercy of price gouging and a deflated dollar. I heard it was pride month last month…I’m proud of being an American, proud of my kids and grandkids, proud of where I am in life, proud of my accomplishments, proud of my wife…don’t believe I left anything out.
It’s Budget season all over and the taxing entities are going through the process of preparing for the next fiscal year. All of them are waiting on the final numbers from the Appraisal District. That means waiting until all of the 4,200 protests have been heard and resolved. Once that happens, tax rates can be set by these entities based on this Tax Base…the total value of all the properties in Medina County. THEN…you get the bill to fund them and keep these operating in the manner that they have decided on.
But first…the Appraisal District. The Appraisal Board is made up of common folk selected from various parts of the County and make the decisions that the Appraiser follows. Medina County has a representative on the Board (Melissa Lutz, our Tax Assessor/Collector) BUT, she has no vote on issues that come before the Board. The Chairman is Tim Hardt from the Castroville area, Vice Chairman is Jody Jacobs from Hondo, Secretary is Mamie Navarro from the Devine area, Cindy Segovia is from the Natalia area and Clay Bell is from the D’Hanis area. Medina County pays approximately 25% of the cost of running this operation with the rest spread out among the other taxing entities. Their total Budget is $1,559,155 with $1,021,855 going to salaries and benefits.
The Appraisal Board voted to give the Appraisal District employees a 7% pay raise this coming year. Don’t sound like much but….that means that Johnette Dixon, the Chief Appraiser, will be getting a $609.58 a month raise in pay bringing her annual salary to $111,815 (that figures out to be $53.75 per hour). The least paid employee in this Office will only get a $169.17 per month raise. I do not believe that the Chief Appraiser will have any problems paying for her increase in Appraisal with this kind of raise. I do not know (yet) if the increased Appraisals affected them like it has affected the rest of us. I believe that anyone can sit there and say “we’re going up 10% on appraisals” every year.
My Appraisal went up $56,490 from last year. The only thing that I have done to improve my residence is mow the grass and Sandy does that. This is absurd and downright criminal. My protest hearing is on July 8th. I believe that it is time to take a stand.
There has been an organization formed recently called the Medina County Taxpayers Association and I intend to be an active member. There is a way to be heard without marching in the streets, burning businesses or vandalism. These elected folks will listen when it comes election time and this includes State level Candidates. The time to sit back on your gluteus maximus and complain among friends has passed. Change needs to occur and why not start in Medina County America?
Commissioners Court is also in Budget mode. We have been listening to Department Heads presenting their ideas to us…some of them are wishful thinking and some are justified. When we get the final numbers, then we can set our tax rate. I am going to push for the Effective Tax Rate (a rate that brings in the same amount of money as the previous year). More on this later..running outta space.
Your Pct 4 crew is busy re-paving roads and trying to maintain the roadways during this heat. So, if you see them sitting in the truck taking a break, give em a little slack…its hotter’n the hinges of Hades out there.
Helped Butch Morgan (the bowling ball man) move some furniture that was too big for Eddie Hutzler’s room at the nursing home. Eddie has not lost a step…recognized me with a mask on. Butch, you are a good man and a better Christian. We had a short discussion on life and such with more to come. Mawmaw (Johnnie Faye Evans) turned 89 the other day and she ain’t lost a step neither. Sorry we missed your birthday celebration…

Mean Aunt Kayleen

It was a pretty good weekend. First we got to have a cousin sleepover with Audrey and Pauliney. The kids had so much fun playing and arguing. We have two tiny trampolines and at one point Tucker agitated Audrey by jumping on her trampoline so she fixed that pretty fast. She picked up the end of it and dumped him right off. It’s okay though, Tucker landed on his feet just like a cat. Audrey is normally super sweet and patient with her hyperactive cousin, so it really cracked me up though I had to be “mean Aunt Kayleen” and correct her, for which she never forgave me that Saturday. I hardly did anything other than using a stern voice, but she cried for close to 30 minutes. She’s one of those super sweet angel children, and it makes it so hard when they actually do something wrong.
On Sunday, I had a real treat. I reconnected with my old college roommate Melissa and she came for a day at the ranch. It was the first time we’ve seen each other in 16 years, so that was a blast! It’s funny how you can go so long without seeing a good friend. When I first left for college in San Angelo I was incredibly homesick and super shy, and Melissa quickly became my best buddy in college. I’ve always loved her and thought of her over the years but our families took us to two different states. I am so glad to have her back in Texas!
After 16 years of not seeing each other, a lot has happened, but we picked up right where we left off, and I felt just like a kid again getting to see her. One of the funniest things is seeing your kids play together. I always love that.

Talk about bad luck!

The hot weather kept it slow this week; we only had 54 calls for service. Officers conducted 80 traffic stops, 72 of those resulted in a citation, and 8 were warnings.
Only two property crimes were reported last week: #1 – A home under construction on Doc Holiday had $400 worth of insulation stripped from it. #2 – John’s Small Engine Repair (Main @ Benton) reported the theft of a Husqvarna riding lawn mower.
Arrests were another story, we had seven incidents involving 9 arrested or cited persons. #1 – Ofc. A. Lopez conducted a traffic stop and determined the driver to have an active Marijuana Possession warrant out of Bexar Co. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #2 – Cpl. Robison cited a male for a theft that occurred on 6/8/2022. He had taken a saw from a residence. #3 – Sgt. Hanson conducted a traffic stop and cited two juveniles for curfew violations. They were released to guardians. #4 – Ofc. A. Lopez conducted a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford F250, he determined it to be stolen out of San Antonio. Two males were arrested and booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #5 – Ofc. L. Diaz conducted a traffic stop that resulted in a citation and release for possession of drug paraphernalia. #6 – Sgt. Hanson and Ofc. L. Diaz responded to a report of shots fired on Oak St. After a thorough investigation a male was arrested for Aggravated Robbery and Deadly Conduct. A firearm was recovered, and shots had been fired into the ground. The male was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #7 – Officers Cortez and Pena responded to a hit and run accident. One of the drivers fled on foot (the one who caused the accident), but he wasn’t located. While investigating the accident the officers discovered the driver who stayed, had three theft warrants out of Bexar Co. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. Talk about bad luck!
I wish I could take a nap and wake up and it would be October. I can’t afford to drive anywhere because of the cost of gas, and I can’t afford to sit home with the AC on, what a mess.

Making cobblers

My trip to Devine, last week, was great. I enjoyed playing bunco with my friends and we truly missed the ones that were out sick. There were several of them and I really hope y’all are beginning to feel better. I got to see my newest great-granddaughter on Wednesday and of course she is a doll. Her mama is such a sweetie; I was allowed to hold her all I wanted to!
The corn fields are ready to be harvested for livestock feed and all the fields and pastureland I saw were really dry. It didn’t look as if there was much grazing land to be used. We finally had some rain around the 23rd or 24th of June. Burn bans are back in effect for almost all of our counties down here, and in fact, before the rain, Victoria County was saying absolutely no fireworks and they wouldn’t even be sold in the county. Since they had more rain than we did, that restriction was lifted, but many of the places that usually have fireworks show cancelled them. The two inches we had helped, but we need rain as badly as it’s needed in your area.
One day at lunch time, quite a while back (you know, back in the good old days when we could go eat at the Senior Citizen center?), I asked one of the men if he thought we were ever going to get rain. His answer was different to say the least, as he replied, “Yes, just as soon as this dry spell is over!” We both had a good laugh and went to our tables to wait for our food. I have to agree with him, we have had clouds several days this week and part of last week and only immeasurable drops of rain.
Where cobblers got their name is unknown to me, but I firmly believe it was some rushed housewife who decided to ‘cobble’ some flour, sugar and milk together and add some fruit from her pantry, who made the first one. Cobblers can be found in cookbooks dating from the early parts of the 20th century and possible even before. They are simple to make and always delicious as you can use any fruit you have on hand to make them. I have made them with apple pie filling, cherry pie filling, canned peaches or almost anything. (In fact, at one point in time, my daughter promised her lunch mate teachers a peach cobbler for dessert at lunch, got ready to make it and had no peaches at home. She used a couple of cans of fruit cocktail and had a hit on her hands!).
The following cobbler is a little different than the ones we usually make, in that it uses buttermilk (or soured milk) in place of the milk that’s usually called for. For some reason, it’s called “Magic Lemon Cobbler”. Since I’ve always felt a cobbler was sort of magical, in the way you put the dough mixture in the pan and then the fruit, and the dough rises to the top, the name doesn’t make much sense! We took a pan of it to my grandson and his wife last Wednesday and they seemed to enjoy it immensely. I’ve served it to my Pokeno ladies, by placing it in 8-ounce glasses and it was a hit with them also. The lemony flavor is really awesome.
Magical Lemon Cobbler
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup buttermilk (or soured milk*)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 can lemon pie filling (21-ounce)
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Place the stick of butter into a 9”X9” square baking dish and place it in the oven to melt while you mix up the batter. (Keep an eye on this, you don’t want it to get brown, just melt!).
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, (flour, baking powder, salt and sugar). Pour in the buttermilk, vanilla and lemon extracts and stir or whisk until just combined.
Pour the batter evenly over the melted butter in the pan, do not stir; spoon the lemon filling over the batter, bake for 45 to 55 minutes until the edges of the cobbler are golden brown. Cool before serving. *To sour milk, place 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a measuring cup and fill the cup to the 1-cup line. Stir to combine and allow to sit until it thickens.
The following cobbler recipes are some of my family’s favorites, with the first recipe for peach cobbler being from my mother and grandmother. It’s a truly old family one, and as you notice, it uses fresh peaches.
Peach Cobbler
1 cup flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
¼ cup margarine
2 to 3 cups sliced fresh peaches
½ to 1 cup additional sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Melt the margarine in a 9×9-inch baking pan. Peel and slice peaches into a pot, adding ½ to 1 cup granulated sugar depending on the sweetness of your peaches. Heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in the extract and set aside while you mix the dough.
Mix together the flour, sugar and baking powder. Add the milk to make a soft dough and pour the dough mixture into the prepared pan. Top the dough with the peach mixture, (if it has made a lot of liquid, don’t use all of it); sprinkle with some cinnamon and sugar if desired, bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until done.
Cherry or Apple Cobbler*
1 cup flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
¼ to ½ cup margarine
1 can apple pie filling or cherry pie filling
1 teaspoon cinnamon or 1 teaspoon almond flavoring
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Melt margarine in 9×9-inch pan. Set aside. Combine flour, sugar and baking powder, add milk and vanilla. Mix to make soft dough and pour into pan with melted margarine. Stir cinnamon into apple pie filling or stir almond flavoring into cherry pie filling. Spoon fruit onto the top of the dough, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar if desired. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold with whipped topping or ice cream. *I feel you could use peach pie filling for this in place of either of the others.

Shawn Phillip Richardson

Shawn Phillip Richardson of Natalia, Texas was born on August 8, 1976 to Charles Wayne Richardson Sr. and Darenda Lynn Gaston Richardson. He passed away on July 1, 2022 at the age of 45.
Shawn is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Doris Richardson, his mother Darenda Lynn Gaston Richardson and his brother Royce Richardson.
He is survived by his father Charles Wayne Richardson Sr. of Natalia, TX his sons: Quintin (Angelica) Richardson of Harlingen, TX and their two boys: Westin and Austin Richardson of Harlingen, TX; Dustin (Kimberly) Richardson of Natalia, TX and Coltin (Briana) Richardson of Bay City, Michigan; brothers, Charlie Richardson, Derek Thompson, Lukas Richardson and Dexter Richardson; sister: Tamara Rico; and numerous other relatives.
Visitation Hours will be on July 13, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Hurley Funeral Home-Devine Location. Services to conclude in chapel. Private internment at a later date.

Norma Lee Horan

Norma Lee Horan of Jourdanton, TX was born on March 11, 1930 to Charles Heiligman and Margaret McKinley Duncan Heiligman passed away on July 3, 2022 at the age of 92.
Mrs. Horan is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tom and her daughter Janette Kohls and brother Bobby Heiligman.
She is survived by her daughters: Alice(Mark) Whittney of Bulverde, TX and Susie (Tom) Kocurek of Robstown,TX and Becky (John) Neal of Jourdanton,TX; son: Billy (Carolyn) Horan of Port O’Conner, TX; 18 grandchildren; and many other relatives.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 8, 2022 (one hour prior to services) at 9:00a.m. at the Moore Cemetery with Graveside services beginning promptly at 10:00a.m. at the Moore Cemetery, Moore, TX with Rev. Ronny Rains of Gateway Church officiating. She will be laid to rest near her husband Tom.

Ulysses Grant Jones, Jr.

Ulysses Grant Jones, Jr., Senior Master Sergeant, Retired, USAF, of Lytle, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the age of 72.
Commonly known to all by his middle name, Grant passed peacefully, with his wife of 27 years, by his side, after having suffered a massive stroke on May 26, 2022.
Grant was born in Sunshine Station, Harlan County, Kentucky, on August 30, 1949. On November 8, 1967, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Lou Lawson. Together they had two daughters, Melissa Sue, and Brenda Kaye.
In January, 1968, he joined the United States Air Force and served his country honorably for 26 years. He spent the majority of his career working and supervising on the flight line as his rank increased, ensuring that the airplanes were flight worthy when they left the ground. Linda passed away in January, 1993, and he retired the following spring from Lackland AFB in 1994.
Grant met his second wife, Rosemary Hord, at the church he attended, and they were married in July, 1994.
Not one to sit still, Grant was active in a variety of positions in his church, ranging from custodian and grounds maintenance to Sunday School Superintendent, visitor follow-up and security. If there was a job needing to be done, he was willing to do it.
Grant was a man of impeccable honesty and integrity, always doing every job to the best of his ability and with excellence, regardless of what it was. He believed in taking care of any problem right away, not waiting until a more convenient time. He was a blessing to everyone around him, and he will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ulysses G. Jones, Sr. and Lucy Rose Jones; his first wife, Linda Jones; sister, Sandy Lewis; half-sisters Peggy Fisher and Bobbi Adkins; half-brothers, Billy Joe Jones and Wayne Jones.
Grant is survived by his wife, Rosemary Jones; sister, Christine Lee Pearl Meade (JD); daughters, Melissa Lake and Brenda Whaley; stepson, Aaron Hord (Beth); grandsons, Evan Whaley (Bridget) and Liam Hord; granddaughter, Sierra Lake; and one great-grandson, Jackson Whaley.
A Visitation was held on Monday, June 13, 2022 from 8:30 am until 10:00 am and then a Funeral Service at 10:00 am at Hurley’s Funeral Chapel in Lytle, Texas, after which Grant was transported to Harlan, Kentucky, for services through Mount Pleasant Funeral Home, followed by interment at the Old Creech Cemetery in Wallins Creek, Kentucky.
For Live Streaming funeral service: Livestream Link
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Red Cross at www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/ or Gideon Bible International at www.gideons.org/donate
Anyone wishing to sign the online guestbook, share memories or issue condolences to the family, may do so at www.hurleyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements under the direction of Hurley Funeral Home, 14822 Main Street, Lytle, Texas.

Annette Azoca

Annette Azoca went to be with the Lord on June 23, 2022 at the age of 43 surrounded by family.
Annette was born on March 4, 1979 in Weslaco, Texas to Amado Azoca and Nora Zertuche.
Annette is preceded in death by her Father Amado Javier Azoca.
Annette is survived by her Mother Nora Elia Zertuche (Feliberto); Daughters Anissa Annette Azoca and Analisa Isarae Urrabazo; Brother Daniel A. Samudio (Amanda); Sisters Azminda Azoca and Lauren C. Samudio; and numerous other relatives.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 1, 2022 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Hurley Funeral Home – Devine, 303 West College Ave, Devine, Texas 78016. A Prayer Service will be held at 6:00 pm in the Chapel. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm in the Chapel. Services will conclude at the end of the evening. Internment of the cremains will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery – Devine at a later date.
For personal acknowledgements, please visit www.hurleyfuneralhome.com.
Services are entrusted to Hurley Funeral Home – Devine, 303 West College Ave, Devine, Texas 78016.