This Wednesday, July 19… Come watch the Wonder World Parachute Team jump in LytleHonoring local 100-year-old Pearl Harbor Survivor Gilbert Meyer

The celebration will begin at 4 pm with hotdogs, hamburgers and more, and the jump will happen close to 5 pm. The Wonder World Parachute team powered by the All Veterans Group has been featured on national news including Good Morning America, CNN, ESPN, and many others across the world.

Everyone is invited…Please join the Lytle Memorial VFW Post 12041 on July 19th at 4:00 PM at 1425 FM 2790, Lytle TX 78052 (the new location of the VFW Post). Help us celebrate and honor Mr. Gilbert Meyer, of Lytle, on his 100th birthday and watch the famous Wonder World Parachute team powered by the All Veterans Group jump in his honor.
Mr. Meyer is a Pearl Harbor Survivor who served on the USS Utah when it was hit and sunk. He stayed at sea the remainder of the war on the USS Detroit until the signing of the peace treaty. Mr. Meyer is a Lifetime Member of the Lytle VFW 12041.
The All Veteran Parachute Team will be jumping from a helicopter as a way to honor Mr. Meyer as one of the last few survivors of Pearl Harbor. They will jump around 5:00 p.m.
Sunnydale Hyde, Director of Operations for the All Veteran Group shares a little about the jump.
“We travel all over the world doing over 100 shows a year. We have helped raise $7 million dollars annually to help veteran their families,” Hyde said.
There will be 2-3 jumpers who will jump from about 1 mile up. The jump itself will last about 5-7 minutes and the crowd will see “cold smoke grenades” deploy as the parachuters come down.
The Wonderworld Parachute team is powered by the All Veterans Group.
To put things into perspective, this is the same team that jumped for President Bush, the Green Bay Packers and many others.
In addition, the City of Lytle will be presenting a Proclamation to Mr. Gilbert Meyer proclaiming July 19th as “Mr. Gilbert Meyer Day” in Lytle. With the generosity of HEB, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs and chips served.
You are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
Many a war story is destined to be told inside Texas’ newest Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12041 once it is completed east of Lytle. But none will be as harrowing as that told by the man for whom the post is named – Pearl Harbor survivor Gilbert Meyer.
On March 22 members of Post 12041 and many others from Lytle gathered at Meyer’s farm on FM2790 for the groundbreaking ceremony. Of the five-acre farm, Meyer donated four acres as the new home for the local VFW.
“We would not be standing here today if it were not for the generosity of one local hero – Mr. Gilbert Meyer, who is in the house directly behind you, is a 99-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor,” said post commander Chris Clouser.

“Unfortunately, due to health reasons, Mr. Meyers is not able to attend the ceremony.”
Arrangements had been made for Meyer to view the groundbreaking by video from his sickbed.
Next month Texas Senior Vice Commander Larry Sanders takes charge of the Texas VFW as state commander. But before those high ranking jobs Sanders was commander of Post 12041. As commander he had the pleasure of counting Meyers among the local members.
“One day I was at the park getting ready for our fourth or fifth festival,” Sanders said. “I met this gentleman walking across the sidewalk over there. He had USS Utah on his cap. He was very proud of it. He said ‘Come over and sit down young man.’ We sat down and talked for about an hour about what he did. He was at Pearl Harbor.”
Fortunately, Meyer committed his story to video as an oral history during a USS Utah reunion in Las Vegas in 2015. Born in 1923, he dropped out of high school in Goose Creek, TX, now Baytown, when he was 17. With his parents’ consent he joined the Navy.
The USS Utah is often referred to as the forgotten ship sunk at Pearl Harbor. Commissioned as a battleship during World War I, the Utah had long since been converted into radio-controlled vessel used for aerial target practice.
Meyer arrived in Pearl Harbor aboard the Utah in September 1941. Recently refitted, the Utah only made two voyages from Pearl before that fateful day on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese pilots slammed two torpedoes into her side.
“I was sleeping on the starboard side,” Meyer said. “I woke up when the first torpedo hit but I was so sleepy I went back to sleep for just a few seconds. Then, shortly after that, the second one hit. When it hit all the lights went out.”
With the ship already listing, Meyer had to find his way topside in the dark wearing only his skivvies, i.e., his undershirt and underpants. He also grabbed a pair of shoes he had just bought.
“I had shined them for about three days,” he said. “And I had my shoes and lost them somewhere along the way. I probably needed two hands to try and climb and get myself topside.”
Debris made it impossible to lower himself into the water off the port side of the ship. The only thing to do was to follow the ship around as within 12 minutes it capsized.
Then the Japanese pilots started strafing the survivors with machine gun fire, Meyer said.
“The projectiles hit the bottom of the ship and made such a racket I knew I had to get the hell out of there,” he said. “So I started sliding down. I looked up behind me and there was this big old chief electrician who looked like he weighed 300 pounds crashing down. I had to swim like hell to get out of the way.”
Meyer swam to nearby Ford Island and took cover in an open trench. Between bombings he and others would sneak between the buildings to see what was happening on Battleship Row.
“We just watched the world war from there,” Meyer said.
Fifty-eight of Meyer’s comrades did not survive to tell their tale. An incident later brought the magnitude of the disaster into focus. Meyer had caught some shrapnel in a finger and went looking for medical help.
“The nurse ran me off,” Meyer said. “She said guys with their arms missing and all blackened from being burned and you were worried about one finger. Later I thought about it and she was right. I shouldn’t have been there for just a little bleeding finger.”
Meyer’s next ship proved to be far luckier. For three years and nine months he served aboard the USS Detroit. At Pearl the Japanese torpedoes missed the Detroit and she never took a hit during the war after that. And, the Detroit was sitting in Tokyo Bay when, aboard the USS Missouri, General Douglas MacArthur signed the peace treaty ending World War II.
“That was the best 18 seconds of my life,” Meyer said.
During the groundbreaking, Clouser said the mission of the VFW is to “foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts and to serve our veterans in our communities and to advocate for all veterans.”
Now that Lytle has its first ever VFW home the post will be able to “advance the ability to serve our veterans and our military in our community,” he said.
“The members of the Lytle VFW are excited for the future and look forward to the ability to serve veterans by giving them a safe place to come for assistance,” Clouser said.
The youngest servicemen in the 1941 attacks, who were 17 years old, would be turning 99 this year. It is unknown how many survivors are still here to share their stories with younger generations.

Summer Fest at Moore Community Center this Saturday

This young lady was all smiles as she enjoyed a popcicle at the Fourth of July celebration in Lytle. There was a great turn out!

The Moore Community Improvement Club proudly presents “Summer Fest,” a celebration of community, food, music, and fun! Mark your calendars for a day filled with excitement at the Moore Community Center this Saturday, July 15th at 11 AM.
Pitmasters and barbecue enthusiasts are gathering for another exciting competition in Moore! Showcase your skills and compete in our sizzling Barbecue Cookout Contest. Pit your flavors, techniques, and secret recipes against other talented teams for a chance to claim the title of Pit Master. The overall winning team will not only earn the prestigious honor but also take home a grand prize worth 30% of the overall entry fees! Think your team has what it takes to be crowned the ultimate barbecue champions? Sign up extended to July 14th (space limited) to secure your spot and put that to the test! The entry fee for cookout teams is $150.
Discover unique treasures and support local businesses at our vibrant pop-up marketplace. Whether you’re looking for handmade crafts, jewelry, or artwork, our talented vendors have something for everyone. If you are interested in showcasing your products and services, there are still a few spaces available. You can secure a spot for just $25. Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to engage with the community and expand your customer base!
Like a little friendly competition then our Cornhole tournament is sure to please. We are taking sign-ups the day of the event. Cost per player is $20 and first place teams not only get prizes but prize money! Bring your friends and head out for some friendly fun under the sun.
Car enthusiasts, this Summer Fest also has a special place for you! Marvel at the display of classic and custom vehicles at our Summer Fest Show and Shine. Admire the craftsmanship and dedication put into these stunning automobiles and strike up conversations with fellow enthusiasts. There will be chance to vote for people’s choice and give-away opportunity for those showcasing your ride.
Everyone should get ready to dance and groove to the beats provided by the Solis Brothers, along with other local bands featuring Chris and Cassandra Salinas, Hollywood and the All-Star Band and Last Call featuring Randy Brown, Kevin Langley and James Little and DJs, who will be contributing to the vibrant and energetic atmosphere throughout the event. You will be sure to enjoy a variety of music genres that will keep you on your feet, embracing the rhythm of the day. We haven’t forgotten about our littlest community members! Kids can participate in exciting games and activities specially designed to keep them entertained and smiling all day long! Those who are old enough or have parent supervision, can participate in legally vandalizing and destroying an old junkyard car, a rare opportunity for sure!
We invite you to bring your family and friends to the Moore Community Center for a day of entertainment, mouthwatering food, and community spirit. Summer Fest promises to be a joyous occasion that will create lasting memories for everyone in attendance. Don’t miss out on this incredible event that celebrates our vibrant community! Join the Moore Community Improvement Club and be a part of our 3rd annual Summer Fest experience!

Lytle to host July 4th Annual Independence Day Celebration

This year the city will be partnering with the Lytle Chamber of Commerce for Lytle’s Annual Independence Day Celebration to make the event even better. The event will take place on July 4th at the John Lott Municipal Park. There will be food trucks set up along with live entertainment from both Chuck Wimer and Matthew Ryan.  
The music and food trucks will start at 5:00 pm and last till around 8:20 pm with fireworks being the Grand Finale. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the evening with family and friends. Don’t forget the bring your lawn chairs and dancing boots.
If you don’t want to stay for the fireworks show feel free to visit the food trucks for a great dinner option and enjoy some live music.

A Beautiful Day at Devine Market

Devine Market Association hosts an event on the first Saturday of the month by the Community Center in Devine.
Devine High School Robotics students gave youngsters an exciting demonstration of how their robots work at the Devine Market this past Saturday. It was one of the many awesome booths at the market this weekend where several local farmers, and artisians bring thier products to market in downtown Devine by the community center each month.
Happy Highland Homestead is a family business, and little Harley Rasar was there helping daddy sell their homegrown flower bouquets, fresh eggs, and lettuce. She’s also quite the entrepreneur making a line of her own freeze dried marshmellow candy.

Golf Tournament Saturday… Audrey Jane – Divine Savior Lutheran Church
“Gift of Hope”

At 10:45 am Saturday, April 29, the Divine Savior Lutheran Church’s 7th Annual Gift of Hope Golf Tournament gets underway at the Devine Golf Club Course with a tee time of 11:00 am. The Devine Golf Club and course are at 116 Malone Drive, Devine, Texas.
This tournament was not played when scheduled in the fall of 2022 due to bad weather. The tournament proceeds will go to our 2022 beneficiary, Audrey Jane Capps. The proceeds are to help her directly with her needed therapies. The “Gift of Hope” is a charity established in 2015 by Divine Savior Lutheran Church members to help Medina County families with debt due to a debilitating disease.
Tournament play calls for four-person teams, the maximum handicapped for women is 24, and the maximum handicapped for men is 18. The entry fee for each player is $75.00. The entry fee includes a free meal, golf cart, and green costs. Mulligans are $10.00 per tournament player. Other competitive activities planned are Chipping Contest at $20.00 per participant and Tiger Drive at $40.00 per team. Winners of these competitions will receive a cash prize.
Door prizes for all golf tournament participants are to be awarded.
Cash awards for tournament players winning 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place depending on the number of entries.
Hole number four on the course is dedicated to celebrating the golfing life of Jerry Wayne Busby, the Hondo Municipal Golf Course manager who recently passed away from colon cancer. The $500.0000 award goes to the golfer who scores a hole-in-one on hole number four.
Our beneficiary Audrey Jane Capps, daughter of Josh and Brittany Capps, is the recipient of our November 2022 fundraiser and spilling over into 2023 due to the unforeseeable weather delaying the golf tournament.
Audrey was born with a rare genetic disease called Ataxia Telangiectasia. The A-T disease is rare, occurring only in one out of forty thousand births. Audrey just turned five and is now attending school. She is a precious little girl who believes in all princesses. Her imagination is incredible.


A child with A-T disease usually cannot walk by age ten.
Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) is a genetic disease. It causes loss of muscle control, balance, cancer, and lung disease and comprises the immune system in children and young adults.
Devine Acres Farm hosted a benefit last Saturday. The benefit is known as “Audrey Jane’s Light” and is used to raise funds for the “A-T Children Project,” an organization dedicated to finding a cure for all who have A-T. Carriers of the A-T gene are approximately one per hundred in the general population compared to the typical population. The cancer rate in children with A-T is a thousand times higher, and the cancer rate of carriers can be up to four times higher. The “A-T Children Project” has become worldwide.
Last Saturday, at Devine Acres Farm, I was handed a book called “Life’s a Journey” written by Colten Jay Skinner, a young man diagnosed with this disease at birth. “Life’s a Journey” is a nonfiction biography of a boy’s hardships which have become a blessing.
Colten was born in a small town in Illinois in 1992. He was diagnosed with A-T at birth. Colten and his brother Duey, who passed at age twenty-nine, were confined to a wheelchair in elementary school. His brother died of cancer at the age of twenty-nine.
A-T spokesperson for this disease was at Devine Acres Farm last Saturday. She took a picture of my husband and me holding Colten’s book. She immediately sent the photo to Colten, and he immediately responded. What a blessing God gave us. This book will soon become a movie. Colten’s life has become a journey every single day. He is a young man who lives every day of his life to help others.
The “Gift of Hope” has helped many children and adults through the last seven years. We all need to realize that expenses pile up when treatment is necessary. Our gift is only a tiny portion. Donations to the “Gift of Hope” have
helped many families during this journey. I hope to see you all on April 29. This one is for Audrey Jane.

Community raises $140K at Audrey Jane’s Light fundraiser for a cure

The community really came together once again, to help this sweet little princess Audrey Jane Capps, 5 years old, pictured here with her family Josh and Brittany Capps and baby brother Kenneth and local firefighters who joined the Fun Run Some Run Princess & Protectors event in Devine.
The event will be held annually at Devine Acres Farm until we find a cure for Audrey and all A-T warriors!
It was a full day full of fun with fishing, a giant jump pad, hay rides, and live music, great BBQ and more. The live and silent auctions were a blast and we cannot thank donors and volunteers enough for helping this sweet Princess. Kiddos loved meeting the Paw Patrol, Elsa & Anna, Moana, Ariel, the Power Rangers, and Batman, and you can look forward to an event just as exciting next year at Devine Acres! Follow Audrey Janes Light Facebook Page for more info. A-T (Ataxia Telangiectasia) is a rare nuerological disease facing more families in Texas than any other place in the U.S. Because 1 in 3 kids develop cancer, many experts believe when we find a cure for A-T, we may find the cure for some types of cancer as well. If you would still like to donate, you can do so online at www.atcp.org/Audrey PHOTOS & SPONSORS ON PAGE 9-10

Coming to Devine April 15th
Benefit at Devine Acres features full day of fun including kid’s shows, games, BBQ, concert, fun run

The Drug Store Cowboys will headline the concert under the stars from 6 PM to 10 PM at Devine Acres. They play a mix of Americana, Texacana, Classic Rock, 90’s Rock, R & B, Classic Country, Top 40 Country, Blues-Based Rock & Roll. Band members are: Dub Robinson – Guitars, Vocals, Songwriter.

Tickets are on sale now for a big event coming up soon in Devine. On Saturday April 15, all of your favorite characters will be appearing at Devine Acres Farm for a meet and greet!
Kiddos participating in the fun run race will get some special “backstage VIP time” with Elsa & Anna, Moana, and Ariel until the show starts.
Devine Acres will open the farm at 10 am.
8:30 AM- Fun Run kicks off
9:30 AM- Kiddos in the Fun Run get VIP time with the princesses
10 AM- Devine Acres Farm Opens to public with 50+ fun activities for kids and families (tickets $10)
10:30 AM SHOW- The San Antonio Singing Princesses will take the stage for an interactive performance which includes them singing all of your favorite movie songs. Right afterward there will be a meet and greet and more fun with Elsa & Anna, Ariel, and Moana until 12:30.
10 AM-1PM- Your favorite Paw Patrol and Power Rangers will also be there to meet and greet with the kiddos.
Balloon Swords & Tiaras and Face Painting
We will have a baloon artist making balloon swords and tiaras as kiddos visit with the princeses and characters. There will also be face painters there in the shaded area where the performance takes place.
Your tickets into the farm also include entry into the farm which has 50+ family fun activities for kids including catch and release fishing, a giant jumping pad, gem mining, hayrides, several playgrounds, a race track, barnyard animals, and much more.
4 PM- Live music by Adrian Reyes will kick off. Keith Lutz will also be playing some tunes and will be the auctioneer that night where lots of great prizes will go to the high bidder for a good cause.
6 PM- 10 PM The whole family will enjoy the Concert Under the Stars in the evening with live music by Keith Lutz and also the Drug Store Cowboys to top the night off.
See ticket info on back page.
**Food/Drinks/BBQ Plates will also be for sale as well as a GIANT silent & live auction with dozens of great prizes!!!!

Egg Hunts in Devine and Lytle

Devine– This Saturday, April 8th at 4:00 pm, the Devine Golf Group will be hosting the 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
The first 100 kids get a free basket. Over 600 kids enjoyed the hunt last year. Everyone is invited to join in.
Bring big baskets commented Ron Richards, as they will have lots of eggs.

Lytle’s 2023 Easter Eggs-Travaganza will take place this Saturday, April 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at John Lott Municipal Park sponsored by the Lytle Tourism Dept.
Registration starts at noon, fee is one canned good or $1 per child. Egg Hunt is for kids ages 1-8 at 2:00 p.m. Easter Bunny will appear at 1:00 p.m. Enjoy early bird prize drawings.

Bluebonnet Festival Fun

KODAK Digital Still Camera

The Annual Natalia Bluebonnet Festival and Parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, 2023. 
The festival begins with the vendors opening at 9 am, then the parade at 11 a.m. through downtown Natalia.  Afterwards we move to the festival grounds for the festivities, to include food trucks/booths, craft/vendor booths, music and activities for the kids.  Don’t forget to bring your own chair and shade, as both are limited on the festival grounds. Please remember no outside food and drinks are allowed at the festival. We will have lots of great food and beverage choices available from our vendors.

Dancers two-steppin under the stars at City Park during Lytle’s Music Fest, which featured a great line-up this past weekend. Performing on stage was the headliner, the Ken Faux Band.


The Natalia Bluebonnet Festival Committee would also like to thank the OFFICIAL coordinators of the 2023 Natalia Bluebonnet Festival:  The City of Natalia, The Natalia Public Library Foundation, the Natalia Municipal Development District and the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library.  We greatly appreciate their help in pulling off this year’s festival. 
The Natalia Bluebonnet Festival is the single, largest fundraising event for the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library. 

This year’s vendor and parade registrations are online at nataliabluebonnetfestival.com.  Vendor fees may also be paid in person or online at the time of registration.


If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the festival, below are the details concerning this year’s sponsorship levels:
Gold Level ($1,000 minimum contribution) – mention on all print advertising, logo on festival t-shirt, recognition at event, logo on festival website and social media;
Bluebonnet Level ($500) – mention on all print advertising, recognition at event, logo on website and social media;
Mustang Level ($250) and- recognition at event and logo on website and social media
Friend of the Library ($100) – name/logo on website and social media
This year’s vendor and parade registrations are online at nataliabluebonnetfestival.com.  Vendor fees may also be paid in person or online at the time of registration.
All proceeds from the festival directly benefit the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library and aid the library in providing Summer Reading Program activities, new technology and new books for the library’s collection.
Please contact Amy at 210-213-1990 or stop by the Natalia Library.
“We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 Natalia Bluebonnet Festival!” said Amy M. Edge, Library Director.
Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library. (830) 455-0007 Office, (210) 213-1990 Cell. Email: Natalialibraryfoundation@gmail.com

Devine Arts Walk
this Saturday evening 6-9 downtown

Bring the family and grab your friends for an evening of arts and community in historic downtown Devine. The Devine Markets Association, best known for our monthly farmers markets in Devine, Hondo and soon, Lytle, wish to show appreciation for supporting all our hardworking producers.
After the First Saturday Market on this Saturday, April 1st, we’re closing the streets and opening our downtown businesses to showcase local artists and share a great evening. Come out from 6-9 PM to mingle with friends, meet the artists and check out our local small businesses.
For the kiddos, Ms. Mickie from Dove Street Deals will host a children’s art project area. For the big kids, Sandy Oaks will have their mobile cocktail and beer sales. For everyone, Doe Re Mi Lavender Farm will be playing music on the streets.
Please join the DMA for fun and casual night out to share just a few of the great things about Devine.
For more information artists can contact skerxleben@yahoo.com and general inquiries can be directed to steve@smithpastures.com .
WE’RE CLOSING THE STREETS for this FREE event sponsored by the Devine Markets Association. All to thank you for supporting our member-producers at the First Saturday Market.
If you’re a regular or haven’t made it out yet, allow us to show appreciation for being a part of a supportive, welcoming community. See y’all there!
Earlier in the day the Market will host their monthly Farmer’s Market from 9 am to 3 pm.