Category: Events

Local Events in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties!

Local Cancer Survivor gives back

Grant (left) with Steven Petry (right) of GTZ Powder Coating.

This Friday and Saturday, the Sky High for Kids will hold a banquet and shooting clay tournament to raise funds for Cancer research. One item up for auction at the banquet is a 300 Blackout rifle built and donated by local highschooler and two-time cancer survivor, senior Grant Wagoner. 

“I figured I could use my skills for good and try to raise some money for those kids in the hospital. I was really surprised when they came to me asking to build a gun for them, but I really enjoyed it and liked being able to give back.” 

This rifle, custom built by Wagoner, was originally gifted to him as a series of donated parts by veterans and gun enthusiasts to occupy Grant’s time in the hospital during his second time being treated for brain cancer, at only 7 years old. 

“I was stuck doing nothing in the hospital and I wanted to buy a gun to put together. My dad made a post on Facebook and everyone started sending me all these parts. That’s how I really got into building AR’s like this”

Grant isn’t the only one to contribute to this donation. San Antonio based GTZ Powder Coating, operated by veteran Steven Petry, gave the blackout a slick orange and blue paint job and laser engraving.

“We found GTZ on Facebook and reached out to see if they’d be interested in helping us, and they decided to do the engraving and coating for free. It turned out even better than I could have imagined.”

The Sky High Benefit Banquet and Shooting Clay Tournament will be held November 11th through the 12th at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and The National Shooting Complex, respectively. 

Annual Veterans Day Ceremony….

Come honor those who so honorably served at the beautiful Veteran’s Memorial Monument in the heart of downtown Natalia.

The Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 11:00 am at the front of the Veterans Memorial Monument in Natalia, Texas.
As in years past, limited seating will be available. St Hwy 132 will be blocked off for the event. We invite you to come to the Ceremony as it is our time to pay tribute to the men and women of our County who chose and continue to choose to protect and defend our Country.

Devine Fall Festival this Saturday
Parade at 10am, followed by food, carnival, live music and shopping

A photo of last year’s fun. The Carnival will be in Devine this coming Thursday thru Saturday. The parade and festival kick off Saturday morning. See schedule and all the details in this week’s paper.

The 61st Annual Devine Cactus Fall Festival will be hosted in downtown Devine as usual and will start off with a 10:00 am parade (judging starts at 9am) followed by a carnival and festival, shopping, food, games and live music all day and night.
Parade Grand Marshalls will be all area Veterans, please contact Gary Saathoff 210-289-6204 if you are willing to ride on the Veteran’s floats or in cars. They are forming before 8:15 at the VFW parking lot, departing at 8:30 am to the lineup. Veterans will be the guests of honor and we encourage all veterans that can to join in and ride, and encourage parade goers to respect and honor them by taking off your hats, standing and waving as they pass by surrounded by US Flags.
The parade judging will start at 9:00 am so participants need to be in place before then. As usual the parade with start at the right light in front of Medina Glass at the intersection of Hwy 173 and FM 2200. It will disband in the VFW parking lot.
This year’s parade has over 50 entries and the number is climbing daily as Cindy Morales encourages anyone who would like a float in the parade to call her this week or go by Morales Realty or Bushel and a Peck to fill out a form. There is plenty of room at the back of the parade at this point, so come on and join in the fun.
The Warhorse Mighty Marching Band will be marching and playing the music and style that earned them a Divison 1 at Region and great success this year at the UIL Area Marching Contest, just short of the finals.
The Cactus Fall Festival will have free live music all day on two different stages. The Jeremy Richards Band will headline the event in the 10pm-12 midnight slot. Before him will be David Adam Byrnes from 8-10 pm featuring country music as well. Also playing on the main stage will be The Watters Band (6pm), Bad Funky Bones (11 am), David Tribble (2:30 pm), Love Killed The Hero (4pm), The Fleeks (1pm), DJ Rockin’ Reece.
On the second stage on College Street will be Claude Morgan and The Bandaholics (4:15pm), Michael Wade (3:15pm), John Whipple (2:15), and Bill Caisse taking the stage kicking music off at 1:00pm.
The Hermann Sons Dance Classes will perform on Stage 2 after the parade around 11:30ish.
A Kids Corral will be set up in the concrete slab area between the bank and community center. Three area churches are working together to put on the kids corral.
The Gelly Ball activity is back and will be behind the bank on College Street.
The Carnival will be here from Thursday thru Saturday.
The Youth Art Exhibit will be on display in the community center featuring the theme “Our Community in Cactus and Color”. Over 1,000 entries have been sent in and will be displayed.
Also inside the community center will be exhibits featuring the Cactus Zoo from 1950s, an interactive exhibit featuring the 125th Anniversary of The Devine News, and the annual Plant Sale hosted by the Devine Garden Club.
There will be a full food court with 12 food booths, 7 food trucks and over 60 retail vendor booths will line the parking lot and streets for your shopping fun and offer many different types of good food.
No outside food or drinks are allowed. Lawn chairs are welcome.
If you would like to volunteer to help contact President Bonnie Manning of Devine Chamber at Bon Cafe in Devine or by phone at 210-718-6301. Questions about the parade contact Cindy Morales at 210-218-6530 , and for booth information contact Heather Shults at 210-710-1176.
Be sure to come out Saturday, November 5 on and enjoy the festival and fellowship in downtown Devine.
See devinechamber.org or facebook for other details on vendors joining in this year.

2022 Devine Fall
Cactus Festival
Entertainment Lineup

***Thurs-Saturday – Carnival

***Saturday, November 5, 2022
***10:00 am Parade starts (at corner of- Hwy173/FM220)
***Activities:
11:00-5:00- Exhibits & Art Show inside the community center
11:00 am -All day- Gelly Ball – on College Street
11:00 am -All day- Kids Corral- on College/Bright St.
11:30 am Hermann Sons Dance Classes- Stage 2

***Live Music- Main stage (bank parking lot)
11:00 am – Bad Funky Bones
1:00 pm – The Fleeks
2:30 pm – David Tribble
4:00 pm – Love Killed the Hero
6:00 pm – The Watters Band
8:00 pm – David Adam Byrnes
10:00 pm – Jeremy Richards Band
(Entertainment brought to you by a host of 2022 Devine Fall Cactus Festival Sponsors.)

***Stage 2 (behind Library on College St.)
11:30ish: Hermann Sons Dance Classes
***Live Music-
1:00 pm – Bill Caisse
2:15 pm – John Whipple
3:15 pm – Michael Waide
4:15 pm – Claude Morgan & the Bandaholics
(Entertainment sponsored by Medina Electric Coop. Stage, Tables and Chairs by Party Rentals, Devine for the seating area on College Street near Stage 2.)

Devine Fall Festival Nov. 5th Volunteers still needed

Enter your parade float now

The 61st Annual Devine Cactus Fall Festival will be hosted in downtown Devine as usual and will start off with a 10 am parade followed by a carnival and festival, shopping, food, games and live music all day and night.
Volunteers are needed to help in the ticket booth, beer and soda booth, helping set up on Friday and Saturday, and various other duties. If you would like to volunteer to help contact President Bonnie Manning of Devine Chamber at Bon Cafe in Devine or by phone at 210-718-6301.
The Fall Festival will have free live music all day on two different stages. Jeremy Richards Band will headline the event in the 10-12 midnight slot. Before him will be David Adam Byrnes from 8-10 pm featuring country music as well. Also playing on the main stage will be The Watters, Bad Funky Bones, David Tribble, Love Killed The Hero, The Fleeks, DJ Rockin’ Reece.
On the second stage on College Street will be Claude Morgan and The Bandaholics, Michael Wade, John Whipple, and Bill Caisse.
The Carnival will be here from Thursday thru Saturday.
The Youth Art Exhibit will be on display in the community center featuring the theme “Our Community in Cactus and Color”.
There will be a full food court with 12 food booths (6 still available), 7 food trucks and over 60 retail vendor booths will line the parking lot and streets for shopping fun and offer many different types of good food.
There are six food booths available, call Heather Shultz 210-710-1176 for inquires and to sign up. Prices vary from $150 to $175 for the booth space.
No outside food or drinks are allowed.
Be sure to mark Saturday, November 5 on the calendar and come out and enjoy the festival in downtown Devine.

Huge Dumpsters available during Keep Lytle Beautiful event this Saturday Oct 22

LYTLE- Great opportunity to get rid of items that you no longer need this Saturday, 22 October, between 8am and 12pm at either Lytle City Hall or Lytle High School parking lot. Bring your items to one of these dumpster during this Keep Lytle Beautiful event and help keep your community beautiful. This event is FREE to Lytle residents.
Please review details on the advertisement on page 3 of this week’s Devine News for a list of acceptable items and prohibited items. Remember to bring your utility bill that shows you are a customer of Lytle.
Gather acceptable bulk items at your home and bring them to either location, Lytle City Hall or Lytle High School parking lot from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Acceptable items:
include furniture, mattresses, brush, washers, dryers, refrigerators (no CFCs), water heaters (drained), BBQ grills (no fuel tanks), carpeting cut into four foot (4’) bundles, sinks, toilets.
Prohibited are:
items generated by a contractor or business, batteries, electronics, concrete, brick, asphalt & roofing materials, construction debris, gasoline, oil and filters, paint or stain products, tires and vehicle parts, appliances containing Freon.
Help Clean Streets- volunteers sought
“Please come out and help us clean up the streets this coming Saturday, October 22. Anyone willing to help can just come to City Hall at around 8:00 to get bags, gloves, and other supplies to pick up trash along our city’s streets.Thanks”, said Alderman David Emery.
Keep Lytle Beautiful is sponsored by WM and Keep Lytle Beautiful (KLB).
The four hour event will be from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm (noon) this Saturday, October 22, 2022.
Contact WMs At Your Door Special Collection to safely collect unwanted hazardous and hard to recycle items from your home: 1-800-449-7587 (Mon-Fri 5 am to 5pm PT) or AtYourDoor@WM.com for details on that program.

Early Voting starts this Monday, October 24

MEDINA COUNTY–Early voting will start on Monday, October 24, 2022 and run through November 4, 2022 in Medina County.
You may vote at ANY polling location within Medina County during the election, both early voting and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th.
Sample Ballots
Medina County Sample ballots for the 2022 November Joint General Election can be viewed by clicking the following link https://www.medinacountytexas.org/page/medina.Elections. If you have any questions, please call the elections office at (830) 741-6009.
Early voting:
Mon-Fri, Oct. 24-28 from 8am-5pm. One Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9am-2pm. Mon, Wed, Fri, Oct. 31, Nov. 2, Nov. 4 from 8am to 5pm. Tues &Thurs, Nov. 1 & 3 from 7am to 7 pm.
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 8 you can vote 7 am to 7 pm
Early voting locations:
Medina County Courthouse Annex, 1300 Ave M, Rm 110, Hondo, TX
Medina County Pct. 2 Annex Bldg, 8366 FM 471 S, Castroville, TX
Medina County Pct. 4 Annex Bldg, 317 Hwy 132 N, Devine, TX
Election Day Locations:
Natalia – First Baptist Church Youth Bldg, 300 Pearson St, Natalia, TX
Devine – Medina County Pct. 4 Annex Bldg, 317 Hwy 132 N, Devine, TX
Castroville – Medina County Pct. 2 Annex Bldg, 8366 FM 471 S, Castroville, TX
Hondo Public Library, 2003 Ave K, Hondo, TX
Hondo – ST Regional Training Center, 402 Carter, Hondo, TX
D’Hanis Community Center, D’Hanis, TX
Mico Volunteer Fire Department, Mico, TX

City and School Elections on ballots:
**Additional contests on ballot may include (depending on your residence): for Natalia ISD, City of Natalia, Utopia ISD, and D’Hanis ISD.

Natalia Homecoming Parade, Community Pep Rally and Tailgate

Natalia will host a homecoming parade, community pep rally and tailgate on Wednesday, October 12th. The Parade will start at 6:30 pm with the pep rally and tailgate to immediately follow.
The parade will start at the High School parking lot, travel down Kearney to Hwy. 132 and pass in front of the City Office before turning up Miller Street to finish at the Mustang Stadium parking lot.
If you are interested in entering a float in the Homecoming Parade, please go to https://forms.gle/LSVCFDgTUjNMphja7 and complete the form. Deadline to submit the form is October 7, 2022.

Fire Station to be named after the DuBose family this Saturday, October 8

Volunteer firemen and women who have served with the Devine Volunteer Fire Department are invited to come, bring their stories and memories to share with all as the new fire house is dedicated this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. And bring those photos to share like the one above.

On October 8th at 3:00 pm ESD 2 and Devine Volunteer Fire Department will dedicate the ESD 2 fire station to the DuBose family!
“Today I got the great opportunity to go through old pictures of former DVFD staff with my assistant chief and dear friend Charlie Patrick DuBose. Since Devine fire’s inception in 1929 the DuBose family has played an intrical part in fire and EMS protection here in Devine,” said DVFD Chief Greg Atkisson. “
“There has been a DuBose on the roster for 83 out of the 93 years of Devine Fire Department existence. A DuBose helped found the department, helped incorporate the department, and a DuBose even helped in establishing the Emergency Service District 2.
So join us October 8th at 3pm for the dedication and plaque unveiling for the newly named DuBose station!
Please join DVFD as we salute all the volunteer firemen and women who have protected our community with their lives, time, talents and dedication and would love for them to join us as we honor them, the founders, and generations of families who have help protect our home, businesses and lives as well as the DuBoses.
“Devine VFD is integral to our town’s history. In the earliest days fires changed the landscape of our young town. There were so many fires from the mid-late 1890s to the early 1900s-1910s that the city leaders created ordinances or laws for the historic downtown that said if a building burned it had to replaced by a brick or rock building,” said Nancy Saathoff.

1st Saturday Market in downtown Devine


Join the community’s flourishing First Saturday Market this Saturday, October 1st from 9 am – 3 pm. The event packed with local vendors is held in the community center parking lot in downtown Devine.
The Devine Markets Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, created and operated by craft and cottage producers to provide venues, training and support for our producers so that they can serve our community