Bluebonnet Festival set for March 25th

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.

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.
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. 
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

Undercover citizen witnessed drug sale, trial lands woman
9 years in prison

PRESS RELEASE
Medina County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Jeff Diles, Assistant District Attorney and G.O.N.E. Prosecutor for the Medina County Criminal District Attorney (MCCDA), Mark P. Haby, announced that Patricia Ann Lara, of Hondo, was sentenced today by a Medina County Jury to nine years of imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for delivery of 1.44 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was imposed by the same jury that found Lara guilty of the offense on March 7, 2023.
Lara was the first case falling under the umbrella of the MCCDA G.O.N.E. initiative (Gangs, Organized Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Enforcement) to be resolved by a jury trial. Lara was one of 21 individuals arrested in an early morning warrant roundup in January of 2022 after the Medina County grand jury in Hondo and a federal grand jury in San Antonio returned indictments earlier that month charging 24 men and women with several state and federal felonies. The indictments resulted from an investigation of a methamphetamine distribution network operating in Medina County. The investigation, which unearthed methamphetamine distribution activities extending to multiple Texas counties as well as Mexico, began in October of 2020 as a collaborative effort of HPD, MCSO, supported by the MCCDA G.O.N.E. initiative. Lara had been identified as an investigation target due to her associations with other players in the larger investigation.
Jury selection for the trial began on Monday, March 6 and the State, represented by Assistant District Attorneys Jeff Diles and Christian Neumann, concluded its presentation of witnesses and evidence by noon on Tuesday.
Witnesses for the state included the two investigators of the Medina County Sheriff’s office, the purchaser of the methamphetamine, a private citizen who was paid by law enforcement to purchase the drugs from Lara, and the chemist for the Texas DPS lab in Abilene who confirmed that the substance delivered was methamphetamine.
Investigators described how they met with the buyer, referred to as a Cooperating Individual or CI, prior to the buy to confirm that the buyer did not have drugs or money on their person or in their car then provided the buyer with cash from the Medina County Sheriff Drug Forfeiture Fund (not taxpayer funds) and a device for covertly recording the transaction. They also stated that they were able to watch the transaction on a live feed from the recording device and that they followed the CI from a safe distance and were able to park in a location where they could see the CI make contact with Lara in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Regency Hotel in Hondo where the transaction took place. Lara’s face was never seen on the video from the recording device, the investigators showed the jury an image from the video of a distinctive upper-arm tattoo and tattoo photos taken at the jail of Lara after a previous arrest that showed the same distinctive upper-arm tattoo.
When the CI was called as a witness, they entered the courtroom from a secure area wearing a prison jumpsuit and shackles. The CI is currently serving a prison sentence for a drug related offense and testified in this case after a bench warrant was issued by the presiding Judge requiring the CI to be brought to court to testify. The CI’s testimony matched the statements made by the investigators, and the CI confirmed it was in fact Lara who conducted the delivery of the methamphetamine, ”I gave her the money. She gave me the drugs.” The CI also identified the defendant in the courtroom as the person who gave her the methamphetamine that day.
Sarah McGregor from the DPS Crime Lab in Abilene walked the jury through the drug testing process used by DPS labs and specifically the testing used on the drugs acquired from Lara during the transaction to confirm that it was methamphetamine that was purchased by the CI.
The defense produced no witnesses on behalf of Lara, and the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict before 4:00 p.m. that same day.
The punishment phase of the trial began without delay. The state submitted evidence of Lara’s prior felony conviction and prison sentence for Injury to an Elderly Person, and Lara’s defense team presented character witnesses on behalf of Lara.
Lara was represented by attorneys with the Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office, and Judge Daniel J. Kindred, 454th Judicial District Judge, presided over the trial.

“We will rebuild”
Large fire displaces close to a dozen people, help needed

A large fire completely destroyed one apartment, but displaced all of them including around 10-15 people, according to Chief Richey Priest.
Lytle Fire was paged to Lynda’s Island apartments on Main Street around 6:06 PM that evening, and remained on scene for several hours doing everything they could.
They were assisted by area departments including Natalia Volunteer Fire. Chief Priest noted that Red Cross came to the aide of residents who were displaced.

Mrs. Parson said they could also use a cooler to put ice in as they rebuild, and most of all, help from electricians.
“There is no housing available that is affordable, so we all choose to stay here and rebuild,” Mrs. Parson said.
If you would like to volunteer to help or make a donation, contact:
Lynda Parson
210-827-4100
*Mailing address:
PO Box 493
Lytle Tx 7805

FBI makes arrest

Little is being released about the FBI’s presence in Medina County this past week. However, an arrest was made that day.
“The operation went down without any problems. Mission complete,” said Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown.
There were shots fired in the area that day, which caused alarm in the community, but it was not at the location where the FBI search was taking place, he explained.
“I cannot say anything other than that we were asked to assist the FBI, and I would like to reassure residents that everyone is safe,” Sheriff Brown said.
Brown could not confirm the location of the search which was in the Castroville area according to other brief media reports.

Salvadorian Bailout turns into all day
ordeal running through City of Devine

The case in Devine which began with a bailout involving ten suspects in the early morning hours, finally wrapped up with two final apprehensions in Devine near the end of the day. One suspect was in someone’s apartment sitting in the recliner when officers walked in, Devine PD said.

A suspect hauling 10 illegal immigrants from El Salvador was spiked as it came flying into Devine around 8:45 in the morning, but the suspects continued on quite a wild ride resulting in an hours-long ordeal this past Monday, March 13.
“DPS spiked the vehicle in front of their office on Hwy 132, but the pursuit continued, veering off to the left, going through the Shell gas station parking lot, then onto East Hondo Avenue near four corners, and down several city streets until the car eventually came to a stop,” Devine PD Chris Andrews said.
The bailout finally happened along the railroad tracks north of Dilley Street (across from Savannah’s Carwash).

“There’s barbwire from all over Frio County under this pickup truck,” said one landowner in Bigfoot/Moore after repairing fences this truck busted through. This bailout was going on in Moore, the night before the search on Devine streets. The driver of this F250 ran through many fences on some of the same ranches that were hit twice in the past two weeks. Photo courtesy of Bryan Persyn.


“All ten of them jumped out and started running in all directions. Some of them ran at least a mile,” Lieutenant Andrews said. “We captured eight of them, with some who ran as far as Fox Run/Libold that morning.”
One local resident, Ms. Bales, spotted the two men around 9 AM, and another local resident captured this photo several hours later of one of the same suspects she spotted, wearing red clothes and a mohawk as he was taken into custody.
“This morning I called 911. I saw two young men running through my front yard, jumped over my 6 foot privacy fence, through my back yard and then out my back gate.”
The search for people who bailed out occupied the departments time from 8:45 AM- Noon, and again from 1:45PM-5PM , when they were back at it, searching for the other two men who were still unaccounted for.
One of the subjects was found in an apartment on Malone Drive. When we walked in he was sitting in the recliner eating potato chips. The second man was found hiding in a shed on Howard Drive. “We just handed them over to Border Patrol a few minutes ago,” Lieutenant Andrews said around 5 pm.
Most of the subjects claimed to be from El Salvador and a couple from Honduras, according to Devine PD.

Medina County: Sheriff to get “mini x-ray machine” to check for drugs hidden inside tires;
Voting machines questioned during citizen’s comments

By Anton Riecher
Charges that voting machines used in Medina County are not properly certified under state regulations is the latest in a series of allegations alleging election irregularities made to county commissioners.
Jarrett Woodward, plaintiff in several lawsuits charging voter irregularities in Bexar County, addressed the commissioners March 9 during the public comment portion of the regular session agenda.
“The (Texas) secretary of state, in my opinion, has committed fraud upon the county by presenting uncertified voting systems as certified and trying to allow you to use them,” Woodward said.
Those speaking during the public comment period are limited to three minutes under the rules. However, Woodward’s time at the podium was extended when others scheduled to speak ceded their time to him.
For complete video coverage of the commissioners court session visit the Devine News YouTube channel at youtu.be/i7lxdZE-5ug.
Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, presiding over the meeting in the absence of County Judge Keith Lutz, later told the audience that he had been informed that speakers were not allowed to surrender their time to others.
“Consider this a freebie,” Lynch said. “It will not happen again.”
Woodward said that in Texas voting machines must be certified for use by a “nationally recognized test laboratory” chosen from a list provided by the state. However, he found at least two important items on the certificate for the voting system used in Medina County to be missing or incorrect.
The certificate of accreditation is not signed by the chair of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) as required, Woodward said. Also, the administrative code requires that it must have an expiration date that cannot exceed more than two years, he said.
Medina County uses the Hart InterCivic Verity 2.5 voting system. The certificate for that system carries an expiration date of three years, not two.
“I’m not up here accusing anyone of any intentional wrong doing,” Woodward said. “I think that the secretary of state is kind of where your focus needs to be going to rectify this.”
Woodward said that the courts had found he lacked legal standing to file action in Bexar County regarding these issues.
“Because I’m a normal citizen the courts find that I don’t have standing – as a voter – so the whole concept of one person, one vote is great outside of court but it doesn’t work in the courtroom,” Woodward said.
Medina County commissioners should be concerned that if the certification question becomes a legal issue in the future ultimate responsibility for whether the system was properly accredited could fall on them, Woodward said.
“I think that you guys have a good opportunity in front of you to show the rest of Texas that voter integrity is a top priority in Medina County,” he said.
Whitney Riley and Mona Wolters, two of the scheduled speakers who ceded their time to Woodward have made allegations of voting irregularities during previous commissioners court sessions. Riley served as the Republican county election judge and Wolters served as a Republican precinct election judge during the November 2022 general election.
Like Riley and Wolters, Woodward urged the commissioners to consider a return to hand-marked, hand counted paper ballots.
In response the concerns brought up in recent meetings, the Medina Democratic Chair Sandy Young, wrote to the News: “Just want to make a slight correction to the article on the Commissioners Court meeting about the LATs. It was not only Lupe Torres, the Election Administrator and I, as stated in the article, who worked on finding the errors they made intentionally or otherwise. The Republican Chair, Julie Clark also worked on it with us and it took the 3 of us 14 hours working closely together to identify the errors and make the corrections. Contrary to their assertion that their sabotage proves that the Hart Machines are faulty, because of the cross checking ability we had with the Hart machines newly added paper backup, the LATs actually proved how well they work. Thank you for reporting these things. Hope that it’s helpful.”


SUBDIVISIONS
The following three items were approved by the commissioners on motions by Precinct 1 Commissioner Timothy Neuman, seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre:
Preliminary approval to vacate and replat a tract of the Mi Terra subdivision, unit one, into two tracts each slightly more than five acres. The tracts provide 16.36 feet of frontage on County Road 340 in Precinct 1.
Final approval of El Tejano Ranch subdivision consisting of four lots with approval for water and electric service. The subdivision is located in Precinct 1 at the intersection of CR4401 and CR442.
Preliminary approval of Freundlicher Bauernhof (Friendly Farm) subdivision in Precinct 1 off FM 2676. The subdivision consists of five lots with the Texas Department of Transportation scheduled of start on entrances soon.
On a motion by Precinct 4 Commissioner Daniel Lawler, seconded by Sittre, the commissioners approved action on approval of an exemption to subdivision rules regarding the division of a tract of Nockenut Woods subdivision into two 6.5 acre tracts without street entrances.
Lawler explained that the owner wish to use the tracts as a “cushion” between their property and the new subdivision.
On a motion by Lynch, seconded by Lawler, the commissioners gave preliminary approval for Canal Verde subdivision, a 32-acre property in Precinct 3 at the intersection of CR672 and CR6712. The proposal involved dividing the property into 11 lots, the smallest of which would be 1.74 acres.
On a motion by Lynch, also seconded by Lawler, the commissioners gave preliminary approval for Medina Meadows West subdivision in Precinct 3 at the intersection of CR512 and CR515. The subdivision consists of 13 lots.


FINANCES
In a report from County Auditor Eduardo Lopez, Medina County showed a beginning balance of $34.3 million in March with $21.4 million in the general fund. Lopez said the amount was high due to a large amount of tax revenue received in February.
By comparison, the February beginning balance was $21.3 million with $13.4 million in the general fund.
A report by County Treasurer Debbie Southwell showed the county with $22.7 million in January against $25 million in debt owed. Accounts payable totaled $687,170 and was approved by the commissioners. Also approved was a line-item transfer of $5,400 to purchase uniforms and cover other juvenile youth services expenses.


GRANTS
On a recommendation by county officials business management consultant Grantworks was awarded the contract as services provider for the 2023-2024 Texas Department of Agriculture Community Development Block Grant application.
To serve as engineering firm for the application, the commissioners chose RESPEC Engineering which scored a 98 in an assessment by a technical committee established by the county. The competing firm scored 89 in the assessment.
On a motion by Neuman, seconded by Sittre, the commissioners approved a resolution to submit an application for a 2023-2024 Texas Community Development Block Grant in support of an East Medina County Special Utility District project in the CR5710 area.
EMCSUD Superintendent Bruce Alexander said the project was repeat of an application that was previously turned down.
“The grant was originally $350,000 but I’ve been told it might go as high as $500,000 to help cover some of the increased cost,” Alexander said.
The annual grant application is generally rotated among the various county water systems, he said.


PURCHASE
Commissioners approved an equipment and training purchase totaling $51,834 for a miniature X-ray machine to be used by the sheriff’s office for traffic stops. Deputy Chief Gilbert Ramirez said the machine would be used to check for narcotics concealed inside tires or hidden compartments.
“It can be done on the roadway instead of taking it to a shop to be disassembled,” Ramirez said.
First Assistant County Auditor Rubi Cline said the purchase would be cover from grant funds.


LEASE
On a motion by Neuman, seconded by Lynch, a leasing agreement for more than 40 copiers was approved with Toshiba at a monthly cost of $7,319, more than $2,500 less than the nearest bid out of four submitted. Some overlap is expected as the current lease with Xerox is phased out, Cline said.
Issues had developed with the Xerox contract, she said, particularly with regard to the sheriff’s office.
“They are the office that has to be running 24/4,” she said. “We have to keep them going.”

Benefit for Kristin Byrd, BBQ Plates, auction, dance at Devine VFW this Saturday

A few days after her 41st birthday, Kristin Fohn Byrd, known around Devine as, “The Baking Byrd,” (for her amazing cupcakes), went to work like any other day. In the blink of an eye she suffered a severe headache and collapsed in her office; she was rushed to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with a brain bleed. She was treated successfully and able to return home in early December with the expectation of making a full recovery with outpatient rehab. Unfortunately, that was short lived. Just two weeks later, she suffered serious complications and returned to the hospital just before Christmas, where she remains. She has undergone 11 surgeries to help her brain heal.
Kristin is surrounded by family, friends, and amazing medical professionals. There are still many unknowns at this time, but we do know she is likely to need several more weeks and at least one more procedure before she can begin rehabilitating again. Her recovery this time will take much longer than originally expected.
We invite you to come out to show your support for the Byrd Family (Husband Johnny, Daughter Brynlea, and Son Becker) on Saturday, March 11th at the Devine VFW Hall. BBQ Plate sales start at 11am until sold out. There will be a Corn Hole Tournament, Silent Auction and Dance.
For questions contact organizers: Stacie (210) 410-4712, Brandi (210) 508-2489, or Kristen (210) 218-1552.

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

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! The San Antonio Singing Princesses will also be performing this morning.
While the exact character showtimes are still to be determined, Devine Acres will open the farm at 10 am.
Your tickets 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.
Families are welcome to stay for the Concert Under the Stars in the evening with live music by Keith Lutz and also the Drug Store Cowboys.


RESERVE YOUR FAMILY FUN DAY TICKETS NOW which include your entry to the farm and also getting to meet all of your favorite TV characters, as well as the evening concert:
https://atcp.ticketspice.com/audrey-janes-light-2023
SHOW TIMES TO BE DETERMINED BUT FARM activities OPEN AT 10am


ALSO…
PRINCESS & the PROTECTORS themed Fun Run Some Run….Calling girls and boys of all ages! Dress up like your favorite Princess or your favorite superhero Protector and join us in the fun run at 8:30 AM April 15th. If you sign up for the run, you will also get a day pass ticket.


All ticket sales will benefit the A-T Children’s Project in their mission to find a cure for a rare disease affecting more kids in Texas than anywhere else in the United States. This event is held in honor of little Audrey Capps, 5 of Devine, who is one of 40 people in Texas battling this disease.


There will also be a Silent Auction, Live Auction, and Food and Drinks for Sale to benefit Audrey’s family in their fight to find a cure.

March 14 & 28…Two public meetings scheduled to explain $15.02 Million Dollar Bond up for election for City of Devine

The City of Devine will hold two Public Hearings on the on the $15.02 Million Dollar Bond proposed for drainage and flood control improvements. The voters will have the chance of voting for or against the bond during the May 6, 2023 elections at city hall.
The council and mayor want the voters a choice to decide if they feel the need for the drainage projects with the understanding it will increase taxes and max out the tax rate and ability to borrow money for the next 20 years. One drainage project starts on Libold near the golf course and ends near the funeral home with changes to Burnt Boot Creek to accommodate the extra flow. The other drainage project that will also feed into Burnt Book Creek is to alleviate issues on Crouch Street.


You are invited to the public meetings which will be on Tuesday, March 14th at 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 28th at 6:00 p.m. in the George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue beside the library.
The hearings will be in relation to the $15.02 Million Dollar Bond for drainage work which will be paid for with the levying of a tax increase.
All interested parties, individuals or groups are encouraged to attend the hearing and participate in the discussion about the city’s bond election and ask questions.
For additional information, please call the city at 830-663-2804.


Voting
Early voting starts on April 24 and run to May 2 from 8am to 5 pm. Earl and late voting hours 7am-7pm on May 1 & 2. And one Saturday voting day Saturday, April 29 from 9am to 2pm. All at city hall.
Election Day is Saturday, May 6 from 7am to 7pm.
The City of Devine early voting and election day voting will all take place at city hall.