August was the 4th hottest and driest on record since 1895

The following is State Capital Highlights for the week of September 18-22:
Paxton acquitted on all impeachment counts
Ken Paxton has been reinstated as Texas Attorney General after the Texas Senate on Saturday acquitted him of charges of bribery and misuse of office. Only two Republican senators joined the 12 Democrats in voting to convict him of some of the 16 charges heard by the Senate, with four other charges dismissed by the Senate, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Continue reading “August was the 4th hottest and driest on record since 1895”

What is passive investing?

Individuals looking to grow their money have many options at their disposal. For example, real estate is often cited as a wise investment, as the value of property has historically increased by a significant margin over the course of a lifetime, providing a substantial return all the while fulfilling the basic need for housing that everyone has. But buying property is not the only potentially lucrative long-term investment strategy.

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Devine school board asks voters for VATRE Tax rate and $11.2 Million bond election date set for Nov. 7

At its monthly meeting Monday, August 21, DISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call for a $11.255 million bond election and a voter-approval tax ratification election (VATRE) for Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
What is a VATRE?

Continue reading “Devine school board asks voters for VATRE Tax rate and $11.2 Million bond election date set for Nov. 7”

1st Annual Angels in the Fairway Golf Tournament Announced

The Devine Golf Course will be the site of the 1st Annual Angels in the Fairway Golf Tournament on September 23rd, 2023 with registration beginning at 9a.m. and a shot gun start at 11a.m.
The entry fee is $150 per player which includes the green fee, cart and lunch. The format is 4 person scramble (red & white tees only). The first place payout is $1,600, second place is $1,200 and third place $600.
The tournament is a fundraiser for the Samantha Buvinghausen scholarship fund, the Dillon Burleson Memorial and the Jacob Sanchez Scholarship. All were proud members of DHS class of 2006.
For more information, please contact the Devine Golf Course at 830-665-9943 or Ali at 210-508-6606.

Arabians to play District opener this Friday night in the DSAC

Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
The Devine Arabian volleyball team definitely has had more than its fair share of grueling matches going into Friday night’s District 29-4A opener in the DSAC. Countless games against 5A and 6A schools as well as numerous other matches against perennial powers prepared Head Coach Leigh Anne McIver and her players for what lies ahead over the course of the 46 day stretch of district competition.

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Details released as 30-hour Murder trial comes to an end

PRESS RELEASE by Mark Haby, Medina County Criminal District Attorney

A 19-YEAR-OLD SAN ANTONIO MAN WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF ELIJAI ALTON CHANDLER AFTER A MEDINA COUNTY JURY REJECTED HIS CLAIM OF SELF-DEFENSE.

Jeremiah Jordan Brown

Jeremiah Jordan Brown, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was with the 24-year-old victim during a shooting at an East-Side Valero Gas station in the early hours of February 6th, 2022, in which one man was wounded and taken to the hospital, though he did survive his injuries. Brown and the victim immediately fled the area until they found a dark service road in Castroville, Texas, where they then attempted to dispose of and bury the gun used in that earlier shooting.

Testimony from the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy revealed that the victim had been shot in the head seven times with no evidence of defensive wounds. Brown fled the scene in the victim’s car, taking the gun with him and ultimately disposing of it, resulting in additional charges for Tampering with Physical Evidence and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.

The Texas Rangers were called in to investigate the discovery of the victim’s body, which was found by a hiker less than 100 yards from Highway 90 and just down the hill from the well-known Hillside Boutique & Spa. Through an investigation involving numerous interviews & review of cell phone evidence that lasted more than 30 straight hours, investigators identified Jeremiah Brown as the shooter. Both in his interview with the Rangers, as well as at trial, Brown and his defense team claimed he acted in self-defense, arguing that he was acting in “sudden passion” after seeing his biological sister’s new boyfriend get shot at the San Antonio area gas station. Evidence from Brown’s cell phone, as well as interviews with family members who saw Brown after the shooting, revealed that he sought to avoid being tied to the first shooting, telling others that he didn’t know where the victim was and that he had last seen him when he abandoned him at a convenience store.

After three full days of testimony, the jury deliberated on Brown’s guilt for less than two hours on Friday, August 11th, swiftly rejecting his claim of self-defense. The court immediately moved to the punishment phase, which concluded on Monday, August 14th. Brown was sentenced to 30 years for Murder, 10 years for Tampering with Physical Evidence (the maximum allowed by law), and 2 years for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle (also the maximum allowed by law). Brown must serve half his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

“Our community has begun to feel the effects of crime spilling over from San Antonio, and this verdict sends a strong message to any would be criminals that they will be held accountable” said District Attorney Mark P. Haby.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christian Neumann & Jeff Diles, while Brown was represented by the Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office.

Meet the DHS Athletes, Band, & Cheerleaders August 18

Meet all of the Fall athletes, cheerleaders, and the Warhorse Marching Band this Friday at Warhorse Stadium. Pictured above, the Arabian Varsity Volleyball team is led by seniors Kaylee Romano, Kelsey Dishman, Rylee Esquibel, Brooklyn Miller, Kate Featherly, and Mngr. Lizbeth De Lo Santos.

Mark your calendars. Devine’s Athletic Booster, Band Booster, and community members will host a Meet the Athletes, the Marching Band, and the Cheerleaders Pep Rally Friday, August 18 at Warhorse Stadium.
The event kicks off at 7:00pm.
Free hot dogs and water add to the excitement and serve as a bonus because all who show up will also not have to worry about cooking dinner that night.

Devine City Council decides to pull back on search for permanent City Administrator

Wyatt and Carter Noll, starting 1st and 3rd grade, are all smiles on the first day of school at Natalia ISD. More back to school pics on page 14.

By Kathleen Calalme
Publisher
In an interesting turn of events, Devine City Council decided to temporarily “terminate and stop advertising” in their search for a City Administrator until further notice, or September 18th, on a Debbie Randall/ Flipper Vega motion.
The motion passeda 4 (Randall, Vega, Hernandez, and Pyron) to 1, with Josh Ritchey voting against stopping the progress.
“I would like to terminate advertising for the city administration position until further notice or until September,” said Debbie Randall, District 5 Councilwoman.
“Not until September…?” questioned Interim City Admin. Dora Rodriguez.
“I think you need a time, September 15 or so,” suggested Mayor Butch Cook.
“Okay, September 18”, Randall replied.
After executive session at 8:11 pm the council reconvened and the mayor announced no action was taken during the executive session item, “Personnel matters- discuss and consider City Administrator issues.”
Randall immediately made the motion to terminate advertising for a new city administrator.
“The motion is to discontinue advertising for a city admin until Sept 18”, said Cook. “Any discussion? Already done?”
Without any further discussion on why, Flipper seconded Randall’s motion and the motion carried with 4 ayes and 1 nay.
Council and mayor responses
After the meeting, The News offered each council person and the mayor a chance to express their opinion on this new turn of events in order to help the public understand why they are holding back on their search for a City Administrator.
They were given the opportunity to elaborate on their “personal reasoning or opinion” for or against this motion to terminate the search, until Sept 18, about 48 days.
Debbie Randall, District 5 response: “I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful, but my motion was based off of what was discussed in executive session, something I cannot discuss in public without breaking the trust of council”.
Josh Ritchey, District 4 response: “Officially, I can’t share what happened in the closed session. In my opinion, it is extremely irresponsible to cease the search for a city administrator with our current lack of staffing and high level of debt. This reminds me of when Mayor Thompson simply stopped releasing resumes to council. While Mayor Cook is releasing resumes, the council has chosen not to interview until sometime in September, if I recall correctly.”
Stacy Pyron, District 3 response: “While I can’t comment on discussions in executive session, I will say that I believe this was the best decision at this time. This is also temporary, and the position will be advertised again in September.”
Flipper Vega, District 1- no response as of press time.
Michael Hernandez, District 2- “All I can say is the only reason we put the thing on hold for hiring a city manager is because of budget. Interviewing 2-3 candidates in one day will take up so much time during budget session. The last 4 people we interviewed took almost 1 1/2 hours each and that was just 2 interviews per council session.”
Butch Cook, Mayor- “It is my personal opinion that we should continuously and aggressively pursue hiring a competent and qualified City Administrator and it should be our top priority. In our style of government, the City Administrator is the most important person of all – more so than the Mayor or any individual Council member and until we accomplish this goal we will just be treading water.”
Next on agenda was the budget workshop, something the council will continue to meet often to decide on priorities, the budget and tax rate.
New Council and Mayor suggesting changes to several procedures
The new City of Devine Council and Mayor are voicing some concerns over old procedures and suggesting new ones. Some would require changing of the ordinances, others not.
Mayor Butch Cook just took office three months ago in May 2023 as well as council members Stacy Pyron and Michael Hernandez.
Josh Ritchey was elected to the council last year.
Flipper Vega has served several terms as well as Debbie Randall.