Author: admin

Devine condemns 3 hangars for public use;
Unhappy with trash collector,
looking for new City Admin

By Anton Riecher
By a vote of 4-0, the Devine City Council has elected to notify Republic Services of its intention to withdraw from the city’s present agreement for trash collection, citing a lengthy track record of service complaints from the public.
“The citizens are not happy with what you are delivering,” said District 3 council member David Espinosa.
The action by the council came during an Oct. 25 council session at which Republic was negotiating for a new five-year agreement to replace its existing contract in place since the company acquiring previous city trash collector ACI Recycling and Disposal.
The motion by District 5 council member Debbie Randall, seconded by District 1 council member Rufino Vega, instructed city attorney Thomas P. Cate to submit a letter to Republic that it does not intend to renew the existing contract which expires in four years nor continue negotiating a replacement contract.
“I’m done,” Randall said.
However, Cate advised the council that the city remains bound to Republic for the length of the present contract. Part of the negotiations over a new agreement was the city’s request for a no-fault termination clause in case of further disagreements.
That clause was absent from the latest version submitted by Republic. The company’s manager for municipal sales, Donovan Rodriguez, told the council that any such agreement would not be to Republic’s advantage.”
“It’s already been expressed that you would get out of the agreement as soon as you could,” Rodriguez said.
Republic sought to make substantial changes in residential and commercial trash collection, such as requiring the use of separate trash carts on designated dates to pick-up yard waste. Bagged waste would no longer be allowed. Another area of negotiation involved use of temporary or permanent roll-off dumpsters for commercial trash collection. 
Republic offered compromise on both areas. However, council members Espinosa and Randall remained unsatisfied, particularly with Republic’s version of a no-fault clause.
“I thought we were talking more of a complete no-fault clause, possibly with a 90- or 120-day window to give everybody notice,” Randall said. 
Using calculations prepared by the city staff, Randall said the six-mouth clause proposed by Republic would cost the city a minimum of $410,000 in penalties. Both District 4 council member Josh Ritchey and Mayor Cory Thompson joined Randall in rejecting Republic’s proposal.
“Obviously, four hundred and some odd thousand dollars is an unreasonably high option,” Thompson said.
Rodriguez said that Republic, in vying for the replacement contract, had offered considerable concessions to the city just to gain a single year’s extension. He also said that Republic has not heard the complaints claimed by the council members.
“I’ve heard great things from the residents,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve delivered over 80 coloring books with the last few months to the kids that come by.”
However, he told Espinosa that he has prepared responses to the complaints that the council member cited.
“I can get those to you because they weren’t all accurate,” Rodriguez said.
Espinosa said that regarding the city’s relationship with Republic “the damage has been done.”
“It’s time to move forward,” he said. “I’m sorry to say that, but that’s just where I’m at with this thing.”
Randall said that while the service offered by Republic might see short term improvement nothing would prevent a return to what residents had previously experienced.
“Even if we went with the (new) contract, even if we thought this was the most marvelous contract, the company’s history doesn’t reflect that it’s going to get any better,” Randall said. “You don’t have a good track history with us. It might get better for a month, but it’s just going to go back to what it was (before) with six pages of complaints for one week.”
District 2 council member Angela Pichardo was absent from the meeting.
NEW INTERNET TOWER
By motion of Espinosa, seconded by Vega, the council approved a request from Sego Internet of La Coste to install a 100-foot Internet communications tower inside the city limits.
Rodney Hitzfelder, president of Sego, said his visit to the council was courtesy to the city to determine in advance any impediments to placement of the tower.
“Two years ago myself and some friends had bad Internet and we got tired of what we had,” he said. “We started our own company.”
Sago Internet and R Networks of D’Hanis have been designated by the Medina County Commissioners Court to receive $700,000 each from an initial $5 million grant for the county through the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in 2021.
To date, Sego has erected seven towers and accommodates 130 Internet customers in Medina County towns and much of the rural area, Hitzfelder said.
For full video coverage of the council session visit the Devine New YouTube page at youtu.be/2gdzb53gZS0.
CHICKENS
In a 2-1 vote, the council approved the drafting of a potential ordinance governing the raising of chickens within the city limits. City ordinances presently permit the raising of as many as 50 chickens per acre of land, Mayor Thompson said.
The motion by Espinosa calls for a draft ordinance that would allow the city to make a decision on a case-by-case basis. Vega joined Espinosa in approving the motion. However, Randall said her constituency flatly rejected the idea.
“We know there are chickens in district five,” Randall said. “They don’t want the farm issue.”
Ritchey abstained from the vote since he made the original request for an amendment to chapter 14 of the animal ordinance regarding fowl with the intention of raising chickens on his own property. A presentation in favor of such an operation was made at Ritchey’s request by poultry farmer Steve Smith, who lives outside the city limits.
“We raise them different from what most folks understand from conventional poultry for eggs and meat,” Smith said.
His operation involves raising the chickens outdoors rather than “jammed into a small coop,” he said. The birds are moved regularly to benefit soil health and reduce any odor.
“These are meat birds specifically,” Smith said. “No roosters.”
Several others spoke in favor of the proposal. However, Devine resident Kathy Lawler said she would worry about poultry operators who were not as conscientious as Smith.
“What if we have 15 people who don’t take care of their chickens and they do smell and do make a mess?” Lawler said.
AIRPORT
Following a public hearing at which no audience members offered comment, the council voted to condemn hangars 8, 8A and 10 at the Devine Municipal Airport by means of eminent domain.
The formal motion adopted by the council refers to the action as an acquisition of property interest in the hangars for “the Public Use of Designing, Developing, Constructing, Enlarging, Extending and Improving the Devine Municipal Airport.”
More than 27,715 square feet of hangar space at the airport was involved in the action..
Before the vote a brief closed executive session was called to brief Ritchey who was unfamiliar with the situation behind the condemnation. City Attorney Thomas P. Cate told the council in open session that the action involved possible litigation.

GOLF COURSE
On a motion by Randall, the council voted to approve $6,593 for the Devine Golf Group LLC as the city’s share of repairs to the water well and pump system at the golf course.  
Jay Dishman with the management group told the council that invoice for the well repairs were obtained in August. However, since then a fire broke out in an electrical box connected to one water well near the clubhouse and has had to be added to the repair estimate.
“We paid for them already so we are just looking for what we had in our contract about splitting some of those costs out there at the golf course,” Dishman said.
He also addressed the the general condition of the water system at the course.
“We have a situation right now where we have one of our water wells down on thirteen,” he said. “We are in the process where we have already had an estimate for (that) repair.”
However, the course will not be presenting the cost to the city until another two estimates are obtained, Dishman said.
“As far as the water well system we have out there they are outdated and inefficient,” he said. “They use a lot of energy to (the point) where our jockey system that supplies the big pump (is down). To repair that we are looking at another $5,000 to $8,000.”
He warned against continuing to apply “band-aids” to these problems.
“This has been going on for a good while,” Dishman said. “The last management company that had it put $50,000 into it in two years.”
In other golf course news, the council tabled a proposal to leave a portable building east of the clubhouse in place to serve as office and storage space for the golf course restaurant. The measure was tabled until prices for the project could be obtained.
REAL ESTATE
On a motion by Ritchey, seconded by Randall, the council voted to sell by public auction a lot in the Bain addition. A minimum bid of $24,000 was set for the sale.
The council also approved a subdivision plat for extension to the AEP electrical substation in Devine.
Under zoning, the council approved a variance request submitted for a lot requirement of a minimum 9,000 square feet and a side setback request at 217 S. Bright. A variance was also approved for a five-foot setback requirement at 508 Mockingbird Lane.
The council also approved permission for the Garden Club to move forward with a layout for sprinklers to irrigate near the Four Corners intersection in downtown Devine. Council members also approved a decision to remove two large trees blocking the alley between Mockingbird and Hickory Highway.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
On a motion by Randall, seconded by Ritchey, the council voted to advertise in professional publications for a new city administrator. The city is seeking candidates with five years’ experience as a city manager or administrator who also hold a bachelor’s degree and degrees in public administration, management or business.
Initially Randall and Ritchey disagreed about the amount of experience required with Ritchey wanting candidates from “outside the box” Thompson and Espinosa joined Randall in insisting on candidates with ample experience.
With a less experienced administrator, current interim administrator Dora Rodriguez “would have to stay on as a go-to person a lot longer than she hoped to,” Thompson said.

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.)

Wreaths Across America

~ Recognizing those who served abroad and reflecting on the effects on citizens at home

Eselle Van Treese, mother of Kathleene Van Treese

One might imagine that many of today’s young people, and perhaps not so young, don’t fully understand the effect the wars of the twentieth century had on most of the citizens of the United States, going back as far as the onset of WWI. For example, consider the Selective Service, or, the draft.

On May 18, 1917, (six weeks after the U.S. formally entered the First World War) President Woodrow Wilson signed the Selective Services Act in preparation for U.S. involvement in World War I. At the time, the U.S. had a standing army of just over 100,000. The registration of men between the ages of 21 and 36 began one month later. Interestingly, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson began drawing draft numbers out of a big glass bowl, and as the numbers were handed to the President, they were read aloud for public announcement. Within a few months, 10 million men across the country had registered in response. By the end of WWI, November of 1918, 24 million men had registered; of the those who eventually served in the war, some 2.8 million had been drafted. The draft was then dissolved after WWI. (Historyonthenet.com)

Then, in September, 1940, Congress passed the Burke-Wadsworth Act, which imposed the first peacetime draft in the history of the United States. By October of 1940, all men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to register with their local draft board. Subsequently, 66% of U. S. Armed forces members were drafted during WWII.

Reflecting next on the ultimate sacrifices of these wars, during WWI, the Allies (The Triple Entente – consisting of France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, and Japan) lost about 6 million military personnel. The Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, and their colonies, lost 4 million. (WikipediA)

Then came WWII, which has been listed as the bloodiest war in human history, killing over 60 million people – 3% of the entire world population in 1939 died in the war. It is estimated that approximately 407,000 American military died in WWII and 12,000 civilians (due to crimes of war and military activity). The total death count for all Americans: 420,000. (Historyonthenet.com) The wartime draft then expired in 1947 but was reinstated the following year.

And then there’s the Korean War, 1950-53. Because of the need for additional soldiers during this war, the minimum age for the draft was lowered to seventeen, and men were to serve an average of two years, with men who served in WWII being exempt. During this war, the American casualties reached almost 40,000, with more than 100,000 wounded.

The Vietnam War, lasting from 1954 to 1975 between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, claimed 58,220 U.S. soldiers. On the day in 1973 that the Vietnam War drew to a close, the Selective Service came to an end, officially on January 27, 1973.

In addition to the above sited ultimate sacrifices from the wars of the 20th century, folks at home deeply felt the effects from the war. During WWII, not only was the workforce comprised of 36% women, (my mother, Estelle Van Treese, taxied airplanes at Duncan Field, which merged with Kelly Field in 1943) but families had to cope with many shortages of basic materials such as food, shoes, metal, paper, and rubber. While the Army and Navy needed these supplies, civilians at home needed them as well. Thus, the federal government established a rationing system that impacted virtually every family in the United States. Points were issued to each person, even to babies, which had to be turned in along with money to purchase goods made with restricted items.

For example, in 1943, a pound of bacon cost about 30 cents, but a shopper would also have to turn in seven ration points to buy it. These points came in the form of stamps that were distributed to citizens in books throughout the war. Tires, gasoline, sugar, coffee, meats, fats, canned fish, cheese, canned milk, were among the most necessary products rationed. (The National WWII Museum)

I should add that Bill Bain recalled his dad saying that he was afraid his “bald” tires might not make it to the hospital when Bill was about to be born. People had to keep their automobiles and tires indefinitely, and the government even told Americans to keep track of their tires’ serial numbers in case they were stolen.

Some of the shortages continued to be felt even after the war ended and rationing came to a halt, due in part to “years of pent-up demand.” (The National WWII Museum) My cousin, Gayle Van Treese Brice, whose mother was gone and whose dad was serving in the Army in occupied Japan, was being raised by our grandmother. Gayle recalls the two of them going to the grocery store and trading eggs for groceries, being careful not to go too often to save on tires and gas. Also, Grandma made Gayle’s clothes from feed sacks, as she also did for me!

I have another cousin who was born in 1939, and her father, my Uncle Morris, died in a plane crash in Berlin while serving in the Air Force. She never knew him. Then there was a high school friend who was born during WWII and never met her father, who was killed in Europe. How sad for her and her mother. These types of stories describe a tragic number of families; or, in many cases, even nowadays following more recent conflicts in the Middle East, countless soldiers met their babies for the first time following deployment. Imagine how this scenario can create stress and conflict in the family unit, not to mention how mentally and often physically damaged these soldiers were when they returned.

On a lighter note, but also worthy of reflection, here are some anecdotes to which some may find enlightening and to which others may be able to relate.

Because most men entered the service during those eras of the mandatory draft, it could not be assumed that all of these servicemen were of high standing, or good guys. Thus, as a teen, my mother cautioned me, “Do not make eye contact with the ‘fly boys’.” Living in San Antonio at the time, we young girls frequently encountered airmen in downtown San Antonio. In those days, Houston Street was the place to shop. We girls would take the bus downtown, walk down from the Hertzberg Clock on the corner of Houston St. and N. St. Mary’s St. to Joske’s Dept. Store, then walk back along the other side, usually stopping to get a hamburger at the Manhattan Café next to the Majestic Theater. (I hope that paints a vivid picture.) As we walked along, we often, very often ran across a group of airmen on leave from Lackland – the Gateway to the Air Force. So, Mother said it was best not to acknowledge them, even when they gave us the “wolf whistle.” And that they did do!

I well recall riding home with a fellow I had met at church – namely, Franklin Runnels – and, taking a circumvented route, we drove up to the Jet Drive-In on SW Military Dr. He asked me, “Do you like the Jet?” Naively, I said that I did not. You see, my mother had told me not to go there with my friends because that’s where the “fly boys” from Lackland hung out. LOL. So, we went somewhere else.

One time a friend and I were hanging out on the steps of the downtown Herman Sons Bowling Alley, where my mom and dad were bowling, when a couple of airmen came along. They asked us what there was to do in San Antonio, and we said that there wasn’t anything, really. (This was long before 1968 when Hemisfair made the River Walk famous!) Then I felt guilty for exchanging a conversation with these guys.

Aside from these lighthearted snippets, most of us alive today can only read of the effects the wars had on our men and women who served and on the families at home, or we might be able to recall stories told by our parents and grandparents, who undoubtedly held deeply embedded memories. History explains that the American family dynamics were changed forever, with the vast changes in wartime society and domestic adjustments evident today. (Www.u-s-history.com)

__________________

The Wreaths Across America theme for these articles is to “Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach generations about the value of freedom.” Devine’s ceremony and placement of wreaths on Veteran graves at St. Joseph Catholic and Devine Evergreen cemeteries takes place on Saturday morning, December 17, at 11:00 o’clock.

Irene Ramirez

Irene Ramirez of Devine, Tx. passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at her residence with her siblings by her side. Irene was born in Hondo Tx., to Ignacio Ramirez and Lucy Ramirez on March 22, 1974.
Irene is preceded in death by her parents, Ignacio and Lucy Ramirez, brothers, Paul and Oscar Ramirez, half-brother, Andy Ramirez, and nephew, Ray Ramirez Jr.
Irene worked at the Devine Rehab Nursing Home for 21 years. She affected many lives and took care of many people. Irene fought the battle for many years and now she is at peace.
Family would like to thank all the nurses, extended family, and friends, for their generosity, donations, and prayers. A special thank you to Trinity Hospice for their tender love and care in her last days.
She is survived by her children, Jonathan Ramirez, Alexandria Nicole Ramirez, Lupe Rodriguez III, grandson, Jonathan Ramirez Jr., sisters, Mary Camacho, Irma Ramirez, brothers, Ignacio Ramirez Jr., Ray Ramirez, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 28, 2022 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM with a Rosary being recited at 6:00 PM at the Bluebonnet Funeral Chapel of Natalia. Services will conclude at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Bluebonnet Funeral Chapel of Natalia, Tx. 78059, (830)-665-3330.

Donald Johm Gatterdam

December 18, 1934 ~ October 2, 2022

Donald John Gatterdam, 87, of Lytle, TX passed away in Lytle on October 2, 2022.
Donald was born in Chicago, IL on December 18, 1934 to Mildred and Theodore Gatterdam.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ted Gatterdam and sister, Shirley Serina.
Donald is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Gatterdam; children, Laura Arellano, Donald Gatterdam (Anna), Leslie Brown (Brian) and Aaron Gatterdam (Barb); sister, Marge Ernst; grandchildren, Hayden, Cameron, Hannah, Maddie, Luc and Lyla; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A “Celebration of Life & Memorial Service” for Don Gatterdam will be held on Friday, November 4, 2022 at 4 p.m., at Hurley Funeral Home, 14822 Main St, Lytle, TX 78052.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org
Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the guest book may do so at www.hurleyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are under the direction of Hurley Funeral Home, 14822 North Main Street, Lytle, TX 78052

Yvonne Valerie (Vonnie) Hector

Yvonne Valerie (Vonnie) Hector passed peacefully to join the Heavenly Chorus on Friday, 21 October.
Vonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Lillian and Ivan Jones; her sons, Jay and Terry Oberlender; grandson Dalton, granddaughters, Mandi and Sydnie; and her husbands.
She is survived by her sons Robert and wife Mary, and Chris, and her daughter Kathleen; grandchildren Rebecca, Brenda, Colton, Eric, Robert and wife Mickey, Kelly Jay, and Tracy and husband Lorenzo; great grandchildren Kasondra, Destinie and husband USA SGT Sam, Isaiah, Robert Anthony, Brianna, Dounte, Keylee; and her great, great, grandchildren Demetrius, Maceus, Adrian, Lucian, Ty, Eli, Calvin, Layla, Lia, Kylie, Gwen, and Juliette. She is also survived by many, many wonderful friends.
Funeral services are being provided by Hurley Funeral Home, Devine Texas (830) 663-4445). Family only visitation will be at Hurley Funeral Home from 3 to 5 pm on Friday, 28 October. Public visitation will be at 9 am, 31 October, at Redemption Baptist Church, 2168 County Road 5710, Devine, TX; followed at 10 am by the funeral service led by Pastor Keith Dennis. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Devine at 11:15 am, led by Pastor (Emeritus) Allan Randolph from Trinity Church in San Antonio.
Our family welcomes flowers, or contributions to Redemption Baptist Church.

Donna Lee Snider

Surrounded by family, Donna Lee Snider, of Devine, Texas passed away peacefully to be with Our Lord and Savior on October 4, 2022 at the age of 65.
Donna was born on May 1, 1957 in San Antonio, TX to parents, Melvin Eugene Hoover and Annie Dora Hoover.
She was known for her loving and kind spirit, fun personality and having a feisty attitude at times. She was an honest and loyal woman who was a hard worker with lots of determination. She enjoyed the challenge of tinkering with broken electronics to make them like new again, she found a purpose for everything. She served her community and the Devine ISD for many years working as a crossing guard, being a member of the PTO and often volunteering her time as an assistant in the classroom. Later in life, she found joy in caring for the patients at Sterling Residential Care. She enjoyed gardening and tending to her roses. She loved the sound of her wind chimes in the breeze while watching the cardinals and hummingbirds fly in for their daily visit. Her love for her family was of utmost importance; indeed she was her family’s biggest cheerleader. She devoted much of her time to being “Nana”, her pride and joy are her children and grandchildren.
Donna was a strong woman of faith and loved the fulfillment of praise music. It would be wrong to say my mom lost her battle with cancer because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. When anyone else would have broken, she stayed strong. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like. There was no quit in her. Just because she is not here, it doesn’t mean she lost her fight.
Donna is proceeded in death by her parents, Melvin and Annie Hoover; step mother, Cherry Hoover and brother, Johnny Hoover.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Loyd Snider; Daughters: Dana Marie Snider, Jennifer Ann Keenum and son-in-law, Shane Keenum; grandchildren: Emma Keenum, Dresden Snider, Phoenix Snider, Wyatt Keenum and Dassidy Snider; siblings: Frankie Adkins, Helen Lovejoy, David Hoover, Brenda Ebner, Edith Hubbard, Charles Rosenbloom, Jimmie Rosenbloom, Bo Callaway and Tudy Callaway.
A “Memorial Service and Celebration of Life” for Donna will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 11:00am-12:00pm at Betania Baptist Church, 404 E. Hondo Ave. Devine, TX 78016.

Colors


We spent some time in the high mountains of the North West at the end of September. Coming from a country where we usually see trees and brush of mostly a shade of green or brown, we were taken aback with the vibrance of the changing colors presented before us on a daily basis.
The variety of the shades of yellow were especially on display for most of our travels. It was almost breathtaking to experience entire mountain sides showing off the different types of trees and their response to the change of seasons.
To be sure, we saw some red and orange in a few of the locations. And they were just as astonishing. It sure got me thinking that besides those magnificent mountain ranges with their crevices and peaks, The Good Lord decided to use them as a backdrop for these brilliantly colored trees.
In south Texas cowboy terms, that country up there sure had its Sunday Clothes on. And The Almighty is quite artistic this time of year. We felt blessed to once again experience Fall in the mountains and be reminded of the beauty that can be found there.

Officers managed 48 calls last week, that’s on the low side. Officers conducted 73 traffic stops, 57 resulted in citations and 16 were warnings. It looks like even the crooks are taking time off to enjoy the cooler weather. Imagine how hot it was crawling underneath those cars and cutting off the catalytic converters during our super-hot summer. I guess I would take a break too.
I don’t have much to report, only one property crime and two arrests occurred last week. Property crime number 1 of 1: A mobile home was being moved on Creek St. and the AC unit was left by the side of the road, it appears it was picked up by someone who thought it had been set out as junk. If you want to get rid of something around here, just sit it by the side of the road. It will disappear quickly.
Arrests last week: #1 – Officer Diaz (assisted by Ofc. Pena) conducted a traffic stop on Main St. The suspect had “veered” into the other lane of the traffic. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #2 – While on patrol in the 17900 Blk. of Wisdom Road, Ofc. Pena observed a roadside fire and a man holding a gas can. The suspect had poured gasoline on a deceased dog and lit it on fire. It was determined that the dog belonged to the suspect, and it had been struck by a car a few days prior. The suspect was arrested for arson and booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. I am not sure what was going on in this guy’s mind but starting a fire on the side of the road at 3:45 AM is never a clever idea.
Here is some “news you can use”: It looks like City Hall has worked out a plan where they can remain open during the lunch hour! It was that way 5 or 6 years ago and then was changed. Being open during the noon hour will make the city hall more accessible to the public. When I am down there, I have often commented that “It wouldn’t hurt if you all missed a few meals.” Maybe, they decided to skip lunch based on my words of wisdom. No matter who gets credit for this, me, or the people that actually work down there and make decisions….it is a win for our citizens.
There has been lots of other activity in town. The Lytle HS Band did very well at their competition in Beeville. We escorted them out of town on Saturday morning and night shift brought them back into town at 2:45 AM on Sunday! I thought I had some long days. The community clean-up on Saturday morning went well too! I saw some big dumpsters full of junk and trash. I am proud that when the call goes out to our community to find some junk…. they always come through.

Cant take her anyway

Not much rain to speak of recently…only 14.6 inches for Black Creek Estates in 2022. Sposed to be some on the way this week so, we’ll see. Went to vote Monday morning and Katie Shults done broke one of the machines. Can’t take her anywhere…
For those who have been trying to contact our office this last two weeks, we have been without telephone or computer service since October 7th. This is a result of a mistake made by AT&T and they are in no hurry to accept responsibility or expedite the repair. Remember when their commercial said “We may be the only phone company in town but, we try not to act like it”? Now they do. They can flip a switch and stop service but, it takes an act of Congress to flip it back on. Does no good whatsoever to complain.
The public overwhelmingly approved the County to proceed with a Grant application to address the flooding issues in the D’Hanis area. The application process is gonna cost us about $45,000 but I am understanding that this will be reimbursed or included as an expense in the grant itself.
Pct 1 advertised for bids to remodel and add on to their office and got the required 3 bids. I can’t believe the cost of materials. The low bid was a little over $134,000! More than it cost me to build my 2,500 sq ft house including the 2 car garage.
Early voting started Monday and the parking lot at the Annex remained full almost all day. I think this is a good sign. We have got to start taking our country back so, why not start now. I am hoping that all the incumbent Democrat office holders are voted out of office. Our current Democratic Socialist regime has to be dismantled soon. Our children and grandchildren need the opportunity to grow up in the same country that our generation grew up in. My apologies to the Greatest Generation.
For those of you, who think that the bigger the number of political signs along the roadway, the better the candidate, please stay home.
Early voting numbers for the County were up quite a bit. At the Devine/Natalia site located at the County Annex building across from Tractor Supply there were 357 folks showed up to vote on the first day. In Castroville, 533 voted and in Hondo, 400 voted. We need to pick it up a little over here.
There is a possibility that we will begin the process of paving Zig Zag Rd. from SH 132 to the city limits out towards Rose Hill. Depends on the City Contractor and the weather.
We still need folks to pray for rain. It has cooled off a little but, we need rain.