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Leatrice Alma “Ding Ding” Ehlinger Ahr

Leatrice Alma “Ding Ding” Ehlinger Ahr, of D’Hanis, Texas, passed away peacefully in San Antonio on May 13, 2025 at the age of 95. She was born August 23, 1929 in Devine, Texas, to George Martin Ehlinger and Alma Theresa Neatherlin Ehlinger.

Leatrice grew up in Devine and graduated from Devine High School. On August 29, 1950, she married the love of her life, Carroll Julius Ahr, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devine. Their union was blessed with a daughter, Deborah Carol in 1952. They were fortunate to share forty-seven years of marriage. They enjoyed square dancing, attending Lions Club Conventions, and spending their weekends at the ranch in D’Hanis.

They made their home in Del Rio throughout their married life. While living in Del Rio, Leatrice worked for Painter Bus Lines and then for Capital Aggregates where she was known as “Gravel Gurdy”. When she became a grandmother, her grandchildren affectionately gave her the nickname “Ding Ding” and later on she became known as “Ding Ding” to the community of D’Hanis.

After her husband passed away, she moved to D’Hanis to be close to her family. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends to places including the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Branson, Missouri. Above all, she loved spending time with her family. She attended as many functions for her great-grandchildren as possible. Ding Ding always went out of her way to let her family know how much she loved them and that she was always praying for them.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Ray Harbison of D’Hanis; grandchildren, Cindy Harbers (Brad) of LaGrange, Texas and Clint Harbison (Christina) of D’Hanis; great-grandchildren, Kendal Boyd (Dalton), Tyler Harbison, Drew Harbers, and Trey Harbers; great-great-grandson, Carter Boyd; sister, Lillian Alexander of San Antonio; brother-in-law, Gaylon Davidson of Austin; as well as numerous other relatives, in-laws and friends.
Leatrice was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carroll Ahr; sisters, Mary Heiser (Herman), Annette Whitley (Arth), and Rosie Davidson; and brother-in-law, Velda Alexander; and numerous other relatives and in-laws.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 22, 2025 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in D’Hanis, with the Holy Rosary recited at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in D’Hanis, Texas.

Memorials may be made in Leatrice’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch or charity of choice.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. www.tondre-guinn.com

Emergency repair to aging Edwards water well

By Anton Riecher
Taking emergency action, the Devine City Council authorized the possible replacement of the wellhead and pipe for the city’s number two Edwards Aquifer water well after damage from a major break in a 12-inch water main reported April 27.

City Administrator David Jordan asked for an emergency authorization during the council’s regular session May 20, stating that if the city’s sole remaining Edward Aquifer well goes down “we’re in trouble.”

A preliminary inspection of the 2,000 feet of pipe beneath the wellhead revealed major corrosion at the 300 foot level, City Public Works Director Pete Sanchez told the council. The pipe and wellhead have been in place since 1990.
“We’re thinking that if it’s like that upstairs it’s going to be like that downstairs,” Sanchez said.

On a motion by District 3 Alderman Jeff Miller, seconded by District 1 Alderman Ray Gonzales, the council voted 4-0 to approved pulling the well to inspect the pipe and, if necessary, replacing the pipe and wellhead at a cost of $127,000.
District 2 Alderman Michael Hernandez was absent for the council meeting.
Sanchez told the council that he suspects an air pocket in the water main damaged the pipe at the bottom of the well.

“The whole column lifted and broke the wellhead,” he said.
In answer to a question by Mayor Butch Cook, Sanchez said he thought the price quoted for the entire project, including replacement of the wellhead, was reasonable given the age of the well. Pulling the entire length of pipe for inspection will cost $13,000 alone, Sanchez said.

“It’s been a while since we pulled it,” he said.
Miller asked if the expense would come from the water utility since it is not included in the city budget. Jordan replied that would come from the water fund since “in preparation to rehabilitate the groundwater storage tank (near Warhorse Stadium) we have found many situations like this.”
When Miller offered his motion, City Attorney Thomas Cate interjected that unless the council declared the situation an emergency any such project costing more than $50,000 would need to go out for bids.

“If we are going with these people tonight we need to have the finding of an emergency,” Cate said.
Miller amended his motion to include an emergency declaration.

4 leaving City… Devine is looking for new Secretary, PD Chief, Treasurer and Clerk

The City of Devine now has four positions open in the city office and is hiring a firm to handle the application process called Clear Career Professionals after learning of four position retirements or resignations.

City Secretary Dora Rodriguez just turned in her retirement on Wednesday, May 21 after 41 years. She will continue until the end of July 2025. Rodriguez has held many positions in the past 41 years serving Devine since graduating from Devine High School in 1984 to even include the Interim City Administrator position on several occasions to keep things going.

Police Chief Kandy Benavidez first announced her retirement a few weeks ago after 40 years of service. She will continue until the end of June 2025.
Next, in the finance department Denise Duffy turned in her resignation in May, working until the end of May. She has worked in the Treasurer/Accounting department in Devine for 13 years and 20 overall career. Her husband recently retired as well.

Court Administrator/ Utility Clerk Supervisor Alma has been working at the City of Devine for the past 16 years, she gave her two weeks notice for another job opportunity, her last day was May 17.

“At the beginning of the month I had one position to fill. By the end of the month I now have four, “ said City Administrator David Jordan. “It’s going to be a busy summer and we have a lot of projects going on too.”
First review deadline for applications is June 13, 2025 as listed on clearcareerpro.com.

Devine’s First-Ever “Small Town Throw-Down & Chili Showdown”

Devine, TX – The AYZ Foundation is bringing the heat to Devine City Park this summer with a brand-new event packed with hometown fun, friendly competition, and flavor: the Small Town Throw-Down & Chili Showdown, happening Saturday, June 14th at Devine City Park!

Local and visiting teams will compete for top honors in Chili, Beans, Salsa, and even Junior Chili categories, while other players battle it out in Cornhole, Washers, and Horseshoe Tournaments. Winners walk away with cash prizes, trophies, ribbons, and bragging rights.

This all-day festival is free to attend and promises something for everyone. It is a CASI-sanctioned chili cooking event. There will lots of fun for the kids too including a bounce house for the kids.

Live entertainment, family activities, vendors, a drawing, and food trucks will round out a packed day of community fun — but organizers say they need help to bring it all together.

“We’ve got a great vision and strong community momentum, but we need sponsors and volunteers to help make it a success,” said a spokesperson for the AYZ Foundation, a new non-profit organization based in Devine, TX. “From port-o-potties and cooling stations to tournament judges and parking help — every bit of support counts.”

Local businesses and individuals can sponsor items like:
• Cooling fans and shade tents
• Volunteer supplies like water and cooling towels
• Awards, raffle items, and activity costs
• Or even just donate their time or skills!
Volunteer roles include:
• Tournament helpers (cornhole, washers, horseshoes)
• Parking and crowd guides
• Judging assistants
• General event support

The AYZ Foundation is accepting vendor signups, chili cook-off registrations, and sponsorship pledges now. Interested community members can contact the foundation via Facebook or by emailing info@ayzfoundation.org Calls or text to 830–444–0010.
Come show your community spirit and help make this first-time event one Devine won’t forget!

Donna Alaniz, president of the AYZ Foundation, made a presentation on the event dubbed “Small Town Throw-Down & Chili Showdown” during the May 20 regular session of the Devine City Council.
“This event is not just a fundraiser but designed to bring participants in from surrounding towns, encouraging spending at local businesses and also to showcase the best of what Devine has to offer,” Alaniz said.
Aside from the various cook-off participants, the event will include food trucks, vendors and live music from across south Texas, she said. Also included in the event is a bounce house, face painting and tournaments involving corn hole, horse shoes and washer pitching.

Mayor Butch Cook gave his personal endorsement to the activities.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Cook said. “Anything that can bring other people to our town is just fabulous.”

The proposal was submitted to the council to obtain approval for beer service. Council members expressed some concern about the park being big enough for the events planned and providing adequate sanitation.
Alaniz said AYZ Foundation provides scholarships for local students seeking to further their education. She also said the foundation supports other local non-profits in an effort to “strengthen our community.”

“A lot of time you have different non-profits here in town like the Food Bank and Project Devine needing assistance from the back side,” Alaniz said. “Sometimes there are some financials that they are not obtaining because they are new to certain specific areas.”

Non-profit groups participating in the event will not be charged a vendor fee, she said.
Asked by Cook if the event is likely to become an annual affair, Alaniz said it was highly likely.

Meet Michelle…

Meet Michelle…
Michelle is a kind and happy 16-year-old who enjoys the Harry Potter movie series, with Draco Malfoy being her favorite character. She is a big fan of board games, especially UNO.

It’s easy to engage in a conversation with Michelle as loves to chat and loves to learn.
Her favorite color is blue, and in her free time, she likes watching TV, listening to music, and spending time with others. Michelle is also a big foodie. She is adventurous when it comes to food and loves trying new dishes, but fries and McDonald’s are still among her top favorites.
Michelle would benefit from a loving family, who will love and care for her, and be a part of growth as a young adult. She would also love to have sibling of any age.

Michelle always has a smile on her face and enjoys spending time playing with others.
As of now she plans to attend college and pursue a career as a caseworker “to help families and children in need.”

If you think you could be a forever family for Michelle or another Texas child, call 1-800-233-3405. For more information visit www.adoptchildren.org where you can find a schedule of online public information meetings, and learn about the foster/adoption program.

You can also view the www.heartgallerystx.org website, where South Texas children have their portraits along with individual personal stories they wish to share.

SUSPECT WANTED

Devine PD is asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual pictured above. This suspect is reportedly involved in multiple break-ins of coin-operated machines at 500 N Teel in Devine.

If you recognize this person or have any information about their identity or whereabouts, please contact the Devine Police Department at 830-663-4403 or if you wish to be anonymous, call Medina County Crimestoppers at 1-800-367-2833.

Shooter gets life in prison for ‘senseless’ Hwy 90 killing

By Medina County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
MAY 27, 2025–Pedro Espinoza, Jr., 34, of Uvalde was sentenced to life in prison after a Medina County jury convicted Espinosa for the murder of Marlon Lindsey.

Marlon Lindsey, a US Army Veteran and father of four from Beaumont, Texas, had settled in San Antonio after finding work as a conductor for BNSF, a North American railroad company. The night he was killed, Lindsey was being driven to the Hondo Railyard by Vivian Olivarez, who also had John Suhling, a fellow railway employee, in her transport van. As the railroad employees traveled west on US Highway 90 through Medina County, Espinoza, who had been living in Uvalde County, was well into an hour-long crime-spree where he was reported by multiple 911-callers as driving on the wrong side of the roadway.

One witness testified to the jury about encountering a small silver vehicle, later identified as Espinoza’s, passing him and his mother on the passenger’s side of his vehicle, traveling on the shoulder of the westbound lane but heading east near the city of Sabinal in Uvalde County.

The witness described what he thought was the sound of a rock hitting his car, but when he made it to Del Rio and looked at his vehicle the next day, he noticed a half-inch bullet hole in the side of his vehicle, less than 3 feet from where his mother was sitting. Another pickup truck, driven by two young men from the Dallas area, was struck on the passenger’s side as they neared Hondo coming from Castroville. This time, the bullet was just inches from…..LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING CLICK HERE

Medina burn ban extended another 90 days

By Anton Riecher

Due to extensive drought conditions a burn ban originally approved by the Medina County Commissioners Court in February has been extended an additional 90 days effective Monday.

On a motion by Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, seconded by Precinct 1 Commissioner Jessica Castiglioni, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the extension requested by county emergency management coordinator Mark Chadwick.

“If you know anybody who does rain dancing or anything else I would entertain talking to somebody at this point,” Chadwick said.

Out of 254 Texas counties, Medina County is one of 84 counties currently under a burn ban. Nearby Zavala, Frio and Atascosa counties are also under current bun bans.

A check of the local fire risk as determined by the Keetch-Bryan drought index Sunday morning showed Medina County at a high of 646 out of a possible 800, he said. The index balances precipitation against soil moisture to calculate potential fire risk.

The county median stands at 552 and the low was measured at 450, Chadwick said.

“Right now our drought index is jumping anywhere from five to 10 points a day,” he said. “As the heat increases for the next few weeks and you have days like tomorrow (Tuesday) we are already looking at a relative humidity that is going to drop to 12 percent.”

As the summer heat increases, the drought index is expected to jump as many as 15 points a day, he said.

Instead of brief, periodic rains that quickly run off, the county needs three to four days of slow, soaking rainfall to break the drought, Chadwick said. Short of a tropical storm moving in from the Gulf, such heavy rains are unlikely.

County Judge Keith Lutz, who formerly served as the county’s emergency management coordinator, noted that while short steady rains are insufficient to break the drought, resulting conditions may be safe enough for Chadwick or the sheriff’s office to issue temporary exemptions to the burn ban.

Last year the county issued 472 such permits, Chadwick said. Since October, the county has issued 610 temporary permits to allow burning under safe conditions, he said.

“We process them as fast as we can get them,” Chadwick said.

In other business, the commissioners took no action on the appointment of Cynthia Sultenfuss to replace Juan Zamora on the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners due to an error in posting the item to the official court agenda, Lutz said.

Whereas the item was added to the court’s on-line agenda, it was mistakenly left off the agenda posted for the public outside the courthouse annex in Hondo.

Commissioners did take action to make 40 mph the official speed limit for County Road 6612 after a public hearing on the issue. Precinct 4 Commissioners Danny Lawler explained that while 40 mph is the posted speed limit, the commissioners court had failed set that speed as the official limit, making it unenforceable.

No comment was offered during the public hearing. On a motion by Lawler, seconded by Lynch, the commissioners voted unanimously to set the speed limit at 40 mph.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve a road use agreement with Rowan Land Resources for construction and maintenance on portions of county roads 683 and 6712 bordering the “Project Cinco” hyperscaler data center project near Lytle. Rowan Land Resources is the property acquisition arm of Rowan Digital Infrastructure, developer of the data center project.

The motion was made by Lynch and seconded by Castiglioni.

SAVE THE DATE…Memorial Day @ Devine VFW May 26th

VFW Post 3966 will present a Memorial Day ceremony for the public on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 9:30 am. The ceremony will be held at VFW Post 3966, 211 W. College Ave, Devine TX. This year the ceremony will take place on the east side of the Bingo Hall across from the Post Office. South Upson Drive will be closed for the ceremony. Memorial Day honors members of the military who died in service to our country.

The Post will hold the ceremony under the patriotic mural painted on the east side of the Bingo Hall. As part of this ceremony, we will recognize veterans who have passed away. If you wish to honor a veteran who has passed away, we will have a sign up prior to the event.

As in years past, the Post will have a flag retirement as part of the ceremony. If you have a flag that is no longer serviceable, please bring it to the ceremony to be retired. If you cannot attend and have a flag to be retired, you may drop it in the flag drop box at the main entrance to the VFW (near the flagpole).
Following the ceremony and flag retirement VFW Post 3966 will have free hot dogs in the Bingo Hall or courtyard, depending on the weather.
The Devine Current Events Club will be kicking off their Wreaths Across America program with an informational table at the ceremony site. After the ceremony they will be giving away ice cream in the Bingo Hall or courtyard.
If you need more information about the event, please contact Gary Saathoff at 210-289-6204 (text or call) or email to vfw3966commander@yahoo.com.

Bill backing 50,000 acre-foot aquifer water storage project remains unsigned

By Anton Riecher
A bill passed by the Texas Legislature May 12 that would help make the proposed Medina County aquifer storage and recovery project a reality remains unsigned on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk as of Friday.
The proposed project in Medina County calls for creating a 50,000 acre-foot freshwater ASR project in the brackish Trinity Aquifer. Senate Bill 616 amends the state water code to address aquifer storage and recovery projects that intersect the Edwards Aquifer, specifically in Williamson County east of Interstate 35.
On the same day the bill passed in the 89th Texas Legislature, Medina County Judge Keith Lutz, addressing a meeting of the Medina County Regional Water Alliance, said an amendment in support of the local ASR project has been successfully attached to SB 616.
That amendment will…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!