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By Anton Riecher
Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 is seeking proposals from auditing firms to conduct a “forensic audit” of the Devine VFD’s financial records following the arrest of Devine Volunteer Fire Department office administrator Heather Schultz on a charge of tampering with evidence.
The arrest amounted to an controversial “elephant in the room” for the MCESD2 commissioners during the Dec. 17 meeting at the fire station – an obviously contentious issue that no one was comfortable discussing.
“Obviously, we have to be very careful about what we say here,” board president Todd Summers said.
Schultz, who served as an office administrator and accounts manager, went unnamed during the portion of the meeting open to the public. The meeting concluded with a closed executive session at which Devine VFD Chief Greg Atkinson present along with two other firemen.
“If the fire chief decides he has additional information he wants to share with us, being that it is personnel, we’ll have to go into executive session for him to share that with us,” Summers said.
A forensic audit is a detailed examination of financial records intended to identify any potential fraud, misconduct or other irregularities.
On a motion by board commissioner Kenneth Nighswander, seconded by Jerry Lee Stevens, the board voted unanimously to move ahead with the forensic audit. Summers said the audit was necessary “especially in light of what has been going on.”
“One of the things we have to determine is what funds were touched,” he said.
Schultz was arrested by the Medina County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 5 after a search warrant was executed for her home, authorities report. The sheriff’s office is working with the county Criminal District Attorney office in the investigation.
According to Sheriff Randy Brown, Devine VFD chief Greg Atkinson reported monies missing several weeks before the arrest.
Atkinson told MCESD2 commissioners that he could not deliver the routine Devine VFD financial report presented at monthly board meetings.

Read the full story at www.devinenewsmembers.com

Local Fisherman Thomas Ventimiglia Jr (20), recently reeled in a 73-inch 250+ pound Roughtail Stringray down in Matagorda Bay.

The Ray took 1 hour and 30 minutes to reel in and took 5 people to help to land and surface it. It was caught on Blue Crab on a Penn Battle 3 5000 reel with an 8-foot battle rod.

By Kayleen Holder- We still need several more businesses and churches to come on board. So far signed up to display Heart Gallery photos in January, we have: Charlie’s Daughter On the Green Restaurant, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mag’s Place, The Devine News, Alamo Truck, Napa, Chayito’s, and ???? Please let us know if you can display 2 or 3 or maybe even 5 or 6 of the 30 photos featuring children who are in complete care of the state of Texas, and need adoptive homes. Being featured in a heart gallery increases their chances of being adopted by 60% according to statistics!!!!

We also want to say a Huge THANK YOU to all of the churches, businesses, and organizations for who have been displaying photos this past December! Y’all are the best!!! See page 3 for more info if you want to help with this important effort!