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By Anton Riecher
As incentive to snare the region’s latest proposed digital data center, Medina County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve an abatement totaling 80 percent of the county maintenance and operation taxes due during the initial 10 years of the $600 million CyrusOne project near Castroville.
County Judge Keith Lutz forecast that the action will mean $78.9 million in revenue for the county and other taxing entities during the project’s first decade.
“Just for clarity to make sure everybody understands, this is 80 percent of the maintenance and operations (M&O) portion of our taxes only,” Lutz said.
The abatement excludes the county’s farm-to-market tax rate and the ad valorem tax levy for payment of debt services.
A motion by Precinct 2 Commissioner David Lynch to approve the tax abatement was seconded by Precinct 3 Commissioner Larry Sittre.
The new CyrusOne site, located approximately 3.75 miles west of Castroville, will be the home of a 500,000 square-foot data center facility. Plans allow for the construction of a second such structure at the site in the more distant future.
At the commissioners meeting…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!

The Natalia High School senior class will be hosting a Turkey Trot 5K on November 8th at the NHS gym. Check in will start at 9 am with the bike ride beginning at 9:30 am and the 5K at 10 am.
Register by October 31 and get a free T-shirt and burger in a bag. To register go to https://square.link/u/xFPMsv00
The run will be $30 per person which will include a T-shirt and burger bag. The bike ride will be $20 per person and will also include a T-shirt and burger bag.

by Kathleen Calame

Publisher, The Devine News

Three local bands are excited after earning a trip to the UIL State Marching Competition coming up November 10-12, 2025. They earned the right with their performance last weekend in the Area E Marching Finals.

On Saturday, November 1, the Lytle Pirate Band made school history by earning back-to-back trips to the UIL State Marching Contest! “The rain could not put out our fire today…instead, they set fire to the rain, and lit ‘em up in Beeville!” said Lytle ISD Band Director Joshua Chessher. “This makes the Pirate Band STATEBOUND for the second time in 2 years!” 

What a honor it is for the students and their leaders to be able to represent their schools at the State Marching Competition. The band leaders and students start their workouts during the end of summer and have been working hard all during the fall season to get the chance to advance to State. It doesn’t happen that often, so it is a big big deal. It is hard for smaller rural schools to compete with the schools who have much more resources, and band directors. When you see schools drive up with 18 wheelers full of equipment and props at Area, and park next to the trailers small schools have it is an eye opening experience.  But small schools have a lot of passion and their hard work pays off when they get a chance to advance to State.

The Pirate Band delivered an outstanding performance at the UIL Area E Marching Contest qualifying the band for State competition. “A tremendous accomplishment that reflects the dedication, talent, and teamwork of our incredible student musicians,” said Chessher.

“This year’s milestone marks the 8th consecutive 1st Division rating in Marching for the Pirate Band at Region — a tradition of excellence that continues to make Lytle ISD proud. We are so incredibly proud of our students, directors, and staff for their unwavering commitment and passion that make achievements like this possible,” said Chessher. Now they have added back-to-back wins at Area which qualified them for trips to STATE.

Congratulations to all 89 members of the Pirate Band on this remarkable success — and best of luck as they prepare for the next level of competition at State,  on  November 12 in the Alamodome in SA.

Lytle will perform in the 2025 State Marching Band Championships in the 3A division on Wednesday, November 12 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. They will compete against 23 bands for a chance to march in the finals that evening. Lytle High School Pirates will take the field at 12:55 for a 1:00 performance. Every 15 minutes another band performs. Jourdanton High School also qualified to State and will perform at 2:15. Hondo High School also qualified and will perform at 3:45 pm.

An Exhibition Band will be the last performance of the morning/afternoon session at 4:00 pm followed by the announcements at 4:15 of the top ten finalists. Finals will begin during the next session at 7:00 pm that evening, ending at 10:00 pm with an awards presentation.

Ticket Information-Single Session Tickets: $22 plus fees. Double Session Tickets: $38 plus fees.

Double Session Ticket Options: Sessions 4 and 5 are the 3A division bands. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to avoid congestion at the doors. The Box Office will open 75 minutes prior to first performance of the day and doors will open 45 minutes prior to the first performance in each session.

Tickets are available at the Alamodome box office or through Ticketmaster. 

They do have a clear bag policy.

See additional story on the UIL State Band Marching Competition in this week’s newspaper.

2025-2026 Lytle HS Band Leadership Team:

Head Drum Major – Collin Sprenger

Assistant Drum Majors – Camila Vega and Nadia Daniels

Color Guard Captain – Journee Mendoza

Color Guard Lieutenants – Haylee Ward and Lily Morales

Woodwind Captain – Nadia Daniels

Woodwind Drill Instructors – Brooke Tollett, Emiliano Cardenas

Flute Section Leader – Orlando Gutierrez

Clarinet Section Leaders – Julyana Frausto

Sax & Low Reed Section Leader – Emma Emery

Sax & Low Reed Section Leader – Emma Emery

Brass Captain – Koby Lara

Brass Drill Instructors – Gabi Cortez and Timothy Gutierrez

High Brass Section Leaders – Maddie Maldonado and Auslyn Beazer

Low Brass Section Leader – Lidon Hernandez

Drumline Section Leader – Nevaeh Kassin

Front Ensemble Section Leader – Taryn McDonald

Band Directors – Joshua Chessher, MJ Robles, Javier Lopez, Bertie Salazar, and Errian Morin

The Lytle Boys cross country team are back-to-back state champs! They are: Jacob Cantu 6th, the highest Lytle individual finish since 2012 when Cesar Gonzalez won the individual title. Diego and Adrian Reyna finished 13th and 14th, Sebastian Garcia placed 47th, Nathan Garza finished 51st, Bryan Montes-Rodriguez was 60th and Jaden Castro placed 77th out of 151 runners.

Authorities took possession of over 1,500 vaping devices and illegal THC wax products while executing a search warrant at Devine Food Mart this past Wednesday, October 29 in downtown Devine. Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown warned that it will be the first of many in the county if stores selling illegal products don’t quit.
“We seized about 1,500 items and will be seeking to destroy it all,” said Sheriff Brown. He described the seized items as “vaping devices and THC wax products” (like a lip balm).
“They have about as much wax in them as you can get out your ear and they sell for over $60. Quit supporting these stores. I don’t care if gas is $4 cheaper. To those who wish to make a real difference–I’ve got a suggestion. Let’s turn our attention toward the stores in our communities that sell drug paraphernalia and illegal e-cigarettes that far too often end up in the hands of our children. Every time you shop there, you are supporting this type of business.”
Suspects involved 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!