Lytle Mayor Ruben Gonzalez, left, presides over the Lytle City Council meeting Monday with District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez on hand. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher With no opposition voiced during a preceding public hearing, the Lytle City Council voted 4-0 Monday to approve a 2025 tax rate of $.439372 per $100 assessed value effective Oct. 1. The council also voted 4-0 to approve an $8.086 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said Lytle continues to offer an ad valorem tax rate lower than any of the surrounding communities. “That speaks highly of our city staff and everything that we are doing as a council to take care of the citizens,” he said. District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez offered both the tax rate motion and the budget motion, both seconded by District 3 Alderman David Emery. District 5 Alderman Matthew Martinez was absent from the regular meeting. The final tax rate represents a reduction from the proposed rate of $.446405 approved by the council at its Aug. 11 meeting. The rate approved by the council represents an increase over the 2024 rate of 39 cents. In separate actions requiring a roll call vote, the council approved a debt service rate of $.078293 and maintenance and operations tax rate of $.361079. As with the tax rate, a preceding public hearing on the proposed city budget heard no comment in opposition. In other action…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!
You might have seen some info about the “Sinister Harvest” Haunted House that will open it’s doors in Devine this September Saturday the 27 th. But it’s bigger and spookier than it might appear on first glance….the new structure being built on the outside of the Devine VFW is just the entrance! The spooky tour will take you deep into the hallways of the old 1920s school and classrooms. “It’ll be about 1,800 sq ft in all,” said Gary Saathoff with the Devine VFW. “You’ll go in and out of the old classrooms, through an old doctor’s office, and end up in the hallway with a chainsaws chasing you! It should be pretty good!” Brandon Harris, who is heading up the haunted house said he is thrilled to be able to do it in such a spooky location full of history. “We have been told that there has been paranormal readings here,” Harris said. “The building is so authentic…the orginal floors, the walls, even the way it smells. “It’s definitely the kind of place where you hear doors opening and closing by themselves and footsteps down the hallway” Harris claims. There will be over a dozen scenes inside the haunted house including everything scary–from chainsaws to clowns! “It’s about a 15-minute walk-thru,” Harris said. “Parts of it are pitch black, so you and your group will have to find your way out!” SCHEDULE Sinister Harvest will be open: Every Friday & Saturday, 8:00 pm – 12:00 am, from September 26 – November 1. Sunday, October 26 and November 2, from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. GRAND OPENING SPECIAL: $5 off tickets September 26 & 27 HALLOWEEN NIGHT SPECIAL: $5 off tickets October 31 They encourage visitors to buy tickets on their website, but will also take cash at the gate. 25% of profits will go back to the Devine VFW. More info at: SinisterHarvestHaunt.com
ESD1 Battalion Chief David Powers, designated to take charge of managing fire protection in Devine, attended the ESD2 board meeting Friday. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher At a public meeting held Sept. 16, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners took final action to approve 2025 ad valorem tax rate of 10 cents per $100 valuation, effectively a 43 percent increase. On a motion by board vice president Jeff Howard, seconded by assistant treasurer Jerry Stevens, the tax hike was approved by a 4-0-1 vote. Board secretary Abigail Beadle was absent for the vote. The approved rate represents the maximum that state tax law allows an ESD to set its rate. It also exceeds the voter approval tax rate calculated at $.0630, leaving the district vulnerable to a possible election petition. Also approved was a 2025-2026 budget of $1.3 million, including $900,000 to cover the management takeover of local fire protection by Medina County’s Castroville-based ESD1 led by Fire Chief Clint Cooke. As with the tax rate, the budget was approved by a 4-0-1 vote following a motion by Stevens, seconded by board treasurer Ken Nighswander. Complete video coverage of the board meeting is posted on the Devine News YouTube channel. Not including the new management contract, the new budget represents a $179,100 increase over the previous budget, ESD2 bookkeeper Nancy Pepper said. Revenue over expense leaves a $293,000 surplus, not including an upcoming $80,000 forensic audit ordered in the investigation of recent financial improprieties. On hand for the meeting was ESD1 Battalion Chief David Powell, scheduled to take charge of Devine fire operations effective this past Monday,Sept. 22. “My last day as a battalion chief (in Castroville) is Sunday morning at 0600 hours,” Powell said. Devine Fire Assistant Chief Scott DeLucia confirmed to the ESD2 board that Jessica Martinez, named chief by the Devine volunteer fire department after the resignation of Greg Atkinson last February, has herself resigned effective October 1. Of the two district residents to comment during the public hearing preceding the tax rate vote, both spoke in support of the rate hike. Former city council member Debbie Randall said she supported the increase despite being a retiree living on a fixed income. “How I see it is this raise in the tax rate is allowing our community to have a much better level of service from our fire and EMS, so much more than we’ve had in the past,” she said. According to her calculations, a homeowner with a $100,000 home can expect to pay $31.30 more a year. The owner of a $300,000 home can expect to pay $94 more a year, or $7.84 a month. Former county commissioners Jerry Beck, currently serving on the ESD4 board, said that older homeowners will have the increase offset by the new homestead exemption approved by the district this year. “So it won’t be that big a deal for all of us,” Beck said. In other financial matters, the board voted 4-0 to amend the current 2024-2025 operating budget by adding $100,000 to the sales tax revenue account. As of August, sales tax revenue stood at $448,000 with another $35,000 received in August, ESD2 bookkeeper Nancy Pepper reported. Already $48,124 more than expected. September sale tax revenue is $35,991. Included in the $100,000 amendment is $85,000 in additional funds given to the Devine Volunteer Fire Department, plus $9,000 in interest and sinking fees not included in the budget, $3,500 in website development and $2,000 as a financial cushion, Pepper said. “That’s pretty close to what our budget was with some changes here and there,” Pepper said. As of August, revenue for the current budget stands five percent short of the projected amount, Pepper said. The district ended the fiscal year with $438,000 in revenue over expenses. With the balance on the note for the DVFD DuBose Fire House standing at $81,687 as of August, Pepper recommended paying it off to save the interest on continuing monthly payments. The move would leave nearly $40,000 in the district’s interest and sinking account. “We need to leave some money in there because we keep that account open for delinquent taxes that will be coming in,” she said. She recommended taking $35, 000 from interest and sinking and the balance due from the general fund. On a motion by Nighswander, seconded by Howard, the board voted 4-0 to pay off the note. A financial report by provided by the Devine Fire Department Volunteer Association president Eric Quintanilla showed an opening balance of…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!
By AgriLife Today The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership will hold the sixth annual Fall Community Stream Cleanup on Oct. 4 in Seguin and New Braunfels. Community members are invited to join the partnership to pick up litter from stream banks, roadways and other public spaces. The event begins at 9 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the Seguin Independent School District’s Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center, 1865 E. U.S. Highway 90, or at Oak Creek Elementary School in New Braunfels, 3060 Goodwin Lane. Participants should preregister online at https://tx.ag/StreamCleanup to ensure adequate supplies are available. About the partnership Since the first spring cleanup in 2013, volunteers have removed over 40,500 pounds of waste from the watershed. Individuals and groups have made a difference in their communities by restoring and protecting local water quality, and future volunteers can continue this impactful work. The partnership was established by local stakeholders in 2012 as a response to elevated E. coli levels in Geronimo and Alligator creeks. Through free educational programs and outreach events, the partnership seeks to promote the implementation of best management practices by all watershed residents. To learn more about this program, visit www.geronimocreek.org or contact Epps at annalee.epps@ag.tamu.edu.
We’re thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Devine Cactus Fall Festival—our largest and most anticipated event of the year! This two-day, family-friendly celebration will take place on Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st, 2025, in downtown Devine as usual. This year’s festival will be packed with live music, food trucks, artisan vendors, local organizations, games, contests, family activities, and more—drawing hundreds of attendees from Devine and surrounding areas. Whether you’re a returning vendor, nonprofit, school club, or a new business, we’d love to have you be part of this exciting community event! Event Details Dates: Friday, October 31st (Evening Halloween Celebration) and Saturday, November 1st (Full-Day Festival) Location: Highway 173 & Bright Street, Downtown Devine Times: Friday 31st 2 pm-10 pm and Saturday 1st 8 am-12am Friday night will focus on Halloween fun! All participating vendors are required to bring candy for trick-or-treaters—costumes and themed booths are encouraged! Booth spaces are limited and will be assigned on a first-confirmed basis, spots are not guaranteed. How to Apply: Attached to this email is the official festival application, which includes booth fees, guidelines, policies, setup instructions and other important information. Please complete and return the application as soon as possible. Note: Application review and approval may take up to 2 weeks. Once your application is reviewed, we will personally email you. Price details are included on the form—booth spots are not reserved until payment is received, spots are NOT guaranteed.
Special Notes: All food vendors must comply with Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regulations, including any required permits, labeling, licensing, and certifications. Cottage Food Vendors must follow Texas Cottage Food Law. Products must be non-potentially hazardous, made in a home kitchen, and properly labeled. A food safety training course is required. Hot Food Vendors must have all appropriate permits and operate from an approved facility. This includes food trucks, trailers, or booths serving food that requires temperature control. Cactus Fall Festival Application- email us for a copy of it. We can’t wait for another amazing Cactus Festival and look forward to showcasing all the talent, creativity, and community spirit that makes Devine so special. “If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m happy to help!” Savannah Kendrick, Devine Market Association Secretary. Email: DevineMarketAssociation@gmail.com
By Gary Borders In an operation being called “Lone Star 2.0,” more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested by Texas Department of Public Safety officers this year, according to records obtained by The Texas Tribune. As illegal border crossings plunge, state police are shifting their energies toward aiding the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort. From late January through early September, DPS recorded 3,131 arrests by specialty teams created at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott and previously unreported. Nearly all those arrests were for allegedly violating federal immigration laws, a role once performed exclusively by federal authorities. “Operation Lone Star 2.0 is underway statewide — with DPS personnel working to combat and interdict criminal activity with a nexus to the border,” DPS spokesperson Sheridan Nolen said in an email. Only the federal government has the authority to enforce immigration violations. State and local police cannot arrest someone solely for being undocumented without agreements made with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the agencies under its umbrella, The Tribune reported. Unlike the original Lone Star initiative along the border, DPS officials have remained tight-lipped about its deportation efforts in the state’s interior.
Nearly half of Texas counties are maternal care deserts A recent report concludes that 47% of Texas counties are “maternity care deserts, The Dallas Morning News reported. The report from the nonprofit March of Dimes concludes those counties have no obstetric providers, birth centers, hospitals with obstetric units, and no OB-GYNs or family doctors who practice obstetrics. Further, another report indicates that 93 of the state’s 160 rural hospitals do not have labor and delivery units. Shortages of obstetric care occur throughout the state, regardless of geography, though rural areas are most affected. As a result, rural mothers are at much higher risk of death than mothers in urban areas. In some areas, maternal death rates in rural areas are nearly double the rates of urban areas. The Texas Legislature approved more than…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!
I’ve always loved chickens. It goes back to my daddy’s having been a chicken farmer raising White Leghorns when I was little. At the time of this incident, we had a nice flock of a variety of hens and a shiny black rooster that we called Blacky. So, when I was gifted a white Brahman rooster, I was quick to make him a home with my 20+ hens. Knowing that one rooster per up to 10 hens is ideal, I saw no issue in bringing another rooster into the flock. I was wrong. On any given day these two fought like fighting cocks, very much to my distress. One day, apparently there had been a vicious fight as Blacky was barely standing alone in the barn with his feathers all fluffed out and eyes not even open. Surely, we thought, he was about to die. He did not. He recovered! Blacky was resilient and must have been filled with resolve, because a few days later Franklin and I arrived home to find Whitey dead-dog-dead with his legs straight out stiff and naturally not moving. That was so sad. So, needing to humanely dispose of Whitey, Franklin got an empty feed sack, tossed the dead Whitey inside, tied the ends with string, and hauled him out to the back pasture. The dirty job was done. But wait. There’s more. The next day Franklin hollered for me to come help him because apparently Whitey was NOT dead. Franklin saw him running around near the place where he had been summarily dumped. What? So, I got a pet carrier, stuffed some hay inside, and prepared to nurse Whitey back to health. (I’ve even been known to take a rooster to the vet!) The two of us rode out in the Mule where I easily picked up the poor thing, held him in my arms to settle him, and when we got back to the house I put him in the above-mentioned pet carrier with food and water for him to recuperate from his ordeal. After just a couple of days, Whitey was ready for his freedom, and I turned him out where he was quickly accepted back to “his” flock. You know, a rooster has his own hens. As for Blacky, I soon found him a rescue home, so Whitey then had the entire flock to himself. And that’s where his name was changed to Lazarus. Don’t you think that’s fitting? Today, I have another white rooster, a White Leghorn, and in homage to my daddy, I named him Hubert, my dad’s name!
The Chilipitin Cemetery Association will host thier annual clean up of the cemetery this Saturday, September 27 starting at 8:00 am. Please bring mowers, weed eaters and equipment. For directions or questions please call Carlos at 830-570-2725. The cemetery is located outside Charlotte in the direction of Pearsall. Families and volunteers are welcome.
“We’ve got Spirit! We’ve got Drive! We’re the Class of ’75!” DHS Class of 1975 will be celebrating their 50th reunion this year. Pictured above are some of the DHS Class Officers that year: Secretary Betty Brown, VP Sharon Wells, President Cindy Hundley, Treasurer Sybilla Irwin *Picture from the DHS 1973 yearbook.
DHS CLASS OF 1975 – 50TH REUNION SCHEDULE: No rsvp needed, just show up and join in the celebrations at all three events! Friday, Sept. 26: HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME at Warhorse Stadium – SIGN IN at your class table and get your NAME TAG. – Sit in stands with classmates in the alumni section at south end of stands (by the ramp). – LINE UP ON TRACK to be INTRODUCED AT HALFTIME and take CLASS PICTURE. – Meet up at CHAYITOS afterword (500 Ross Ave. in Devine) to visit classmates and other friends – *Chayitos will be open late that night to the public and will have food & drink menus, so invite others to come on by!
Saturday, Sept. 27: Two events – Come to both events! – 1:00pm – DExSTA ALUMNI HOMECOMING CELEBRATION at Devine VFW, aka old Green Alamo at 211 W. College Ave. The CLASS OF 1975 WILL BE RECOGNIZED & HONORED DURING THE PROGRAM and a CLASS PICTURE will also be taken. *This is the annual Homecoming celebration held by the Devine Ex-Students/Teachers Association and all Devine school alumni of all years are invited to attend. – 6:00pm – PRIVATE CLASS REUNION at Triple C Restaurant in Devine. Join us for the ’75 Class Trivia, Door Prizes, Class Picture, and more! *Dutch Treat event with guests responsible for their own meals/drinks.
