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Unsung Heroes

Opening day at the library 1965. From left: Attorney Melvin Corley, Attorney Joe E. Briscoe (Library Board Chairman), High School Instructor Lucille Day, Librarian Margo Symington, Board Member Willie Mae Driscoll, Mayor Sid Malone, Library Assistant Nettie Petri, and Board Member Jack Tilley.

The struggle, cooperation and amazing volunteerism that brought the first public library to Devine

By Sherry Symington
March 23, 2001
“One small boy stood in the fireplace to look up the chimney, another peered under the desk. A little pixie of a girl popped in, her head swathed in black ruffled lace covering large rollers. Suddenly a baseball flew through the open door and several rows of books clattered to the floor.”
–Margo Symington, Librarian, May 27, 1965
The description above, written by the new librarian in her journal, was a typical evening in the first days of the Devine Public Library. Opened in a modest 1-room building next to the Little League field, Devine’s first library had more potential than polish in those early days. However, without the dedication of a handful of people to jump start the project, and the support and hard work of many of Devine’s citizens, this library may never have happened. Now, 36 years later, Devine boasts one of the largest, most modern, and most well stocked libraries for a town of its size.
Bookless in Devine
Before 1965, you couldn’t get books to read in Devine unless you bought a paperback at the grocery store or had access to the high school library. “This town needs a public library!” declared Ida Sample, English teacher at Devine Public High School. The year was 1955 and Attorney Joe E. Briscoe was listening. Together…

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The first Devine Public Library was housed in a 1-room former Boy Scout building next to the Little League field. The new sign on the building and freshly planted trees in 1965 hinted at the treasure of books inside.

REMEMBER, HONOR, and TEACH… Fly your US Flag -Look for Patriotic Days to be remembered in downtown Devine

Current Events Club
You may have noticed something new at Four Corners this past weekend. Every year, on June 14th, our country celebrates Flag Day, and the Devine Current Events Club set up a patriotic display to help our community remember. Did you know that on June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress resolved and adopted the flag of the United States? The resolution stated “That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field…” As states have been entered, stars have been added. Though not a federal holiday, our community and nation have the privilege and responsibility to honor the national emblem of our United States of America, recognized around the world: the flag of the United States.
Devine’s Current Events Club has kicked off the December 14, 2024, Wreaths Across America project, working towards and raising funds for the National Ceremony Day to again take place at Devine Evergreen and St. Joseph Catholic cemeteries.
In an effort to carry out the mission to REMEMBER, HONOR, and TEACH, the club will commemorate patriotic days as reminders of the sacrifice and service of our military service members and their families.
Look for displays at Devine’s Four Corners on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, Veteran’s Day, and WAA Ceremony Day.
Independence Day is July 4th! Fly your US flag and honor our American troops!
Help us REMEMBER, HONOR, and TEACH.
Devine Chamber of Commerce
You may have been noticing the new patriotic banners bought by the Devine Chamber of Commerce. They are hanging on poles all up and…

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Local Students Named to ACU’s Spring 2024 Dean’s Honor Roll

ABILENE, TX (06/13/2024) — Local students were named to the Abilene Christian University Dean’s Honor Roll for the Spring 2024 semester. To earn Dean’s Honor Roll recognition, students must achieve a 3.6 or higher GPA while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
Josette Villanueva, a senior Kinesiology major from Devine
Zacchaeus Morphew, a senior Engineering major from Devine

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Cold Brew for You –

Summertime Coffee Refreshment

 The cold brew coffee craze is here.  According to the National Coffee Association, U.S. consumption of cold brew coffee increased a staggering 300% over the last seven years.  Cold brew coffee splashed onto the American scene about the year 2015.  Introduced by Starbucks, cold brew soon caught on with other stores like Whole Foods and Dunkin’ Donuts.  Cold brew can now be found, brewed and bottled, in almost every grocery store and gas station in the country.
 For the uninitiated, cold brew is not simply iced coffee.  Iced coffee is regular hot brewed coffee that is cold.  Cold brew coffee is brewed cold, more like a coffee tea.  The cold brewing process brings out various flavor notes, different than regularly brewed coffee.  Cold brew coffee is typically less acidic than hot coffee or iced coffee, and because of the extended extraction time, has a higher caffeine content.
 Cold brew has existed since the 1600s in Japan, where it is known as Kyoto Coffee.  It is believed that Dutch traders may have originally developed the process of cold brewing coffee at sea and carried it with them to Japan.  
 French soldiers in the mid-19th century returning from Algeria brought a form of cold brew back home with them.  This concoction soon found its way into French cafes.  There is evidence that Civil War soldiers in this country enjoyed a similar version of cold-water coffee, affectionately known as camp coffee.  In the early 20th century, cold brew coffee was even a thing in Cuba, where a special cold water brewing process was used.
 My wife is a big fan of cold brew coffee.  What follows is our redneck recipe and method with instructions.  No special equipment is needed.  All that is required is some good coffee, a Mason jar, a refrigerator, some clean kitchen towels, and a bit of patience.

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Daughters of the Republic of Texas to attend CRT Convention June 21-22

Receiving their 25 years of continuous service certificate were Kay Anderson, Patricia Burrier, Roberta Himebrook, Elaine Nichols. Members not in attendance Ruby Brigman, Metche Franke, Quinna Hughs, Mary Lou Johnson, Benita Lane, Hollace Smith and Belinda Vanatta.

The May meeting of the Caddel-Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was called to order at 10:35 a.m. by President Kay Anderson. Twenty members and one guest were welcomed.
Jakelynn Crawford reported that the 2025 4th and 7th grade Texas History essay subjects are: 4th grade, ‘Juana Navarro Alsbury, Survivor of the Alamo’, and 7th grade subject, ‘Which site should be regarded as the Birthplace of the Republic of Texas: West Columbia, Washington-on-the-Brazos, or San Jacinto?’
Billie Nast, sponsor of the Children of the Republic of Texas, John Blanton II chapter, reported that they will be attending the CRT Convention in Waco on June 21-22, 2024. She has submitted award reports prior to the Convention which include; 2nd Vice President General’s Project consisting of squares of fabric with the Republic of Texas symbols and historic sites drawn on them. Twelve of our CRT members colored the quilt squares. Those members are Cole Almand, Edie Almand, Eloise Buescher, Mattie Mae Buescher, Catie Cerny, Alexis Long, Rinley Wernette, Griffin Wilson, and T.R. Wilson, along with Associate Members, Rand Redden, Adie Wilson and Johny Wilson.
The CRT Corresponding Secretary General’s Project was to draw and color…

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Tickets on sale for St. Andrew’s Festival drawings

Cortez has a goal of selling over 675 tickets to beat last year’s goal

BBQ pit is grand prize, festival moved to September 29

St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Lytle is hosting a drawing with a grand prize of a double door BBQ Pit, which can be seen under the pavilion next to the church in the bargain shopping area.

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Devine ISD adopts $20.4 million budget for 2024-2025 fiscal year

By Anton Riecher
The Devine Independent School District school board voted 5-0 Monday to adopt a budget of $20.458 million for the 2024-2025 school year, an increase of $1.194 million from the previous year.
“After month and months and lots of discussion and lots of questions we’re going to adopt our 2024-2025 budget tonight,” director of finance Shannon Ramirez said.
Of the seven-member board, only board president Nancy Pepper, board secretary Keri James, and trustees Carl Brown, Alixana Buvinghausen and Renee Frieda were present for the vote.
Action on a tax rate to support the new budget is not expected until August, Ramirez said. The projected maintenance and operations rate would be $.7115 compared to $.7270 supporting the current budget.
However, that M&O rate could be compressed to $.6315 under a property tax initiative pending action by the Texas Legislature in July, Ramirez said.
The projected interest and sinking fund rate is $.2400 with the application of this year’s voter approved bond issue. That is equal to I&S under the current budget.
Projected revenue from local taxes is just over $5 million, Ramirez said. State funding is expected to be…

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11th DJ Carlson Memorial

BUST N BURN shoot, silent auction, BBQ event Sept. 13-14, 2024 in Devine
New- State Championship Cook-off

The 11th Annual DJ Carlson Memorial BUST N BURN will be on September 13&14, 2024, the second weekend of September yearly, and will be hosted at the same location as last year, at The Farm, 2238 FM 2200 West, Devine just past the airport a litte ways..

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