Congratulations to Lytle’s own Natalie Pacheco for placing first at state.
Last Thursday, March 16th, Lytle Lady Pirates Nivea Sanchez, Brianna Paredes, and Natalie Pacheco traveled to the THSWPA State Powerlifting Championship held in Frisco, Texas to compete for gold. Of these three girls, Natalie Pacheco was the only to place, and with a first place title at that! Way to go ladies! Congratulations on a successful season as the 2023 girls powerlifting season has come to an end. Natalie Pacheco, first place, squat 475, bench 255, dead lift 415, total 1145. Brianna Paredes, eleventh place, squat 335, bench 120, dead lift 290, total 745. Nivea Sanchez, disqualified, squat 405, bench 0, dead lift 315, total 0.
Devine Arabian powerlifter Neenah Guerro places fifth place at state. Congratulations!
Last Friday, March 17th, Devine Arabian senior Neenah Guerrero traveled to compete in the THSWPA Powerlifting State Championship held in Frisco, Texas. Her hard work throughout the season earned her a fifth place title. What’s more impressive is the fact that this was Neenah’s first year being a member of the powerlifting team. Way to compete and congratulations on a successful season! Neenah Guerrero, first place, squat 250, bench 130, dead lift 225, total 605.
03/13/2023-Terroristic Threats – Officer on duty responded to call which involved a letter received in the mail that contained an unidentifiable white power. Outside law enforcement agencies were contacted and the white powder was found to be non harmful. 03/15/2023-Parking Violation – Officer on duty observed an 18 wheeler illegally parked and issued a violation citation. 03/16/2023-Evade Arrest – While Officer on duty was conducting routine patrol rounds in the city of Natalia, he encountered a person of interest and made contact with the individual. The Officer confirmed the individual had an active outstanding warrant. As the Officer started to take the subject into custody the subject pulled away and evaded arrest. 03/18/2023-Disturbance – Officer responded to a disturbance involving two girlfriends who had been drinking. The Officer spoke to both parties and offered a courtesy ride home for the night until the alcohol wore off. 03/18/2023-Welfare Concern – Officer on duty responded to a welfare check on a man in a motorized wheelchair traveling on TX-132and FM 471S. Contact was made and all was well. 03/18/2023- AOA – Officer on duty was dispatched to Town and Country to assist the resident get his wheelchair up the handicap ramp. 03/19/2023-Traffic Hazard – Officer on duty was dispatched to an accident on IH35. Officer ensured all parties involved were not injured and contacted a tow truck to take possession of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Monday, March 13 1:14 AM – 15100 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to a verbal disturbance between two individuals. 1:41 AM – 15300 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to an active alarm. The business was secure. 2:15 AM – 15100 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to a broken glass frame in the front door. A 47 year old female was arrested while driving away for DWI, and a 37 year old male was arrested for criminal mischief >$750 <$2,500. Both were booked into the Atascosa County jail. 11:15 AM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a parent regarding an incident that occurred at the school. The female was advised to contact the school resource officer. 12:25 PM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to the guardian of a runaway juvenile requesting new information. 1:36 PM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a resident requiring information on towing a vehicle from their property. 3:25 PM – Assist Atascosa EMS – 19500 Blk. Florence St. – Officer assisted a patient having a medical emergency. 3:38 PM – 14900 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to a criminal mischief call for a broken window resulting in $200 to $300 worth of damage. 4:09 PM – IH 35 SB @ MM 130 – Officer responded and removed a chair from the roadway. Tuesday, March 14 10:47 AM – 15100 Blk. Adams St. – Officer responded to a report of receiving play money from a customer. 12:05 PM – 15100 Blk. Main St. – Officer spoke to a female regarding a suspicious person at the business at 7:49 PM the previous night. Everything was okay. 4:26 PM – 15000 Blk. Harbour St. – Officer spoke to a resident regarding someone knocking on her door at 5:00 AM. 10:33 PM – 15300 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to an active alarm. The business was secure. 11:36 PM – FM 3175 @ IH 35 NB Frontage Rd. – Officer observed a stranded vehicle and provided a jump start. Wednesday, March 15 8:55 AM – 18900 Blk. FM 2790 – Officer provided an escort out of town for the girl’s powerlifting team. 12:50 PM – Assist Texas DPS – IH 35 NB @ MM 132 – Officers assisted with a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. 1:12 PM – Assist Atascosa County EMS – 19200 Blk. Blume Dr. – Officers responded to assist a patient having a medical emergency. 4:30 pm – Live Oak Side – Officer responded to assist Animal Control with two aggressive dogs but was canceled upon arrival after Animal Control contacted the dog’s owner. 5:01 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to a two-vehicle minor non-injury traffic accident. 6:08 PM – Assist Atascosa County EMS – 15400 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to assist a patient having a medical emergency. 6:44 PM – 14800 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to a report of a fake $20 bill received from a customer. 8:21 PM – 19300 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to a loose dog at the above business. Animal Control was contacted. 10:03 PM – Assist Medina County S.O. – IH 35 NB South of City – Officers responded to a MCSO deputy not answering his radio. Officers arrived and discovered the deputy had five undocumented subjects detained. The driver fled and was not located. 11:00 PM – 14700 Blk. Main St. – A juvenile reported as a runaway on 3/10 returned home. Thursday, March 16 5:10 AM – IH 35 NB Frontage Rd @ FM 3175 – Officer responded to a report of two males stealing rebar from the work site. The supervisor was contacted and advised that the males were permitted to take the scrap rebar. 9:30 AM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a male regarding a vehicle claimed to be stolen out of Bexar County. 10:12 AM – HWY 132 @ IH 35 Frontage Rd. – Officer spoke to a male regarding a property dispute over a loaned vehicle. 10:12 AM – Railroad St – Officer responded to a train blocking all the crossings on Railroad St. The train was repaired and moved on. 11:25 AM – 20000 Blk. IH 35 NB Frontage Rd – Officers responded to a white pickup loading scrap metal. Everything was okay. 1:48 PM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a female regarding an accident reported to occur on 3/11/2023 at the HEB Plus. 2:02 PM – 15000 Blk. Gate St. – Officer spoke to a male regarding a gunshot heard earlier in the morning. 2:23 PM – 14400 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to an active alarm. The business was secure. 4:00 PM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a female regarding illegal dumping in the Coal Mine Subdivision. 5:00 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Report of a dog in a vehicle. The dog was okay, and the vehicle was running with the A/C on. 6:20 PM – 630 Blk. CR 6716 Natalia, Tx – Officer responded for a follow-up investigation. 6:45 PM – 20300 Blk. IH 35 – Officers responded to change a flat for a stranded female. 7:20 PM – Lytle PD – Officer returned a driver’s license to a female. 7:59 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to a disturbance that resulted in the arrest of a 31 year old male for active warrants for theft of >$100<$750 out of Bexar County and an active warrant out of Wilson County for theft. He was booked into the Atascosa County jail. 8:55 PM – Main St. @ Somerset St. – Officer initiated a traffic stop for disregarding the red light, which resulted in the arrest of a 41 year old female for an active warrant out of Bexar County for Fail to Report Highway Damage >$200. She was booked into the Atascosa County jail. Friday, March 17 12:52 AM – 19400 Blk. McDonald St (All businesses) – Officer responded to an active alarm. The area was secure. 2:51 AM – IH 35 @ Lytle-Somerset St. – Officer responded and moved cones blocking the roadway. 7:18 AM – 14600 Blk. FM 2790 – Officer responded to a man sleeping outside the bank. Everything was okay. 8:16 AM – 20100 Blk. IH 35 – Officer responded to a man outside the bank. Everything was okay. 11:03 AM – 19200 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to unlock a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. 11:45 AM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a vehicle dinging the other vehicle with another vehicle door. 2:45 PM – 14900 Blk. Lytle-Somerset St. – Officer responded to an open fire. The resident extinguished the fire. 4:08 PM – Assist Atascosa EMS – 15000 Blk. Mesquite St. – Officer responded to assist a patient with a medical emergency. 7:06 PM – 15000 Blk. Mesquite St. – Officer responded to a child custody dispute. 8:54 PM – Magnolia St. via phone call. – Officer spoke to a resident regarding speeding motorcycles. Saturday, March 18 3:01 AM – IH 35 @ FM 2790 – Officers initiated a traffic stop for running a red light that resulted in the arrest of a 34 year old male for DWI after crashing into the draining ditch. He was booked into the Atascosa County jail. 1:28 PM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a male regarding unwanted text messages. 1:42 PM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a complainant regarding the suspicious activity that occurred earlier on 3/17/2023. 8:11 PM – Assist Texas DPS – FM 2790 @ CR 6710 – Officers responded and assisted with traffic control for an accident. 9:50 PM a – Assist Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office – IH 35 NB – Officers responded to watch for a stolen Ford F350 but could not locate the vehicle. Sunday, March 19 1:26 AM – Assist Bexar County Sheriff’s Office – IH 35 SB – Officer responded to assist in a pursuit heading toward Lytle, but the vehicle changed direction before entering the city. The Lytle PD was not involved in the pursuit. 1:33 AM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers initiated a traffic stop for driving the wrong way on the SB frontage Rd., resulting in a pursuit down FM 2790 E. The officers terminated the pursuit at Luckey Rd. 10:45 AM – 14900 Blk. Main St. – Officers spoke to a male that sat $3,000 on a case of water, which another customer picked up. Fortunately, officers recovered $2,759 and returned it to the victim. 1:45 PM – Magnolia St. – Officers responded to a report of a speeding motorcycle and could not locate it. 3:30 PM – 16000 Blk. Lake Shore Dr. – Officer provided a courtesy ride to a female due to a loose dog in the area. 5:05 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to unlock a 2015 Kia Sorrento.
Patrick Clifton McMillan, of San Antonio, Texas entered the gates of heaven on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the age of 79. He was born in Castroville, Texas November 28, 1943. Patrick was raised in Pearson, Texas primarily by his grandparents, Oscar & Kate Conover, where he attended public school in Natalia while spending a lot of time on the family cattle ranch in Moore, Texas. After high school, Patrick joined the Army and served until he was medically released due to heart complications. Upon release of the Army, Patrick followed his heart and dream of dancing and moved to Alaska where he attended the University of Alaska and began his journey of teaching. While in Alaska, he not only taught but also choreographed and judged for the Miss Alaska Beauty Pageant. He was then recruited by UC Berkley to teach classes and choreograph for their dance and play performances. In the early 70’s Patrick made his way back to Texas where he taught for the past 40 years and became one the most prominent, well I say, the MOST prominent, dance instructor in San Antonio, Texas. He taught classes in ballroom, country western, and salsa. His journey began at Arthur Murray’s Dance Studio and then he began teaching classes for the school districts in many locations around town. As he progressed, he then taught for Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio College, Incarnate Word, and Trinity University. While at Trinity University, he was voted favorite professor, which he bragged on quite often. While teaching for the Connections Program at the Village of Incarnate Word, he taught a line dance class for the most wonderful group called the Sisters of Charity that he loved very dearly and couldn’t ever stop talking about. One of his biggest highlights that he was so very proud of was his performance groups of McMillan and Co. and the Trinity Ropers. These groups performed at every and any festival you could name, as well as the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Mickey Gilley’s Night Club, Billy Bobs, and The Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN. They were featured on TNN’s Club Dance, traveled to Japan to perform for the mayor of Kumamoto City and were accompanied by Mayors Lila Cockrell and Henry Cisneros. His dance troupe also performed for the Queen of England and former President George W. Bush when they visited San Antonio, another performance he couldn’t stop talking about. Patrick took the road, literally, in 1984 and Waltzed Across Texas, to raise money to take his dance troupe to perform at the Alaska State Fair. Pledges were made for every mile he waltzed. He put in 13- hour days and waltzed for 488 miles and was able to cover all cost. And lastly but certainly not least, he taught lessons at the San Antonio Spurs Christmas Party with Greg Popovich, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson, and the other amazing team members. He choreographed the dancing for the IMAX movie The Spirit of America with Lyle Lovett, and John Schneiders movie, The Real Deal, and performed on the Lawrence Welk show. Patrick has spread his love of dancing across the US and touched so many people during this time. He was loved by so many and has experienced so much that it would be impossible to put it all down on paper. He was preceded in death by his grandparents William Oscar Conover (1895-1970) and Dora Katherine Phillips Conover (1893-1994); his parents Garland Dean McMillan (1915-1989) and Billie Jo Clifton (1920- 1991) and his brother Michael Dean McMillan (1942-2017). He is survived by his niece and nephews, Bobbye Joe McMillan of San Antonio, William Michael McMillan of San Antonio and Nicholas Claude McMillan of Gulfport, Mississippi, great nieces and nephew, Samantha Joe Flores, Aaron Preston Guerrero, Alexandria Reigh Schneider, and Charlyze Brooke Hemby; great-great nieces and nephew, Ryleigh Elizabeth Flores, Daniel “DJ” Joshua Flores, and Rain Leilani Guerrero, as well as numerous cousins throughout Texas. A Visitation was held at 11:00 on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Primrose Funeral Home, 303 W. College Ave, Devine, Texas with a funeral service beginning at 1:00 directly following the viewing. Burial followed at Moore Memorial Cemetery in Moore, Texas. Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the guest book may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com Arrangements by Primrose Funeral Services 303 W. College Ave, Devine, Texas 78016.
Estevan M. Perez, born January 23, 1961, went into the loving arms of the Lord on March 11, 2023, at the blessed age of 62. He is preceded in death by his parents Juan and Andrea Perez, as well as brother Alberto Perez. He is loved and will be missed by his wife Rosalinda Perez and sister-in-law Maria Perez, as well as 11 god-children and numerous other family members and friends. He will be dearly missed and never forgotten. Visitation was held Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 4pm to 8pm. A rosary and mass were held Thursday, March 16, 2023 at St. John Bosco Catholic Church of Natalia with all services concluding at the church. Services under the direction of Bluebonnet Funeral Chapel.
Billy L. Thompson, 76, of Lakehills, Texas passed away on March 18, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Poteet, Texas to William L. and Genieva M. Thompson on February 14, 1947. Billy was preceded in death by Father, William L. Thompson, Sister Nancy Schwarzbach and Brother Robert Hal Thompson. Billy is survived by his wife Judy Thompson of Lakehills, Texas, Mother Genieva M. Thompson of Devine, Texas, children Lisa K. (Chuck) Jenkins of Mineral Wells, Texas, Michael L. Thompson of Hondo, Texas, stepchildren: Joseph E. Karwowski of San Antonio, Texas. Melissa (Jaime) Calata of San Antonio, Texas, brothers: Jeff Thompson (Andrea) of Pinehurst, Texas; Chris Thompson of Devine, Texas, sister-in-law: Cynthia (Ed) Corley of Trinity, Florida, grandchildren: Terryn Edwards, Jessica Bramlett, Joshua Thompson, Cora Kate Jenkins, Billy Thompson, Joseph E. Karwowski III, Cooper J. Calata, great grandchildren: Abby, Kayson, Zaylee, Mackenzie, and Brooks, and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Billy loved his family, hunting, gardening, BBQ and Mexican food. Memorial Services will be held March 25, 2023, 11:00 AM at Grimes Bandera Funeral Chapel with the Chuck Cgshaw officiating. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Bandera Funeral Chapel.
Bernice Arlene Stewart (better known as Poppy) of Devine, Texas, passed away Monday, March 20, 1923, at 96. She was born September 4, 1926, to parents Hugh and Edith Applewhite in Pearsall, Texas. She attended school in Moore, Texas, through the 9th grade and one year at Pearsall. She got a hardship driver’s license at the age of twelve to drive her siblings and neighbor kids to school before Moore got a school bus. On May 30, 1941, she married Glen Wood Stewart three months before her sixteenth birthday. Many said she was too young, and the marriage would not last, but when her husband passed in July 2013, they were married for 72 years. In September 1941, Glen was drafted into the military and served 44 months in the Army. Like many wartime brides, she lived with her in-laws. When Glen came home after the Army, they lived in a one-room apartment along the railroad tracks in Devine until they purchased 25 acres with a small house. Nine years later, they purchased their farm on no FM 2200 W. Poppy not only took care of the house and raised two kids but was always involved in the farm activities, whatever they were. She enjoyed working in her yard and caring for the house; she taught herself to sew and made many of her kid’s school clothes from flour sacks from the old Loggins and Lilly retail store. She also loved to quilt, making each grandchild and great-grandchild a quilt, plus many smaller items. In earlier years, she loved competing in the county fair with quilts, canned goods, and baked goods. She is famous for her sweet pickles and buttermilk pecan pie. She loved Black Creek Baptist church and her church family, where she attended church since 1954; she was very active as a Church clerk and a teacher for small children with numerous other positions throughout the years. Poppy is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh Applewhite, and Edith Applewhite DelBrail, husband Glen Wood Stewart, son, Glen Wood Stewart, Jr., sisters Betty Mann, Laurel Oppelt, Janice Magill, and brother William (Buddy) DelBrail. She is survived by her daughter Carolyn Stewart Cope and (Jim), son Glen Hugh Stewart (Billie), grandsons Justin Stewart, Shane Stewart (Kara), David Cope (Kelly), and Brian Cope (Julie). Great-grandchildren Mae Cope, Hunter Cope, and Adelynne Cope. Sister Billie Toalson (Charles), sister-in-law Wanda Gardner, Brother-in-law Nixon Stewart, and many nephews and nieces. Special thanks to the ladies at Black Creek Baptist Church for their assistance in helping her be involved in all their activities and to her caregiver Norma Garcia for going above and beyond. Poppy will be missed by her family, church family, and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Black creek Baptist church or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, from 9:00 A.M. until service time at 11:00 A.M. Black Creek Baptist Church Devine, Texas, with interment to follow at Evergreen cemetery. Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services, 303 W. College Ave., Devine, Texas 78016, (830) 663-4445.
The city engineer tries to answer some of the many questions citizens asked as quickly as they could, given only 3 minutes each to speak.
By Anton Riecher and Kathleen Calame While incumbent Devine Mayor Cory Thompson took no position on a $15 million bond election proposed for May, he and mayoral candidate challenger Butch Cook and several others clashed over Thompson’s strict adherence to his rule of a three-minute time limit for speakers during a public hearing March 14. “Okay, let’s open up the public hearing portion of this. I’m going to limit everybody’s time in the usual fashion for when we have doings like this to three minutes. The council is not supposed to, I’m not going to engage, that’s not the case at all, but we can’t tell you necessarily what’s our opinion. We can only deal with the facts as they are here tonight.” Addressing the city council, Cook took issue with the strict time limit. “We’re talking about $24 million (including interest),” he said. “Three minutes is not enough time when somebody has concerns.” Thompson said that the three-minute limit was in keeping with how public hearings had always been run. Cook countered that he had never been limited to three minutes. After several more voices joined the debate Thompson gaveled the discussion to a halt. Citizens take the podium Jessica Ornelas asked if sidewalks would be included when portions of the roadway have to be rebuilt. City Engineer JR Garcia responded, “No”. “I’m really confused. You say you want to improve the ability for children to walk to school but we’re not providing them a way to walk to school. You’re taking away the water but you’re not giving them an actual path,” said Ornelas. Nancy Saathoff took the podium next and asked, “How much specifically is allocated for the airport project?” Garcia answered,”$211,000”. Fred Morales asked, “The drainage that is going to start at the northern most portion – are those going to be square tubes in the ground or are those going to be open conveyances of water? Garcia: “They are going to be under the ground. We will have storm drain inlets at designated locations in the design of the plans and to channelize the water essentially into Burnt Boot Creek.” Morales: “So when you start at the north end of the project how deep below the surface are those tubes going to have to be?” Garcia: It’s going to vary depending on what type of utilities we have in that area. We have to look at that. But typically this drainage is going to be four to six feet deep. It also depends on the slope and how … we have to look at the elevation of the existing storm drain that’s on Colonial Parkway and then work backwards to make sure we have the proper slope to get the water out.” Morales asked, “There is no way to do it open where it’s easier to clean and maintain?” Garcia: “No. It will have manhole openings, manhole covers on the inlets, but the actual drainage structure, no way.” Morales: “There are not easements on right-of-ways – you just leave it open and it’s concrete and the water can move down and if something gets in it you can’t get it out or if debris gets in or anything washes in there, is there no way to move the water and keep it open?” Garcia: “The way the water is going to be deposited into the storm drainage system is through the inlet and you’re talking about an inlet opening which is very small. When you have your big storm, it’s going to push everything out and it will end up in the creek.” Morales: “So when the water gets to Burnt Boot and gets to the elementary school what’s going to be done south of that to make sure the water can exit town like through Zig Zag through the south end of town? If we deliver the water to the south end of town faster than it is currently being delivered, is there going to be a problem on the south end of town that we don’t have now?” Garcia: “No, because we will be lowering the 100-year-flood plain water elevations because of the improved side flow and bottom flow and our whole point is to bring it down because there are 32 homes and buildings in that 100-year-flood plain in Devine. So the purpose of the project is to bring down that water flood elevation.”
Morales: “So there is not going to be a problem with water reaching the southern end of town faster than it is now and there isn’t anything in the project that I can see that widens or makes the waterway wider or deeper on the south side of town? We don’t want to fix the problem here and make another problem there. Want to make sure it gets the water all the way out of town.” Garcia: “Oh yes it will. I mean of course we have the existing conditions of this area. We have San Francisco Creek – (Burnt Book Creek and San Francisco Creek) merge in the south part of town. So when you do have these 100-year flood events the back water comes back from the highway and backs up….Unless we have one of those major catastrophic events everything should be fine. For the most part most of the channel is going to be earthen, it’s going to be widened. Widening that channel the elevations are going to come down.” Frances Navarro took the podium next. Navarro: “What will happen if a major infrastructure failure occurs and we are unable to use another bond for our basic water needs?” (Referring to how the bond issue will cap any further general obligation bond issues for the next 20 years.) “Why have we not used that before coming to the taxpayers? Don’t we have a grant writer on staff?” Cunningham: “There are other means of financing. There are certificates of obligation that you could issue that you could levy a tax or utility system revenues. But for this specific project the council elected to take it to the voters to decide if you want to have these projects or not.” Navarro: “We keep getting an increase in water … we keep getting all these issues with lines and water and broken mains all over the place. Where is all that money that we’ve already been doled out to this community by those grants by the Texas Water Board.” Mayor Thompson responded, “That is actually, no offense, not related to … that’s a different meeting with a different discussion. I know what you’re saying but the money that’s for the water line project, that’s been five years ago …” Navarro: “It just feels like we’re getting deeper and deeper in debt and we can’t handle basic needs around here. My water has been cut off I don’t know how many times. You call up there and you can’t get an answer. Gary Saathoff took the podium next. “I have a question for the engineer about the 25- and 100-year flood. This bill is going to protect 32 houses from a 100-year flood. You said that Devine has no problem with a 25-year flood for the San Francisco and the Burnt Boot Creek. So if we have a 100-year flood, it backs up into town – why don’t we take care of the whole town instead of 32 houses for a 100-year flood? … How do we decide that these flood problems are more severe than others?… Every time we get a good rain, downtown is flooded. The entire community suffers from flooding.” Ritchey: “I appreciate the tough line of questioning. I don’t think that JR is the one that necessarily picked it out. He’s provided the engineering for the design project.” Saathoff: “It still seems to me like you are creating better flow up top, and in a real big flood you’re going to have a bigger flood downtown because it can’t get out at the bottom.” Thompson: “Let us quickly address the reason why the projects that were picked were picked. Based back to information that we have had going through files and folders we were able to find some of these projects with documents dating back to 1961. I think we are all aware that what happens downtown has a lot to do with the state and TxDOT helping us , with which I’m not going to say anything, but we have dozens of documents dating all the way from 1961.. They were ones that council had been concerned about in the past.” Ralph Montgomery expressed his concerns next. “What assurance are we going to have that this is going to be completed? Since I’ve been here I’ve already seen two or three projects into which we have put a lot of money that have not been completed,” stated Montgomery. What happened to all that money for these other projects that were never completed? What happened to that money?” Ritchey said: “I think it was said in a previous meeting that if we don’t compete it in five years we have to pay it back.” Montgomery named several projects that have not been completed. “One is the water line project going down Libold. Never completed.” Thompson: “Are you referencing the water line project we are currently working on? Guys are out working on it right now. That’s why people keep losing water up in District 1.” Butch Cook took the podium next. “I have to be super quick apparently.” Cook questioned Garcia about the difference between a 25- and a 100- Year Flood. Garcia said the project is designed based on taking care of a 25 year flood plain.“We could not design for a 100-year flood,” Garcia replied. Cook: We’re going to spend $24 million. Because it’s $15 million plus, on your chart, $9 million in interest for 20 years … It would seem to me that it must be quite comprehensive and also include life threatening situations and things that could have happened. I have heard of none. Even back in 2011 when we had eight-inches in two hours. My shop got flooded, yes it did, but what the hey, eight inches in two hours is going to do that. The whole town was flooded down here. I don’t mean to dismiss the threat of bodily injury to anyone, but we haven’t had any (inside city limits).” Cook said he had checked old council minutes going back four years. “Only three meeting in four years had anything posted regarding drainage. Those three involved complaints from Montgomery. Of those three agendas, there were six total items. At least three of these aren’t even on these plans.” “Why the rush? This thing was rushed in incredibly quickly. Two short notice special meetings just so it could be on the May ballot. What was the reason? Anyone?,” asked Cook. Thompson: We were aware we were going out for this. We had this discussion back in October or November? We were compiling these items.” Cook: “In October you addressed the council during a special meeting asking for the council to consider a bond proposal for street paving, a sports complex, and drainage. You personally approached the council wanting the bond proposal … Now, here we are with no regular meeting with regard to this issue, two special meetings that hardly anyone attended with 72-hour notice and they start at 6 p.m. … You posted that this project will max out our tax rate for 20 years and would not allow us to do anything substantial in the way of community improvement for the next 20 years. Why would we want to do that?” Thompson: “That is up to the voters to decide.” Cook: “No, no, you guys presented this for the voters. There is an inherent trust that it has been researched, and that YOU approve of it is why it goes out for a vote. So why would we want to max out our tax rate and our ability to improve other things for 20 years.” Randall: “All of these projects I know we have discussed maybe it’s informational, maybe it’s not on the agenda, but we’ve talked about them many times. However, we as a city don’t have $15 million to do this project. And we get asked about these projects a lot. It’s not just fly-by that we came up with them. We’re giving it to the residents to decide – ‘do you want this done and this is the cost?’” Cook: “We need to promote projects that can bring in new business and help with sales tax revenue.” Next, Kathleen Calame took the podium. “Why does the project stop at Howell Street (near the funeral home)? Why does it not go all the way down to Hwy 132 where Burnt Boot Creek actually exits town? That area after Howell Street is overgrown with trees and brush and has been neglected for many, many years, yet it’s not being taken into account or corrected and will cause huge problems for the flow of the water.” Garcia; “Well, that comes under understanding the engineering portion and how it’s designed. I would have to come and meet with everybody and have a three-hour class and how I designed this thing. I can’t really explain how it’s designed here because it would take too long. But it is designed to where the water elevation drops so whatever the water surface elevation is right now it is going to be dropped by one-third entering Burnt Boot Creek.” Garcia said the project is based by calculations done by his father 10 + years ago. Calame: “Who chose these projects?” Thompson: “They were on a list of projects that have been around many, many years. I can’t necessarily choose projects one way or another. I asked the council for a vote. What you see here tonight was voted on by the council.” (Council vote was split 3 for (Randall, Espinosa and Vega) and 2 against (Pichardo and Ritchey). Next, Pichardo expressed some concerns : “I do have a statement. JR I know that the flooding is going to end over in district 2 and I want to reassure our residents. So we would like to meet for those three hours to have that explanation, so that way we understand, and I can explain to my residents that they’re not going to be flooded out. And I do understand we have 32 homes and we need to save those homes but, in addition, are we going to destroy another part of town possibly … I know that you used the stock list from the Army Corp of Engineers but have they come to actually visually see? Has the Army Corp of Engineers come to give us some advice …? (Thompson tries to interupt) … to see that the flood does not happen in district 2? I’m just worried about this.” Gary Saathoff asked next: “Quick question. In the dream sheet that you showed, it all adds up to $90 million. Have all of those projects, has there been any determination besides the cost on how many people it will benefit? Each one of those items, like a sports complex, is going to cost this much, is going to benefit this many people. This flood project is going to cost $15 million and it’s going to benefit this many people. Any of the others on there, the airport, who is it going to benefit …?… to give you a ranking of what would be most beneficial to the city.” Thompson: “To answer that question we actually do have that on the airport because the airport was part of what we’re discussing now. Once council made a decision what we were working with, we went out and got the analysis for how many people would be affected. All I can say about the sports complex because you brought up the sports complex, and it has been brought up a couple of times tonight, is the sports complex we actually looked at does not match the, uh, what is the sheet the Parks and Recreation board came up with … the master plan. The sports complex did not actually match the master plan as created by the Parks and Recreation Department so if we had gone with the sports complex project we would actually would have to have had a different discussion because what we had on our master plan and what the sports complex was were two different things. So …” Cook: “Just a comment.” Thompson: “You’ve already had your time. You know that’s right. (Laughing) You want me to gavel you again? (Thompson uses gavel.)” Ernesto Auguilar spoke next. Aguilar: “I see that Burnt Boot Creek is going to benefit 32 homes, Crouch is going to benefit 45 homes. I don’t see a number on Colonial? How many homes are we estimating in that and then what is the average value of a house here in Devine?” Garcia: “I don’t have that number, for how many homes.” Aguilar: “And what is the average value on a home in Devine?” Thompson: “Dora, do we have the update on the average cost of a house in Devine? It would need to be specific to this neighborhood.” Interim Admin. Dora Rodriguez: “The report that we get doesn’t show an average.” Aguilar: “How much is the allocation to the airport again? How much income is generated by the airport?” Garcia: “$211,000.” Thompson “We don’t have that figure right now. Like I said we have talked about the airport in the past. It would be an entirely different discussion.” Aguilar: “And then you had talked about the project tapping from the Monticello area, you’re going to tap into existing drainage?” Garcia: “Yes, there is an existing drainage there from Colonial Parkway that ties into Burnt Boot Creek. We’re going to tie into that existing system. Aguilar: “Can it handle it?” Garcia: “Yes, it can. It was designed based on peak periods.” HOW IS SPEAKING TIME TABULATED? Mrs. Saathoff asks Thompson how total time to speak is tabulated. Thompson explains that he is only clocking time spent talking, not waiting for an answer or the answer itself. Thompson: “Technically, you have about eight seconds left on your time [to Mrs. Saathoff].” Calame: “Is the three-minute limit a state law or is this a local thing you came with? Some meetings you go to, you can talk as long as you want. Who came up with that rule? “ Thompson: “It is actually within my power as mayor, because everyone came here to talk on the same topic… I can force you to vote on one representative to speak for all of you.” Navarro: “Forcing us to that particular amount of time when you call a hearing for the public to express their concerns and then as mayor say ‘You only have this much time’ you’re limiting the discussion so it doesn’t give the community confidence that you’re willing to hear us out.”
By Kayleen Holder Editor After more than one property owner near the 2200th block of FM 463 reported multiple sheep and goat attacks, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to inform residents about the best way to respond if you do encounter a mountain lion as a precaution. The advisory was issued to the News this past Thursday, March 16, however there are conflicting thoughts on the culprit of the attacks. “On Saturday night or Sunday morning, one animal was killed, and the week before is when we had the report of multiple livestock killed,” said Deputy Chief Gilbert Rodriguez. “One person reported that they a picture of a lion on security cameras, but we are still waiting on that footage before we’ll really know,” Rodriguez added. “In one of the cases we can see where the animal came in under the fence, and so we believe that at least one might have been a pack of dogs.” Sheriff Randy Brown added, “It happened in the area of the Natalia bus barn. We issued the statement on Thursday about the best way to respond if you do see a lion, but the evidence that was left behind leads me to believe it may have been a pack of dogs, because usually a lion will kill just one, not several, and they only eat certain parts of the animal. If anyone has a picture, I’d like to see it.” Sheriff Brown noted, there are indeed mountain lions in Medina County just like any rural area though. “People say cats have moved into their area, and it’s just the opposite. Development has moved into the area where cats have always been. Especially up in northern Medina County where we see the big cats,” Sheriff Brown said. In response to our post, one local resident Steven Moody posted good game cam footage captured way back in the 90’s of a lion running roaming the Calame Store area, which is not far from the site of the recent livestock killings. Male mountain lions roam a range from 80-200 square miles, while females have a range up to 100 square miles according to experts at Texas Parks and Wildlife. The advisory from Sheriff Randy Brown stated, “If you are found to be face-to-face or in close proximity to mountain lions/big cat, hold your ground or back away slowly. Continue facing the mountain lion and maintain eye contact. Speak in a loud voice, do all you can to appear larger; Stand upright, raise your arms, raise your walking stick, open your jacket. If you have small children or pets with you, try to pick them up without turning away or bending over. If the mountain lion/big cat appears to be hurt or wounded do not approach, call Medina County Sheriff’s Office.” The familiar and unforgettable scream of a Mountain Lion was also reported on the other side of Devine recently, between Devine and Moore near the weigh station area. “It was about 3 weeks ago when I heard that awful sound. If you heard it once, you remember it forever. They say it’s like a woman screaming, and that’s exactly right,” said Mr. Toalson, who lives in that area. “We had some cattle run through fences, and I was out late repairing fences when I heard it,” Toalson said. “It’s a very daunting sound. About 15 years ago, we had the same deal happen, where cattle had run through fences and we actually found a carcass that was buried that time way back then. They saw these lions run a big territory, and it always seems like we hear it around this time of year. We are pretty close to the San Miguel Creek so maybe it’s traveling along that territory.” According to TPWD, it’s size (total length) ranges from about 6 1/2 feet in females to as much as 8 1/2 feet in males. Male cougars weigh between 100–150 pounds, and females weigh between 45–96 pounds. In the wild, cougars live about 10 to 11 years. Texas Parks and Wildlife has a great guide showing what a lion track looks like in comparison to a dog or coyote in the Field Guide to Mountain Lions by Texas Department of Wildlife. Ranchers experiencing livestock loss due to mountain lions or other predators may contact the USDA/APHIS/Texas Wildlife Damage Management Services at (210) 4725451, for assistance. Please also alert local authorities and feel free to contact us at The Devine News via Kayleen Holder on Facebook or by calling 830-665-2211.
