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Iconic Texas Longhorns home on the range right here in Medina County

Debbie Davis poses with one of their favorite pet steers named Cole, who had horns spanning roughly 7 feet wide. To this day, this legendary Longhorn’s remains has an honored place on the family ranch, where a steer named Roy now presides over a herd of 50 authentic and pure Texas Longhorns which have evolved to survive even the harshest Texas conditions over their 400 years.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
The year 2021 marked the 500th anniversary of cattle coming to the Americas. The iconic Texas Longhorn is getting harder and harder to find these days as the population has dwindled, but the Davis family is doing everything they can to preserve the iconic breed on their family ranch right here in Medina County.
DWD Longhorns, LLC owned by Don and Debbie Davis, is among a small group of conservation breeders. The ranch maintains a herd of roughly 50 Texas Longhorn cattle.
Dedicated to the cause, the Davis family also offers private tours with these majestic creatures, with any donations going to Cattleman’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy (more on this group later).
“I’m happy to give tours to groups of 5 or fewer. I frequently have families come out. I drive them out in a side-by-side ATV. We feed the cattle and they take photos. When people ask if they can pay me, I ask them to make a donation to the Conservancy instead,” Mrs. Davis said.
DWD Longhorns also sells cattle to other ranchers, many who love having that iconic piece of history among their herd.
“Longhorn mommas are great for raising beef calves sired by bulls of other breeds. Many commerce breeders have bought heifers from us for that purpose,” Mrs. Davis said. “On the flip size, longhorn bulls produce small, easy to birth calves, so they are popular to use on first-time heifers of large beef breeds.”
While the annual female calf crop is offered for sale to other ranchers and most of the male calf crop goes into the Grassfed beef program marketed through Bandera Grassland™. Due to persistent drought over the last four years, beef production has been very limited.
It is the Davis’s hope that slowly these cattle will cycle back into favor of mainstream livestock production. The best method of conservation for any endangered product is to create a demand in the marketplace for many reasons.
Longhorns are better suited to survive the drought among many other good qualities, Davis explains.
“They evolved here over 400 years. They are uniquely adapted to this area. Not only do they eat grass, they browse like a deer when no grass is available,” Mrs. Davis said.
“I have a photo taken in Alpine, TX during 2020 drought.  that is testament to how well these cattle can maintain their body condition in adverse conditions. The range conditions were devoid of grass, yet these cattle scrounged enough browse to stay fat,” she adds. 
In 2005, the Davis family also founded the public charity Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy (CTLC). Debbie took over the seat of president after the death of Enrique E. Guerra.
Renowned for their natural disease-resistance, the Texas Longhorn persists today as a superior source of beef in our changing climate.
As the most desirable environments and fertile lands are consumed by urban development, agricultural production for our nation’s food supply is pushed farther out into marginal and arid lands.
The Texas Longhorn is adapted to thrive in that environment. The meat is higher in protein and lower in cholesterol and saturated fat than other breeds of cattle and they are naturally adapted to grass-finish in this area. The Davis’s are working to educate young landowners about the value of the Texas Longhorn and biological significance of preserving unmixed individual breeds for the future of our food security.
A state representative, Justin Holland, recently wrote a commentary piece recently noting, “Every year, Texas loses nearly 250,000 acres of land to development. Rural working lands that make up the wide-open spaces definitive of the Texas character are evaporating at an alarming rate.”
Editor’s Note: Statistics like that one make us so grateful to the Davis family and all other farmers and ranchers in the area, working the land and putting food on our table.

Quick Q&A with Mrs. Davis
What do you love most about raising Longhorns?
I love seeing these beautiful animals in the pasture.  Their varied colors and horn shapes make pasture visits like looking through a kaleidoscope.  Anticipation of the upcoming calf crop is always rewarded by wonders of combinations.

How large of an operation do you have in Medina County and in Texas?
On a beef production scale, we are quite small.  On a cattle owner scale we are average according to a 2012 ag census.  Thirty-six percent of the cattle inventory in this state comes from ranches with 50 or fewer head.  To look at that from another angle, half of the ranches in this state raise 50 or fewer head of cattle.  The fewer large acreage ranches make up the majority of cattle production in the state   We average 50 breeding head on our Medina County property.  We have a grazing lease in Bandera County and some family property in Hays County where we run a few extras.

Did y’all grow up learning the cattle business?
Not exactly. Our agricultural roots skipped one or more generations.  My paternal grandfather was a dry-land crop farmer in north Texas.  Don’s family hails to the Trail Drivers era of twenty-one years following the end of the Civil War.  We both grew up spending weekends on family-owned agricultural lands, but we were city kids.  We were influenced by the idealistic 1960’s-1970’s influence to return to the land.  We began dabbling in the cattle business on family land when Don surprised me on my thirtieth birthday with two Texas Longhorn heifers.  As the years progressed we found we enjoyed the rural lifestyle more than our urban one and made the leap to buy a ranch.  That was 1999.  I took animal science and range management courses at Southwest Texas State University, but our best education was experience, jumping in and making mistakes.  There were and continue to be resources for young agrarians such as Savory International, Stockman GrassFarmer and Acres U.S.A. conferences, publications by Allan Nation and a host of others skilled in sustainable practices. 

What led y’all to focus on preserving the iconic Longhorns?
We are both UT alumnae.  Originally, we wanted a few pretty cows to enjoy on family property. We were fortunate early on to meet the founders of the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry, who taught us to recognize the difference between historic phenotypes and the modern improved variety.  We became passionate about preservation and focused our efforts to make raising a conservation herd economical.
These cattle come in all colors imaginable, making them interesting to see in the pasture.  
Cows’ and steers’ horns grow in several shapes but all twist.  Flat, straight out horn growth indicates crossbreeding with African breeds. Steers grow much larger than cows and taller than bulls.
Bulls’ horns tend to grow forward for fighting for dominance.  The victor passes on his genetics to the next generation.
Cows’ horns grow laterally and twist.  They know precisely where the tips of the horns are and use them as tools.  They can scratch an itch on their rear, skewer a coyote, and swipe flies off their backs.  I’ve even seen a clever steer use his horn to flip up a chain from a gate latch to open a gate—not the most desirable trick to learn, but demonstrates the intelligence of these animals and their ability to problem solve.  Texas Longhorn cows are known for their fertility.  They deliver their first calf by twenty-four months of age and breed back to calve again within twelve months.  The best cows calve every ten to eleven months.  I have had numerous cows by their tenth birthday, that have weaned as many calves as the cow is old.  They are known for their longevity.  Most Texas Longhorn cows continue to wean a calf every year until they are sixteen.  I’ve had several make it to twenty-one years still raising calves.
Calves are born quite small; 35-50 pounds is average.  Their small size, narrow shoulders and foreheads facilitate a trouble-free delivery.  They are thrifty and able to travel within a short time after birth in event the mother senses danger.  The calves grow quickly and can wean at half the mother’s weight by seven months.
Steers are castrated males.  The beef industry prefers steer over bull meat because testosterone can toughen the muscle fibers and decreases inter-muscular fat.  Without male hormones, steers’ horns tend to grow more in the shape of cows’, only much larger.  Yes, steers do make great pets on rural properties.
We bought our steer Cole when he was about 15 months-old.  He was among a trailer load of young steers plus a couple of mature ones we brought back to Texas in 1996. At that time, we had a good market for pet steers. By chance, we never sold Cole.  He grew up and we took him on display to events such as the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, TX.  He had a gentle soul.  He lived to be 21 years-old and died in the pasture.  His skull has an honored place on the gable on the front of our home. Now we have our prize pet steer Roy, who is also very gentle.

How do you know a real Longhorn when you see one?
Some of the typical traits possessed by conservation Texas Longhorn cattle are:  Some attributes include a recumbent J shape bone conformation on the tail head.  The tail sits slightly higher than the middle spine and the thigh drops straight to the hock.  Many English and Indicus breeds have rounded rumps.  The Texas Longhorn pelvis is level, not sloping downward.  The flank is higher than the elbow.  This is believed to attribute to ability to cover great distances.  Many Texas Longhorns appear to have a limber sway in their spine as their long legs step over uneven terrain.  The skin on their undersides is tight without pendulous flaps to catch thorny underbrush.  Their heads are long and narrow.  Cows frequently appear to be approximately the same width at the muzzle as the crown.  Their nostrils are large enabling free intake of breath on their long endurance walks.  They have long hair in their elliptical ears that helps to keep out insects.  Those ears are in a protected position high under the horns.  

A little history….
The iconic Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle that evolved by natural selection to be uniquely adapted to the environment of Texas, Mexico, and the southwestern US. Iberian ancestors of this breed were brought to the New World by Spanish explorers and Missionaries beginning in 1521.
The first cattle to set foot onto the North American Continent were brought by Ponce de León to the Fort Myers area of Florida in 1521. Descendants of those cattle evolved into the Florida Cracker breed; small-framed animals adapted to swampy conditions. That same year under the navigation of Gregoiro de Villalobos, ships of cattle landed at the Pánuco River near Tampico, Mexico. Descendants of those cattle and from subsequent voyages over the following 200 years contributed to the genetics of the Texas Longhorn; a tall, long-legged animal adapted to arid, thorny, predator prone environments.
These are the cattle of legendary trail drives where the American cowboy was born moving over nine million head to the northern plains to build herds for westward expansion and to Kansas railheads to feed the hungry northeastern nation after the War between the States. These cattle rebuilt the Texas economy after the war and established many of the great Texas ranches prior to the oil industry.
Longhorns cattle fell out of favor with ranchers in the late 1800’s as fattier European breeds were introduced. Back then, the tallow was as important as the beef, for candles, soap, and other household necessities. The Texas Longhorn horns did not fit well into railcars and the independent will of the breed was more difficult to restrain. The 69th US Congress appropriated $3000 in 1927 to save Longhorns “from complete extinction.”
Today, descendants of those early gathered cattle remain today on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska. Descendants of the herd assembled by Sid Richardson reside today as the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd at Fort Griffin State Historic Site in Albany, TX, San Angelo State Park and smaller groups at Copper Breaks State Park, Abilene State Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Roughly 100 private breeders continue to raise heritage genetics Texas Longhorn cattle, numbering between 3000-3500 total animals in this country.
The breed was declared Critically Endangered by The Livestock Conservancy in 2014.
Few herds remain of animals that do not possess genetics crossed with other breeds. The small gene pool creates unique challenges for conservation breeders to maintain genetic diversity. Although there are tens of thousands of horned cattle in the USA and other countries, the historic Texas Longhorn is endangered by dilution due to crossbreeding.

More about CTLC
Mrs. Davis recently helped re-design the website for Cattleman’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy “where history and science meet at the horns.”
The group’s mission is “to safeguard the integrity of the old-time, traditional Texas Longhorn for future generations by educating the public about the value of conserving this naturally evolved breed of cattle and providing resources for continued research into understanding their unique, genetic traits.”
Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 05-0618099) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Mrs. Davis continues to act as liaison between cattle breeders and research Geneticists working on a comprehensive genetic definition of the historic Texas Longhorn. The CTLC maintains a bank of semen collected from conservation bulls for use by conservation breeders, genetic research and to ensure for posterity preservation of old genetics. The CTLC offers for public use a library of research articles available on the website and developed a TEKS curricula for fourth and seventh-grade Texas History and Social Studies students and High School Biology lessons. The organization has need of a certified educator to update those lessons to current STAAR requirements. We are calling for volunteers.
Here’s how you can get in touch: Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy
Debbie Davis, President
P.O. Box 36
Tarpley, TX  78883
(830) 562-3650 land line
(830) 796-1057 cell
debbie@texaslonghornconservancy.org

DEVINE HOMETOWN HISTORY: “Even a building in Ruins has a story to tell!” Devine Historical Committee: The History of the Colored Schoolhouse

By Nancy Ehlinger Saathoff
On an eastern hillside off Hester Street stand the unassuming ruins of a once thriving school for a small population of black children in Devine. This building, and previous buildings on this land, served as a place for education, social events, and worship for black families, for over 50 years.
Back in the earliest days of Devine, according to census records, there was not a large population of black families here, but they had their own school and teachers earlier than 1890! Records from those days called it the “colored” school and it was most likely wooden framed.
At this time two Devine school buildings were in close proximity to each other on the hill, as the east side of the railroad tracks were built up first as the main downtown area. So, the schools were in the main part of town, near the earliest built homes.
It appears that this land was home to a church before a school was located there: in 1906, “the colored people, headed by Joe LeBruce, one of our most substantial colored citizens, have moved an old Baptist church and put it up on north side Briscoe addition. They have a large sign painted, One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism.” The building may have been used for Methodist, as well as Baptist church services at times, according to old city maps. On the 1913 map of Devine this was the location of the Colored Baptist Church. The colored school was actually located on the northeast corner of Upson and Galbreath streets, closer to the two-story red brick Devine School on the corner of College & Upson Streets, which was built in 1905. In 1930 a red brick school was specially built for the “colored” children of Devine. It was made of hollow brick tile on a concrete floor and iron roof to be more fire proof. A fire thought to be started in the dry wood pile by the stove, burned the school in 1931. The building was insured and was quickly rebuilt. The school had its own PTA, held parties and carnival for Halloween & other holidays. In January 1939, the school burned again and in June of that year a new hollow tile building was built by the National Youth Administration (NYA) which was a New Deal agency sponsored by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his presidency. It focused on providing work and education for Americans between the ages of 16 and 25. Local carpenter, Alfred Brieden was assigned by the school board to oversee the project. (According to what I can find, this appears to be the building that is in ruins today on Hester Street. If I find any other information, I will add it to this story at a later time. – NS)
This old red tile one-room school building might look like something that is about ready to fall down; but actually it has been “falling down” for over 60 years, and still stands today! It’s crumbling walls have withstood the test of time, but its legacy and story still lives on in its ruins, and in our town’s history as a special place for a special group of Devine citizens.
Joe Lebruce was a well-respected Devine citizen and was instrumental in providing a place for education and worship for the black families, and their children, in Devine. His wife, Mary, was a teacher at the school until 1941, when her health declined. She attended a black community college in San Antonio for her teaching certification. (Limited information on Joe Lebruce said that his father was a former slave, but further researching is needed to discover more about his life and how he came to live in Devine.)
*Much of the information for this article was found in the master’s thesis written by Zulema Klingman in 1952. She was the superintendent’s wife and used DISD school board minutes, as well as old Devine News articles for her research. Other information used was from the archive of articles by Don Lawrence, written from oral interviews in the 1980s.
Next Meeting of the DEVINE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE: Thursday, MARCH 30, 2023 – Room #9 – Devine VFW – 211 W. College St. Two sessions: 10am-12noon – Open Topic, 1:00-3:00pm – Old Devine in pictures & stories. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND – Bring your curiosity, stories, pictures, or just come to hear about old Devine!

Music Fest at the Lytle Park March 24 & 25

The Chamber, in coordination with the City of Lytle, will be hosting their first annual Lytle Music Fest on Friday and Saturday the 24 and 25 of March 2023.
Friday, March 24 – There will be a BBQ cookoff with 3 categories: brisket, ribs, and chicken, as well as Cornhole tournaments, and two concerts in the evening. Kendi Jean Music kicks off the music at 6pm with an acoustic performance. Then Lytle based Texas country recording artist Chuck Wimer and his band take the stage at 8pm. There will also be Food Trucks.
Saturday, March 25th- 6 Bands over 2 stages throughout the day, beer sales by the VFW, and around 40 vendors and food trucks. Brad Jenschke Country kicks off the day at 10am on the acoustic stage. Followed by Selestial Alcoser and then Chuck Wimer wrapping up the acoustic performances. Matthew Ryan Music takes the main stage at 4pm with his band, followed by Scotty Alexander and then our headliner- San Antonio based, award winning band Kin Faux.
Get there early each day to shop, eat, and enjoy the live music. Remember, it all kicks off Friday the 24th at 6pm! You won’t want to miss it! Check out the featured section of our page for the schedule of performances. We expect more than 1000 people on the 25th.

YOU DO YOU

It has always been interesting to me, and yet a bit confusing to listen to “new phrases” utilized by the younger folks in my life. Of course, as a Bona Fide Baby Boomer, there are several generations of them by this point of time.
Our Grand Daughters, ages 8 and 6, use the phrase You Do You on occasion. I have come to understand that is NOT an expression associated with acknowledgment of their unique personalities. And be assured they ARE very different in some ways. It is more akin, in their language, to mean “Go Ahead and be Stupid”.
I have learned that trying to wear a Black and White Shirt, AKA be The Referee, is NOT a wise approach, so I just sit back and observe. If there becomes some danger of bodily harm being inflicted, I will intervene, but mostly am amused that they go from Mortal Enemies to Best Buds in about 60 seconds on some days.
But pondering on that term caused me to think back to “my younger days” of what that saying might have translated into. Let me quickly acknowledge such a consideration is ALWAYS dangerous for an old guy who sometimes is stuck with how to respond to the greeting of Good Morning.
It strikes me that a common phrase back then was “Do Your Own Thing”. Free Speech, Flower Children, and several other labels were used to describe that period in our history as a nation. Far be it from me to appear to convey any skill or pretense as a Sociology Expert. I spend far more of my time looking for my keys or cell phone and checking for rain forecasts than pondering the implications and meanings of words associated with and to varying groups of people.
But a thought did come through the foggy spot called my brain that there might be a better way to use the term. Now I want to acknowledge there is a fine line between Inspiration and Indigestion in my world these days, so this idea might be off course in the viewpoint for some of you fine readers.
How about if we change the wording to: YOU DO THE BEST YOU. By focusing on developing into the best possible version of yourself, a person can contribute in a manner that brings some good to others as well as themselves. Seems to me that is a double win!
I spent a whole lot of years observing very well-educated people in colleges and universities debating the “finer points” of many subjects. Many seemed, at least to me, quite insignificant in terms of the “bigger picture”. But in keeping with the above concepts, if the collection of these ramblings are way off base from your point of view, well all I can say is YOU DO YOU!

Wad of Cash

Here is your weekly dose of “What Lytle P.D. did last week and other stuff the Chief throws in”: Officers handled 60 calls for service and conducted 118 traffic stops. Of those 118 stops, 102 resulted in a citation and 16 resulted in warnings.
Lytle P.D. arrested 5 people last week, and all were booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #1 & #2 – Ofc. Cortez and Ofc. Diaz – A disturbance at the Railhead Café resulted in a female being arrested for D.W.I. and a male being arrested for criminal mischief. The male broke out a glass door and the female drove him away, but they didn’t get far. An officer was able to stop the vehicle and made the arrests. #3 – Ofc. Cortez assisted by Ofc. Diaz – A disturbance at H.E.B. resulted in the arrest of a male who had active theft warrants out of Bexar Co. and Wilson Co. #4 – Ofc. Diaz – A traffic stop for running a red light resulted in the discovery that the driver had an active warrant out of Bexar Co. for failing to Report Highway Damage. #5 –Ofc. Pena assisted by Sgt. Hanson – initiated a traffic stop for running and red light and the driver then crashed into a drainage ditch. He was arrested for D.W.I.
Property Crimes: We had a total of 5 property crimes reported last week: #1 – In the Railhead Café incident mentioned above, a glass door was broken out. #2 – A resident of the Pecan Grove Apts. (14900 Main St.) reported a window was broken out. #3 – A business on Adams St. reported that they took a $20 bill for payment and didn’t realize it was marked “play money”. #4 – Dollar General reported that they received a counterfeit $20 bill. #5 – On Sunday, a man reported that on Saturday he went to South Texas Hardware on Main St. to purchase and few items and accidentally left a Ziplock bag with $3,000 cash sitting on a stack of bottled water. Let’s be honest, haven’t we all done the same thing? I know a lot of people tell me about losing a wad of cash….but it is normally followed by “at the casino”. But this story has a good ending. Sgt. Lopez and Cpl. Robison were able to track down the person that “found” the money. They went to his house and recovered $2,759, still in the same Ziplock bag.
Congratulations to Natalie Pacheco for placing 1st in the state for Powerlifting. We were able to escort the team out of town last Wednesday. I have to be careful; the school is turning out so many winners if I start trying to keep track of them in my weekly report I won’t have any room for my “police stuff”.
Your wait is over! This weekend is the first annual Lytle Music Fest. The event will be held at John Lott Park on Friday (March 24) and Saturday (March 25). Friday is from 6P-10P and Saturday starts around 10A and runs to 10P. There will be live music, over 40 vendors, and 10 food trucks. The headliner is the group Kin Faux, there is no admission charge and I don’t think anyone is charging for parking either. If you can resist the vendors and food booths, you can get by without spending any money. As for me, I can resist the vendors most of the time and the food booths none of the time.

UGLI® Fruit? What’s That?

This past week has been a medium one for me. The Auxiliary is having their annual spring drawing, so, in addition to working a couple of afternoons in the gift shop, I also worked Friday afternoon helping sell tickets. We have some awesome prizes this year, including a Grand Prize of outdoor furniture and a fire pit, a 1st prize of a smaller fire pit with chairs, a 2nd prize of a $300.00 live oak tree, a “date night” gift certificate, and last but by no means least, a basket filled with cup towels, potholders, cooking utensils and an Auxiliary Cookbook. Our drawing date will coincide with the Annual Tom Tom festival the first week of June.
The coming week will be a busy one, as I have a couple of appointments, in the middle of the week and the list just seems to keep growing. To start my week, my sister invited me over for lunch and we had a great time eating and visiting, and now it’s time to get to work!
UGLI® Fruit is one that goes under several different names. Jamaican tangelo is only one of about half a dozen that were listed.
Jamaican tangelo is a natural cross between an orange and a grapefruit. (One source had it being a hybridization between an orange and a tangerine). However, I’m basing this on the orange and grapefruit hybridization. The Jamaican tangelo first appeared nears Brown’s Town Jamaica and that is where it is mostly grown today. The UGLI® Fruit was first discovered growing in 1917, and after much budding, grafting, etc., was first exported to Canada and England in 1934, came to the United States in 1942.
(The name UGLI® is a registered trademark of Cabel Hall Citrus Limited who distributes this fruit, and the word itself is a take-off of the word ugly). It refers to the fact that his citrus family fruit is not particularly appealing to look at. The rind is a rough surface, greenish yellow that peels easily, the ones I saw in the store was light yellow, but looked as if it had some type of dark stain rubbed on it, that made it look totally unappealing and dirty. I touched one to see and that was the actual color. The flesh is yellow/orange in color and is separated into segments, just as are oranges, tangerines, lemons and other citrus fruits. According to the information I found the taste is sweet, like that of the tangerine but with a hint of the bitterness of the grapefruit.
Parts of this article are from Wikipedia; the free Encyclopedia and other parts are from typing UGLI fruit into my computers search program. The stories are interesting and vary greatly. There were no recipes in any of the articles, so, I just found a couple that can be made and set out for snacks at Easter. The first is “Puppy Chow”, I’ve never met a child and just a few grown-ups who don’t like it! The first time I tasted it, was at Bunco in Devine and I think Sherry Davis was the lady who was hostess that night.
Puppy Chow
(aka Kibbles & Bits)
1 cup butter or margarine
1½ cups peanut butter (crunchy or regular)
12-oz package chocolate or butterscotch chips
1 box Crispix cereal (or Rice Chex, Corn Chex or mixture of both)
1 box (1-lb) powdered sugar
Melt butter or margarine, peanut butter and chocolate chips together. Place cereal in a large mixing bowl and pour melted ixture over it. Stir and toss to coat thoroughly. Let stand for 5 or 19 minutes, then place in a large plastic bag, add the powdered sugar and shake and mix until well coated.
Almond Bark Cookies
24 oz almond bark
2 cups dry roasted, unsalted, peanuts
2 cups pretzels (short straight ones)
2 cups (peanut butter flavor, Capt’n Crunch Cereal
2 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups miniature marshmallows (optional, but very good)
Place almond bark in a very large Pyrex bowl and microwave 2 or 3 minutes, stir and put back for 2 minutes longer. Have all other ingredients mixed together in a large container. When almond bark is melted, dump the other ingredients into it and stir until well coated and then drop by spoonfuls on to foil. You can substitute chocolate bark and use pecans instead of peanuts for another delicious cookie.

The Challenge

Man it sure can go from hot to cold in a hurry around here. Had to put up the old shorts and pull out the old jacket.
I enjoyed writing this week’s feature story about the Davis family who is raising genuine, pure Texas Longhorns. One of the pictures they sent me looks just like an old Longhorn cow that was one of my daddy’s first cows, or at least the most memorable. I hated that Longhorn because she would turn and chase after us when I rode by on my horse if we were anywhere in the vicinity of her calf. She was quite protective of her babies and it was pretty terrifying to see those horns coming toward you. I doubt she ever got too terribly close. It was “appeared closer than she was” in all my young terror, I’m sure.
But now, ten years later, I miss that old beautiful Longhorn cow. They are so iconic.
This weekend started off kind of interesting. I had my niece Audrey over at my house and we go to talking about her big “party” aka fundraiser that’s coming up April 15th to support research to find a cure for Audrey and other kids battling A-T.
Anyway, some craaazy people (you know you who are) created the Princess and Protector challenge, where you are supposed to dress up like a princess or superhero and make a funny (aka embarrassing) video so other people will share it and help promote Audrey’s event. I had no intention of becoming a singing princess, but let’s just say, I guess Audrey can talk me into anything. She is such a darling child. I have long hair so they often call me Rapunzel. I mentioned the idea of ordering some really, really long 4 foot real Rapunzel wig hair and Audrey got really excited really fast. Before I knew it, I was asking what Rapunzel sings anyway, and she immediately burst out into a song called “I have a dream.”
I have to admit, it is the perfect song for this challenge and it’s quite catchy. So we pulled it up on Google, and I started humming along and before we knew it we were singing a little parody about Audrey’s event, which she even helped me write, so then I had to sing it….. “I have a dream, I have a dream, to find a cure for A-T. And with every passing hour, I’m so glad I left my tower. Come to Devine Acres Farm for Audrey April 15.”
Long story short, the Rapunzel wig was atrocious, so I won’t be wearing that, but you can soon indeed look forward to the release of the musical renditions of a not-so-good singer called Rapunzel, who really, really, really loves a little girl named Audrey (who is also featured in the video and now calls herself Rapunzel’s helper).
Don’t laugh too hard…you might be challenged next…. Aunt Debbie!

Local Elections on May 6
Where, when, why, how much
Early voting April 24- May 2

 City of Devine-  Vote at City Hall
 Vote For or Against
Bond Election- $18 Million for drainage and flood control
Everyone can vote in the Bond election
Everyone can vote in mayoral race.
Mayor- Cory Thompson (i) and Butch Cook
District 2 and 4 get to vote in their races as well
Council Dist.2- Angela Pichardo (i) and Michael Hernandez
Dist 4 – Debbie Randall
 
Devine ISD- Vote at County Building
Vote For or Against
Proposition A- 31.5 Million  for Safety and Renovations of Schools,  Band Hall
Proposition B- 1.5 Million – for 4 New Tennis Courts
 
Medina County- Vote at County Building
 (across from Tractor Supply)
Medina County ESD 2 (Devine Fire area)- add 1.25 % to sales tax
Medina County ESD 5- (Natalia Fire area) add 1.25% to sales tax
Medina County ESD 4- (EMS Devine/Natalia areas – add .50% to sales tax
ESD4 overlaps both fire districts (2&5), since EMS can bill for services they are asking for only .25 from each district, so .25+.25=  .5% sales tax
*Note: 8.25% is the maximum any city or county in Texas can charge for sales tax. Medina County is at 6.75% currently, so that leaves 1.5% open.
 
Lyle ISD- cancelled election, no contested races
City of Lytle- cancelled election- no contested races
Natalia City/Schools- no elections
LaCoste City- no elections

Mountain Lion advisory from Medina County sheriff

Thursday, March 16–The Medina County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to us this evening, Thursday, March 16 in response to concerns and to inform residents about the best way to respond if you do encounter a mountain lion.

Stock photo Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife

There have been some concerns of a mountain lion in our county, Sheriff Randy Brown has released this in reference to it:

“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.”

Images show what a lion track looks like in comparison to a dog or coyote in the (Source: Field Guide to Mountain Lions by Texas Department of Wildlife)

So close to Dome, Lady Pirates Finish tremendous season at Regional Finals

Malakai Castro defends the goal at the State Tournament. The Pirates fell to Childress in the State Semi Finals. Photo by Vori B

Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
Lytle came within three points of playing in the Alamodome this past weekend at the State Tournament as their season ended in the Regional Final game against Columbus 62-59. Lytle won their Regional Semifinal against Rio Hondo 69-48. Lytle finished its season at 27-11.
“Behind the great support we had in Seguin, we scored 31 points in transition and had 19 steals against Rio Hondo! Our defense was too much for the Valley-team to handle. We were up 35-17 at the half and never looked back. Fizz Hutton picked up 500 steals for her career here in Lytle she got the name ‘Pick a Pocket Fizz’!”
The Lady Pirates made it back to the Regional Final, or the “Elite 8” as Coach Wilson likes to refer to it.
“This time we knew we had a chance to advance to the dome if everything worked out. We knew we were facing a good Columbus team, but we felt our defense could get us past them.”
Lytle was down by three after the first quarter, 14-11, but Calyssa Sevier hit a big three-pointer that helped her team to a 29-25 halftime lead.
That momentum quickly faded as Columbus went on a 22-10 third-quarter scoring-spree to take a 47-39 lead into what would become the last eight minutes of the quarter for the Lady Pirates.
“We had a rough 3rd quarter,” was Wilson’s statement regarding that ill-fated eight-minute stretch.
Lytle was not going to give up the ship, however, and fought back to outscore Columbus 20-15 in the final frame.
“We took the lead with 1:40 left in the game, but we were in foul trouble. The first one to go was Katara then after we took the lead by one.”
Sevier fouled out moments later, followed by Cadee Martinez.
“Calyssa got the hot hand that brought us back, but she got called for a tick-tack foul and had to leave the game with 5 fouls. We are still up at that point, though, but then Caddie got called for a tick-tack foul as well. Now, three of our five starters are not on the floor.
The remaining two starters and reserves who were ready for the moment almost brought Lytle a Regional Championship.
“We still have a chance to tie the game, only down by three points. Fizz tried for a three, but it was short and time ran out.”
It was quite the season for the Lady Pirates. A season that saw them play a rigorous schedule in hopes that it would propel them to the Final Four in the Alamodome. The team came up just short of that goal, but created so many good memories for themselves, their coaches, and for the community of Lytle.
“All year long if you have watched these girls, we play hard defense and never have never had three starters fouled out of any game. To get some of the calls we got in a Regional Final game was heartbreaking. If you were in the gym you felt the heartbreak and saw the tears. This will be one of those games that will be talked about for years to come!”
The support that Lytle generated throughout the season was simply amazing.
“What I loved about this season is the support from the community. People always say Lytle has no spirit, well, we sure proved them wrong. I had alumni from all years calling and texting how proud they were of the team and that is what it is all about. To represent your community with pride and to see their excitement and having them feel good about our little town is amazing. This season may have come to an end but the memories will last a lifetime.”
Lytle returns seven players from this team for the 2023-2024 season, and Wilson is high on her 8th grade group that will be freshmen next year.
Even so, saying goodbye to seniors is never an easy thing, especially to a senior group that has put Lytle’s name on the map in girls basketball.
“I feel for seniors Cadee Martinez, Fizz Hutton, Mac Sessom, and Rose Scotello. For the last three years, they (Cadee and Fizz) have been part of a team that combined for more than 60 plus wins, 3 District Titles, back-to-back Regional Final Appearances, and 10 golden balls in all. I have to say that is an incredible resume. They gave everything they had and they will be remembered forever as the Lytle basketball team that made history!”
Big Thanks!
“I want to thank everyone that followed us all season, and for all the support. I will not personally thank anyone because I know I would leave someone off, but we know who you are! It was a great ride, but everything great has to end sometime…I just wish we would have had one more week.”
Combined stats
Calyssa Sevier had an incredible showing in the Regional Tournament this girl is the real deal 65 points 13 rebounds 5 assists 12 deflections 16 steals 2 charges; Fizz Hutton 26 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 22 deflections, 12 steals, 1 charge; Cadee Martinez 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 deflections; Katara Whitfield 14 points, 18 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist, 5 deflections, 1 steal; Amelia Martinez 2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 deflections, 4 steals; Mac Sessom 3 points, 4 rebounds, 4 deflections, 2 steals; Arianna Garcia 2 points, 1 rebound.