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County commissioners accept tractor donated for flood emergency

By Anton Riecher
On a motion by Precinct 4 Commissioner Danny Lawler, the Medina County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Monday to accept the donation of a compact utility tractor initially designated for use in emergency operations following the recent Guadalupe River flooding.
The tractor, a 2025 Mahindra 1640 valued at $40,139, is one of five donated by the manufacturer for use in Kerr County through Bill’s Tractor and More in Hondo, County Judge Keith Lutz said. Following that effort, the tractor, complete with bucket, grapple and backhoe, will ultimately be donated to Medina County.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jessica Castiglione seconded the motion by Lawler to accept the donation under the provisions of the Texas Local Government Code.

Ballot to include 17 ammendments to Constitution
In other business, the commissioners approved an order permitting county elections administrator Lupe C. Torres to proceed with arrangements for the November 4 general election in Medina County. The upcoming ballot includes 17 amendments to the Texas Constitution.
The county will operate three locations for early voting and eight locations for election day voting, Torres said.
Again on a motion by Lawler, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a bid for remodeling of the former Hondo National Bank building as a future county office location. The renovation includes removal of the bank vault, Lutz said.

Finances
County Treasurer Debra Graff reported accounts payable totaling $1.353 million, not including $5,000 in postage and two wire transfers for interest payments totaling $337,134. Disbursement of funds since the last commissioners’ court meeting covering utilities, fuel and dental plans totaled $37,732.

Subdivisions
On a motion by Castiglione, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a final plat establishing Chaam Subdivision on County Road 467. The motion was seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre.

Murder Cases
The court also voted to approve an interlocal agreement with the Hill Country Regional Public Defender Office to provide court-appointed counsel for individuals charged with capital murder. Hill Country serves Kerr, Medina, Gillespie, Bandera and Kendall counties, providing indigent defense and pre-trial services.

Renewal
Also approved by commissioners was a renewal of the contract with the Texas Health & Human Services Commission Women, Infants and Children (WIC) local agency. The program helps families across the state by providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy foods and referrals to health care and other community services.
The new contract extends from October 2025 to September 2026.

Executive Session
Commissioners also met in closed executive session to deliberate on economic development negotiations. No action was taken after nearly an hour behind closed doors.

Little Lady Mustang Volleyball League… Register through Aug. 7

Natalia High School Volleyball is proud to bring back our youth volleyball league for our future Lady Mustangs. We hope to spark an interest and instill a love for the game of volleyball in all athletes at an early age within our community. The mission of our league is to:
Teach teamwork and cooperation as a member of a competitive volleyball team
Improve volleyball skills
Develop competitive players who strive to achieve both personal and team goals
League fee cost is $40.00 and will include a team t-shirt. Practices will be Wednesdays from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (8/20, 8/27, 9/3, 9/10) with games on Saturdays (8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 9/13) from 9am-12pm. We will have detailed information for games after registration.
Items/Equipment each player will need black shorts or spandex, knee pads, and tennis shoes. Coaches will be the Natalia High School Volleyball Players.
If you have questions please contact Coach Cortinas at tara.cortinas@nataliaisd.net.
Last day to register is Thursday, August 7, 2025.

Devine Rocks invites you to take one, share one, leave one

Our kindness rock project has begun…. Just remember to take one for inspiration, share one for motivation & or add one to help our garden grow. Feel free to tag this page so that we may see how far our rocks have traveled. All for fun and to hopefully make someone’s day a little brighter. One message at just the right moment can change someone’s entire day, outlook, or life! #devinerocks #kindnessmatters #kindnessisfree@ followers

LYTLE ISD…announces NEW CELL PHONE POLICYIN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW

Lytle ISD–July 2, 2025
In response to a newly enacted Texas state law, Lytle ISD will implement a new Student Cell Phone Policy beginning this school year. We understand this change may be challenging for some, especially in our close-knit Pirate community. We are committed to providing the best possible learning environment for all — and this new policy is designed to support just that.
Why the Change?
Texas House Bill 1481 now mandates that school districts prohibit student use or possession of personal communication devices during the school day. In alignment, the Lytle ISD updated policy requires all personal communication devices — cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and similar electronics — to be kept in students’ backpacks and not used from the time they arrive on campus until they are picked up. Devices may not be carried on a student’s person, and their use is strictly prohibited in bathrooms and locker rooms.
Thank You to Our Cell Phone Task Force
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the members of the Lytle ISD Cell Phone Task Force, who met during the past school year to thoughtfully develop a local policy. Their insight and preparation enabled our district to respond quickly and wisely to this unexpected legislation. Because of their work, we begin this school year with clarity, consistency, and compassion.
How Will This Work?
School Day: Students must keep devices stored in backpacks and not in pockets or hands during the day.
Buses & Events: Devices may be used on school buses but without cameras. Use during extracurricular events, including UIL activities, will follow the guidelines outlined in the student handbook.
Violations: If a device is taken out during the school day, it will be confiscated, turned in to the front office, and a parent must retrieve it at the end of the school day. In the event violations become excessive, additional consequences will be imposed.
Exceptions: Students with documented medical needs may be granted exceptions through the appropriate campus committee review.
For more details, see Lytle ISD’s Student Handbook (coming in August) or contact your campus office.

From storytelling and science to magic….Driscoll Public Library’s Summer Programs Soar with Record Attendance topping 1,300+

Devine, TX – The Driscoll Public Library wrapped up another spectacular summer, offering a wide range of free programs and events that brought families, friends, and community members together to celebrate the joy of reading, learning, and creativity.
Throughout June and July, the library hosted its annual summer reading challenge alongside packed weekly programs for all age groups. In total, 1,352 participants attended events that ranged from hands-on clubs and workshops to exciting entertainment and movie afternoons.
Youth clubs remained a huge hit, with the Lego Club filling within hours and the Art Club exploring techniques like printmaking and hydro dipping. Teen Club embraced all things edible—from crafting candy-filled terrariums to sampling Asian Oreo flavors—while Mr. J’s Theatre Workshop and Tabletop Role-Playing Game sessions gave tweens and teens opportunities to collaborate, create, and perform.
Adults enjoyed Crafting After Hours, trying their hands at glass etching and photo transfers, while green thumbs gathered for the growing Plant Swap, exchanging seeds, cuttings, and tips each month.
Beloved traditions like Afternoon @ the Movies returned for their 13th year, offering cozy family film days complete with snacks and pillows. Preschool Storytime reached new popularity, leading to the introduction of pre-registration for the first time ever.
Special guests brought the wow factor all summer long. Families met real-life heroes during the Community Helpers Showcase, laughed with magician Spikey Mikey, and experienced mind-blowing science with Dr. Pennington and the Texas A&M Chemistry Roadshow. The season wrapped up with a crowd favorite: Mini Golf @ the Library, where families played through creative courses set up among the stacks.
As Library Director and staff begin preparing for an exciting fall, they thank everyone who participated this summer. “Being able to provide fun, enriching, and relaxing activities right here in Devine is one of the best parts of our job,” said staff.
Follow the Driscoll Public Library on Facebook @ Driscoll Public Library – Devine for upcoming programs and events as the school year begins.

Lytle council moves forward with improving Coal Mine access

By Anton Riecher
A task order for engineering work to extend Juarez Street to FM 683 and grant Lytle’s Coal Mine neighborhood a second entrance and exit was approved by the Lytle City Council Monday night.
“You are taking a vote that is solving an issue that the city has had for 130 years plus,” said Mayor Ruben Gonzalez. “We are finally going to be able to take care of our Coal Mine residents by providing them a secondary entrance and exit for emergencies.”
At present, the only entrance and exit for Coal Mine is a railroad crossing that is frequently blocked by passing trains.
The extension is part of a development agreement with Rowan Digital Infrastructure in connection with a massive $500 million “hyperscaler” data center dubbed “Project Cinco” that is expected to begin construction near Coal Mine in mid-August.
Under the development deal, the cost of the engineering work will be reimbursed to the city, Gonzalez said.
On a motion by District 3 Alderman Dick Emery, the council approved the task order with TRC Engineers by a vote of 4-0. District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes was absent from the meeting.
Much of the Monday night meeting was taken up with considering applications for zoning variances. City Attorney Austin Beck said that since Lytle has no board of adjustment to consider such variances the chores falls to the city council.
On a variance request at 19942 John Wayne Road in the Saddleridge Estates subdivision, the council split two-to-two on an application to allow placement of an above ground swimming pool three and a half feet from the rear property line. The setback requirement is 15 feet, already half of the requirement for most of Lytle, City Administrator Zachary Meadows explained.
Property owner Linda Atwood said that the present 15-foot setback “would put the pool in our living room.” She explained that a deeper pool was needed for physical therapy. The requested variance had been recommended by the city planning and zoning commission.
However…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Arabian Volleyball Alumni Game August 9, Coach McIver sends a call-out to former players

Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
What has become a wonderful tradition to signify the beginning of another season of Arabian Volleyball, Devine Head Coach Leigh Anne McIver continues to include former players in the build up towards what hopes to be another amazing season for her squad.
McIver gives a shout out to those who played in the maroon and gold to join in for the Annual Alumni Game which is August 9 with first serve coming at 11am.
This will be the first volleyball game/scrimmage on the somewhat newly name Sessions Court, although the team does have a scrimmage in Navarro on Friday, August 8.

DEVINEHOMECOMING – September 26-27, 2025

1959 DHS Homecoming Court

For all DEVINE EX-STUDENTS and TEACHERS

HOMECOMING IS EARLY THIS YEAR, so MAKE PLANS NOW to BE IN DEVINE on SEPT. 26TH and 27TH for the FRIDAY NIGHT HOMECOMING GAME and the SATURDAY DExSTA SOCIAL at the VFW!

*Any and all former students and teachers, plus current teachers and administrators, are encouraged to attend the HC festivities again this year! No matter how long you had attended or taught in the Devine schools, you are invited to Homecoming, and to join DExSTA!

*Homecoming is a two-day event, with the Friday night football game and the Saturday afternoon DExSTA Social at the VFW.

*The Honor Class of 1975 will be celebrating its’ 50th Reunion with events both days! (Contact Linda Gunn for more information.)

*DExSTA Members received mailouts with HC and registrations info. Please mail back the registration page asap! (If you are a member, but have not got your mailout, contact DExSTA Pres. Nancy Saathoff at 210-289-6205 or Rita Davis.)

*If you want to join DExSTA, you can join on Homecoming weekend, or get the forms off our Facebook page, or contact Nancy Saathoff or Rita Davis.

  • Check the DExSTA Facebook page at Devine Ex-Students Teachers Association for HC info, DExSTA forms, pictures, and lots more!

**LOOK FOR MORE HOMECOMING INFO IN THE COMING WEEKS IN THE DEVINE NEWS!

Water line installation to serve Lytle data center expectedin mid-August

Work to install water lines to service construction of a massive $500 million “hyperscaler” data center near Lytle’s Coal Mine neighborhood is expected to start in mid-August, East Medina County Special Utility District field manager Ronnie Lemmons told the EMCSUD board July 22.
The contractor is “anticipating starting around mid-August and actually installing lines on the eastern end of the district, starting where the plant is going to be,” Lemmons said.
The 440-acre plant site owned by Rowan Digital Infrastructure is located in Lytle’s extra territorial jurisdiction, referring to an area surrounding a city’s corporate limits where it has powers related to land development and annexation, but not full municipal services.
Dubbed “Project Cinco,” the data center is expected to bring nearly 600 construction jobs to the community.
Lemmons said the initial water lines will cross CR 679 and CR 6712 to reach the Project Cinco property. Later phases of the construction will involve running a water line from FM 471 to CR 570 by way of FM 463.
Projected cost on the water lines alone is $7.5 million, Lemmons said.
By comparison to the $1.4 billion Microsoft data center project located along U.S. 90 W and FM 1957 near Castroville, Project Cinco is farther ahead with regard to water line development, Lemmons said. Both projects are…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

64 years later, he loves her even more…

Showing everyone how to really dance are 88-yr-old Chub Hutto and his beautiful bride, 84-year-old Pris. Walking isn’t as easy as it once was for Mr. Hutto, but you should have seen Mrs. Hutto’s smile when he took her out on the dance floor during the benefit dance for Hill Country flood victims this past Sunday.
The couple has been married for 64 years…When asked if he loves her as much as the day he met her, he said “No, I love her even more.”
The event was hosted by 7A Graff Ranch in Hondo and featured a great line up of talented local artists including Jamie Lin Wilson, Weston Ripps, Dudley Ilse, Briana Adams, Garrett Talamantes, Selestial Alcoser, Jeremy Richards, Jordan Guana, Mario Olivo, Justin Gallegos, Solis Brothers, and Chuck Wimer.