Celebrating 126 Years of Serving the communities of Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, and Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties
Four different elections are taking place this Saturday, May 7, 2022 in our area. City of Devine voters in District 4 can vote, all voters in Devine ISD can vote, and all voters in the City of Lytle can vote in those elections. Statewide all voters can vote in the Special Constitutional Amendment elections hosted in their county.
This touching poem was written by 11-year-old Jacob Cantu for a class project earlier this year. It tells the story of his life in foster care, before sliding into “home plate” in Lytle, Texas, where he and his brothers found their forever home.
This Dallas Cowboys jersey autographed by Jason Witten, and football autographed by the team, were donated for the May 14 silent auction fundraiser at Devine Acres for Audrey Capps. This awesome memorbilia was donated in memory and honor of the late Ken Lee, of Lytle, by his loving widow Bernie.
Several other jerseys for the Dallas Cowboys and Texans were also donated and will be used to help lots of charities and people throughout the year, thanks to the genorosity of the Lee family. Each one comes with an official certificate of authentication.
“I hope this helps a lot of people,” said Mrs. Lee. “I think Ken would like that.”
Editorial By Bob Dane
fairus.org
A group of illegal aliens in Texas has filed a lawsuit claiming their arrests on local and state charges are “unconstitutional.” Adding to this class-action chutzpah, they want more than $5 million in compensation.
Continue reading “Illegal immigrants sue Texas and demand $5 Million”
Calvin Kenneth “Pete” Hardt, 96, of Port Lavaca died Tuesday, April 19, 2022. He was born Oct 26, 1925 in Yancey, Texas to Anton John and Laura Josephine Rose (Frick) Hardt.
A retired rancher, Pete called Port Lavaca home for the last 35 years, though he frequently made visits to his Yancey ranch. He enjoyed farm and ranch work, horseback riding and hunting. He farmed in Medina and Frio counties for many years, and took big game hunting trips on horseback into his late 80s.
Calvin married Nancy Jane Harper from Devine on Aug 25, 1948. He farmed and ranched while Jane ran a flower shop in Devine. After a visit to Africa to see their daughter in the Peace Corp, they decided they wanted to see more of the country. From 1980 – 1981 he and Jane lived in Tanzania, Africa, near Iringa on the Dabaga Seed Farm as manager of seed production on a joint venture project between the U.S. government and the Tanzanian government. He also participated in many big game hunts while stationed there.
From 1981 – 1984 he took an appointment with Agricultural Cooperative Development, Inc. as an agricultural consultant in Egypt on the Small Farmer Production Project through the U.S. Agency for International Development. He took part in numerous farm aid and training programs in other countries including Bolivia and the Czech Republic.
Calvin managed rental properties in Port Lavaca and held a real estate broker license. He and Jane continued to travel to over 30 other countries.
Survivors include his daughter Terry Lee (Hardt) Jacques of Alexandria, Va.; son Kenneth Harper Hardt (Tammy) of Port Lavaca; granddaughter Heather Powell and great-granddaughter Charlotte Powell of Tulsa, Ok.; granddaughters Brittany Garner Valencia and Taylor Garner Salinas of Port Lavaca; cousins Henry David Hardt of Waco and Annanelle Hardt of Tempe, AZ; nieces and nephews Tim Hardt, Tony Hardt and Brenda (Hardt) Groff of Hondo, Jim Koehler of Pflugerville, William Koehler of Batavia, IL, Robert Hardt of Collegeville, PA., Laura (Hardt) Abramson of Bala Cynwyd, PA. and Charles Hardt of Exton, PA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, and his siblings, Richard Wilburn Hardt, Lloyd Emmett Hardt and Ruth Caroline Hardt Koehler.
Graveside service was held Tuesday, April 26, at Oakwood Cemetery in Hondo.
Funeral Home in charge was Richardson Funeral Home (123 Newlin Street, Port Lavaca, TX 7797).
Two stories written by Devine News Editor Kayleen Holder were chosen to appear in one of the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul books, a national book chain. The stories focus on two awesome things happening right here in our community, HANK INC and the yearly Christmas Gift Drive for area foster children.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Kindness Matters was released this March, and features 101 feel-good stories that restore our faith in people. The book is for sale on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and most major bookstores.
“Getting stories into Chicken Soup for the Soul is a dream come true for me,” Holder said. “One of the stories in this book is about my favorite local charity, HANK, INC, and the two angels in our community who founded it, John and Debbie Southwell. I first met the Southwells while covering county court for the newspaper, and I was so amazed by what they do for local foster kids in Medina County and surrounding counties. They are very special people.”
“The second story I have in this book is about the beautiful way our community comes together to buy dozens of Christmas gifts for children in foster care. It is like ‘Santa’s Workshop’ at The Devine News around Christmastime, and I absolutely love that!” Holder said. “SO many awesome people in Devine and the surrounding area make this possible. Our little town is an awesome place to live, and whoever made that sign that says ‘small town with a big heart’ absolutely nailed it. That’s what makes our community special. I only wish I could have listed all of the names of the many angels in our community who have helped make the annual gift drive a reality over the years. Our community makes sure each and every kiddo gets exactly what they wished for, and more.”
The following is a press release from Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Press Release–COS COB, Conn. – When Donna Schulte saw a thin homeless lady outside a restaurant, she followed her impulse and invited the woman to have lunch with her. Although the waitress inside didn’t want to serve the young woman, Donna insisted. And then she learned that this woman who the world was ignoring was a veteran who was fighting cancer and couldn’t get a job due to her treatment regimen.
Following the impulse to be kind is a central theme in a new Chicken Soup for the Soul collection about how kindness matters. Everyone’s talking about kindness, too, because the world has been through a lot in the past couple of years, what with the pandemic, divisiveness in our society, and conflicts around the world.
The message is that it’s easy to create miracles for yourself and others. If people just think outside the box and look around, they’ll see the need. The 101 stories cover a wide variety of tales of good deeds, helping hands, and wise words, from the everyday to the extraordinary.
According to Chicken Soup for the Soul’s author and editor-in-chief Amy Newmark, “Scientific studies have shown that ‘doing good’ is not only beneficial for the recipient of the good deed, but also for the person doing it, making that person happier and healthier. Performing random acts of kindness is a proven way to make yourself feel good.”
“Each story in our new book is unique,” continues Newmark, “but we learn this universal lesson from all of them: We are all capable of both needing help and providing help. And it is this give and take, the ability to be a provider and a recipient depending on our circumstances, that make us part of a united community of people who really do care about one another. No matter what divides us, our basic humanity reunites us.”
ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL
Chicken Soup for the Soul publishes the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. With well over 100 million books sold to date in the U.S. and Canada, more than 300 titles, and translations into more than 40 languages, the phrase “chicken soup for the soul” is known worldwide and is regularly referenced in pop culture.
Please join us to Celebrate the retirement of Brenda T. Gardner on May 27th from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the John J. Ciavarra Elementary Library, 112 N. Bentson, Devine, Texas.
The Natalia ISD school board voted April 25 to approve a $1.6 million package of capital projects including renovations to the junior high gymnasium.
Continue reading “Natalia ISD approves $1.6 million in projects for schools”
