Devine, Texas – June 2025 – At the monthly Devine Lions Club meeting last week, Lion Lewis Stroud was awarded the Presidential Medal for Leadership by Lions Club International (LCI), earning the organization’s second-highest individual award. The recognition was announced by District 2-A2 Governor Rose Ann Barajas in the presence of Devine Lions Club membership.
A legacy of compassionate leadership. Lions Lewis Stroud, a dedicated member of the Devine Lions Club since 1985, has championed civic engagement, community fundraising, and youth outreach throughout his tenure. From club secretary to club president, his stewardship has lead to innovative service projects benefitting the visually impaired residents to supporting the Devine Police Department Silent Santa to celebrating local high school students at the monthly club meeting.
The Presidential Medal for Leadership is just one notch below the Ambassador of Good Will award. It honors LIONS who have shown profound initiative, inspired members, and contributed significantly to community welfare – all hallmarks of Lewis’s ongoing service.
Governor Rose Ann Barajas and Lions from District 2-A2 lauded Lion Lewis at the District Convention in April at the Historic Menger Hotel. “His leadership has changed lives,” shared Governor Rose Ann. Fellow Lions echoed the sentiment: “Lion Lewis always finds a way to turn compassion into action,” one club member remarked.
Upon accepting the medal, Lion Lewis humbly credited his club and the community of Devine, saying, “This honor is ours, not mine. It’s proof that when we work together, we can truly make a difference.” He pledged to use this recognition to spark new service initiatives – particularly for vision health and the youth in Devine.
LCI is a global service organization active in over 200 countries, dedicated to supporting vision, youth programs, disaster relief, and community development. Founded in 1917, awards like the Presidential Medal for Leadership span local, district, and international levels, celebrating Lions who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and lasting impact.
Lion Lewis Stroud’s receipt of the Presidential Medal for Leadership not only honors his past contributions – it also services as a beacon of hope for both current lions and aspiring community leaders. His story is a reminder that true leadership is rooted in service, and true achievements are shared with those around us.
Author: admin
Lytle council re-evaluates priorities for fiscal year 25-2026
By Anton Riecher
During a regular meeting of the Lytle City Council Monday, Mayor Ruben Gonzalez asked members to re-evaluate the current ranking of council priorities for consideration during fiscal year 2025-2026.
“Some of these have actually been on here for years,” Gonzalez said. “Some have already been worked on, maybe taken care of, but they are still priorities based on the rankings. We’ve got to look at them individually.”
The current priorities, as officially ranked by the council, include:
Stormwater and drainage,
Water infrastructure repairs and replacement,
Replacement or maintenance of water valves around the city,
Comprehensive plan (the current plan expires this year) and code updates completion,
Wastewater treatment plant,
New water well.
Miscellaneous street paving.
Each alderman listed their priority rankings…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!
LIVE MUSIC…Catch a tune this June
By Joseph Ramon
Devine News Intern
There’s lots of live music to find here in Medina County! Here’s where you can catch a tune in June.
June 26
Matt Castillo at Cora’s 471 Grill- 2204 FM 471 Castroville, TX
June 27
Garret Talamantes 7-10 p.m at Black Creek Bar & Grill- 1721 Highway 173 S Devine, TX
June 28
Brad Jenschke 7-10 p.m.at 702 Tejas Sports Bar y Mas- 15306 Main St. Lytle, TX
For fans of country, blues, and rock n’ roll be sure to grab a seat at one of these local spots.
To add a local live music show, email devinereporter@devinenews.com or call Joe 830-665-2211.
Fireworks, music and more…Lytle to host July 4th Independence Day Celebration
This year the city will be partnering with the Lytle Chamber of Commerce for Lytle’s Annual Independence Day Celebration. The event will take place on July 4th at the John Lott Municipal Park. There will be food trucks set up along with a DJ.
The Music and food trucks will start at 5:00 p.m. and end at 8:20 p.m. with fireworks beginning at dark for the grand finale.
We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the evening with family and friends. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and dancing boots. If you don’t want to stay for the fireworks show feel free to visit the food trucks for a great dinner option and enjoy some live music.
Cheer Camp/ Football Camp
The following programs are offered to Devine ISD students:
July 14 – 17 – Mini Cheer Camp for Kinder from 9 am to 12 noon and grades 1 through 8 from 9 am to 3 pm at DHS Gym. Cost is $45 for Kinder and $65 for grades 1 through 8. Theme days will be: Let’s Glow Monday (Neon); Tiki Tuesday (Beach/Hawaiian); Workout Wednesday (Workout Clothes); and Super Slay Spirit Thursday (Maroon/Gold).
July 14 – 17 – Warhorse Football Camp for grades 3 through 6 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Warhorse Practice Field. Cost is $50.
Lytle council faces tough decisions on wastewater rate hike in next five years
Matthew Garrett, managing director of client relations for NewGen, offered the council rate projections for the future.
By Anton Riecher
With the number of water and sewer customers expected to grow by 700 connections in the next five years, the Lytle City Council reviewed a presentation on recommended rate projections offered by a consulting firm specializing in public sector finances.
Based on the June 16 presentation by NewGen Strategies and Solutions, Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said the council will most likely keep water rates at their present levels. However, wastewater and sewer rates may see a percentage increase in collection fees in order to fund more than $15.3 million in infrastructure expansion.
Gonzalez said the presentation drove home two important points. The first involves water.
“Basically our city is on track and where we need to be in the sense that we already had some of the major projects funded,” Gonzalez said.
Unfortunately, the second point, expansion of wastewater infrastructure, needs to be a focus of concern, he said.
“That one needed to be targeted,” Gonzalez said. “With this presentation we’re getting it down in black and white what we need to do in the near future.”
Matthew Garrett, managing director of client relations for NewGen, offered the council rate projections for the future, recommendations and “thoughts to be considered taking action in the future based on our input.”
“Obviously, the utility fund is an enterprise fund,” Garrett said. “We’d like it to be self-sufficent.”
Garrett’s entire presentation and 2025-2026 budget proposals by several city department is included in video coverage posted by the Devine News’ YouTube channel.
Leatrice “Lea” Joy Strunk
Leatrice “Lea” Joy Strunk, of Devine, Texas, passed away on June 4, 2025, at the age of 87.
Lea is preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Vinita Patterson, and daughter JoBeth Nieto, and son, Wesley Aliff.
She is survived by her husband, Billy Strunk, Jr., daughter, Judith Gonzales (Joel), brother, Terry Wayne Patterson (Eunice), and sister, Kay Johnston. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
The family will have a Memorial Service at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.
Funeral arrangements under the care of Primrose Funeral Services of Devine, Texas, 303 W. College Ave, 830-663-4445.
Pascuala De La Rosa
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pascuala De La Rosa, a great daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother of Devine, TX. She was born on December 15, 1943, in Candela, Coahuila, Mexico, where she spent part of her life. She passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025, in San Antonio, TX., at the age of 82.
She is survived by her husband, Joe De La Rosa; son, George A. De La Rosa (wife), Bea De La Rosa; son, Hugo De La Rosa (wife), Leticia Luna-De La Rosa; niece, Violeta Mata, and many grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Juan Castillo; her mother, Pascuala Cadena; her daughter, Nadia C. De La Rosa; and her son, Juan J. De La Rosa.
There will be a visitation on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 9 A.M. to 10 A.M., and a funeral service will begin at 10 A.M. All located at Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas. A burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, located in Devine, Texas.
Brian Preston Koehler
After a long battle with cancer, Brian Preston Koehler died on June 20, 2025. He was surrounded by his loved ones and was not in pain.
Brian is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Joni Koehler, his son, Adam Koehler, his daughter, Amy Koehler Catterson, his son-in-law, Arman Daniel Catterson, and grandsons Gabriel Heshmat Catterson and Anthony Terry Catterson. In addition, he is survived by his sisters, Ginger (Jonathan) Garcia and Bonnie (Tim) Friesenhahn, and their families, including nieces Holly (Rene) Muniz, Maggie (Dustin) Burleson, Erin (Tucker) McCord, Lindsay (Trace) Morrow, and nephew, Nicholas (Mairead) Friesenhahn, along with seven great nieces and two great nephews. On Joni’s side, he is survived by in-laws Audrey and Terry Wilkinson, brothers-in-law David (Tracey) Arneson and Jonathan (Mayela) Wilkinson, and sister-in-law Libby (Kevin) Paterson, and their families, including nieces Victoria and Emma Wilkinson and Kaitlan Gil-Najarro, and nephews Austin, Jordan, and Travis Paterson. He is preceded in death by his father, Preston Herman Koehler and his mother, Josephine Kunz Koehler.
In family gatherings, Brian was the one the babies all gravitated toward. He was kind and patient, and always put his family’s needs before his own. He loved hunting and being in nature and also tinkering with broken machines, often fixing things that would otherwise be lost causes. He volunteered for many years in his church and community.
Brian worked at Southwest Research Institute in the Fuels and Lubricant division for 39 years. He frequently traveled for his job, and went to many different countries, including China, which he visited multiple times. He was a committed employee and was trusted by many in his workplace as a problem solver.
As busy as his work life was, he found time to coach tee-ball and baseball, drive teenagers to contests and events, and be a present and loving parent, husband, brother, and son.
Our hearts are broken over his loss, but we know that his suffering is at an end, and for that we are grateful. We know that he is with his parents now, and is probably out hunting or watching all of the James Bond movies.
Brian’s celebration of life will be held at Primrose Funeral Home at 3 p.m. on July 27, 2025. In lieu of flowers, Brian requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org.
Carol Ann Pitman Ashley
Carol Ann Ptiman Ashley of Devine, Texas, formerly of San Antonio, entered eternal rest on June 20, 2025. Born in Jacksonville, Florida on March 13, 1944, she was the only child of Ruth (Knight) and Jerome Carroll Pitman. Carol graduated from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio in 1962 and went to work at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She worked there for twelve years. She married Frank Wayne Ashley, her husband of 53 years, in 1972. She is survived by her three daughters: Suzanne (Jack) Craig, Melanie (Matthew) Kotzur, and Michele Ashley, and her beloved grandchildren: Kirsten, Annalise, Jack, Aubrey, Ava, Logan and Maxston.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 from 5pm-7pm at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South. Graveside service will be on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at San Jose Burial Park, San Antonio, TX.