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Warhorse track bangs out a championship, two school records in Bandera

Warhorse Rowdy Esparza soars through the sky during a track and field meet at St. Mary’s Hall. Enoch Hall, Esparza, Mikey Rodriguez and Ryan Weinkam broke the school record for fastest 4×100 not once but twice in a span of three weeks! Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Just another meet for the Warhorse track team as they were the top dawgs in Bandera on February 26 giving them yet another championship as they outdid Kerrville Tivy 117-101.
There have definitely been some rather fast foursomes in Devine over the years, but never in the annals of the high school history books has a 4x100m Relay team finished as quickly as Enoch Hall, Rowdy Esparza, Mikey Rodriguez, and Ryan Weinkam did at the Bulldog Invitational.
The foursome banged out a 42.77 to eclipse the “old mark” of 42.99 set just a couple of weeks ago by…the same team!
In a span of three weeks, Hall, Esparza, Rodriguez, and Weinkam have broken the school record twice and with still a month and a half to go in the season, there is a chance that the new record could go down once again…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!

Rock plant re-applies for permit on contaminants, particulate matter

Martin Marietta has applied to the TCEQ for a “air quality permit renewal” for it’s rock crushing plant in Medina County (Hondo area). The permit allows the facility to emit air contaminants including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, and particulate matter up to a certain amount…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!

Man sentenced for indecent exposure at Donut Palace

On 2/18/26, Rolando Rivera, 55, of Uvalde was sentenced to 160 days in the Medina County Jail for the misdemeanor offense of Indecent Exposure with Previous Conviction and ordered to register as a Sex Offender for ten years for this offense committed on 5/6/2024.
Nearly two years…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!

Devine council approves test holeas first step toward new water well

By Anton Riecher
City Engineer J.R. Garcia pulled no punches explaining the potential risk in a proposal approved Feb. 17 by the Devine City Council to drill a $311,000 test hole as the first step in locating a new city well near Warhorse Stadium.
“It is a guessing game,” Garcia said, responding to a question by District 5 Alderman Hal Lance Jr. as to the percentages in favor of drawing potable water from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer at the proposed depth.
On a motion by District 2 Alderman Michael Hernandez, seconded by District 1 Alderman Ray Gonzales, the council approved the low bid submitted by Devine-based Underground Water Resources for drilling the test hole by a 4-0 vote.
Garcia said that UWR was the lowest of five bids submitted for the project. Work on the 60-day project is expected to begin within several months.
“They got great reviews from everybody I talked to,” Garcia said. “They are very excited and ready to get started on the project.”
The $316,000 price tag includes two alternatives depending on the quality of water found at the proposed depth of 600 feet, he said.
“If we find good water, we will go with alternative A which is going to be to cap it because we want to be able to come back in a few months with another grant to be able to finish the well,” Garcia said.
The city received a $500,000 community development block grant which will allow them to determine if the water table is sufficient…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!

Warhorses Bi-District CHAMPS!

The Varsity Warhorse basketball team has advanced to the Area championship game after securing the Bi-District championship in their win over the Navarro Panthers 59-24. Next, the Horses will take on the winner from Tuesday (February 24) night’s Manor New vs. Fredericksburg. Pictured above: Christian Beaver, Mason Beaver, Ray’sean Beaver, Jordan Beaver, Tanner Davis, Bo Wheeler, Becker Byrd, Caden Mann, Cecilio De La Garza, Karson Ray, Jace Alegria, Brody Lane, Jack Rumfield and Nick Vasquez. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Devine ISD scores “D” in testing,mirroring statewide trend Supt. says

Devine ISD Superintendent Todd Grandjean presents the results of the 2025 Texas Academic Performance Report rating the district’s performance in the annual State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STARR) testing. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
With an overall score of 68, the Devine ISD district rating under the 2025 Texas Academic Performance Report stands at “D,” District Superintendent Todd Grandjean told the school board Feb. 16.
“This is a trend that we’ve seen across the state, in our area especially,” he said.
TAPR, required by the Texas Education Agency, is a key component of the state’s A-F…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!

Man claims self defense in shooting of Florida man

A man identified as Miguel Angel Ayala, 23, of Jacksonville, Florida was transported by EMS after he was shot at a home on 3rd Street in Natalia around 11:24 am this past Saturday, February 21.
At this time, no arrests have been made, so the shooter has not been identified.
Ayala was identified as the boyfriend or ex-boyfriend of a 19-year-old female residing at her family’s home in Natalia at the time of the shooting.
According to Natalia PD Chief Martin Chavez, “Boyfriend and girlfriend lived in Florida previously. The female moved back to Natalia with her family. On Saturday, Ayala went to the family’s house in Natalia, and an altercation ensued, and Ayala was shot by the female’s brother with a shotgun. No one has been…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!

Audit identifies thousands more missing in VFD embezzlement scandal

Karl Goering, a certified public accountant with Armstrong, Vaughn and Associates, delivers a preliminary report on audits in progress covering finances for the Devine VFD for the years 2023 through 2025. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Latest audit results for the Devine Volunteer Fire Department covering the years 2023 through 2025 reveals nearly $35,000 more in missing funds or fraudulent charges in an embezzlement scandal that brought a massive upheaval to local emergency management in the past year.
The new estimate is in addition to more than $76,000 missing from over a two-year period.
On December 5, 2024 the VFD office administrator Heather Shultz was arrested and still faces charges of “Tampering with evidence”.
Karl Goering, a certified public accountant with Armstrong…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!

Devine 4H Consumer Decision-Making Results

Intermediate Team members Coltyn LaFond, Kamden Paige, Ashlynn Stricker, Kelvey Cortez (not pictured Lacey Steubing).

Devine 4H competed in the SALE (San Antonio Livestock Exposition) Consumer Decision-Making contest this past Saturday, February 21, 2026. The competition is among the many that students can participate in during the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Teams are made up of 3–4 students. Junior teams have members in 3rd—5th grade, Intermediate teams are for 6th-8th-grade students, and Senior teams are for high school students. Devine 4H had 1 Junior team, 1 Intermediate team, and one Senior team this year.
Competitions at SALE are open to any 4H members and teams in the state. The Junior Division had 23 teams this year. The Devine Junior team placed 1st this year! Members are Uriah Gonzales, Travis Lawler, Richard LaFond, and Sam Steubing. Three members placed in the Top 10 for individuals: Travis Lawler, 4th; Uriah Gonzales, 7th; Richy LaFond, 9th.
The Intermediate team placed 10th out of 26 teams this year. The students complete the same test that the Juniors do, but they also have to do a speaking part in one of the classes, and are judged on their ability to explain their reasons for ranking the items the way they did. This score is combined with the test score to give the final score. Team members are Kelvey Cortez, Coltyn LaFond, Kamden Paige, and Lacey Steubing. Coltyn LaFond placed 8th individually.
Ashlynn Stricker competed with a Medina County team made up of other Hondo members that placed just outside the Top 10 at 13th.
The Senior team was made up of Rozlyn Courtade, Maya McElwee, and two members from Hondo to represent Medina County. The team placed 19th out of 38 teams.
Consumer Decision-Making is an event that teaches students how to compare prices, test for quality, and make purchases based on facts and research. Overall, the goal is to help them, at a young age, improve their money management, smart purchasing, and decision-making skills.
The teams will compete again during the District 10 4H Spring Round Up in Fredericksburg on April 24th. Teams are coached by Madeline Steubing and Korrey Paige.

Senior Team members Maya McElwee and Rozlyn Courtade.

Junior Team members Richy LaFond, Uriah Gonzales, Travis Lawler, Sam Steubing.