Pirate Travis Norton had two runs, two hits, 2 RBIs and one double during Lytle’s last game of the season agasint Natalia. Photo by Moose Lopez.
Matthew “Moose” Lopez Sports editor The Lytle Pirates baseball regular season comes to an end as the powerhouse team closed out Natalia in five innings, 14-4. With this win over the Mustangs, not only did Lytle seal the district title, they also set a school record for most wins in a season with 23. The Pirates end the season with a perfect district record of 10-0 while not allowing a team to score more than seven runs the entire season(only two teams scored seven runs and it was before district play even began). The Pirates look ahead to their bi-district matchup against Great Hearts Northern Oaks. All the games will be held at Somerset High School, game one will be on Thursday, April 30 at 7 P.M. Game two will be the following day on May 1 at 4:30 P.M. and game three, if necessary will begin 30 minutes after game two ends…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!
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!
Login at www.devinenewsmembers.com to support local journalism and keep up with all of the latest events and news. The Devine News has served our community for 128 years and counting!
Several Arabians and Warhorses will be advancing to Regionals May 1st in Kingsville. Above, Devine Warhorse Bo Wheeler places 2nd at the Area Meet in Cuero this past week. He broke his personal record at 6’3”. Individual event regional qualifiers were Rowdy Esparza in 400m, Long Jump, and Triple Jump, Mikey Rodriguez in 110m and 300m hurdles, Karter Brown in Shot Put, Bo Wheeler in High Jump, Enoch Hall in 100m, and Brody Lane in 300m Hurdles. All three relay teams qualified led by the mile relay champion foursome of Zach Guerra, Ryan Weinkam, Jonathan Cantu, and Esparza, the runner-up 800m squad of Cantu, Lucas Hudson, Esai Sanchez, and Weinkam, and the third place 400m tandem of Hall, Esparza, Sanchez, and Weinkam.
Medina County authorities responded to the scene of a horrible accident this past Saturday, April 18 around 11 am. It happened on US 90 about 6 miles west of Castroville, according to DPS. “Preliminary information indicates that a Toyota Pickup traveling eastbound on US 90 lost control for an unknown reason, veered into the westbound lanes of US 90, and collided with oncoming traffic (an SUV, and a truck tractor with a trailer combination),” according to DPS. “The driver of the Tacoma, Humberto Barrera, 72, was ejected and is deceased. Both occupants of the SUV were transported to University Hospital in San Antonio with serious injuries. The driver of the Truck Tractor was not injured.” There are no further details for release at this time.
“Vanilla Gorilla,” aka Jason Keown of Devine, is excited to announce he has made some big moves with his music lately. In February, DJ 750, of 750 MUSIC ENT, released a mix tape for Vanilla consisting of his music. “By March 24 we had 174k plus streams,” Keown said. The No FlyZone Mixtape (“Vanilla Gorilla” Edition) is a 10-song hip-hop mixtape released by DJ 750 on February 14. According to Keown, soon after the release 750 MUSIC ENT was brought into the Sony music family for distribution resulting in the local rapper getting a distribution deal with 750 MUSIC ENT and Sony. Vanilla also was brought onto the long time running record label in San Antonio COCKED-N-LOCKD ENT / CNL BRAND, he said. “Vanilla Gorilla”, aka Jason Keown of Devine, describes himself as a rap artist with a country twist. His album “So Throwed” was released last September. “During Fiesta, we will be shooting a music video for the song called MAYNE HOLL (UP) which was also selected for a movie,” Keown said. The video shoot will be Friday, April 24 at graffiti wall and then market square. The movie, “Fredo: The Continuance of Vengeance” is a 2026 spin-off movie from Villain Entertainment. The movie is set in…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!
By Angelica Ariza Devine News Intern A small, family-owned winery in South Texas is gaining recognition after earning multiple awards at a statewide competition just weeks after opening to the public. Mil Veranos Estate Ranch & Vineyard, owned by Virginia Rodriguez Lopez, submitted three wines to the 2026 Austin Rodeo Texas International Wine Competition and all three brought home medals. The winery’s Lily Picpoul Blanc earned a gold medal, while the Cha Cha Rosé received silver and the Medina Red took home bronze. For Rodriguez Lopez, the winery is more than just a business, it’s a reflection of her family’s story. “When my husband asked me to marry him, he promised me a thousand summers,” she said. “So Mil Veranos comes from that promise. We’ve been together for decades, we have five children, and Mil Veranos just embodies all of the love in our family.” The winery officially opened to the public on Jan. 3, 2026, but the property has long been a gathering place in the community. Before becoming a winery, the location was rented out for weddings and special events. Rodriguez Lopez said transforming the space into a winery felt like a natural next step. “It was the next logical step, being able to make our wines and see people enjoy them,” she said. “It makes us a part of their happiness, and that’s something you really can’t measure.” Located along U.S. Highway 90 in D’Hanis, Mil Veranos is currently the only winery operating on that stretch of road between Uvalde and Castroville, making it a unique stop for travelers in South Texas. Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences, including purchasing wine on site and relaxing with a glass paired with a charcuterie board. The winery is also working to expand its reach through upcoming online sales. In addition, Mil Veranos offers a wine club designed for regular customers. Members receive their wine at a discounted rate and commit to quarterly allocations, with the option to choose the number of bottles they would like to receive each cycle. “We’ve put a lot of intention into growing our grapes and making our wines, it’s a passion and a labor of love for me,” Rodriguez Lopez said. The winery currently produces about 8,000 bottles per year, a strong start for a small operation that recently opened its doors. Mil Veranos welcomes guests of all ages. Children who visit are given juice boxes and can enjoy lawn games while adults sample wines, creating an inclusive atmosphere for families. For more information about the winery, contact Mil Veranos Estate Ranch & Vineyard by phone at 210-776-8459, or visit them at 861 County Road 411 in D’Hanis. As Mil Veranos continues to grow, its early success signals a promising future rooted in family, tradition and, as its name suggests, a thousand summers.
PRESS RELEASE — The Natalia Independent School District Board of Trustees has officially named Dr. Elmer Avellaneda as Superintendent of Natalia ISD, following the completion of the required waiting period after he was selected as lone finalist in March. As part of the official action, the Board approved a four-year contract for Dr. Avellaneda, signaling strong confidence in his leadership and commitment to the district’s future. Dr. Avellaneda is no stranger to Natalia ISD. He most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Business Services, where he oversaw the district’s financial operations, bond construction projects, and a wide range of support services. His leadership has also extended to safety and security, technology, maintenance, human resources, and overall district operations. Since beginning his career in education in 2010, Dr. Avellaneda has built a reputation as a collaborative leader focused on student success and strong school systems. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Baylor University and both a Master of Education and Doctor of Education from Tarleton State University. Board President Eric Smith expressed confidence in the district’s new leader. “We are excited about the leadership, vision, and experience Dr. Avellaneda brings to Natalia ISD,” Smith said. “We are confident he will continue to…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 High School assistant principal Leeann McReynolds addresses the school board Monday on the teacher incentive allotment program. At right are board members Candace Esparza and Henry Moreno. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher More than $653,000 in state education grants received by Devine ISD is in the process of being implemented with a focus on long-term academic improvement, Superintendent Todd Grandjean reported to the school board Monday night. The announcement about the Texas Education Agency Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities grant, also known as LASO, came during Grandjean’s monthly report to the board. “As the district concludes our end-of-year assessments, including our STARR (2025 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) testing, overall student performance continues to reflect the dedication and hard work of our teachers, support staff and our administrators,” Grandjean said. LASO is a single, consolidated application that combines grants, allotments and in-kind support issued through the TEA. More than 600 school districts applied during the most recent cycle of LASO funding. Devine ISD will receive $533,000 in funding…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!
PRESS RELEASE – CITY OF DEVINE – The recent water-sewer rate increases have yielded better than expected results for the City of Devine resulting in outstanding reports from both the city’s financial advising firm and the city’s annual financial audit. According to Mark McLiney of long time advising firm to the city, Samco Capital, the water rate study has accomplished its intended purpose ahead of schedule and the water-sewer system is becoming solvent and self-sufficient, and will no longer be a drain on the General Fund. “What a great year you had. Congratulations!” McLiney said. “The last couple of years, the City has covered Utility Fund Debt with the General Fund and now those funds can be moved back to the General Fund which will give the City the opportunity to borrow for General Fund projects without increasing the tax rate. I would estimate you could borrow between $4,500,000 and $5,000,000 later this summer…again without changing the tax rate.” McLiney also suggested going forward, the City should program a 2-3% increase annually for water-sewer rates to keep up with inflation and avoid the pitfalls that resulted from 8 years of no increases. Such increases are normally enacted by municipalities for maintenance and operations. “City staff and the City Council should be proud of these results,” McLiney said. The City’s annual financial audit report by the firm Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 presented in March by Carl Goering to the City Council also lauded the City’s performance. “The audit opinion we gave is ‘unmodified’ which is the best opinion we can give on an audit. My goal as an auditor is to form an audit opinion and determine whether or not the financial statements are free of material misstatement and conform with generally accepted auditing principles,” Goering said. “The audited numbers tell a story of financial stability directed with ‘great oversight’ by the city administrator,” Goering said. Highlights of the audit showed the City with a Debt to Asset ratio of 41.5% with total debt of $17.62 million compared to total government wide assets of $42.43 million. This indicates the overall leverage of the government and about two-fifths of the city’s asset base is financed with bonded debt. Ratios below 50% are considered favorable. The City also reported favorable numbers in the categories of Debt to Equity, Equity Ratio, Net Debt to Assets, Debt Service to Revenues, Interest Burden and Cash to Debt. The report also stated the overall financial flexibility of the City is stable with the net position increasing during the year and the debt structure shows limited near-term repayment pressure.
