Lady Mustangs fall in nail biter against Cotulla

Varsity Lady Mustangs #10 Kaecey Vela guards up on the wing while #12 Kaylee Uvideo and #23 Arielle Villarreal standy ready at the help side defense during Natalia’s close game against Cotulla. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports editor
As the year comes to a close, the Lady Mustangs have begun their journey into district play taking on two tough opponents: Crystal City and Cotulla. Basketball is a game of runs and some runs last longer than others. The Lady Mustangs had a tough outing in their first two games, losing 25-85 against Crystal City then losing a nail biter against Cotulla 30-33. 
“They were both tough losses, but the girls never gave up and fought hard in both games. That’s tough to do when you’re getting beat by 30+ points for the majority of the game,” head coach Steven Spangler said. “However, these girls have a lot of heart and desire to do what they can.”
No one wants to lose, but…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!

Mustangs eager to start District

Varsity Mustang #23 Ricardo De La O reaches for the ball during tip-off of Natalia’s game against Yorktown. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports editor
The varsity Mustangs have played their last tournament of the preseason and will be in district play when they return to the floor in 2026. Natalia battled fiercely but finished the tournament 2-3. Head coach Justin Welsh said the key for the Mustangs to stay consistent, is to stay locked in on the defensive side of the ball. 
“When things aren’t going our way, it’s easy to forget what our team is built around, and that’s the defensive end of the floor,” Welsh said. “We have guys who can score the basketball and I am confident that as the season goes on, those guys will help us find ways to win.”
These last few games have…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!

Freshman Horses fly past Owls 45-39

Freshman Warhorse Pheonix Snider positions himself to boxout his opponents during Devine’s game against Davenport. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The 9th grade Horses went 1-1 last week as they defeated Hondo 45-39, a win that took out some of the bad taste from their 74-46 setback against Davenport that started the week.
vs Hondo
The Horses strong first period which resulted…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’s Wreaths Across America Ceremony

Rey Alvarado, at right, with VFW Post 3966, presents Jordan Davis, retired Army sergeant first class, with a ceremonial wreath. one of many placed on veteran graves Sunday during the National Wreaths Across America Day ceremonies Sunday at Devine Evergreen and St. Joseph Catholic cemeteries in Devine. (Photo by Anton Riecher) 

Gary K. Saathoff of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3966, left, and Martha Wall of the Devine Current Events Club preside over National Wreaths Across America ceremonies in Devine Sunday.  (Photo by Anton Riecher) 

Devine Livestock Booster Dinner & Dance Jan. 10th

The Devine Livestock Booster Dinner & Dance will be held January 10 from 6pm-Midnight. The event will be held at The Devine Golf Course. You can get 2 tickets for the dinner and dance for $125 total. Jerry DeLeon and the Southbound Band will be providing the live music for the evening. For dinner, the club will be serving fajita plates with rice and beans.
There will be a silent auction and ticket auction going on as well as a Card Deck Drawing for guns. The highlight of the silent auction will a guitar signed by George Strait himself!
You can buy a pair of tickets from any 4-H kid or from Sam Barber at 830-741-0300.

Come out and bid to buy heifers and ranch colts Jan. 23rd

Anyone is welcome to come out and check out some great heifers and ranch yearling colts who have been raised by local 4-H students. More like a traditional auction, bidders will go home with the animals they win from these events and support a great cause at the same time. Here are the details on these two auctions:
Commercial Heiefer Sale:
The sale will be held January 23 at 5pm. Local kiddos will have about 116 head of cattle which will be split into pens of 2-3 animals. Bidders will bid per head, but they will be sold as a lot of 2 or 3 (depending on how many are in that pen).
There will be various breeds. You can register and bid online as well. Or you can just walk up and register the day of. You can view the cattle that will be for sale online.
Colt Sale:
This sale will also be January 23rd and will kick off at 2 pm. Local kiddos expect to bring about 19 yearling ranch colts to the sale. These colts will be around 2 years old, and students will have started on ground work and saddling, but not all will be ridden down. You can register and bid online as well. Or you can just walk up and register the day of.

ESD4 votes to terminate contract for proposed site, buy land in Natalia to build EMS station on

Natalia Alderman Darin Frazier addresses the ESD 4 board Friday on the long promised ambulance station in Natalia. Photo by Anton Riecher.

By Anton Riecher
The Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners voted Friday to exercise its option to terminate an April 2024 contract with the city of Natalia to build an ambulance station on property next to the Natalia firehouse.
Board president Steve Smith said the board remains committed to building in Natalia but prefers to own the site outright rather than on loan from the city of Natalia.
“What the contract says is the property is basically loaned to use,” Smith said. “If we or the city decided not to provide EMS anymore then they get the property back and we have to move the building.”
What the ESD4 board wants…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!

Meet Serenity loves baking, karate, and art

Serenity is a very active, sweet, nurturing, and social ten-year-old who enjoys playing outdoors.  Some of her favorite pastimes are swimming or riding her bike with friends.
 One new activity on her list of things to do, is she has recently begun karate lessons and is learning additional levels of discipline, she is looking forward to one day obtaining her black belt in karate.
 Serentiy is currently into listening to K-Pop, watching anime such as Sailor Moon, and enjoys spending time with her caretaker and engaging in family activities such as going to church, going out to eat, or a shopping trip.
 Serenity loves eating and creating sweets, as she has recently begun to learn how to bake cookies & cakes, to share creations with her friends.
 Some fun facts about Serenity
 She loves reading and art.
Is currently taking karate lessons
Loves to go swimming
Going to church on Sundays
 Serenity is still young and is not sure what she wants to do career-wise, but she knows she wants to attend college, as education is very important to her.
 But she is sure about Christmas being her favorite time of the year, as she loves the feeling of being around loved ones and enjoys the holiday treats, with the ultimate gift of a forever family.
 
Serenity is wanting a family with many siblings, younger or older, and one with many pets, but most importantly forever love.  
 If you think you could be Serenity’s forever family or another Texas child, please call 1-800-233-3405 for more information or visit www.adoptchildren.org where you can find a schedule of online public information meetings, and learn about the foster/adoption program.
You can also view the www.heartgallerystx.org website, where South Texas children have their portraits along with individual personal stories they wish to share, with their future forever family.