Marjorie Louise Knappick Marbach, age 88 of Devine, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2025, at her home with her family by her side.
Margie, as her family and friends called her, was born April 29, 1937, in Leming, Texas to parents Adolf Walter Knappick and Alma (Neal) Knappick. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Paul Marbach, and brother, Anton (Tony) Knappick.
Marjorie is survived by her children, Jim (Ande) Marbach of Carlsbad, NM, Cindy Stein of Hondo, TX, John Marbach of Devine, TX, Randy (Tina) Marbach of San Marcos, TX, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and half sister, Peggy Biela.
Visitation will be held at Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, with a Funeral Service at 3:00 pm. Interment will follow in Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Cal-Farley’s Boy’s Ranch at 600 SW 11th Ave, Amarillo, Texas 79101
If you would like to share a memory or express condolences, please do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com
Arrangements are under the care of Primrose Funeral Services of Devine, Texas.
Author: admin
Meet Randy,a jokester and a joy
Meet Randy! He is a typical teenager who is filled with lots of energy and is always up for having fun.
Randy has a very vivacious personality and is a joy to be around. He also really enjoys socializing with his friends, as the life of the party, he has a very funny personality and is a big jokester.
Randy is an athlete and likes playing football and basketball. Like many teens, Randy enjoys his electronics. He especially enjoys playing video games! Randy loves a good competition or challenge.
Weekends are his favorite as he gets to attend his CCD classes.
Randy says he would like to be adopted by a two-parent household, as he would like a mother and father to guide him into adulthood, and love him for a lifetime as their son.
If you think you could be a forever family for Randy 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.
Medina Electric Cooperative Board of Director Nomination Petitions Open
(Hondo, Texas) – 1/5/2026 – Members interested in running for a position on Medina Electric Cooperative’s board of directors will need to complete an online petition with at least 30 valid signatures from members who have electric service in the voting district the potential nominee wishes to represent.
Online petitions opened on January 2 and close at 5 p.m. on March 2.
Medina EC is run by a nine-person board of directors elected by members who receive power from the cooperative. Each one of Medina EC’s three voting districts has a position open for election each year. Elections generally take place in September, and the petition and paperwork are the first steps to being considered as a candidate for the election. The board is responsible for setting operating policies for the cooperative and making decisions regarding the financial health and well-being of the organization.
For more information regarding the online petition process including deadlines, the link to the petitions and the required paperwork to be considered, visit MedinaEC.org/Nominee. Email MyCoop@MedinaEC.org or call 1-866-632-3532 ext. 1008 with any questions.
6 CONTESTED RACES FOR MEDINA COUNTY:
There are 14 candidates vying for 6 spots in local Medina County government. Among those are the following:
COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2 RACE:
GARZA, JOHN V. REPUBLICAN 1
SITTRE, LARRY (Incumbent) REPUBLICAN 2
COUNTY CLERK RACE:
WALDEN, JESSICA A. REPUBLICAN 1
BERMEA, KIMBERLY REPUBLICAN 2
EVERETT, CINDY MODGLING REPUBLICAN 3
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 2 RACE:
BARR, MICHAEL REPUBLICAN 1
TSCHIRHART, BILL TERRY (Incumbent) REPUBLICAN 2
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 3 RACE:
FRANKLIN, LAINEY REPUBLICAN 1
KOCH, TERESA REPUBLICAN 2
SANCHEZ, MICHAEL REPUBLICAN 3
PRECINCT CHAIR FOR PCHR_2B_REP RACE:
DOLLASE, ARNIE REPUBLICAN 1
ILTIS, JEROME A. (Incumbent) REPUBLICAN 2
PRECINCT CHAIR FOR PCHR_4B_REP RACE:
MANNING, BONNIE REPUBLICAN 1
HULSE, STAN O. (Incumbent) REPUBLICAN 2
Republican Candidates unopposed in the primaries are: COUNTY JUDGE KEITH LUTZ, COUNTY COURT AT LAW JUDGE MARK CASHION, DISTRICT CLERK CINDY FOWLER, COUNTY TREASURER DEBRA GRAFF, COUNTY COMMISSIONER PCT 4 DANNY LAWLER, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PCT 1 PHILLIP LANGE, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PCT 4 TOMAS RAMIREZ, REPUBLICAN COUNTY CHAIR CHRIS SCHUCHART.
A list of local democratic candidates will be published when submitted.
New laws taking effect in New Year
Capital Highlights Week of Jan. 5 – 9– A spate of new laws took effect on Jan. 1, The Dallas Morning News reported. Here’s a brief summary of the most notable new laws now in force:
- County sheriff’s offices are now required to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the passage of Senate Bill 8. Local jail staff are now authorized to verify the immigration status of inmates and to honor certain federal immigration warrants. A grant program was created by the state to help sheriffs cover training and implementation costs related to the new law.
- Eviction proceedings involving unauthorized occupants must be held in court from 10 to 21 days of filing. Also, the new law limits legal delays occupants may take to avoid eviction.
- With the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence systems into many aspects of daily lives, House Bill 149 established a statewide framework for regulating AI and providing transparency. Companies using AI must notify people when they are interacting with an AI system. The law also created a state advisory group to oversee the implementation of oversight and compliance. Penalties can be assessed for violations of the new requirements.
- The business inventory tax exemption has been raised to $125,000, cutting property taxes for small businesses that maintain stock. The previous exemption was $2,500.
Devine Livestock Booster Dinner & Dance at golf course this Saturday
George Strait autographed guitar in auction
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.
Library welcomes 2026 with expanded hours, new programs, and creative opportunities
Check out their fun programs like Sit & Stitch, Crafting After Hours, Storytime, and Lego Club. Starting January 10, the library will expand its operating hours to include Saturdays.
Driscoll Public Library is beginning the New Year with exciting plans for 2026. Following recent interior renovations, the library at 202 E. Hondo Ave. is pleased to announce expanded hours, new programs, and returning favorites for all ages.
Starting January 10, 2026, the library will expand its operating hours to include Saturdays. The library will now be open on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The 2026 program calendar also brings several exciting additions. Due to its continued popularity, Crafting After Hours is expanding to include a second monthly session. The original meeting will continue on the 2nd Thursday of each month, with an additional session added on the 4th Thursday. Both sessions will feature the same craft project, allowing more community members the opportunity to participate.
As previously announced, the library staff has grown with the addition of Stacy Pyron, who brings fresh ideas and engaging new programs launching in early 2026.
One of these new offerings is Sit & Stitch, a relaxed gathering for fiber arts enthusiasts. Participants are invited 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!
Heifers and ranch colts for sale Jan. 23rd
These are some of the many heifers that will be for sale this January 23.
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.
3 City of Devine seats up for election soon
The 2026 General Election for the City of Devine will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Seats that will be on the ballot include those held by Ray Gonzales ( District 1 councilman), Jeff Miller (District 3 councilman), and Josh Ritchey (District 4 councilman–who recently resigned). These positions expire in May 2026. The filing period to be placed on the ballot starts January 14, 2026 and ends February 13, 2026.
Warhorse Trystan LaFond to play in SA Sports All-Star Football Game Saturday
Devine High School student-athlete and football all-star Trystan LaFond takes a quick photo opportunity with his supportive parents Chris and Nicole LaFond.
Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine senior linebacker Trystan LaFond is set to participate in the 48th Annual San Antonio Sports All-Star Game, which will take place this Saturday, January 10 inside the Alamodome, Sponsored by Valero, the event begins at 5:30pm and will air locally on CW SA.
LaFond bounced back in a big way from an early-season injury to help lead the Warhorses to their 24th consecutive playoff appearance as a program.
Former Head Coach Paul Gomez expressed admiration for LaFond’s growth and his well-earned recognition. Gomez noted LaFond’s commitment during the summer to increasing his explosiveness and speed, along with his dedication to film study that refined his technique at linebacker. This hard work became evident as LaFond made a seamless transition from defensive lineman to linebacker, adapting quickly to his new role.
Gomez emphasized that no player invested more effort into learning a new defensive position than LaFond. His game sense stood out, and in the opening three games before his injury, he accumulated tackles at a rate that could have set new records in the area, ranking among the leaders.
The prestige of the upcoming All-Star Game is highlighted by the fact that the 2024 edition featured 67 athletes who advanced to collegiate football. There will be 119 players on the field and sidelines once kickoff takes place.
LaFond will play for Team Blue, coached by Johnson High’s TP Miller, while Team White will be led by Southwest High’s Alex Franco.
The entire coaching staff is extremely proud of LaFond for representing both the program and the community, and there is strong confidence that Warhorse Nation will show enthusiastic support when he takes the field this Saturday inside the friendly confines of the Alamodome.