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VFW Golf Tournament Nov. 8 in Devine

VFW Post 3966 of Devine will host a golf tournament at Devine Golf Course on Saturday, November 8, 2025 – the Saturday prior to Veterans Day. Entry fee is $125 per person (4 man teams) and includes green fees, ½ cart. Two mulligans and a grab & go lunch. Max handicap for men is 18, for women 24.
Team prizes, based on a minimum of 48 players, are 1st Place- $1000, 2nd Place- $750 and 3rd Place – $500.
Sponsorship opportunities are as follows:

  • Officer Package- $1000, 4-man team, Food Sponsorship, Logo on banner and Hole Sponsorship
    -NCO Package- $700, 4-man team, Logo on banner and Hole Sponsorship
    -Hole Sponsorship- $100, Name or company logo on sign at one of the holes on the course
    You can sign up to play at the Devine Golf Course at 116 Malone Dr., Devine, TX or by contacting Gary Saathoff at cmd@vfw3966.org or ph. 210-289-6204. Deadline to get sponsorship Logos on the banner or on hole sponsor signs is Friday October 31 ( must be finalized for printing on Monday November 3, 2025).

Praise and Paint Party Eventwill be Nov. 20 in Yancey

The Yancey Seventh Day Adventist Church will be hosting a Praise and Paint Party Outreach Event for the community on Thursday, November 20th from 6 pm to 8 pm. The Paint Party will be held in the Fellowship Hall behind the sanctuary building. This is the first time we have hosted a community event like this. We hope to see you all there! The last event we hosted for the community was a Centennial Celebration of our church’s local history and founding in 1923 marking 100 years in 2023. Since then, we have been in the process of planning events to share God’s love and give back to our local and surrounding communities.
The night will be filled with good company, prayer, worship, a Bible message, sharing testimonies and art. The painting will be taught by one of the Outreach directors, Hannah Quintero. It is step by step, open to all skill levels and beginner friendly. Refreshments and dessert will be served for guests to enjoy. All supplies will be provided for the event.
The donation amount to reserve your spots will be a $15 donation per person made out to the Outreach Ministry Art Class by November 6th. We have 12 more spots left! You can find more information about the event on the Yancey Seventh Day Adventist Church Facebook page and contact Hannah Quintero.
The church if located at 9580 FM 462 in Hondo.

Sewing Classes Monday Nights at Episcopal Church in Devine

Rene Irwin was one of several students having fun at the weekly Sewing Class.

Sewing classes are now established. Join us on Monday nights, 6:00 to 8:00, at Saint Matthias Episcopal Church, 901 N. Teel Dr. in Devine. Classes will be $20 a session.
For further details and to register, contact Kathleene Runnels at (210) 861-3069.

Devine council gambles on repairing problem water well

In what District 1 Alderman Ray Gonzales referred to as a “$32,000 gamble,” the Devine City Council voted unanimously Oct. 21 to approve an attempt by Converse-based Advanced Water Well Technologies to restore the city’s long dormant L.C. Martin water well to operation.
Mayor Butch Cook told the council that it had long been accepted that the well was beyond salvage.
“For the longest time, especially since I’ve been elected, I was always told that the well is beyond repair,” he said. “But apparently we can make it viable again.”
On a motion by District 2 Alderman Michael Hernandez, seconded by District. 4 Alderman Josh Ritchey, the council voted 5-0 to approve $31,327 for the rehabilitation project.
“I make a motion that we give Advanced Water Well an opportunity to work on this well and see if we can get it back online,” Hernandez said.
City Administrator David Jordan said he was introduced to the technology used by Advanced at a recent conference held in Pleasanton and asked them to assess the L.C. Martin well, out of commission nearly five years due to the poor quality of water produced.
Chris Richey with Advanced said the inspection determined that the well has a significant build-up of iron bacteria.
“Ultimately, we want to go in and clean that well out really good and make it a viable water source for the city again,” he said.
John Wilkins, also…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!

Medina Electric Cooperative and CoBank Partner for $30,000 in Donations

The $10,000 donation from Medina Electric Cooperative and CoBank was presented to Southwest Family Life Centers by Medina EC’s board of directors and CEO Trey Grebe.

(Hondo, Texas) – 10/24/2025 – Medina Electric Cooperative, in partnership with CoBank’s Sharing Success charitable contribution program, presented $30,000 in donations to three nonprofit organizations. 
Southwest Family Life Centers, Starr of Hope and NRECA International each received a $10,000 donation.
These donations were made possible through Medina EC’s members and CoBank, a national cooperative bank and one of Medina EC’s financial partners. Through the Sharing Success program, CoBank matched up to $15,000 that Medina EC donated between each nonprofit.
Southwest Family Life Centers in Hondo and Starr of Hope in Rio Grande City both provide services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in six of Medina EC’s 17 counties, including Frio, Kinney, Medina, Real, Starr and Uvalde.
This is the second time that Medina EC donated to NRECA International, a program that sends cooperative journeymen from around Texas and the US to help establish safe, reliable and affordable electricity in developing countries. In 2023, two Medina EC journeymen helped build power lines in Matasano, Zacapa, in the Republic of Guatemala, and Medina EC will participate in another trip this year.
Concern for Community and Cooperation Among Cooperatives are key principles of electric cooperatives. This partnership is an example of how cooperatives like Medina EC work to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.

Contract officially terminated with Devine VFD

By Anton Riecher
The contract between the city of Devine and the Devine Volunteer Fire and Rescue has officially been terminated, City Administrator David Jordan announced at the Oct. 21 Devine City Council regular meeting.
“The fire department is transitioning to new leadership,” Jordan said. “The city contract with the fire department has been terminated.”
Castroville-based Medina County Emergency Services District No. 1, already responsible for management of fire protection for a wide region of the county, took charge of the local fire protection operations this month. ESD1 also took charge of ambulance service in Devine and Natalia this month.
Jordan made the…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!

Lytle council approves evaluation of site for fifth water well

From left, Lytle city council members Anne Carrillo, Richard Hughes and David Emery were present for Monday’s meeting. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
In a unanimous vote, the Lytle City Council moved Monday to retain an Austin-based hydrogeology firm to evaluate plans to drill a fifth city water well at the site currently occupied by city well number four.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said that enough land was purchased for an additional well when well number four was drilled at the site. Urged by city engineers Cobb Fendley, the evaluation by Wet Rock Groundwater Services would hopefully confirm the wisdom of that initial decision.
“With our growth and wanting to make sure that makes the most sense as a part of the process of the design, Cobb Fendley is suggesting we engage with Wet Rock to make sure that does truly still make sense,” Meadows said.
Funds to cover the cost of the evaluation is being taken from existing impact fees for the project, he said.
Mayor Ruben Gonzalez…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!

Apparatus issues occupy ESD2 after fire department management revamp

ESD1 administrative assistant Stephanie Earl, center, and battalion chief David Powers address the ESD2 board during its Oct. 21 meeting. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Tough decisions about the repair or replacement of fire apparatus lay ahead for the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners based on an early assessment made by the new management for local fire protection during the Oct 21 board meeting.
Battalion Chief David Powers, liaison between the board and Castroville-based ESD1, rejected the idea that firefighters always want the newest for their departments.
“I want something that will get to that fire with a pump, a hose and someone to operate it,” Powers said. “That’s all I care about.”
He questioned whether some of the current fleet of fire apparatus offers that dependability.
“The problem is, are we at that point with some of this apparatus that we can trust?” Powers said.
However, ESD1 Chief Clint Cooke asked for more time to prepare an in depth assessment on whether the current fleet can still be brought up to speed.
“Truthfully, we don’t know that yet,” Cooke said. “We’ve been here two and a half weeks.”
At the direction…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!

The Healing Power of Pets

“A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”
-Josh Billings

We all have our preferences when it comes to pets. I prefer dogs. Maybe you are a cat, fish, or reptile person. Whatever the case, recent research has proven what we already know – pets are good for you.
Half of the households in the U.S. have a pet of some kind. Whether you have an affectionate dog, a purring cat, or a fish watching you from his watery home every morning as you stumble out of bed to make coffee, the company of a pet is comforting. Pets support our well-being. For many they offer a vital mental and physical coping mechanism.
Pets can provide us with distinct physical benefits. Dogs especially make great exercise companions (this is less of an option with cats and fish). A dog will give you a reason to exercise. For dog owners, walking becomes pretty much mandatory. An interesting systematic review of research was published recently in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes (this is a journal put out by the American Heart Association). It highlighted the fact that dog ownership is associated with better cardiovascular health. The review examined a truckload of studies published between 1950-2019 examining data from approximately four million humans. Many of these studies revealed that dog ownership was linked to improved cholesterol levels, decreased blood pressure, and lower stress response in the sympathetic nervous system. A summary of all the data showed that dog ownership was associated with a 31 percent reduced risk of cardiovascular death. It is believed that the primary reason for this increased longevity stems from the necessary exercise required of dog owners. A squirmy little dog at your feet, ready to go outside and walk your shoes off, will help you live longer.
On a personal note, Mac, our lively little Jack Russell Terrier has prompted me to walk him twice a day. Some days now we hit four miles. I feel better for it and know that walking is good for both of us.
Besides promoting physical well-being, pets can provide a plethora of mental and psychological benefits. These include reduced stress and enhanced mood. Pet ownership stimulates the reduction of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Animals seriously have the capacity to enhance our mood and mental well-being. And this is good news also for the fish and cat people. I am not much of a cat person, but I will acknowledge that cats make pretty good pets. Their sanctimonious and independent nature make them require less maintenance. They tolerate your absence well but will hang around and offer some degree of comfort when you are home. Fish I think are indifferent, but they are fun to look at, so that’s good for something. Lizards and small rodents might fall into this category as well.
But when it comes to mental health, dogs particularly provide the pure connection and affection which promotes the release of dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters synonymous with relaxation. I always feel more relaxed with little Mac curled up at my feet, or asleep on my desk as I write.
I recently had reason to stop by the designated veterans’ apartments here in town. While there I met an elderly gentleman who was a former Navy SEAL. He glided into the room in his electric wheelchair with his dog Frieda by his side. Frieda’s attention and affection for her person was obvious. This grizzled veteran told me that his beloved dog had literally saved his life. She gave him a reason to live. The bond between the two was evident beyond words.
Pets, and I would again say dogs in particular, can encourage positive social interactions as well. Dogs naturally create opportunities for social connections. Walking your dog can lead to casual conversations with neighbors and other dog owners. Many folks take their charges to the local dog park. It’s easy to meet people this way. Dogs provide a social lubricant. You are more approachable with a dog. Dogs also can help foster emotional security, encouraging people to interact in informal settings.
All pets are good for us in every way. They make our lives better by loving us, overlooking our faults, and wanting nothing more than food, water, and our attention. They are blessings beyond words. Love your pet today…
© 2025 Jody Dyer
typewriterweekly.com

In Loving Memory of Charles (Joe) Rooks

Charles (Joe) Rooks passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 surrounded by the love of his family. Charles was born on August 14, 1940, in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he met the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Anna Mae. The two were married and shared 67 years of a beautiful, unwavering love story.
Charles was preceded in death by his beloved sons, David Michael Rooks and Patrick Joseph Rooks; his parents, Wesley and Hortensia Buentello Rooks; and his brother, Randy Rooks.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Anna Mae Rooks; his daughter, DeAnna Gail Huff and her husband Chad Huff of Helotes, Texas; his son, Clyde Lee Rooks and his wife Terrianne Rooks of Lacoste, Texas; his sister, Laura Faust. His legacy also lives on through his grandchildren, Kailum Rooks, Kaylee Elizondo (Bobby), Kurtis Rooks, Cooper Rooks, Ryland Alfaro, Sterling Huff, and Kaiden Rooks; as well as ten great-grandchildren, who will forever cherish his love and the lessons he instilled in them.
A proud skilled aircraft mechanic, Charles dedicated many years of service to Boeing Aerospace. Known for his strong work ethic and remarkable expertise, he took great pride in his craft. Beyond his career, Charles found joy in working in his yard, where his hands shaped the beauty around him.
Charles had a big heart, a gentle spirit, and an unwavering love for his family. He was a man who led with kindness, strength, and quiet wisdom. His presence filled every room with warmth, and his love will continue to guide his family for generations to come.
Charles Joe Rooks will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, but his legacy of love, hard work, and family devotion will live on forever in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Cemetery in Lacoste, Texas.
Memorials may be made in Charles’ memory to Lytle Animal Shelter or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. www.tondre-guinn.com