(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.
Category: Events
Local Events in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties!
It’s Time for Wreath Removal at Evergreen and St Jo’s: Volunteers Invited!
WHAT and WHO:
Please come help the Current Events Club with the removal of wreaths from veteran graves at St Joseph Catholic and Devine Evergreen cemeteries in Devine, Texas.
WHY and WHEN:
This is the final step in the 2025 Mission of Wreaths Across America is scheduled for Saturday, January 10th at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Meet along Colonial Parkway entrances to both cemeteries. Look for an information table.
DETAILS:
Wear long sleeves and good shoes; garden gloves, too. Bring a broomstick to help you collect wreaths, and if you have a pickup available, you may help deliver wreaths to the County Precinct 4 Barn, on Hwy 173.
If you are part of a school or youth organization, Current Events Club members will sign community service hour forms for you. Please bring a list of your student volunteers.
We look forward to seeing you there on the 10th! Thank you for your help in the Mission of Wreaths Across America right here where we live!
Watch Video
Thanks to Anton Riecher of the The Devine News this year’s Wreath Across America Ceremony was video taped and produced for your viewing. Go to the Devine News You Tube Channel to view.
DRT Texas History Essay Contests open for 4TH & 7TH graders in Medina County
The Alsatian Pioneers Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas is pleased to announce the 2026 DRT essay competition for all 4th & 7th grade students in Medina County. The purpose of this contest is to stimulate interest in early Texas history for the students in our state.
*The 4th grade essays topic for this year is: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe in the Republic of Texas: Their interaction with the settlers and assistance during the Texas Revolution.
*The 7th grade essay topic this year is: Many flags were used during the Texas Revolution. Choose 3 and tell why they were designed; who designed them; what the design meant; and how and where they were used.
Contest information and requirements have been emailed to local teachers and administrators on the appropriate school campuses throughout Medina County. Homeschooled or other 4th or 7th grade Medina County students may contact the committee chairs for contest information
Essays will be due on February 2, 2026. They can be mailed (and postmarked) to: Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Alsatian Pioneer Chapter, P.O. Box 1519, Castroville, Tx. 78009, on or before Feb. 2, 2026. For drop off, contact committee chairs.
Thank you,
DRT Alsatian Pioneer Chapter – Essay & Scholarship Committee Chairs
Beth Bauer – beth.rihnbauer@gmail.com or 210-288-8163
Nancy Saathoff – gnsaathoff@aol.com or 210-289-6205
ESD Commissioners sworn in
From left, Pat Bourcier and Debbie Randall take the oath of office from County Judge Keith Lutz Monday as new members of the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners. Incumbent Brenda Butler will take the oath for a new two-year term at a later date. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
From left, Kenneth Nighswander, Abigail Beatle and Jerry Stevens, all incumbents on the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners, are sworn in to new two-year terms by Medina County Judge Keith Lutz Monday in Hondo. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
Devine Livestock Booster Jan.10, Dinner & Dance at golf course
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.
Hospice closed til January 5
Get your presents early as the lst two weeks of the month Devine Area Hospice will be closed for a Christmas Break from Monday, December 22, 2025 thru January 5, 2026. They will reopen on Wednesday, January 7 to customers.
Thank you volunteers for your dedication. Enjoy your time off with your family during the Christmas Holidays.
The thrift shop has been serving the community for over 26 years.
Please shop, shop, shop in the earlier weeks. And please do not leave donations outside during the holidays.
They will start taking donations when they reopen on January 7.
Poster & Essay Contest deadline January 24 Open kinder to 12th grade
The Medina Valley Soil & Water Conservation District in conjunction with the Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board is sponsoring Poster and Essay Contests for school age children residing in Medina County. The theme of this year’s contest is “Soil. Where It All Begins”.
The Poster Contest is open to students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
Students in grades 7-12 may enter the Essay Contest.
A monetary award will be presented to the first and second place winners who will also advance to the TSSWCD Area II Awards competition.
The sponsoring teacher will also receive a monetary award for promoting conservation education.
For more contest details, refer to the information in this publication or at the address below or on Facebook @mvswcd. Flyers will also be sent to Medina County schools.
All entries must be postmarked, requested for pick up, or brought to the MVSWCD office by January 24, 2026. The address is Medina Valley SWCD, 257 Hwy 173 Ste. A, Hondo, TX 78861. Winners will be selected and notified in February 2026. For more information, contact Janet Zerr at (830)426-2521 ext. 3 or by email at janet.zerr@tx.nacdnet.net.
Positive results reported for Devine water well restoration
By Anton Riecher
What one Devine city council member referred to as a “$32,000 gamble” to restore the city’s long dormant L.C. Martin water well to operation has apparently paid off.
Chuck Jones with Converse-based Advanced Water Well told the council at its Dec. 16 meeting that the company has completed the rehabilitation project and is now waiting to install either a new or repaired submersible pump.
“We did our typical running a brush down it and jetting out all the fill as well as we acidized the well to recede all the iron bacteria in the formation,” Jones said.
The council voted…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 wins UIL Academic Competition 12th year in a row
By Melody Riou
UIL Academics is a wonderful program for students to be involved in. Academic competition for younger students has been around since 1913, with the under age ten categories beginning in 1921.
The program of academic competition for elementary, middle school and junior high officially became “A+ Academics” in 2008. A+ Academics includes 20 different events for grades 2-8. These events span the curriculum – they are designed to complement and expand upon what students learn in the classroom, both through learning specific subject knowledge, and through learning skills that are valuable in many disciplines. Approximately 3,000 Texas schools participate in A+ Academics, competing in more than 300 district meets each year.
On December 5th, our UIL students competed in Floresville for our annual UIL competition. Our kids competed against other students from Floresville, Pearsall, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde and Somerset. Devine won the UIL meet for the 12th year in a row. We are so proud of each and every team member.
91 year old Bobbie DuBose was special guest at holiday social for retired teachers
People feel most cared about when others do thoughtful things for them. A group of fourth and fifth grade students under the direction of their teacher Lee Davis at Devine Intermediate decided that Christmas was a good time to share their thoughtfulness and do something kind for someone. Kindness is all about showing you care.
The group of students decided to make a poster with thoughtful wishes for someone. The poster was full of Christmas wishes for Bobbie Dubose. Their goal was to demonstrate the power and importance of being kind. Their kindness expressed and nourishes personal and community connections. Thank you for doing such a kind thing!
The Huajilla Area Retired Teachers and Staff held its annual holiday social on Monday, December 15, at Triple C Restaurant in Devine with a luncheon and activities.
President Earline Schlortt welcomed the 40-plus members and guests. Members serenaded the November and December birthday celebrants. Schlortt then introduced special guest and 20-year Devine Elementary retiree, Bobbie DuBose, 91 years young, who is among the few original members of the Huajilla group.
Schlortt recognized Huajilla’s past presidents Lewis Stroud, Irene Rodriguez-Dubberly, and Jim Rigby, presenting them with beautiful poinsettia plants.
President Schlortt then introduced special guests, Eddie Gentry from the Bluebonnet Children’s Center; Roxanne Carter, director of the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children; and Sgt. Mark Esquivel who represented Medina County’s Brown Santa. Each gave a short summary of their services for children, especially those children who suffer abuse or have been removed from the parents’ home due to other circumstances which put the children in danger. These organizations provide for the safety of children and each representative thanked HARTS for their contributions of books which the children keep for their own. Additionally, they reiterated that the books provide children not only an escape through reading but provide learning opportunities to children who otherwise may not have access to books that they can keep. The Southwest Family Life center was unable to attend the meeting, and their books will be delivered to them.
Members then participated in a gift exchange game, but all participants walked away with a gift. There was a drawing for remaining gifts and winners were Tommy Fillinger and Irene Cox.
After the meal, Brenda Prestage conducted a contest for the group, asking 10 questions related to Famous Duos, Foods, Sit Coms and Geography. Each category had a winner, and despite some talking and sharing responses, and the fact that members realized that either they did not know the answers, or the answers were unretrievable from their memory bank, the competition was sharp, but the overall winner was Claire Coffey.
Prior to adjournment, Earline Schlortt announced the January 26,2026, at Sammy’s Restaurant in Castroville.