Category: Top News Stories

ometimes a man just has to step up and be a man, and that’s what these men did,” said Chief Justin Soza at Hondo PD, still in disbelief at the awful crime that was in progress, but so grateful there are heroes among us who noticed something was wrong and stepped up this past Friday, September 5th without ever thinking twice about it.
According to the report, crews outside a local business saw the suspect attempting to throw a precious 3 month-old baby into a…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!

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A concerned crowd filled the Medina County commissioners court chamber Monday to hear a presentation from CPS Energy on plans for a record-sized 765 kilovolt transmission line stretching 370 miles from San Antonio to Fort Stockton. The exact route of the line is yet to be determined. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Willing or not, Medina County may be selected as the future host of a record setting new power transmission line stretching from near San Antonio to West Texas, a representative of CPS Energy told a public hearing in Hondo Monday.
Kirk Rasmussen, an attorney for Jackson Walker LLC, said the Texas Public Utility Commission has assigned the construction of three new 765 kilovolt power lines to CPS and AEP Texas to be in service by 2030. Prior to this, the largest transmission lines in Texas operate in the 500 kV range.
Of the three new lines, the 370-mile Howard Road-Solstice transmission project may come through Medina County, Rasmussen said.
“In an application of this length we will probably have hundreds of different route combinations where we will measure the data and present that to the commission,” he said.
A capacity crowd was…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!

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ESD1 Chief Clint Cooke addresses the ESD2 board Thursday during the ESD2 special meeting to discuss contract negotiations. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

Negotiates with new group to provide fire dept. services in Devine

By Anton Riecher
Taking unanimous action, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners voted Thursday to enter into contract negotiations with Castroville-based ESD No. 1 to take charge of managing local fire protection.
Board member Jerry Stevens said the vote was in keeping with his call for a “hard reset” in emergency response leadership.
“Something had to change,” Stevens said. “We had to look at doing things differently.”
On a motion by Abigail Beadle, seconded by Stevens, the board voted to negotiate a contract with ESD1 for no more than $900,000 annually. By choosing the ESD1 proposal, the board rejected a competing proposal by the volunteer fire department membership board to extend its current management contract.
ESD1 Chief Clint Cooke said he expects to have the final details for the contract in place within a week. ESD2 board president Todd Summers said a final contract would be presented at the regular monthly meeting Sept. 16.
ESD2 board member Ken Nighswander told the audience gathered for the meeting that choosing the ESD1 proposal was not only good for the community but for the firefighters.
“We feel we can bring this to a competitive level,” he said. “I think it’s going to help everyone.”
The vote 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!

A lifelong Mustang, businesswoman and cornerstone of the community July 1, 1945 – August 29, 2025

By Ruby Vera
How does one start to put into words how one person can effect and affect so many in a very short time on this earth. Well, Dianna was one of these type of people, always with that smile, making you feel like you were the most important person at that very moment you were speaking with her, and she was the first to be there for you – no matter what. I have tried to remember what all she brought to this community – during her school years, marriage, and as a business woman. There is not enough space to do her justice, but I am going to try.
Dianna, excelled in all she set her mind to do. A lifelong MUSTANG from the 1st grade to her graduation in 1963. She bled Blue and White. I am going to focus on her High School years – where she was a “A and A/B” student, and as a freshman made the Girls Basketball team – then called the “Palominos.” She was in the Future Homemakers of America; a Majorette in the Rancheretts (before there was a Mustang Band); and was Queen of the Fall Festival. This set a pattern of her involvement throughout the four years in High School. She was a class officer for three of her high school years; she was voted Miss Mustang in 1962; Senior Favorite 1963; FFA Sweetheart and so on and so on, One of her favorite things she loved to do was twirl a baton. In 1962 she joined the Brand New “Natalia Mustang Band under the direction of Mr. Richard Cortez and played the trumpet. Dianna was one of the original Majorette’s for the Natalia Mustang Band.
In addition to all her other school activities add – Editor of the School Newspaper “The Stirr-up”, homecoming Queen, and lettered all four years in Basketball and was Captain that year.
She then married Charles Brown Jr and went to work at “Brown’s Grocery”. I can still hear her voice when you called “ always so distinctive – almost like a “little song” and no matter who was calling – you could actually hear her smile over the phone. I don’t ever remember a time when Dianna was not at the store – even when she became a mom to Tiffany and Chuck. She was always there – from the time they opened until they closed.
Dianna will be missed by all of us – I just wish I could have told her before she passed into her Eternal Life, how very much she was loved by the entire community. Let this serve me as a reminder to let the folks who have brought so much into your life know “just how much they have done to bring a smile to your face and make your heart a little lighter.”

Emilio and Alama enjoyed the rural country life, making their home on their ranch in Natalia, Texas. They enjoyed raising cattle, attending St. John Bosco Catholic Church and being a part of their church family and participating in community events.
Alma Lopez Cavazos of Natalia passed away on Monday, August 11 and is being remembered not only for her trailblazing career and service to her community, but for her kindness, strength, love for everyone, and unwavering belief in justice. She leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations to come. She was laid to rest last weekend on Sunday, September 5th.
“Alma Lopez Cavazos was the very first Hispanic female elected Chief Justice of an Appellate Court in the United States. She lived here in Natalia with her husband Emilio Cavazos where they loved raising cattle, attending church, and being a part of the community of Natalia for the past 30 plus years”, said friend Ruby Vera. “I enjoyed working with her on her campaigns and admired her willingness to help those in need of advice anytime she was asked. She was a role model for all women and leader”.
“Alma was the first Municipal Court Judge to serve when the Natalia Police Department was formed in 1995,” said Vera. “She specialized in immigration and family law”.
Encouraged by her law school friend Frank Herrera, Alma pursued a judgeship. He secured a meeting with Governor Ann Richards resulting in Alma’s historic appointment in 1993 making her the first Hispanic woman to serve on the Fourth Court of Appeals and only the second in the United States to serve on an appellate court. She was later elected chief justice, becoming the first Hispanic woman to be elected chief justice of an appellate court in the United States and highest-ranking justice on the first all-female appeals court in the United States. She served with distinction until her retirement in 2008.
Alma Lopez Cavazos’ full history and service can be viewed on the obituary page.

Clay shoot, Silent auction, BBQ Cook-off
Kids needed for BBQ and clay shoot to win buckles

The 12th Annual DJ Carlson Memorial BUST N BURN will be on September 12&13, the second weekend of September yearly, and will be hosted at the same location as last year, at The Farm, 2238 FM 2200 West, Devine just past the airport a little ways.
The two day weekend event will feature a barbeque cook-off (State Championship Cook-off), a 12 station sporting clay shoot, corn hole and washer tourneys, live music and entertainment!
They started doing a Kid’s Q last year for the first time. The ages will be kinder through high school seniors that can compete in the Kid’s Q cookoff. Meat will be provided by the sponsor DCDC- Devine Childcare Development Center/Candace Esparza.
Everyone is welcome to join in on the weekend events with the purchase of a $10 cover charge wrist band.
Champions Barbeque Alliance State Championship Cook-off will feature chicken, ribs, brisket, and pork butt; with a $5000 Pay Out.
The 12 station registered sporting clay shoot always draws a lot of sponsors and teams and many awards and buckles are given including scholarships.
In addition…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!