Category: Top News Stories

Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.

Natalia celebrates soon-to-be Multipurpose Center with a ribbon cutting

The new multipurpose center in Natalia is on track to be built during 2027! Plans are ready and the funding should be coming in soon to finalize all the rest of the paperwork needed. Leaders celebrated with a ribbon cutting this Tuesday. Full story on page 2.

The City of Natalia celebrated a ribbon cutting, behind the veteran’s monument, for their upcoming multipurpose center which will be built during 2027. Plans are ready and the funding should be coming in soon to finalize all the rest of the paperwork needed. “This will be a great place for our community and county for many years to come, especially in situations like the snow/freeze emergency we experienced. It was obvious then to others, that not only do those who live in city limits rely on the City of Natalia. They were coming from Forest Woods and the rural neighbors for water just like the citizens of Natalia. That opened many eyes and helped provide the proof of the need for this center. The pictures and write ups in the Devine News helped paint the picture we were in,” said councilman Darren Frazier. “ Besides the center, there will be 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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Early voting in progress

Medina County Voting Information:
Early voting locations:
Medina County Courthouse Annex, 1300 Ave. M, Room 110, Hondo, TX
Medina County Pct. 2 Annex Building, 8366 FM 471 S., Castroville, TX
Medina County Pct. 4 Annex Building, 317 State Hwy 132 N, Devine, TX

Times:
Mon., Oct. 19 – Fri., Oct. 23 – 8 am to 5 pm
Sat., Oct. 24 – 7 am to 7 pm
Sun., Oct. 25 – 9 am to 3 pm
Mon., Oct. 26 – Fri., Oct. 30 – 7 am to 7 pm

Contested local elections are:
Medina County Commissioner Precinct 2
Eli Arroyo (D)
Larry Sittre (R)

Medina County Hospital District Board At-large Place 5
Mary E. Mangold (Nonpartisan)
Bobby Pittman (Nonpartisan)

Medina County Hospital District Board Precinct 2
Tim Hardt (Nonpartisan)
Wesley Williams (Nonpartisan)

…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

New road marks a milestone

For the Lytle Coal Mine families and the local leaders who have long worked to improve access to the neighborhood, the road marks a milestone decades in the making. Funded and built by Rowan and its partners, the new paved road gives residents and emergency responders a second route in and out of the neighborhood, when the primary road is blocked by a train on the tracks. Story on page 3.

New road will improve emergency access to Lytle neighborhood

Rowan Digital Infrastructure celebrated the opening of Carroll Farm Road Monday with a block party and ribbon cutting alongside Medina County, the City of Lytle, leaders and residents of the Coal Mine neighborhood.
Funded and built by Rowan and its construction partners, the new paved road gives residents a second route in and out of the neighborhood, improving daily traffic flow and giving emergency responders better access to the homes there. For the Coal Mine families and the local leaders who have long worked to improve access to the neighborhood, the road marks a milestone decades in the making.


“Many of these families have lived in the Coal Mine neighborhood for generations, and this is a road they will use every day, whether that means getting to work, getting kids to school or making sure help can reach them quickly,” said Tim Alborg, senior director of government and community affairs for Rowan. “Being part of this community meansYou will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this! Click the link to sign up today! www.devinenewsmembers.com

REGIONAL BOUND!

Regional bound Warhorses and Arabians:
Zach Guerra, Ryan Botello, Urijah Velasquez, Shawn Lowe, Jesus Cisneros, Zane Fritz, Rafael Rodriguez, Claire Jones, Allison Balencia, Amy Outlaw, Kaytie Klein, Claira Gulley, Kaylee Villarreal, Isabel Turner, and alternate Jovianne Gomez.
Individually, Guerra, Jones, Balencia and Outlaw all placed in the top 10 for their respective races as well.

Regional bound Lytle Pirates and Lady Pirates are:
Jacob Cantu, Adrian Reyna, Shawn Robinette, Jaden Castro, Sebastian Garcia, Nathan Garza, Frank Cantu, Annalise Quintanilla, Elyse Cortinas, Kaycee Galindo, Addison Wagner and Sophia Herrera.
Cantu and Quintanilla both took the Gold individually with Cortinas, Reyna, Robinette, Castro, Garcia, and Garza all placing in the top 10 individually as well.

You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this! Click the link to sign up today! www.devinenewsmembers.com

Data center annexation, zoning draws heat during Lytle special hearings

Citizens gather Monday evening for a series of public hearings regarding the Rowan Digital Infrastructure data center east of County Road 683 and north of Highway 132. (Photo:Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
At a series of public hearings Monday by the Lytle City Council regarding annexation and zoning for the 284-acre Rowan Digital Infrastructure data center project, speakers repeatedly stressed that the project should not move forward without clearer facts on issues ranging from water use and traffic to effects on neighboring property values.
Coal Mine neighborhood resident Jesue Valdez noted that Gov. Greg Abbott has placed a temporary pause on new data center permit approvals pending a comprehensive audit underway by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
“Knowing that they can’t even get the state permits are you (the city council) going to postpone the vote so we can see the outcome of what happens?”
Of the 26 speakers to take the podium at the Lytle Community Center, those joining Valdez included Letica Alston, Arcol and Linda Bujol, Ayman Helms, Frank and Monica Ybarra and Lainey Franklin. None of the speakers spoke in favor of the project.


City Administrator Zachary Meadows set the stage for the hearings for Project Pirate (also known as Project Cinco) regarding proposed annexation, rezoning to industrial use and creation of a reinvestment zone, a designated area to encourage economic development, new construction and business expansion.
“I recognize that a project of this size raises important questions and I want to acknowledge the residents for taking the time to show their concerns about drainage, lighting, setbacks, noise, water, infrastructure and the long-term impact this project may have on our community.
Jurisdiction is the city’s main legal issue, Meadows explained. The project is already located in the city extra-territorial jurisdiction, a designated unincorporated area of land located immediately outside a city’s official corporate limits.
Annexation would allow the city to regulate the site more directly and direct agreements with the developer would limit the property to data center use even with industrial use zoning, Meadows said.
Benefits from the project claimed during the hearing included…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Man charged with “Bestiality” after break in at ag barn

“I have heard of things like this, but in all of my career, I have never had to work a case like this,” said Chief Justin Soza in a short interview as the case unfolded.
Josedoro Barrios Gomez, 60 years old of Hondo, has been charged with Bestiality as well as burglary following an incident at the Hondo Independent School District’s agricultural facility that was caught on video.
The following is a press release from the Hondo Police Department:
The investigation began after Hondo ISD officials discovered suspicious activity while reviewing surveillance camera footage.

The footage showed an individual allegedly entering the AG Barn unlawfully during the late evening hours of October 10, 2026, and allegedly engaging in…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Fatal Shooting of 15-year-old

HONDO, TX – On October 19, 2026, at approximately 9:34 p.m., Hondo Police Department officers responded to the intersection of 14th Street and Avenue Q regarding a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located a 15-year-old juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately initiated lifesaving measures until EMS arrived. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.
Through witness statements and a coordinated investigation, officers and detectives quickly identified and…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!