Category: Top News Stories

Natalia volunteer firefighter Nick West was one of many first responders who helped at the scene. “The Dodge pickup truck had started to smoke somewhere under the dash, and it was completely involved by the time we arrived,” West said. “The driver and passengers were able to immediately exit the truck after smelling the smoke and the cab filled with smoke pretty quickly. The engine compartment and cab of the truck were a complete loss, but the fire was extinguished before it could do any damage to the trailer or rear of the bed.
The driver and two passengers all got out safely, and firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading any further. Lytle VFD, Natalia VFD, and Devine Fire all responded to the call.

Long-awaited road repairs are now underway on Colonial Parkway in Devine. It will be closed from July 27 – August 7 to complete scheduled road construction. This closure will only affect thru traffic, as local residents will still be able to enter and exit using one of the two detour routes. Photo by Moose Lopez.

For Immediate Release by Atascosa County Sheriff’s Dept.:
Just before 8am Monday, deputies were dispatched to the 21000 block of FM 791 for a caller who advised that he had a piece of Civil War era ordnance that could possibly be a live explosive.
The caller told deputies that he had owned the ordnance for years and had always thought it was a dummy round. When a military friend of his saw it, he suspected it to be live and that is what prompted them to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Out of an abundance of caution, deputies contacted an explosive disposal team from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio who arrived on location a short time later. Atascosa County EMS and the Atascosa County Office of Emergency Management assisted the Sheriff’s Office during this call.
The explosives team confirmed that the device was indeed a live “parrot round” from the Civil War era and safely transported it to an explosive range at Camp Bullis where it was disposed of in a safe manner.
Deputies and other first responders cleared the call just before 11 am.
No one was harmed during this incident and no charges are pending.

$1.2 Million infastructure improvements,
new patrol vehicles included in buget

By Anton Riecher
Moving from general presentation to detailed questioning, the Devine City Council held its second summer workshop July 21 to shape the proposed $5.865 million city budget for fiscal year 2026-2027.
City Accountant Cassandra Maldonado opened the workshop with a refresher on the budget numbers presented at the first budget workshop held July 6.
“This workshop focuses on the city’s main operating funds, highlighting the financial strategies, capital investments and policy decisions included in the proposed budget,” she said.
The discussion…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!

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Explosions could be “seen for miles” says Bigfoot Volunteer Fire Lieutenant Denise Woody who helped battle quite a blaze this past Friday, July 24. The call for a structure fire in Bigfoot came out at 8:44 pm on Hwy 173, about 5 miles east of Devine.
There were about 15-20 explosions from pressurized gas containers, within minutes, according Lieutenant Woody, who said many of those “fireballs topped the tree lines.”
The fire began in one barn and quickly spread to two other barns containing gasses used for welding and several propane cylinders as well as some ammunition.
Both Bigfoot VFD and Moore VFD responded…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!

According to the Texas Almanac, the average yearly rainfall total in Uvalde County is just over 22 inches annually. This aerial shot over the Nueces River at the FM 481 bridge in Uvalde County shows just how powerful floodwaters were as Uvalde County received a year’s worth of rain within four days from Monday, July 13 to Thursday, July 16. Photo credit: Texas Game Wardens.

If you are looking for a way to help our neighbors in Uvalde County–the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce is collecting items. They have a drop-off site from 9am-4pm at 3040 N Getty in Uvalde.
They stated they are in need of the following items:
They stated they are in need of the following items:
1) Cleaning Supplies like bleach and Clorox wipes
2) Bedding such as blankets and pillows
3) Non perishable snack food as many residents do not have kitchens to prepare food right now.
You can contact them 830-278-3361 or by email at info@uvalde.org

Want to come Volunteer??
COME TO THE VRC!!
DAILY.
8am – 5pm.
Cactus Room of the SSGT. Willie De Leon Civic Center in Uvalde. They are also accepting donations there. More info on flyer on page 5.

Suspect Joseph Vasquez was taken into custody and charged with possession of a Prohibited Weapon this past Tuesday, July 14, after Medina County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a disturbance call on Teepee Road.
“There was a disturbance call and deputies learned that the suspect supposedly had a ‘bomb’ in his vehicle. They found…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!