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.

Community remembers Mandy Davis Cross for always taking time for others

Real hugs…Mandy Cross knew the importance of a smile and hug. Above, one of her favorite little guys and family friend Brayden loved stopped by her office at school.

By Kathleen Calame
Publisher
The Devine Community lost a special friend and educator Mandy Davis Cross who was known for her leadership, friendship and love of her daughter, family, and Devine. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and always greeted you with a big smile and a hug if you needed it. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten as evident by the flood of memories and photos shared online by those who knew her, and especially those who worked with her.
Devine ISD sent out an email to staff and parents on Sunday evening September 8, 2024 informing the community of her passing, shocking all who knew her and her full of life personality.
Here are a few of the posts that friends and fellow teachers shared that described what a special person she was.
.Melissa Gutierrez, DISD Teacher- “I’m struggling to find the words, Mandy has been such a important part of my educational journey and growing as a teacher. More than that, she…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

ESD4 votes to resume Allegiance ambulance contract for now, reducing budget for FY2024-2025

By Anton Riecher
Having earlier backed away from a proposed 57 percent tax rate increase, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 Board of Commissioners agreed on Sept. 3 to renew its contract with Allegiance Mobile Health for regional ambulance service supported by a drastically reduced 2024-2025 budget.
Asked by an audience member most recently in a series of public meetings on ambulance issues was whether the action meant that Allegiance was “back in.” Campbell responded “yes — for now.”
“We’re just going to rescind the termination,” Campbell said. “The price is going to be the same.”
The board planned to let the Allegiance contract expire on Sept. 30 in favor of operating its own service using two ambulances recently purchased/leased. However, on a motion by board treasurer Juan Zamora, seconded by assistant treasurer George Moralez, board president Anthony Martin joined to approve the renewal with Allegiance instead
Board vice president Viola Potter opposed the motion. The five-member board remains one member short since the resignation of Shelly Watson in July.
Other actions at the Sept. 3 board meeting included a…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

Here’s how to add a veteran’s name to the Memorial monument

The name drive is on-going until September 13, 2025. The cost this year is $150.00 per name. Cost is for the Engraver to come on site to add the names to the monument. Please remember Active-Duty members, veterans and Deceased veteran’s names can be engraved on the monument. Forms can be downloaded from the City of Natalia website or a copy of the forms can be picked up at the Natalia City Office. All information for submitting the name(s) is on the form.
If additional information is needed, please contact Ruby Vera @ 210-275-1150 or NMDD@cityofnatalia.com.

Oh, shoot!

This event is hosted each year in honor and memory of the late DJ Carlson, pictured above with his parents Betty and David. Over $100,000 has been given to the community in memory of this beloved Warhorse #75.

DJ Carlson Memorial BUST N BURN shoot, silent auction, BBQ event
Sept. 13-14 in Devine
New- State Championship Cook-off with $5,000 pay out

The 11th Annual DJ Carlson Memorial BUST N BURN will be on September 13&14, 2024, 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 litte ways..
The two day weekend event will feature a barbeque cook-off (State Championship Cook-off), sporting clay shoot, cornhole and washer tourneys, live music and entertainment!
New- They will be doing Kid’s Q this year for the first time. The ages will be kinder through high school seniors that can compete in the Kid’s Q. 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 are given including scholarships.
In addition to the other scholarships, a $1,000 YOUTH scholarship is given to the top male and female youth in the clay shoot!
Friday during the day there will also be a corn hole tourney Friday Night and DJ Rockin’ Reece/ Karaoke.
On Saturday there will be entertainment all day.
Saturday night will round out the event with a dance featuring the Jeremy Richards Band from 8-12 midnight.
A $10 cover charge wrist band will cover both days.
The event will be hosted at The Farm, 2238 FM 2200 West, Devine, just past the Devine Airport on the right side of the road going towards Yancey.
To register for the BBQ contact Misty Stricker at 830-200-1015.
To register for the clay shoot or any further question contact Shannon Frazier 210-471-1856 or Stacie Mann 210-410-4712 or Kelli Maxwell 979-219-1385.
For details and photos of previous year’s winners see bustnburn.com.
DJ Carlson Memorial is a 501-C3 charitable organization established in the memory of DJ Carlson who lost his life way too early in an automobile accident. The organization uses the proceeds to give out scholarships to local senior, FFA/Stockshow, 4H kids and other worthy causes to help youth and families. The organization has already given out over $100,000+!

Devine council moves ahead with major water storage rehab, 3-1 vote

The move to repair rather than replace the tank will save the city and taxpayers over a million dollars.

By Anton Riecher
By a 3-1 vote, the Devine City Council approved hiring Maguire Iron to refurbish the city’s major ground level water storage tank near Warhorse Stadium, and commit to a 10-year contract to maintain the structure.
The action during the council’s Sept. 3 special meeting followed through on an earlier decision to abandon a $2.1 million plan to completely replace the 72-year-old structure that serves as the city’s largest water storage facility.
District 5 Council Member Debbie Randall, an ardent supporter of the replacement project, was alone in rejecting the refurbishment proposal. District 2 Council Member Michael Hernandez was absent from the meeting.
The motion by District 3 Council Member Jeff Miller, seconded by District 1 Council Member Ray Gonzales, called for breaking the cost of the renovation over a two-year payment plan. The maintenance contract does not include the city’s elevated storage tanks.
“I don’t want to marry ourselves to a single provider for 10 years,” District 5 Council Member Josh Ritchey said.
The refurbishment project calls for replacing the tank roof which has suffered extensive damage owing to years of chlorine exposure. The project also calls for extensive interior renovation of the steel tank walls.
A second bid anticipated from a contractor who inspected the tank last week was delayed. Mayor Butch Cook expressed concern that postponing the project further might mean problems due to seasonal demands on the water system.
During a lengthy budget workshop, the council reviewed…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

ESD4 agrees to lower tax hike after outcry, probes extending Allegiance deal

ESD 4 board (overseeing our local EMS service) met amidst a packed house. They were scheduled to meet again this week to vote on a budget and tax rate. The ESD’s expenses would climb from approximately $500,000 a year to over $2 million dollars a year if the board decides to move forward with plans to provide it’s own EMS service rather than continuing to contract with Allegiance to provide EMS to Devine and Natalia.

By Anton Riecher
Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 commissioners were scheduled to meet on Tuesday as we went to press so look for outcomes of that meeting in the days ahead. Last week, they voted during a public hearing on Aug. 27 to back down on a proposed 57 percent tax rate increase in the face of stiff opposition from local taxpayers.
Commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt a tax rate of $.0496 per $100 valuation, the highest official voter-approval tax rate that the board can set without requiring an election. A tax rate of $.0785 per $100 valuation was originally proposed to support the ESD operating its own ambulances rather than signing a new contract with an outside provider.
“What we did find was that the…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

https://www.markkidd.com/?cmpid=b3s1_blm_0001

MM Meyers,local author publishes book: Pocket watch Portal Adventure

MM Meyers of Moore, Texas with her newly released book which can be ordered on Amazon.

So what would you do if while out playing at your grandparent’s ranch you find a pocketwatch? What if this pocket watch has special powers and you happen to find this out totally by accident? What if that special power is to take you to other places and times?
Mrs. Mary Meyers, of Moore, is thrilled to announce that her first book has been published, a dream come true for this talented Grandma.
“My grandchildren and I wrote this book called Pocketwatch Portal Adventure, and it was just released on Amazon,” Myers said.
Her grandkids Justice age 10, Teddy age 9, Ellie 6, and baby Artie 3, all contributed on this book.
“This book was written for their daddy, their real life hero. Please keep him and his unit in prayer as he heads on a very long deployment.”
You can find the book on Amazon. Her author name is MM Myers if anyone trys to look up books on Amazon.
As summarized on this listing, “This enchanting children’s book weaves together…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com