Category: Top News Stories

The 1st ever Heart of a Mustang Toy Drive and Scholarship program Dinner and Dance is set for Saturday, November 19th at the South Texas Events Center (Rics) in Devine. Come out and join Natalia’s own Nate De Leon, as he will headline the event that will take place to raise money for the big toy drive that is right around the corner.
Dinner
The event will kick-off at 7:00 p.m. with a dinner consisting of (tentative menu) Spaghetti, salad, bread, desert and tea.
Dance
At 8:00 p.m., the Dance will begin with Nate DeLeon and his full band as he will play all of the good Texas Country Hits, as well as some classic country and of course the new stuff as well.
About Nate
Nate De Leon is a 24 year old Independent Texas Singer Songwriter who has quickly gained traction in the local music scene. He went from singing in his room just a few years ago to playing bucket list venues. The future looks bright for this young singer songwriter. Raised in Natalia, Texas, Nate’s love for music has always been a part of his life. Brought up in a family of musicians, he quickly learned the guitar at a young age. It wasn’t until the summer of 2019 when he fell in love with the art of songwriting.
It was Songwriters Circle at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas where Nate began to write his own songs and pursue his music career. Since 2019, he has gone on to play notable venues such as Cheatham Street Warehouse, Floore’s Country Store, and Nutty Brown Amphitheater. De Leon’s musical influences range from various artists such as Parker McCollum, Glen Frey, Gary Allan, The Goo Goo Dolls and Dan Layus.
His debut release, “Houston”. Is out now an all streaming platforms and is starting to gain some traction and is a sure crowd favorite at the live shows. Be on the lookout for a show near you, you won’t want to miss it!
Silent Raffle
There will also be a Silent Raffle take place with a number of great things to bid on. (We still need silent auction raffle items).
None of this would be possible, without the following sponsors who have stepped up thus far to assist:
Title Sponsors: A6 Logistics (Mike Aguirre and Family ($750.00 donation), South Texas Heat Football ($500.00 donation), Bravo Country Homes ($500.00 donation), Chaparral Ford ($500.00 donation), MP Haulers (Martin and Brandy Perez- $500.00 donation), North Park Chevrolet Castroville ($500.00 donation), CD Tire Natalia ($500.00 donation), Hellas Construction ($500.00 donation), Mag’s Place, Devine ($500.00 donation), and Texas Family Wellness Clinic, Calallen ($500.00 donation). Silver Sponsors of $250.00 – Natalia Alumni Paul Noland, Mike & Brenda Fernandez and Family, US Congressman Tony Gonzales, Brad Boyd and Brush Country Realty, Security State Bank. If you would like to be a Title Sponsor, a Silver Sponsor or a “Heart Sponsor for $100.00”, please contact Eric Smith at 210-737-4786.
Tickets ARE ON SALE! Visit “Eventbrite” and search Heart of a Mustang in Devine Texas. A single ticket is available for $20.00 with a pair of tickets for a couple for $35.00. Tickets will also be available at the door for the same price or without a meal $15 each or two for $25. Doors will open at 6:30 pm.
ALL PROCEEDS will benefit the toy drive and the scholarship program! Your support would be a huge blessing to assure we can bless families that are less fortunate once again. We are halfway to our goal of $15,000, please come out to help make Christmas special for these young children.
All tickets purchased before Saturday at 9 pm will be entered into three cash drawings at the event.

The Divine Savior Lutheran Church is hosting its Seventh Annual Gift of Hope fundraiser Saturday, November 12.
Audrey Jane Capps, a precious, beautiful, brilliant four-and-a-half-year-old, has been given the Gift of Hope this year. Audrey has an incurable illness, and she suffers from A-T. The condition is a genetic disorder known as Ataxia Telangiectasia. A-T affects the nervous system and other body systems. Over time the affected children typically develop difficulty with walking, balance, hand coordination, involuntary jerking movements, muscle twitches, and disturbances in nerve function (neuropathy). Audrey is beginning to experience some of these symptoms. Children with A-T typically have average intelligence but slow motor and verbal response. This type of response is where lifelong therapy will be her forever journey.
There is no cure at this time for problems associated with A-T. Treatment is supportive but has to remain proactive. Physical Therapy, as well as verbal therapy, will remain a lifelong process for Audrey. She also goes to occupational therapy, and music therapy and participates in horse and water therapy. Besides those she is benefiting from massage therapy every two weeks, and melatonin therapy with Dr. Neel.
“We are doing everything we can to keep this sweet girl healthy and happy, but we are in a race against time to find a cure for Audrey Jane and we truly appreciate all of your support!” The Capps/Calame Families.
Audrey starts kindergarten next year and is very excited and can hardly wait.
“Audrey Jane Capps is four years old and a proud resident of Devine, Texas. Audrey Jane loves spending time with her family, friends, and animals. She loves to fish, ride her horse, play dress-up, have tea parties, swim, and dance! Audrey has a zeal for life like no other and sees the true beauty in everything around her!”, said her parents Josh and Brittany Capps.
“At age 3, Audrey was diagnosed with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). A-T is a rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder that impairs movement and coordination, weakens the immune system, and causes an increased risk for cancer. Kids with A-T typically start losing physical abilities step-by-step between ages 4 and 8. By the age of 10, most kids will be in a wheelchair.”
Audrey is the granddaughter of Ken and Debbie Capps and Tommy and KK Calame, all of Devine.
“Audrey Jane is so precious to our family. She is such a light and enjoys her life to the fullest with her very active imagination and spunky personality! There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do to help find a cute for her and all the A-T kiddos fighting this disease. Thank you so much for choosing to raise money for our girl. We are SO appreciative!” The Capps/Calame Families.
Brittany and Josh Capps are Audrey’s parents; they face their daughter’s challenges daily with faith, hope, and love. God created each one of us uniquely in his image. Disability might appear to mar that image like a reflection in a shattered mirror. Still, God is shining his light on the broken pieces to reveal more of Himself to us and the world. Parents, grandparents, and families with children with special needs go through a host of emotions every hour of every day. Divine Savior Lutheran Church prays that a “Gift of Hope” will shed a little light on Audrey’s forever journey.

The Seventh Annual’ Gift of Hope” Golf Tournament, Saturday
Divine Savior Lutheran Church’s Seventh Annual golf tournament will coincide with a Bar-Q-Que plate lunch. This year the tournament returns to the Devine Golf Club’s golf course. The entry fee for the golf tournament is $75.00 per player, including a golf cart, a free meal after tournament play, and green costs. There are to be four-person teams with a shotgun start, and handicaps for women are 24 and for men 18. A door prize drawing is for the golf participants, and cash prizes with an entire field. Other competitive activities include a chipping contest at $20.00 per participant and a Tiger Drive at $40.00 per team. Please call the Devine Golf Pro Shop to sign up early at 830-665-9943.Hole sponsors are $100.00 each. Hole sponsors for the chipping green are $50 each.
Live Music and Dance Entertainment, 11-1
Our live music and dance entertainment are hosted by “DJ Bobby G.” of San Antonio, Texas. DJ Bobby G brings recorded music from the Top 40, Tejano, Cumbia, Oldies Dance, Hip-Hop, and ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.
Once again, Randy Brown has graciously volunteered his country band to perform from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Hermann Sons Dance class of Devine, Texas, will also perform on the church grounds. Special thanks go to these folks; we could not do it without you.
Silent Auction, 11-1
A silent Auction is to take place on Saturday, November 12, in the Divine Savior Lutheran Fellowship Hall from 11am-1pm. All donations can be delivered to the Fellowship Hall between 10 am-5pm, Wed.-Fri. before the weekend of the event. The cutoff date will be THURSDAY, NOV, 9th. Please call the church before delivering these items (830-663-3735). Your gift is sincerely appreciated.
Our special thanks to the Devine News; you have always been there for our continuing seven-year journey. We would not be able to help others without them. Also, thank you to all who have contributed with challenging work contributions and faith in the “Gift of Hope.”
We love You, Audrey Jane!
“A gift of hope is truly a ray of sunshine after a day of gloom”. In memory of Jessie Esch, Joyce Haass, Claudia Carberry, and Bryleigh Shullanberger. Your precious lives will always be remembered.
Come join in the fun this Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 at the Divine Savior Lutheran Church from 11-2, or at the Devine Golf Course for the tourney. For more information, contact Robert Cappella at 210-771-7484 or Marla Cappella at 210-363-2718.

The Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 11:00 am at the front of the Veterans Memorial Monument in Natalia, Texas.
As in years past, limited seating will be available. St Hwy 132 will be blocked off for the event.
We invite you to come to the Ceremony as it is our time to pay tribute to the men and women of our County who chose and continue to choose to protect and defend our Country.

This Friday and Saturday, the Sky High for Kids will hold a banquet and shooting clay tournament to raise funds for Cancer research. One item up for auction at the banquet is a 300 Blackout rifle built and donated by local highschooler and two-time cancer survivor, senior Grant Wagoner. 

“I figured I could use my skills for good and try to raise some money for those kids in the hospital. I was really surprised when they came to me asking to build a gun for them, but I really enjoyed it and liked being able to give back.” 

This rifle, custom built by Wagoner, was originally gifted to him as a series of donated parts by veterans and gun enthusiasts to occupy Grant’s time in the hospital during his second time being treated for brain cancer, at only 7 years old. 

“I was stuck doing nothing in the hospital and I wanted to buy a gun to put together. My dad made a post on Facebook and everyone started sending me all these parts. That’s how I really got into building AR’s like this”

Grant isn’t the only one to contribute to this donation. San Antonio based GTZ Powder Coating, operated by veteran Steven Petry, gave the blackout a slick orange and blue paint job and laser engraving.

“We found GTZ on Facebook and reached out to see if they’d be interested in helping us, and they decided to do the engraving and coating for free. It turned out even better than I could have imagined.”

The Sky High Benefit Banquet and Shooting Clay Tournament will be held November 11th through the 12th at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and The National Shooting Complex, respectively. 

The Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 11:00 am at the front of the Veterans Memorial Monument in Natalia, Texas.
As in years past, limited seating will be available. St Hwy 132 will be blocked off for the event. We invite you to come to the Ceremony as it is our time to pay tribute to the men and women of our County who chose and continue to choose to protect and defend our Country.