Construction ongoing at the basketball courts on Warhorse Drive. The large donation and rehab of these courts is exciting for the community and local families who will enjoy playing ball here for years to come.
At the June 20th school board meeting, the board approved the funding donated by DYSA to re-do the basketball courts across from the Intermediate School. A motion made by Chris Davis to approve the funding, seconded by Carl Brown, passed by vote of five to zero. The board also approved a $42,350 donation by the Devine Youth Sports Association to renovate a basketball court near the intermediate school. Donations to the district greater than $2,000 must be approved by the board. Work planned involves stripping off the old asphalt, adding curbing around the court and filling it with fresh asphalt. Future donations by the association would cover the cost of painting the court. “Quite a nice donation for them to take care of that basketball court,” board president Nancy Pepper said.
Shop til you drop at the monthly market in downtown Devine this Saturday, July 2 from 9am-3pm. There will be tons of local vendors selling a great variety of homemade and homegrown products.
It’s almost time for the monthly farmer’s market featuring the lots of homegrown and homemade goodies by local farmers, artisans, and more. It will be held from 9am-3pm at the Devine Community Center this Saturday, July 2. Like many local farmers and artisans, the Scantlin family loves being part of the monthly market, selling their homemade jellies and jams “I love the variety of items that we have at this market. Jams, jellies, canned goods, baked goods, fresh veggies, handmade jewelry, soaps, handmade decor and craft items, plants, lavender products, handmade wooden cutting boards, fresh processed meats, honey, herbal teas, and more,” Mrs. Laurie Scantlin said.
Like many local farmers and artisans, Scott and Laurie Scantlin love being part of the monthly market. They sell over 45 varieties of homemade jellies and jams.
Laurie and her husband Scott Scantlin make 45 awesome flavors of homemade jams and jellies as well as candied jalapenos, pickled onions, jalapeno syrup and prickly pear syrup. “We offer 5 lavender jams/jellies made with fresh culinary lavender from Doe-Re-Mi Lavender Farm in Moore, TX,” Scott and Laurie Scantlin said. “The Mango-Jalapeno is a customer favorite. Our newest flavor is Tropical Sunrise and we completely sold out of it at the last market.” They offer 8 different pepper jellies, and several specialty jams/jellies such as carrot cake, chocolate-covered cherry, apple pie, cinnamon candy kiss, as well as plenty of regular fruit jams and jellies. Is your mouth watering yet? “We’re always coming up with new flavors,” Mrs. Scantlin said. “We’ve been making homemade jams and jellies for family and friends for many years, and once the Texas Cottage Food laws made things easier for home producers; we started our small business in late 2019. The two of us work together to make all our products from scratch in our home kitchen,” the Scantlins said. “We always offer FREE SAMPLES of our products at the markets, so our customers can try before they buy to make sure they are getting something they’ll enjoy.” Local candlemaker, Sarah Banks, will be there with her homemade candles and wax melts as well. Making her own scents, “Country Boots and Strawberry Leather are definitely customer favorites,” she said.
Another stolen vehicle erupts in fire after a pursuit. Two subjects seen running from the vehicle are still at large.
When deputies spotted a stolen vehicle coming down I-35 this Monday, June 28, things quickly took a turn for the worse. The driver fled, exiting the interstate and went straight through fences and into a family ranch just south of Devine. The two suspects are still at-large. After going through fences, trees, and then stuck buried in the sand, the vehicle erupted in fire, burning 10 acres. The thick brush and deep sand kept volunteer firefighters on scene for about five hours that afternoon, building fire breaks and putting out hot spots, Chief Greg Atkinson said. “Two subjects fled on foot from the vehicle according to a witness,” Sheriff Randy Brown stated. “We did an extensive search but they are still at-large, most likely picked up by their pilot vehicle. They usually always run IA’s with a second vehicle close by. Often, as we try to stop the suspect vehicle, the pilot vehicle will attempt to block us by trying to ram or wreck our vehicles.” The incident occurred on the same day that 50 illegal immigrants were found dead in a tractor trailer on a back road not too far away, southwest of San Antonio. It’s being recorded as the deadliest human smuggling incident ever. “I blame each senseless death on the White House,” Sheriff Brown commented. “Close the border, and stop the human trafficking. There is a process to enter a country, not hidden in a vehicle, or a trailer. These people are paying big money for a trip to paradise… then they are lied to, raped, assaulted, robed, and left to die. Yesterday day we had a pursuit with a female driver, who is 9 months pregnant. She is now charged with human trafficking, sad what people will do for money.”
“A Medina County jury deliberated for only 45 minutes before finding Tina Gabrielle Rendon, 34, guilty of murder on Wednesday afternoon, declining to convict her of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Later the same day, that jury sentenced her to 35 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional division,” a press release, the Medina County District Attorney’s Office stated. The crime occurred on August 22nd, 2020. Continued on page 8 7 “Brittnee Jones, 28, and Tina Rendon were living together in a Natalia mobile home park at CR 471 and 3rd Street, a home they had moved to just days before. Eye-witnesses described seeing Rendon and Jones arguing when Rendon entered a maroon minivan. Witnesses described Jones as trying to stop Rendon from leaving when Rendon hit the accelerator and ran over Jones. Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol Division, determined that Jones was dragged under the rear wheel of that maroon minivan for at least 126 feet. First responders arrived on scene within minutes of an eye witness calling 911, but Jones died from blunt force trauma as she was dragged on the street,” the press release stated. Rendon must serve at least half the sentence before she is first eligible for parole. Rendon was represented at trial by the Hill Country Regional Public Defenders Office. “This defendant would not accept responsibility for dragging the victim under her vehicle for over 100 feet, protesting that it was an accident. The jury saw through her defense and is holding her accountable for this senseless, brutal crime with such a swift conviction and strong sentence,” said Criminal District Attorney Mark Haby. First Assistant District Attorney Julie Solis and Assistant District Attorney Christian Neumann prosecuted this case in the 454th Judicial District Court. Numerous agencies assisted in the investigation of the case, including the Natalia Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Rangers.
A seven-percent salary increase for Medina County Appraisal District employees to compensate for record inflation became a last minute addition to the preliminary 2022-23 budget approved by the district’s board of directors June 14. Before the additional salary increase, the preliminary budget stood at $1.553 million, an increase of nearly $100,000 more than the previous year. That budget included a five percent salary hike and funds for additional computer services. “We have to look at all the dollars but I think that’s just an area where we have to make that adjustment,” MCAD board chairman Tim Hardt said. “I think a five percent increase doesn’t even keep up with the cost of living.” State law required action on a preliminary budget by June 15, chief appraiser Johnette Dixon told the board. The board also discussed an increase in the vehicle allowance paid to the district’s eight appraisers who use their own vehicles. “Only a handful of appraisal districts actually pay mileage,” Dixon said. “The majority pay appraisers either a vehicle allowance or own their own vehicles for employees to use.”
The Devine ISD school board voted Monday (June 20) to adopt a proposed 2022-23 general fund budget of $20.3 million, of which 79 percent goes to salaries. Action on the tax rate to support that budget was postponed until August when the Texas Education Agency acts on the calculation of local tax rate compression, Devine ISD Chief Financial Officer Shannon Ramirez told the board. “Right now it could be as low as 80.46 cents,” Ramirez said. However, calculation of the maximum compressed rate for the school district’s maintenance and operations (M&O) tax may drive that number up to 88.46 cents.” The interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate for the budget presented by Ramirez is 24 cents.
According to the most recent audit reported for the previous fiscal year, Medina County’s fiscal year 2020-2021 budget had a new taxable appraised value of $3.83 Billion, an increase of $364 million (10.5%) from the previous fiscal year (2019-2020). This increase is mainly due to new properties and property values, according to the auditor. -Property taxes accounted for $22,196,235 Clarification to our June 1st article on county revenues: The audit presented to Medina County Commissioner’s court last month, for the year ending September 30, 2021, showed the following:
Medina County’s total revenues were over $36 million ($36,090,346). A breakdown of the revenues in the report titled “Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances of Governmental funds for the fiscal year ending in September 30, 2021” were categorized as follows: General $23,609,346 + Debt Service $2,390,479 + Certificates of Obligation $54,572 + American Rescue Plan Grants $583,314 + Other Govermental $9,452,635 = Total Governmental Fund Revenues $36,090,346. -The ending fund balance was $24,187, 241.
Highlights from Auditor’s financial analysis: Differences between the original budget and the final amended budget for fiscal year ending Sept 30, 201, can be summarized as follows: -Actual revenue exceeded budgeted revenue by $2.9 million -Actual revenues exceeded expenditures by $4.4 million
LACOSTE–The City of La Coste is accepting applications for a new police chief after the May 27 resignation of Johnny Kendricks following accusations of his handling of an alleged March 8 shooting incident. Former Police Chief Richard Gonzalez is acting as part-time interim chief until a permanent replacement can be found, city manager Darrell Rawlings said. Voting unanimously, the La Coste City Council acted May 17 to authorize Mayor Andy Keller to take disciplinary action “up to and including termination” against Kendricks, citing “tardiness and absenteeism” during his 180-day probation period. The action came in the wake of controversy in which citizens complained about the way Kendricks handled an incident in which a man reportedly fired a gun at two 12-year-old boys and attempted to run one down with a sports utility vehicle. Parents of the two children spoke at the May 17 meeting during a period set aside for public comment prior to a closed executive session “to deliberate the appointment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public employee; Chief of Police,” the council meeting agenda stated. The next city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 21.
Voting unanimously, the La Coste City Council acted May 17 to authorize Mayor Andy Keller to take disciplinary action “up to and including termination” against Kendricks, citing “tardiness and absenteeism” during his 180-day probation period. The action came in the wake of controversy in which citizens complained about the way Kendricks handled an incident in which a man reportedly fired a gun at two 12-year-old boys and attempted to run one down with a sports utility vehicle. Parents of the two children spoke at the May 17 meeting during a period set aside for public comment prior to a closed executive session “to deliberate the appointment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public employee; Chief of Police,” the council meeting agenda stated. The next city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 21.
First Baptist of Natalia will be hosting “Spark Studio” Vacation Bible School on June 13-17 from 9am-12pm for grades kinder through 6th. FBC is located at 301 Pearson St in Natalia, Tx. For information/registration call (830) 334-7378.
Percussionists Andrew Kohlleppel and Diego Mendoza.
On Saturday, May 27th DHS Band percussionists Andrew Kohlleppel and Diego Mendoza performed at the UIL State Solo & Ensemble Contest held at Hendrickson High School in Austin!! Both earned high level awards on the solos they had previously earned 1st divisions from the Region UIL level in February. Andrew, a junior, performed a Class One Snare Drum Solo entitled “Mean Man Matt” and earned a 1st division and a GOLD medal!! Diego, a sophomore, played a four-mallet Class One Marimba Solo entitled “Tucker”, earning a 2nd division and a Silver medal!! “Both students were well prepared and did a great job representing the Warhorse Band and Devine!! The UIL State Solo & Ensemble Contest is a very rigorous contest – and 1st division awards are usually far and few in between. Go Warhorse Band!” said Director Jeff Miller.
