Category: Top News Stories

Opening of Goodwill last Thursday, February 12 amongst a large crowd of excited shoppers, local leaders, and Goodwill team members.
President and CEO Carlos Contreras was there to address the audience as well as board chair Eddy Salas and Mayor Gonzalez. The idea for a new location in Lytle was presented to the board about 4 months ago, they said.
“Goodwill exists for a mission, and that mission is to change lives through the power of work,” Contreras said. “Goodwill is much more than a store….we are delighted to be part of the Lytle community. This is the epicenter of everything south of Bexar County, and we are excited to be part of it.”
He noted that “every cent spent” will go towards that mission of helping people facing barriers to find work.
“Together we can create a ripple effect of positive change that will go throughout Lytle and beyond,” he said. In an interview after the event he added, “All of the Goodwills exist to help people gain employment. Many people struggle to find work due to a barrier of some kind,” and Goodwills workforce training is here to help.
Mayor Ruben Gonzalez also took…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 Anton Riecher
In another setback in placing an ambulance substation in Natalia, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners voted at its Feb. 11 meeting not to proceed with the purchase of a second proposed site after a negative report on a concrete foundation already at the location.
The decision means the sacrifice of $1,200 in earnest money pledged to reserve the site of a former vegetable cannery at the intersection of State Highway 132 and FM 471.
Board president Steve Smith said that…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!

ching is in his blood! Little TG Crain, 6, stole the hearts of the crowd at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo this past Valentine’s Day, February 14. Crain set an all-time arena record with his 98 point ride in the Mutton Busting event, riding a sheep named Lamborghini!
Mom and dad, Seth and Kelly Crain, were both raised in the agriculture industry, and little TG is a fifth generation cowboy and rancher. TG is named after his grandfathers Terry Fosbery of Kalispell, Montana and Glen “Butter” Crain of Devine who both helped instill his love for the cowboy life. He’s been riding horses before he could…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
Bobby and Evelynn Lassere of Devine, 87 and 82, are celebrating 65 years of marriage this year. The Lasseres were kind enough to share their love story with us this week as we celebrate Valentine’s Day and think about this fun thing they call love.
Their love story didn’t begin with a super romantic first date or a fancy proposal, but it has culminated in a marriage that’s spanned six decades and then some.
The two love birds first met at a little cafe on the south side of San Antonio.
“I was in there eating a steak when the waitress said ‘hey there’s somebody back there in the corner that wants to talk to you. It was Evelynn and her sister. I thought she was a pretty good looking gal.”
Their first date wasn’t exactly what either of them hoped for though.
“We went to the drive-in theatre at Lackland, and I fell asleep,” he said with a chuckle, explaining he had a long day that day. “I called and asked if she wanted to go to a movie again the next weekend, and when I went over to her mother’s to pick her up, I brought a big bunch of marigolds with me. I minded my p’s and q’s! We went to the movie and straight home. I had to have her back by midnight.”
The marigolds came from his own crop, as he was farming flowers and vegetables at that time.
Mrs. Lassere recalls the couple writing love letters back and forth to each other when she went to West Texas to visit her grandmother for a short time during their courtship.
“It was just a few days, but you couldn’t call each other in those days. Everything was long distance.”
Mrs. Lassere also recalls, “Most of our dates were to the farm…I watched him pick flowers, and once in a while he’d bring some home for me.”
They got married at St. Joseph’s in South San Antonio on November 25, 1961.
The couple began their honeymoon in Castroville at a little hotel where the Bill Miller’s stands now, followed by a trip to the coast. They both laughed as they recalled, “We went out fishing for our honeymoon. I remember the boat captain stood up and said ‘I want to make an announcement. This couple just got married and he’s taking her fishing for a honeymoon!” Mr. Lassere said with a smile.
“It was funny, but we enjoyed it,” Mrs. Lassere added.
Then, “We rented an old, abandoned house for $30 a month,” Mr. Lassere said. “We didn’t have a lot of money to go anywhere, but we did a lot of puzzles and paint by number. We did everything together….If I went hunting or fishing, I always brought her along. I’d go buy some shotgun shells and bring home a rabbit to eat.”
“If it wasn’t for rabbits and ducks, we wouldn’t have had much to eat,” Mrs. Lassere reminisced fondly.
“We were broke, but we were happy,” they said, emphasizing that money troubles can’t outweigh love. They fondly recalled memories of all the ways they found a way keep the family fed and have fun.
“We just thought of each other,” Mrs. Lassere said.
“Yeah,” Mr. Lassere agreed. “When you love each other, you’re just happy and have fun anyway.”
They both laughed as they remembered how they brought home bull frogs for supper one night, and how they were leaping out of the pot!
Mr. Lassere warmly recollected how sometimes just taking a long drive through the Hill Country together was the only adventure they needed.
“Just about all I had was an old pickup truck. So we’d get a tank of full of gas, load up, and just go riding. We’d ride and ride. We’d take some barbeque with us and sometimes we’d stop and eat or camp by the lake.”
They loved to go…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!

When it comes to why Bobby loves Evelynn, he couldn’t quite put it into words. “It’s just something that happens, it’s not something you can point your finger at.” Photo by Kayleen Holder.

By Anton Riecher
A resolution to convert the regional water alliance spearheading a proposed $166.7 million aquifer storage and recovery project into a public utility agency eligible to file for grant funds was unanimously approved by Medina County commissioners Monday in Hondo.
To date, Yancey Water Supply Corporation has served as the administrative agency for the Medina County Regional Water Alliance, County Judge Keith Lutz said.
As a public utility agency, the water alliance…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!

Chance Moorman, foreground left, a three-time Ultimate Bullfighters World Champion and reigning 2025 Bullfighters Only World Champion, is presented a proclamation by Lytle Mayor Ruben Gonzalez declaring Moorman’s upcoming birthday, August 3, 2026, as Chance Moorman Day in Lytle. Moorman is the only bullfighter to hold world champion titles in both organizations. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

The First Baptist Church of Castroville will be hosting a Clean Fun Comedy Night on Friday, February 20, bringing in a great comedy act all the way from Nashville Tennessee.
Comedian Rik Roberts has been featured on multiple television stations and channels including CMT, DRY-BAR, Pure Flix, and more!
Most recently, Rik co-starred in “Mayberry Man.” In this family friendly movie, Rik plays a “Barney Fife Impersonator” at a Mayberry Festival. The movie and a 5 episode series are available on Amazon Prime.
According to a press release, “Rik has a real knack for choosing the right material for the audience, making everyone feel like they belong, and delivering big laughs in the most unexpected places.”
“With a show that primarily revolves around family and navigating the world we live in, he unites the audience in ways few performers can.”
You can also hear Rik’s comedy daily on SiriusXM satellite radio channels Laugh USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup.
See the ad on page 3 for information on how to purchase your tickets for this performance.

12 breaks in last 6 months

Over the past six months, the City of Devine has experienced twelve water line breaks, which is mainly a result of an aging infrastructure that demands attention; parts of which cannot handle the increased pressure of ongoing water and wastewater system improvements.
“When City Administrator David Jordan was hired, the City Council made it clear that the integrity of our water and wastewater systems must be a top concern and he is meeting that challenge head on,” said Mayor Butch Cook.
The availability and quality of our water sources remain among the highest priorities for the City of Devine.
In 2024 Jordan…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!