Top News Stories – Page 14

Devine actors Area Bound!

Devine High School One Act play cast and crew will be advancing to the Area round after a standout performance at the Bi-district contest in Navarro on March 24. This will be the first time the troupe has progressed this far in nine years and will take the stage April 7 in New Braunfels. Pictured above: Director: Mr. Jose Guardiola Cast/Crew: Maverick Beaty, Nolan Beaty, Melenie Cardenas, Jacelyn Delaney, Gwyn Deleon, Isabella Duron, Miranda Guerrero, Payton Hester, Manuel Leal, Dakota Nighswander, Emma Martinez, Nathan Sanchez, Griffin Blouin, Angelica Castillo, Zach Martinez, Natalie Gutierrez, Briana Balderrama, Jessica Ballesteros, Deidre Bishop, Kayla Dzierzanowski, Kassandra Fajardo, Taylor Garcia, VeraLee Martinez. Not pictured Mia Gonzales and Isaac Medina. STORY INSIDE

Local airman deployed overseas

E-4 Aerospace Propulsion Specialist Hildenbrand is serving at an undisclosed location overseas. Earlier this year, the local airman gave a base tour to the Hellums family who is so proud of his service.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Aidan Hildenbrand, son of Will and Miranda Hellums, recently deployed overseas as part of Operation Epic Fury. He is a part of the 9th SMOAX squadron and left for his deployment on March 18th.
Hildenbrand graduated from Devine High School with the Class of 2022, and enlisted in the Air Force his senior year.
He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. Hildenbrand finished his training on aircraft maintenance for the C1-30 at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls before…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!

Smith opens Devine Counseling & Wellness

Vonna Jo Smith, of Devine, offers counseling at her practice here in Devine, as well as tele-health and home visits for elderly/ homebound residents.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
We had a short visit with Vonna Jo Smith, of Devine this week, who is thrilled to announce she is bringing her practice to Devine, where she has lived for about 20 years now. Smith received her Bachelor’s from A&M and Master’s from UTSA, and began practicing about 4 years ago in San Antonio, before deciding to launch her own business–Devine Counseling & Wellness right here at home.
“I love helping people solve problems!” Smith said with a welcome smile. “I love seeing people become empowered to feel better when they realize they don’t have to stay in mental pain.”
Her motto is a John Wayne quote, “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”
Smith is especially passionate about working with grandparents and caregivers as well. Smith has a Master’s in Psychology and a minor in special education, which she feels is very helpful in understanding the complexity of being a caregiver, as well as those facing disabilities.
“It’s a passion for me. I understand the stresses, lack of support and long hours being a caregiver entails,” Smith said. “They are a population that is often misunderstood…Very few people understand the complexity of the situation.”
She lends…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!

Driver ejected, 2 injured in I-35 wreck

Reports indicate a “mechanical failure” possibly resulted in this terrible rollover accident on I-35. Photo by Lauren Maleske.

Authorities responded to a serious rollover on I-35 around 8:20 pm this past 3/25 near mile marker 124 in Medina County.
According to a DPS report, “Preliminary information indicates that a 2003 Brown GMC Yukon was traveling north on IH 35, experienced a mechanical failure, and rolled over into the center cables.”
A total of 5 people were occupying the vehicle (3 adults and 2 juveniles).
“A 45-year-old female driver was ejected and transported to a hospital with serious injuries. A 21-year-old male passenger was also transported with serious injuries. The other occupants were not transported. This investigation is ongoing, and no more details are available at the time of this release,” DPS Sgt De Luna Jr. stated.
Crews on site hours…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!

Homeland Security called to investigate bizarre case of fake police department in Uvalde Co.

Utopia PD does not exist, and an AI detecting program tested by the New York Times found that this image along with others was likely artificially generated. Utopia is located about 20 miles northwest of Medina County. This image of a vehicle was uploaded to a Yelp page for the fraudulent agency, which was created March 10.

Hali Mecklin
Staff writer
Uvalde Leader-News

Utopia Police Department’s website boasts a professional force dedicated to community-oriented policing, protecting the tiny town’s roughly 200 residents and keeping it “one of the safest communities in the Texas Hill Country.”
Even chief James R. Dawson bragged about the agency’s relationship with locals in a quote on the homepage.
“Utopia is a small town, and that is our greatest strength. We know our residents by name, and we take pride in the trust this community places in us. Whether you need to report an incident, have a concern, or simply want to say hello, my door is always open.”
But Utopia PD doesn’t exist, and neither does Dawson.
“It’s definitely a scam,” Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco said. “I know that they’re reaching out to actual institutions, they’ve contacted phone companies. They’re trying to obtain information from people.”
The sheriff’s office became aware of the fake police department in March, after Utopia “officers” solicited customer information from various companies including Rolex and Verizon. Now UCSO is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security on an…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!

Discovery during evidence inventory leads to indictments in 2013 Cold Case

New policies to begin conducting routine evidence inventory and audits ultimately led to the re-opening of a cold case death that occured nearly 13 years ago.
This month, Hondo Police Chief Justin Soza announced that the Hondo Police Department has secured indictments in connection with the 2013 investigation involving the death of 17-month old baby Adrian Constante.
A press release details the case and how it unfolded: On Sunday, June 30, 2013, at approximately 3:13 p.m., officers with…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!

Bluebonnet Festival &Parade this Saturday

Natalia Bluebonnet Festival & Parade — Celebrating Community

Community
Our town comes alive on March 28, 2026, as neighbors, families, and friends gather in downtown Natalia for a full day of fun, food, music, and hometown pride. Festival grounds will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and we’d love for you to be part of it.
We’re still welcoming food and craft vendors as well as parade participants. If you or someone you know would like to join in, visit our website or Facebook page, stop by the library, or call Amy Edge at 210‑213‑1990.
Fun for All Ages
AC Amusements is returning with a carnival and midway the whole community can enjoy.
Local talent will shine throughout the day with music from DJ Ultra 12- 4 pm, Austin Guzman 6-7:30 pm and hometown group Train Wreck on stage beginning at 8 pm until 9:30 pm.
A Parade Full of Local Pride
The parade begins at 11 a.m., but folks traditionally start gathering early.
Road closes at 9:30 a.m., so plan ahead.
The route starts at Love’s, passes the Little League Field, turns onto Main Street, and ends near Aubrey Street.
Vendors, Activities & Local Support
There will be plenty to explore—food vendors…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!

Audit says City of Devine is financially stable

Devine Mayor Butch Cook, left, issues the oath of office to new District 4 council member Adrian Valle during the March 17 council meeting. Valle, the only candidate on the May ballot for the District 4 vacancy, is taking the position early since former council member Josh Ritchey has already left the community. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Adrian Valle, unopposed candidate for the Devine City Council, took the oath of office nearly six weeks early during the March 17 regular session to fill the District 4 vacancy left by the resignation of Josh Ritchey submitted in January.
On a motion by District 2 council member Michael Hernandez, seconded by District 1 council member Ray Gonzales, the council voted unanimously to approve appointing Valle to fill the council vacancy. The council also unanimously voted to cancel the May general election since the other two council races on the ballot involve unopposed incumbents.
Mayor Butch Cook had pushed to fill the District 4 vacancy since Ritchey’s resignation.
“In order for us to do our business and since (Valle) will be taking over as councilman it is my proposal that we bring him on board right now,” Cook said…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!

Devine goes for grant to combat “deteriorating infastructure”

Waterline breaks in the aging system have kept City crews extremely busy and resulted in repeated outages for residents.

By Anton Riecher
At the Devine City Council meeting March 17, City Manager David Jordan asked the council to consider participating in a $5 million grant program through the Texas Water Development Board requiring no matching funds from the city as a means to finance an additional water supply line.
Under House Bill 500 passed by the 89th session of the Texas Legislature approximately $1 billion in funding was approved to finance water supply system infrastructure systems statewide.
“As we all know water is a hot commodity in the state of Texas,” Jordan said. “The infrastructure of our cities is rapidly deteriorating. So the City of Devine is in critical need of an additional water line into the city.”
At present, Devine has only one main 12-inch water supply line…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!

Officer honored for heroic action

Mayor Butch Cook presents an award for quick thinking in an emergency situation to officer Kevin Lara during the March 17 city council session. On Feb. 12, Lara responded to an accident scene where a man had injured his forearm, damaging an artery. A tourniquet applied by the officer is believed to have saved the injured man’s arm. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Devine man Nate Perales struck an artery in his forearm while at home on February 12, an injury that can lead to unconsciousness or death within minutes if it’s not stopped. Devine PD Officer Kevin Lara was the first on scene, and without hesitation, he took action saving the man’s life.
We reached out to Mr. Perales this week and he shared a little more about the story. Perales said he was chopping wood…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!