Category: Top News Stories

By Anton Riecher
Medina County business owners took the podium at the Medina County Commissioners Court Monday to oppose the proposed adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code as the official standard for Medina County as an alternative to enforcing the state fire code.
Leading the opposition was Wayne Rodgers, owner of Castroville-based Wayne Rodgers Construction.
“This to me and others is regulations that you are forcing on the conservatives of this county, a county that they and their families have built and businesses operated safely for all these years without regulation,” Rodgers said.
Mark Chadwick, county emergency management coordinator and fire marshal, held fast…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!

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Not sure how it has already been one year, but October 23 marks the first anniversary of the passing of longtime Devine resident, teacher, and coach James “Jim” Sessions. That morning, this tightknit community lost one of its most impactful people, yet his presence still lingers in every gym, every faculty meeting, and all social interactions in which his memory is shared.
For those who knew him, it feels impossible to believe this much time has passed since his voice last echoed through the gym that now bears his families surname. The place that many simply referred to as “the DSAC” while Coach Sessions was actively urging his players to dig a little deeper, to fight a little harder, and to believe in themselves as much as he believed in them is now “Sessions Court” after the honorary renaming this past February.
Coach Sessions was so much more than just an athletic director and basketball coach. He was a mentor, a motivator, and a father figure to countless high school and middle school students and athletes who proudly wore the maroon and gold just as he did while he was a teenager growing up in the same hallways that became his place of employment.
Coach Sessions approach with his teams was firm yet compassionate. Whether it was a late-night pep talk, a sideline smile or gesture after a great play, or a pat on the back following a tough loss, “Coach J” as his players affectionately called him, had a way of making every player feel valued, capable, and unapologetically loved.
Those who worked beside him remember not just his undeniable passion for Arabian and Warhorse programs, but his deep care for people…all people. Jimbo’s laughter and the way he communicated with those who were dear to him is something that we all can treasure and reflect upon as this unfathomable anniversary sneaks upon us.
The grief of losing Jimbo remains heavy, as does the gratitude for having had him at all. Since his passing, he has been honored in ways both grand and quiet from memorial tributes and moments of silence to players and coaches dedicating their entire season to his memory.
In Devine, sports have always been more than just games as every competition is a direct reflection of this town’s heart. And Jimbo embodied that heart.
Coach Sessions’ legacy is not something that has faded with time, nor will it ever. It is forever woven into the very fabric of what Devine High School athletics and academics is truly about.
We miss you, Jimbo, and although time has passed, your influence on this community will never fade as your presence remains deeply felt in the halls, sidelines, and hearts of everyone lucky enough to have called you friend.
Tributes
Through the following short but meaningful tributes, colleagues of Jim Sessions shared heartfelt messages honoring the impact he made on their lives.
“I remember that we got to watch the new movie, Top Gun: Maverick at the movie theater together . We were huge fans of Top Gun, quoting lines all of the time. What made it extra special was the kids were excited that Uncle Jim was going to the movies with us. We all had a great time, but Jim and I enjoyed it the most reminiscing about our adolescence.”—Joe Navarro
“To say we miss him would be a huge understatement. He made a positive difference in so many lives by just being Jimbo, Coach J, and Juicy. He always put the need of others’ ahead of his own. We were all lucky to have known him and fortunate to have had him as a colleague and truly blessed to have him as a real friend. He is more than missed!!!”—Chad Quisenberry
“I miss him every day and definitely missed him last basketball season, but hope we made him proud. I think about him all of the time and miss the long talks with him on the phone, at his house, and in his office. And of course, with basketball season right around the corner all of our basketball memories we shared together come back and make me smile.”—Hannah Thompson
“It feels like just yesterday that we lost such a great human being like Coach Sessions. I know he is smiling in heaven so proud of our DHS athletes and students and how they continue to compete and live their lives the right way. He continues to be loved by so many, and his legacy will live on. Love you Jimbo!”—Paul Gomez
“I miss going to his office and talking about work and not talking about work. I miss seeing his players excited about practice or film. I miss my friend.”—Evan Eads
“Jim was the brother that I never had, and I miss him every day. We had some good times coaching basketball together, working the track meets, going to coaching school together and so much more. He was there for me during some of my toughest times being a shoulder to cry on, just to listen to me vent but he was also one of my biggest supporters during those times. I will never forget the last phone call we had right after our win at Somerset last year. It was a great conversation and he so proud of the Arabians and couldn’t wait to see them in playoffs. Little did I know that would be our last conversation and I wish I could have told him so much more that night.”—Leigh Anne McIver

Natalia HS Homecoming Queen Neveah (Nina) Hernandez-Gomez and King Mosses Leija. Photo by Mable Byrd.

The 2025 UIL Marching Contest for Hondo, Texas, is the Region 11 Marching Band Contest for classes 1A-3A, taking place on October 18, 2025, at Barry Field in Hondo ISD.
The schedule for the 4A-6A region contest will be held at a different location, Rutledge Stadium in Judson ISD, on the same date.
Inclement Weather Date: October 21, 2025

Region 11 Marching Band Contest ( for 1A-3A)
Date: October 18, 2025 starts at 1:00 -6:00 pm
1:00pm-2:45pm the 1A/ 2A bands compete followed by results.
4:00pm-5:45pm the 3A bands compete followed by results
Location: Barry Field, Hondo ISD
$10 general Admission (cash/card). Free for children 4 and under.
1A/2A performance times: Rocksprings 1:00, D’Hanis 1:15, Leakey 1:30, NC 1:45, Brackett 2:00, La Pyror 2:15, Sabinal 2:30, Charlotte 2:45. Results 3:00 pm
3A performance times: Dilley 4, Poteet 4:15, Natalia 4:30, Cotulla 4:45, Jourdanton 5:00, Lytle at 5:15, Crystal City 5:30 and Hondo 5:45. Results 6:00 pm.

Region 11 Marching Band Contest ( for 4A-6A)
Date: October 18, 2025 from 12pm-4:30pm
Location: Rutledge Stadium, Judson ISD
$10 general Admission (cash/card). Free for children 4 and under.
Performance times: Pleasanton 12, CS 12:15, Somerset 12:30, Uvalde 12:45, Kennedy 1:00, Pearsall 1:15, Memorial 1:30 and Devine 1:45. Results announced 2:00pm
5A bands perform between 2:30 and 4:30 pm. Results at 4:45.
Area E Marching Contest Dates
General Admission $7, child 5 and under free (Online tickets only)
4A- Sat, October 25, 2025 at Calallen HS, CC,TX
3A- Saturday, November 1, 2025 at AC Jones HS in Beeville, TX.
2A- Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Odem HS, Odem, TX.

Devine PD, Natalia PD, and Lytle PD all hosted National Night Out celebrations in our local communities. Above, are Devine PD’s Officer Costilla, Officer Lara, Lt Andrews and Officer Amaro at the NNO event at the Devine Golf Course.

The DHS Land Judging Team is STATEBOUND!! The team placed 5th qualifying them for state. Brady Loeffler was 3rd overall individual with a score of a 259 and 1st in the seniors division receiving a $3,000 scholarship.
The Team consists of Brady Loffeler, Quay Ortiz, Jack Rumfield, Madison Fritz, Zachary Ortiz, Gage Allen, and Alvin Mann. State will be held at Tarleton State in April.

This is a followup on last week’s article, in which we reported that a young man had sadly been run over in a fatal accident at the data center construction site outside Lytle on Monday, October 6th. As reported, several others at the scene were also checked for “possible radiation exposure” due to a radiography tool being damaged during the accident. Chris McFadden with the Turner Construction Company sent the following statement, and we are happy to learn that it was determined by thourough testing that there was “no release of radiation” afterall.
“As part of our immediate response, we confirm that a commonly used testing device was damaged as a result of the incident. Out of an abundance of caution, qualified personnel conducted radiation testing, which determined that there was no release of radiation. To provide additional verification, the…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!