John King was rescued by FF Robert Vasquez and lifted out a window from his burning home.
By Kathleen Calame Publisher, The Devine News Forty-six-year-old John King was rescued from his burning home after the front bedroom and porch caught on fire blocking his escape, in a heroic act by firefighters and first responders near downtown Devine last Sunday, October 5, 2025. King was rescured and transported to SAMMC with burns. His dad, 82-year-old, Fred King, was transported as well. “It is rare to get a save in a house fire. Most people go a whole career without one. That just doesn’t often happen. In my 30 years I have only been a part of one until now, “ said Fire Chief Clint Cooke, MCESD1. “All the crews did really well, they did a great job from Devine and Natalia.” “Fire fighter Robert Vasquez was able to drag the victim through the house and lift him up out of the window,” Chief Cooke said. “This hardly ever happens in house fires. I’m in awe at how it all went. Proud of him and everyone there. We couldn’t have done it without them all… ESD1 crew, Natalia VFD, Devine PD, MCSO, and others all working together,” Cooke said. This was this ESD1s fifth…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!
news of a young man who was tragically killed in an awful accident this past Monday, October 6th. The 9-1-1 call came in around 9 am that morning. The young man, Maurice McGowen 28 years old, was reportedly struck by heavy equipment operating on the construction site of the newest data center located just outside of Lytle on Hwy 132. After first responders arrived, Bexar County Hazmat was called to the scene also, as several people at the scene were checked for possible radiation exposure. “The young man was working on the ground taking a soil sample when he was unfortunately hit by a large dump truck,” said Sheriff Randy Brown. He was pronounced dead on scene. A tool that contains radioactive materials (which was being used to test the soil) was also damaged during the accident, thereby requiring extra precautions. “The levels were high enough that they determined the testing needed to be done, because of the equipment that was damaged during the accident,” Sheriff Brown added. While our knowledge of this subject is limited, Sheriff Brown did confirm 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!
Bill and Audrey Boyd, of Bigfoot, shared their first kiss on a Ferris Wheel over 75 years ago…
By Kayleen Holder Editor Seventy-five years of marriage represents three quarters of a century, and it is very rare indeed to reach this milestone coined a “Diamond Anniversary.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only one-tenth of 1 percent of marriages even reach 70 years. These two “love birds”, Bill and Audrey Boyd of Bigfoot, are celebrating 75 years of love and laughter through good times and bad. “They had their first date to the Poteet Strawberry Festival, and shared their first kiss on the ferris wheel,” said their daughter Melissa Hengst. “Not only do they love each other–but they still ‘like’ each other.” No more ferris wheel rides, but now they love to sit in their recliners and watch the Wheel of Fortune, their favorite show. “They are always putting each other first,” Hengst explained. “If I say ‘hey I’m going to the grocery store and ask dad if he needs anything, he will say ‘Let’s ask mama if she needs anything.’” They are both in their 90’s now, he is 97 and she is 93. “Dad waits on her hand and foot, just like she did back in the day,” Hengst said. “I remember not only did she have supper ready for him when he got home, but daddy has always loved sweets, so she always had something baked for daddy too. Now, he gets around a little better than her, so anything she needs–he’s right there. They have always made a great team. They treat each other with respect.” They were married on the 8th of October at 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!
The state issued fire code violations to Medina Valley ISD, and there has also been an issue fighting over the requirement of a fire hydrant with a new development in Yancey recently. Medina County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Chadwick addresses the county commissioners on the new county fire codes under consideration. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher Action remains pending on a proposal to adopt the latest version of the International Fire Code specifically to Medina County as an alternative to the state imposed fire code developed by the National Fire Protection Association. Medina County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Chadwick, who also serves as the county fire marshal, updated county commissioners in September on the fire code proposal, noting several current projects where strict adherence to the state code would prove costly to the developers. In one case, fire protection for a 4,000 square foot office building nearing completion in Yancey would have required the Yancey Water Supply Corporation to install large water mains and pumps to pressurize a required fire hydrant to the appropriate pounds per square inch. “That would be the only fire hydrant in Yancey, Texas,” Chadwick said. Chadwick instead offered developers a variance on the state fire code based on the structure’s one-hour rated interior fire walls and proximity to a fire department fill point. However, the engineers for the project were still determined to fight for the hydrant. “That’s ridiculous, in my opinion, to force them to have to spend what would probably have been over $100,000 for a 4,000 square foot building,” he said. Passage of fire codes specific to Medina County can protect against that, Chadwick said. The 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) is a model code created by the International Code Council to provide minimum standards for fire prevention and protection. It covers topics such as emergency planning, fire protection systems, hazardous materials and fire service access. The IFC is updated every three years and is the basis for fire codes adopted by many states and local jurisdiction, often with specific local amendments. Likewise, the NFPA codes such as NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 are model fire and life safety documents that jurisdictions can adopt. With no county fire code in place, the state requires compliance with the NFPA standards. While IFC is a single, comprehensive code, NFPA is a collection of various standards that IFC often references. Another recent issue cited by Chadwick arising from the lack of county fire codes involved a third-party inspector dispatched by the state writing up violations on 17 buildings in the Medina Valley school district. As an alternative, Chadwick offered to do a re-inspection of the buildings if the district invited the county to serve as a consultant. The penalties involved totaled $17,000. Correcting them would require extensive internal demolition and reconstruction during the school year, he said. “To me, that’s ludicrous,” Chadwick said. “I know that’s a pretty powerful statement but to me, that’s ludicrous.” Of the 17 violations cited, he said he only regarded one as valid. Instead, he recommended the district develop a corrective action plan to address the minor issues cited during the next summer break. The aftermath of the summer flooding in Kerrville is going to result in more pressure on counties to adhere to state codes, Chadwick said. “We’re going to be held responsible for how buildings are built in this county,” he said. “We either have to build them to state codes or we have to have our own codes that we can justify that we are building to to keep our citizens and the public safe.” General requirements that the new codes are expected to address include: Address identification visible from the road fronting the property with numerals not less than four inches high. Walls with a minimum of a one-hour fire rating including interior walls with half-inch thick sheetrock on both sides. Electrical wiring installed with appropriate connections and covers on all outlet and junction boxes. Ground fault circuit interruption (GFCI) protection outlets installed in areas of higher risk electrical shock near water or moisture such as in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and laundry rooms. Breaker panels with appropriate breakers installed. Smoke detectors installed which draw primary power from the electrical system, using batteries as a backup power source.
In July 2024, Communities Unlimited conducted a water rate study that showed the city of Devine was in the deficit of almost $1.1 million dollars in its water and wastewater system. The city council was informed that the city had not realized a rate increase for almost eight years. As a result, the revenue generated over the past eight years from regular water and sewer usage was insufficient to cover the city debts. The council was also advised that it was necessary to implement a considerable rate increase to pay for the city’s current and future debt obligations and maintenance and operations. The two options recommended by Communities Unlimited for the water and sewer system increases were the following: Water usage: Increase the usage charge for all usage over minimum base charge by 48.2%. Increase all minimum charges by 48.2% Sewer Usage: Increase the discharge for all usage over minimum base charge by 91.4%. Increase all minimum charges by 91.4% It was also recommended that after this rate adjustment, the city continue to increase water rates by a minimum 2% to 5% each year to maintain pace with inflation and future costs. The city council decided to adopt these recommendations, by implementing the increases into two phases without an additional 2 to 5 % increase. The first phase was in February 2025, and the second phase will be in October 2025. In September 2025, an analysis of phase 1 of the water rate increase was conducted by the Devine city administration and our bond counsel, SAAMCO Financial Services. The purpose was to identify how much revenue was captured by the first-rate increase. It was determined the city generated approximately $620,000 in revenue. As anticipated the city has not met its necessary obligation of $1.1 million, therefore we have determined it will be necessary to implement the second phase during the October billing cycle. We anticipate this second increase should raise the similar amount of revenue and dramatically decrease the city’s deficit. Community Impact: While the adjustments may pose short-term challenges, they are crucial for the city’s long-term sustainability and service quality
A young lady sadly lost her life in a reported shooting incident in Atascosa near Lytle this past Monday. We were unable to obtain any additional information before going to press. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at 210-335-6000 or email them at BCSOTIPS@BEXAR.ORG.
St. Joseph Catholic Church will be hosting their annual Octoberfest in Devine, TX on October 4, 2025, featuring an exciting drawing. The highlight of this event is the grand prize, this Ford Bronco 2025 which was generously donated by Chaparral Ford and the Dunford Family.
Devine High School’s Bella Flores and TJ Buvinghausen were crowned Homecoming King and Queen at the football game Friday night. Here’s a fun historical fact that not many know: Devine’s first homecoming queen was Mary Jane Dennis (1951), and her crown was crafted by her mama who used a piece of foil from a cereal box! Dennis now resides in San Saba with the love of her life, George and loves to tell the sweet tale.
Authorities are currently investigating and reviewing footage of this armed robbery that occurred at 402 W Leona Street in Dilley this past Monday, September 29 around 11:30 PM. If you have any information or tips regarding this Armed Robbery which occurred in Dilley, please contact 830-965-2113 or Frio County Dispatch at 830-505-7153 option 2.
One speaker asked for the Medina County commissioners to make their own positions on the project clear. “I’m not talking about what you’re getting back in jobs and taxes,” the speaker asked. “I’m talking about impact to the county of Medina. Do you feel it’s worth $5 million?”
By Anton Riecher High tech data center projects continue to spread across Medina County with the commissioners’ court scheduled to vote Nov. 3 on a proposed 80 percent property tax abatement for a $600 million facility to be built west of Castroville. Backed by Dallas-based CyrusOne, this latest digital infrastructure data center is the eighth such project either proposed or under actual construction in the county. Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre referred to the pending agreement being negotiated with CyrusOne as “one of the best ones we’ve seen so far.” The new CyrusOne site, located approximately 3.75 miles west of Castroville, will be the home of a 500,000 square-foot data center facility. Plans allow for the construction of a second such structure at the site in the more distant future. At the commissioners meeting Sept. 22, the court voted unanimously to designate the 244-acre site located in precinct 2 between U.S. 90 and County Road 4516 as a reinvestment zone under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. Commissioners took similar action in January with regard to the Project Cinco data center under construction near Lytle. A reinvestment zone is an agreement between a taxpayer, typically a business, and a local taxing unit such as the county that exempts or abates from taxation all or part of the increase in the value of real property and/or tangible personal property. On a motion by…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!
