Category: Top News Stories

Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.

Local teacher makes the cut twice on Wheel of Fortune

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
We trust that just about everyone in the community was watching Wheel of Fortune this Tuesday night as local English Teacher Jay Tope made his debut on national television! Because it’s a special tournament week on Wheel of Fortune, Tope will appear a second time this Friday, and there’s a big surprise in store!
Over a million people audition for Wheel of Fortune each year, and only 600 see that dream come true.
“My message to my students is – GO FOR IT! People are going to give you every reason in the world that you can’t succeed at something. These students of mine need to know that everything is at their reach, and hard work beats talent every day of the week,” Mr. Tope said.
This was certainly a dream come true for Mr. Tope.
“I had always wanted to be on Wheel of Fortune; I watched with…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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!

WANTED MAN CAPTURED IN DEVINE

Helicopter, K9 units, and dozens of deputies help capture suspect in hiding

Dozens of law enforcement officers were involved in the execution of a search warrant at a residence just outside Devine this past Friday, April 4. Suspect Juan Jose Pena, 39 of Atascosa, wanted for an armed robbery in Bexar County, was captured soon after he fled the scene.
“We were able to obtain information about this man’s whereabouts and assisted Bexar County Sheriff’s Office with executing the search warrant where he was located on Fish Hatchery Road,” said Sheriff Randy Brown. “I believe he is one of three people who have been arrested in this case.”…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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 tackles challenging water system upgrades

On March 19th, 2024, the Devine City Council approved a $2.5-million-dollar Certificate of Obligation to build a new $750K ground water storage tank. After further consultation it was decided to refurbish the existing 500k ground water storage tank, by replacing the roof, pressure washing, sand blasting and painting the tank.
Taking the time to rehab the existing tank rather than spending $2.5 million on a replacement, will allow the City to make much more progress and upgrades to water infastructure in Devine.
However, City administrator Jordan noted, “Due to their not being any concrete drawings of the existing infrastructure, the process to get this project started has been challenging…Our Public Works crews worked tirelessly using the hydro-vac machine to locate and expose all existing pipes, valves and connections entering the Warhorse ground water storage tank site.”
“This process has allowed the city to install inserta-valves and isolate the ground water storage tank and bypass into the elevated storage tank.”
The new system will now allow better control of water pressure with cut-off valves.
All city water will be redirected and flowed through the other water tower near the golf course for approximately four weeks until the tank and pumphouse project below the Warhorse tower is complete.
“The city has consulted with its engineers and tank specialist to identify any concerns. Our goal is taking all necessary precautions to avoid any interruption in water service to the community during this rehabilitation process.
The expected completion for this rehab project is at the end of June 2025.

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Project Cinco reinvestment zone approved by Lytle council

By Anton Riecher
Property expected to be home to the proposed Project Cinco data center was designated a reinvestment zone by the Lytle City Council during a March 26 special meeting, the initial move required in anticipated tax abatement action set for April.
No comments were addressed to the council during the public hearing required before the reinvestment zone vote.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said establishing the reinvestment zone for the 440-acre site near the Coal Mine neighborhood is required under the Texas Tax Code.
“This is the first step in the request by Rowan Digital for purposes of pursuing an eventual tax abatement under (Section) 312,” he said.
On a motion by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, seconded by District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes, the council voted 4-0 to approve the reinvestment zone. District 3 Alderman David Emery was absent for the vote.
Meadows suggested that the city council serve as the board of directors for the reinvestment zone.
Project Cinco is described as a “hyperscaler” undertaking – a large scale build-to-suit data center that will provide data storage and Cloud computing services to millions of users. Rowan hopes to break ground on its $500 million facility this summer, bringing nearly 600 construction jobs to the community.
The council voted in January to extend the city extraterritorial jurisdiction to include the Project Cinco property. ETJ refers to an area surrounding the city’s corporate limits where it has powers related to land development and annexation, but not full municipal services.
Plans announced by Rowan call for requesting the city annex the property into the city limits proper.
In December, Medina County commissioners unanimously approved an 80 percent property tax break covering the initial 10 years of Project Cinco. Rowan predicts that the facility will yield a $3.6 billion economic impact on Medina County over 20 years.
It is also expected to yield tens of millions in tax revenue shared by Medina County, the city of Lytle, the Lytle and Natalia school districts and other local authorities. School districts may not enter into abatement agreements.
Action on the actual Lytle tax abatement is scheduled for April 28, Meadows 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 ISD administrators submit ‘wish list’ for coming school budget

By Anton Riecher
A “wish list” from Devine ISD administrators regarding general maintenance, repairs and tutorial improvements was submitted to the school board during a special meeting called Monday night.
Superintendent Todd Grandjean said the board will take the proposals under advisement in preparing the budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
“It’s like have a wish list for taking a trip or anything else you might want to do,” he said. “You have to whittle it down to fit within the budget and make sure we’re being effective with the way the money is being spent.”
Among the requests submitted to the school board were…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!

City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases

“Another increase” to hit in fall

The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases”. They want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
They will hold a public hearing on this matter on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine, and precede the regular monthly meeting.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.

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Man gets prison time after dog leads to hidden drugs, gun

Press Release by Medina County District Attorney’s Office: On January 8th, 2024, DPS Troopers were patrolling Highway US 90 in Medina County between D’Hanis and Hondo. Around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, the Troopers noticed a Suburban with unusually dark window tint and an improperly placed registration sticker. Upon stopping the vehicle, the Troopers immediately began to be suspicious that the lone occupant of the vehicle, Fernando Pedraza, may have been concealing contraband in the vehicle.
A brief investigation by the Troopers led to additional suspicion and they called the Medina County Sheriff’s Office to send a Canine Officer to confirm or dispel their suspicions. A Deputy Canine Officer arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and almost immediately, the canine, trained to detect multiple narcotics, alerted on the vehicle. The canine alert provided officers with probable cause to search the vehicle, and within minutes, the officers found two containers of what appeared to be methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun with two loaded magazines concealed in a void under the…..CONTINUE READING by logging in at www.devinenewsmembers.com

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6 Lane expressway coming to Medina County

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
The six lane expressway will be the first of it’s kind for Medina County.
The US 90 project, earmarked with a price tag of over $17.8 million dollars, is projected to be in the engineering and right of way appraisal phase as early as TxDot’s 2028 fiscal year.
But there are potentially big changes coming to our area as well on I-35. However, this is all in its “infancy stages,” according to local leaders.
“The plan is to eventually make I-35 a three- lane interstate, and make the access roads one-way with turnarounds from Lytle all the way past Devine,” Mayor Cook explained in a quick phone interview after TxDot presented a list of local projects to Devine City Council (see separate article in this week’s E-edition).
A study of the IH-35 corridor is underway from Bexar County to LaSalle County.
Cook noted that I-35 in our area has been identified as one of the most dangerous spots in the interstate, according to officials.
“Plus traffic is expected to double in the next 10 years…That’s what they are projecting.”

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