Category: Top News Stories

By Angelica Ariza
Devine News Intern
A small, family-owned winery in South Texas is gaining recognition after earning multiple awards at a statewide competition just weeks after opening to the public. Mil Veranos Estate Ranch & Vineyard, owned by Virginia Rodriguez Lopez, submitted three wines to the 2026 Austin Rodeo Texas International Wine Competition   and all three brought home medals. The winery’s Lily Picpoul Blanc earned a gold medal, while the Cha Cha Rosé received silver and the Medina Red took home bronze.
For Rodriguez Lopez, the winery is more than just a business, it’s a reflection of her family’s story.
“When my husband asked me to marry him, he promised me a thousand summers,” she said. “So Mil Veranos comes from that promise. We’ve been together for decades, we have five children, and Mil Veranos just embodies all of the love in our family.”
The winery officially opened to the public on Jan. 3, 2026, but the property has long been a gathering place in the community. Before becoming a winery, the location was rented out for weddings and special events. Rodriguez Lopez said transforming the space into a winery felt like a natural next step.
“It was the next logical step, being able to make our wines and see people enjoy them,” she said. “It makes us a part of their happiness, and that’s something you really can’t measure.”
Located along U.S. Highway 90 in D’Hanis, Mil Veranos is currently the only winery operating on that stretch of road between Uvalde and Castroville, making it a unique stop for travelers in South Texas. Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences, including purchasing wine on site and relaxing with a glass paired with a charcuterie board. The winery is also working to expand its reach through upcoming online sales.
In addition, Mil Veranos offers a wine club designed for regular customers. Members receive their wine at a discounted rate and commit to quarterly allocations, with the option to choose the number of bottles they would like to receive each cycle.
“We’ve put a lot of intention into growing our grapes and making our wines, it’s a passion and a labor of love for me,” Rodriguez Lopez said.
The winery currently produces about 8,000 bottles per year, a strong start for a small operation that recently opened its doors. Mil Veranos welcomes guests of all ages. Children who visit are given juice boxes and can enjoy lawn games while adults sample wines, creating an inclusive atmosphere for families.
For more information about the winery, contact Mil Veranos Estate Ranch & Vineyard by phone at 210-776-8459, or visit them at 861 County Road 411 in D’Hanis.
As Mil Veranos continues to grow, its early success signals a promising future rooted in family, tradition and, as its name suggests, a thousand summers.

PRESS RELEASE — The Natalia Independent School District Board of Trustees has officially named Dr. Elmer Avellaneda as Superintendent of Natalia ISD, following the completion of the required waiting period after he was selected as lone finalist in March.
As part of the official action, the Board approved a four-year contract for Dr. Avellaneda, signaling strong confidence in his leadership and commitment to the district’s future.
Dr. Avellaneda is no stranger to Natalia ISD. He most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Business Services, where he oversaw the district’s financial operations, bond construction projects, and a wide range of support services. His leadership has also extended to safety and security, technology, maintenance, human resources, and overall district operations.
Since beginning his career in education in 2010, Dr. Avellaneda has built a reputation as a collaborative leader focused on student success and strong school systems. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Baylor University and both a Master of Education and Doctor of Education from Tarleton State University.
Board President Eric Smith expressed confidence in the district’s new leader.
“We are excited about the leadership, vision, and experience Dr. Avellaneda brings to Natalia ISD,” Smith said. “We are confident he will continue to…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 FCCLA attended the State Conference in Dallas, Texas, April 9 – 11, 2026. Four hundred chapters from Texas registered to attend, with 3,300 participants. Devine FCCLA took 10 teams to compete in the STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) events. Seven of those teams placed in the Top 5, and three of those teams will advance to the National FCCLA Conference in Washington, D.C., in July to compete.
Results are as follows:
National Qualifiers (1st and 2nd place)
1st place: Kelvey Cortez and Isabella Gonzales, Interpersonal Communications, Level 1
2nd place: Kamden Paige, Leadership, Level 2
2nd place: Catherine Brown and Kayla Dzierzanowski, Public Policy Advocate, Level 2
Other Top 5 teams:
4th place: Paige Barron and McKailee Sorrell, Focus on Children, Level 3
5th place: Melenie Cardenas, Esteban Mendoza, and Margarita Vizcarra, Interpersonal Communications, Level 3
5th place: Amy Outlaw and Myla Sorrell, National Programs in Action, Level 2
5th place: Briana Balderrama and Angeliana Rendon-Zapata, Professional Presentation, Level 3
Others competing at the State conference:
Prezley Freeburn and Olivia Taylor, Focus on Children, Level 2
Nayelii Munoz and Collier Paige, Interpersonal Communications, Level 2
Jillian Brumage and Rubie Weyel, Professional Presentation, Level 2
Michael Gomez, the current Devine High School principal and a former Devine FCCLA officer, supported our students by volunteering as an evaluator to ensure the state conference’s success. Former Devine FCCLA advisers Korrey Paige and Madeline Steubing also volunteered many hours to help teams with their projects. The team members and Mrs. Outlaw thank all of them for their help!

In the center is Kamden Paige, took 2nd place in Leadership, Level 2, and will also represent Devine FCCLA at Nationals.

Devine FCCLA 1st place team Kelvey Cortez (right) and Isabella Gonzales (left) will compete at Nationals in Interpersonal Communications, Level 1.

Amy Outlaw and Myla Sorrell

Brianna Balderrama and Angeliana Rendon-Zapata

Collier Paige and Nayeli Munoz

Jillian Brumage and Rubie Weyel

McKailee Sorrell and Paige Barron

Melenie Cardenas, Esteban Mendoza and Margarita Vizcarra

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Local leaders, firefighters, city crews, and community members gathered to accept a $300,000 donation to Lytle VFD, presented by representatives of Rowan Industries, the company constructing a 400-acre data center campus located just south of Lytle along Hwy 132, known as “Project Cinco”.
Rowan’s Director of Government and Community Affairs, Tim Alborg, was on hand for the presentation along with Communications Director Nathaniel Brown, and Genevive Flores, and Senior Project Manager for Rowan George A. Gomez P. E.
“This is the largest single community donation that Rowan has ever made as a company–and I am really excited about that… I could not imagine a more deserving recipient,” Alborg said.
“Before shovels hit dirt–we reached out to Chief Garcia and his team to learn more about how they operate and how we might work together if we were fortunate enough to build a world-class data center here in Medina County,” Alborg said. “Those conversations led us to this moment. The investment will make sure that these firefighters have the training, equipment, and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. It’s one way we can show that we see their effort, that we value it immensely, and we stand behind them.”
Lytle VFD Chief Roger Garcia thanked…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 sheriff was on his way to Corpus this week to pick up one of the victim’s vehicles as they continue their investigation of the horrific double homicide that occured this past week in a remote area of Medina County.
“Autopsies are ongoing,” said Sheriff Brown in a short interview Tuesday, who noted there have only been a handful of double homicides in his almost 30 years with the department.
Remarkably, the suspects were captured within hours of deputies discovering foul play.
“It was truly a team effort to go from nothing to be able to gather the information, find the vehicle, and then getting them caught that same night was remarkable. A lot of pieces came together to make it happen.”
Sheriff added, “It’s just a really sad situation, and it involved two small children as well. Thankfully we were able to get them into the care of DFPS and family members as well.”
None of the suspects or victims are…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
A representative for the accounting firm handling the 2024-2025 outside audit of Medina County finances praised officials for exceeding the recommended fund reserve to protect against unexpected economic emergencies such as the 2020 COVID pandemic.
John Manning with Waco-based Pattillo, Brown & Hill told county commissioners at their Monday meeting that the county collected nearly $1.3 million more in revenue than the amount budgeted. Also, the county spent less than the budgeted amount.
“So, really, all in all, the reserves of the county are really good,” Manning said. “The budgetary controls are really good.”
According to the Government Finance Officers Association, government entities should hold enough in reserve to fund operations for up to three and half months. Medina County has enough for seven and a half months ($16.3M), exceeding that standard reserve, Manning said.
The reserve fund balance for 2024-2025 just cleared a $16 million threshold, making it a very good year for the county, he said. Medina County, has nearly $35 million in total assests.
Manning’s accounting firm categorized the audit as “unmodified,” the highest level of assurance that the company can offer.
“It means that we did not need to modify our opinion for anything the county was doing incorrectly,” Manning said.
The bulk of the county’s cash holding is held in investment pools such as TexPool, serving more than 2,750 communities as the largest and oldest local government investment pool in the state. Auditors are able to get independent confirmation for those balances, Manning said.
Likewise, confirmation of money collected in ad valorem taxes comes straight from state tax system, he said.
“It’s very easy to look at what was levied, what was paid and what was left,” Manning said. “There’s just not a lot of risk there on the balance sheet.”
In other business, the commissioners voted unanimously to…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, The Devine News
We are excited to share that hometown girl Carrie Lyssy, of Devine, is featured in a music video by fast-rising country star Ella Langley. This role is just the latest of several projects Lyssy has been featured in, beginning with the TV show 1923, a popular television series starring Harrison Ford.
She said stepping onto the movie set of 1923 was “a moment I’ll never forget.”
“Standing there, surrounded by lights, cameras, and the sheer scale of the production, I was already in awe. And then Harrison Ford walked onto set. That feeling hit all at once…In that moment, everything shifted. I realized I wasn’t just surviving anymore. I was stepping into something new. I was hooked. From that point on, I made a…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!

Join us for Audrey Jane’s Light Country Music Fest at the Devine Acres Farm on April 18, 2026 for a day of family fun and music! There will be lots of farm attractions, dinner, a silent auction, gun drawings, dancing, drinks, music and more! This event is a fundraiser to help find a cure for 8-year-old Audrey Capps, of Devine, and other children with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T).
This day of family fun will begin at 4 p.m. with a meet and greet with Paw Patrol and the Power Rangers! Children are encouraged to wear their costumes if they’d like. There will also be jumping pads, playgrounds, a silent auction and chicken fajita plates for sale from 5-8 p.m.
Live music will start at 6 p.m. featuring Chesney Friesenhahn, followed by Weston Ripps at 7 p.m. and close with Jeremy Richards Band at 8 p.m. until midnight.
A-T is a rare…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 event is being hosted in conjunction with the Love Mercy Charitable Fund first annual fundraiser called “Cookin’ for a Claus” which is hosting a barbeque cookoff on Friday evening and a crawfish boil sale on Saturday. Saturday event starts at 9:00 am with a vendor market.
The crawfish boil sale starts at noon until sold out. Live music starts at 12 noon Saturday featuring Keith Lutz at 12 noon, Matt Hawk at 2pm, DJ Reece all day, and from 8-12 midnight the Jeremy Richards Band.
A $5.00 donation gets you in to all events, Friday and Saturday…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!