Top choice withdraws application for city admin position
By Anton Riecher In a surprising turn of events the top candidate chosen, Deck Shaver Jr. decided not to accept the city administrator position after all, citing “pressing family matters,” Mayor Butch Cook stated at a July 25 city council session. The council asked interim city administrator Dora Rodriguez to continue to advertise the job.
Budget Talk
In other discussion, the council conducted a budget workshop to identify major areas of financial concerns once the city receives its effective tax rate from the Medina County Appraisal District in August. Dora Rodriguez, interim city administrator, said until the next budget workshop on August 8 the numbers available will be “very raw”. Mayor Cook noted that the final tax numbers are still pending completion of a massive number of protests filed by taxpayers across the county. District 4 Council Member Josh Ritchey said he was “unclear on what we are budgeting for other than kicking the can down the road and putting band-aids on wounds.” “We do not have a vision for the city as far as development and a prioritized specs list,” Ritchey said. “So as we are adjusting budgets like last year and the previous year we’re just kind of batting around how do we not increase the tax rate.” Cook said he agreed. The first step is to determine from each council member what the priorities are in their district, he said. “Then we take those priorities and apply them to the overall priorities of the city,” Cook said. “We can start there. That doesn’t mean each person gets one priority and everybody has to agree to it. But that’s a good way to get started.” Cook said one priority he would like to see addressed in cooperation with the county commissioners is better drainage for portions of the city. Another priority would be water storage. “Until you decide your wants and needs that’s when you decide your tax rate,” Cook said. Regarding District 5 Ritchey said that emphasis should be placed on attracting more business rather than homeowners. “I’m not saying I’m discouraging homes but every time you put in more houses that’s increasing impact to your water treatment, sewer treatment and the road work you need to maintain,” he said. The businesses needed are small and medium sized operations that will add to the sales tax base, not super-sized big box stores, Ritchey said. “They’re very extractive,” he said. “They bring in a whole bunch of crap from China and about 75 cents of every dollar leaves town.” Regarding District 5, Randall noted that the city has done little with the 75 acres of property it owns near Interstate 35 set aside for future business development. That development can provide revenue to fund needed infrastructure projects. Devine is blocked against further expansion on almost all sides, she said. “That’s where we’re going to grow,” Randall said. However, Ritchey said development of the property would involve “putting in roads that lead to nowhere.” Randall countered that if you don’t build the roads “they won’t come”. Hernandez said that concern about protecting businesses already in place will mean never getting anywhere with developing the I35 corridor. “We are the main corridor going to the coast that way and to the river,” he said. Ritchey said he agreed with Hernandez but continues to worry about the “second and third order effects” on local business. For Cook another area of concern is better pay for trained city public works personnel being poached by other communities. “These guys are the backbone of the city,” Cook said. “We need them vested with the city.” Public works personnel received a six percent increase in the last budget. Beginning salary for public works is $15 an hour. “That’s way too low,” Cook said. On the other hand, Hernandez voiced concern about whether Devine police personnel were performing up to the level required, noting that the Devine police roundup published in the Devine News fails to measure up to the roundup published for the Lytle police. “You get too complacent because you’ve been here forever,” Hernandez said. He cited statistics showing that while one Devine officer may write more than 30 citations a month another may only show two or three. Regarding revenue, Randall focused on a topic drawing much recent attention – the Devine Airport. She noted that not counting Hangar 8A and 10 the city earns $46,215 annually for the hangars leased. However, the certificate of obligation covering the city’s purchase of all hangars at the airport costs $81,685 to cover. If the lease cost for the two smallest hangars, 8 and 8A, were raised to $300 a month and Hangar 10, the largest at the airport, to $2,500 a month then the city would be making $83,415 a year, enough to make the certificate of obligation payments “without dipping into the general fund,” Randall said. The airport would still depend on the city to finance maintenance, manager salary and the fuel station, Cook said. Randall replied that she was “not trying to make them self-sufficient”. “I’m trying to make sure we are paying that loan,” she said. Ritchey said that rather than offering “arbitrary” numbers the rent charged for hangar space at the airport should be based on the cost at nearby competing airports in Hondo and Castroville. Cook said the airport board will be attending the next regular meeting of the city council. City Admin Cook reported that in a text Shaver notified the city of his decision to reject the city’s job offer. In a later telephone conversation with Cook, Shaver explained that the issue involved Shaver’s wife who is currently overseas. “He decided it was in his and his family’s interest that he remain in Houston for the time being,” Cook said. The agenda for the July 25 meeting included an executive session on personnel matters to consider an employment contract for Shaver. Shaver spent last Monday in Devine at the city hall getting familiar with the city, in preparation to accept the job the following night (Tuesday), Cook said. The mayor stressed that Shaver’s visit was his own choice and not at the insistence of the city. “I asked him that since he came to Devine Monday if there were any red flags or something at all with our particular operation, or the city building, anything we did,” Cook said. “He was very sincere. He said absolutely not.” Prior to the July 25 telephone exchange, Cook had last spoken to Shaver on July 19, the day following the council decision in executive session to offer him the job. “He was surprised and very excited and happy at our offer.” the mayor said. District 2 Council Member Michael Hernandez said he was impressed with Shaver as a city administrator candidate.“He was a remarkable guy,” Hernandez said. “I don’t know if he saw our budget and got scared.” Cook rejected the idea, saying that Shaver had reviewed the budget online prior to accepting the job. District 5 Council Member Debbie Randall asked if Shaver was due any compensation for the time he spent at city hall. Cook and City Attorney Thomas Cate emphasized that Shaver visited at his own choice in advance of accepting a contract. The council voted 5-0 to offer him compensation for the day anyway. (Shaver refused the compensation). Devine City Council Meeting continued on page 8 Golf Group looking towards another exhaust fan to see if it would help first In other business, the council heard a report from Devine Golf Group representatives Brian Navarro and Ron Richards regarding plans to deal install a large exhaust fan in the attic of the golf course clubhouse to deal with the uncomfortable temperatures indoors. The council approved the purchase and installation of the $2,250 fan for the clubhouse leased from the city by the golf course group. The exhaust fan was approved as an alternative to a new $9,000 air conditioning unit. Navarro asked the council for more time to obtain estimates on purchase and installation of a smaller exhaust fan in a storage room behind the bar where ice machines operate. Ritchey asked about the financial condition of the golf group if purchase of the air conditioning unit proves to be necessary. The golf group has rejected any attempt by the city to split the bill for a new unit. Navarro said the golf group is paying its bills and its employees. The big issue in the future will be upgrading and improving the course, he said. “That’s what our members want,” Navarro said. “They want improvement on the course. Financially, a year and three months into this, no, we’re not at that point yet where we can upgrade.” Asked by Ritchey if the group anticipated needing support from the city Navarro said the biggest concern on the course is several aging water pumps that would cost an estimated $40,000 to replace. Navarro described the buildings sheltering the pumps as quite dilapidated.
For students in Elementary and Intermediate, post cards with your teacher’s name should come in the mail next week sometime. All campuses in Devine Independent School District will host parents and students to a “Meet the Teacher” night at the following dates and times: JJ Ciavarra Elementary Thursday, August 17 – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Devine Intermediate Thursday, August 17 – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Devine Middle School Tuesday, August 15 – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Devine High School Tuesday, August 15 – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Parents and students may go to teachers’ classrooms any time during the time periods listed above. At the elementary and intermediate campus, parents may bring labeled school supplies to their child’s room. Parents will be able to put money in the child’s lunch account, join PTO, and confirm bus numbers and routes. Elementary and Intermediate students should receive a postcard in the mail soon stating their teacher(s) for the school year. At both campuses, parents may check in the office during “Meet the Teacher” if they are unsure of their child’s room assignment and/or if registration information is not complete. Middle and high school teachers will be in their classrooms to talk to parents about their classes and about the expectations of the class. Middle school students may pick up their class schedule in the cafeteria. If you have any holds such as immunizations or proof of residency, report to the office to turn in your documents and pick up your schedule. High school student schedules will be given out in the multi-purpose room. Reminder: All immunizations (when applicable) and proof of residency requirements (3rd, 6th, and 9th graders) must be complete before students can pick up their schedule and attend school on the August 23rd. If your student recently received immunizations, please bring an updated record to the school office at your earliest convenience. Proof of Residency documents should be emailed to enrollment@devineisd.org or dropped off at the campus office.
The sign is still in her yard as of 2023, Coach Sessions said. It is an old Devine street sign that players had borrowed and repainted. They had gone to state that year so each side was lettered with accomplishments. Cindy Hundley may have been one of the players who put it there in 1973, she adds.
An icon in Devine, we hope you enjoy this interview with Coach Gayle Sessions as she shares treasured memories of her 34 years teaching and coaching in Devine with Devine News columnist Kathleene Runnels . She talks of tales starting back in the 60’s when Devine schools “had no air-conditioned classrooms or gym, square dancing was a class, and there was still a designated smoking area for students at school.” “In the fall of 1964, Carolyn Williams was hired as the Arabian Basketball Coach, and I came with her to coach at Devine Jr. High. Marvin Gustafson, legendary and Hall of Fame football coach, was the athletic director. Ralph Rice was superintendent and hired me over the phone. The junior high was in the “Green Alamo,” today’s VFW building. It was a culture shock, coming from Tennessee with its green yards, gardens, and tall trees. I found out the hard way that you don’t go barefoot in the South Texas brown grass in 100+ degree weather! I could easily have packed up and gone back to Tennessee. Instead, it was 34 years later that I did return to take care of my aging parents. Why did I stay? It was the PLACE, the PEOPLE, the PROFESSION. The PLACE, Devine, a small, rural, tight-knit community had a general store – Loggins and Lilly – with a motto “Everything from a rat skin to a ranch.” What more could you ask for? The school was known for its small town athletics and academic excellence. It had very few discipline issues and excellent community support. All South Texas knew how successful the football and basketball programs were under Coach Gus, and the girls’ basketball team had won the state championship two years earlier. The PEOPLE were friendly, welcoming, and eager to help me adjust to different surroundings. My very first day at the junior high, Neva Muennick Saathoff, an 8th-grade athlete, offered to take me to the cafeteria, and on the way said, “Don’t worry; Devine doesn’t have knife fights in the school like they do in San Antonio.” Wow! That made me think! Carolyn Williams met Mrs. Gene Ward, a high school teacher, who immediately invited us to her home to meet her daughter, Betty, a former Arabian who was on the 1961 basketball team that finished 3rd in State. We became great friends, and Betty, for many years, wrote all our basketball articles for the Devine News. Imogene McAllister Tschirhart was a 7th grade athlete my first year, and I became friends with her parents, Alda Rose and Walter. We were often invited to eat with them on Thanksgiving or other special occasions. They became “my second family.” Walter was our summer league softball coach. He was tough and did not give us any slack. His favorite saying was “AGAIN,” and our first team was the DEVINE NUTS, and later, the ROADRUNNERS. During those years, we had adults from Poteet and Jourdanton, mixed in with some talented younger Arabians. We won two State Softball Slow-pitch titles and qualified to Nationals. But, school was about to start, and we could not leave. Imogene was the Tschirhart’s oldest daughter, and of course she played for me. Then she went into coaching at Medina Valley, and even beat me! So, I hired her to help coach the Devine Fillys. She stayed in Devine long after I retired and was responsible for much of the Arabians’ successes through her early indoctrination while they were in 7th and 8th grades. Denise McAllister Boehme never had any other coach but me (poor girl) because she went to high school the same year that I went. She became a teacher, an elementary principal, and, last I heard, was still helping in the MVISD system. Theresa, the baby McAllister, was born when Imogene was a 7th grader. When she was a youngster, she told her mother she was worried that if she played high school basketball, they might squash me in the huddle. She became a coach and just recently retired as Superintendent of Jourdanton ISD. Some other former players that also became coaches were Diana Rohmer, Cindy Hundley, Marley Fewell, Debbie Shields, Samantha McClure, Sherry Head, Sandy Beck, Holly Graham (who went on to coach at several universities), Shana McGinnis, Terri Wells (DHS volleyball coach and recently retired as Girls Athletic Coordinator), and I only wish I could remember more. In 1966 I met Don Sessions at an end-of-the-year basketball party. He was helping BBQ, imagine that! We married in 1967, and since he was a Texan, Devine definitely was now home. My PROFESSION was teaching. In the late 60s, there were no air-conditioned classrooms or gyms. I taught tumbling and square dance in the “should-have-been-condemned” basement in the Green Alamo. Women teachers were required to wear dresses to school and to games. There was even a designated smoking area for students. The buses were governed and could only go 55 mph. Volleyball and basketball were the only UIL sports for girls, and basketball only in junior high. There were no cell phones, game films, college sports for girls, summer leagues, no all-weather tracks, and the girls played half court, 3-on-3; not full court, 5-on-5. Until Title IX in 1972, I had late basketball practice starting at 5:15 every day. I started teaching at Devine High School in 1967 where many lasting and treasured friendships began. The staff had Christmas and end-of-the-school year parties, often at our house. Don cooked lots of briskets and taught many his technique. The parties might last so long that Don and I would go on to bed and leave our company outside in our yard. When Bob Bendele became principal, he wanted to cook and host the end-of-the-year get-together. That was certainly great with me! We played Secret Santa games at Christmas. I have and still decorate at Christmas with a dinner plate that has a Christmas snow scene painted by English teacher, Kathleene Runnels (who began the Secret Santa tradition). I was so impressed with the first prom decorations I saw. The theme was Las Vegas, and they painted and placed a huge mural of the Las Vegas skyline in front of the entire bleachers at the old high school, now the intermediate school. Then I remember that our old gym floor was warped and never the same after a prom waterfall leaked onto and under the wooden floor. Often the class sponsors tried to out-do the decorations from the previous year. That was extremely hard to do, following my group of sponsors. We had Joyce Bendele, DHS art teacher, in charge of art and decoration ideas, JoAnn Lindsey (HomeEc teacher) for food, and Phil McAnnely for props. The rest of us did what we were told. Our proms were, in my opinion, spectacular. Does anyone know of another school in which parents host an Around the World party for graduating seniors? For years, the last stop always had a swimming pool. After all the wonderful food and activities, some sponsors ended up being thrown into the pool. I always took as many seniors in with me as I could! Spending a week with the seniors on their senior trip to Colorado was challenging and required several days of rest afterwards. We left at 4:00AM for a 2-day school-bus ride to Colorado Springs. I saw my first dust storm in the Texas Panhandle, snow on Pike’s Peak, the Royal Gorge, the Garden of the Gods. We tried to keep the seniors very busy, and the responsibility always kept me alert. In my last 15 years, Bob Bendele was our high school principal. He emphasized values that I also believed: “Take pride and do your best in all activities at DHS.” He disciplined us when needed but he treated us like we were his brothers and sisters. He was amazing!
My PROFESSIONAL PASSION was coaching. In the 60s, no large schools in San Antonio played girls basketball. It was played only in small, rural schools. Devine was even Class AA. There was no 3-point shot; no AAU travel or elite teams, no individual paid instructors. A few girls shot a jump-shot and the euro step was not even thought of and would have been a walking violation. The defensive players never practiced free throws because when they were fouled, the coach was allowed to let her best offensive shooter to shoot for them. Imogene Tschirhart made 30 free throws in one game; that was common. Girls played half court, and the three offensive players stayed on one end while the defensive players advanced the ball up the mid-court line after a steal, rebound, or missed shot. No player could cross the center line. Our uniform shorts were very short – both the boys’ and girls’ – and the Dilly Queens wore skirts with shorts underneath. Only the District Champion advanced to the playoff Bi-District game. The winner went straight to the Regional Tournament, and the four Regional winners went to State, where we were assured of two games. Winners played the championship game, and the losers played for 3rd place. I became the Arabian Coach in 1967-68, and we lost our first four games but ended up playing at the Regional Tournament at Kingsville A&I, now A&M. Their old gym was so small that the defenders had to back up 3 ft from all out-of-bounds lines to allow the offense room to pass the ball inbounds. In 1970, we went back to Regionals with a super exciting one-point victory, 70-69, over Canyon of New Braunfels, a much taller and more talented team. It was an unexpected win. Then we lost to Calallen for a second year in the finals. In 1972, we lost to Calallen for a third time in the Regional finals. This Arabian team was loaded with talent from both the senior and junior classes. We were experienced, gutty, and probably my best team so far. I took this loss personally, which is never a good thing. They were a special team, and after that loss, I did not praise them as I should have. I sure tried later to let them know how proud I was of them. Glenda Robertson Lehnhoff, who just recently died, was senior on that team. Maybe the 1973 team was motivated by those Calallen loses, as that year we won our 1st Regional Championship! We were going to State! It also helped that Calallen was now in Class AAA. But, getting there was still heart-stopping. We had won Bi-District, 64-62 over Boerne and had to come from behind in both Regional games to beat George West by one – 55-54, and then Granada, 52-42. Not knowing any better, I allowed the UIL to make our lodging arrangements. We stayed in the oldest hotel in Austin with all its antique furniture and no place to park the bus. Don was driving all our bus trips, so he had to park and walk a half mile, back and forth, each trip. At the State Tournament, our excitement met reality. We played undefeated Midway Waco, by far the best team in any classification in the state. Immediately we knew we were in trouble when 5’5” Clara Campsey’s jump shot was aggressively blocked by the 6’2” defender! In fact, they had three players over 6’ tall. Our tallest player was Diane Rohmer Patton at 5’9”, maybe! A unique thing about that team was that all four seniors had Marie as their middle name: Diane Marie Rohmer, Donna Marie Sollock, Clara Marie Campsey, and Emogene Marie DuBose. They were the “Maries of ‘73” playing in our first trip to Austin. We made it to the State Tournament four times total. Our second trip again was not easy. We beat Hays Consolidated in overtime, 58-53. They missed a wide-open lay-up with seconds left that would have won the game for them. At Regionals, we nipped Palacious by 2 in the Regional finals. In our State game, we were trailing Abilene Wylie late in the game and needed to foul intentionally but make it not look intentional. Our guards were in foul trouble, so I put in freshman Tina Morris. According to her story, she was scared and did not understand what I meant when I said, “Push her.” So she did! The Wylie player went flying across the center line, and we were called for an intentional foul. So, they shot and got the ball back. But, that was not why we lost the game. We just did not shoot very well, and I had a sick player trying to play in the very hot, old Gregory Gym. Abilene won 69-54. Our third trip to the State Tournament was in 1987 and was our best chance to win a game. We had talent, plus height, which was unusual, with 6’2” Holly Graham, Melissa and Theresa Haglund, point guard, Tracey Fewell, and a host of other talented players. But, we could not overcome the efforts of Sweeney and lost, 60-51. Our last trip was 1989 when we, once again, had two nail-biting games, the first with Liberty Hill. We won 52-51 on a lay-up by Vanessa Lorraine with four seconds left to play. The final game was a rematch with Jourdanton and their star player, 6’1” Beth Burkett. We were equally matched teams. We had split in District play with them and were fortunate to have won Regionals in overtime, 56-54. In the State Semi-finals, we lost to power house Canyon Eagles from the Texas Panhandle by 40 points! That was painful! We had a disappointing loss in our last trip to the Regional Tournament in 1992. However, the Area game just before was one of the best. We were losing by 5 points with 1:21 left in the game. Their fans started singing the “Na, Na, Na, Na, Good-bye” song to us. But “the fat lady had not sung yet, as Holly Sadler made a steal and an unbelievable save. She passed to Annie Martin, who scored. Annie followed up with two more baskets after we stole a pass and intercepted an inbound pass. We won 54-53, much to the disappointment of the Edna fans. Bill Bain today will sometimes remind me of the win over Medina Valley when we went into our 4-corner stall for almost the entire game. Mandy Davis Cross, the assistant principal of Ciavarra Elementary, was the point guard in that game and loved to run the stall. Terri Caldwell Wells, a former Arabian on the 1977 State qualifying team, came back to Devine to take over our volleyball program in 1982. Within a few years, her program was the envy of South Texas. She won back-to-back State Volleyball Championships in 1987 and 1988. Nothing is more exciting than winning it ALL! Stacy Hamilton Sparagna expressed that excitement well after our win; she did a back flip in her volleyball uniform on the court in front of all those fans. Good job, Stacey! I started the girls cross country, track, and softball programs and had the pleasure of coaching all of them in the first seasons. I was the only girls coach in the program until 1980. So, I had to coach cross country and track. I did not know anything about track fundamentals, so I ordered a track book. The girls laughed (of course, behind my back) when they saw me reading the book at practice. Does anyone remember those old, gold, fuzzy track warm-ups? Yuck! With no money budgeted for track equipment, we even picked up aluminum cans to raise money. We had a dirt track as long as I was coaching in Devine; so, we had to roll, water, and line the track before every meet. Coach Glenn Randow taught us how to run an efficient meet, so people liked to come to Devine until other schools started getting all-weather tracks. Kayci Waters was our first State Track Champion, winning the 3200 meter run three times in a row, 1995-96-97. She was State Runner-up also three times in the mile (1600 meter) run in 1995, ’96, ’98. We started softball in 1994, and I chose to coach the team with Don assisting. During the Christmas holidays before the first season began, Don, Jim, and I set all the fence posts in concrete, and several parents helped the school build the backstop and today’s dugouts. We were having a great season when, just before our 1st playoff game, our star catcher, Erica Ramos, was killed in a car accident. That was the worst of times. But, somehow, we pulled it all together with Brianne Obaya filling in as our catcher, and we made it all the way to the State Tournament. In our first game at State, we came from behind to win the game in the top of the 7th inning. Leah Lorraine got a critical hit into right field to aid in that victory. The next morning, we had a big lead over Belleville early, but they kept cutting into our lead. We were up two, with one out in the 7th inning, when Belleville, with two runners on base, got a hit to the outfield. One run scored when the throw to home was late. But, quick-thinking catcher, Brianne Obaya, threw to third base to tag a runner who was making a wide turn at third. That was out number 2. In all the confusion, the Belleville coach decided to steal third as we were getting ready to give the ball to our pitcher. Alert Traci Steele saw what was happening and took the ball from Leah Lorraine Land and dove in a cloud of dust to make the tag for the 3rd out. We won 9-8 and were going to play in the Championship game. We were all celebrating wildly. Does anyone remember Coach Wells’ reaction as she was trying to find someone to hug and couldn’t? That was funny! Our luck ran out as we lost 9-2 in the Championship game.
Other fun times were team overnight camping trips to Con Can, Christmas parties at my house, and end-of-the-year parties with my brownies and Don’s brisket. We had to make our own money in order to give the players gifts. So, besides collecting aluminum cans, we ran the volleyball concessions stand. I always gave all Arabian athletes a small Christmas gift such as an Arabian key chain. At first I gave my seniors a charm with their name and uniform number. On the back was engraved their team accomplishments. Later, I changed it to a big plaque with their pictures in each sport they played, and I listed all their individual and team accomplishments. I loved filming and creating the Sports Banquet Highlight film. It was so much work, before the time of computers. But, the athletes looked forward to seeing it, and I loved doing it for them. An old, concrete City of Devine street sign appeared in my yard, lettered with our championship accomplishments in 1973. It is still in my yard. I have had to repaint it several times. I’m still not sure who borrowed it and gave it to me! Some of my players loved to toilet paper the big oak trees in my yard. It happened so often that one year Don told me I had to put a stop to it or at least slow it down. I got permission from the parents of those I thought were the ring leaders to toilet paper their rooms. So, while I had them at practice, some friends went to their houses. They not only papered their bedrooms but emptied their dresser drawers. Their clothes and toilet paper were hanging from light fixtures, curtains, door knobs, drawer knobs, lamp shades, bed posts, and any area you can imagine. It was a mess, but their parents thought it was hilarious as they watched the clean-up. Before Don and I were married, he got on our bus as we were leaving for Jourdanton for a game and announced that he had an engagement ring for the winning coach. No pressure? We did win by 3 points, beating coach Carolyn Williams, my close friend. In 1978, I got to coach the very last 3-on-3, half court game in Texas. It was the summer before we started playing 5-on-5, and I was coaching the All-Star game at the Coaches’ Clinic. We were severe underdogs, but we snuck out a win. It was an exciting night as my parents had come from Tennessee to watch me coach. The year I retired, the San Antonio Basketball Officials honored me by dedicating their roster book to me. There was an official who looked like the actor, George Jefferson. I was invited to their dedication meeting, but I was already coaching in Tennessee and could not be there. Neva and Jim went for me and told me later that they had a very cute skit with George Jefferson and me in my rocking chair in the Devine gym. I still regret that I could not attend. Several coaches I hired are still coaching or teaching in Devine. Over 40 years ago, I hired Candi Darnell to help in basketball and to coach tennis. She is presently the middle school principal and still coaching tennis. Shana McGinnis Beaty, a former Arabian, helped coach in the middle school for years and is still teaching. I talked Gary Schmidt into helping me, and he coached several years after I retired. Jim, who is now Athletic Director, is still coaching the Arabians. I hired him in 1997-98, my very last year. People come to Devine and just want to stay. I sure understand that! What a pleasure to coach Holly Graham. She was voted South Texas Women’s Sportsman of the year in 1998 and Most Outstanding Female Athlete in the Greater San Antonio Area. Shaquille O’Neal, Shaq of the NBA, was the male winner that same year. Holly got a 4-year scholarship to the University of Texas, and, after her volleyball season ended, she played basketball for Jody Conrad for the last half of the season. I was blessed to be a part of the evolution of women’s college basketball from the 3-on-3 game to the fast-paced full court fame of today. Today’s players are highly skilled and talented. Some pioneers in this development were Sue Gunter, LSU and Stephen F. Austin coach, Jody Conrad from the University of Texas, and Pat Head, the Summitt, Tennessee, coach. In the early 70s, they were fighting for equal rights for women in sports. Finally, with the passage of Title IX, equal opportunities for women, the college game grew by leaps and bounds. Now, women get college scholarships, play for the WNCAA championship, and the best, can play in the WNBA. Sue Gunter came to Texas the same year we came. She really wanted to coach women’s college basketball when there were no opportunities. So, she did! I was a sophomore at Middle Tennessee State University, and Sue put together an “Intramural travel team.” We put our number on a “T” shirt, drove our own cars, and paid all our expenses. She was a tough coach and had one rule I always remember: “You had better be in control all the time that you are in the game; if not, you are coming out, and you had best be in control when you come to the bench.” I played and coached against so many notable players and coaches. Cathy Self Morgan, a former Jourdanton Squaw, won Seven State Championships and 1,170 games. She had the record of the longest winning streak, winning 105 games. That streak was broken in the State Championship finals. There was WNBA player Clarissa Davis from John Jay High School and Nell Fortner, today’s Georgia coach and former ESPN commentator. Nell is from New Braunfels. Leta Andrews, coach at Grandbury, Texas, may still have the record nationally for the most high school victories, 1416. Joe Lombard won game #1000 in the State Championship finals. He has 1379 wins. Since retiring, I just enjoy watching games with daughters of former players: Sandy Wilkerson Beck’s Willie Jo; Nicki Malone Taylor’s Allyson and Sierra; Shannon Marsh Ramirez’s Kailee and niece Oakley; Imogene Tschirhart’s Kara and Karla; Kelly Hellums’ twins, Megan and Brooke – also Arabians. Brooke won the Tennis State Championship. Dawn Hoog Zapata’s daughter, Jordon; Monica Ybanez’s Yessika. Joselyn and Jillian Cuajardo’s Aunt Maria was a player for me. There are so many more I wish I could name. But, it is time to get this to the Devine News and KK DuBose Calame, who is also a former Arabian, with daughters who played. So, thanks to all former Arabians for the memories, and good luck to the future and present ones. By the way, if you are thinking Coach Sessions sure has a great memory for details, NO! But I sure have great scrapbooks!
Law enforcement arrested former Precinct 1 Commissioner Timothy Neuman July 19 on charges of felony fraud and evidence tampering related to recycled metal funds, local media reports. Neuman, who resigned July 10, citing “personal reasons,” faces charges of misapplication of fiduciary property between $2,500 and $30,000, a state jail felony, and a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence, according to KSAT News. Both Medina County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Margaret Swyers and a representative of the Texas Rangers confirmed to the Devine News that Neuman was under investigation last week.
Opening this Saturday 11 to 7…..Gabrielle Oliva and her husband Ben gave us a tour of the apothecary where Gabrielle’s very own line of skincare products (with all natural ingredients) are created. What started off as a small home-based business took off like wildfire last year, filling almost 20,000 online orders already. The happy couple is so excited to call Devine home to their storefront, Natural Remedies and Barbedwire Boutique.
Devine is home to a very unique, homegrown business, opening this weekend. Truly homegrown, Natural Remedies and Barbedwire Boutique owner, Gabrielle Oliva, got into the business while trying to find solutions for her own family. In the store front you’ll find her skin care products and boutique. In the back, is where the magic happens, the apothecary where everything is made. Gabrielle gave us a tour of the facility, showing us her new products and how they are made, including all organic sugar scrubs, soap, deodorant, lotion, detox soap, body wash, face serum, and more. Gabrielle said she has seen her various products help with eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, hyperpigmentation, arthritis, joint pain, stress/anxiety, stretch marks, and more. She is also has a cold and flu remedy in the works though it is not on the shelf just yet. She is truly passionate about the business and the science behind it. “When I hear a customer tell me their eczema cleared up and they were able to get off medication, that’s what I love most,” Gabrielle said. “Everything we make it organic, and we make it ourselves right here in this building.” “I did a lot of research, brainstorming and trial and error before I found what really worked. When I saw how much these products helped me, I knew I wanted to use it to help others. I’m very passionate about everything we do. It’s not just a business to me, it’s a bigger purpose,” Gabrielle said. Part of the process, was realizing how many chemicals are in the sugar scrubs, lotions, shampoo, and perfumes that are on the market. “I started realizing what my sugar scrub had in it,” Gabrielle said. “Beauty and skin care products have a lot of ingredients that are not good for our bodies.” Furthermore, companies are not required to disclose what chemicals are in their products. “Frangrance (made with many different chemicals) is something that is in almost everything, and it is the worst. It’s not just in perfume, it’s in your shampoo, lotions, and sugar scrubs too. When you put perfume on your skin, your pores open, and it soaks in. That all goes through your liver,” Gabrielle said. An article published by Harvard Medical School states, “You might assume that all these ingredients have been tested to ensure that they’re safe for long-term use. That’s not the case. At least on the federal level, no one is checking to make sure that the chemicals you’re putting on your body are harmless. ‘Products are tested to make sure they don’t cause short-term problems, such as skin irritation. But they’re not tested for long-term safety,’ says Dr. Kathryn M. Rexrode, associate professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School.” Gabrielle’s skin care products smell awesome too, but she uses natural products to add scents to her products instead of chemicals. “We use natural things. For example, our sunscreen is scented with Vanilla Extract, which is really good for you,” Gabriel said. Many of Gabriel’s products feature an essential oils like Frankincense, Jojobah, Lavender, and more. “Frankincense is one of the best oils in the world. A little bit goes a long way,” Gabriel said. There are many studies on the medicinal affects of Frankencense, which is derived from the trunk of Boswellia trees. One of Gabriel’s products that is still in the works is a natural lotion that has a comparable to Bengay, but uses all organic products. “This product has been fermenting for over a year. It has Cheyenne pepper, shea butter, frankincense, and coconut oil. As soon as you put it on your skin, you can feel the heat. It is designed to help with muscle aches,” Gabrielle said. Two more products they make are deodorant and sunscreen, chemical free. “A lot of sunscreen has some very toxic chemicals in it,” she said. “We use it to help protect us from skin cancer, but in it there are so many chemicals that are linked to other problems.” The team at Natural Remedies and Barbedwire Boutique are all smiles and excited to kick off their grand opening soon. Gabrielle, her husband Ben, Lizzy, Clarissa, Cecilia, and Alana are all part of that team. Each week, Gabrielle and her team posts an educational video about her one of products. You can follow her @GabyOliva59 on TikTok. “I couldn’t do it without my team,” Gabrielle said. We have already filled around 20,000 orders online from customers as far away as California. We are extremely excited to open up our store front with our Natural Remedies products and our vintage boutique.” Store manager, Clarissa Morales, suggested using apps like Yuka to scan your beauty and skin care products, to see if there are harmful chemicals in it. “Your skin is the largest organ of your body,” Morales said. “You have to take care of it. I love Gabrielle’s company and what it stands for. We have customers who have struggled for their whole lives with different kinds of skin problems who see a big difference after just a month or two using our products.” It’s a family business and Gabrielle’s husband Ben is the resident handyman. Gabrielle and her husband Ben and their 2 year old son Cayson moved to Moore Texas during the pandemic, and operated out of their home for about a year taking online orders. The business quickly blossomed. “I am very proud of her,” said husband Ben Fleming. She really worked hard and learned a lot. It’s crazy how the business took off online. Our whole house was full of boxes for online orders, so we are really excited to open up the storefront in Devine.” Barbedwire Boutique The front of the store is filled with awesome vintage collections of purses, boots, belts, jewelry, knives, caps, and more. You’ll find popular brands and real leather products like Freebird, Fry, Coach, and more. “We have some vintage Coach purses from the 30s and 40s in great condition. They don’t make these anymore and the quality is so good. They last forever,” Gabrielle said. “I can also add embroidery.” They also sell jams, candles, teas, koffee, tumblers, and jerky made by other small family businesses with a focus on naturally made products. Some of the organic Teas on her shelf include: Liver Savior Tea (for fatty liver), Tummy Tamer, Lover’s Lane (cardiovascular support), Hair and Nail Repair, and more. They also carry Decaf Chai Herbal Koffee Blend and strainers. The large collection of Scentaholics Candles (made with soy wax) has some amazing scents without the chemicals, including one with CBD. Location Natural Remedies and Barbedwire Boutique is located at 217 S. Bright St. in Devine, across from The Devine News and the old fire station. The remodeled building was formerly occupied by the Merchantile. You can also purchase products online at www.naturalremedies2022.com
The celebration will begin at 4 pm with hotdogs, hamburgers and more, and the jump will happen close to 5 pm. The Wonder World Parachute team powered by the All Veterans Group has been featured on national news including Good Morning America, CNN, ESPN, and many others across the world.
Everyone is invited…Please join the Lytle Memorial VFW Post 12041 on July 19th at 4:00 PM at 1425 FM 2790, Lytle TX 78052 (the new location of the VFW Post). Help us celebrate and honor Mr. Gilbert Meyer, of Lytle, on his 100th birthday and watch the famous Wonder World Parachute team powered by the All Veterans Group jump in his honor. Mr. Meyer is a Pearl Harbor Survivor who served on the USS Utah when it was hit and sunk. He stayed at sea the remainder of the war on the USS Detroit until the signing of the peace treaty. Mr. Meyer is a Lifetime Member of the Lytle VFW 12041. The All Veteran Parachute Team will be jumping from a helicopter as a way to honor Mr. Meyer as one of the last few survivors of Pearl Harbor. They will jump around 5:00 p.m. Sunnydale Hyde, Director of Operations for the All Veteran Group shares a little about the jump. “We travel all over the world doing over 100 shows a year. We have helped raise $7 million dollars annually to help veteran their families,” Hyde said. There will be 2-3 jumpers who will jump from about 1 mile up. The jump itself will last about 5-7 minutes and the crowd will see “cold smoke grenades” deploy as the parachuters come down. The Wonderworld Parachute team is powered by the All Veterans Group. To put things into perspective, this is the same team that jumped for President Bush, the Green Bay Packers and many others. In addition, the City of Lytle will be presenting a Proclamation to Mr. Gilbert Meyer proclaiming July 19th as “Mr. Gilbert Meyer Day” in Lytle. With the generosity of HEB, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs and chips served. You are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Many a war story is destined to be told inside Texas’ newest Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12041 once it is completed east of Lytle. But none will be as harrowing as that told by the man for whom the post is named – Pearl Harbor survivor Gilbert Meyer. On March 22 members of Post 12041 and many others from Lytle gathered at Meyer’s farm on FM2790 for the groundbreaking ceremony. Of the five-acre farm, Meyer donated four acres as the new home for the local VFW. “We would not be standing here today if it were not for the generosity of one local hero – Mr. Gilbert Meyer, who is in the house directly behind you, is a 99-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor,” said post commander Chris Clouser.
“Unfortunately, due to health reasons, Mr. Meyers is not able to attend the ceremony.” Arrangements had been made for Meyer to view the groundbreaking by video from his sickbed. Next month Texas Senior Vice Commander Larry Sanders takes charge of the Texas VFW as state commander. But before those high ranking jobs Sanders was commander of Post 12041. As commander he had the pleasure of counting Meyers among the local members. “One day I was at the park getting ready for our fourth or fifth festival,” Sanders said. “I met this gentleman walking across the sidewalk over there. He had USS Utah on his cap. He was very proud of it. He said ‘Come over and sit down young man.’ We sat down and talked for about an hour about what he did. He was at Pearl Harbor.” Fortunately, Meyer committed his story to video as an oral history during a USS Utah reunion in Las Vegas in 2015. Born in 1923, he dropped out of high school in Goose Creek, TX, now Baytown, when he was 17. With his parents’ consent he joined the Navy. The USS Utah is often referred to as the forgotten ship sunk at Pearl Harbor. Commissioned as a battleship during World War I, the Utah had long since been converted into radio-controlled vessel used for aerial target practice. Meyer arrived in Pearl Harbor aboard the Utah in September 1941. Recently refitted, the Utah only made two voyages from Pearl before that fateful day on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese pilots slammed two torpedoes into her side. “I was sleeping on the starboard side,” Meyer said. “I woke up when the first torpedo hit but I was so sleepy I went back to sleep for just a few seconds. Then, shortly after that, the second one hit. When it hit all the lights went out.” With the ship already listing, Meyer had to find his way topside in the dark wearing only his skivvies, i.e., his undershirt and underpants. He also grabbed a pair of shoes he had just bought. “I had shined them for about three days,” he said. “And I had my shoes and lost them somewhere along the way. I probably needed two hands to try and climb and get myself topside.” Debris made it impossible to lower himself into the water off the port side of the ship. The only thing to do was to follow the ship around as within 12 minutes it capsized. Then the Japanese pilots started strafing the survivors with machine gun fire, Meyer said. “The projectiles hit the bottom of the ship and made such a racket I knew I had to get the hell out of there,” he said. “So I started sliding down. I looked up behind me and there was this big old chief electrician who looked like he weighed 300 pounds crashing down. I had to swim like hell to get out of the way.” Meyer swam to nearby Ford Island and took cover in an open trench. Between bombings he and others would sneak between the buildings to see what was happening on Battleship Row. “We just watched the world war from there,” Meyer said. Fifty-eight of Meyer’s comrades did not survive to tell their tale. An incident later brought the magnitude of the disaster into focus. Meyer had caught some shrapnel in a finger and went looking for medical help. “The nurse ran me off,” Meyer said. “She said guys with their arms missing and all blackened from being burned and you were worried about one finger. Later I thought about it and she was right. I shouldn’t have been there for just a little bleeding finger.” Meyer’s next ship proved to be far luckier. For three years and nine months he served aboard the USS Detroit. At Pearl the Japanese torpedoes missed the Detroit and she never took a hit during the war after that. And, the Detroit was sitting in Tokyo Bay when, aboard the USS Missouri, General Douglas MacArthur signed the peace treaty ending World War II. “That was the best 18 seconds of my life,” Meyer said. During the groundbreaking, Clouser said the mission of the VFW is to “foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts and to serve our veterans in our communities and to advocate for all veterans.” Now that Lytle has its first ever VFW home the post will be able to “advance the ability to serve our veterans and our military in our community,” he said. “The members of the Lytle VFW are excited for the future and look forward to the ability to serve veterans by giving them a safe place to come for assistance,” Clouser said. The youngest servicemen in the 1941 attacks, who were 17 years old, would be turning 99 this year. It is unknown how many survivors are still here to share their stories with younger generations.
What to do with airport hangers…. Mayor Butch Cook insisted the council consult with its Airport Advisory Board regarding the history and what the best use of the $1 Million hangars is. Devine Airport Advisory Board President Hap Squires, third from left in background, presides over a board meeting held July 12, 2023 to hear from representatives of the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division on planning for airport development. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher & Kathleen Calame The search for the history behind the million dollar airport hangar purchases, as well as why and what to do with the hangers now, were topics of discussion at the July 12 meeting of the City of Devine’s Airport Advisory Board, who is also seeking advice from TxDOT Aviation on planning. The former Mayor Cory Thompson and the prior Devine City Council decided to go ahead and declare imminent domain last year forcing the tenant to sell so the city could buy the airport hangars. The settlement was reached in February 2023 at a cost of $885,000. Overall Certificate of Deposits for $1 Million were obtained to buy several hangars with. New Mayor Butch Cook, elected two months ago and the new city council now has to decide what is the best use for the large vacant hangars and what to charge for them. In the quest for the who, what, where, why, when, and what do we do now–Cook insisted the council seek the opinion of Devine’s Airport Advisory Board members and TxDOT Aviation before taking action on leasing the hangars or making any changes. To his surprise the City of Devine’s own airport advisory board’s opinion or advice had NOT been sought before the city’s decision to purchase the hangars which gave the city total control of the airport by moving out a tenant that was not in compliance. Going forward, Mayor Cook wanted to involve the city’s airport advisory board, seeking out their knowledge and expertise in the industry, knowing all have used the airport and/or owned hangars there. Most board members have served on this board for many years. So the July 12, 2023 meeting was planned with the Devine Airport Advisory Board and TxDOT Aviation officials and with city officials present. Hap Squires opened the meeting at 2:02 pm then offered citizen comments, and no one was signed up to speak. Next, he then requested changes to the minutes of the prior month’s June 12, 2023 meeting. “I have one minor change on the second page where it says ‘Squire says it seems to me that to develop long range plans for the city we need to have long-range plans for the city.’ …” That should read to develop long-range plans for the “airport” we need to have long-range plans for the city. It’s a minor change,” Squires requested. Another Airport Advisory member Chris Yanta requested another change. “On the fourth page the minutes talk about interim city administrator and board, I mean the Texas Aviation, wanted us to make sure that we were all in line with the grants. During this time a comment was made that all of the airports in Texas are owned by the city, it’s all the property on the airports. Then in the next paragraph it says Airport Manager Humphrey discussed that in most of the airports in the state, the hangars are owned by the city. I’ve got it on recording the way that actually went down. I can play it for the members here if I need to,” said Chris Yanta, Devine Airport Advisory Board Member. “It was stated by the interim city administrator that the cities owned all of the airports,” he said. “They then asked Vicki what are the amount of airports that have the deal?.. In Vicki’s response, she said about 50% of the airports in the state are private and have private hangers on them,” said Yanta. “So I move that that be changed to read what was accurately said.” The minutes were approved unanimously with the changes mentioned on a Bill Bain/ Greg Coyne motion. Oath of Offices Mayor Butch Cook administered the oath of offices to the entire Airport Advisory Board of The City of Devine: Brian Crosey, Chris Yanta, Vicki Pumphrey, Hap Squires, Bill Bain and Greg Coyne. History Devine Airport Advisory Board President Hap Squires welcomed the two TxDOT representatives to the meeting. “I want to welcome Daniel Benson and Jim Hailey from TxDOT who at our request have graciously put together a presentation giving us ideas on how we can best utilize our airport and how TxDOT can assist us,” said Hap Squires. “Before I turn it over to them I would like to give a brief history so everybody’s on the same page. Five years ago we had 100 % of the hangars were privately owned. We had a sleepy little airport that is well maintained. It was not self sufficient, the cost to the city was minimal I believe the net cost was $20,000 a year. In addressing the shortfall the city was in the process of raising the rental rate since the leases became due. This all changed in November of 2018. Our airport manager received a letter from TxDot stating that we have issues at the airport thus threatening our current and future grants about the same time we received a phone call from TxDOT stating (if) the situation is not fixed TxDOT will suspend all of our current grants. And our current Grant is $600,000, not only make us payback our current grants but our past one as well. Over the next few years in numerous meetings the city council decided that the best approach to getting control of the airport would be to own it in its entirety. This was also the suggestion of TxDOT. Today the city owns all but three of the hangers, but we’re a million dollars in debt and our cash flow is significantly higher than our income,” Squires explained. “I know we can’t undo history and hopefully Mr. Benson and Mr. Haley can let us know if we’re still in jeopardy of losing our funds and what suggestion we can offer to achieve self- sufficiency. With that ball I throw it at you guys,” said Squires. TxDOT representatives Daniel Benson the Airport Planner with the Texas Department of Transportation introduced himself. “I’m an airport planner and I cover the South Region of Texas. I have 47 airports assigned to my program.” Next Jim Halley with Director of Airport Planning and program introduced himself. “I’m over all the planners as well as our compliance, environmental, the state aviation system, planning the Strategic Plan for the entire system, so 271 airports in our program. We had a beautiful program we were going to show you but we’re in the wrong building for being able to show that so we can speak off the cuff. So it sounds like compliance and grant obligations in paying the main flavor of the day for everyone,” said Halley. “No I really just kind of wanted to present everybody here and citizens our history and what led us to where we are now. I am personally very interested in your presentation and what we can do,” said Squires. “We can’t undo history. But first I think it is important to know first off is, are we are in compliance? Is there something we still need to do to get in compliance? But more importantly is where do we go from here? I mean you know we can’t get our million dollars back,” said Squires. “If you talk to Mike you are going to know more about the compliance and things. Let me say I’ve just joined TxDOT Aviation in January after a 5 year hiatus. I spent 15 years in the aviation division prior to 2017 and have come back in to this new role of planner. So I don’t know the history of what transpired. My understanding from the previous planner Micheal Van Fleet, who is now with the FAA, in a conversation with him, he indicated there was some issue with one of the hangars that led to that person leaving the airport after the lease expired. So I am not sure what the history is and with the million dollars. How often do they ask for money back The Mayor then asked a few questions. “I am Butch Cook the Mayor of Devine. I was elected back in May so I’m glad you mentioned about the policy of being in compliance and so forth and so on. So what do you do if the tenant refuses to cooperate? I’ll give you a back story on that. You mentioned about the hangars. Our legal advice was to use imminent domain and buy the hangars from them. Now we own three hangars, and we spent a million dollars because they said we had to. The way it all came across was that we were going to have to pay back a previous grant, current grants, etc and not get any more down the road. So, we had to spend a million dollars plus interest of taxpayers’ dollars. Does that happen very often?” asked Mayor Cook of the supposed threat of losing grants. “Not very often,” Benson answered. “In a situation like that you have three tools a city or county that owns an airport that they have at their disposal to entice tenants or lessees to be compliant. One is building in language inside the lease.” The other two tools involve legal action and documentation in good faith to get the leasee into compliance and Benson went on to explain more about those processes. Leases and threats Bad lease agreements for hangar space have left many community airports across Texas with no recourse in dealing with problem tenants, a top TxDOT aviation executive told the Devine Airport Board during a July 12 meeting. “We have situations where airports 20 years ago entered into really, really bad leases with pretty bad language,” Halley said. “And they have absolutely no cause of action with their tenants. They can run wild.” Prompting the comment was a review of the airport history leading to the city’s decision to purchase all the privately owned hangar space. That decision came in the wake of a threat from TxDOT officials in 2018 to suspend all current and future airport funding grants due to how some tenants were using hangar space. Benson said the Federal Aviation Administration had an issue with “non aeronautical use” of one of the hangars leading to that tenant leaving the airport after their lease expired. With regard to future self-sufficency, Benson said that general aviation airports generally have only two revenue streams available to them – ground leases and fuel sales. “I have recently visited the airport for the first time and notice that you have a brand new fuel system and new lighting system,” Benson said. “So you are on the way to managing part of that revenue stream.” As for leasing hangar space, TxDOT is available to consult on leases with regard to the rules and regulations that apply. Halley said that a bad lease can leave a community trapped in decades of non compliance with aviation requirements. “We see that across the state where a sponsor will enter into an agreement and it’s a non compliant agreement but they’ve executed it,” Halley said. “The private party has no legal incentive to get out of the agreement.” Halley said that the situation that Devine found itself in is not common. Most communities protect themselves with language in the lease that requires the tenant to comply with all regulations that might jeopardize the airport’s compliance. The next step is to carefully document the tenant’s activities that might violate the lease. TxDOT can issue the tenant a letter warning of possible violations but, as such, the state has no legal authority to force compliance. That problem falls to the airport owner, Halley said. As long as the owner is making a good faith effort to move forward on compliance its grant standing should be safe, he said. Money available for Devine On the positive side, Halley said that TxDOT has $14,390 available for the airport. “Devine, being a federally obligated, federally eligible airport, is allotted, for lack of a better word, an allowance under three different COVID relief bills,” he said. That money is available to cover normal expenses at the airport such as salaries and fuel purchases. Any equipment purchased must comply with the FAA’s “Buy American” standards, Halley said. Benson said the airport is also eligible for a $150,000 “non primary entitlement” or allowance annually. Airports typically roll three or four years of this funding together for a one-time use project. Halley said the airport also has a second allowance option for $113,000 through an airport improvement allocation under the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act subject to 10 percent in local matching funds. The airport is also eligible for a competitive grant averaging $104,000 per airport, Halley said. That is based on a state apportionment of $19 million spread between 182 federally eligible airports in Texas. Squires asked the TxDOT executives for guidance in developing an updated airport layout plan regarding best use of space available for hangars, taxi ways and parking, both aircraft and vehicle. Benson said the current plan in use is nearly 15 years old. As for the economic future of the airport, Halley said to remember that Devine is in competition with other airports in terms of fuel, lease rate and convenience. “The trip doesn’t stop at the airport,” Halley said. “Most people who want to do business in Devine are going to need to go into town, do their business, then get back in the plane and fly somewhere else.” He suggested the addition of facilities such as a pilot’s lounge were travelers can shelter from the rain and heat and take a bathroom break. Cook asked for suggestions regarding the 17,000 square-foot hangar recently acquired by the city. Halley suggested operating the space as a shared hangar maintained by a homeowner association-type group. Also, the space might be used for aircraft storage for travelers staying in the area overnight during hunting seasons and such. Munoz recalls interest Dora Rodriguez, interim city administrator, told the board that Joe Munoz, owner of M C Aircraft Refinishers, is no longer interested in leasing Hangar 10, the largest at airport, for his business. Munoz had offered between $1,000 to $1,500 a month for the property. Cook told the board that the going rate for a hangar that size should be at least $7,000 a month. Airport Manager position In other business, board member Chris Yanta confronted District 5 Council Member Debbie Randall about remarks made with regard to board member Vickie Pumphrey qualification to continue to serve as airport manager. During the June 20 council meeting Randall asked to have Pumphrey’s name removed from the airport board with the intention of hiring a new manager. City Attorney Thomas Cate advised the council that the agenda item referred solely to the advisory board and Pumphrey was sworn in. Randall said she thought that since the various city boards were on the agenda that night it would be appropriate to discuss the airport manager. “I’ve been asked not to bring it back up again until we have a city administrator,” Randall said. View the meeting You can view the entire meeting online on YouTube. It is titled Devine Airport Board July 12, 2023. Lost emails Officials stated there are two emails involving the threats of having to pay back grants if not compliant, but a copy of only one of the emails was available. The other email was not available to view at the meeting due to the loss of all city emails during a crash. It was thought to be from 2021, and Interim City Administrator Dora Rodriguez is now trying to track down the email. Hap Squires had a copy of the 2018 email at the meeting. Rodriguez explained there was a second TxDot email which is the one the city lost when its email storage on Rackspace crashed. From the files…Settlement reached At the February 21, 2023 Devine City Council Meeting- In resolution of a long standing airport issue the council approved an $885,000 settlement agreement to acquire more than 21,800 square feet of hangar space. Three hangers (17,090 sq feet, 2,482 sq feet and one 2,284 sq feet) all currently owned by David Ehlinger, President of Aviation Fuels, Inc. Cate told the council that based on advice from an outside firm hired by the city “this is the best course of action.” “We were told by (Texas Department of Transportation) Aviation that we need to get control of the airport, we need to stop allowing people to have non-aviation activities there,” Cate said. “This is part of it.” Devine sent Aviation Fuels an offer to purchase the hangers for $845,000 on November 2, 2022. Aviation Fuels agreed to Devine’s offer on November 4. Aviation Fuels had to vacate the hangars and relocate to another location by February 28, 2023, the relocation deadline. Devine had signed a lease with Aviation Fuels on January 1, 2010 regarding the hangars. The final settlement also includes nearly $40,000 in relocation funds for Aviation Fuels, Inc. Money to fund the purchase is from certificates of obligation issued in September 2021. The council approved the agreement on a motion by Randall, seconded by Espinosa. Cate also reported that two other hangars at the airport are up for sale.
An empty seat where Pct 1 Commissioner Tim Neuman would normally occupy leaves the community with many questions. Commissioner Larry Sittre (left) praised Neuman’s work on subdivision developments and noted that they often worked together, citing the “$850 million dollars worth” of developements they approved that very same day. Sittre took the reins of developments in Neuman’s precinct in his absence.
By Anton Riecher Two-term Medina County Precinct 1 Commissioner Timothy Neuman submitted his resignation July 10 effective immediately. Several days later, the Medina County Criminal District Attorney confirmed that a criminal investigation involving Neuman is being conducted by the Texas Rangers. Margaret Swyers, assistant criminal district attorney, confirmed the investigation, referring all further comment to the Texas Rangers, the investigating agency. “What we can say is that we are aware of an investigation and to my knowledge there has not been an arrest made,” Swyers said. “Because it is a pending investigation it is not something that we could elaborate on besides that.” Nothing official has been filed with the Medina County Criminal District Attorney at this point, Swyers said. The Texas Rangers is the investigation arm of the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS media representative Erika Miller stated, “Thank you for your patience. The Texas Rangers are investigating. As this is an active and ongoing investigation, no additional information is available.” The letter of resignation from Neuman was read aloud by County Judge Keith Lutz during the July 13 Commissioners Court meeting in Hondo. “I am in receipt of a resignation letter from him from July 10 and it says ‘I, Timothy Neuman, resign as commissioner of precinct 1 for personal reasons, effective 7-10-23,” Lutz read. On a motion by Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Danny Lawler, the commissioners voted to accept the resignation by a 3-0 vote. Lutz then designated Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre to handle “anything to do with subdivision information” in precinct 1. “Sittre has agreed to take those responsibilities to help us continue through that process,” Lutz said. All other precinct 1 matters (not involving subdivisions) were delegated to Lynch, he said. “Commissioner Lynch has been gracious enough to watch over the day-to-day operation and he will be doing that,” Lutz said. “Commissioner Lawler, down on that end of the county, said if there is anything he can take care of, he said he would like to help as well.” During the court members announcement segment of the agenda, Sittre elaborated on the importance of county processing subdivision applications, referring to earlier court action involving the San Antonio Trust subdivision, Hunter’s Ranch subdivision and Megan’s Landing subdivision. “You all just witnessed probably about $850 million worth of subdivisions, okay,” Sittre said. “The subdivisions we are building over there, some of them had 20-year build-out – they built out in 10. Some of them have 15, they built out in five.” “All I want to say is the work going on in precinct 2, the majority of it, this is what this (indicating the new county courthouse annex) came from. That’s where the new jail came from.” As much as 80 percent of the funds coming into the county originated with projects in precincts 1 and 2, Sittre said. He noted that Neuman “was probably on two-thirds of stuff with me,” referring to subdivision approvals. “Every subdivision I put through, he wanted to learn how to do the job,” Sittre said. Judge Lutz outlined the procedure by which a replacement for Neuman will be appointed. The cutoff date for applications will be August 11. “Qualifications for the position are the same qualifications it would take to run for that position which is, first, they have to live in the precinct,” Lutz said. “They have to have been in the precinct for at least six months and that they have to have lived in the county for a year.” Lutz said that information about where those interested in the opening can go to apply would be posted to the county website within several days. “My intention is not to do anything or talk to anybody about a job for the next couple of weeks,” he said. Precinct 1, extending from the county seat in Hondo north to the Medina-Bandera county line, represented the largest of the four Medina County precincts by far. Neuman’s resignation came one day before passage of a Texas Senate resolution proposed by State Sen. Pete Flores congratulating Neuman on graduation from the state’s Commissioner Court Leadership Academy. Neuman was absent from both the July 6 and 13 commissioners court meetings.
This young lady was all smiles as she enjoyed a popcicle at the Fourth of July celebration in Lytle. There was a great turn out!
The Moore Community Improvement Club proudly presents “Summer Fest,” a celebration of community, food, music, and fun! Mark your calendars for a day filled with excitement at the Moore Community Center this Saturday, July 15th at 11 AM. Pitmasters and barbecue enthusiasts are gathering for another exciting competition in Moore! Showcase your skills and compete in our sizzling Barbecue Cookout Contest. Pit your flavors, techniques, and secret recipes against other talented teams for a chance to claim the title of Pit Master. The overall winning team will not only earn the prestigious honor but also take home a grand prize worth 30% of the overall entry fees! Think your team has what it takes to be crowned the ultimate barbecue champions? Sign up extended to July 14th (space limited) to secure your spot and put that to the test! The entry fee for cookout teams is $150. Discover unique treasures and support local businesses at our vibrant pop-up marketplace. Whether you’re looking for handmade crafts, jewelry, or artwork, our talented vendors have something for everyone. If you are interested in showcasing your products and services, there are still a few spaces available. You can secure a spot for just $25. Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to engage with the community and expand your customer base! Like a little friendly competition then our Cornhole tournament is sure to please. We are taking sign-ups the day of the event. Cost per player is $20 and first place teams not only get prizes but prize money! Bring your friends and head out for some friendly fun under the sun. Car enthusiasts, this Summer Fest also has a special place for you! Marvel at the display of classic and custom vehicles at our Summer Fest Show and Shine. Admire the craftsmanship and dedication put into these stunning automobiles and strike up conversations with fellow enthusiasts. There will be chance to vote for people’s choice and give-away opportunity for those showcasing your ride. Everyone should get ready to dance and groove to the beats provided by the Solis Brothers, along with other local bands featuring Chris and Cassandra Salinas, Hollywood and the All-Star Band and Last Call featuring Randy Brown, Kevin Langley and James Little and DJs, who will be contributing to the vibrant and energetic atmosphere throughout the event. You will be sure to enjoy a variety of music genres that will keep you on your feet, embracing the rhythm of the day. We haven’t forgotten about our littlest community members! Kids can participate in exciting games and activities specially designed to keep them entertained and smiling all day long! Those who are old enough or have parent supervision, can participate in legally vandalizing and destroying an old junkyard car, a rare opportunity for sure! We invite you to bring your family and friends to the Moore Community Center for a day of entertainment, mouthwatering food, and community spirit. Summer Fest promises to be a joyous occasion that will create lasting memories for everyone in attendance. Don’t miss out on this incredible event that celebrates our vibrant community! Join the Moore Community Improvement Club and be a part of our 3rd annual Summer Fest experience!
By Anton Riecher A motion to further investigate the financial impact of a proposed property tax freeze for city residents either over 65 or disabled was approved by the Lytle City Council Monday by a 4-1 vote. The motion was made by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, seconded by District 3 Alderman David Emery, to delay taking any immediate action on the tax freeze. District 5 Alderman Charles Cate who placed the item on the agenda, opposed that motion as he wanted to move forward with the freeze. “We’re going to have the same figures in six months that we will have in two weeks,” Cate said. “We’re only hurting our residents.” Michelle Berdeaux, chief appraiser for Atascosa County, told the council that fast action to approve the ordinance would be necessary since the appraisal district is scheduled to certify the tax roll by July 21. Values must be presented to the taxing entities by July 25 to start budget workshops and rate hearings. “We’re getting ready to start the tax rate calculations,” Berdeaux said. “If you don’t move quickly it will not be on the tax roll before we mail bills.” In Atascosa County which carries the largest portion of the city’s taxable value almost 200 property tracts or nearly 13½ percent would be eligible for the tax freeze, Cate said. Rodriguez expressed concern that until certified values are available the financial impact of the tax freeze remains unknown. “I don’t see the rush in trying to get this done by this timetable,” Rodriguez said. Cate noted that many Texas municipalities have implemented similar measures to stem the impact of rising property taxes on the elderly. “It does not exempt them from paying taxes,” Cate said. “It freezes their tax value once they turn 65. We’d still be collecting taxes but it would just help alleviate the folks who may be on a fixed income.” Berdeaux explained that the freeze does not apply if the property owner either acquires more adjoining property or expands their home. “Then the freeze would be adjusted by the amount of tax that was added,” she said. Lytle has previously implemented a homestead exemption for property owners over 65 who received a $10,000 exemption, Berdeaux said. “What you are talking about will freeze that tax amount at the (age 65) level, whatever is established,” Berdeaux said. “If it goes down, the property owner automatically pays less.” Cate said that Devine passed a similar tax freeze for its eligible taxpayers in June, Cate said. “While it is able to help the residents I think it also makes the city an attractive place for people to move to,” he said. “If one city has this in place and we don’t they might go there. I just see it as a means for us to help folks out and take care of our own people.” The council also voted to conduct a workshop to discuss a proposed tax abatement program at 6:30 p.m. July 25. In other items added to the agenda by Cate, the council voted unanimously to develop plans for replacing and upgrading the city’s water distribution lines. However, action on a proposal to upgrade and improve city road and streets to accommodate future development was tabled. The council voted to award a $5,046 contract to Advanced Water Well Technologies to remove the wellhead and pump from long dormant City Water Well No. 1 to accommodate the Edwards Aquifer Authority in its plans to use the well to better monitor the aquifer. City Administrator Matthew Dear reported that the authority had agreed to cover half the cost of the wellhead and pump removal. Dear reported to the council that the city had received a violation notice from the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality regarding the need to complete mandatory water quality testing for copper and lead in its newest water well. Mayor Ruben Gonzales stressed that the violation was not based on findings but due to a testing oversight. Dear explained that the new water well required a specific set of tests to be performed quarterly during its initial year of operation. The tests are performed both at the well and again at where water goes into the distribution system. Ordinarily the testing is only done three times a year, Dear said. “We did one and were expecting to do it like we normally do but we missed one in between,” Dear said. “We’ve already done the missed test so we can go back to the normal routine.” During the information items portion of the agenda District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes asked if additional lighting could be installed at the city park baseball fields for evening hours. Dear said that plans to improve the lighting had been postponed due to other city issues. “We started down that path a while back but had to put the stop to it because of some major improvements needed at the sewer plant,” Dear said. He said the city staff has been investigating the use of hotel occupancy tax money to fund the ball field lighting improvements. However, that can only be justified if it can be shown that the park had effectively generated funds for the hotel industry. The estimate on improving the lighting is nearly $300,000, city finance director LaNet Hester said. Mayor Gonzalez reported that the Veterans of Foreign Wars is planning the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new post on July 19, the 100th birthday of local Pearl Harbor attack veteran Gilbert Meyers. Meyers, to whom the post is dedicated, also contributed the land for the new building. Gonzalez also gave an update on Texas Department of Transportation improvements to Interstate 35. Beginning Tuesday new stripping will be added to convert access roads from one-way to two-way traffic. Improvement plans also call for closing down FM 3175 lanes crossing beneath I35 for extensive repair. “It’s the only way to get that road done before school starts up again,” Gonzalez said. “It’s going to hurt for several weeks.”
