Starting in the Panhandle, the team has ridden 569 miles, climbing 10,859 feet in an effort to raise awareness and hopefully inspire others to bless lives through the gift of organ donation.
Jennifer Alpard, a member of Lone Star Circle of Life cyclists team, is riding in honor and memory of Devine man Adrian Camarillo, who unselfishly gave the “gift of life” through organ donation in 1994 at age of 18. Alpard and her team members arrived this past weekend, near Fredericksburg to meet Adrian’s mom, Mary Jane Balderrama, of Devine, as her cyclist team tours to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. Alpard is a practicing PA at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and has seen first-hand the miracle and impact of organ donation. Despite a very high public opinion of organ donation, 13 to 17 people pass away while awaiting an organ transplant each day on average. Please go to Texas Organ sharing alliance website for any questions and to sign up to be a donor. Your driver’s license will show a red heart when you’re registered. Thank you!
Plans for a Blue Star Memorial in Devine are in the works.
The Devine Garden Club is proud to announce plans for a Blue Star Memorial to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces who have defended the United States of America. This national program began in 1944 to pay tribute to those serving during World War II and has since grown to honor all U.S. military personnel, past, present, and future. The Garden Club hopes to install the memorial at one of the four corners in Devine that they lovingly maintain. The cost of each memorial, produced exclusively by Sewah Studios, is $2,400.00, and the club is seeking community support to help bring this lasting tribute to our town. The Devine Garden Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Those wishing to contribute may send donations to: Devine Garden Club, P.O. Box 682, Devine, TX 78016.
The City of Devine announced that they have gone out for bids on a new water well. “This is for the brand new well the city is digging behind the Warhorse Tower. This is a 500K grant from the Texas Water Development Board,” said David Jordan, Devine City Administrator. “The city bought an acre of land from the Devine ISD right behind the Warhorse Tower in order to dig this new well.” The City of Devine will receive sealed bids for TxCDBG Contract No. CDV23-0290 New Water Well until 2:30 p.m. on December 2nd, 2025 at City Hall – 303 S. Teel, Devine TX 78016, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids are invited for several items and quantities of work as follows: Furnish and install one new water well including drilling and casing, installation of well pump and motor, concrete well pad, well discharge…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!
Natalia, Texas — Natalia Independent School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lloyd Verstuyft, Ed.D. as the district’s Interim Superintendent. Dr. Verstuyft brings more than three decades of experience in Texas public education and a strong commitment to student success, educator development, and community engagement. Dr. Verstuyft dedicated 33 years to the Southwest Independent School District (SWISD), where he served in multiple leadership roles, including 13 years as Superintendent before retiring in 2023. Under his leadership, SWISD achieved notable academic success, completed six successful bond programs totaling over $630 million, and expanded access to high-quality educational facilities. Throughout his career…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!
CyrusOne operates over 55 data centers across the United States, Europe, and Japan. Above, Medina County Chief Bailiff Lee McVey accepts an award commemorating his retirement during ceremonies at Commissioners Court proceedings. A 12-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, McVey previously served 23 years with the Castroville Police including 14 years as chief. “I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to work here,” McVey told the commissioners. “It’s always been a pleasure to work here and I’m going to miss everyone,” (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher As incentive to snare the region’s latest proposed digital data center, Medina County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to approve an abatement totaling 80 percent of the county maintenance and operation taxes due during the initial 10 years of the $600 million CyrusOne project near Castroville. County Judge Keith Lutz forecast that the action will mean $78.9 million in revenue for the county and other taxing entities during the project’s first decade. “Just for clarity to make sure everybody understands, this is 80 percent of the maintenance and operations (M&O) portion of our taxes only,” Lutz said. The abatement excludes the county’s farm-to-market tax rate and the ad valorem tax levy for payment of debt services. A motion by Precinct 2 Commissioner David Lynch to approve the tax abatement was seconded by Precinct 3 Commissioner Larry Sittre. The new CyrusOne site, located approximately 3.75 miles west of Castroville, will be the home of a 500,000 square-foot data center facility. Plans allow for the construction of a second such structure at the site in the more distant future. At the commissioners meeting…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 Natalia High School senior class will be hosting a Turkey Trot 5K on November 8th at the NHS gym. Check in will start at 9 am with the bike ride beginning at 9:30 am and the 5K at 10 am. Register by October 31 and get a free T-shirt and burger in a bag. To register go to https://square.link/u/xFPMsv00 The run will be $30 per person which will include a T-shirt and burger bag. The bike ride will be $20 per person and will also include a T-shirt and burger bag.
Three local bands are excited after earning a trip to the UIL State Marching Competition coming up November 10-12, 2025. They earned the right with their performance last weekend in the Area E Marching Finals.
On Saturday, November 1, the Lytle Pirate Band made school history by earning back-to-back trips to the UIL State Marching Contest! “The rain could not put out our fire today…instead, they set fire to the rain, and lit ‘em up in Beeville!” said Lytle ISD Band Director Joshua Chessher. “This makes the Pirate Band STATEBOUND for the second time in 2 years!”
What a honor it is for the students and their leaders to be able to represent their schools at the State Marching Competition. The band leaders and students start their workouts during the end of summer and have been working hard all during the fall season to get the chance to advance to State. It doesn’t happen that often, so it is a big big deal. It is hard for smaller rural schools to compete with the schools who have much more resources, and band directors. When you see schools drive up with 18 wheelers full of equipment and props at Area, and park next to the trailers small schools have it is an eye opening experience. But small schools have a lot of passion and their hard work pays off when they get a chance to advance to State.
The Pirate Band delivered an outstanding performance at the UIL Area E Marching Contest qualifying the band for State competition. “A tremendous accomplishment that reflects the dedication, talent, and teamwork of our incredible student musicians,” said Chessher.
“This year’s milestone marks the 8th consecutive 1st Division rating in Marching for the Pirate Band at Region — a tradition of excellence that continues to make Lytle ISD proud. We are so incredibly proud of our students, directors, and staff for their unwavering commitment and passion that make achievements like this possible,” said Chessher. Now they have added back-to-back wins at Area which qualified them for trips to STATE.
Congratulations to all 89 members of the Pirate Band on this remarkable success — and best of luck as they prepare for the next level of competition at State, on November 12 in the Alamodome in SA.
Lytle will perform in the 2025 State Marching Band Championships in the 3A division on Wednesday, November 12 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. They will compete against 23 bands for a chance to march in the finals that evening. Lytle High School Pirates will take the field at 12:55 for a 1:00 performance. Every 15 minutes another band performs. Jourdanton High School also qualified to State and will perform at 2:15. Hondo High School also qualified and will perform at 3:45 pm.
An Exhibition Band will be the last performance of the morning/afternoon session at 4:00 pm followed by the announcements at 4:15 of the top ten finalists. Finals will begin during the next session at 7:00 pm that evening, ending at 10:00 pm with an awards presentation.
Ticket Information-Single Session Tickets: $22 plus fees. Double Session Tickets: $38 plus fees.
Double Session Ticket Options: Sessions 4 and 5 are the 3A division bands. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to avoid congestion at the doors. The Box Office will open 75 minutes prior to first performance of the day and doors will open 45 minutes prior to the first performance in each session.
Tickets are available at the Alamodome box office or through Ticketmaster.
They do have a clear bag policy.
See additional story on the UIL State Band Marching Competition in this week’s newspaper.
2025-2026 Lytle HS Band Leadership Team:
Head Drum Major – Collin Sprenger
Assistant Drum Majors – Camila Vega and Nadia Daniels
Color Guard Captain – Journee Mendoza
Color Guard Lieutenants – Haylee Ward and Lily Morales
The Lytle Boys cross country team are back-to-back state champs! They are: Jacob Cantu 6th, the highest Lytle individual finish since 2012 when Cesar Gonzalez won the individual title. Diego and Adrian Reyna finished 13th and 14th, Sebastian Garcia placed 47th, Nathan Garza finished 51st, Bryan Montes-Rodriguez was 60th and Jaden Castro placed 77th out of 151 runners.
