By Anton Riecher A Hondo strip mall is under close scrutiny as the potential new home of the Medina Central Appraisal District, MCAD board president Cindy Malone advised Medina County commissioners during their Dec. 30 meeting. “We’ll be back in front of you in February to say, ‘Okay, it’s time for a vote,’” Malone said. The Ridge building located at 728 18th St. offers 7,900 square feet of space contained within five separate storefront offices. The location was the former home of the Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Center. Projected cost for the purchase and remodeling is between $1.5 million and $1.6 million, Malone said. Board member Jody Jacobs said MCAD inquired into leasing the strip mall and has since learned that the owner, Sheldon Grothaus, is interested in selling the location. Jacobs said he did not want to discuss specific pricing at this time. “We feel like with the space that’s there and the ability for us to repurpose it, it’s going to be…
By Anton Riecher Medina County had only three adult sexual assault cases filed in 2024, said Scott Simpson with Criminal District Attorney’s Office. That number represents the severe degree to which the offense goes underreported. “What I want the community to know is that the DA’s office stand ready, willing and able to prosecute these cases” despite the legal difficulties involved, Simpson said. Simpson addressed the Medina County Commissioners Court on Dec. 30 to give the biennial Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) report. A retired prosecutor with 20 years of experience in Bexar County, he took charge of the Medina County team in February. SART meets monthly with members of the mental health community and law enforcement to encourage reporting of sexual offenses. “The purpose of the sexual assault response team is to try to get the same type of integration and cooperation the county has successfully done through the..
By Anton Riecher Medina County commissioners gave their blessing to use $125,000 in COVID-19 stimulus funds to finish construction of a wastewater treatment plan serving the Megan’s Landing subdivision near Castroville. County Judge Keith Lutz said the money amounted to the last of nearly $10 million that the county received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress in the wake of the COVID pandemic. “This is really pretty simple,” Lutz said. “This project is already underway.” The decision made during the Dec. 30 commissioners’ court meeting came only one day before the final deadline for obligating remaining ARPA funds. Last minute budget changes were made to shift the funds from other projects, Lutz explained. According to Lutz, the funds approved will be used to reimburse the Yancey Water Supply Corporation for money spent to cover the final three to four months of construction on the water reuse plant, also known as a water recycling facility. The plant treats wastewater generated by the subdivision and reuses it for various purposes such as irrigation. As of November, Megan’s Landing has only five homes out of a projected…
Saturday was the Wesley Group’s first day of work. They also helped the Salvation Army Outreach Response Center by building shelves meant to store supplies and serve as a place of outreach in case of a natural disaster like the snowstorm.
By Brianna Paredes Every year, the Texas A&M Wesley Foundation Group, a student leadership organization funded by other Methodist churches, takes a trip to a small town to spend a week helping out the community. Liam Eshleman, a member of the group whom was interviewed, says that this year’s trip to Devine, in particular, is special because of his family roots to the small town. His family has lived in Devine their entire life and he views it as giving back to them and the town. Saturday was the Wesley Group’s first day of work. They spent it at the Methodist Church cutting off some trees that were hanging off the roof, working on the playground, attaching posts, power washing, and doing more yard work. They also helped the Salvation Army Outreach Response Center by building 40 shelves from plywood and painting the cabinet they went into. These shelves are meant to store supplies and serve as a place of outreach in case of a natural disaster like the snowstorm that occurred back in COVID. On Sunday, the Bluegrass Band, associated with the Wesley group, played at the…
Meet Julian, Kayla, Natalye! These three sweet kiddos are waiting for adoptive families and are being featured in a small Heart Gallery at Chayito’s Mexican Restaurant. There are 30 kids in our local Heart Gallery featuring children in care of the state of Texas. Being featured in a Heart Gallery like this increases their chance of adoption by 60% according to statistics, so you can help out in a big way! Please contact The Devine News if you would like to host a Heart Gallery in January or February at your business or church. Call Kayleen at 830-665-2211.
Who would like to “adopt” Heart Gallery kid’s for January? By Kayleen Holder We already have several businesses and churches signed up to display some of the children waiting for adoption this January, but we need several more businesses and churches to come on board. So far signed up for January, we have Charlie’s Daughter On the Green Restaurant, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mag’s Place, The Devine News, Alamo Truck Accessories, Trinity Baptist Church, Chayito’s Mexican Restaurant, Napa Auto Parts, and…?????? Please let us know if you can display 2 or 3 or maybe even 5 or 6 of these photos featuring children who are in complete care of the state of Texas, and need adoptive homes. Being featured in a heart gallery increases their chances of being adopted by 60% according to statistics!!!! We want to say a Huge THANK YOU to all of the following churches, local businesses, and organizations for who have been displaying photos! Y’all are the best!!! Already, we have seen a huge impact, with at least two local families starting the adoption process!
Heart Gallery photos of children waiting for adoption were displayed at the following locations this December: Brown Dodge Chaparral Ford Brown Chevy Devine VFW St John Bosco Catholic Church First Baptist of Natalia Black Creek Baptist Church Lytle Methodist Church City of Devine Devine PD Devine ISD Special Education Office Chayito’s Mexican Restaurant Napa Auto Parts You can contact Kayleen Holder on Facebook or call The Devine News 830-665-2211 and ask for Kayleen if you would like to host the next heart gallery in January or even February. All that is needed is space in a high traffic area such as a lobby or entry way.
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Winners of Caitlyn’s Christmas Light Contest have been announced…. Crystal Caddel, 1st place (pictured below) is a sea of lights, full of fun scenes and characters. Jeffrey Ingleston, 2nd place Dionicia Gonzales, Jack’s Pick Kenneth & Crystal Williams, Rainey’s Pick Donna Rhode, Winter Wonderland Donna Morris, Best Animation Joanne Boyd, Most Magical Loyd Richeson, Silent Night
Drivers will no longer be required to get annual safety inspections beginning Jan. 1, the Texas Standard reported. However, drivers in the state’s 17 most populous counties will still be required to get an emissions test in order to register their vehicles. While mandatory vehicle inspections are going the way of the pay phone and video cassette recorders, drivers will still end up paying a $7.50 “inspection replacement fee” when registering their vehicle and getting a new windshield sticker. The emissions test required in urban counties consists of an engine and exhaust test to ensure a vehicle isn’t exceeding the state’s legal limits on… Continue reading at www.devinenewsmembers.com where you can get full online and print access for as little as $36 per YEAR!
Saturday, December 28th– Devine PD responded to a 49-year-old female in mental health crisis inside Walmart. According to the PD, “she had a steak knife to her own throat and was threatening to kill herself.” Staff quickly evacuated customers out the door. Devine PD and county officers responded to the scene. “The female finally dropped the knife and was taken into custody without injury. The female was evaluated by Ems and transported to university hospital for an emergency detention. A Devine officer rode in the ambulance with them,” the PD stated.
By Anton Riecher Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 is seeking proposals from auditing firms to conduct a “forensic audit” of the Devine VFD’s financial records following the arrest of Devine Volunteer Fire Department office administrator Heather Schultz on a charge of tampering with evidence. The arrest amounted to an controversial “elephant in the room” for the MCESD2 commissioners during the Dec. 17 meeting at the fire station – an obviously contentious issue that no one was comfortable discussing. “Obviously, we have to be very careful about what we say here,” board president Todd Summers said. Schultz, who served as an office administrator and accounts manager, went unnamed during the portion of the meeting open to the public. The meeting concluded with a closed executive session at which Devine VFD Chief Greg Atkinson present along with two other firemen. “If the fire chief decides he has additional information he wants to share with us, being that it is personnel, we’ll have to go into executive session for him to share that with us,” Summers said. A forensic audit is a detailed examination of financial records intended to identify any potential fraud, misconduct or other irregularities. On a motion by board commissioner Kenneth Nighswander, seconded by Jerry Lee Stevens, the board voted unanimously to move ahead with the forensic audit. Summers said the audit was necessary “especially in light of what has been going on.” “One of the things we have to determine is what funds were touched,” he said. Schultz was arrested by the Medina County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 5 after a search warrant was executed for her home, authorities report. The sheriff’s office is working with the county Criminal District Attorney office in the investigation. According to Sheriff Randy Brown, Devine VFD chief Greg Atkinson reported monies missing several weeks before the arrest. Atkinson told MCESD2 commissioners that he could not deliver the routine Devine VFD financial report presented at monthly board meetings.
