Devine PD and EMS was dispatched to a Devine school bus on Wilson Drive this past April 9. One student was transported to Medina Regional Hospital while another student will face 2 felony charges.
“A 14 year old female fainted and was unresponsive for 3-4 minutes. It was learned that she had used a vape and collapsed shortly afterwards,” said Lieutenant Chris Andrews…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Category: Top News Stories
Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.
This Saturday, April 19…Eggs-travaganza in Lytle
courtesy of istockphotos.com
The City of Lytle is hosting their 2025 Easter Eggs-travaganza on Saturday, April 19 from 10:00 am to 12 pm. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. at John Lott Municipal Park
Schedule includes: 10:00 a.m. Easter Bunny Appearance. Easter Egg Hunt if for kids ages 1-8 only and starts at 11:00 a.m. Keep your ticket for the basket drawing and egg hunt gate entrance. Fee is 1 canned good or $1 per child. Every year the City of Lytle hosts an egg hunt for the children of the city and surrounding area on the Saturday before Easter.
Family home engulfed in fire, donations welcome
By Kayleen Holder
Editor
The Cabral family lost all of their possessions this past Wednesday, April 9th as a fire engulfed the family home. Despite the quick response of their amazing neighbors and 911, the fire couldn’t be contained. The house was completely destroyed. Nothing could be saved.
Because they have very limited room in their current living situation, they are not able to accept many items, but would be very grateful for the following: 1.) Apartment Size Refrigerator 2.) Queen size bed with mattress and 3.) TV (Small)
Anyone wanting to make a monetary donation can send it to:…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Lytle council authorizes eminent domain in town citing “public necessity” in 3-0 vote
By Anton Riecher
This Monday, the Lytle City Council declared a “public necessity” to acquire right-of-way property along Railroad and McDonald streets for a new 12-inch water main. The action authorizes the city staff to move forward with eminent domain proceedings if the property cannot be acquired through purchase negotiations.
“We have sent initial offers for some easements that we need to acquire along that route because of the amount of utilities that are in this particular project,” City Administrator Zachary Meadows said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Cara: the comeback Kid
By Matthew “Moose” Lopez and Kayleen Holder
If you talked to Cara “Care Bear” Garcia, you wouldn’t think she had just gone through a life altering event. Instead, you’d find an energized and optimistic high school senior, excited about college and eager to begin her next chapter in life.
Garcia spent 68 days in the hospital, two weeks in intensive care, and underwent multiple surgeries after a head-on collision in front of Medina Valley High School September 13, 2024. In the following weeks and months, people from all over the United States were touched by her story.
As she worked through months of therapy and training, one of her goals was to be able to run track again. That goal became a reality as Cara stepped up to the starting line and ran her race this April 2 in Laredo…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Devine “Water & sewer rate increases to be discussed”, another increase to hit in the fall
The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases” next Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine.
City leaders want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.
“They will not be limited to 3 minutes per topic like a regular meeting. This will be a public hearing; it is called to hear from the citizens. They can ask questions of any of us and we can talk to them,” said Jordan.
“It’s a time to listen to the public and a time for us to explain how we got to this point, where we are trying to get to, why, the lack of small incremental raises in last 7 years that could have elevated the need for these bigger increases, and our deteriorating infrastructure. I was able to get a grant to cover the cost of a rate study from an outside professional source, Community Underling, instead of using our office staff so it would be unbiased and not look like we were just doing this because we wanted to,” said Jordan.
“The results of the study suggested we needed to do a onetime jump in rates, but the council voted to spread it out over two increases to help make it a easier on the customers. This was just to break even, not to gain momentum,” he said.
All interested parties, groups, or individuals are encouraged to attend this public hearing and participate in the discussion.
For more information, please contact the City of Devine at (830) 663-2804.
This Notice of Public Hearing comes after an outcry by citizens on the high rate increases that took effect in February and are set to increase again in the fall or October 1 of this year.
“We can take as long as we need for the public hearing. The regular meeting will begin immediately afterwards since it’s in the same location since it is the third Tuesday of the month,” said Jordan. More info in notice on page 5.
Local small businesses and families Dig Deep for those in need
By Kayleen Holder
Here is a story that will make you smile. When a 76-year-old Medina County resident called for help, the community dug deep into thier hearts to help a neighbor in need. Mrs. Linda Sherrell was absolutely distraught after finding out she had a major water leak at her home outside of Devine, and that she had already lost over 77,000 gallons in the past month. With the meter still spinning and her being on a fixed income, she had no other choice but to have her water shut off.
But it wasn’t long before crews with STX Electrical and Jaworowski Fencing and several families stepped up to help. Approximately $500 has been donated thus far to help pay the bill, but even more amazing, is the countless number of hours that local small businesses have spent volunteering and rushing to help find the leak so that Mrs. Sherrell could have running water again.
I could tell Mrs. Linda was moved to tears in a short phone conversation last week, and she wanted to give a BIG THANK YOU to everyone this week in the paper.
“It’s really unbelievable what they have done for me. You have no idea how deeply grateful this makes me feel. I’ve always known this community was incredibly supporting when someone was in need of a helping hand. I’ve seen it time and time again. This time I am the recipient of that loving spirit in a BIG way,” said Linda Sherrell, of Devine.
STX Electrical was the first to volunteer to bring crews on site and bring out their heavy equipment. They were there from daylight til sundown that Friday searching for the leak. Later that night, the folks with Jaworowski Farm and Ranch Fencing came out to try to get water running again.
“I received a courtesy call Thursday morning from East Medina SUD to tell me that my next bill indicated a leak to the tune of more than $800 above my normal usage. I was so shocked I didn’t even know what to think. I told my neighbor, and she wrote a story about the problem which resulted in help coming from every direction. Dustin Navarro of STX Electrical Contracting sent out an entire crew to help hunt the leak down. They found one in a tight spot between the porch slab and the house foundation. His crew including Antonio and Ryan worked on it until late Friday evening. Then Joseph Jaworowski with assistants Kay and Brandon were here very, very late as well.
So to all the people who came to help and those who have contributed money toward the water bill including the Waters, Whitaker, McGuiart, Squires, Havel, Yanez, Jaworowski, and Navarro families, I am so very grateful.”
Mrs. Sherrell has worked hard all her life until retiring at the age of 74, and she is truly in awe of all who have donated their hard earned money and time to help in her time of need.
“I am humbled by all of your loving hearts,” Mrs. Sherrell added.
While one leak was located, it’s believed that there must be another, and ultimately contractors may have to install new lines so she will not be without water, unless the main leak is found.
Devine is truly a great place to live, and it is because of people like this who come together to help in times of need.
As extensive work will likely be needed to locate the main leak or run new lines, you are welcome to donate by mailing to The Devine News, PO BOX 508 Devine, TX, but be sure to include a note that it is a donation for Linda Sherrell.
Local teacher makes the cut twice on Wheel of Fortune
By Kayleen Holder
Editor
We trust that just about everyone in the community was watching Wheel of Fortune this Tuesday night as local English Teacher Jay Tope made his debut on national television! Because it’s a special tournament week on Wheel of Fortune, Tope will appear a second time this Friday, and there’s a big surprise in store!
Over a million people audition for Wheel of Fortune each year, and only 600 see that dream come true.
“My message to my students is – GO FOR IT! People are going to give you every reason in the world that you can’t succeed at something. These students of mine need to know that everything is at their reach, and hard work beats talent every day of the week,” Mr. Tope said.
This was certainly a dream come true for Mr. Tope.
“I had always wanted to be on Wheel of Fortune; I watched with…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
WANTED MAN CAPTURED IN DEVINE
Helicopter, K9 units, and dozens of deputies help capture suspect in hiding
Dozens of law enforcement officers were involved in the execution of a search warrant at a residence just outside Devine this past Friday, April 4. Suspect Juan Jose Pena, 39 of Atascosa, wanted for an armed robbery in Bexar County, was captured soon after he fled the scene.
“We were able to obtain information about this man’s whereabouts and assisted Bexar County Sheriff’s Office with executing the search warrant where he was located on Fish Hatchery Road,” said Sheriff Randy Brown. “I believe he is one of three people who have been arrested in this case.”…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Devine tackles challenging water system upgrades
On March 19th, 2024, the Devine City Council approved a $2.5-million-dollar Certificate of Obligation to build a new $750K ground water storage tank. After further consultation it was decided to refurbish the existing 500k ground water storage tank, by replacing the roof, pressure washing, sand blasting and painting the tank.
Taking the time to rehab the existing tank rather than spending $2.5 million on a replacement, will allow the City to make much more progress and upgrades to water infastructure in Devine.
However, City administrator Jordan noted, “Due to their not being any concrete drawings of the existing infrastructure, the process to get this project started has been challenging…Our Public Works crews worked tirelessly using the hydro-vac machine to locate and expose all existing pipes, valves and connections entering the Warhorse ground water storage tank site.”
“This process has allowed the city to install inserta-valves and isolate the ground water storage tank and bypass into the elevated storage tank.”
The new system will now allow better control of water pressure with cut-off valves.
All city water will be redirected and flowed through the other water tower near the golf course for approximately four weeks until the tank and pumphouse project below the Warhorse tower is complete.
“The city has consulted with its engineers and tank specialist to identify any concerns. Our goal is taking all necessary precautions to avoid any interruption in water service to the community during this rehabilitation process.
The expected completion for this rehab project is at the end of June 2025.
