Celebrating 126 Years of Serving the communities of Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, and Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties
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By Anton Riecher
Property expected to be home to the proposed Project Cinco data center was designated a reinvestment zone by the Lytle City Council during a March 26 special meeting, the initial move required in anticipated tax abatement action set for April.
No comments were addressed to the council during the public hearing required before the reinvestment zone vote.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said establishing the reinvestment zone for the 440-acre site near the Coal Mine neighborhood is required under the Texas Tax Code.
“This is the first step in the request by Rowan Digital for purposes of pursuing an eventual tax abatement under (Section) 312,” he said.
On a motion by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, seconded by District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes, the council voted 4-0 to approve the reinvestment zone. District 3 Alderman David Emery was absent for the vote.
Meadows suggested that the city council serve as the board of directors for the reinvestment zone.
Project Cinco is described as a “hyperscaler” undertaking – a large scale build-to-suit data center that will provide data storage and Cloud computing services to millions of users. Rowan hopes to break ground on its $500 million facility this summer, bringing nearly 600 construction jobs to the community.
The council voted in January to extend the city extraterritorial jurisdiction to include the Project Cinco property. ETJ refers to an area surrounding the city’s corporate limits where it has powers related to land development and annexation, but not full municipal services.
Plans announced by Rowan call for requesting the city annex the property into the city limits proper.
In December, Medina County commissioners unanimously approved an 80 percent property tax break covering the initial 10 years of Project Cinco. Rowan predicts that the facility will yield a $3.6 billion economic impact on Medina County over 20 years.
It is also expected to yield tens of millions in tax revenue shared by Medina County, the city of Lytle, the Lytle and Natalia school districts and other local authorities. School districts may not enter into abatement agreements.
Action on the actual Lytle tax abatement is scheduled for April 28, Meadows said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
By Anton Riecher
A “wish list” from Devine ISD administrators regarding general maintenance, repairs and tutorial improvements was submitted to the school board during a special meeting called Monday night.
Superintendent Todd Grandjean said the board will take the proposals under advisement in preparing the budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
“It’s like have a wish list for taking a trip or anything else you might want to do,” he said. “You have to whittle it down to fit within the budget and make sure we’re being effective with the way the money is being spent.”
Among the requests submitted to the school board were…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!
“Another increase” to hit in fall
The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases”. They want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
They will hold a public hearing on this matter on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine, and precede the regular monthly meeting.
“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.
Continue reading “City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases”
Press Release by Medina County District Attorney’s Office: On January 8th, 2024, DPS Troopers were patrolling Highway US 90 in Medina County between D’Hanis and Hondo. Around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, the Troopers noticed a Suburban with unusually dark window tint and an improperly placed registration sticker. Upon stopping the vehicle, the Troopers immediately began to be suspicious that the lone occupant of the vehicle, Fernando Pedraza, may have been concealing contraband in the vehicle.
A brief investigation by the Troopers led to additional suspicion and they called the Medina County Sheriff’s Office to send a Canine Officer to confirm or dispel their suspicions. A Deputy Canine Officer arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and almost immediately, the canine, trained to detect multiple narcotics, alerted on the vehicle. The canine alert provided officers with probable cause to search the vehicle, and within minutes, the officers found two containers of what appeared to be methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun with two loaded magazines concealed in a void under the…..CONTINUE READING by logging in at www.devinenewsmembers.com
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By Kayleen Holder
Editor
The six lane expressway will be the first of it’s kind for Medina County.
The US 90 project, earmarked with a price tag of over $17.8 million dollars, is projected to be in the engineering and right of way appraisal phase as early as TxDot’s 2028 fiscal year.
But there are potentially big changes coming to our area as well on I-35. However, this is all in its “infancy stages,” according to local leaders.
“The plan is to eventually make I-35 a three- lane interstate, and make the access roads one-way with turnarounds from Lytle all the way past Devine,” Mayor Cook explained in a quick phone interview after TxDot presented a list of local projects to Devine City Council (see separate article in this week’s E-edition).
A study of the IH-35 corridor is underway from Bexar County to LaSalle County.
Cook noted that I-35 in our area has been identified as one of the most dangerous spots in the interstate, according to officials.
“Plus traffic is expected to double in the next 10 years…That’s what they are projecting.”
Continue reading “6 Lane expressway coming to Medina County”
Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Suspect in Custody
According to Devine Pd–At 10:58 AM today, a 2019 Ford pickup was reported stolen from the 200 block of W. Hondo Ave. The theft was quickly broadcast over the police radio, and a deputy was able to locate the stolen vehicle.
Devine PD officers arrived on scene and took suspect Pedro Salazar Jr. into custody without incident and detained a second male for questioning.
“We appreciate the swift response from all agencies involved in recovering the vehicle and making the arrest.” Said Lt Chris Andrews
Maria Lieck, 85, and her son Ernesto Lieck lost their family home with all their belongings in a devastating house fire on Monday night, March 17, 2025 around 9:00 pm in Coal Mine just outside Lytle narrowly escaping before it became fully engulfed in flames.
“We are grateful to have escaped, and for the help of family, friends, and neighbors who are helping my mom and cousin Daniel who had lived with us since his strokes,” said Ernesto Lieck. “It was all we had.”
It all started when they heard a loud boom followed by screams for help from Maria.
Continue reading “Family escapes home just before fire engulfs it, fundraiser underway”
This event features a fun Meet and Greet with your favorite characters, which starts at 4pm, Princess show which starts at 5, and four live country music acts playing later in the evening from 6 til midnight.
The Devine Acres playgrounds and jumping pad will also be open for family fun. And all of it for a good cause!
LIVE MUSIC, FOOD & DRINKS, PLAYGROUNDS, GIANT JUMPING PAD, SILENT AUCTION & MORE…..CONTINUE READING ALL THE DETAILS BELOW
Continue reading “Coming to Devine April 5th…Country music & family fun!”
