The Arriola family’s float was awarded with “Most Lights” at the first annual Night Christmas parade which was a huge hit!
By Catherine Richard A large crowd gathered in the cold, breezy night last Thursday, and Christmas music drifted through the air as everyone waited for the parade to begin. Cars lined the half mile stretch in front of the Natalia Veterans Memorial Monument, with families sitting on tailgates and lawn chairs while others shopped the Christmas market set up nearby. At 6:30 p.m., runners dressed in their Santa suits raced past the crowd, drumming up excitement for the beautiful hour-long parade that followed. There were more than 60 floats in the lineup! After the display of lights, the appearance of iconic Christmas characters such as Santa and the Grinch, and even fireworks (courtesy of Scooterz Fireworks) aded tons of fun. Many kiddos lined up excitedly to meet with Santa at the Natalia City Offices.
The City of Lytle awarded its annual citizen awards last Monday, Dec 10. Pictured above is the winner of the adult category Sammy Aguinaga with Mayor Gonzalez and the council.
Lytle council presents 2024 Citizenship Awards By Anton Riecher With the holiday season upon us, one local personality that Mayor Ruben Gonzalez dubbed “one of Santa’s helpers” was among this year’s recipients of the City of Lytle Annual Citizenship Awards presented Monday. Adorned with a large white beard, Sammy Aguinaga received the 2024 award in the adult category for his work with local children. In the youth category, pre-teen Carter Clayton was recognized for his volunteer work at the local animal care and control facility. Gracie Gallegos received honorable mention for a wide range of activities including the local food bank and health care outreach to elderly residents. About Aguinaga, Gonzalez called him “a great, great person” who is “always there to help out in the sense of being able to take care of kids in different ways.” The community previously recognized him for his work with children by naming him grand marshal of the 2024 Lytle Homecoming Parade. “On a personal note he’s gone through a lot of challenges and he’s always been very positive about it,” Gonzalez said. As for Clayton, the mayor described him as “an unbelievable person” who began volunteering at the animal care and control center in 2022. Eventually, Clayton adopted a dog named Freckles and together the pair began visiting the local nursing home with Freckles serving as a…
Every year Lytle holds its Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14th at the Lytle Community Center. Santa arrives at the Community Center to turn on the lights at the Community Center and Main Street. After the lighting, Santa accompanies the children and their guardians on his hayride. The 2024 Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride will start loading trailers at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 19031 Priest Blvd., Lytle, Tx. Admission is $1.00 or one canned good. For information call 830-709-3692. Please also join us at the Shops of Lytle at 15126 Main Street where we will have Santa’s Workshop with events for the kids to include an Ornament Workshop, the North Pole Post Office and Gingerbread Bakery. The event is brought to you by the City of Lytle, Lytle Chamber of Commerce, Pena Family, Patriot Automotive, Lytle VFW Post 12041 and HEB Plus.
The Devine ISD school board meeting tonight ended with a split vote 3 to 3 on the four-day work week. There were speakers both for and against the big move.
Chris Davis made a motion to enact a 4-day school week, and Carl Brown seconded the motion, with Henry Moreno in agreement, however board members Renee Frieda, Keri James, and Ali Buvinghausen advocated and voted against the big change. Board President Nancy Pepper abstained from casting the deciding vote at this time.
It is uncertain if the matter will be taken up again at a school board meeting later this month.
See more updates in next week’s Devine News, and subscribe to support third party coverage of important city, school, and county news at www.devinenewsmembers.com
A speaker takes the podium before the split vote.
Did you know you can get the newspaper mailed to your home every week and full print and digital access for only $36 a year in Medina County???!!
If you want to join the Santa Sprinters (walkers welcome too), register by 5:30 online or in person near the Dollar General in Natalia. The Santa sprinters will lead the parade. Stock photo courtesty of istockphotos.com/copyright Stuart Robinson Photography.
There are over 75 floats and dozens of vendors for Christmas shopping during the big event that kicks off at 5 this Thursday! The Parade will begin at 7pm. It will start at FM 471 down to hwy 132 through Main Street. If you would like to participate in the parade please contact Corina Sanchez 210-300-4800 or Lysette Clark 210-360-9071. For vendor information you can contact Lysette Clark 210-360-9071 or Mary Ann Garcia 210-560-5626. Vendors can set up as early as noon. Ms. Tiffany Brown will be the Grand Marshal. She is the daughter of Charlie & Dianna Brown, sister to Chuck Brown, mother to Cody Brown (Kaylin) and grandmother to Canon & Chad Brown The Brown family have been a part of the Natalia community since 1911 as Tiffany’s great grandparents ran a commissary from 1911-1946 for the workers that built canals in town. In 1946, Tiffany’s grandparents bought the business and opened a store, everyone knows as “Browns Grocery Store.” In 1970, Tiffany’s parents bought the business and ran it until they retired in 2011. All immediate family members of Ms. Tiffany have all graduated from Natalia. Her grandchildren are currently attending Natalia ISD. Tiffany serves as a member of the Natalia School Board and the South Texas Heat Organization. She is highly involved in our community, as you will see her smiling face at sporting events and cheering for her grandsons. “I love our little town and the people that live here. I’m proud to tell people where I am from and as proud as I am of the town and the people that live here, I hope I make them proud representing them. I’m proud to be a MUSTANG,” Tiffany Brown.
Freeman White in combat training, Camp Pendleton, 1951.
Freeman White was born on March 19, 1930, and passed away on November 24, 2024. His lovely wife of 66 years, Wilma, preceded him in death on September 9, 2021. Freeman’s legacy as a Purple Heart recipient is an appropriate story to retell, as this is the season for the Wreaths Across America event. As the youngest of six brothers who all served in our country in war zones, Freeman signed up for the US Marine Corps in 1948. In December of 1950 he entered active duty — the Korean War had begun in June of that same year. Freeman’s combat training took place at Camp Pendleton, and afterwards he departed for Korea on a transport ship. It landed in Pusan, and from there his group flew north to an airstrip and boarded trucks to trek even farther north. This began his year-long duty in combat. In fact, combat began as the trucks traveled to their assignments, As the men received mortar shells, they bailed out of their trucks, took cover till firing ceased, then climbed back on board to continue as far as the trucks could go. (Some of these new soldiers actually lost their lives en route to their first duty station.) Freeman was assigned to Item Co, First Marine Division, 3rd Battalion. In his first battle, he was ordered to affix his bayonet, which he never had to used but said it was there to intimidate. Soon he advanced to the BAR (Browning Automatic Repeating rifle), which is a 30 caliber but fires like a machine gun, maintaining a low profile. He explains that…
A Called School board meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m., at the Devine Student Activity Center, 194 Arabian Way. To speak during Citizen’s Comments, which at the beginning of the meeting, try to sign up at least 10 minutes ahead of time.
By Catherine Richard Currently, the Devine School Board is deliberating on whether to switch to a four-day work week. The board requested more time to gather data, specifically on how the new schedule would affect preschool through kinder, but a decision will have to be made by Dec. 5. Devine ISD conducted a survey about the four-day schedule. A total of 956 responses were turned in. Of those, 58.3% supported the change and 41.7 opposed it. Todd Grandjean, the superintendent of Devine ISD, explained what a four-day work week would look like if it was implemented in Devine’s schools. What changes will be made to the schedule? The class days would likely begin at the same time, though they could “potentially start five minutes earlier,” according to Grandjean. With the school bus scheduling and the time of sunrise, starting earlier does not appear to be a good option. School days would last 30-40 minutes longer. This is where a lot of the lost time would be made up. School would likely begin about two weeks earlier in the fall on Aug. 10. The school year would end on the same day, May 31. “That isn’t set in stone,” said Grandjean. The official calendar for the 2025-2026 school year will not be created until the district makes a decision either way.
Currently, it is still up for discussion which day would be taken off, Monday or Friday. The polling that has been done among parents shows a positive lean in the direction of Friday. How would students be affected? There is no clear-cut data from La Vernia or Bandera on whether the four-day week results in an improvement or a regression in student performance on state assessments and attendance levels. “Student success is our ultimate goal,” said Grandjean. Teachers In surveys, teachers consistently list the two things that they need to accomplish their jobs: time and money. One argument for the four-day schedule is that it could give teachers extra time. Devine ISD has worked on “allocating resources for pay,” said Grandjean. “Now, more planning time.” Multiple teachers end up staying late and then going to the office on the weekend to get work done and prepare for the next week. “It’s not just a day to go the beach,” said Grandjean. The considered change is partly due to an issue that is moving throughout Texas, with teachers quitting at increasing rates. “This is designed to be able to recruit and retain the most talented teachers we can find,” Grandjean said. How would the four day week effect extracurricular activities? Sports and other extracurricular activities would be a continued priority, since they are “key components to our success,” said Grandjean. Pep rallies would probably be moved to Thursdays. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) schedules many events for Fridays. With Friday off, students would potentially have less of a struggle with games and practices interfering with normal classes. Are there any childcare programs for the off day? There are currently no plans for any childcare programs at Devine ISD, Grandjean said. Most of the schools that have offered such programs have done so with a third party organization. A called meeting was set for this Wednesday. See details in front page article.
PRESS RELEASE–It’s hard to believe that it has been 2 years since we lost our beloved Cailtin Jaworowski to Cancer. This town rallied behind Caitlin and the family while she was going through treatments. When we lost her, they continued to support the family in so many loving ways. So, in lieu of flowers it was decided that the kids needed to have a decorated yard for Christmas and so this is how it all began. In memory of Caitlin, Justin Jaworowski and the family wanted to help other families in similar situations. This year’s recipient is Cheyenne Alexis (Lexy) Martinez, daughter of Roland and Kayla (Sellers) Martinez, of Devine. Cheyenne was diagnosed on September 13, 2024, with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. All proceeds collected from this fundraiser will go directly to Cheyenne, better known as Lexy! Entry Forms & donations or just donations can be turned in at Country Gal’s Market located at 109 W Benton Ave, and The Devine News located at 216 S. Bright Street both located in Devine! There’s something to be said about living in a small town. Small town yes, but full of people with big hearts. Thank you will never be enough! ABOUT THE LIGHT CONTEST The first place prize will be $500 gift card donated by Alamo Truck Accessories and the 2nd place prize will be $250 donated by Vail Photography. To join the light contest, all you have to do is submit the entry form with any donation you want to make whether it’s $5 or $500. Make sure your lights are on December 21 and 22nd when judging will occur. Who’s eligible? Homes and businesses in Devine, Natalia, Moore and surrounding areas. Please submit a photo of your lights with your entry if you live outside city limits. Form on Page 9 and www.devinenews.com or pick up at Country Gals Market.
Every year Lytle holds its Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14th at the Lytle Community Center. Santa arrives at the Community Center to turn on the lights at the Community Center and Main Street. After the lighting, Santa accompanies the children and their guardians on his hayride. The 2024 Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride will start loading trailers at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 19031 Priest Blvd., Lytle, Tx. Admission is $1.00 or one canned good. For information call 830-709-3692. Please also join us at the Shops of Lytle at 15126 Main Street where we will have Santa’s Workshop with events for the kids to include an Ornament Workshop, the North Pole Post Office and Gingerbread Bakery. The event is brought to you by the City of Lytle, Lytle Chamber of Commerce, Pena Family, Patriot Automotive, Lytle VFW Post 12041 and HEB Plus. More info on page 2.
