A large fire completely destroyed one apartment, but displaced all of them including around 10-15 people, according to Chief Richey Priest. Lytle Fire was paged to Lynda’s Island apartments on Main Street around 6:06 PM that evening, and remained on scene for several hours doing everything they could. They were assisted by area departments including Natalia Volunteer Fire. Chief Priest noted that Red Cross came to the aide of residents who were displaced.
Mrs. Parson said they could also use a cooler to put ice in as they rebuild, and most of all, help from electricians. “There is no housing available that is affordable, so we all choose to stay here and rebuild,” Mrs. Parson said. If you would like to volunteer to help or make a donation, contact: Lynda Parson 210-827-4100 *Mailing address: PO Box 493 Lytle Tx 7805
Little is being released about the FBI’s presence in Medina County this past week. However, an arrest was made that day. “The operation went down without any problems. Mission complete,” said Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown. There were shots fired in the area that day, which caused alarm in the community, but it was not at the location where the FBI search was taking place, he explained. “I cannot say anything other than that we were asked to assist the FBI, and I would like to reassure residents that everyone is safe,” Sheriff Brown said. Brown could not confirm the location of the search which was in the Castroville area according to other brief media reports.
The case in Devine which began with a bailout involving ten suspects in the early morning hours, finally wrapped up with two final apprehensions in Devine near the end of the day. One suspect was in someone’s apartment sitting in the recliner when officers walked in, Devine PD said.
A suspect hauling 10 illegal immigrants from El Salvador was spiked as it came flying into Devine around 8:45 in the morning, but the suspects continued on quite a wild ride resulting in an hours-long ordeal this past Monday, March 13. “DPS spiked the vehicle in front of their office on Hwy 132, but the pursuit continued, veering off to the left, going through the Shell gas station parking lot, then onto East Hondo Avenue near four corners, and down several city streets until the car eventually came to a stop,” Devine PD Chris Andrews said. The bailout finally happened along the railroad tracks north of Dilley Street (across from Savannah’s Carwash).
“There’s barbwire from all over Frio County under this pickup truck,” said one landowner in Bigfoot/Moore after repairing fences this truck busted through. This bailout was going on in Moore, the night before the search on Devine streets. The driver of this F250 ran through many fences on some of the same ranches that were hit twice in the past two weeks. Photo courtesy of Bryan Persyn.
“All ten of them jumped out and started running in all directions. Some of them ran at least a mile,” Lieutenant Andrews said. “We captured eight of them, with some who ran as far as Fox Run/Libold that morning.” One local resident, Ms. Bales, spotted the two men around 9 AM, and another local resident captured this photo several hours later of one of the same suspects she spotted, wearing red clothes and a mohawk as he was taken into custody. “This morning I called 911. I saw two young men running through my front yard, jumped over my 6 foot privacy fence, through my back yard and then out my back gate.” The search for people who bailed out occupied the departments time from 8:45 AM- Noon, and again from 1:45PM-5PM , when they were back at it, searching for the other two men who were still unaccounted for. One of the subjects was found in an apartment on Malone Drive. When we walked in he was sitting in the recliner eating potato chips. The second man was found hiding in a shed on Howard Drive. “We just handed them over to Border Patrol a few minutes ago,” Lieutenant Andrews said around 5 pm. Most of the subjects claimed to be from El Salvador and a couple from Honduras, according to Devine PD.
By Anton Riecher Charges that voting machines used in Medina County are not properly certified under state regulations is the latest in a series of allegations alleging election irregularities made to county commissioners. Jarrett Woodward, plaintiff in several lawsuits charging voter irregularities in Bexar County, addressed the commissioners March 9 during the public comment portion of the regular session agenda. “The (Texas) secretary of state, in my opinion, has committed fraud upon the county by presenting uncertified voting systems as certified and trying to allow you to use them,” Woodward said. Those speaking during the public comment period are limited to three minutes under the rules. However, Woodward’s time at the podium was extended when others scheduled to speak ceded their time to him. For complete video coverage of the commissioners court session visit the Devine News YouTube channel at youtu.be/i7lxdZE-5ug. Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, presiding over the meeting in the absence of County Judge Keith Lutz, later told the audience that he had been informed that speakers were not allowed to surrender their time to others. “Consider this a freebie,” Lynch said. “It will not happen again.” Woodward said that in Texas voting machines must be certified for use by a “nationally recognized test laboratory” chosen from a list provided by the state. However, he found at least two important items on the certificate for the voting system used in Medina County to be missing or incorrect. The certificate of accreditation is not signed by the chair of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) as required, Woodward said. Also, the administrative code requires that it must have an expiration date that cannot exceed more than two years, he said. Medina County uses the Hart InterCivic Verity 2.5 voting system. The certificate for that system carries an expiration date of three years, not two. “I’m not up here accusing anyone of any intentional wrong doing,” Woodward said. “I think that the secretary of state is kind of where your focus needs to be going to rectify this.” Woodward said that the courts had found he lacked legal standing to file action in Bexar County regarding these issues. “Because I’m a normal citizen the courts find that I don’t have standing – as a voter – so the whole concept of one person, one vote is great outside of court but it doesn’t work in the courtroom,” Woodward said. Medina County commissioners should be concerned that if the certification question becomes a legal issue in the future ultimate responsibility for whether the system was properly accredited could fall on them, Woodward said. “I think that you guys have a good opportunity in front of you to show the rest of Texas that voter integrity is a top priority in Medina County,” he said. Whitney Riley and Mona Wolters, two of the scheduled speakers who ceded their time to Woodward have made allegations of voting irregularities during previous commissioners court sessions. Riley served as the Republican county election judge and Wolters served as a Republican precinct election judge during the November 2022 general election. Like Riley and Wolters, Woodward urged the commissioners to consider a return to hand-marked, hand counted paper ballots. In response the concerns brought up in recent meetings, the Medina Democratic Chair Sandy Young, wrote to the News: “Just want to make a slight correction to the article on the Commissioners Court meeting about the LATs. It was not only Lupe Torres, the Election Administrator and I, as stated in the article, who worked on finding the errors they made intentionally or otherwise. The Republican Chair, Julie Clark also worked on it with us and it took the 3 of us 14 hours working closely together to identify the errors and make the corrections. Contrary to their assertion that their sabotage proves that the Hart Machines are faulty, because of the cross checking ability we had with the Hart machines newly added paper backup, the LATs actually proved how well they work. Thank you for reporting these things. Hope that it’s helpful.”
SUBDIVISIONS The following three items were approved by the commissioners on motions by Precinct 1 Commissioner Timothy Neuman, seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre: Preliminary approval to vacate and replat a tract of the Mi Terra subdivision, unit one, into two tracts each slightly more than five acres. The tracts provide 16.36 feet of frontage on County Road 340 in Precinct 1. Final approval of El Tejano Ranch subdivision consisting of four lots with approval for water and electric service. The subdivision is located in Precinct 1 at the intersection of CR4401 and CR442. Preliminary approval of Freundlicher Bauernhof (Friendly Farm) subdivision in Precinct 1 off FM 2676. The subdivision consists of five lots with the Texas Department of Transportation scheduled of start on entrances soon. On a motion by Precinct 4 Commissioner Daniel Lawler, seconded by Sittre, the commissioners approved action on approval of an exemption to subdivision rules regarding the division of a tract of Nockenut Woods subdivision into two 6.5 acre tracts without street entrances. Lawler explained that the owner wish to use the tracts as a “cushion” between their property and the new subdivision. On a motion by Lynch, seconded by Lawler, the commissioners gave preliminary approval for Canal Verde subdivision, a 32-acre property in Precinct 3 at the intersection of CR672 and CR6712. The proposal involved dividing the property into 11 lots, the smallest of which would be 1.74 acres. On a motion by Lynch, also seconded by Lawler, the commissioners gave preliminary approval for Medina Meadows West subdivision in Precinct 3 at the intersection of CR512 and CR515. The subdivision consists of 13 lots.
FINANCES In a report from County Auditor Eduardo Lopez, Medina County showed a beginning balance of $34.3 million in March with $21.4 million in the general fund. Lopez said the amount was high due to a large amount of tax revenue received in February. By comparison, the February beginning balance was $21.3 million with $13.4 million in the general fund. A report by County Treasurer Debbie Southwell showed the county with $22.7 million in January against $25 million in debt owed. Accounts payable totaled $687,170 and was approved by the commissioners. Also approved was a line-item transfer of $5,400 to purchase uniforms and cover other juvenile youth services expenses.
GRANTS On a recommendation by county officials business management consultant Grantworks was awarded the contract as services provider for the 2023-2024 Texas Department of Agriculture Community Development Block Grant application. To serve as engineering firm for the application, the commissioners chose RESPEC Engineering which scored a 98 in an assessment by a technical committee established by the county. The competing firm scored 89 in the assessment. On a motion by Neuman, seconded by Sittre, the commissioners approved a resolution to submit an application for a 2023-2024 Texas Community Development Block Grant in support of an East Medina County Special Utility District project in the CR5710 area. EMCSUD Superintendent Bruce Alexander said the project was repeat of an application that was previously turned down. “The grant was originally $350,000 but I’ve been told it might go as high as $500,000 to help cover some of the increased cost,” Alexander said. The annual grant application is generally rotated among the various county water systems, he said.
PURCHASE Commissioners approved an equipment and training purchase totaling $51,834 for a miniature X-ray machine to be used by the sheriff’s office for traffic stops. Deputy Chief Gilbert Ramirez said the machine would be used to check for narcotics concealed inside tires or hidden compartments. “It can be done on the roadway instead of taking it to a shop to be disassembled,” Ramirez said. First Assistant County Auditor Rubi Cline said the purchase would be cover from grant funds.
LEASE On a motion by Neuman, seconded by Lynch, a leasing agreement for more than 40 copiers was approved with Toshiba at a monthly cost of $7,319, more than $2,500 less than the nearest bid out of four submitted. Some overlap is expected as the current lease with Xerox is phased out, Cline said. Issues had developed with the Xerox contract, she said, particularly with regard to the sheriff’s office. “They are the office that has to be running 24/4,” she said. “We have to keep them going.”
A few days after her 41st birthday, Kristin Fohn Byrd, known around Devine as, “The Baking Byrd,” (for her amazing cupcakes), went to work like any other day. In the blink of an eye she suffered a severe headache and collapsed in her office; she was rushed to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with a brain bleed. She was treated successfully and able to return home in early December with the expectation of making a full recovery with outpatient rehab. Unfortunately, that was short lived. Just two weeks later, she suffered serious complications and returned to the hospital just before Christmas, where she remains. She has undergone 11 surgeries to help her brain heal. Kristin is surrounded by family, friends, and amazing medical professionals. There are still many unknowns at this time, but we do know she is likely to need several more weeks and at least one more procedure before she can begin rehabilitating again. Her recovery this time will take much longer than originally expected. We invite you to come out to show your support for the Byrd Family (Husband Johnny, Daughter Brynlea, and Son Becker) on Saturday, March 11th at the Devine VFW Hall. BBQ Plate sales start at 11am until sold out. There will be a Corn Hole Tournament, Silent Auction and Dance. For questions contact organizers: Stacie (210) 410-4712, Brandi (210) 508-2489, or Kristen (210) 218-1552.
Tickets are on sale now for a big event coming up soon in Devine. On Saturday April 15, all of your favorite characters will be appearing at Devine Acres Farm for a meet and greet! The San Antonio Singing Princesses will also be performing this morning. While the exact character showtimes are still to be determined, Devine Acres will open the farm at 10 am. Your tickets include entry into the farm which has 50+ family fun activities for kids including catch and release fishing, a giant jumping pad, gem mining, hayrides, several playgrounds, a race track, barnyard animals, and much more. Families are welcome to stay for the Concert Under the Stars in the evening with live music by Keith Lutz and also the Drug Store Cowboys.
RESERVE YOUR FAMILY FUN DAY TICKETS NOW which include your entry to the farm and also getting to meet all of your favorite TV characters, as well as the evening concert: https://atcp.ticketspice.com/audrey-janes-light-2023 SHOW TIMES TO BE DETERMINED BUT FARM activities OPEN AT 10am
ALSO… PRINCESS & the PROTECTORS themed Fun Run Some Run….Calling girls and boys of all ages! Dress up like your favorite Princess or your favorite superhero Protector and join us in the fun run at 8:30 AM April 15th. If you sign up for the run, you will also get a day pass ticket.
All ticket sales will benefit the A-T Children’s Project in their mission to find a cure for a rare disease affecting more kids in Texas than anywhere else in the United States. This event is held in honor of little Audrey Capps, 5 of Devine, who is one of 40 people in Texas battling this disease.
There will also be a Silent Auction, Live Auction, and Food and Drinks for Sale to benefit Audrey’s family in their fight to find a cure.
The City of Devine will hold two Public Hearings on the on the $15.02 Million Dollar Bond proposed for drainage and flood control improvements. The voters will have the chance of voting for or against the bond during the May 6, 2023 elections at city hall. The council and mayor want the voters a choice to decide if they feel the need for the drainage projects with the understanding it will increase taxes and max out the tax rate and ability to borrow money for the next 20 years. One drainage project starts on Libold near the golf course and ends near the funeral home with changes to Burnt Boot Creek to accommodate the extra flow. The other drainage project that will also feed into Burnt Book Creek is to alleviate issues on Crouch Street.
You are invited to the public meetings which will be on Tuesday, March 14th at 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 28th at 6:00 p.m. in the George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue beside the library. The hearings will be in relation to the $15.02 Million Dollar Bond for drainage work which will be paid for with the levying of a tax increase. All interested parties, individuals or groups are encouraged to attend the hearing and participate in the discussion about the city’s bond election and ask questions. For additional information, please call the city at 830-663-2804.
Voting Early voting starts on April 24 and run to May 2 from 8am to 5 pm. Earl and late voting hours 7am-7pm on May 1 & 2. And one Saturday voting day Saturday, April 29 from 9am to 2pm. All at city hall. Election Day is Saturday, May 6 from 7am to 7pm. The City of Devine early voting and election day voting will all take place at city hall.
Nearly 100 years ago, the Lytle boys basketball took their game to State, and here we are again in 2023. The Lytle Pirates Basketball team is on fire, and making history. Siren escorts led them out of town as they headed for the big game and the feeling was electric as sirens brought them back into town as Regional Champs. It was smooth sailing as the Pirates cruised to a 67-33 victory over London last week, claiming the Regional title and are now Statebound! The Pirates will play in the State Semifinals on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 3pm at the Alamodome in San Antonio. All Lytle ISD campuses will have an early out so the community can attend the game. There is lots of talent and heart on the roster led by six seniors this year. Teammates are: Jordan Balderaz- Sr., Malakai Castro-Sr., Eli Vega-Sr., Jaelen Guevara-Sr., Tomas Benavidez-Sr, Zachary Perez-So., Andres Cardenas-Sr, Brandon Obando-Jr., Andrew Gonzales-Jr., Chase Guevara-Fresh, Derrick Diaz-Jr., Tristen Guevara-Jr. Demetrius Lopez-Sr., Lee Mills-Fresh.
By Anton Riecher
By a 6-0 vote the Devine ISD board of trustees voted Thursday (Feb. 16) to place a $31 million bond issue designated for “safety and security” improvements on the May election ballot.
On a motion by Chris Davis, seconded by board vice president Henry Moreno, the board approved two propositions for the May ballot. Both propositions would be supported by a tax increase if passed.
By Anton Riecher By a 6-0 vote the Devine ISD board of trustees voted Thursday (Feb. 16) to place a $31 million bond issue designated for improvements on the May election ballot. On a motion by Chris Davis, seconded by board vice president Henry Moreno, the board approved two propositions for the May ballot. Both propositions would be supported by a tax increase if passed. Complete video coverage of the school board special meeting is posted on the Devine News’ YouTube channel at youtu.be/iaZF6xhsJVo. Proposition A calls for $31 million on bond money for various projects such as a new district band hall, relocating high school administrative offices, improved site security through fencing and enclosed sidewalk corridors and a new early childhood center at Ciavarra Elementary.
Proposition B- on the ballot will call for for $1.2 million to cover new tennis courts and improvements to the stadium required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Any recreational things such as the stadium has to be put on a separate proposition,” board president Nancy Pepper said. Yet to be determined is if funds for improvements to the district’s special education building will be used for renovations or to replace the aging structure altogether. “We’re possibly going to build a new one rather than rescue the present building,” Pepper said. The pressure of record inflation weighed against equally dramatic increases in property appraisals colored much of the closing debate. Pepper said the board’s long term policy on handling the district’s debt rate put it in an improved position to pursue the bond issue. “Instead of lowering our debt rate every year as we paid off our bonds we kept it the same,” Pepper said. Now, by means of a defeasance, the district has set aside sufficient funds to cover a large portion of the debt associated with the new bond issue. In effect, the district has nearly $11 million to apply toward the new bond issue, Pepper said. “Because we’ve done that we could have called for as much as an $11 million bond issue and it would not have raised our taxes,” Pepper said. Still, board members questioned whether it might be better to wait until the next available election date in November. Others suggested using the May election as a test for what voters might view more favorably if it were put forward again in November. Board member Renee Frieda said that course of action would not show the board in the best light. “We could always go out (in May) and then go out again in November,” Frieda said. “But does that make us look organized and thoughtful.” On hand for the final debate were financial consultant Robert Tijerina of Tijerina Galvan and Lawrence and bond consultant Rose Kanusky of McCall Parkhurst and Horton. Casey Sledge of Sledge Engineering, construction consultants to the district, also addressed the council. Board member Carl Brown was absent from the special meeting.
A message from Devine ISD on upcoming bond election….
DISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call for a $33.2 million bond election for Saturday, May 6, 2023. The decision was made at a called meeting, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.
Two propositions will be on the ballot. All projects are recommended with the priority given to improving the safety and security of DISD campuses and students. Proposition A recommends projects at all four campuses and the special education building. High school projects encompass measures to increase security, which include moving the DHS office downstairs and remodeling the current space into classrooms. Also on the list are a new band hall, and converting the existing band hall into a black-box theater. (A black-box theater is a simple space, typically a square room with black walls and a flat floor that will be used as a classroom for theater classes.) Recommended projects at the middle school are an expansion of the boys and girls locker rooms, expanding the library, and a repurposing/remodeling of the cafeteria. At the intermediate school, a secure vestibule (entrance) is recommended to increase safety and security. Ciavarra Elementary recommended improvements include closing in all outdoor corridors, a new building that will include office space with a secure vestibule, early childhood center, including PreK and special education classrooms, a gym and dining area, and improvements to the drop-off and pick-up areas. The new facility will bring the youngest children much closer to the central campus. A total of $2.5 million of the bond is allocated to renovating/expanding or building a new special education building. The current space at the facility is too small to accommodate the current number of staff members, meeting rooms, etc. “After results of the bond election, we will determine the most cost-effective way to proceed with the special ed building,” Dr. Grandjean said. Bond election regulations require recreation facilities to be separate propositions; therefore, Proposition B recommends the addition of four new tennis courts, doubling what is in existence currently. “We are planning to have discussions with all aspects of the community, citizens, clubs–everyone. We will do these in-person and also on a virtual platform,” Dr. Grandjean said. The current interest and sinking tax rate will not increase on the first $11.665 million of the bond. After that there will be a $0.1807 per $100 valuation tax rate increase to the interest and sinking rate. (Interest and sinking is the budget that pays for debt that has been incurred by prior bond sales. The maintenance and operating side includes all the day-to-day running of the district. Bonds can be sold for facilities, purchase of buses, technology.) That increase will bring the total DISD tax rate to $1.2753 per $100 valuation pending maintenance and operation tax rate compression at the end of the current legislative session. The following table assumes the Local Homestead Exemption of $40,000.
A few days after her 41 st birthday, Kristin Fohn Byrd, known around Devine as, “The Baking Byrd,” (for her amazing cupcakes), went to work like any other day. In the blink of an eye she suffered a severe headache and collapsed in her office, she was rushed to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with a brain bleed. She was treated successfully and able to return home in early December with the expectation of making a full recovery with outpatient rehab. Unfortunately, that was short lived. Just two weeks later, she suffered serious complications and returned to the hospital just before Christmas, where she remains. She has undergone 11 surgeries to help her brain heal. Kristin is surrounded by family, friends, and amazing medical professionals. There are still many unknowns at this time, but we do know she is likely to need several more weeks and at least one more procedure before she can begin rehabilitating again. Her recovery this time will take much longer than originally expected. We invite you to come out to show your support for the Byrd Family (Husband Johnny, Daughter Brynlea, and Son Becker) on Saturday, March 11 th at the Devine VFW Hall. BBQ Plate sales start at 11am until sold out, there will be a Corn Hole Tournament, Silent Auction and Dance. For questions contact organizers: Stacie (210) 410-4712, Brandi (210) 508-2489, or Kristen (210) 218-1552.
