Top News Stories – Page 32

Fun-draiser, live music, family fun @ Graff 7A Ranch Sunday, July 27

Proceeds of this benefit will go the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, serving 10 Central Texas counties: Bandera, Blanco, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Real and Uvalde.

Join the fun this Sunday, July 27 from 1-6pm, Rain or shine at Graff 7A Ranch. It’s located at 911 US Highway 90 E in Hondo.

Enjoy live music by Jamie Lin Wilson, Weston Ripps, Dudley Ilse, Briana Adams, Garrett Talamantes, Jeremy Richards, Jordan Guana, Mario Olivo, Justin Gallegos, Solis Brothers, and Chuck Wimer.
Other Entertainment includes World-renowned trick roper, Doug Whitaker, performing throughout the day.
The G-Bar-G Cantina will be open with drinks and treats for sale. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and freshly popped Kettle Corn. We allow outside food and drinks on the premises for this event, but no alcohol, please.
Family-friendly Activities:
Twin barrel train, Zippity Doo-Dah (zipline), Tres Toboggans (mega slide), Expression Swings and Construction Zone.
Adults $20 — Children 12 and under $10 — Age 2 and under free
Tickets at: www.simpletix.com/e/2025-flood-benefit-tickets-226479

Youth Sports registration open in Devine

Flag Football and Volleyball, sign up by Aug 4

The 2025 Devine Youth Sports Association’s Flag Football and Volleyball registration is now open. In addition, DYFL youth Tackle Football registration is also ongoing.
DYS Flag Football is offered from Kinder-6th grade. Volleyball is offered for 1st through 6th graders. Register by August 4.
The seasons start in September and more info can be found at the registration link below:
https://leagues.bluesombrero.com/devineyouthsports

Tackle Football Sign ups July 27 & Aug. 3
Two Divisions-JRs (3rd & 4th graders) & SRs (5th & 6th graders). Football signups will be held: Sunday, July 27th and Sunday, August 3rd from 11am-3pm @ 717 Tuttle Dr. Devine, Tx..
Registration fee is $100.00 & a copy of Birth Certificate is required when registering. If questions, contact Jack Zimmerle 210.215.4944.

Finance expert predicts Devine tax collections at $1.45 million

By Anton Riecher
City of Devine ad valorem tax collection for fiscal year 2024-2025 is projected at $1.45 million, up significantly from the $1.27 million collected the previous year, a municipal finance expert reported to the city council at its July 15 budget workshop.
Christine Green delivered a general overview in the council’s first budget workshop for the upcoming fiscal year.
“As far as your ad valorem collections I do know that property tax values throughout the state have been increasing a little bit, but it really stayed pretty flat for most cities I work at,” Green said.
In Texas, municipalities collect ad valorem property taxes, which are based on the value of real and personal property, to fund local services streets, police and fire.
Current property tax collection as of May 2025 has already exceeded projections by about $112,000, Green 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!

ESD1 proposes to take over operations for Devine fire and ambulance services

By Anton Riecher
A proposal that Castroville-based Medina County Emergency Services District No. 1 assume responsibility for fire protection in Devine following financial impropriety at the local VFD was presented to the local ESD2 board at its July 15 meeting here.
Unlike its takeover of firefighting in Hondo last year, ESD1 Fire Chief Clint Cooke said volunteers would continue to be the essential mainstay of local firefighting but under administrative structures revised to emphasize greater communication with the community.
“There are ways to accomplish that and honor the history of the Devine Volunteer Fire Department while still cleaning up the business side,” he said.
Earlier this month, Cooke also made a presentation to the ESD4 board on extending ESD1 ambulance operations to Devine and Natalia as an alternative to the current contract with commercial provider Allegiance Mobile Health.

Video coverage of the meeting is posted on the Devine News YouTube channel.

While ESD1 could potentially operate local ambulance service alone, Cooke 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!

Devine school board approves work on tennis courts, softball fields

By Anton Riecher
The Devine school board voted unanimously Monday to approve the construction of district tennis courts and renovation of the softball field.
On a motion by Carl Brown, seconded by Henry Moreno, the board voted 7-0 to contract with Cuerro-based Weaver and Jacobs Construction for the $542,507 softball field renovation. The project includes a $100,000 contingency fund.
The project includes new fencing and enlarging the backstop from 16 feet to 20 feet high.
On the tennis court project, the board voted 7-0 to contract with Austin-based Hellis Construction, previously responsible for the district’s track renovation. The motion by Brown was seconded by Chris Davis.
District Superintendent Todd Grandjean said the tennis court project will begin August 4 with completion scheduled for mid-November. The contingency allowance for the project is $200,000.
Grandjean said the two bids under consideration were so close in price that scheduling became the prime factor in his recommendation.
The board also voted to approve the purchase of a new 77 passenger school bus utilizing a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant authorizing the replacement of a pre-2007 diesel fuel school bus. Cost of the purchase is not to exceed $155,000.
“One of the things this has helped us do is put our kids in safer, more reliable transportation for about half the cost,” Grandjean said.
On a motion by Brown, seconded by Moreno, the purchase was approved on a 7-0 board vote. The bus will be the last purchased on the TCEQ grant.
In his administrative report, Grandjean said the district principals are back at work in preparation for the new school year.
“As leaders, they are spending these early day reviewing data from previous years and finalizing master schedules, coordinating professional development and insuring that the facilities are ready for the kids and the teachers,” Grandjean said.
Construction crews are busy jackhammering the approaches to the high school in preparation for traffic control improvements, he said. Permits were signed Monday with the Texas Department of Transportation for the installation of new culverts.
Unfortunately, cosmetology labs will not be completed in time for the new school year, Grandjean said.
“We were hoping that they would be open the first day of school, but the mill work on the cabinets and storage areas will not be delivered until Sept. 10,” he said. Cosmetology classrooms will be ready for use.
At the middle school, new wall have gone up along the rear of the building. However, new dressing rooms for the campus are behind schedule.
For at least the first seven days of the new school year girls will have to dress in the science labs while boys will use the teaching suite, Grandjean said.
At the elementary campus, a new concrete slab is scheduled to be poured Wednesday with structural steel slated to arrive next week, he said.

Lytle council tables action on closing portion of public street to provide parking

By Anton Riecher
Action to close a portion of Davis Street to provide parking for a local sports bar was tabled by the Lytle City Council Monday pending further negotiations with the bar owners.
Meanwhile, the bar, 702 Tejas, was granted a temporary waiver to the city noise ordinance to accommodate live entertainment planned for Aug. 30 ending at midnight.
The bar recently lost access to much of the local parking when a nearby doughnut shop chose to fence its property, City Administrator Zachary Meadows. The small portion of Davis Street under consideration is unusual in that it is divided by a tree in the right-of-way.
Asked for his opinion by Mayor Pro Tem David Emery, Police Chief Richard Priest said that the tree limits much of the access the street provides for emergency response vehicles.
“I’m not normally in favor of cities getting rid of roads but if there ever was a case for it this would probably be it,” Priest said.
With Mayor Ruben Gonzalez and District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes absent, the quorum of three opted to postpone any final decision on the sale pending an appraisal paid for by the bar owners.
With regard to the ordinance waiver, Meadows said the action is similar to requests made by various local organizations for special occasions.
Leaders spend 50 minutes in Executive Session on water issue
Following more than 50 minutes in closed executive session, the council voted 3-0 to authorize Meadows to enter into negotiations with the Edwards Aquifer Authority to reach a settlement in some undisclosed dispute. He is also authorized to negotiate the possible purchase of additional water rights.
The council also reviewed several points with regard to a…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!

Alijah hopes for a family “who will love him forever”

Alijah is a very energetic 10-year-old who likes to constantly be engaged in something whether it is drawing, coloring, or playing with his toys.
When it comes to school, he enjoys learning and likes homework time, and is proud of what he has learned.
He really likes school, as it gives him a chance to interact with his peers and participate in sports, especially basketball and football.
As to his future education, Alijah is still young and does not have any specific career goals at the moment, but knows he wants to attend college. Currently, he likes to make YouTube videos as a hobby.
Alijah likes dogs and wishes that one day he can own a dog of his own. He really likes listening to music and playing his maracas along to the tunes. When asked about favorite meals, he says its Church’s Chicken.
For his future forever family – Alijah says he would like to be adopted by a two parent household, with a mom and dad “who will love him forever”.
If you think you could be a forever family for Alijah or another Texas child, please call 1-800-233-3405 for more information or visit www.adoptchildren.org where you can find a schedule of online public information meetings. You can also view the www.heartgallerystx.org website, where South Texas children have their portraits along with individual personal stories they wish to share, with their future forever family.

Benefit at Cora’s to help Texas Flood Victims

by Joseph Ramon
Intern
This Thursday July 17 at 6 p.m. Cora’s 471 Grill will be hosting an evening of live music and great food to support the victims of the Texas floods in Kerr County. The event is hosted by singer/songwriter, Houston Marchman, who will be performing alongside Jamie Lin Wilson, Keith Lutz, and Selestial Alcoser. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds go to Texas flood victims.
“It’s a horrendous thing that we watched happen up there and I have a lot of friends that are living in and around you know the area all the way to Kerrville and it’s a really serious tragedy and so you feel a little helpless,” said Marchman.. “I talked to Chuck, he and his wife own Cora’s 471 grill and in this small way we can give back a little bit and so it’s you know we’re neighbors and we need to help.”
This is not Marchman’s first attempt at…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!

Medina commissioners okay 2nd school officer to protect Lytle campuses

By Anton Riecher
With a single candle burning, lights were lowered in the Medina County Commissioners Court chambers for 106 seconds Monday to commemorate the lives lost in the devastating July 4 flooding that swept the Texas Hill Country.
County Judge Keith Lutz led those gathered for the commissioners’ court session in prayer.
“Dear Lord, we come here with heavy hearts this morning following the last ten days of sadness for our neighbors and our fellow Texans,” Lutz said. “We pray that you will comfort those who have experienced unimaginable loss and grief.”
He also asked that the light of the burning candle “remind us that you are the light and that you will lead us through darkness.”
Lutz also thanked the many Medina County citizens who assisted in the search and rescue operations following the flood.
“We’re just very thankful to have a county, a group of citizens, that step up and help our neighbors in times like these,” he said.
As of Tuesday morning, the toll of those still missing in Kerr County stands at 97.
Action taken by commissioners during the Monday hearing included approval of an interlocal agreement with Lytle ISD to provide campus security for the 2025-2026 school year by assigning two Medina County Sheriff’s Office deputies to serve as school resource officers on Lytle campuses.
“As discussed in the budget workshop, Lytle ISD has requested a second school resource officer,” Lutz said. “This agreement will supersede the agreement currently in place.”
On a motion by Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre, seconded by Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, the commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the agreement. Precinct 4 Commissioner Danny Lawler was absent from the Monday meeting.
Assistant Criminal District Attorney Margaret Swyers said the Lytle school board is scheduled to take up the matter at their May 28 meeting.
In financial matters, First Assistant County Auditor Jennifer Konegni reported that cash on hand stands at $29.07 million as of July 1. County Treasurer Debra Graff reported accounts payable totaling $407,474 with commissioners approving payment.
Graff also reported disbursement of funds totaling $79,261 since the last commissioners’ court meeting to cover fuel, utilities and dental claims.
In the monthly report for May, Graff reported an ending cash balance of $32.611 million against a debt total of $20.845 million.
Commissioners also approved a final plat establishing units one, two and three of the Talley Ho subdivision in Precinct 1 on Highway 211 on a motion by Precinct 1 Commissioner Jessica Castiglione.
Following nearly an hour in closed executive session, commissioners voted 3-0 on a motion by Castiglione to allow Judge Lutz to enter into negotiations regarding economic development with an undisclosed group identified only as Cyrus.

Kerr County death toll tops 100, with 161 still missing

Search teams have recovered 103 bodies in Kerr County after the devastating July 4 floods along the Guadalupe River, with Gov. Greg Abbott saying at least 161 people were still unaccounted for.
President Donald Trump visited the area on Friday to survey the damage, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The president promised the federal government would “fully fund” recovery efforts.
The statewide total of flooding deaths stood at 126 as of Sunday, including eight recovered in neighboring Kendall County from the Guadalupe River flooding, and separate flooding incidents in Travis, Williamson and Burnet counties.
Forecasts by the National Weather Service predicted much less rainfall than actually fell in Kerr County, with early predictions having the storm hit hardest near the Rio Grande. Two days before the flood, the Texas Division of Emergency Management staged rescue equipment and personnel in San Antonio, according to the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by the Central Texas counties, according to the State Bar of Texas. That assistance includes assistance in securing government benefits, help with insurance claims, and other issues. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid can be contacted toll-free at 833-329-8752.
Mexican firefighters assist in flood recovery
A 13-person crew from Mexico joined Texas firefighters in rescue efforts in the Texas Hill Country, the Texas Standard reported. The firefighters are highly trained in search-and-rescue efforts and have volunteered all over the world.
The crew is composed of members from the Rescate Acuático de Protección Civil y Bomberos de Acuña, Coahuila, in coordination with Fundación 911. Ismael Aldaba is president of the foundation.
“Our guys have experienced [missions] worldwide. They’ve been traveling to earthquakes. They’ve been traveling to tsunamis in other parts of the world,” he said. “This is way different. This is the worst we’ve seen.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the crew for its work in Texas.
“The sense of solidarity and brotherhood characterizes us and must always characterize us,” she said. “No matter the circumstances, Mexicans lend a hand to those who suffer, to those left behind.”
Flood response now tops special session agenda
The July 21 special session called by Abbott includes addressing the July 4 flood, including improving early warning systems and infrastructure in flood zones, beefing up emergency communications, funding for affected areas and updating state preparedness and recovery procedures, The Dallas Morning News reported.
“We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come,” Abbott said in a proclamation issued last week. “There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future.”
A total of 18 items are on the special session agenda, including congressional redistricting, regulation of hemp-derived products, and further reducing property taxes. Redistricting is sure to spark controversy, as the Republican majority seeks to expand its grip on the state’s congressional seats. Any new redistricting maps almost certainly would face legal challenges.
Only the governor can call a special session, which is limited to 30 days, though he can call as many as he wants between regular biennial sessions.
Angela Paxton files for divorce from Texas AG Paxton
State Sen. Angela Paxton last Thursday filed for divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The McKinney legislator cited “recent discoveries” and “biblical grounds” in a statement on the social media site X.
“I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation,” she wrote. “But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage.”
The announcement came just weeks after Paxton announced he is running against incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in next spring’s GOP primary.
The divorce filing accused Paxton of adultery and says the couple stopped living together in June 2024. She is seeking what the petition calls a “disproportionate share” of the couple’s assets because of her husband’s alleged fault in the breakup of the marriage.
The attorney general issued a statement about 20 minutes after his wife.
“After facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives,” he wrote.
Perry wants to build nuclear complex in West Texas
Former Gov. Rick Perry has co-founded a company he says plans to build the country’s largest nuclear complex on nearly 6,000 acres owned by Texas Tech University, according to the Houston Chronicle. Perry, who also served as energy secretary during Trump’s first term, is promoting the Advanced Energy and Artificial Intelligence Center.
His company, Fermi America, claims it would be the world’s largest data center campus. Tech companies would be able to rent space to pursue artificial intelligence efforts. Fermi America’s executive chairman, Toby Neugebauer, said tech companies are desperate for electricity. The company plans to construct four large-scale nuclear reactors, capable of generating sufficient electricity to power approximately 1 million homes.
“Fermi America is in the artificial intelligence creation business. We’re not in the power business,” Neugebauer said. He added that what is missing in artificial intelligence is not chips or algorithms — it’s the power needed to fuel data centers.
The ambitious project faces hurdles. The country’s nuclear energy industry has built just one nuclear plant in the past 35 years, in Burke County, Georgia. That project ended up seven years late and $17 billion over budget. In contrast, China has built 22 nuclear reactors to power AI, Perry said in a company statement.
“We’re behind, and it’s all hands on deck,” he said.
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, and Cedar Park. Email:gborders@texaspress.com.