MM Meyers of Moore, Texas with her newly released book which can be ordered on Amazon.
So what would you do if while out playing at your grandparent’s ranch you find a pocketwatch? What if this pocket watch has special powers and you happen to find this out totally by accident? What if that special power is to take you to other places and times? Mrs. Mary Meyers, of Moore, is thrilled to announce that her first book has been published, a dream come true for this talented Grandma. “My grandchildren and I wrote this book called Pocketwatch Portal Adventure, and it was just released on Amazon,” Myers said. Her grandkids Justice age 10, Teddy age 9, Ellie 6, and baby Artie 3, all contributed on this book. “This book was written for their daddy, their real life hero. Please keep him and his unit in prayer as he heads on a very long deployment.” You can find the book on Amazon. Her author name is MM Myers if anyone trys to look up books on Amazon. As summarized on this listing, “This enchanting children’s book weaves together…
By Anton Riecher A public hearing on a proposed Devine city tax rate of 59 cents per $100 valuation has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the city community center. The city council voted 5-0 on the proposal during a budget workshop held Aug. 27. “We honestly would like to see consideration for the 59 cent tax rate which would generate some $100,000 extra,” City Administrator David Jordan told the council during the budget workshop. The present municipal tax rate is $.55 per $100 valuation. Discussion during the workshop session covered topics as diverse as election expenses, longevity pay, city vehicles and police overtime. District 4 Council Member Josh Ritchey expressed concern about the prospect of reduced sales tax influenced by election year economic issues. District 5 Council Member Debbie Randall said she considered the proposed tax rate a “very conservative number.” “I’ve always said we need to live within our means,” Randall said. “But if we’re going to go to 59 cents I think at least the numbers are conservative enough.” In other action, the council approved a motion to proceed with negotiations with Maguire Iron, Inc. to refurbish the city’s main above ground water storage tank near Warhorse Stadium. The motion by District 3 Council Member Jeff Miller, seconded by District 2 Council Member Michael Hernandez, also involves…
Press Release by Devine PD–On September 1, 2024, at 1:21 PM, Officers from the Devine Police Department responded to a disturbance at Walmart, located at 175 IH 35, involving two males. Upon arrival, Officers spoke with Alex Rosen, who is part of Predator Poachers, a group that conducts online investigations into the sexual solicitation of minors.
Rosen stated that the other individual, identified as Eric Rey Castillo, age 25, had come to Walmart to engage in sexual activities with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old boy.
Rosen provided the Officers printed messages exchanged between Castillo and the purported minor, whom Rosen was impersonating.
After being informed of his Miranda Rights, Castillo stated he knew the boy was not real but insisted he needed to verify this for himself. He claimed his visit to Devine was motivated by a need for mental “help” and anticipated police presence. Castillo was subsequently arrested and transported to the Medina County Jail, facing charges of Online Solicitation of a Minor, a second-degree felony. A second-degree felony in Texas can result in 2–20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Press Release–The Medina County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce a significant breakthrough in a decades-old cold case. After nearly 45 years of persistent investigative efforts, an unidentified body discovered off Red Wing Road, now County Road 371 Castroville, TX in 1979 has now been positively identified as Gary Alan Robbins.
On November 26, 1979, the remains of an unidentified individual were found approximately 90 feet north of Red Wing Road in the brush. Despite extensive efforts at the time, investigators were unable to determine the identity of the deceased, leading the case to go cold.
Recent advances in forensic science, particularly in DNA analysis, have provided the tools necessary to revisit this case with renewed vigor. Working closely with Identifinders International, Intermountain Forensics, and through Gray Hughes Investigates’ financial support. Medina County Sheriff’s Office has successfully identified the remains as those of Gary Alan Robbins, born in Chicago Illinois on July 25, 1946.
Medina County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest gratitude to the community for its support and to the forensic teams whose dedication and expertise made this identification possible. This breakthrough would not have been possible without the resources provided by Gray Hughes Investigates, whose commitment to justice and community safety has made a profound impact. While this discovery brings closure to one aspect of the case, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Gary Alan Robbins death continues.
We urge anyone with information related to this case to come forward. You can contact Sergeant Investigator Alfonso R. Oranday at 830-741-6150 or by email alfonso.oranday@medinatx.org
You can also submit tips anonymously to the Medina County Crime Stoppers Hotline, at 1-800-FOR-CUFF (1-800-367-2833) or by APP: P3 TIPS (Available on IOS & Android Devices)
The victim has now been positively identified as Gary Alan Robbins.
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MCESD4 District provides EMS service to Devine and Natalia and the surrounding area. It has been planning to switch over on October 1 from hiring a third party amublance service to starting their own EMS business with the thought the taxpayers would get more service. Apprarently not all board members were on the same page, as Board Members Juan Zamora and George Moralez tabled the actions when he learned that Allegiance was already providing TWO 24 HR Ambulances. He was under the impression the ESD was only getting 1.5 ambulances, and the new business would bring that up to 2 ambulances. He questioned why that was misrepresented to the him and Moralez the two newest board members.
As of press time Tuesday, August 27 a new public hearing was happening to see what the board plans to do with tax rate and if Allegiance will be asked to keep providing the service instead of it stopping on Sept 30 since as the board has already cancelled their service as of that date.
By Anton Riecher With anger and frustration boiling over during an August 20 public hearing, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 Board of Commissioners voted to postpone action on a proposed 57 percent tax rate increase to support its transition to operating its own ambulances rather than contracting with an outside provider. The new tax rate would cause a 73% increase in the actual tax bill of the average homestead will pay. Former Devine mayor and county commissioner Jerry Beck and Natalia ISD board president Eric Smith among a room full of others were very concerned in the often heated opposition to both the tax increase and the revamp of ambulance service. “We didn’t know you were going to raise our taxes until it came out in the newspaper the other day,” Beck said. “We wanted to ask, number one, why, but it’s already been decided. You’ve already fired the contract company. You’ve already hired new people.” Video coverage of the ESD4 public hearing is posted on the Devine News YouTube channel. Friction was also apparent between board president Anthony Martin and board treasurer Juan Zamora over the issue of whether…
Devine Arabian setter Kyndie Cruz was honored for having reached 1,000 career assists. Quick on her feet, she sets up one kill after another for her team.
Junior Kynedie Cruz dished up her 1,000th career assist in Devine’s match versus Ingram August 20. There is still a lot of playing time left over the next two seasons, so watch for this number to possibly double by the time it is all said and done.
This was the first reported automobile to have been driven through Devine, and it surely created quite a “stir”!
By Nancy Saathoff Just imagine the excitement, curiosity, and maybe a little fear that this Packard Touring Car might have brought to the dusty streets of Devine in 1905. Can you imagine the curious looks when seeing an automobile for the very first time? On July 3rd, 1905, perhaps the first automobile that ever ran on the streets of Devine was viewed by a number of citizens who had never seen an automobile before! This early Packard Touring Car must have been a wild spectacle, not just for them, but probably for the horses too! Those were still horse and buggy days in Devine at that time and even though the horses were accustomed to the trains, this was something different! The trains stayed on their own tracks, but for the horses, this vehicle roamed on “their” streets! Editor R. Peterson and E.B. Baker, a prominent cotton buyer, drove their auto all the way from Paris, Texas with their sights set on heading to Mexico City! Paris was in Lamar, County, in northeast Texas on the Red River, so that was quite a trip planned for them. They were out…
The annual festival will be held at St John Bosco Catholic Church located at 502 5th Street, Natalia on Labor Day September 1. There are several fundraisers leading up to the big event. There will be lots of bands. See page 2 for more details on the big event.
DRAWING TICKETS: Text Beatrice Morales at 210-482-9595 for tickets. September 1st is the Grand drawing. So don’t delay, get your tickets TODAY, $5 each. Father Antony will draw the $500 winning ticket on Sunday, August 11th after 11 a.m. mass. The winning ticket and all the tickets will be put back into the raffle barrel for another chance to win $3k, $2k, & $1k and other prizes on September 1st. This drawing will be announced at the Labor Day Festival extravaganza. Fun FOAM FINISH and Zumba 5K Run or Walk: This is a fun event for the whole family. 1.7 miles through the City of Natalia; check-in is at 6:30 a.m. Kids Run starts at 7:45 a.m. There will be activities for the kids during the race. Race starts at 8 a.m. for the runners, followed by the walkers. When everybody returns they will have a Zumba session and end the day with a Fun Foam Finish.
