Category: Top News Stories

Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.

Natalia’s Haywood Park officially open daily 8am-til dark!

At the Ribbon Cutting of the new park left to right are: Jesse Brooks; Amy Haywood, Barry Haywood, Peggy Haywood and niece Journey, Stacy Haywood, Sharon Haywood, Mayor Tommy Ortiz, Darin Fraizer, Mike Fernandez, Ruby Vera, Selica Vera, Sam Smith, Brenda Fernandez, Beatrice Morales and Art Smith.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, the city of Natalia and the Haywood family gathered to officially share with the community a project that has been in the works for the past 18 years.
In 2008, Ms. Millissie Haywood, who owned the two lots in that area, spoke with then Mayor Ruby Vera and offered to gift the property for a “city park.” The following day, it was added to the agenda for the city council meeting and all 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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

The first kids to ever play on the Haywood Park playground!

St. Joseph’s Octoberfest 2026

Everyone enjoyed the tunes at the Octoberfest!

The Gonzales and Perez family enjoying the music at the Octoberfest this past weekend. Looks like little man had a big day! Pictured from left to right are Kahll, Abram Perez, Rosa Gonzales, Samuel Perez, Rachel Gonzales and Solangel Perez. Photo by Brianna Paredes.

Devine Current Events Club promotes their upcoming event “Wreaths of Amercia” during the Octoberfest. Pictured from left to right are Martha Wall, Linda Kreinhop, Sarah McAlpin and Alma Harvath. Photo by Brianna Paredes.

…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Lytle utility customers to see 25-35% increase to water, sewer rates on December 1 bill

The City of Lytle will increase their utility rates effective 30 days from the published notice of October 7, which will reflect on customer’s December 1st bill. The City Council voted to increase these rates at the September 28, 2026, City Council meeting. See page 17 for rate comparisons.
The new rates also include the removal of small business commercial as an overall category and placing those customers that were listed as such under the commercial category.
See public notice in this week’s Devine News on page 17 for complete chart of rates for both residential and commercial rates for water and charts for sewer also. Rates vary for those who reside inside city limits and those who reside outside city limits.


Also noted is the old rate fee(current rate) and the new rate fee.
Rates include a base rate plus the volumetric charges for how much water is used that month. The rates for over 10,000 gallons are about four times…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Homecoming Day #2…

1951 Devine Warhorse football team. First row, left to right: Emory Wright, Manager ; L. E. Potter, Ray Stephens, Santos Rodriguez, Tommy Parker, Jack Klingeman, David Dyer, Sammy Ridgeway, Stanley Lindsey, Dickie Bohl.
Second row: Gene Calame, Roger Stock, John Harlan DuBose, George Thompson, Arth Whitley, Francis Schmidt, Wayne Topping, Bobby Killough, John Watson, Doyle Sansom.
Third row: Dave Coleman, Head Coach; Jack Schneider, Bob Briscoe, Wesley Robbins, Wayne Bush, Larry Stroud, Willis Boone, Charles Schulze, Dean Hawes, Donald Bush, Don Mittanck, Bill McCutcheon and Alfred Coleman

Saturday, Oct. 17 @ 1pm at VFW Hall

The Devine Ex-Students Teachers Association (DExSTA) will hold its annual Homecoming Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 17th starting at 1:00pm at the Devine VFW Hall at 211 W. College Ave. All Devine Alumni are welcome to attend! *Look for the HC schedule in this week’s Devine News for details.
Honoring the 50th Reunion Class (1976 this year) has been a long-standing tradition at Homecoming with the Friday night introductions on the track at the football game & the Saturday afternoon DExSTA HC celebration. But a few years ago, the DExSTA Board of Directors discussed the opportunity to recognize important school groups that made a large impact on the lives of the students at DHS, as well as DMS (and formerly DJHS). So, a new tradition was started to…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Lytle council approves 4.5% tax hike for 2026

By Anton Riecher
By a 4-0 vote, the Lytle City Council voted at its Sept. 28 meeting to approve a 2026 ad valorem tax rate of $.0485 per $100 valuation, an increase of 4.578 percent from the previous year. Municipal taxes on the average Lytle homestead now stands at $1,029, an increase of 31.9 percent.
Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said the increase represents less than half a cent per $100 valuation.
“It’s going from $.483 to $.485,” Gonzalez said. “So that’s how much of an increase it is.”
The increase supports a fiscal year 2026-2027 city budget of $8.976 million, also approved by a 4-0 council vote. Among the increase is a three percent cost-of-living adjustment for city employees.
A public hearing on the proposed tax rate was opened and closed with no additional public comment.
The $.0485 rate represents a debt service tax rate of $.41139 per $100 valuation combined with a tax rate of $.41139 per $100 valuation cover maintenance and operations.
District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez put forward the separate motions on the budget and tax rate. District 1 Alderwoman Anna Carrillo seconded the budget motion and District 3 Alderman David Emery seconded the motion on the rate increase.
District 5 Alderman Matthew Martinez was absent from the meeting. District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes had earlier voted against…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

HOMECOMING 10 DAYS AWAY!

Friday, October 16, the game starts at 7pm. The Class of 1976 will be honored at half-time on the track. Pictured above are 1976 Warhorse standouts Francis Schmidt, Jack Schneider, and Bob Briscoe.

Devine Homecoming Oct. 16 & 17!

ALL Devine Alumni are invited to a Homecoming Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 17th starting at 1:00pm at the Devine VFW Hall, with the Devine Ex-Students Teachers Association (DExSTA). Join us with the 50th Reunion Honor Class of 1976, and former Warhorse & Colt Football Teams & Coaches to Celebrate Homecoming 2026!
Friday, October 16, registration will open at 6:30 pm at Warhorse Stadium. Game starts at 7pm. Tickets are sold online or at the gate. 1976 Honor Class recognition will be at half-time on the track in front of the press box. Wave as your name is called out. All Devine Exes look for the…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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Intruder shot by homeowner, young girl with knife wounds expected to be okay

A 13-year-old female was transported to the hospital by EMS for knife wounds this past Sunday morning. The 36-year old suspect, identified as Patrick Lee Roy Edwards (now deceased), fled the scene of the crime shortly after what originally came in as a domestic disturbance call.
“It was one of the worst crime scenes I’ve seen in a while,” said Lytle Chief of Police Richie Priest.
According to police, the man had been living at the home there in Lytle, where the young girl was injured. Things continued to escalate as he fled down the street on foot.
The suspect then broke into another home in the area where the homeowner …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 $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Circus coming to Lytle

The circus is coming to town thanks to Lytle VFW. See their ad on page 18 for a link to discounted pre-sale tickets.

Big cats, fire eating, foot juggling,
daredevils & more

The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus is coming to Lytle on Oct. 18 at the Lytle Memorial VFW Post 12041. There will be two separate showtimes at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. There will be a concession stand, pony rides, face painting and inflatable rides an hour before the show. As for the circus performance, you can expect to see big cats, contortion, aerialists, fire eating, dogs, foot juggling, daredevils and so much more!
Advance Purchase Ticket prices are as follows:

Advance Adult – $14/ Advance Child/Senior – $8
Circus Day- Adult – $17/ Circus Day- Child/Senior – $10
*Tickets are cheaper if you get them ahead of time and are available to purchase at the Lytle Memorial VFW Post 12041, Lytle State Bank, Lytle City Hall or online at https://cm-circus.square.site