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.

Devine ISD administrators submit ‘wish list’ for coming school budget

By Anton Riecher
A “wish list” from Devine ISD administrators regarding general maintenance, repairs and tutorial improvements was submitted to the school board during a special meeting called Monday night.
Superintendent Todd Grandjean said the board will take the proposals under advisement in preparing the budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
“It’s like have a wish list for taking a trip or anything else you might want to do,” he said. “You have to whittle it down to fit within the budget and make sure we’re being effective with the way the money is being spent.”
Among the requests submitted to the school board 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 $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases

“Another increase” to hit in fall

The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases”. They want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
They will hold a public hearing on this matter on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine, and precede the regular monthly meeting.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.

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Man gets prison time after dog leads to hidden drugs, gun

Press Release by Medina County District Attorney’s Office: On January 8th, 2024, DPS Troopers were patrolling Highway US 90 in Medina County between D’Hanis and Hondo. Around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, the Troopers noticed a Suburban with unusually dark window tint and an improperly placed registration sticker. Upon stopping the vehicle, the Troopers immediately began to be suspicious that the lone occupant of the vehicle, Fernando Pedraza, may have been concealing contraband in the vehicle.
A brief investigation by the Troopers led to additional suspicion and they called the Medina County Sheriff’s Office to send a Canine Officer to confirm or dispel their suspicions. A Deputy Canine Officer arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and almost immediately, the canine, trained to detect multiple narcotics, alerted on the vehicle. The canine alert provided officers with probable cause to search the vehicle, and within minutes, the officers found two containers of what appeared to be methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun with two loaded magazines concealed in a void under the…..CONTINUE READING by logging in at www.devinenewsmembers.com

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6 Lane expressway coming to Medina County

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
The six lane expressway will be the first of it’s kind for Medina County.
The US 90 project, earmarked with a price tag of over $17.8 million dollars, is projected to be in the engineering and right of way appraisal phase as early as TxDot’s 2028 fiscal year.
But there are potentially big changes coming to our area as well on I-35. However, this is all in its “infancy stages,” according to local leaders.
“The plan is to eventually make I-35 a three- lane interstate, and make the access roads one-way with turnarounds from Lytle all the way past Devine,” Mayor Cook explained in a quick phone interview after TxDot presented a list of local projects to Devine City Council (see separate article in this week’s E-edition).
A study of the IH-35 corridor is underway from Bexar County to LaSalle County.
Cook noted that I-35 in our area has been identified as one of the most dangerous spots in the interstate, according to officials.
“Plus traffic is expected to double in the next 10 years…That’s what they are projecting.”

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Suspect in custody quickly after Devine vehicle theft

🚨 Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Suspect in Custody 🚨

According to Devine Pd–At 10:58 AM today, a 2019 Ford pickup was reported stolen from the 200 block of W. Hondo Ave. The theft was quickly broadcast over the police radio, and a deputy was able to locate the stolen vehicle.

Devine PD officers arrived on scene and took suspect Pedro Salazar Jr. into custody without incident and detained a second male for questioning.

“We appreciate the swift response from all agencies involved in recovering the vehicle and making the arrest.” Said Lt Chris Andrews

Family escapes home just before fire engulfs it, fundraiser underway

Maria Lieck, 85, and her son Ernesto Lieck lost their family home with all their belongings in a devastating house fire on Monday night, March 17, 2025 around 9:00 pm in Coal Mine just outside Lytle narrowly escaping before it became fully engulfed in flames.

“We are grateful to have escaped, and for the help of family, friends, and neighbors who are helping my mom and cousin Daniel who had lived with us since his strokes,” said Ernesto Lieck. “It was all we had.”


It all started when they heard a loud boom followed by screams for help from Maria.

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Coming to Devine April 5th…Country music & family fun!

This event features a fun Meet and Greet with your favorite characters, which starts at 4pm, Princess show which starts at 5, and four live country music acts playing later in the evening from 6 til midnight.

The Devine Acres playgrounds and jumping pad will also be open for family fun. And all of it for a good cause!

LIVE MUSIC, FOOD & DRINKS, PLAYGROUNDS, GIANT JUMPING PAD, SILENT AUCTION & MORE…..CONTINUE READING ALL THE DETAILS BELOW

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People travel here from all over the country to renowned horse farm

By Kayleen Holder
Mr. Jackie Keith knew he born to be a cowboy at a very young age. He landed his first job working gates at the auction barn in Frio County when he was just a young boy, 13 years old. Jackie and his wife Jody now run a very unique and well-respected horse business in South Texas. It’s been in operation for nearly three decades, and this year, the Keiths decided to settle down on a little piece of land closer to home, right here in Devine.

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Detours in effect as Zig Zag and West Malone street paving starts

The final phase of City of Devine street improvements for this fiscal year will start March 20th.
The areas being paved will be ZIGZAG from downtown to the county line and WEST MALONE which surrounds part of the golf course.
Please make plans to take a detour around these areas to avoid delay for at least the next three weeks.
In an effort to improve infrastructure the Mayor and Devine city council allocated over 1.1 million dollars for street improvements.
McAnnelly; North Bright, South Bright and Live Oak have already been completed.