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.

St. Louis Day Homecoming Festival set for Aug. 22-23 in Castroville

As has happened for the last 144 years, the famed St. Louis Day Celebration will again open the gates to visitors from all over the state. Dubbed years ago, by the Texas Tourist Agency as “The Homecoming for the State of Texas,” the giant festival will again serve tons of barbecued beef, Alsatian style sausage, and food, drink, music, games and fun all day long for friends who make the trip each year to historic Castroville. According to the Visitors Center guest book, the last few years have attracted visitors from more than 100 Texas towns and cities, 17 different states, and 14 countries. In only its 15th year on the shady Koenig Park grounds is one of fastest growing and most popular attractions: The St. Louis Day Biergarten.
According to Frankie Kempf, Asst. Publicity Director, the Biergarten idea was born, appropriately enough, by a couple of parishioners sitting around a “kegerator” reminiscing about the fond memories of St. Louis Days gone by. The idea was presented to the general chairmen to have a Saturday evening biergarten party who then decided to give it a try, and now it hosts a huge crowd of visitors on Saturday evening the night before the actual celebration. So on August 22 at 6:30 p.m., the Super Saturday Biergarten Party will serve ice cold draught beer, wine, other refreshments and food, and live music for those who will make a weekend out of St. Louis Day. The Boardwalk games will be open for children Saturday night and the adults can enjoy the large Silent Auction, St. Louis Downs and the famous washer pitch and cornhole tournaments. Succulent all beef hot dogs, known as Sarge’s St. Louie Red Hots, pulled pork sandwiches and piping hot nachos will be served for guests as well. Also back by popular demand will be the giant pizza served by Dirt Road Cookers. As in previous years, the gala will be held under nature’s tent beneath the shady canopy of the park where party-goers will be able to spread out and do what is supposed to happen at a homecoming—visit with old friends and make new ones. Plenty of seating is available for those who wish to get off their feet, and it is not unusual to see guests bring their own lawn chairs and relax the night away to good music, ice cold beer and great conversation.
According to Biergarten entertainment chairman, Duane Garza, the Saturday night featured entertainers this year will kick off with a great local favorite the Weston Ripps Band at 6:30 p.m. The Jeremy Richards Band, another great local favorite, will follow at 8:30 and dazzle the crowd with spectacular guitar and vocal talent until 11 p.m.
Sunday, August 23, is the actual festival day when thousands of visitors will flock to “The Little Alsace of Texas.” Besides the amazing BBQ plate, the day will be jam-packed with entertainment at two different venues on the grounds including the Biergarten Stage and the ever-popular Riverside Stage. Featured talent and bands this year include Fire on the Mountain Cloggers, the Alsatian Dancers of Texas, the Alamo City Community Marching Band, mariachis, local favorites Julie Guinther & Michele Mangold, and up and coming new talent, Gavin Ripps, will wow the crowd with his talents for the first time. Taking the stage at 3:30 will be the ever-so-talented Jamie Lin Wilson followed by crowd pleaser Natalie Rose. In addition, there will be the popular games for young and old including the popular bingo pavilion. Our Plant Booth and Just Treasures will provide great deals for visitors who like to shop. The spacious air-conditioned hall will house one of the best and biggest silent auctions along with the Country Store featuring homemade and canned items. This year will mark the 28th year of the extremely popular St. Louis Downs “Horseracing Track,” where another lucky person will have his or her name added to the Futurity Champions Wall of Fame. If a lucky volunteer would like to cool off, the popular ice bucket challenge will provide that opportunity as well. And for the little ones, the kid’s Boardwalk promises a great time with brand new and improved games and barrel train ride!
It’s a perfect time to make a weekend visit to historic Castroville and the St. Louis Day celebration August 22-23.
For more information visit www.saintlouisday.com or like St. Louis Day on facebook.

Throw in a towel as Warhorses scrimmage Ingram this Thursday

The big annual “Towel Scrimmage” is set for this Thursday at Warhorse Stadium! Above, the community enjoyed it’s first-ever “Warhorse Bowl” this past Saturday. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Annual “Towel Scrimmage” is this Thursday at Warhorse Stadium as the Ingram Warriors make their way to Devine. The JV and Freshmen get underway at 5pm while the varsity takes the field around 6:30pm.
On tap
Devine had their own intersquad scrimmage last Saturday at the 1st Annual Warhorse Bowl on Dean Bates Practice Field. Now, Head Coach Jacob Campsey and his staff get the opportunity to further evaluate players while they line up against an unfamiliar opponent. Spots on rosters as well as placement on depth charts can vary after position coaches review film to determine who belongs where and who best helps which team at this point of the season.
Campsey stated…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!

Meet the teachers!

Devine ISD…

Ciavarra Elementary and Devine Intermediate is set for Thursday, August 6 from 5 to 6:30 pm. Devine High School will be 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Devine Middle School held Meet the Teacher on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The First Day of School is August 11.

Lytle ISD…

Lytle Jr High and High School will hold Meet the Teacher on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 5 – 7 PM. Lytle Elementary School is set for Thursday, August 6 from 4 – 6 PM and Primary School from 5 – 7 PM.
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 12.

Natalia ISD…

Natalia ECC and Elementary School will hold Meet the Teacher on Monday, August 10, 2026at 5 PM while Natalia Jr High and High School are set for 5:30 pm.
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 11.

“Warhorse Bowl” is this Saturday

Horses to Scrimmage Ingram Friday Aug. 14

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine Head Coach Jacob Campsey is excited to get a new tradition rolling as the Warhorse Bowl cranks up this Saturday on Dean Bates Practice Field. The hour and a half long intersquad scrimmage cranks up at 9am and is expected to last an hour and a half.
The Warhorses officially began their 2026 season this past Monday afternoon. With players fighting for their spots on whatever respective team…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!

Choppers help in locating 5 suspects in recent pursuits….

DPS Aircraft Operations Division provides a valuable resource for local, county, state, and federal agencies. Air patrol leverages technology to effectively locate and apprehend fugitives quickly, reducing the threat to the public as local lawmen noted in interviews this week. Courtesy photos show the Aircraft Division in action.

3 teens arrested in Devine after high speed chase with DPS/ Chopper

On Friday, July 24 around 8:30 in the evening, a high speed chase involving air support ensued through the Devine area, down CR 5710 and ultimately ended on FM 1343.
According to DPS, “Preliminary information indicates that DPS (Department of Public Safety) Troopers attempted a traffic stop on a stolen black Kia passenger car on IH 410. The vehicle evaded through various parts of Bexar County, Atascosa, and into Medina County where the vehicle came to a stop on FM 1343 outside of Devine. The occupants were identified as three…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!

Truck erupts in flames on I-35

I-35 was shut down to one lane for about half an hour last Tuesday after this vehicle started to smoke and quickly became engulfed in fire just before 2 pm near the Lytle exit. Courtesy Photo.

Natalia volunteer firefighter Nick West was one of many first responders who helped at the scene. “The Dodge pickup truck had started to smoke somewhere under the dash, and it was completely involved by the time we arrived,” West said. “The driver and passengers were able to immediately exit the truck after smelling the smoke and the cab filled with smoke pretty quickly. The engine compartment and cab of the truck were a complete loss, but the fire was extinguished before it could do any damage to the trailer or rear of the bed.
The driver and two passengers all got out safely, and firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading any further. Lytle VFD, Natalia VFD, and Devine Fire all responded to the call.

Down to the dirt

Long-awaited road repairs are now underway on Colonial Parkway in Devine. It will be closed from July 27 – August 7 to complete scheduled road construction. This closure will only affect thru traffic, as local residents will still be able to enter and exit using one of the two detour routes. Photo by Moose Lopez.

“Civil War era” explosive found

For Immediate Release by Atascosa County Sheriff’s Dept.:
Just before 8am Monday, deputies were dispatched to the 21000 block of FM 791 for a caller who advised that he had a piece of Civil War era ordnance that could possibly be a live explosive.
The caller told deputies that he had owned the ordnance for years and had always thought it was a dummy round. When a military friend of his saw it, he suspected it to be live and that is what prompted them to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Out of an abundance of caution, deputies contacted an explosive disposal team from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio who arrived on location a short time later. Atascosa County EMS and the Atascosa County Office of Emergency Management assisted the Sheriff’s Office during this call.
The explosives team confirmed that the device was indeed a live “parrot round” from the Civil War era and safely transported it to an explosive range at Camp Bullis where it was disposed of in a safe manner.
Deputies and other first responders cleared the call just before 11 am.
No one was harmed during this incident and no charges are pending.

Devine council conducts second workshop on $5.8 million budget

$1.2 Million infastructure improvements,
new patrol vehicles included in buget

By Anton Riecher
Moving from general presentation to detailed questioning, the Devine City Council held its second summer workshop July 21 to shape the proposed $5.865 million city budget for fiscal year 2026-2027.
City Accountant Cassandra Maldonado opened the workshop with a refresher on the budget numbers presented at the first budget workshop held July 6.
“This workshop focuses on the city’s main operating funds, highlighting the financial strategies, capital investments and policy decisions included in the proposed budget,” she said.
The discussion…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!