Celebrating 126 Years of Serving the communities of Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, and Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties
Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.
Carter Clayton was recognized as the Youth Citizen of the Year by Lytle City Council this week. Mayor Gonzalez described him as “an unbelievable person” who began volunteering at the animal care and control center and eventually adopted a dog named Freckles. Together the pair began visiting the local nursing home with Freckles serving as a therapy dog to the residents
Authorities took every precaution after the report was made, with the FBI,
SA Bomb Squad and many others responding to help.
Chief explains Donation was neither a hoax nor bomb
We spoke to Chief Justin Kohler this Tuesday, who wants to clear up any confusion about the incident, which was neither a hoax nor a bomb.
This past Monday, December 9, a man set the backpack down near the donation station beside the Diamond Shamrock/ Dairy Queen area in Castroville, and quickly drove off.
Castroville PD was notified and after inspection, contacted the SA Bomb Squad who quickly responded to help.
“Basically what happened is it was a backpack that had material in it that looked suspicious. So we contacted the SA Bomb Squad, and they agreed,” Chief Kohler said.
The investigation and procedures eventually led to shutting down HWY 90 around 3:40 pm.
“They did an X-ray of the package and were concerned enough…
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Speakers voiced concerns on both sides of the Devine 4-day week debate.
By Anton Riecher and Kayleen Holder
A decision on whether Devine ISD will move to a four-day school week remains in limbo after the big school board meeting Dec. 4. Citizens, staff, and school board spoke on both sides of the important issue.
Trustees Chris Davis, Carl Brown and Henry Moreno voted in favor of the four-day week with Davis making the motion. Renee Frieda, Keri James and Ali Buvinghausen opposed the measure.
All eyes focused on board president Nancy Pepper when the stalemate became apparent. Pepper said she had strong feelings on both sides of the fence, and chose to abstain from voting for the change.
“I feel I need to abstain since it’s a split vote,” Pepper said…
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The Arriola family’s float was awarded with “Most Lights” at the first annual Night Christmas parade which was a huge hit!
By Catherine Richard
A large crowd gathered in the cold, breezy night last Thursday, and Christmas music drifted through the air as everyone waited for the parade to begin. Cars lined the half mile stretch in front of the Natalia Veterans Memorial Monument, with families sitting on tailgates and lawn chairs while others shopped the Christmas market set up nearby.
At 6:30 p.m., runners dressed in their Santa suits raced past the crowd, drumming up excitement for the beautiful hour-long parade that followed.
There were more than 60 floats in the lineup!
After the display of lights, the appearance of iconic Christmas characters such as Santa and the Grinch, and even fireworks (courtesy of Scooterz Fireworks) aded tons of fun. Many kiddos lined up excitedly to meet with Santa at the Natalia City Offices.
Biker Santa from Calvary Chapel
Destino Danzzar Performance Group Dancer
Fire Department Santa
The City of Lytle awarded its annual citizen awards last Monday, Dec 10. Pictured above is the winner of the adult category Sammy Aguinaga with Mayor Gonzalez and the council.
Lytle council presents 2024 Citizenship Awards
By Anton Riecher
With the holiday season upon us, one local personality that Mayor Ruben Gonzalez dubbed “one of Santa’s helpers” was among this year’s recipients of the City of Lytle Annual Citizenship Awards presented Monday.
Adorned with a large white beard, Sammy Aguinaga received the 2024 award in the adult category for his work with local children. In the youth category, pre-teen Carter Clayton was recognized for his volunteer work at the local animal care and control facility.
Gracie Gallegos received honorable mention for a wide range of activities including the local food bank and health care outreach to elderly residents.
About Aguinaga, Gonzalez called him “a great, great person” who is “always there to help out in the sense of being able to take care of kids in different ways.” The community previously recognized him for his work with children by naming him grand marshal of the 2024 Lytle Homecoming Parade.
“On a personal note he’s gone through a lot of challenges and he’s always been very positive about it,” Gonzalez said.
As for Clayton, the mayor described him as “an unbelievable person” who began volunteering at the animal care and control center in 2022. Eventually, Clayton adopted a dog named Freckles and together the pair began visiting the local nursing home with Freckles serving as a…
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Every year Lytle holds its Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14th at the Lytle Community Center. Santa arrives at the Community Center to turn on the lights at the Community Center and Main Street. After the lighting, Santa accompanies the children and their guardians on his hayride.
The 2024 Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride will start loading trailers at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 19031 Priest Blvd., Lytle, Tx.
Admission is $1.00 or one canned good.
For information call 830-709-3692.
Please also join us at the Shops of Lytle at 15126 Main Street where we will have Santa’s Workshop with events for the kids to include an Ornament Workshop, the North Pole Post Office and Gingerbread Bakery.
The event is brought to you by the City of Lytle, Lytle Chamber of Commerce, Pena Family, Patriot Automotive, Lytle VFW Post 12041 and HEB Plus.
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By Anton Riecher and Kayleen Holder
The Devine ISD school board meeting tonight ended with a split vote 3 to 3 on the four-day work week. There were speakers both for and against the big move.
Chris Davis made a motion to enact a 4-day school week, and Carl Brown seconded the motion, with Henry Moreno in agreement, however board members Renee Frieda, Keri James, and Ali Buvinghausen advocated and voted against the big change. Board President Nancy Pepper abstained from casting the deciding vote at this time.
It is uncertain if the matter will be taken up again at a school board meeting later this month.
See more updates in next week’s Devine News, and subscribe to support third party coverage of important city, school, and county news at www.devinenewsmembers.com
A speaker takes the podium before the split vote.
Did you know you can get the newspaper mailed to your home every week and full print and digital access for only $36 a year in Medina County???!!
If you want to join the Santa Sprinters (walkers welcome too), register by 5:30 online or in person near the Dollar General in Natalia. The Santa sprinters will lead the parade. Stock photo courtesty of istockphotos.com/copyright Stuart Robinson Photography.
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024
Events starts @ 5pm Parade@7 Event ends @ 9pm
There are over 75 floats and dozens of vendors for Christmas shopping during the big event that kicks off at 5 this Thursday!
The Parade will begin at 7pm. It will start at FM 471 down to hwy 132 through Main Street.
If you would like to participate in the parade please contact Corina Sanchez 210-300-4800 or Lysette Clark 210-360-9071. For vendor information you can contact Lysette Clark 210-360-9071 or Mary Ann Garcia 210-560-5626. Vendors can set up as early as noon.
Ms. Tiffany Brown will be the Grand Marshal. She is the daughter of Charlie & Dianna Brown, sister to Chuck Brown, mother to Cody Brown (Kaylin) and grandmother to Canon & Chad Brown
The Brown family have been a part of the Natalia community since 1911 as Tiffany’s great grandparents ran a commissary from 1911-1946 for the workers that built canals in town. In 1946, Tiffany’s grandparents bought the business and opened a store, everyone knows as “Browns Grocery Store.” In 1970, Tiffany’s parents bought the business and ran it until they retired in 2011.
All immediate family members of Ms. Tiffany have all graduated from Natalia. Her grandchildren are currently attending Natalia ISD.
Tiffany serves as a member of the Natalia School Board and the South Texas Heat Organization. She is highly involved in our community, as you will see her smiling face at sporting events and cheering for her grandsons.
“I love our little town and the people that live here. I’m proud to tell people where I am from and as proud as I am of the town and the people that live here, I hope I make them proud representing them. I’m proud to be a MUSTANG,” Tiffany Brown.
Freeman White in combat training, Camp Pendleton, 1951.
Freeman White was born on March 19, 1930, and passed away on November 24, 2024. His lovely wife of 66 years, Wilma, preceded him in death on September 9, 2021. Freeman’s legacy as a Purple Heart recipient is an appropriate story to retell, as this is the season for the Wreaths Across America event.
As the youngest of six brothers who all served in our country in war zones, Freeman signed up for the US Marine Corps in 1948. In December of 1950 he entered active duty — the Korean War had begun in June of that same year. Freeman’s combat training took place at Camp Pendleton, and afterwards he departed for Korea on a transport ship. It landed in Pusan, and from there his group flew north to an airstrip and boarded trucks to trek even farther north. This began his year-long duty in combat.
In fact, combat began as the trucks traveled to their assignments, As the men received mortar shells, they bailed out of their trucks, took cover till firing ceased, then climbed back on board to continue as far as the trucks could go. (Some of these new soldiers actually lost their lives en route to their first duty station.)
Freeman was assigned to Item Co, First Marine Division, 3rd Battalion. In his first battle, he was ordered to affix his bayonet, which he never had to used but said it was there to intimidate. Soon he advanced to the BAR (Browning Automatic Repeating rifle), which is a 30 caliber but fires like a machine gun, maintaining a low profile. He explains that…
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