Category: Top News Stories

A Called School board meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m., at the Devine Student Activity Center, 194 Arabian Way. To speak during Citizen’s Comments, which at the beginning of the meeting, try to sign up at least 10 minutes ahead of time.

By Catherine Richard
Currently, the Devine School Board is deliberating on whether to switch to a four-day work week. The board requested more time to gather data, specifically on how the new schedule would affect preschool through kinder, but a decision will have to be made by Dec. 5.
Devine ISD conducted a survey about the four-day schedule. A total of 956 responses were turned in. Of those, 58.3% supported the change and 41.7 opposed it.
Todd Grandjean, the superintendent of Devine ISD, explained what a four-day work week would look like if it was implemented in Devine’s schools.
What changes will be made to the schedule?
The class days would likely begin at the same time, though they could “potentially start five minutes earlier,” according to Grandjean. With the school bus scheduling and the time of sunrise, starting earlier does not appear to be a good option.
School days would last 30-40 minutes longer. This is where a lot of the lost time would be made up.
School would likely begin about two weeks earlier in the fall on Aug. 10.
The school year would end on the same day, May 31.
“That isn’t set in stone,” said Grandjean. The official calendar for the 2025-2026 school year will not be created until the district makes a decision either way.

Currently, it is still up for discussion which day would be taken off, Monday or Friday. The polling that has been done among parents shows a positive lean in the direction of Friday.
How would students be affected?
There is no clear-cut data from La Vernia or Bandera on whether the four-day week results in an improvement or a regression in student performance on state assessments and attendance levels. “Student success is our ultimate goal,” said Grandjean.
Teachers
In surveys, teachers consistently list the two things that they need to accomplish their jobs: time and money. One argument for the four-day schedule is that it could give teachers extra time. Devine ISD has worked on “allocating resources for pay,” said Grandjean. “Now, more planning time.”
Multiple teachers end up staying late and then going to the office on the weekend to get work done and prepare for the next week. “It’s not just a day to go the beach,” said Grandjean.
The considered change is partly due to an issue that is moving throughout Texas, with teachers quitting at increasing rates. “This is designed to be able to recruit and retain the most talented teachers we can find,” Grandjean said.
How would the four day week effect extracurricular activities?
Sports and other extracurricular activities would be a continued priority, since they are “key components to our success,” said Grandjean.
Pep rallies would probably be moved to Thursdays.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) schedules many events for Fridays. With Friday off, students would potentially have less of a struggle with games and practices interfering with normal classes.
Are there any childcare programs for the off day?
There are currently no plans for any childcare programs at Devine ISD, Grandjean said. Most of the schools that have offered such programs have done so with a third party organization.
A called meeting was set for this Wednesday. See details in front page article.

PRESS RELEASE–It’s hard to believe that it has been 2 years since we lost our beloved Cailtin Jaworowski to Cancer.
This town rallied behind Caitlin and the family while she was going through treatments. When we lost her, they continued to support the family in so many loving ways. So, in lieu of flowers it was decided that the kids needed to have a decorated yard for Christmas and so this is how it all began.
In memory of Caitlin, Justin Jaworowski and the family wanted to help other families in similar situations. This year’s recipient is Cheyenne Alexis (Lexy) Martinez, daughter of Roland and Kayla (Sellers) Martinez, of Devine. Cheyenne was diagnosed on September 13, 2024, with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. All proceeds collected from this fundraiser will go directly to Cheyenne, better known as Lexy!
Entry Forms & donations or just donations can be turned in at Country Gal’s Market located at 109 W Benton Ave, and The Devine News located at 216 S. Bright Street both located in Devine!
There’s something to be said about living in a small town. Small town yes, but full of people with big hearts. Thank you will never be enough!
ABOUT THE LIGHT CONTEST
The first place prize will be $500 gift card donated by Alamo Truck Accessories and the 2nd place prize will be $250 donated by Vail Photography.
To join the light contest, all you have to do is submit the entry form with any donation you want to make whether it’s $5 or $500.
Make sure your lights are on December 21 and 22nd when judging will occur. Who’s eligible? Homes and businesses in Devine, Natalia, Moore and surrounding areas. Please submit a photo of your lights with your entry if you live outside city limits.
Form on Page 9 and www.devinenews.com or pick up at Country Gals Market.

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. More info on page 2.

Several volunteers from Bigfoot and Moore VFD’s joined forces to help at the big oil tank battery fire down south this past Monday, November 25. Fire erupted around 11:30 at 2245 FM 117, about a half mile from a couple Dilley businesses. The Yanta boys, of Devine, were among the many local firefighters who answered the call to help Dilley VFD in the challenging fire.
“Right after we pulled up we heard the evacuation alarm, and not 3 minutes later, one of the batteries exploded and blew the top open like a can of tomatoes,” said Bryce Yanta, a firefighter with Moore VFD. “ It was louder than a lightning strike. It was unreal.”
His big brother Ethan Yanta was also on scene, “When I first got the call, I fully expected to be there until dark, but it was handled really, really well. It could have been really chaotic, but Dilley and all of the other fire departments did a great job, and the Frio County deputies did a great job of controlling traffic for us. We were there mostly for manpower and water.”
Yanta estimated about 30 firefighters responded in all.
“ The nearest hydrant was about a half mile away so that was one…

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By Catherine Richard
Currently, the Devine School Board is deliberating on whether to switch to a four-day work week. The board requested more time to gather data, specifically on how the new schedule would affect preschool through kinder, but a decision will have to be made by Dec. 5.
Devine ISD conducted a survey about the four-day schedule. A total of 956 responses were turned in. Of those, 58.3% supported the change and 41.7 opposed it.
Todd Grandjean, the superintendent of Devine ISD, explained what a four-day work week would look like if it was implemented in Devine’s schools.
What changes will be made to the schedule?
The class days would likely begin at the same time, though they could “potentially start five minutes earlier,” according to Grandjean. With the school bus scheduling and the time of sunrise, starting earlier does not appear to be a good option.
School days would last 30-40 minutes longer. This is where a lot of the lost time would be made up.
School would likely begin about two weeks earlier in the fall on Aug. 10.
The school year would end on the same day, May 31.
“That isn’t set in stone,” said Grandjean. The official calendar for the 2025-2026 school year will not be created until the district makes a decision either way.
Currently, it is still up for discussion which day would be taken off, Monday or Friday. The polling that has been done among parents shows a positive lean in the direction of Friday.
How would students be affected?
There is no clear-cut data from La Vernia or Bandera on whether the four-day week results in an improvement or a regression in student performance on state assessments and attendance levels. “Student success is our ultimate goal,” said Grandjean.

Teachers
In surveys, teachers consistently list the two things that they need to accomplish their jobs: time and money. One argument for the four-day schedule is that it could give teachers extra time. Devine ISD has worked on “allocating resources for pay,” said Grandjean. “Now, more planning time.”
Multiple teachers end up staying late and then going to the office on the weekend to get work done and prepare for the next week. “It’s not just a day to go the beach,” said Grandjean.
The considered change is partly due to an issue that is moving throughout Texas, with teachers quitting at increasing rates. “This is designed to be able to recruit and retain the most talented teachers we can find,” Grandjean said.
How would the four day week effect extracurricular activities?
Sports and other extracurricular activities would be a continued priority, since they are “key components to our success,” said Grandjean.
Pep rallies would probably be moved to Thursdays.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) schedules many events for Fridays. With Friday off, students would potentially have less of a struggle with games and practices interfering with normal classes.
Are there any childcare programs for the off day?
There are currently no plans for any childcare programs at Devine ISD, Grandjean said. Most of the schools that have offered such programs have done so with a third party organization.

Upcoming Public hearing on TAX BREAKS
for massive developments on Hwy 132

Editorial… Very few people usually attend public hearings. But there is a big public hearing coming up about a possible TIRZ zone that could dramatically change the landscape of our area if it passes.
It was a “TIRZ” (tax incentive) like the one proposed that led to the rapid development of the Potranco Ranch subdivision in the Castroville area, and the many other subdivisions that followed it.
If you are not familiar with the term TIRZ, it is described as a “tax incentive” for large developments where developers capture a large percentage of tax revenue on improved property value.
For example, on the Potranco Ranch TIRZ zone agreement, the developer will capture over $12 million dollars ( which is a large % of the property taxes being remitted back to the developer from Medina County) during the 30 year agreement.
With the price per acre wildly increasing in these sudivisions, the value of land, homes, and cost of property taxes for residents in Medina County have also increased.
And look at the traffic and massive MVISD school bonds needed to keep up with that growth.
TIRZ zones were originally created to help develop “blighted” areas. In Medina County, they have been used to develop subdivisions where farms and ranches once were.

Continue reading “What do you think?”

By Anton Riecher
A contract with a Jourdanton engineering firm to develop a digital simulation of the Devine water system to better track flow and pressure was approved by a unanimous vote of the city council on Nov. 19.
Jess Swaim, vice president of 6S Engineering, outlined how the computerized water flow study would benefit the city.
“I’ve looked at what you have for block maps and the lack thereof,” Swaim said. “What we are doing is taking some of those documents and putting them into a software system that allows us to calculate flows and pressures throughout the community and calculate the different parameter to tell where fir flow is, where you might have a leak and things like that.”
The simulation replaces the long, intense calculations utilizing water mains connected in a loop pattern to create a distribution network as a basis for engineering decisions to maintain consistent pressure, he said.
“We can calculate through the model what your pressures are in different locations,” Swaim said.
The simulation also permits personnel in the field to more quickly…

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By Anton Riecher
East Medina County Special Utility District has acquired the rights to an additional 50 acre-feet of water with the approval of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, EMCSUD Superintendent, Bruce Alexander, reported at a Dec. 19 meeting of the East Medina board of directors.
One acre-foot of water is equal to 325,851 gallons. It is the amount needed to cover an acre of land with one foot of water.
“We generally say that’s about 100 or so water connections,” Alexander said.
EMCSUD entered into a contract to purchase the water rights listed as restricted by the EAA several months ago. On Nov. 12, the EAA board took action to allow the property owners to remove the restriction on those rights, making it possible for EMCSUD to move forward with the final acquisition.
In other business, the EMCSUD board approved a resolution to renew its drought contingency plan and critical period management rules as required by EAA.
“It’s up to each individual utility to determine what type of restrictions we place on our customers to meet EAA cutbacks,” Alexander said.
The state requires that this action be renewed every five years. EMCSUD last renewed its plan in 2014. Since the district is currently seeking funding from the Texas Water Development Board for $2.3 million for an interconnection between the Unit Two water plant and Creekwood Ranches subdivision, immediate action to renew was necessary.
Alexander also updated the board on the status of $500,000 in Texas Department of Agriculture community development…

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