Category: Top News Stories

Medina County authorities responded to the scene of a horrible accident this past Saturday, April 18 around 11 am. It happened on US 90 about 6 miles west of Castroville, according to DPS.
“Preliminary information indicates that a Toyota Pickup traveling eastbound on US 90 lost control for an unknown reason, veered into the westbound lanes of US 90, and collided with oncoming traffic (an SUV, and a truck tractor with a trailer combination),” according to DPS. “The driver of the Tacoma, Humberto Barrera, 72, was ejected and is deceased. Both occupants of the SUV were transported to University Hospital in San Antonio with serious injuries. The driver of the Truck Tractor was not injured.”
There are no further details for release at this time.

“Vanilla Gorilla,” aka Jason Keown of Devine, is excited to announce he has made some big moves with his music lately. In February, DJ 750, of 750 MUSIC ENT, released a mix tape for Vanilla consisting of his music.
“By March 24 we had 174k plus streams,” Keown said.
The No FlyZone Mixtape (“Vanilla Gorilla” Edition) is a 10-song hip-hop mixtape released by DJ 750 on February 14. According to Keown, soon after the release 750 MUSIC ENT was brought into the Sony music family for distribution resulting in the local rapper getting a distribution deal with 750 MUSIC ENT and Sony. Vanilla also was brought onto the long time running record label in San Antonio COCKED-N-LOCKD ENT / CNL BRAND, he said.
“Vanilla Gorilla”, aka Jason Keown of Devine, describes himself as a rap artist with a country twist. His album “So Throwed” was released last September.
“During Fiesta, we will be shooting a music video for the song called MAYNE HOLL (UP) which was also selected for a movie,” Keown said.
The video shoot will be Friday, April 24 at graffiti wall and then market square.
The movie, “Fredo: The Continuance of Vengeance” is a 2026 spin-off movie from Villain Entertainment. The movie is set in…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!

By Angelica Ariza
Devine News Intern
A small, family-owned winery in South Texas is gaining recognition after earning multiple awards at a statewide competition just weeks after opening to the public. Mil Veranos Estate Ranch & Vineyard, owned by Virginia Rodriguez Lopez, submitted three wines to the 2026 Austin Rodeo Texas International Wine Competition   and all three brought home medals. The winery’s Lily Picpoul Blanc earned a gold medal, while the Cha Cha Rosé received silver and the Medina Red took home bronze.
For Rodriguez Lopez, the winery is more than just a business, it’s a reflection of her family’s story.
“When my husband asked me to marry him, he promised me a thousand summers,” she said. “So Mil Veranos comes from that promise. We’ve been together for decades, we have five children, and Mil Veranos just embodies all of the love in our family.”
The winery officially opened to the public on Jan. 3, 2026, but the property has long been a gathering place in the community. Before becoming a winery, the location was rented out for weddings and special events. Rodriguez Lopez said transforming the space into a winery felt like a natural next step.
“It was the next logical step, being able to make our wines and see people enjoy them,” she said. “It makes us a part of their happiness, and that’s something you really can’t measure.”
Located along U.S. Highway 90 in D’Hanis, Mil Veranos is currently the only winery operating on that stretch of road between Uvalde and Castroville, making it a unique stop for travelers in South Texas. Visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences, including purchasing wine on site and relaxing with a glass paired with a charcuterie board. The winery is also working to expand its reach through upcoming online sales.
In addition, Mil Veranos offers a wine club designed for regular customers. Members receive their wine at a discounted rate and commit to quarterly allocations, with the option to choose the number of bottles they would like to receive each cycle.
“We’ve put a lot of intention into growing our grapes and making our wines, it’s a passion and a labor of love for me,” Rodriguez Lopez said.
The winery currently produces about 8,000 bottles per year, a strong start for a small operation that recently opened its doors. Mil Veranos welcomes guests of all ages. Children who visit are given juice boxes and can enjoy lawn games while adults sample wines, creating an inclusive atmosphere for families.
For more information about the winery, contact Mil Veranos Estate Ranch & Vineyard by phone at 210-776-8459, or visit them at 861 County Road 411 in D’Hanis.
As Mil Veranos continues to grow, its early success signals a promising future rooted in family, tradition and, as its name suggests, a thousand summers.

PRESS RELEASE — The Natalia Independent School District Board of Trustees has officially named Dr. Elmer Avellaneda as Superintendent of Natalia ISD, following the completion of the required waiting period after he was selected as lone finalist in March.
As part of the official action, the Board approved a four-year contract for Dr. Avellaneda, signaling strong confidence in his leadership and commitment to the district’s future.
Dr. Avellaneda is no stranger to Natalia ISD. He most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Business Services, where he oversaw the district’s financial operations, bond construction projects, and a wide range of support services. His leadership has also extended to safety and security, technology, maintenance, human resources, and overall district operations.
Since beginning his career in education in 2010, Dr. Avellaneda has built a reputation as a collaborative leader focused on student success and strong school systems. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Baylor University and both a Master of Education and Doctor of Education from Tarleton State University.
Board President Eric Smith expressed confidence in the district’s new leader.
“We are excited about the leadership, vision, and experience Dr. Avellaneda brings to Natalia ISD,” Smith said. “We are confident he will continue 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 $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Devine FCCLA attended the State Conference in Dallas, Texas, April 9 – 11, 2026. Four hundred chapters from Texas registered to attend, with 3,300 participants. Devine FCCLA took 10 teams to compete in the STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) events. Seven of those teams placed in the Top 5, and three of those teams will advance to the National FCCLA Conference in Washington, D.C., in July to compete.
Results are as follows:
National Qualifiers (1st and 2nd place)
1st place: Kelvey Cortez and Isabella Gonzales, Interpersonal Communications, Level 1
2nd place: Kamden Paige, Leadership, Level 2
2nd place: Catherine Brown and Kayla Dzierzanowski, Public Policy Advocate, Level 2
Other Top 5 teams:
4th place: Paige Barron and McKailee Sorrell, Focus on Children, Level 3
5th place: Melenie Cardenas, Esteban Mendoza, and Margarita Vizcarra, Interpersonal Communications, Level 3
5th place: Amy Outlaw and Myla Sorrell, National Programs in Action, Level 2
5th place: Briana Balderrama and Angeliana Rendon-Zapata, Professional Presentation, Level 3
Others competing at the State conference:
Prezley Freeburn and Olivia Taylor, Focus on Children, Level 2
Nayelii Munoz and Collier Paige, Interpersonal Communications, Level 2
Jillian Brumage and Rubie Weyel, Professional Presentation, Level 2
Michael Gomez, the current Devine High School principal and a former Devine FCCLA officer, supported our students by volunteering as an evaluator to ensure the state conference’s success. Former Devine FCCLA advisers Korrey Paige and Madeline Steubing also volunteered many hours to help teams with their projects. The team members and Mrs. Outlaw thank all of them for their help!

In the center is Kamden Paige, took 2nd place in Leadership, Level 2, and will also represent Devine FCCLA at Nationals.

Devine FCCLA 1st place team Kelvey Cortez (right) and Isabella Gonzales (left) will compete at Nationals in Interpersonal Communications, Level 1.

Amy Outlaw and Myla Sorrell

Brianna Balderrama and Angeliana Rendon-Zapata

Collier Paige and Nayeli Munoz

Jillian Brumage and Rubie Weyel

McKailee Sorrell and Paige Barron

Melenie Cardenas, Esteban Mendoza and Margarita Vizcarra

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Local leaders, firefighters, city crews, and community members gathered to accept a $300,000 donation to Lytle VFD, presented by representatives of Rowan Industries, the company constructing a 400-acre data center campus located just south of Lytle along Hwy 132, known as “Project Cinco”.
Rowan’s Director of Government and Community Affairs, Tim Alborg, was on hand for the presentation along with Communications Director Nathaniel Brown, and Genevive Flores, and Senior Project Manager for Rowan George A. Gomez P. E.
“This is the largest single community donation that Rowan has ever made as a company–and I am really excited about that… I could not imagine a more deserving recipient,” Alborg said.
“Before shovels hit dirt–we reached out to Chief Garcia and his team to learn more about how they operate and how we might work together if we were fortunate enough to build a world-class data center here in Medina County,” Alborg said. “Those conversations led us to this moment. The investment will make sure that these firefighters have the training, equipment, and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. It’s one way we can show that we see their effort, that we value it immensely, and we stand behind them.”
Lytle VFD Chief Roger Garcia thanked…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!

The sheriff was on his way to Corpus this week to pick up one of the victim’s vehicles as they continue their investigation of the horrific double homicide that occured this past week in a remote area of Medina County.
“Autopsies are ongoing,” said Sheriff Brown in a short interview Tuesday, who noted there have only been a handful of double homicides in his almost 30 years with the department.
Remarkably, the suspects were captured within hours of deputies discovering foul play.
“It was truly a team effort to go from nothing to be able to gather the information, find the vehicle, and then getting them caught that same night was remarkable. A lot of pieces came together to make it happen.”
Sheriff added, “It’s just a really sad situation, and it involved two small children as well. Thankfully we were able to get them into the care of DFPS and family members as well.”
None of the suspects or victims are…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!