Category: Top News Stories

y Kayleen Holder
Editor
Lytle and Natalia Firefighters responded to terrible wreck this past Wednesday night where the driver of a pickup truck ended up underneath an 18 wheeler that was parked at the southbound I-35 rest…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 Kayleen Holder
Editor
Responders made several swift water rescues from Mico, Hondo, and Rio Medina area where responders were able to rescue a victim stranded in floodwaters after seeing him being swept off the top of his car. Overall, there were around a dozen calls for drivers stranded in floodwaters, though only a few required rescue. Thankfully, due to the efforts of responders from Medina and aid from responders across Texas, we had a good outcome.
“They are top notch. We are blessed to have them here in Medina County,” said Sheriff Randy Brown of the crews who made several rescues this weekend.
Medina County Emergency Manager, Mark Chadwick, said the rescues began around 3am in the northeast part of the county, but by the afternoon the bigger problems were in the Castroville area as floodwaters came down from San Geronomio Creek and into the Medina River.
“When that water got to Castroville, that’s when we had a bigger problem, with such a vast area flooding,” Chadwick said in a quick interview Tuesday.
That flooding…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 Anton Riecher
A motion on $46,750 project to concrete patch Colonial Parkway near Oak Hill was approved unanimously by the the Devine City Council June 16. A low spot where rainwater collects has repeatedly damaged an asphalt topping at that location.
As a permanent solution, the proposed repair will included a 170-foot by 25-foot concrete section that is not expected to solve the flooding but will reduce the repeated asphalt replacement by making the road more durable…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!

Mission Devine is in full swing this week. Photo courtesy of Janie Villarreal.

Cliff Redus (right) and Nick Redus (left) braving the elements as they work on a project for Mission Devine. If you would like to join the work everyone meets at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church hall at 7:30 am each morning. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Matthew Gonzales discusses the measurements and materials he needs for a deck as the rain pours down on him during a project for Mission Devine. Photo by Moose Lopez.

America250 Devine Honor Guard member active duty Sergeant Major Kristopher Rains, US Army presents the flag to U.S. Air Force veteran Chief Joe Brown of Devine Police Department. Peter Baron and members of the Sons of the American Revolution then placed the flag on the pole and raised it. Medina County Fire/EMS of Devine did the arrival of the flag. The Flag Honor Guard started as it was escorted in a fire truck by Medina County Fire/EMS LT Josh Capps and Firefighter Thomas Langley who first presented the flag to new recruit US Air Force Recruit Jeremiah Cardenas. Cardenas handed it off to Rains. See pages 13 and 16 for more photos and plaque name drive.

Hondo, Medina County, Texas — Over the last three years, the Hondo Police department and Medina County Sheriff’s Office have executed multiple search warrants for a variety of criminal activity being conducted by numerous individuals at 505 16th Street in Hondo. On the morning of Friday, June 12, 2026, another search warrant was executed at the property for distribution of methamphetamine, but this time the warrant also authorized the Hondo Police Department and the Medina County Criminal District Attorney to seize the entire property as contraband under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure because of its continued use as a center for illegal activity. Most recently, the Hondo Police Department was able to confirm…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 Kayleen Holder
Editor

Get your info straight from the experts….Now is your chance to speak directly with experts on both of the most pressing agriculture issues including Screwworms and Mealybugs.
Local ranchers and farmers are encouraged to attend the local program on Tuesday, June 23 at the Medina County Fair Hall at 9 am where experts will address and give guidance on both issuess, said Medina County’s Ag Extension agent Taryn Titsworth.
Local rancher shares his experience….
Local rancher Lynn Archie, 70 of Devine, was about 16 years old when one of the last outbreaks happened. His grandfather was an ag agent in LaSalle at the time.
“I remember we had these little tubes and we would take a sample and send it in, and if it was positive, they would drop boxes of sterile flies in that area,” Archie said.
Reporting cases will be one of the #1 game changers, he said.
“A lot of people are scared to report it, but that’s the first thing we need to do…the worst thing you can do is not report it,” Archie said, recalling in all of 15 or so cases he remembers, they didn’t lose any of livestock, because they were quickly doctored and reported to stop the spread.
Compared to the widespread outbreak in the 60s, Archie recalls a smaller one that cropped up in the 70s, mainly along the Nueces River, he said.
“I look at it through a different pair of glasses,” Archie said, “Only time will tell how it will go, but it is curable.”
“I think we need to respect it,” Archie said, “and keep watch on our animals, especially newborns and those with cuts and abrasions, but don’t freak out. We need to concentrate on the things we know will help, like reporting. With all of the technology we have, I think we are gonna get a good handle on it.”
With less cattle ranches and so many raising deer for hunting ranches, he sees wildlife being our biggest spreaders.
“If it does get out of hand, I think it will be the wildlife that it’s going to take the biggest toll on. They will be the spreaders I think, but I have already heard about some of the feed stores adding medicine like Ivermectin to wildlife feed, so that will help. I hope they can get a handle on it,and I think they will.”

MORE INFO on the Meeting
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are creating a whole other battle for local farmers and ranchers. Mealybugs which have been found in Medina County and several surrounding counties, pose a huge threat to grass needed to sustain livestock.
“When you start losing your native grasses, that’s what really concerns me,” Titsworth said in a short phone interview.
When it comes to how they attack forage, Titsworth explained, Mealybugs either kill it or they really, really hurt it. “Unlike some of the other insects that ingest it, Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects and have a toxic saliva that kills or stunts the plant. They have been found as deep as 3 feet in the dirt.”
Look for fluffy white, waxy or “fuzzy” insects. Size wise, they are anywhere from 1/20 to 1/5 of an inch.
When it comes to the New World Screwworm, Titsworth explained there are several products you can spray on open wounds to provide protection for a few days, to repel New World Screwworm flies.
“Check your cattle and livestock daily,” Titsworth warned. “If you suspect one of your animals has a screwworm infection, contact the County Extension office or your vet right away. If you catch it early enough, it’ll probably be okay.”
But for those left untreated, the consequences are deadly.
You can look for products containing permethrin such as Durvet Screw Worm Aerosol, Catron IV, and ProZap Screw Worm Ear Tick Aerosol.
The program from 9-Noon will be followed by a luncheon, and it will cover three topics:
Maximizing Herd Profitability (9am)
Mealy Bugs (10 am)
New World Screw Worms (11am)
Luncheon at Noon
The program is now free and includes a meal. To register contact the Medina County Ag Extension office at 830-741-6180 or you can email taryn.titsworth@ag.tamu.edu for questions.

“When it started getting real close, that’s when it got low and started coming at us really fast.”

By Kayleen Holder
Editor

What a story! These boys were thermal hunting for feral pigs on a farm close to Primo Processing in Hondo last Tuesday, June 9 when they came upon this mountain lion about 11:30 p.m.. The lion was about 200 yards away when they first saw it.
“We didn’t get it down until it was about 35 yards from us,” said Brad Hedges, 25 of D’Hanis. “It all happened in a matter of probably 30 seconds” Hedges said, agreeing that was probably the scariest 30 seconds of his life.
“It’s a whole different feeling when you become the prey!’he said. He explained that, at first, he and his buddy Thomas didn’t realize they were looking at two different animals, and neither of them realized they had a lion in their sights until it was coming for them…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 Anton Riecher
The Devine ISD school board voted Monday to adopt its budget of $25.3 million for fiscal year 2026-2027 with an expected revenue shortfall forcing the elimination of $500,000 in staff pay increases and new buses needed to comply with state seat belt laws.
Discussion by the board emphasized that the apparent deficit is driven largely by capital projects, one-time expenditures and changes in state funding formulas. Board members expressed concern that repeated carryover spending from previous budgets could reduce reserves to low levels.
Board member Chris Davis said the cuts were necessary to protect future employment in the school district.
“I know it’s rough but I’d rather adopt it with no increases and no buses than have to worry about laying people off next year,” Davis said. “At least they would have jobs.”
On a motion by Davis, seconded by Alexana Buvinghausen, the board voted unanimously to approve the budget without the pay raises or new buses.
District financial officer Shannon Ramirez estimated the shortfall between the proposed budget and expected revenue at as much as $4.749 million.
Several trustees questioned whether the district could sustain the continuing schedule of proposed raises and vehicle purchases for future years, especially if state revenue did not improve. Another concern was that sustaining the proposed budget could later force staff layoffs.
Superintendent Todd Grandjean and Ramirez explained that the budget being adopted was a planning document with the actual tax rate and other final numbers to be set later. The tax rate will not be…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!

Enrollment and attendance as well as state funding formulas were discussed as key financial drivers in the budget cutbacks.
Above are board members Carl Brown and Chris Davis.