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Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.

MEMORIES of THE MILL

DEVINE HOMETOWN HISTORY:

This historic Mill & Elevator in Devine, Texas employed hundreds of local adults and youth in its long and storied history. Depending on your generation, you may call it, “SWT”, the “Co-op”, “Devine Mill & Elevator”, or just “The Mill”, but no matter the name, the mission was the same . But in 1915 ground was broken here to build the first mill in Devine as the “Adams Company Corn Sheller”. The elevator was added soon after to load the corn into the rail cars after they were shelled.
Hometown History….
By Nancy Ehlinger Saathoff, Devine Historical Committee
Devine Mill & Elevator – Tri-County Farmers Co-op – SWT Farm & Ranch Supply was a large employer of full-time, summer, seasonal, and high school workers in Devine for many decades! It was also the go-to Feed & Seed business for area farmers & ranchers, as well as home gardeners. Customers were greeted with the smells and sounds of a busy feed store like baby chicks peeping, grain drills churning, and the regular train whistling as it traveled on the nearby tracks. The sights, sounds and smells are often engrained with other memories, whether from a customer or people who worked there.

With those memories in mind, the Facebook page posted this picture of the Mill, and asked followers for any special memories they might have of the Mill. My dad, Arthur Ehlinger, worked at the Mill for over 30 years so the memories of the people, sights, sounds, and smells are very familiar and special to me too. And every time I pass by that elevator tower at the Mill, I think of him and those memories.
*Here are some memories that were posted this week, and a follow-up article will add more. Some of these memories are from customers, former employees, and even children or grandchildren of customers or employees, and give us a good idea of the value that this old building and tower represent in our community.
“Back when we were kids, our grandparents raised parakeets. We used to go with our grandpa to get birdseed from there. There was an older man that worked there who didn’t have an arm. I was always so shocked he could carry those big bags of seed. He also used a wooden dolly.” “I remember watching him load our feed/seed. I don’t think I ever knew who he was, just that he was a nice man and always there. I always loved the way that feed store smelled.” *Mr. Timoteo Ambriz (Timo) was a strong and friendly employee of the Tri-County Farmers Co-op for many years. He lost his arm in an accident at the Mill, but returned to work there and was a great example for everyone with not only his physical strength, but his strength of character.
“My father, Tucker D. Irwin, worked as the bookkeeper throughout the 50s and 60s until he was forced to retire due to health issues. When I was a child, I used to walk there after school, just to spend time with him and watch him work. I was in awe of him and marveled at his interactions with others, giving advice to farmers about which seeds to plant, and when, which fertilizers to use on which crops and which feed to feed livestock. I thought he was one of the smartest men I knew! I remember the smells of seed, fertilizers, livestock food, and pesticides and can still smell those things to this very day. Some of my fondest memories were there with him. Mr. Alton Martin and Mr. Arthur Ehlinger were there and were good friends with my dad for all those years. And yes, I remember that terrible day Paul Bain Marin was injured, and nearly died, when a ton of, I believe, cotton see hull fell on him while he was working with it. Amazing place and amazing days of my life.” *There are articles about Paul Bain Martin in the Devine News archives, including one written by him a few years ago.
*Mr. Tucker Irwin was a veteran of WWII, who was wounded and lost his legs in battle. He, like Mr. Timo Ambriz, never let their injuries stop them from working full time and supporting their families.
“I remember the chiclet machine. I worked there one summer typing names and addresses of the farmers on envelopes and sending out invitations to the stockholders’ meeting. Mr. Timo Ambriz worked there for years. He was always so kind and funny with us kids, especially when all of us kids (siblings) came in.”
“I remember going there with my grandfather, Tharon Savage, to buy feed and Mr. Hope would give me a DumDum sucker. When we moved back to Devine, I bought feed there several times, but they closed shortly after.”
“I worked there a bit while in high school. There was an old guy there that worked in the mill that could out work any man there, no matter his age. He had to be in his mid-60s.”
“My brother worked there for awhile under Butch Roberson. I was too young and so I worked for Floyd Newman in the peanut fields moving irrigation pipes. I liked the smell of the feed store when I walked in there. I have happy memories of my Grandpa Leo Bohl St. taking me there. He would buy me chicks at Easter time.”
“We shopped there frequently. I always liked the smell.”
“My brother and I worked there during our Jr. and Sr. years in high school. After graduation by brother continued to work there a few years longer.”
These are but a few of the memories, and more with be shared in a later article.

  • We would love to hear YOUR MEMORIES of the MILL too, so if you have any stories, pictures, or even small memories, please share them on the Facebook page for the Devine Historical Committee or contact me, Nancy Saathoff at gnsaathoff@aol.com, Facebook messenger, or call or text me at 210-289-6205.

Driver trapped in car wreck, two hospitalized

Photo by Raul Martinez

The couple traveling in this white car was struck by the truck at the four corners intersection, pushing the small car all the way off the roadway and trapping the driver inside. It happened this past Saturday morning, July 27 around 10am in downtown Devine, and both of the people in the car were transported to University Hospital.

The 16-year-old driver was cited for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and were released to a parent. The driver will have to appear in court regarding the matter, according to Devine Police Chief Kandi Benavides,
The extent of injuries of driver and passenger in the car were not known as of press time.
“The truck occupied by two juveniles was coming west on East Hondo and ran a red light, striking the car which was traveling on North Teel, going South. The car was occupied by a 62-year-old male (driver) and a 70-year-old female, both of San Antonio,” Chief Benavides stated.
“One witness stated that they saw the truck speeding and swerving around cars on E Hondo Avenue,” Benavides added.

Community eyes possibilities of historic development in Devine

Full of history and character, Devine’s Mill and Elevator has stood tall in downtown Devine for over 100 years…
After seeing it in disrepair for so many years, many in the community are excited to learn of the plans to not only renovate and make it safe, but the possibility of restoring it to the centerpiece of Devine that it once was, celebrating our city’s history, roots, character, and charm.
“To me, it’s Devine’s skyline,” said one Devine resident.
Jesse Hernandez, of Felipe’s Tire Shop, now owns the property where Devine Mill and Elevator is located and he hopes to preserve the iconic building as much as possible.
“I want to use one side of the building for a tire shop, and I’d love to see the other side of the building restored if possible, back to how it was or as close to the same as possible,” Hernandez said. “I just need to see if we can get a grant for that, and time to get it done.”
They are in the process of searching for resources like historic grants, an engineer, and a licensed contractor to “shore” it up to make it safe so construction and renovations can safely begin, aided by grants.
The Devine Historical Committee submitted a beautiful piece on the history of the building and ideas to restore it to its former glory including a sketch by a local artist of a large cactus mural down the east side along the tracks. (See articles and photo inside)
Though it was recently roped off, City Administrator David Jordan explained, “The word condemned does not necessarily mean the building has to be destroyed. If the building is repaired and determined to be structurally sound by a certified structural engineer, then the Devine Volunteer Fire Department can re-inspect and clear the facility.”


“After consultation with Fire Chief Greg Atkinson, a decision was made to deem the building uninhabitable,” a press release from Jordan stated. “The city nor the Devine Volunteer Fire Department has any desire to demolish one of the oldest historical landmarks in the City of Devine, however we must ensure the building is in compliance.”
He adds, “To preserve this landmark, the city is looking into ways we can potentially partner with the owner, the historical society, and the community on how we can assist in the research of historical preservation grants.”
In 1922, the editor of The Devine News highlighted the many businesses that helped build this town. One of those businesses, at the heart of the community’s livelihood, was Devine’s Mill & Elevator.
Historic articles in The Devine News highlight the excitement of the community when “dirt was broken” on the mill “going up by the railroad tracks”.
“With thousands of acres of fine corn ripening in our territory and preparations made, Devine has every prospect that a town with 10,000 acres irrigated lands and 50,000 acres dry lands could wish, at least in this part of Texas.”
“Opportunity is knocking at Devine’s door and where we had ten corn wagons $500 last year, we shall have 20 wagons and $1,000 this year. The great and burning question now is ‘Good Roads” to let the farmers get here with his stuff.”
Two years later, in 1922, a Devine News article documented how the Devine Mill and (corn) Elevator is one of the landmark businesses that built this town.
“These little things though they be, are what make a town and bring more people and businesses to town. Ice Plant, Bottling Works, Broom Factory, Stream Pressing, Corn Elevators, Good Cotton Gins, Grist Mills, Machine shops with welding and vulcanizing, etc, etc…..We are going to make a city here yet in spite of knockers. Just watch us.”
Located in such a prominent spot, the Devine Historical Committee and many others say preserving Devine Mill and Elevator would go a long way in maintaining community character, charm, and history for many future generations to come. Preservation and re-purposing could also at the same time provide ample opportunity to harvest the value of this historic landmark leading to economic development.
(See presentation given in separate article on front page about the old Pearl Brewery development.)
Greg Atkinson, Devine Fire Chief comments:
“Yes, Devine Fire issued the uninhabitable letter under the state adopted code of nfpa 101 life safety code. The state gave that authority to the state Marshals office, who gave that authority to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), which is ESD 2, who by contract gave that authority to me. I taped it off because I don’t want anyone hurt. This has nothing to do with the city and is not the first building we have done this to. The city wants to save the co-op, but it takes funding. I am all for that, but in it’s current state, it is a danger to anyone who doesn’t know what they are doing. I’d love to see grants save it. To be clear, we are NOT wanting it demolished, just fixed correctly where no one gets hurt.”
“The co-op isn’t a city code violation. It’s a collapse hazard covered under state code NPFA 101 life safety. It is uninhabitable in its current state until an engineer tells me otherwise. I do not want to see it demolished, but I definitely do not want to see someone killed. We have already rescued individuals from that building and have been lucky that no one has been seriously injured. If the property owner can get a company to properly renovate it with commercial contractors, I’d gladly allow that to happen. However, it is hard to argue that in its current state, it is safe for anyone to go into who does not know exactly what they are doing.”

A 1915 Devine News article shows the excitement surrounding the mill and elevator and the boost to the economy that it brought. Perhaps this landmark so rich in history has the potential to once again be a boost to the economic development of Devine. This idea and 3D renderings were proposed in a study done several years ago by UTSA, if you recall.
Representatives from UTSA’s Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research and the Rural Business Program presented a vision plan for the future of Devine back in 2017. Bert Moyer, a Research Assistant with the Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research, took the lead on the presentation, explaining that it was designed as ideas for City leadership and community stakeholders regarding future development.
Those other projects included beautification of downtown Devine as well as the 173 corridor, the extension of sidewalks to make downtown pedestrian-friendly, and the restoration of historic buildings.
“You guys have a wealth of historic buildings, and they’re assets to the community,” Moyer said. “The problem is that once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”
He pointed to the refurbished Pearl Brewery complex in San Antonio as a template for what could be done with buildings in downtown Devine, specifically the unused grain silo across the street from the Driscoll Public Library.
“We think that’s a great facility that could be turned into something very wonderful, I believe,” Moyer said. “[The Pearl Brewery] is on a much larger scale, but they have created this food/mall mecca, and now people are coming in from all over, so there’s a lot of potential. Of course the scale is a little bit different…but that’s your gateway, that’s one of the first things you see when you come to Devine.”
A 2022 article by the SA Report highlights “ How a historic brewery transformed the city.” According to that article, an estimated 7,000 people visit the Pearl to shop at the weekend farmer’s market, about 3,000 on summer movie nights, and several hundred for Sunset Sessions and other seasonal performances.
The building at the old mill in Devine has multiple sections with large rooms separated by concrete walls with ample space for multiple uses.

Experts suggest Historic Development could breathe new life into city, revisiting ideas presented…

A 1915 Devine News article shows the excitement surrounding the mill and elevator and the boost to the economy that it brought. Perhaps this landmark so rich in history has the potential to once again be a boost to the economic development of Devine. This idea and 3D renderings were proposed in a study done several years ago by UTSA, if you recall.
Representatives from UTSA’s Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research and the Rural Business Program presented a vision plan for the future of Devine back in 2017. Bert Moyer, a Research Assistant with the Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research, took the lead on the presentation, explaining that it was designed as ideas for City leadership and community stakeholders regarding future development.
Those other projects included beautification of downtown Devine as well as the 173 corridor, the extension of sidewalks to make downtown pedestrian-friendly, and the restoration of historic buildings.


“You guys have a wealth of historic buildings, and they’re assets to the community,” Moyer said. “The problem is that once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”
He pointed to the refurbished Pearl Brewery complex in San Antonio as a template for what could be done with buildings in downtown Devine, specifically the unused grain silo across the street from the Driscoll Public Library.
“We think that’s a great facility that could be turned into something very wonderful, I believe,” Moyer said. “[The Pearl Brewery] is on a much larger scale, but they have created this food/mall mecca, and now people are coming in from all over, so there’s a lot of potential. Of course the scale is a little bit different…but that’s your gateway, that’s one of the first things you see when you come to Devine.”
A 2022 article by the SA Report highlights ” How a historic brewery transformed the city.” According to that article, an estimated 7,000 people visit the Pearl to shop at the weekend farmer’s market, about 3,000 on summer movie nights, and several hundred for Sunset Sessions and other seasonal performances.

Read more about the history of Devine Mill & Elevator click the link: https://devinenews.com/hometown-history-more-than-meets-the-eye/

Contract with Fire Dept. to enforce code compliance in Devine

By Butch Cook
City of Devine Mayor
For the first time since September 2022, we are reinstating the quarterly newsletters to better inform our citizens of what is going on in our fair city. Staff will be mailing these newsletters to every household and business that receives city utilities. For daily updates please join and follow our Facebook page at “City of Devine City Hall; visit our website at cityofdevine.org; and for emergency notifications, sign up for I-Info at http://r.i-info.com/rc/arc. As always, our official newspaper, The Devine News, prints all of our press releases and does a great job covering our
city council meetings.


VFD to handle code compliance and inspections
The City Council has approved a contract with Devine VFD to handle code compliance and inspections for the city. This replaces the current practice of using a paid city employee within City Hall for inspections related to new construction, remodeling, electrical and plumbing. We have been using Bureau Veritas, based in Kerrville, for many years, but enforcing code compliance has been problematic. Since 2015, only two code compliance officers have stayed with the city for longer than a year and this long-term agreement will help solve that issue. The VFD will have adequate and certified personnel of staff to stay on top of things. The city also benefits financially from the agreement and the money that went to Kerrville will now stay in our community to enhance the VFD operation.
Citizens will notice an increase in the enforcement of city codes which have existed for many years but lacked sufficient manpower for enforcement.

The first priorities of our city are always safety and security concerns, along with trash, brush and bulk garbage items being placed in the city right-of-way for weeks at a time – sometimes immediately after our scheduled pickups. Many people in town assume they can place brush and bulk items on the curb when convenient for them, but that is not the case.
We have an agreement with Republic Services for quarterly brush pickups and two annual bulk pickups at well-publicized time frames with 10-day windows. It is the citizen’s responsibility to place their items at the beginning of the 10-day time frame, and if not done in time, the citizen is
expected to take other measures or move the items back onto their property until the next pickup. Bulk items can be disposed of year round on Saturdays at the county yard on Hwy 173 just past the high school for a nominal fee, but the county does not accept brush.
Properties in violation will be contacted by mail for compliance and if issues are not resolved within the allotted time, the owners will be cited to appear at Municipal Court. The City and Devine VFD intend to be consistent across the board in the enforcing and removing the unnecessary eye sores.
The next scheduled times for brush and bulk pickup for the City of Devine are August 12-16 and October 7-11, 2024 According to a recent survey of our citizens through our Communities as a Startup (CASU) initiative, the importance of city appearance rated near the top of community aspirations, affecting quality of life and economic development; it’s a straight forward problem we can solve.


Water System Improvements
The City of Devine is excited to announce that it now has three fully operational water wells to better handle the city’s needs. Not too long ago the city was down to one operational water well, which is a precarious situation.
Most recently, the Bain Well and its storage tank have been refurbished. The water tests have met requirements, and it is now contributing to our water supply. Aside from the increased volume benefit, the Bain Well draws from the Carrizo aquifer and reduces our reliance on the Edwards aquifer, and the subsequent fees we pay for our allotted acre feet – which
are substantial.
Our twin wells on 1343, that pull from the Edwards aquifer, have also been refurbished as close to new as possible. Backup generators for both wells are being installed and will help avoid outages caused from lightning strikes and freezing weather.


Spring Election Results
Congratulations to the newly elected Councilmen from the spring election: Jeff Miller is the new District 3 representative winning by a margin of 36-15, and Ray Gonzales won his race with a turnout of 23-5 in District 1. Both bring a lot to the table and it’s already been a pleasure working with them the last two months.

Also, special thanks to Stacy Pyron and Flipper Vega for their service on the City Council and stepping up for the challenge of public service, which quite often is a thankless job.


Food for Thought
Please keep in mind that all of the representatives on your City Council, including the Mayor, also reside in Devine, and each shares the same concerns and aspirations as many of you – streets, parks, sidewalks, economic opportunity, etc., and if there were easy solutions, there
wouldn’t be any problems.

Monte Carlo night this weekend

The Devine Fire Department is hosting their big Monte Carlo night fundraiser this coming July 27.

You can expect live music, and lots of great prizes.
There are plenty of sponsorship opportunities ranging from $5,000 to $250, or you can be a table sponsor for $300.

Silent Auction sponsors and drawing prizes are also needed. Please email your company artwork to auxiliary@deivnefire.org if you are interested.

Bust n Burn drawing and BBQ plates this Saturday at Devine VFW

A benefit BBQ sale and prize drawings is being hosted by Bust N Burn to help with local scholarships.
The BBQ and drawing will be on Saturday, July 27 at the Devine VFW building next to the Post Office.
BBQ plates of brisket, sausage and sides will be sold for $12 plate with serving starting at 11:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m.
Tickets to the drawings will be sold during from 11:00 am to 2:00 p.m. timeframe with the drawings to begin at 2:00 p.m.
For further information please contact Shannon Frazier at 210-471-1856 or Stacie Mann at 210-410-4712 or visit bustnburn.com.

A benefit BBQ sale and prize drawings is being hosted by Bust N Burn to help with local scholarships.
The BBQ and drawing will be on Saturday, July 27 at the Devine VFW building next to the Post Office.
BBQ plates of brisket, sausage and sides will be sold for $12 plate with serving starting at 11:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m.
Tickets to the drawings will be sold during from 11:00 am to 2:00 p.m. timeframe with the drawings to begin at 2:00 p.m.
For further information please contact Shannon Frazier at 210-471-1856 or Stacie Mann at 210-410-4712 or visit bustnburn.com.

Prizes include three handguns and two riffles and 9 other items from gift cards, a pellet grill, massage, outside cooler, fishing trip for 2 and a dove hunt for 15.
Handguns:

Smith & Wesson Shield Plus .30 Super Carry pistol 16+1 capacity

  1. Smith & Wesson Shield EZ 9mm pistol Robins Egg Blue W Stainless slide 8 +1 capacity
  2. Rossi Brawler .410/.45LC single shot “Snake Special -Mr. Carlson”
    Rifles:
  3. Ruger American. 308 Bolt action Burnt Bronze cerakote Threaded barrel W muzzle brake “Go Wild” camo stock
  4. CVA Varmint Hunter .22-250 Bolt action Smoked Bronze cerakote Threaded barrel Realtree camo adjustable target stock
    Prizes:
  5. 1000 D3 Pitboss Pellet Grill
  6. $500 Gift Card to Chandelier Rose, Anonymous Donor
  7. $1,000 value of Jon Hart at Mag’s Place
  8. The Dusty Halo Custom Hat
  9. Spa Day at Signature Massage & Body Works (for 2) includes 1 hr facial and 1 hr massage
  10. $500 Visa Gift Card donated by All in Land Services
  11. 3100 CFM 3 Speed Portable Outside Cooler
  12. Fishing Trip for 2, bait included. (Add’l $250 for 2 extra)
  13. Dove Hunt- Afternoon hunt for 15 people, donated by Signature Hunting
    All guns purchased at Calame Store. See drawing rules and regulations, prizes must be picked up by August 29, 2024. Only 500 tickets will be sold.

HEARING ON ASSASSINATIONATTEMPT

This photo is from the Republican National Convention held last week which a local family attended. Photo by R Oberlander.

July 23, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) delivered the following opening statement in a hearing to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. At the hearing, witness testimony will be provided by Colonel Christopher L. Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
As prepared for delivery:
On July 13, 2024, our nation came within an inch of unmitigated tragedy and crisis. In Butler, Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old gunman mounted a building in plain view of former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign rally, took aim, and fired multiple rounds.
At exactly the right moment, however, President Trump turned his head to read a chart, so that a bullet which would have pierced his skull instead grazed his right ear. Three others sitting behind President Trump on the stage experienced a different fate.
Fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore, a father and former fire chief, was struck and killed. As one outlet recently reported, this brave and loving man “spent his final moments diving down in front of his family, protecting them from the gunfire that rang out.” He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Two others, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, were seriously injured.
I’d like to pause for a moment of silence in remembrance of Corey and in prayer for the recovery of David and James. Thank you everyone.

This failed attempt on President Trump’s life demands urgent and comprehensive congressional oversight. We must understand how it happened—and ensure changes are made—so this never happens again.
That was the scene last Saturday, where thousands of Americans were exercising their constitutional rights – until they were viciously attacked.
Yet, what we saw after those shots rang out should also encourage everyone. We saw a leader under fire rising up to show the attacker had failed. We saw brave Secret Service agents who put their bodies in harm’s way. And we see Americans across this nation refuse to let this thwart their participation in our democratic process.
At the same time, however, we also witnessed a massive security failure by the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security—the closest someone has been to taking the life of a president or presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981—more than 40 years ago. We must be committed in our determination to ensure this never happens again. That is why the House Committee on Homeland Security is demanding full transparency and accountability. That’s why we made the trip to Butler, Pennsylvania, yesterday—to see the site ourselves. I’m grateful to the Ranking Member and the eleven other members who were able to come yesterday.
I want to share with the American people some of what we saw yesterday. I was struck by how close the unsecured building, from which Thomas Crooks took his shot, was to the stage where President Trump was standing. What we saw yesterday only raises more questions about how this roof was unsecured. And after several of our Committee members climbed on the roof, let me tell you—any excuse about the roof being “too steep” to post a counter-sniper team up there is pure nonsense.
Protecting the president of the United States and presidential nominees is the Secret Service’s mission. There can be no room for mistakes. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
In order to prevent a repeat of this, we must first thoroughly gather and assess the facts. That’s why we are here today, most importantly, to obtain answers for the American people from officials in the best position to provide those answers. And like tens of millions of Americans, our list of questions is extensive:
· Why was the rooftop from which the shooter fired multiple rounds not secured?
· Who made the decision not to post counter-sniper personnel on the roof?
· Were warnings from private citizens in attendance about a shooter on top of the building heard by federal law enforcement, and if so, why was nothing done to respond?
· How did the shooter access the rooftop despite reported federal and local law enforcement presence in and around the building?
· Were there communications breakdowns that prevented law enforcement officials from effectively communicating with each other in response to alerts and threats?
· The shooter was spotted and designated as suspicious prior to President Trump taking the stage. Why wasn’t President Trump moved to a secure location until the Secret Service could investigate?
· The shooter visited the rally site multiple times before the actual rally. Reports indicate he even flew a drone on a reconnaissance trip to the rally site on the day of the attack. Why wasn’t the site secure?
· Following the rally, the Secret Service said that reports President Trump’s security detail requested additional security resources were false; however, then backtracked and told the Washington Post that the Secret Service had learned “new information” indicating the Secret Service headquarters may have in fact denied some requests. Why, and when were those requests were denied?
These are just some of the most pressing questions we have, and expected to hear answers to from Secretary Mayorkas, Director Wray, and Director Cheatle. We, also, expect to hear complete answers to questions about the shooter’s motivation and what the FBI has found in its investigation, including information collected from the shooter’s various devices. Unfortunately and unacceptably, they have refused to appear before this Committee today. Director Cheatle testified yesterday before another committee, but many questions remain. Yesterday, she provided wholly unacceptable responses to members of the House Oversight Committee, and completely failed to address the lack of confidence we have of her leadership of the Secret Service. Her appearing before one committee yesterday also does not absolve her of her responsibility to before this committee. In any case, make no mistake, we will continue to push for answers.
While these federal officials refused to testify today, we are grateful for the opportunity to speak with state and local officials and law enforcement members, some of whom were onsite and witnessed the events of that tragic day. Their testimony will be critical to putting together this complicated puzzle, understanding coordination efforts, and getting to the truth about what happened.
Before I conclude, however, I have to urge the Ranking Member to reconsider his legislation that was clearly intended to strip Secret Service protection from former President Trump. While I understand the legislation would not have applied in this instance, it was clear to everyone that it was directed toward the former President. We all introduce messaging bills; this one should be withdrawn.
Today’s hearing is critical so we can ensure that our children and grandchildren will grow up in a free nation where every American can participate in the democratic process. I hope every member will join me in getting to the bottom of what happened—so it doesn’t happen again.
Source: https://homeland.house.gov/news releases
Watch Chairman Green’s full opening statement online at https://homeland.house.gov/

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