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.
Devine Arabian setter Kyndie Cruz was honored for having reached 1,000 career assists. Quick on her feet, she sets up one kill after another for her team.
This was the first reported automobile to have been driven through Devine, and it surely created quite a “stir”!
By Nancy Saathoff
Just imagine the excitement, curiosity, and maybe a little fear that this Packard Touring Car might have brought to the dusty streets of Devine in 1905.
Can you imagine the curious looks when seeing an automobile for the very first time? On July 3rd, 1905, perhaps the first automobile that ever ran on the streets of Devine was viewed by a number of citizens who had never seen an automobile before! This early Packard Touring Car must have been a wild spectacle, not just for them, but probably for the horses too! Those were still horse and buggy days in Devine at that time and even though the horses were accustomed to the trains, this was something different! The trains stayed on their own tracks, but for the horses, this vehicle roamed on “their” streets!
Editor R. Peterson and E.B. Baker, a prominent cotton buyer, drove their auto all the way from Paris, Texas with their sights set on heading to Mexico City! Paris was in Lamar, County, in northeast Texas on the Red River, so that was quite a trip planned for them. They were out…
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The annual festival will be held at St John Bosco Catholic Church located at 502 5th Street, Natalia on Labor Day September 1. There are several fundraisers leading up to the big event.
There will be lots of bands. See page 2 for more details on the big event.
DRAWING TICKETS: Text Beatrice Morales at 210-482-9595 for tickets. September 1st is the Grand drawing. So don’t delay, get your tickets TODAY, $5 each. Father Antony will draw the $500 winning ticket on Sunday, August 11th after 11 a.m. mass.
The winning ticket and all the tickets will be put back into the raffle barrel for another chance to win $3k, $2k, & $1k and other prizes on September 1st. This drawing will be announced at the Labor Day Festival extravaganza.
Fun FOAM FINISH and Zumba 5K Run or Walk:
This is a fun event for the whole family. 1.7 miles through the City of Natalia; check-in is at 6:30 a.m.
Kids Run starts at 7:45 a.m. There will be activities for the kids during the race. Race starts at 8 a.m. for the runners, followed by the walkers.
When everybody returns they will have a Zumba session and end the day with a Fun Foam Finish.
Press Release–Medina County Sheriff’s Office began conducting an investigation with the assistance of the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office after responding to multiple grass fires in various areas of Medina County between August 9th 2022 and August 12th 2022.
After a lengthy investigation with numerous interviews and multiple search warrants, two suspects were developed. These suspects were identified as Christopher Robert Castro Jr. and Martha Eugenia Caroline Day. Both individuals were interviewed and admitted to starting fires in Medina County between August 9th through August 12th, 2022. Both individuals stated they used a lighter to ignite matches and would throw them out the window and catch the grass on fire.
On August 16, 2024, both individuals were arrested at their homes without incident and booked into the Medina County Jail for the Criminal Offense of Arson. Bonds are set at $50,000 surety for both individuals.
The case is still an ongoing investigation and as the investigation progresses, we will continue to keep the public informed with any significant developments, however due to the sensitive nature of this investigation there are details that we cannot disclose at this time to avoid compromising our efforts.
Now is the time for Vendors to sign up… deadline Aug. 23 for first dibs at fall festival
The Devine Chamber of Commerce will host its annual 2024 Fall Cactus Festival on the first Saturday of November as usual, set for November 2 in downtown Devine with a festival, street dance and carnival.
Sign up as a vendor
August 23 is the deadline for locals to get first dibs on vendor spots….This year preference will be given to chamber members to keep with the local first theme who sign up to be a vendor first. Then it will be opened to outside vendors. Only 3 of every kind of vendor will be allowed to provide a nice variety of vendors. The Devine Market Association has accepted the job of organizing the vendors and taking care of that part of the festival for the chamber. An August 23 deadline has been set for chamber members to apply to get dibs on a vendor spot. Chamber members will be given priority then local and then open to others. To give as much opportunity as possible to local people first. Think, Shop, Dine Devine!
Charley Richardt, DMA Market Coordinator is handing the vendors for the chamber with the help of Steve Smith. Charley can be reached at 210.790.2212 or by email at charley.katona@gmail.com Feel free to text with questions about vendors. The link to sign up is https://forms.gle/r3JW89SRLwsCb1C9A
Carnival
The carnival will be in town Thursday through Saturday as usual.
Entertainment
A mix of entertainments will feature local youth dance and cheer groups, live music on two different stages, a master of ceremonies and possibly karaoke.
Live music on the main stage will feature the Solis Bros Band, Jeremy Richards Band and Small Town Habit. On the back stage will be Claude Morgan and friends. Keith Lutz will take care of the sound.
Grand Marshal
The 2024 Devine Parade Grand Marshall will be Devine’s own Lewis Stroud. Stroud was born and raised in Devine and continues in his retirement from teaching to promote the community and help spread awareness and help to organizations and those in need through the Devine Lions Club. He and his wife Marsha raised their two sons in Devine and both continue to help others daily and volunteer in the community.
Parade Theme
This year’s theme is Devine Pride since Homecoming is the very next week. So get out your maroon and gold and let’s decorate the floats in hometown style.
The Alzafar Shiners have signed up for the parade this year. They always are a wonderful addition to the parade with their clowns, cars, and members. The Chamber is excited to have them involved in the parade again.
Public hearing next Monday, Aug.26
Medina County will have a public hearing on August 26 at 9 AM in the Medina County Courthouse Annex located in the Commissioner’s Court room in Hondo.
The current proposed budget will increase the budget by $3.7 million compared to last year.
Many top county elected officials recieved raises this year, which can be seen on page 19. Increasing home and property values/taxes and new homes in the county have both contributed to the increased tax levy.
What can you do?
Attend public hearings like the one this coming Monday and speak during citizen’s comments, or reach out to elected officials. The Medina County commissioners are Larry Sittre, David Lynch, Danny Lawler, and Jessica Catiglione.
How much has Medina County tax base grown?
Despite massive growth, elected leaders of the County have not chosen to select the “no new revenue rate” in many years. The number of homes in Medina County has grown from 18,791 homes in 2017 to 25,938 in 2024 (as of May), according to Medina County Chief Appraiser Johnette Dixon, who provided the sobering facts and figures.
According to Dixon, Medina County also saw a 237% increase in net Taxable Value on property in the county from 2017 to 2024 (as of May).
Average home values in Medina County jumped by $41,000+ in just two year’s time from 2022 to 2024 (as of May).
As the tax base in a county or city increases, elected officials have the opportunity each year to lower the tax RATE to a % that would generate the same amount of revenue as the prior year.
That rate is what’s referred to as the “no new revenue” rate and would reduce the tax burden on residents.
Free pizza, ice cream & snow cones 11-1 this Saturday!!!
If you are looking for some great eats and family fun, look no further than 702 Tejas in Lytle, Texas. They have an old fashioned ice cream shop, food and drinks, coffee, and Italian ice.
In their cafe, they serve all kinds of food on the menu including burgers, Hunt’s Brothers Pizza, Turkey legs, wings Chicken on a Stick, Frito pie, Sausage Wraps, and much more. Ask about their Barbacoa Pizza! And they plan to serve some baby back ribs on the weekend as well!
While you are dining in, you can also play pool tables, dart machines, or your favorite tunes on the juke box and more.
Tom and Julie Crandall are excited to announce their Grand Opening celebration is this Saturday, August 24. They will be serving FREE PIZZA, Blue Bell ICE CREAM, and SNOW CONES from 11-1 to celebrate!
Don’t forget to enter the drawing for a chance to win a new bicycle too. They will have a ribbon cutting at 11.
They also serve mixed drinks and you can enjoy football games, UFC fights, etc, on their big screen TVs while you eat. Don’t forget to try their famous margaritas and daiquiris!
They will be open 10am-10pm Sunday-Thursdays, and they will be open late on Friday and Saturdays from 10am-Midnight. They are located where H&S Ice Cream Shop used to be at 15306 Main Street in Lytle.
They are excited to announce that they will have a few ARCADE GAMES coming soon to add to the fun! Check The Devine News each week for their specials!
Administrator David Jordan, Mayor Butch Cook and the council re-examined the issue after seeking another professional opinion.
By Anton Riecher
In a major change of direction, the Devine City Council voted to repair an existing ground water storage tank near Warhorse Stadium for $600,000 rather than replace it at a cost of $2.5 million as previously planned.
On a motion made by District 3 Council Member Jeff Miller, seconded by District 2 Council Member Michael Hernandez, the council voted 4-1 to repair the tank. District 5 Council Member Debbie Randall was alone in her opposition to the plan.
The council spent much of the August 6 special session rehashing the arguments for and against replacing the 72-year-old structure that serves as the city’s largest water storage facility.
Mayor Butch Cook summarized the issue prior to the council vote.
“We have a company that believes (the tank) can be brought back to life and last many years, saving a couple of million dollars,” he said. “And then we also have another opinion that believes we need a completely new one.”
City Engineer J.R. Garcia of Garcia and Wright Engineering made his position against the repair effort abundantly clear. After the tank’s deteriorating condition was noted in recent inspections the city reached out to various tank building companies, he said.
“Almost all of them said that they wouldn’t even touch the tank,” Garcia said. “It’s too dangerous. The structure is unstable.
However, subsequent to the council decision to sell $2.5 million in certificates of obligations last April to fund the replacement of the tank one company has come forward with a $600,000 repair plan to extend the life of the existing welded steel tank at least 30 more years.
The council vote in favor of the repair project calls for the remaining $1.9 million to be invested in other water infrastructure projects. In March, the council voted to enter into a $108,340 contract with McGuire Water of Sioux Falls, ND, to make stopgap repairs on the existing until completion of the then proposed new tank.
In support of his motion, Miller said the experts agreed that years of neglect led to the deterioration of the tank.
“Personally, I feel like if it’s maintained properly after repairs it will last much longer,” he said. “Maybe, when the city’s in a better position 20 years from now” it can be replaced.
Supporting the repair plan, District 5 Council Member Josh Ritchey said it would be worth it even if the benefits were relatively short term.
“Maybe we don’t get another 30 or 50 years out of it,” he said. “Maybe we get another 10 or 20 years. Spread that out to $2 million to $5 million, whatever it inflates to, I feel much more comfortable with that.”
Randall said the tank’s advance age made the repair effort questionable. She proposed proceeding with the new construction in addition to repairing the existing tank to further increase local storage.
“In another seven years I’d much rather have something that’s going to last much longer than just another 30 years,” she said.
Randall said she understood that the new tank had already been ordered and was in the process of being manufactures. But Garcia said he had previously been instructed to put the project on hold with the plans only 70 percent complete.
He presented the council with photographs of the tank interior showing the walls to be rusted and corroded. Some of the corrosion has actually pierced the steel walls.
“You have to remember these pictures are from two years ago,” he said.
District 4 Council Member Josh Ritchey countered Garcia’s argument. The company backing the repair plan said the steel walls were in excellent condition with only minor pitting, he said. But the company agreed with others evaluating the tank that the roof would need much more extensive repair.
Garcia also argued that repairing the tank will mean draining it, leaving the city without a pressurized water system due to lack of other significant water storage.
“I almost feel that it’s an emergency situation,” Garcia said. “You really need a tank right now because you don’t have a backup plan.”
However, Mayor Cook said the company making the repair proposal has devised a backup system that will allow the water system to remain pressurized while the tank is empty.
Mayor Cook said the repair of the tank would have to be rebid at some future date.
During a budget workshop preceding the special session City Treasurer Denise Duffy told the council that the Medina Central Appraisal District had issued the city a no-new-revenue tax rate of $.5277 per $100 valuation. The current city tax rate is $.5553 per $100 valuation.
“Well, actually, that’s encouraging,” Mayor Cook said.
The no-new-revenue tax rate enables the public to evaluate the relationship between taxes for the prior year and for the current year based on a tax rate that would produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed both years.
“It is supposed to be what rate brings in the same amount of tax money you had the previous year,” Cook said.
A quick calculation revealed the voter-approval rate is $.6231 per $100 valuation. The voter-approval rate is the sum of the maintenance and operation tax rate plus a 3.5 percent increase. If the council adopts a rate that exceeds the mandatory tax election rate it must hold an automatic election.
Total value still under protest or not certified is estimated at $9.4 million, Duffy said.
Miller, Ritchey and Randall all stanchly opposed any tax increase.
“We need to show some meaningful improvements before we start asking for significant amounts of more money from folks,” Ritchey said.
Hernandez said that “if we want to better our city and bring more money in we may have to.”
Mayor Cook warned that it is still very early in the budget process for next year.
As a first step in that process City Administrator David Jordan said he is proposing a six percent salary increase for city employees making less than $40,000.
“We currently have 14 employees in that tax bracket,” Jordan said. “There are six vacancies in that bracket.”
Ritchey said he is on record as opposing cost of living increases. However, “pay leveling” may be necessary to attract new city employees.
“Clearly, based on the number of vacancies we have in public works we’re not paying enough to retain them,” Ritchey said.
Jordan also said he would be proposing increasing the city’s minimum wage from $17 an hour to $20 an hour for workers with more than two years on the city payroll.
He also proposed increasing the city’s contribution to the Texas Municipal Retirement System from six percent with a 1½-to-1 match to seven percent with a 2-to-1 match.
A presentation by Frost Insurance agent Ernest Munoz on renewal options for medical, dental, vision and life noted that the city’s loss ratio for employees has stabilized enough that he is negotiating with Cigna Healthcare to limit the expected increase to 10.9 percent. The national average increase in health renew is 18 percent.
During the special session, a motion by Miller in support of a proposal by Jordan to replace the position of city attorney, city engineer and IT specialist with a list of recommended vendors was rejected in a narrow 2-2 vote with Mayor Cook casting the tie-breaker.
District 1 Council Member Ray Gonzales seconded the motion and voted in favor of it while Hernandez and Randall voted against it. Randall said the proposal would invest too much authority in the city administrator regarding vendors to be considered.
Miller then submitted an amended motion allowing the city council to retain authority to add names to the vendors list. This motion passed 4-1 with Randall again opposing the action. The council then voted 4-1 to accept the vendors list submitted by Jordan. Randall again voted to oppose.
Regarding the Devine airport, Jordan announced that airport manager Vickie Pumphrey had resigned and that public works had taken charge of operating the airport fuel farm until a replacement is hired. In other action, the council voted to pay for completed construction at the airport using Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) grant funds.
The Texas Department of Transportation administers RAMP which matches local government grants up to $100,000 for airport maintenance.
