Category: Top News Stories

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

Local group seeks to meet the skyrocketing demand here for one of life’s basic necessities…. WATER

Over 7,000 homes have been built in Medina County from 2017-2024. Local leaders are forming an alliance to help with water security as more rights are needed to meet future demands.
All the while, subdividers continue bringing more plats for approval at local city council and county meetings. The water alliance held a meeting this past Tuesday in the Medina County Commissioner’s Court room (look for coverage on that meeting next week as the meeting was held on press day).
The alliance eventualy hopes to secure state funding and to construct a Aquifer Storage and Recovery System for Medina County. Photo by Anton Riecher

By Kayleen Holder
If you take a quick glance at the State’s projections regarding the supply and demand of water in Medina County, the numbers might not look so bad. But those numbers are rather misleading or outdated as one local expert explains, and here’s why.
“This report was based on our historic growth rate of 2-3%. Over the past three years, we have increased the number of water services by nearly 25% increasing the amount of additional water needed to meet future demands,” said Bruce Alexander of East Medina Water.
The number of homes in Medina County has grown from 18,791 to 25,938 in the past seven years (2017-2024), with many more huge developments still underway such as the 750+ home subdivisions coming in on I-35 just south of Devine.

Continue reading “Local group seeks to meet the skyrocketing demand here for one of life’s basic necessities…. WATER”

Preliminary stormwater utility rate set by Lytle council

By Anton Riecher
A rate of $7 per equivalent residential unit in the proposed creation of a stormwater utility fund to better manage drainage issues was approved by the Lytle City Council during their June 24 regular session.
The council also approved issuing exclusions for church owned properties of 50 percent.
In Texas, cities are authorized to adopt local stormwater drainage utility systems to protect public health from flooding and health issues. Through the utility, communities organize maintenance activities and capital projects to better manage the situation.
Equivalent residential units or ERUs are a taxable unit representing the average square footage of impervious area for a…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

Natalia ISD to limit phone use, approves $16.3 million budget

Principal Fernando Torres proposed the Yondr phone-free system to members of the school board. The system will be implemented in the fall semester of 2024. Photo by Catherine Richard.

By Catherine Richard
Five members of the Board of Trustees for Natalia Independent School District met and approved measures to prevent phone use during class and to approve the 2024 budget and bond sales plan on the evening of June 24.
The majority of the discussion concerned the new phone restrictions that will begin in the fall semester.
Principal Fernando Torres presented a new program by Yondr, a company that aims to create phone-free spaces with magnetized pouches that prevent students from accessing their phones.
In this system, each student will be given a pouch which will be locked at the beginning of the school day. Only members of the Natalia ISD staff will have the equipment to unlock these pouches.
This action has been proposed due to concerning trends within Natalia ISD and…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

Why summer blood drives like this one are so crucial…

Community steps up to help with critical need June 29th

On Saturday, June 29, there will be a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Monument for Medina County Veterans in Natalia.
“For every one pint of blood, three people are helped,” said Ruby Vera, the coordinator for the event.
In many different types of medical treatments, blood is absolutely crucial.
However, this dire need cannot be met by doctors or researchers in a lab. It must be met through donations.
In the month of May, the American Red Cross reported about “20,000 fewer blood…

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

La Coste council rejects participation in regional water management scheme

By Anton Riecher
A proposal by two major water providers in Medina County to bring communities together to better manage and develop regional water resources was rejected by the La Coste City Council last week.
La Coste Mayor Pro Tem Jeremy Johonnett, conducting the June 18 regular meeting in the absence of Mayor Andrew Keller, said the idea had merit. However, participating in a preliminary feasibility study proposed by the Medina County Regional Water Alliance would be too costly.
“I think it will be a great idea if….

TO CONTINUE READING…CLICK HERE or go to www.devinenewsmembers.com

Recount rejected in local congressional race

Submitted by Chris Schuchart, incoming Medina County Republican repair:
On Saturday, June 15, Bob Oberlander and Chris Schuchart (Medina County outgoing Republican Chair and incoming Republican Chair) were informed by Jen Hall, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) that Brandon Herrera, candidate for US Congress in district 23, had filed a petition for recount.

Continue reading “Recount rejected in local congressional race”

Visit replica of miraculous Our Lady Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico courtesy of iStock-copyright David Ramos cmuk-1397631432

Everyone is welcome to go visit the missionary image of Our Lady Guadalupe at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Natalia. She will be on display through July 7.
This digital replica, is the exact size and color of the original miraculous image that Our Lady left on Saint Juan Diego’s tilma in 1531. It is certified by Cardinal Norberto Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico.

Continue reading “Visit replica of miraculous Our Lady Guadalupe”