By Anton Riecher
Lytle is again searching for a city administrator after the city council voted Monday to approve a transfer for current administrator Matthew Dear back to police duty with the rank of captain.
“First and foremost, it’s been a great honor to work with you all in the position here,” Dear told the council. “But I think my heart still lies in the police department. That’s where my skill set is.”
The council approved the transfer by a 4-0 vote with District 3 Alderman David Emery absent.
Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said Dear “stepped up during a difficult time and we appreciate him doing that.”
Dear said he pursued the city administrator job as an opportunity for advancement within the city not expecting the captain position to be vacant in the near future. That position is now open due to retirement.
“If I’d have known the captain at the time was leaving I’m not sure I would have made this leap over here,” Dear said.
Dear took over as city administrator in May 2022 after training to qualify for the job. The transfer represents a reduction in salary and benefits.
“The great thing for us is he’ll still be around,” Gonzalez said. “I know that like anything else he always steps up and helps out no matter where we need him within the city.”
Gonzalez said he hoped that the transition could be made no later than the end of the year. However, District 5 Alderman Charles Cate, who made the motion in favor of the transfer, said he was concerned that finding a new city administrator would likely become a lengthy process.
“Devine has had an interim city administrator for several years now,” Cate said.
Dear said it was not his intention to leave the city “high and dry.”
“That’s never been the way I’ve operated,” he said. “Obviously, I would like to transfer as soon as possible but I understand the importance of the position I hold.”
Cate’s motion in favor of the transfer made it contingent on finding a replacement city administrator first.
Gonzalez and Cate agreed that the city administrator job is demanding.
“Whoever fills the role it’s not just about showing up and sitting behind a desk,” Gonzalez said. “This is a job where you’ve got to be out and connected.”
In other business, the council approved donation of $10,000 from hotel-motel tax revenue to the city’s Veterans of Foreign Wars post to promote local tourism.
“The new Lytle VFW hall is not even open yet and we’ve already started putting people in hotels,” said post commander Chris Clouser.
The post is planning several events involving local musicians to draw guests to the area, Clouser said. The money would also go to construction of a corn hole field with proper lighting to bring competing teams to Lytle, he said. Barbecue competitions are also in the planning stage.
Action on a request by the VFW to support its annual Patriot Day Freedom Walk was tabled for further consideration.
At the request of Mayor Gonzalez the council voted to permit Dear to survey council members on priorities for the 2023-2024 budget with Dear compiling the results and reporting back to the council.
“I asked everybody to take a look and see if there are any projects that we need to take into consideration as a way for us to go ahead and minimize going back and forth with staff,” Gonzalez said.
For example, Gonzalez listed two of his own priorities as work on the Benton City Road and developing a city capital improvement plan to help pursue grant funding.
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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.
Bravery and good judgment by officers commended in fast-moving “hostage situation” last week
When Officers Luis Diaz and Sgt. David Lopez found themselves in a very dangerous situation, they did not hesitate to act. Lytle PD received the 9-1-1 call for help on Magnolia Street last Monday morning, August 7th. The call came from a resident who was outside the home, who told police there were two more people barricaded inside with the suspect.
“Upon arrival, they heard a gunshot, and knew there were two innocent people inside, so they went barreling through that door,” Chief Priest said. “We knew there were two innocent people inside, and so it was treated like an active shooter situation. The subject, who does not live at the residence, was barricaded inside the house with a woman and a disabled man who were in a fast-moving hostage situation.”
After forcing their way into the residence, the officers subdued the subject without further gunfire, using a taser, and rescuing the two other occupants. The subject who fired a gun was transported to the hospital.
“There was no long standoff because Officers Diaz and Sgt. Lopez charged in and took care of business. Under a very stressful situation, they just used really good judgment and respect for human life. Incidents like this involving guns can easily turn into a tragedy. This was one of the most critical incidents we have had in the last several years. We invest a lot in training, and this is the reason. It’s for calls like these,” Chief Priest said.
Sgt. Lopez, an Advanced Peace Officer, has served with the LPD for over 10 years, and Officer Diaz has been a peace officer for a little over six years (serving a little over 2 years with LPD).
More commendations
In other commendations, Chief Priest noted that David Lopez helped make possible an exchange of 47 outdated firearms for 14 new handguns, saving the department $12,000.
In July Officer Roger Garcia was making a routine night shift building check when he arrested three people for felony theft.
You’re invited…Meet the Devine HS Fall athletes, marching band, & cheerleaders August 18
Jerel Beaty Staff Writer
Mark your calendars. Devine’s Athletic Booster, Band Booster, and community members will host a Meet the Athletes, the Marching Band, and the Cheerleaders Pep Rally Friday, August 18 at Warhorse Stadium.The event kicks off at 7:00pm.Free hot dogs and water add to the excitement and serve as a bonus because all who show up will also not have to worry about cooking dinner that night.
One EMS call under investigation
By Anton Riecher
What was initially suspected to be a heat-related mass casualty incident in Medina County involving undocumented immigrants turned out to be relatively benign by comparison, Allegiance District Chief Patrick Bourcier reported to the Emergency Service District No. 4 board.
School districts pushing hard to fill job openings
By Anton Riecher
With the new school year rapidly closing in area school districts are pushing hard to fill remaining open teaching and staff positions before student fill the hallways.
At Devine ISD 13 teaching or combination teaching and athletic positions are posted on the district website. At the elementary level, positions are open for two special education aides and one school instructional aide.
To qualify for these positions, the applicant must meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) “High Qualified” requirements equaling 48 college hours or two years, or attend the Teacher Orientation and Preparation Program (TOPP), a State Board of Educator Certification approved alternative route to teacher certification by means of the ESC-20 Educator Preparation Certifications Program.
Applicants must have knowledge of basic computer operations and skills, ability to operate personal computer and educational software and ability to work with students and teachers using effective organizational skills, the website states.
At the intermediate level, openings exist for school teacher and school special education teacher for grade three through five.
The school teacher posting requires an early childhood-grade 4 (EC-4) generalist or a grade 6 (EC-6) graduate initial teaching certification specialization. The master’s degree in early childhood education is a 36-hour program, designed to provide students with as background and advanced study in early childhood education.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a valid Texas teaching certificate. The applicant must also have knowledge of curriculum and instruction, ability to instruct students and maintain highly structured and orderly teaching environment and strong skills in organization, communication and interpersonal skills.
Like the school teacher position, the special education teacher position requires an early childhood-grade 4 (EC-4) generalist or a grade 6 (EC-6) graduate initial teaching certification specialization. It also requires a special education EC-12 certification.
Aside from the standard abilities required for other positions, the job requires knowledge of special needs students, ability to develop an individualized education program (IEP) through the admission, review and dismissal (ARD) committee, the team that determines eligibility based on a full and individual evaluation.
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training is preferred. CPI training specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior.
At the high school level, Devine ISD is searching for a secondary science teacher for grades 6-12 and a high school career and technology teachers/boy’s athletic coach for grades 9-12. The district is also looking for an athletic trainer with a valid license from the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers and a current adult cardiopulmonary automated external defibrillator (AED) certification.
Also posted on the district website are openings for a part-time athletic department secretary, special education aide, a speech language pathologist or a speech language pathologist/speech language pathology assistant.
The website also lists openings for substitute nurses, bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.
At Natalia ISD the only remaining academic openings are for a speech language pathologist and a speech dyslexia intervention teacher. At the staff level, the district has openings for two bus drivers, multiple custodians and a cafeteria worker.
In Lytle, academic openings remain for a junior high art teacher, a district wide substitute teacher, a high school plumbing teacher and a special education teacher at the elementary and junior high levels. The district is also for a certified professional teacher on the district wide level.
“This application is not designated for a particular job opening,” the district website states. “This application is put into a pool of applicants that are certified teachers. When job openings are posted, applicants will be notified automatically by email and will have to apply for the job they qualify for.”
The district also has staff openings for the child nutrition staff and custodians and custodian substitutes.
Meet the Teacher Nights in Devine Aug. 17
For students in Elementary and Intermediate, post cards with your teacher’s name should come in the mail next week sometime. All campuses in Devine Independent School District will host parents and students to a “Meet the Teacher” night at the following dates and times:
JJ Ciavarra Elementary Thursday, August 17 – 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Devine Intermediate Thursday, August 17 – 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Devine Middle School Tuesday, August 15 – 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Devine High School Tuesday, August 15 – 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Parents and students may go to teachers’ classrooms any time during the time periods listed above.
At the elementary and intermediate campus, parents may bring labeled school supplies to their child’s room. Parents will be able to put money in the child’s lunch account, join PTO, and confirm bus numbers and routes.
Elementary and Intermediate students should receive a postcard in the mail soon stating their teacher(s) for the school year. At both campuses, parents may check in the office during “Meet the Teacher” if they are unsure of their child’s room assignment and/or if registration information is not complete.
Middle and high school teachers will be in their classrooms to talk to parents about their classes and about the expectations of the class. Middle school students may pick up their class schedule in the cafeteria. If you have any holds such as immunizations or proof of residency, report to the office to turn in your documents and pick up your schedule. High school student schedules will be given out in the multi-purpose room.
Reminder: All immunizations (when applicable) and proof of residency requirements (3rd, 6th, and 9th graders) must be complete before students can pick up their schedule and attend school on the August 23rd. If your student recently received immunizations, please bring an updated record to the school office at your earliest convenience. Proof of Residency documents should be emailed to enrollment@devineisd.org or dropped off at the campus office.
Brown Murder trial begins this week
According to the Medina County District Attorney’s Office, Jeremiah Jordan Brown, 19 of San Antonio, will be tried this week on charges of 1st Degree Murder.
The case stems back to a shooting victim who was found in Medina County on February 6, 2022. According to news reports, a gentleman was walking along Castroville Regional Park trails before he crossed over to what locals call Canal Road, where he sadly stumbled upon a deceased young man near the top of the hill in Castroville. The young man was later identified as Elijai Alton Chandler.
The case was investigated by the Texas Rangers. Brown was indicted for Murder on March 14, and now faces a trial which will be held at Medina County Courthouse Annex.
Benefit plate sale for young mother needing kidney transplant
A fundraiser is being held for Karina Garcia of Devine on Saturday, August 5th at 308 Adams in Devine. Karina is a kidney transplant patient and the money raised from the event will be used to pay for medical travel expenses. Karina’s story ran in the Devine News in May about her journey from a healthy young teen to the point that, at 21-years-old, she is currently on dialysis and needs a new kidney very soon. Along the way, she fell victim to Covid-19, experienced vision and heart problems and after a year in bed, weighed only 80 pounds with her kidney function down to 4%. She is fighting so she can be here to raise her son, 3-year-old Brayden Guardiola.
The fundraiser will begin at 11a.m. and cost $10 per plate for a barbecue sandwich, chips and a drink. Monetary donations are also being accepted.
101 Years Young!
Born in Seco, TX and raised in LaCoste, Mrs. Lillian Pittman is turning 101 years young this August! She was born in 1922. Let’s help make her birthday special!!
Mrs. Pittman worked as a bus driver for Medina Valley ISD and the catholic school in Castroville for many, many years. She also worked at Kelly Air Force Base.
Hey you youngsters…
You can send her a birthday card, color her a picture, or send a gift in care of her son LM Pittman Jr. to PO Box 8, Lytle, TX 78052. PS. She loves snacks! Let’s see how many cards she gets!
Gilbert Ruiz THSCA Hall of Honor recipient
Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
Texas High School Coaches Association recognized Lytle Head Cross Country coach Gilbert Ruiz July 15 in Houston. Ruiz was presented his ring at the Hall of Honor Banquet for his squad’s State Championship performance in November of last year.
In attendance along with Ruiz was Lytle Athletic Director Lori Wilson and numerous elite coaches, athletic directors, and fellow state champions from around the state of Texas..
Wilson stated, “It was my honor to escort him to the banquet for the night. Although he did not smile in any of the pictures I got of him, believe me he was smiling throughout the banquet.”
Ruiz, assistant coach Sebastian Benavides, and Pirate runners Johnny Alvarez, Brandon Obando, Robert Wagner, Abel Sanchez, Yandel Esquivez, Tristan Lopez, and Luke Estrada not only took the top spot in Round Rock, they also finished the year having won every meet in which they had a full team competing, which is a minimum of five runners.
At State, Lytle scored 72 points to beat runner-up Eustace who had 82. Great Hearts Northern Oaks was a distant third place with 126 points.
“Congratulations to the State XC boys, his staff and most of all Coach Ruiz!! It was a night we will remember forever! It was a great night for Lytle, Texas. It was so deserving!” Wilson said in conclusion.