The Medina County District Attorney’s Office hosted a Candlelight Vigil to honor victims and survivors. As candles were lit, guest speakers took turns reading aloud the names of 161 Texans that lost their lives in 2024 as victims of domestic violence.
The Medina County District Attorney’s Office hosted a Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil on October 20, 2025, on the front steps of the Medina County Courthouse to honor victims, celebrate survivors, and raise awareness about the ongoing impact of domestic violence in our community. One survivor and guest speaker, Cynthia Knudson, bravely shared her traumatic story…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!
Sinister Harvest Haunted Attraction will have its last weekend October 31-November2, 2025. Don’t miss out on one of the best haunted houses in south Texas. This Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1, the haunted house will be open from 8 pm until midnight. Sunday, November 2 it will be open from 8 pm until 10 pm. A portion of every ticket sale goes to benefit the local VFW Post 3966. The Attraction is located at the west end of VFW Post 3966 at 211 W. College Ave., Devine, TX, 78016 (across from the Devine Post Office). You start by going through the outside structure and then proceed into the 1905 schoolhouse where more horrors await. Tickets may be purchased online at sinisterharvest.com. Be afraid! Be very afraid!
In what District 1 Alderman Ray Gonzales referred to as a “$32,000 gamble,” the Devine City Council voted unanimously Oct. 21 to approve an attempt by Converse-based Advanced Water Well Technologies to restore the city’s long dormant L.C. Martin water well to operation. Mayor Butch Cook told the council that it had long been accepted that the well was beyond salvage. “For the longest time, especially since I’ve been elected, I was always told that the well is beyond repair,” he said. “But apparently we can make it viable again.” On a motion by District 2 Alderman Michael Hernandez, seconded by District. 4 Alderman Josh Ritchey, the council voted 5-0 to approve $31,327 for the rehabilitation project. “I make a motion that we give Advanced Water Well an opportunity to work on this well and see if we can get it back online,” Hernandez said. City Administrator David Jordan said he was introduced to the technology used by Advanced at a recent conference held in Pleasanton and asked them to assess the L.C. Martin well, out of commission nearly five years due to the poor quality of water produced. Chris Richey with Advanced said the inspection determined that the well has a significant build-up of iron bacteria. “Ultimately, we want to go in and clean that well out really good and make it a viable water source for the city again,” he said. John Wilkins, also…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!
We’re thrilled to announce that the 2025 Devine Cactus Fall Festival—our largest and most anticipated event of the year is almost here! This three-day, family-friendly celebration will take place on Thursday evening ,Friday evening, October 31st (Halloween) and Saturday, November 1. All hosted in downtown Devine by the Devine Chamber of Commerce and City of Devine. It is the 64th Annual Festival. This year’s festival will be packed with live music, food trucks, artisan vendors, local organizations, games, contests, family activities, and more—drawing hundreds of attendees from Devine and surrounding areas. There will be a new carnival in town. The Ferris Wheel is back and many other cool rides for all ages such as the giant slide, carousel, side winder, sizzler, funnel cake, kettle corn, games and much more! They will be open all three days. A discounted wrist band will be offered for $20 a day, offered by pre-sell only until Thursday, October 30 at 5:00pm, from the Chamber of Commerce, at the Get More Insurance office at 111 S. Teel St, Devine. The pre-sell wrist bands will be available at the will call window at the carnival in your name for those who want to buy in advance and save. Wrist bands will be sold at the carnival for $25 or $30 and cover one day. We’d love to have you be part of this exciting community event! Event Details Location: Highway 173 & Bright Street, Downtown Devine Dates: Thursday, October 30- 5:00-10 pm (Carnival) Friday, October 31st 5-10 pm (Evening Halloween Celebration). Friday night will focus on Halloween fun! All participating vendors are required to bring candy for trick-or-treaters—costumes and themed booths are encouraged! A Halloween Costume Contest will take place at 8:00 pm Friday night. Carnival will be open all evening. Just around the block there is a Haunted House at the VFW Building called “The Sinister Haunted House” in the old haunted school building and doctor office in the VFW Halls. It is hosted by the VFW not the Chamber, there is a fee to enter. It’s a walk able distance between both celebrations. Plus No home football game on Halloween, it an open night on schedule, so downtown should be buzzing! Saturday, November 1st -10am- Midnight -Festival! We can’t wait for another amazing Cactus Festival and look forward to showcasing all the talent, creativity, and community spirit that makes Devine so special. Devine Market Association is taking care of the vendors and booths this year. They will line the streets of South Bright all the way to Napa Auto Parts and College Avenue from BlackCreek Coffee to Sherry’s Flowers &Trading Post. They can be reached at DevineMarketAssociation@gmail.com or Robin Sultenfuss at 830-663-9191. The American Momentum Bank will have their ATM open all weekend for your convenience. They are gracious to let us used their parking lot for the community wide celebration each year, and it is much appreciated. Please drop in some day and say hi and thank you. We couldn’t do it without them. The rest of the bank parking lot will be fenced off for the stage, live bands, and festival goers for the FREE street dance on Saturday. No outside coolers, as it violates the beer license, and it will be enforced. Drinks will be sold from both sides of the Chamber booth this year for convenience. Entertainment from 11am to 12 midnight will start off with a Devine High School Pep Rally after the parade ends around 11:30 or 12. Then from 1:00 to 6:00 pm the accomplished Claude Morgan and Friends will take the stage featuring Claude, Trevor Morgan on drums, Syliva & Matt Kirk, Bill Caisse, Boone Holding, and Natalie Morgan. All of these artists have been performing all over Texas for years, some country, folk, rock, all sorts of songs, some by artists and some written by the song writers themselves. Claude wrote a song about Eddie Hutzler that is always a hit for those who love and remember icon Eddie, Devine’s bicycle night watchman for over 60 years. From 6:00 to 8:00 pm Small Town Habit Band will take the stage. They were a hit last year at the festival featuring all kinds of music featuring Country Music and Texas Country. Headlining the event from 8:00 to 12 Midnight is Devine’s own homegrown star Jeremy Richards and his band. He always fills the parking lot and dance floor with lots of fans and friends who love his personality, talents and variety of music and musicians that accompany him. The dance parking lot area will be fenced off this year. No outside drinks, coolers, or food is permitted . Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the evening of live music. Cold beer and drinks will be available. Cash and cards accepted at the ticket booth. Drink prices $2 non- alcoholic and $5 for alcoholic, one ticket per drink. Parade 10:00 am start Over 58 parade entries have signed up so far as of Monday, October 20. That does not include the count for the police and fire trucks. The parade will start at 10:00 am. The Mighty Warhorse Marching Band under the leadership of Bert Sanchez will fill the streets with lots of music and smiles as the Award Winning Division 1 Band shares their music that won them a trip to the Area E Finals. We are fortunate the Area competition fell on a different weekend than the parade this year and are always excited when the Warhorse Marching Band can be a part of the parade and festival. Parade Grand Marshals honorees are Don & Irma Dunford, who have spent the past 45+ years supporting the community both personally and through their businesses, Chaparral Ford, Devine and Chaparral Pre-Owned, Lytle. Their leadership and generosity has been amazing, touching many lives, as they have helped out so many over the years. The Dunfords have also loaned many, many vehicles to be used in the parades in the past. Any last minute parade entries must be sent in by email to devinechamberofcommerce@gmail.com. See the website at devinecoc.org for an application or drop it by Get More Insurance office at 111 S. Teel St, Devine. Cindy Morales is Chairman of the Parade. Deadline to enter parade is Monday, October 27. The parade will start at the Devine Middle School as usual, the staging area for the entries, and head down FM 2200, taking a right on Highway 173 towards downtown Devine. Right on Highway 132 and right on College Avenue. Parade ends at the VFW. Candy is allowed to be thrown, please keep children safety in mind. Vendor and Club booths There will be plenty of food vendors, shopping booths, kid games, and club booths up and down the streets behind the festival. Something for everyone. Stroll the streets for gifts, homemade items, baked goods, remedies, art, toys, information, crafts, signs, treasures, lots and lots of goodies and unique items. Many vendors will be open both Friday afternoon/evening and all day and night Saturday. They will keep their booths on site all night Friday as night watchmen have been hired to patrol the area. Four generators will light up the streets to keep festival goers and vendors safe both days. Inside Community Center- rare finds- Sat until 5pm The popular Tiny Town Museum is back this year again. Be sure to check out the replica of the olden days. Art Exhibits featuring the school children from Devine ISD, daycare and home school students will be displayed inside the Community Center again this year. Browse the tunnels and walls of art work This year’s theme, “Celebrate Our Heritage in 2026: America 250, Texas 190, Devine 145”, is the kick-off for the 2026 celebrations for the establishments of our nation (1776), state (1845), and community (1881)! (See separate article on art exhibit theme and details). It is not a contest, it is a display created by the children of the community. Plant Sale, an annual sale hosted by the Devine Garden Club. Plants are grown by the members and will be for sale at bargain prices. They just love learning, growing and sharing their projects and plants! And as always check out the awesome Cactus Zoo History on the walls and the beautiful mural of city of Devine painted by Kathleene Runnels on the wall behind the stage area. Street Closures Various parts of College, Bright and Commercial will be closed off during the three day event with most of the closures on Saturday. So be cautious as you drive in those areas. Businesses will be open on those streets during the daytime hours, some in the evenings too. We all work together to put on the annual event for the community, a team event.
The Warhorse Country team is State bound! They are: Ryan Botello, Jake Riou, Jesus Cisneros, Zane Fritz, Brody Lane (in the back), Urijah Velesquez, Zach Guerra, Daniel Ballesteros, Shawn Lowe, and Jonathan Moralez.
The 2025 Lytle Pirate Cross Country team claimed the Regional Championship. They are: Jacob Cantu, Diego Reyna, Adrian Reyna, Bryan Montes-Rodriguez, Nathan Garza, Sebastian Garcia, and Jaden Castro. The Lady Pirates took 2nd place at Regionals: Frances Scotello, Annalise Quintanilla, Elyse Cortinas, Svetlana Lopez, Kaycee Galindo, Addison Wagner, and Klayre Cook.
Dispatchers received a 9-11 call from family members in distress around 7:30 pm this past Friday night, October 17. Upon arrival, the suspect, identified as William Barret Wylie, 41 years old was inside the family’s home located just outside Devine on CR 777, and he began firing at first responders. “As shots rang out, deputies advanced on the residence and made entry,” said Sheriff Randy Brown. “He fired two shots, then took his own life.” The suspect had…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!
A LaCoste native, Hitzfielder watches the project he’s been envisioning for months comes to life as this historic country home makes its way into the city.
By Kayleen Holder Editor Visitors and diners can enjoy an authentic cajun meal with a side of history at LaCoste City Hotel and Acadiana Cafe, located in the heart of LaCoste. Co-owner Rodney Hitzfielder said he’s worked with several old houses, but he felt like this one was kind of special. “I bought the house for $10. They were dividing the land up and had no use for this old house, so I said ‘I’ll take it’.” Based on his experience, he said the home dates back between 1900 and 1915 and once belonged to descendants of the Kumz family. It was first located just outside twon on LaCoste-Macdonna Road. “The hotel was built in 1912 so it should go together real well,” Hitzfielder said. “I’ve never seen one with some of the features this one has. The interior walls are no like other bead board I’ve ever seen. Nobody I’ve…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!
Rodgers led the opposition passage of a new county fire code during the Medina County meeting Monday. The court took no action on the fire code. (Photo by Anton Riecher)
By Anton Riecher Medina County business owners took the podium at the Medina County Commissioners Court Monday to oppose the proposed adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code as the official standard for Medina County as an alternative to enforcing the state fire code. Leading the opposition was Wayne Rodgers, owner of Castroville-based Wayne Rodgers Construction. “This to me and others is regulations that you are forcing on the conservatives of this county, a county that they and their families have built and businesses operated safely for all these years without regulation,” Rodgers said. Mark Chadwick, county emergency management coordinator and fire marshal, held fast…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!
Jerel Beaty Staff writer Not sure how it has already been one year, but October 23 marks the first anniversary of the passing of longtime Devine resident, teacher, and coach James “Jim” Sessions. That morning, this tightknit community lost one of its most impactful people, yet his presence still lingers in every gym, every faculty meeting, and all social interactions in which his memory is shared. For those who knew him, it feels impossible to believe this much time has passed since his voice last echoed through the gym that now bears his families surname. The place that many simply referred to as “the DSAC” while Coach Sessions was actively urging his players to dig a little deeper, to fight a little harder, and to believe in themselves as much as he believed in them is now “Sessions Court” after the honorary renaming this past February. Coach Sessions was so much more than just an athletic director and basketball coach. He was a mentor, a motivator, and a father figure to countless high school and middle school students and athletes who proudly wore the maroon and gold just as he did while he was a teenager growing up in the same hallways that became his place of employment. Coach Sessions approach with his teams was firm yet compassionate. Whether it was a late-night pep talk, a sideline smile or gesture after a great play, or a pat on the back following a tough loss, “Coach J” as his players affectionately called him, had a way of making every player feel valued, capable, and unapologetically loved. Those who worked beside him remember not just his undeniable passion for Arabian and Warhorse programs, but his deep care for people…all people. Jimbo’s laughter and the way he communicated with those who were dear to him is something that we all can treasure and reflect upon as this unfathomable anniversary sneaks upon us. The grief of losing Jimbo remains heavy, as does the gratitude for having had him at all. Since his passing, he has been honored in ways both grand and quiet from memorial tributes and moments of silence to players and coaches dedicating their entire season to his memory. In Devine, sports have always been more than just games as every competition is a direct reflection of this town’s heart. And Jimbo embodied that heart. Coach Sessions’ legacy is not something that has faded with time, nor will it ever. It is forever woven into the very fabric of what Devine High School athletics and academics is truly about. We miss you, Jimbo, and although time has passed, your influence on this community will never fade as your presence remains deeply felt in the halls, sidelines, and hearts of everyone lucky enough to have called you friend. Tributes Through the following short but meaningful tributes, colleagues of Jim Sessions shared heartfelt messages honoring the impact he made on their lives. “I remember that we got to watch the new movie, Top Gun: Maverick at the movie theater together . We were huge fans of Top Gun, quoting lines all of the time. What made it extra special was the kids were excited that Uncle Jim was going to the movies with us. We all had a great time, but Jim and I enjoyed it the most reminiscing about our adolescence.”—Joe Navarro “To say we miss him would be a huge understatement. He made a positive difference in so many lives by just being Jimbo, Coach J, and Juicy. He always put the need of others’ ahead of his own. We were all lucky to have known him and fortunate to have had him as a colleague and truly blessed to have him as a real friend. He is more than missed!!!”—Chad Quisenberry “I miss him every day and definitely missed him last basketball season, but hope we made him proud. I think about him all of the time and miss the long talks with him on the phone, at his house, and in his office. And of course, with basketball season right around the corner all of our basketball memories we shared together come back and make me smile.”—Hannah Thompson “It feels like just yesterday that we lost such a great human being like Coach Sessions. I know he is smiling in heaven so proud of our DHS athletes and students and how they continue to compete and live their lives the right way. He continues to be loved by so many, and his legacy will live on. Love you Jimbo!”—Paul Gomez “I miss going to his office and talking about work and not talking about work. I miss seeing his players excited about practice or film. I miss my friend.”—Evan Eads “Jim was the brother that I never had, and I miss him every day. We had some good times coaching basketball together, working the track meets, going to coaching school together and so much more. He was there for me during some of my toughest times being a shoulder to cry on, just to listen to me vent but he was also one of my biggest supporters during those times. I will never forget the last phone call we had right after our win at Somerset last year. It was a great conversation and he so proud of the Arabians and couldn’t wait to see them in playoffs. Little did I know that would be our last conversation and I wish I could have told him so much more that night.”—Leigh Anne McIver
