By Kayleen Holder Editor After more than one property owner near the 2200th block of FM 463 reported multiple sheep and goat attacks, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to inform residents about the best way to respond if you do encounter a mountain lion as a precaution. The advisory was issued to the News this past Thursday, March 16, however there are conflicting thoughts on the culprit of the attacks. “On Saturday night or Sunday morning, one animal was killed, and the week before is when we had the report of multiple livestock killed,” said Deputy Chief Gilbert Rodriguez. “One person reported that they a picture of a lion on security cameras, but we are still waiting on that footage before we’ll really know,” Rodriguez added. “In one of the cases we can see where the animal came in under the fence, and so we believe that at least one might have been a pack of dogs.” Sheriff Randy Brown added, “It happened in the area of the Natalia bus barn. We issued the statement on Thursday about the best way to respond if you do see a lion, but the evidence that was left behind leads me to believe it may have been a pack of dogs, because usually a lion will kill just one, not several, and they only eat certain parts of the animal. If anyone has a picture, I’d like to see it.” Sheriff Brown noted, there are indeed mountain lions in Medina County just like any rural area though. “People say cats have moved into their area, and it’s just the opposite. Development has moved into the area where cats have always been. Especially up in northern Medina County where we see the big cats,” Sheriff Brown said. In response to our post, one local resident Steven Moody posted good game cam footage captured way back in the 90’s of a lion running roaming the Calame Store area, which is not far from the site of the recent livestock killings. Male mountain lions roam a range from 80-200 square miles, while females have a range up to 100 square miles according to experts at Texas Parks and Wildlife. The advisory from Sheriff Randy Brown stated, “If you are found to be face-to-face or in close proximity to mountain lions/big cat, hold your ground or back away slowly. Continue facing the mountain lion and maintain eye contact. Speak in a loud voice, do all you can to appear larger; Stand upright, raise your arms, raise your walking stick, open your jacket. If you have small children or pets with you, try to pick them up without turning away or bending over. If the mountain lion/big cat appears to be hurt or wounded do not approach, call Medina County Sheriff’s Office.” The familiar and unforgettable scream of a Mountain Lion was also reported on the other side of Devine recently, between Devine and Moore near the weigh station area. “It was about 3 weeks ago when I heard that awful sound. If you heard it once, you remember it forever. They say it’s like a woman screaming, and that’s exactly right,” said Mr. Toalson, who lives in that area. “We had some cattle run through fences, and I was out late repairing fences when I heard it,” Toalson said. “It’s a very daunting sound. About 15 years ago, we had the same deal happen, where cattle had run through fences and we actually found a carcass that was buried that time way back then. They saw these lions run a big territory, and it always seems like we hear it around this time of year. We are pretty close to the San Miguel Creek so maybe it’s traveling along that territory.” According to TPWD, it’s size (total length) ranges from about 6 1/2 feet in females to as much as 8 1/2 feet in males. Male cougars weigh between 100–150 pounds, and females weigh between 45–96 pounds. In the wild, cougars live about 10 to 11 years. Texas Parks and Wildlife has a great guide showing what a lion track looks like in comparison to a dog or coyote in the Field Guide to Mountain Lions by Texas Department of Wildlife. Ranchers experiencing livestock loss due to mountain lions or other predators may contact the USDA/APHIS/Texas Wildlife Damage Management Services at (210) 4725451, for assistance. Please also alert local authorities and feel free to contact us at The Devine News via Kayleen Holder on Facebook or by calling 830-665-2211.
Debbie Davis poses with one of their favorite pet steers named Cole, who had horns spanning roughly 7 feet wide. To this day, this legendary Longhorn’s remains has an honored place on the family ranch, where a steer named Roy now presides over a herd of 50 authentic and pure Texas Longhorns which have evolved to survive even the harshest Texas conditions over their 400 years.
By Kayleen Holder Editor The year 2021 marked the 500th anniversary of cattle coming to the Americas. The iconic Texas Longhorn is getting harder and harder to find these days as the population has dwindled, but the Davis family is doing everything they can to preserve the iconic breed on their family ranch right here in Medina County. DWD Longhorns, LLC owned by Don and Debbie Davis, is among a small group of conservation breeders. The ranch maintains a herd of roughly 50 Texas Longhorn cattle. Dedicated to the cause, the Davis family also offers private tours with these majestic creatures, with any donations going to Cattleman’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy (more on this group later). “I’m happy to give tours to groups of 5 or fewer. I frequently have families come out. I drive them out in a side-by-side ATV. We feed the cattle and they take photos. When people ask if they can pay me, I ask them to make a donation to the Conservancy instead,” Mrs. Davis said. DWD Longhorns also sells cattle to other ranchers, many who love having that iconic piece of history among their herd. “Longhorn mommas are great for raising beef calves sired by bulls of other breeds. Many commerce breeders have bought heifers from us for that purpose,” Mrs. Davis said. “On the flip size, longhorn bulls produce small, easy to birth calves, so they are popular to use on first-time heifers of large beef breeds.” While the annual female calf crop is offered for sale to other ranchers and most of the male calf crop goes into the Grassfed beef program marketed through Bandera Grassland™. Due to persistent drought over the last four years, beef production has been very limited. It is the Davis’s hope that slowly these cattle will cycle back into favor of mainstream livestock production. The best method of conservation for any endangered product is to create a demand in the marketplace for many reasons. Longhorns are better suited to survive the drought among many other good qualities, Davis explains. “They evolved here over 400 years. They are uniquely adapted to this area. Not only do they eat grass, they browse like a deer when no grass is available,” Mrs. Davis said. “I have a photo taken in Alpine, TX during 2020 drought. that is testament to how well these cattle can maintain their body condition in adverse conditions. The range conditions were devoid of grass, yet these cattle scrounged enough browse to stay fat,” she adds. In 2005, the Davis family also founded the public charity Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy (CTLC). Debbie took over the seat of president after the death of Enrique E. Guerra. Renowned for their natural disease-resistance, the Texas Longhorn persists today as a superior source of beef in our changing climate. As the most desirable environments and fertile lands are consumed by urban development, agricultural production for our nation’s food supply is pushed farther out into marginal and arid lands. The Texas Longhorn is adapted to thrive in that environment. The meat is higher in protein and lower in cholesterol and saturated fat than other breeds of cattle and they are naturally adapted to grass-finish in this area. The Davis’s are working to educate young landowners about the value of the Texas Longhorn and biological significance of preserving unmixed individual breeds for the future of our food security. A state representative, Justin Holland, recently wrote a commentary piece recently noting, “Every year, Texas loses nearly 250,000 acres of land to development. Rural working lands that make up the wide-open spaces definitive of the Texas character are evaporating at an alarming rate.” Editor’s Note: Statistics like that one make us so grateful to the Davis family and all other farmers and ranchers in the area, working the land and putting food on our table.
Quick Q&A with Mrs. Davis What do you love most about raising Longhorns? I love seeing these beautiful animals in the pasture. Their varied colors and horn shapes make pasture visits like looking through a kaleidoscope. Anticipation of the upcoming calf crop is always rewarded by wonders of combinations.
How large of an operation do you have in Medina County and in Texas? On a beef production scale, we are quite small. On a cattle owner scale we are average according to a 2012 ag census. Thirty-six percent of the cattle inventory in this state comes from ranches with 50 or fewer head. To look at that from another angle, half of the ranches in this state raise 50 or fewer head of cattle. The fewer large acreage ranches make up the majority of cattle production in the state We average 50 breeding head on our Medina County property. We have a grazing lease in Bandera County and some family property in Hays County where we run a few extras.
Did y’all grow up learning the cattle business? Not exactly. Our agricultural roots skipped one or more generations. My paternal grandfather was a dry-land crop farmer in north Texas. Don’s family hails to the Trail Drivers era of twenty-one years following the end of the Civil War. We both grew up spending weekends on family-owned agricultural lands, but we were city kids. We were influenced by the idealistic 1960’s-1970’s influence to return to the land. We began dabbling in the cattle business on family land when Don surprised me on my thirtieth birthday with two Texas Longhorn heifers. As the years progressed we found we enjoyed the rural lifestyle more than our urban one and made the leap to buy a ranch. That was 1999. I took animal science and range management courses at Southwest Texas State University, but our best education was experience, jumping in and making mistakes. There were and continue to be resources for young agrarians such as Savory International, Stockman GrassFarmer and Acres U.S.A. conferences, publications by Allan Nation and a host of others skilled in sustainable practices.
What led y’all to focus on preserving the iconic Longhorns? We are both UT alumnae. Originally, we wanted a few pretty cows to enjoy on family property. We were fortunate early on to meet the founders of the Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry, who taught us to recognize the difference between historic phenotypes and the modern improved variety. We became passionate about preservation and focused our efforts to make raising a conservation herd economical. These cattle come in all colors imaginable, making them interesting to see in the pasture. Cows’ and steers’ horns grow in several shapes but all twist. Flat, straight out horn growth indicates crossbreeding with African breeds. Steers grow much larger than cows and taller than bulls. Bulls’ horns tend to grow forward for fighting for dominance. The victor passes on his genetics to the next generation. Cows’ horns grow laterally and twist. They know precisely where the tips of the horns are and use them as tools. They can scratch an itch on their rear, skewer a coyote, and swipe flies off their backs. I’ve even seen a clever steer use his horn to flip up a chain from a gate latch to open a gate—not the most desirable trick to learn, but demonstrates the intelligence of these animals and their ability to problem solve. Texas Longhorn cows are known for their fertility. They deliver their first calf by twenty-four months of age and breed back to calve again within twelve months. The best cows calve every ten to eleven months. I have had numerous cows by their tenth birthday, that have weaned as many calves as the cow is old. They are known for their longevity. Most Texas Longhorn cows continue to wean a calf every year until they are sixteen. I’ve had several make it to twenty-one years still raising calves. Calves are born quite small; 35-50 pounds is average. Their small size, narrow shoulders and foreheads facilitate a trouble-free delivery. They are thrifty and able to travel within a short time after birth in event the mother senses danger. The calves grow quickly and can wean at half the mother’s weight by seven months. Steers are castrated males. The beef industry prefers steer over bull meat because testosterone can toughen the muscle fibers and decreases inter-muscular fat. Without male hormones, steers’ horns tend to grow more in the shape of cows’, only much larger. Yes, steers do make great pets on rural properties. We bought our steer Cole when he was about 15 months-old. He was among a trailer load of young steers plus a couple of mature ones we brought back to Texas in 1996. At that time, we had a good market for pet steers. By chance, we never sold Cole. He grew up and we took him on display to events such as the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, TX. He had a gentle soul. He lived to be 21 years-old and died in the pasture. His skull has an honored place on the gable on the front of our home. Now we have our prize pet steer Roy, who is also very gentle.
How do you know a real Longhorn when you see one? Some of the typical traits possessed by conservation Texas Longhorn cattle are: Some attributes include a recumbent J shape bone conformation on the tail head. The tail sits slightly higher than the middle spine and the thigh drops straight to the hock. Many English and Indicus breeds have rounded rumps. The Texas Longhorn pelvis is level, not sloping downward. The flank is higher than the elbow. This is believed to attribute to ability to cover great distances. Many Texas Longhorns appear to have a limber sway in their spine as their long legs step over uneven terrain. The skin on their undersides is tight without pendulous flaps to catch thorny underbrush. Their heads are long and narrow. Cows frequently appear to be approximately the same width at the muzzle as the crown. Their nostrils are large enabling free intake of breath on their long endurance walks. They have long hair in their elliptical ears that helps to keep out insects. Those ears are in a protected position high under the horns.
A little history…. The iconic Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle that evolved by natural selection to be uniquely adapted to the environment of Texas, Mexico, and the southwestern US. Iberian ancestors of this breed were brought to the New World by Spanish explorers and Missionaries beginning in 1521. The first cattle to set foot onto the North American Continent were brought by Ponce de León to the Fort Myers area of Florida in 1521. Descendants of those cattle evolved into the Florida Cracker breed; small-framed animals adapted to swampy conditions. That same year under the navigation of Gregoiro de Villalobos, ships of cattle landed at the Pánuco River near Tampico, Mexico. Descendants of those cattle and from subsequent voyages over the following 200 years contributed to the genetics of the Texas Longhorn; a tall, long-legged animal adapted to arid, thorny, predator prone environments. These are the cattle of legendary trail drives where the American cowboy was born moving over nine million head to the northern plains to build herds for westward expansion and to Kansas railheads to feed the hungry northeastern nation after the War between the States. These cattle rebuilt the Texas economy after the war and established many of the great Texas ranches prior to the oil industry. Longhorns cattle fell out of favor with ranchers in the late 1800’s as fattier European breeds were introduced. Back then, the tallow was as important as the beef, for candles, soap, and other household necessities. The Texas Longhorn horns did not fit well into railcars and the independent will of the breed was more difficult to restrain. The 69th US Congress appropriated $3000 in 1927 to save Longhorns “from complete extinction.” Today, descendants of those early gathered cattle remain today on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska. Descendants of the herd assembled by Sid Richardson reside today as the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd at Fort Griffin State Historic Site in Albany, TX, San Angelo State Park and smaller groups at Copper Breaks State Park, Abilene State Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Roughly 100 private breeders continue to raise heritage genetics Texas Longhorn cattle, numbering between 3000-3500 total animals in this country. The breed was declared Critically Endangered by The Livestock Conservancy in 2014. Few herds remain of animals that do not possess genetics crossed with other breeds. The small gene pool creates unique challenges for conservation breeders to maintain genetic diversity. Although there are tens of thousands of horned cattle in the USA and other countries, the historic Texas Longhorn is endangered by dilution due to crossbreeding.
More about CTLC Mrs. Davis recently helped re-design the website for Cattleman’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy “where history and science meet at the horns.” The group’s mission is “to safeguard the integrity of the old-time, traditional Texas Longhorn for future generations by educating the public about the value of conserving this naturally evolved breed of cattle and providing resources for continued research into understanding their unique, genetic traits.” Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 05-0618099) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Mrs. Davis continues to act as liaison between cattle breeders and research Geneticists working on a comprehensive genetic definition of the historic Texas Longhorn. The CTLC maintains a bank of semen collected from conservation bulls for use by conservation breeders, genetic research and to ensure for posterity preservation of old genetics. The CTLC offers for public use a library of research articles available on the website and developed a TEKS curricula for fourth and seventh-grade Texas History and Social Studies students and High School Biology lessons. The organization has need of a certified educator to update those lessons to current STAAR requirements. We are calling for volunteers. Here’s how you can get in touch: Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Conservancy Debbie Davis, President P.O. Box 36 Tarpley, TX 78883 (830) 562-3650 land line (830) 796-1057 cell debbie@texaslonghornconservancy.org
The Chamber, in coordination with the City of Lytle, will be hosting their first annual Lytle Music Fest on Friday and Saturday the 24 and 25 of March 2023. Friday, March 24 – There will be a BBQ cookoff with 3 categories: brisket, ribs, and chicken, as well as Cornhole tournaments, and two concerts in the evening. Kendi Jean Music kicks off the music at 6pm with an acoustic performance. Then Lytle based Texas country recording artist Chuck Wimer and his band take the stage at 8pm. There will also be Food Trucks. Saturday, March 25th- 6 Bands over 2 stages throughout the day, beer sales by the VFW, and around 40 vendors and food trucks. Brad Jenschke Country kicks off the day at 10am on the acoustic stage. Followed by Selestial Alcoser and then Chuck Wimer wrapping up the acoustic performances. Matthew Ryan Music takes the main stage at 4pm with his band, followed by Scotty Alexander and then our headliner- San Antonio based, award winning band Kin Faux. Get there early each day to shop, eat, and enjoy the live music. Remember, it all kicks off Friday the 24th at 6pm! You won’t want to miss it! Check out the featured section of our page for the schedule of performances. We expect more than 1000 people on the 25th.
City of Devine- Vote at City Hall Vote For or Against Bond Election- $18 Million for drainage and flood control Everyone can vote in the Bond election Everyone can vote in mayoral race. Mayor- Cory Thompson (i) and Butch Cook District 2 and 4 get to vote in their races as well Council Dist.2- Angela Pichardo (i) and Michael Hernandez Dist 4 – Debbie Randall
Devine ISD- Vote at County Building Vote For or Against Proposition A- 31.5 Million for Safety and Renovations of Schools, Band Hall Proposition B- 1.5 Million – for 4 New Tennis Courts
Medina County- Vote at County Building (across from Tractor Supply) Medina County ESD 2 (Devine Fire area)- add 1.25 % to sales tax Medina County ESD 5- (Natalia Fire area) add 1.25% to sales tax Medina County ESD 4- (EMS Devine/Natalia areas – add .50% to sales tax ESD4 overlaps both fire districts (2&5), since EMS can bill for services they are asking for only .25 from each district, so .25+.25= .5% sales tax *Note: 8.25% is the maximum any city or county in Texas can charge for sales tax. Medina County is at 6.75% currently, so that leaves 1.5% open.
Lyle ISD- cancelled election, no contested races City of Lytle- cancelled election- no contested races Natalia City/Schools- no elections LaCoste City- no elections
Thursday, March 16–The Medina County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to us this evening, Thursday, March 16 in response to concerns and to inform residents about the best way to respond if you do encounter a mountain lion.
Stock photo Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
There have been some concerns of a mountain lion in our county, Sheriff Randy Brown has released this in reference to it:
“If you are found to be face-to-face or in close proximity to mountain lions/big cat, hold your ground or back away slowly. Continue facing the mountain lion and maintain eye contact. Speak in a loud voice, do all you can to appear larger; Stand upright, raise your arms, raise your walking stick, open your jacket. If you have small children or pets with you, try to pick them up without turning away or bending over. If the mountain lion/big cat appears to be hurt or wounded do not approach, call Medina County Sheriff’s Office.”
Images show what a lion track looks like in comparison to a dog or coyote in the (Source: Field Guide to Mountain Lions by Texas Department of Wildlife)
This year’s vendor and parade registrations are online at nataliabluebonnetfestival.com. Vendor fees may also be paid in person or online at the time of registration.
The Annual Natalia Bluebonnet Festival and Parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, 2023. The festival begins with the vendors opening at 9 am, then the parade at 11 a.m. through downtown Natalia. Afterwards we move to the festival grounds for the festivities, to include food trucks/booths, craft/vendor booths, music and activities for the kids. Don’t forget to bring your own chair and shade, as both are limited on the festival grounds. Please remember no outside food and drinks are allowed at the festival. We will have lots of great food and beverage choices available from our vendors. The Natalia Bluebonnet Festival Committee would also like to thank the OFFICIAL coordinators of the 2023 Natalia Bluebonnet Festival: The City of Natalia, The Natalia Public Library Foundation, the Natalia Municipal Development District and the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library. We greatly appreciate their help in pulling off this year’s festival. The Natalia Bluebonnet Festival is the single, largest fundraising event for the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the festival, below are the details concerning this year’s sponsorship levels: Gold Level ($1,000 minimum contribution) – mention on all print advertising, logo on festival t-shirt, recognition at event, logo on festival website and social media; Bluebonnet Level ($500) – mention on all print advertising, recognition at event, logo on website and social media; Mustang Level ($250) and- recognition at event and logo on website and social media Friend of the Library ($100) – name/logo on website and social media This year’s vendor and parade registrations are online at nataliabluebonnetfestival.com. Vendor fees may also be paid in person or online at the time of registration. All proceeds from the festival directly benefit the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library and aid the library in providing Summer Reading Program activities, new technology and new books for the library’s collection. Please contact Amy at 210-213-1990 or stop by the Natalia Library. “We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 Natalia Bluebonnet Festival!” said Amy M. Edge, Library Director. Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library. (830) 455-0007 Office, (210) 213-1990 Cell. Email: Natalialibraryfoundation@gmail.com
PRESS RELEASE Medina County Criminal District Attorney’s Office Wednesday, March 8, 2023 Jeff Diles, Assistant District Attorney and G.O.N.E. Prosecutor for the Medina County Criminal District Attorney (MCCDA), Mark P. Haby, announced that Patricia Ann Lara, of Hondo, was sentenced today by a Medina County Jury to nine years of imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for delivery of 1.44 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was imposed by the same jury that found Lara guilty of the offense on March 7, 2023. Lara was the first case falling under the umbrella of the MCCDA G.O.N.E. initiative (Gangs, Organized Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Enforcement) to be resolved by a jury trial. Lara was one of 21 individuals arrested in an early morning warrant roundup in January of 2022 after the Medina County grand jury in Hondo and a federal grand jury in San Antonio returned indictments earlier that month charging 24 men and women with several state and federal felonies. The indictments resulted from an investigation of a methamphetamine distribution network operating in Medina County. The investigation, which unearthed methamphetamine distribution activities extending to multiple Texas counties as well as Mexico, began in October of 2020 as a collaborative effort of HPD, MCSO, supported by the MCCDA G.O.N.E. initiative. Lara had been identified as an investigation target due to her associations with other players in the larger investigation. Jury selection for the trial began on Monday, March 6 and the State, represented by Assistant District Attorneys Jeff Diles and Christian Neumann, concluded its presentation of witnesses and evidence by noon on Tuesday. Witnesses for the state included the two investigators of the Medina County Sheriff’s office, the purchaser of the methamphetamine, a private citizen who was paid by law enforcement to purchase the drugs from Lara, and the chemist for the Texas DPS lab in Abilene who confirmed that the substance delivered was methamphetamine. Investigators described how they met with the buyer, referred to as a Cooperating Individual or CI, prior to the buy to confirm that the buyer did not have drugs or money on their person or in their car then provided the buyer with cash from the Medina County Sheriff Drug Forfeiture Fund (not taxpayer funds) and a device for covertly recording the transaction. They also stated that they were able to watch the transaction on a live feed from the recording device and that they followed the CI from a safe distance and were able to park in a location where they could see the CI make contact with Lara in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Regency Hotel in Hondo where the transaction took place. Lara’s face was never seen on the video from the recording device, the investigators showed the jury an image from the video of a distinctive upper-arm tattoo and tattoo photos taken at the jail of Lara after a previous arrest that showed the same distinctive upper-arm tattoo. When the CI was called as a witness, they entered the courtroom from a secure area wearing a prison jumpsuit and shackles. The CI is currently serving a prison sentence for a drug related offense and testified in this case after a bench warrant was issued by the presiding Judge requiring the CI to be brought to court to testify. The CI’s testimony matched the statements made by the investigators, and the CI confirmed it was in fact Lara who conducted the delivery of the methamphetamine, ”I gave her the money. She gave me the drugs.” The CI also identified the defendant in the courtroom as the person who gave her the methamphetamine that day. Sarah McGregor from the DPS Crime Lab in Abilene walked the jury through the drug testing process used by DPS labs and specifically the testing used on the drugs acquired from Lara during the transaction to confirm that it was methamphetamine that was purchased by the CI. The defense produced no witnesses on behalf of Lara, and the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict before 4:00 p.m. that same day. The punishment phase of the trial began without delay. The state submitted evidence of Lara’s prior felony conviction and prison sentence for Injury to an Elderly Person, and Lara’s defense team presented character witnesses on behalf of Lara. Lara was represented by attorneys with the Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office, and Judge Daniel J. Kindred, 454th Judicial District Judge, presided over the trial.
A large fire completely destroyed one apartment, but displaced all of them including around 10-15 people, according to Chief Richey Priest. Lytle Fire was paged to Lynda’s Island apartments on Main Street around 6:06 PM that evening, and remained on scene for several hours doing everything they could. They were assisted by area departments including Natalia Volunteer Fire. Chief Priest noted that Red Cross came to the aide of residents who were displaced.
Mrs. Parson said they could also use a cooler to put ice in as they rebuild, and most of all, help from electricians. “There is no housing available that is affordable, so we all choose to stay here and rebuild,” Mrs. Parson said. If you would like to volunteer to help or make a donation, contact: Lynda Parson 210-827-4100 *Mailing address: PO Box 493 Lytle Tx 7805
Little is being released about the FBI’s presence in Medina County this past week. However, an arrest was made that day. “The operation went down without any problems. Mission complete,” said Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown. There were shots fired in the area that day, which caused alarm in the community, but it was not at the location where the FBI search was taking place, he explained. “I cannot say anything other than that we were asked to assist the FBI, and I would like to reassure residents that everyone is safe,” Sheriff Brown said. Brown could not confirm the location of the search which was in the Castroville area according to other brief media reports.
