By Anton Riecher
A communications breakdown between Devine city public works and the construction company handling refurbishing of the city water storage tank near Warhorse Stadium resulted in multiple water main breaks and a weekend boil notice, city officials reported during the Devine City Council special meeting Monday.
Hondo-based MGB Construction failed to notify public works officials that it had closed two key values causing a pressure buildup that weakened and ruptured three 12-inch water mains ruptures at various times, City Public Works director Pete Sanchez told the council.
“We didn’t know anything about it,” Sanchez said.
City Administrator David Jordan read a statement issued by Jourdanton-based 6S Engineering after a meeting with city officials and MGB earlier Monday. The statement notes that the construction plans require that any shutdown of water mains must be coordinated with the city of Devine with notice given at least one week in advance.
“This notification did not occur,” the statement reads. “The city public works staff and 6S Engineering were not aware of the upcoming shutdown until after it had already occurred.”
In other action during the special meeting, the city council approved the proposed tax rate and budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026.
Regarding the water line breaks, Mayor Butch Cook said…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!
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Community to Honor Veterans with Wreaths Across America Ceremony
Community to Honor Veterans with Wreaths Across America Ceremony
The Current Events Club is once again gearing up to participate in the Wreaths Across America program, a heartfelt initiative to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. This year, the club invites the community to join in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony for local veterans at Devine Evergreen and St. Joseph Cemeteries.
Remembering Our Heroes
The mission of Wreaths Across America is simple yet powerful: to remember, honor, and teach the next generation about the importance of freedom and the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military. Volunteers across the nation place fresh, balsam wreaths on the graves of veterans during the holiday season, ensuring that each soldier’s sacrifice is never forgotten.
Locally, the ceremony will recognize veterans who have passed and are laid to rest in Devine Evergreen and St. Joseph Cemeteries. The Current Events Club is asking families and community members to check the list of veterans buried in these cemeteries to ensure that all fallen heroes are included in this year’s wreath-laying event.
“We want to make sure that every veteran’s grave is honored,” said club president, Linda Kreinhop. “This list helps us ensure that no one is overlooked, and each individual who served our country is remembered with dignity and respect.”
The Ceremony
The Wreaths Across America Day ceremony will take place on:
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Devine Evergreen and St. Joseph Cemeteries
The event is open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend, whether to participate in placing wreaths, attend the ceremony, or simply take a moment of reflection at the gravesites.
How You Can Help
The Current Events Club also invites community members to sponsor a wreath. Each wreath costs $17, and donations go directly toward the wreath placement. The wreaths are a symbol of respect and gratitude for those who served and are a cherished part of the event.
If you have family members or know of veterans who are buried at either of the cemeteries, please take a moment to review the list of veterans provided by the club. If you notice any names missing, or if you want to ensure a loved one is included in this year’s wreath-laying, please contact Linda Kreinhop at 830-665-6377 or Martha Wall at 210-213-5620.
Why We Do This
“Wreaths Across America is more than just a ceremony; it’s a way for us to teach future generations the importance of remembering those who came before them,” said Kreinhop. “It’s a reminder of the sacrifices made, not just by soldiers, but by their families and communities. This holiday season, let’s come together to honor these heroes.”
Join Us
The Wreaths Across America ceremony provides a meaningful opportunity for reflection and community bonding, and the Current Events Club invites everyone to participate. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us in honoring our nation’s veterans and ensuring their legacy endures.
Pee Wee’s Bike Goes to the Alamo
“Where’s the basement?”
-Pee Wee Herman (at the Alamo)
If you ingested any amount of television during the 1980s, you are probably familiar with Pee Wee Herman. Pee Wee, a comic creation and persona of actor and comedian Paul Reubens, dominated alternative pop culture during the Reagan years. Kind of like a cross between Howdy Doody and the B-52s, Pee Wee Herman brought a strange and surreal space-age retro vibe to America. Pee Wee’s brand of humor was so offbeat and refreshing that we couldn’t help but love him. Recently a news story broke that at first was hard to believe but turned out to be true. It involves a bicycle, and Pee Wee’s distinct connection to Texas and the Alamo.
Besides a hit TV show for kids, and his frequent appearances on late-night television (most often on Late Night with David Letterman), Pee Wee Herman was perhaps best known for the wacky big screen movie hit Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985). The story of a boy and his bike, the cinematic action centers around Pee Wee’s vintage 1950s era red and white Schwinn DX cruiser. In movie lingo the bike is what you would call a MacGuffin (an object used as a plot device in movies that the story is centered on). In the movie, Pee Wee’s bike is stolen, and the action tracks his quest to get it back. Various hilarious misadventures follow, and all is wet your pants funny. If you’ve never seen this movie, it is worth watching. Here’s a brief summary…
While shopping, Pee Wee’s bike is stolen. He assumes his hateful neighbor Francis is responsible but can’t prove it. A psychic then tells Pee Wee his bike is in the basement of the Alamo, so his travels begin.
Pee Wee hitchhikes to Texas, riding first with a fugitive convict named Mickey, and then later traveling with trucker Large Marge. At a truck stop, Pee Wee realizes he has lost his wallet, so has to pay for his meal by washing dishes. There he meets Simone, a waitress who dreams of visiting Paris. Pee Wee encourages her to follow her dreams, but as they watch the sun rise from inside a roadside dinosaur statue, Simone’s jealous boyfriend Andy appears. Pee Wee escapes angry Andy by hoping onto a moving train. Finally arriving at the Alamo, Pee Wee learns there is no basement, and his bike is not there.
Despondent, Pee Wee calls Dottie, his only true friend. He then again runs into Andy and is only able to evade him by posing as a rodeo contestant and riding a bucking bull. Pee Wee is thrown from the bull and knocked out as the bull chases Andy from the arena. Pee Wee later visits a biker bar to use the pay phone and is threatened with death after accidently knocking over a line of motorcycles. Pee Wee wins over the bikers however after borrowing a pair of platform shoes from a small statured fry cook and dancing on the tables to the song Tequila. The bikers then give Pee Wee a motorcycle to finish his journey, but he promptly crashes and winds up in the hospital.
While in the hospital, Pee Wee sees his bike on TV being used as a prop at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. Pee Wee then travels to California, sneaks onto the Warner Brothers lot and grabs his bike. After being chased by security, Pee Wee passes a burning pet shop and stops to rescue the animals inside. Firefighters declare Pee Wee a hero, but the police arrest him anyway. Allowed to keep his bike, the studio president agrees to drop the charges against Pee Wee in exchange for the rights to adapt his story into a film starring James Brolin (as “P.W. Herman”) and Morgan Fairchild as Dottie. The movie ends with Pee Wee and Dottie at a drive-in theater, watching this film. Ultimately, Pee Wee and Dottie depart on their bikes, with Pee Wee claiming that he doesn’t need to watch the movie because he’s already “lived” it. This is one bizarre and fun movie to watch. Fast forward to today…
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, and its ties to Texas, Pee Wee’s red bike (one of several used in the movie and recently acquired at auction for $125,000), is to be put on display at the Alamo. It will serve as a centerpiece of a new visitor center and museum in the Mays Family Gallery, slated to open in the fall of 2027. Until then you can see Pee Wee’s bike at the Ralston Family Collections Center there on the Alamo grounds.
I am glad that Pee Wee’s bike has finally made it to the Alamo…
© 2025 Jody Dyer
typewriterweekly.com
Natalia PD Blotter
09/24/2025 – Officer responded to 100 block East 3rd regarding a Death Investigation.
09/25/2025 – Officer dispatched to 21000 block of FM 471 for a Theft.
09/28/2025 – Officer responded to 2300 block of Highway 132 for a Burglary.
09/28/2025 – Officer dispatched to 100 block of 8th Street for a Disturbance.
09/28/2025 – Officer responded to 600 block of Bartlett Street for a Disturbance.
Lytle Police Report
Monday, September 22
12:59 AM – 15500 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to the death of a 59-year-old male.
9:36 AM – Adams St. @ N. Somerset St. – Officer provided information to a male and a female regarding the U-Haul key drop box.
9:45 AM – 19400 Blk. S. Prairie St. – Officer responded to a report of an unleashed dog chasing a cat up a tree. The dog owner was cited for a Leash Law Violation.
9:50 AM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a parent regarding their child not riding in a car seat with the ex-spouse.
4:00 PM – 15100 Blk. Mesquite St. – Officer responded to a report of a resident watering his lawn outside the designated times. The officer discovered the resident was utilizing his water well.
9:25 PM – Ruiz Foster Way @ Laredo St. – Officer was flagged down to find out how to request old service calls from the PD.
Tuesday, September 23
12:43 AM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officer observed a stranded motorist and assisted in pushing the pickup out of the roadway.
1:05 AM – 19600 Blk. S. Somerset St. – Officers initiated a traffic stop for speeding, which resulted in the arrest of a 40 year old male for Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offence. Subject was booked into the Atascosa County Jail.
12:09 PM – FM 2790 @ Laredo St. – Officer responded to a one-vehicle non-injury accident.
4:22 PM – 14800 Blk. Butch Cassidy – Officer responded to a report of a missing SD card.
5:56 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident.
7:15 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to check on an elderly male and provided him with a courtesy ride.
9:50 PM – Assist Medina County Sheriff’s Office – IH 35 NB – Officers responded to look for a vehicle in a possible child abduction by a parent but were unable to locate it.
10:04 PM – IH 35 @ Saddle Ridge – Officers responded to a report of a reckless driver and were unable to locate the vehicle.
Wednesday, September 24
12:32 AM – 15200 Blk. Oak St. – Officers responded to a male in the caller’s yard. Officers were unable to locate the man.
7:40 AM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a report of vehicle struck at the store.
8:23 AM – 14800 Blk. Lytle-Somerset St. – Officer responded to an active alarm. Everything was okay.
12:07 PM – 14800 Blk. Lytle-Somerset St. – Officer responded to a complaint of a parking issue with an 18-wheeler.
12:46 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident.
1:46 PM – Lytle PD – Officer released personal property to its owner.
6:35 PM – Railroad St. @ N. Somerset St. – Officers initiated a traffic stop for driving off the roadway, which resulted in the arrest of a 70 year old male for driving while intoxicated 2nd offence. Subject was booked into the Atascosa County Jail.
10:16 PM – IH 35 SB @ MM 131 – Officer responded to a report of a reckless driver and could not locate the vehicle.
Thursday, September 25
1:07 AM – 15100 Blk. Main St. – Officer discovered an open door. Everything was okay.
12:15 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to unlock a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage.
1:05 PM – 14600 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to advise the new owners a permit was required to pour concrete.
5:32 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to a report of an unsecured juvenile child in the front seat of a vehicle. The officers were unable to locate the silver Chevrolet Malibu.
7:32 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a report of a male shoplifter who reportedly stole $42.00 worth of merchandise before leaving before the officers arrival.
7:32 PM – 14800 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to a shoplifter that stole beer, beef patties, bread, and chips valued at $25.00. The suspect fled and struck a vehicle in the parking lot resulting in the struck vehicle pursuing the suspect. Neither vehicle was located.
9:00 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to check on a homeless male. Everything was okay.
9:49 PM – 15300 Blk. Main St. – Officer conducted a bar check to ensure the occupancy was not exceeded. All was okay.
Friday, September 26
7:43 AM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a report of a homeless male defecating in the parking lot.
8:17 AM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to a report of an accident that occurred on IH 35 and Shepherd Rd. The male was referred to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
8:34 AM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a one-vehicle non-injury accident.
2:58 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to an unwanted female customer.
4:35 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a report of a possible scam. The customer attempted to send money Western Union to an unknown individual, but the transaction failed. The customer departed before the officers arrival.
7:11 PM – 14800 Blk. Butch Cassidy – Officers responded to a welfare check to discover everything was okay.
10:31 PM – IH 35 NB @ MM 129 – Officer responded to a vehicle reported to be entering the city but could not locate it.
10:34 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident.
Saturday, September 27
12:42 AM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle but were unable to locate it.
1:52 AM – 19600 Blk. IH 35 – Officer responded to a report of a camera that had fallen in the office. Everything was secure.
3:35 AM – Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office – 15600 Blk. Main St. – Officers assisted in looking for a stolen vehicle but were unable to locate it.
5:55 AM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to a homeless male in the dumpster. A 50 year old male was arrested for criminal trespass and booked into the Atascosa County Jail.
11:19 AM – Assist Medina County Sheriff’s Office – SH 132 @ CR 6840 – Officer assisted looking for a stolen asphalt trailer outside the city limits of Lytle. Officer located the vehicle and Medina County Deputies completed the call.
2:50 PM – 19200 Blk. N. Somerset St. – Officers responded to the burglary of a storage unit. The suspect(s) stole a 55” TV and three drum symbols valued at $440.
4:26 PM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident.
5:04 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officers responded to a possible theft in progress. No theft occurred.
6:25 PM – 63200 Blk. SH 132 – Officers responded to a report of a Facebook property purchase dispute.
11:58 PM – McDonald St. @ IH 35 Frontage Rd. – Officer initiated a traffic stop for no lights when required, which resulted in the citation and release of a 21 year old male for Possession of Drug paraphernalia.
Sunday, September 28
2:00 AM – 19500 Blk. S. Somerset St. – Officer initiated a traffic stop for driving on the wrong side of the roadway and running a stop sign. A 38 year old female was arrested for driving while intoxicated 1st offense and booked into the Atascosa County Jail.
11:54 AM – Lytle PD – Officer responded to a report of a message written on a vehicle while at the HEB Plus.
2:41 PM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officers responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident.
3:40 PM – Assist Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office – 1400 Blk. Quail Run – Officers responded to assist with a stabbing.
7:35 PM – 19500 Blk. S. Benton St. – Officers responded to check on a female not answering her phone. The female was out of town.
11:19 PM – Oak St. @ S. Prairie St. – Officers responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident, which resulted in the arrest of a 26 year old male for driving while intoxicated 1st offense. Subject was booked into the Atascosa County Jail.
Devine Food Pantry Ministry – Friday Evening Sessions are Back!
Beginning on October 3, we will once again hold Friday evening food distribution sessions. Volunteers have stepped up in order for us to provide this valuable service.
Hours of Operation: 4:30pm – 7:00pm Process: At 4:30pm, all families in the parking lot will be asked to come in and will be given a number sheet to complete. Announcements and new applications, if needed, will be taken care of. Actual food distribution will begin when we have registered clients into the computer and volunteers are ready to go. We anticipate this will be around 5:00 pm. With the limited time and number of volunteers, we will only be able to serve 17 households on any given Friday.
Testing of Outdoor Warning Sirens on Friday, Oct 3
The Medina County Office of Emergency Management & Fire Marshal’s Office will be conducting testing of the outdoor warning sirens on Friday, October 3rd, at noon. This is a monthly operational test ONLY.
Outdoor warning sirens are designed to only be heard outdoors and within close proximity, roughly a half mile depending on terrain and structures, of the outdoor siren. If you are not near one of the sirens and outside at the time of the testing, you will not hear it. Sirens are meant to advise people who are outside to go inside, turn on the news or check weather conditions, and seek safety.
Sandra Carter Poteat
Sandra Carter Poteat of Copperas Cove, Texas, was born on November 22, 1950, and passed away on September 28, 2025. She was the daughter of the late Joe and Dorthy Carter.
Sandra dedicated 38 years of her life to teaching, where she was admired for her patience, wisdom, and compassion. She touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and families, leaving a legacy of kindness and devotion to education. Beyond her career, Sandra was known as a wonderful mother and grandmother whose love and guidance were the heart of her family.
She is survived by her two children, Chantee Poteat and Kivi Poteat; four grandchildren, Colby Henry, Madison Henry, Aleah Henry, and Aisha Poteat; her sisters, Dianne Carter Richter, Janice Carter Petit, and Donna Carter Green; and her brothers, David Carter, the late Keith Carter, and Mark Carter.
Sandra will always be remembered as a devoted teacher, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and a truly remarkable person.
Sylvia E. Gonzalez
Sylvia E. Gonzalez, 73, passed away peacefully at home on September 22, 2025, surrounded by family and the amazing staff of Hope Hospice of New Braunfels. She was born on January 15, 1952 to Beatrice Pompa Espinoza and Roberto Espinoza who she has preceded in death.
Sylvia dedicated more than 35 years of service to Devine ISD, where she touched the lives of countless students and colleagues with her kindness, patience and compassion.
She is survived by her children Mark Espinoza, Tina Johnson, husband Oliver Johnson; Grandchildren Gavin Massey, Elyse Espinoza, Jonauh and husband Ian White, Solomon Johnson, Eden Johnson; Great Granddaughter Addison Guzman; Sister Delia Schley, and Brother Robert Espinoza.
Celebration of Life Mass will be at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, 108 S Washington in Devine, Tx. on October 10, 2025 @10am with a reception to follow.
Sylvia will be remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend whose love and generosity will continue to live on through everyone she came in contact with.
VFW upcoming Fall Events
VFW Post 3966 has several events coming up this Fall. The most notable event coming up will be the haunted house in partnership with Sinister Harvest. The haunted house will be open through November 2, 2025.
On Friday, October 3, 2025, Sinister Harvest will host a blood drive at the VFW. All donors will receive one FREE ticket to the Sinister Harvest Haunted House. Additional information can be found on Facebook at Sinister Harvest Haunted Attraction.
On October 7, 2025 Post 3966 will provide a Color Guard for the opening ceremony for National Night Out.
November 8 will be the VFW Golf Tournament at the Devine Golf Course. Contact Gary Saathoff at 210-289-6204.
December 6, 2025, Post 3966 will be hosting a Christmas Market from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Booths will be available in the Hall and outdoors in the Courtyard and parking lot. Contact James Dossey at 210-882-7689