By Anton Riecher City of Devine ad valorem tax collection for fiscal year 2024-2025 is projected at $1.45 million, up significantly from the $1.27 million collected the previous year, a municipal finance expert reported to the city council at its July 15 budget workshop. Christine Green delivered a general overview in the council’s first budget workshop for the upcoming fiscal year. “As far as your ad valorem collections I do know that property tax values throughout the state have been increasing a little bit, but it really stayed pretty flat for most cities I work at,” Green said. In Texas, municipalities collect ad valorem property taxes, which are based on the value of real and personal property, to fund local services streets, police and fire. Current property tax collection as of May 2025 has already exceeded projections by about $112,000, Green 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!
By Anton Riecher A proposal that Castroville-based Medina County Emergency Services District No. 1 assume responsibility for fire protection in Devine following financial impropriety at the local VFD was presented to the local ESD2 board at its July 15 meeting here. Unlike its takeover of firefighting in Hondo last year, ESD1 Fire Chief Clint Cooke said volunteers would continue to be the essential mainstay of local firefighting but under administrative structures revised to emphasize greater communication with the community. “There are ways to accomplish that and honor the history of the Devine Volunteer Fire Department while still cleaning up the business side,” he said. Earlier this month, Cooke also made a presentation to the ESD4 board on extending ESD1 ambulance operations to Devine and Natalia as an alternative to the current contract with commercial provider Allegiance Mobile Health.
Video coverage of the meeting is posted on the Devine News YouTube channel.
While ESD1 could potentially operate local ambulance service alone, Cooke 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!
By Anton Riecher The Devine school board voted unanimously Monday to approve the construction of district tennis courts and renovation of the softball field. On a motion by Carl Brown, seconded by Henry Moreno, the board voted 7-0 to contract with Cuerro-based Weaver and Jacobs Construction for the $542,507 softball field renovation. The project includes a $100,000 contingency fund. The project includes new fencing and enlarging the backstop from 16 feet to 20 feet high. On the tennis court project, the board voted 7-0 to contract with Austin-based Hellis Construction, previously responsible for the district’s track renovation. The motion by Brown was seconded by Chris Davis. District Superintendent Todd Grandjean said the tennis court project will begin August 4 with completion scheduled for mid-November. The contingency allowance for the project is $200,000. Grandjean said the two bids under consideration were so close in price that scheduling became the prime factor in his recommendation. The board also voted to approve the purchase of a new 77 passenger school bus utilizing a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant authorizing the replacement of a pre-2007 diesel fuel school bus. Cost of the purchase is not to exceed $155,000. “One of the things this has helped us do is put our kids in safer, more reliable transportation for about half the cost,” Grandjean said. On a motion by Brown, seconded by Moreno, the purchase was approved on a 7-0 board vote. The bus will be the last purchased on the TCEQ grant. In his administrative report, Grandjean said the district principals are back at work in preparation for the new school year. “As leaders, they are spending these early day reviewing data from previous years and finalizing master schedules, coordinating professional development and insuring that the facilities are ready for the kids and the teachers,” Grandjean said. Construction crews are busy jackhammering the approaches to the high school in preparation for traffic control improvements, he said. Permits were signed Monday with the Texas Department of Transportation for the installation of new culverts. Unfortunately, cosmetology labs will not be completed in time for the new school year, Grandjean said. “We were hoping that they would be open the first day of school, but the mill work on the cabinets and storage areas will not be delivered until Sept. 10,” he said. Cosmetology classrooms will be ready for use. At the middle school, new wall have gone up along the rear of the building. However, new dressing rooms for the campus are behind schedule. For at least the first seven days of the new school year girls will have to dress in the science labs while boys will use the teaching suite, Grandjean said. At the elementary campus, a new concrete slab is scheduled to be poured Wednesday with structural steel slated to arrive next week, he said.
DALLAS, TX – Officers from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) uncovered an operation that was creating credit card skimmers that were being used on ATMs across the country. When they served a search warrant on a residence in Dallas, officers located 115 credit card skimmers, $50,000 in cash, 25 fake IDs, and more than 300 payment cards that had been re-encoded with victims’ account numbers. Seizing the skimmers, the fake IDs and the payment cards prevented an estimated $23 million in additional potential fraud, according to FCIC analysts. Three men — Victor Marian Tecu, Triussa Gabrielle (AKA Ionut Firan Alexandrau), and Gheorge Ciprian Hilitanu — were arrested and charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Unlawful Interception of Electronic Communications, Tampering With a Government Document, and Fraudulent Use or Possession of Credit Card or Debit Card Information. The three Romanians are believed to be part of a larger transnational criminal organization and investigation into the group continues. Assisting in the investigation were the Texas Department of Public Safety North Texas TAG, Euless Police Department, Dallas Police Department, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service. Authorities were alerted to the case on July 17 when a merchant contacted the FCIC to report that they’d found a skimmer. By the next day, law enforcement officers had gathered enough information to obtain a search warrant, and they arrested the three men. FCIC officials warn that financial crimes continue to pose an evolving threat, with criminals using fraudulent documents, payment card skimming, and social engineering tactics to deceive victims and bypass security measures. This case documents the importance of inter-agency cooperation to identify, investigate, and shut down these organized crime operations.
to a minor accident at 4th and FM 471. 6/19/25: Officer responded to 110 4th Street for a minor accident. 6/19/25: Officer conducted warrant service at the 800 block of 6th Street. 6/21/25: Officer was dispatched to Town and Country for a theft. 6/22/25: Officer responded to a minor accident at the Loves Truck Stop.
Lytle Police Report
Lytle Police Report Monday, July 14 7:49 AM Cpl. Robison – Assist Animal Control – Lytle PD Officer received a fax from the City of San Antonio regarding an animal bite that occurred on July 12, 2025, at the HEB Plus in Lytle. 9:55 AM Cpl. Robison – Assist the Public – Lytle PD Officer fingerprinted a male for employment purposes. 10:25 AM Cpl. Robison – Follow-Up Investigation – Lytle PD Officer spoke to a female regarding the theft of two rugs on July 8, 2025, and determined that no theft occurred. 7:58 PM Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Garcia – Talk to Officer – 18400 Blk. Wisdom Rd. Officers responded to speak with two neighbors regarding a dog not on a leash. Tuesday, July 15 1:56 AM Ofc. Garcia / Ofc. Cortez – Assist Medina County Sheriff’s Office – IH 35 Rest Area SB Officer responded outside the city limits of Lytle to assist with a fatality rollover accident. 8:12 AM Ofc. A. Lopez – Animal Problem – CR 681 Officer responded to a report of a loose cow but was unable to locate it. 2:50 PM Ofc. A. Lopez – Suspicious Vehicle / Warrant Service – 15300 Blk. Newton St. Officer responded to a report of a vehicle blocking the roadway, which resulted in the arrest of the passenger for a probation violation for Assault – Impeding Breath out of Atascosa County. Maria was booked into the Atascosa County Jail. 4:45 PM Ofc. A. Lopez – Traffic Hazard – IH 35 SB @ MM 132 Officer responded to a report of a mattress in the roadway but was unable to locate it. 8:41 PM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Garcia – Business Alarm – Lytle State Bank (14600 Blk. FM 2790) Officers responded to an active alarm to discover it was caused by the storm. 8:45 PM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Garcia – Business Alarm – El Bufalo Pawn (14600 Blk. FM 2790) Officers responded to an active alarm to discover it was caused by the storm. 9:00 PM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Garcia – Welfare Check – Good Luck Mart (14600 Blk. Main St.) Officers conducted a business check during a power outage. 9:50 PM Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Garcia – Welfare Check – Best Western Plus (19800 Blk. IH 35) Officers responded to a 911 hangup. It was a child playing on the phone. 9:52 PM Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Garcia / Ofc. Tafolla – Suspicious Person – Wyatt Earp @ Saddle Ridge Officers observed a male near a truck and trailer. Everything was okay. 9:58 PM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Garcia / Ofc. Cortez – Assist Atascosa EMS – Lytle Apartments (14700 Blk. Main St.) Officers responded to assist a male having a medical emergency. 11:43 PM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Garcia – Assist Bexar County Sheriff’s Office – IH 35 SM @ MM 133 Officers responded to look for a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident but could not locate it. Wednesday, July 16 3:14 AM Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Cortez – Welfare Check – Veterans Memorial Park (15400 Blk. Main St.) Officer responded to remove a homeless female sleeping at the location. 4:38 AM Ofc. Garcia / Ofc. Cortez – Business Alarm / Open Door – Lytle High School (18900 Blk. FM 2790) Officers responded to an active alarm with an open door. Everything was okay. 12:00 PM Ofc. A. Lopez – Follow-Up Investigation – Lytle PD Officer met with a DFPS (Dept of Family and Protective Services) regarding an arrest involving a juvenile. 8:16 PM Ofc. Garcia / Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Garcia – Talk to Officer – 15000 Blk. Main St. Officers responded to speak to a vendor who reported that a homeless male working for him had stolen the money after selling watermelons on the side of the road for him but did not want to press charges. The male was unidentified. 10:10 PM Ofc. Garcia – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Main St. @ N. Somerset St. Officer initiated a traffic stop for no license plate light, which resulted in the citation and release of a male (21) for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Thursday, July 17 12:14 AM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Garcia – Possession of a Controlled Substance – Lytle-Somerset St. @ S. Somerset St. Officers initiated a traffic stop for failing to signal within 100 feet, which resulted in the arrest of female (43) for Possession of a controlled Substance. Female was booked into the Atascosa County Jail. 2:20 PM Ofc. A. Lopez – Traffic Accident – HEB Plus (19300 Blk. McDonald St.) Officer responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident. 3:00 PM Ofc. A. Lopez – Vehicle Unlock – Pumphouse Carwash (19700 Blk. IH 35) Officer responded to unlock a 2017 Ram 1500 pickup. 7:00 PM Ofc. Tafolla – Talk to Officer – Topis Mexican Restaurant (15000 Blk. Main St.) Officer spoke to an unidentified male regarding a lawn care solicitor. 8:06 PM Ofc. Tafolla – Suspicious Vehicle – 19700 Blk. Creek St. Officer responded to discover the vehicle had already departed the location. 9:13 PM Ofc. Tafolla / Ofc. Cortez / Ofc. Garcia – Suspicious Vehicle – IH 35 @ MM 131 Officers responded to a vehicle driving without license plates. The vehicle had the plates in the passenger seat. Everything was okay. Friday, July 18 11:54 AM Ofc. Mendez – Suspicious Vehicle – 15100 Magnolia St. Officer responded and discovered the vehicle had left the area before the officer’s arrival. 12:15 PM Cpl. Robison – Damaged Property – Stripes (19500 Blk. McDonald St.) Officer spoke to an employee of Stripes on the phone regarding a light pole that was damaged at 9:00 PM the previous day. 12:24 PM Ofc. Mendez / Capt. Dear / Sgt. D. Lopez / Ofc. Barrera – Welfare Check – 14900 Blk. Bruce St. Officers responded to check on a 5-year-old female walking in the roadway. During the investigation, it was discovered that the parent (31), had an active warrant out of Bexar County for theft. Female was booked into the Atascosa County Jail after the child was released to the grandparents. 5:00 PM Ofc. Mendez – Vehicle Pursuit – IH 35 NB Frontage Rd. Officer initiated a traffic stop on a silver BMW for failure to maintain a lane, which resulted in a pursuit. The pursuit was canceled for the safety of the public. 10:30 PM Ofc. Barrera / Ofc. Reyes – Welfare Check – 19500 Blk. McDonald St.) Officers contacted a homeless pedestrian in the roadway and advised them not to walk in the roadway. 10:45 PM Ofc. Barrera / Ofc. Reyes – Welfare Check – HEB C-Store (19500 Blk. McDonald St.) Officers responded to a report of a homeless male in the roadway. The male was advised to stay out of the road. 10:48 PM Ofc. Barrera / Ofc. Reyes – Suspicious Activity – HEB C-Store (19500 Blk. McDonald St.) Officers were flagged down to a report of an unknown male opening the reporting party’s car door while at McDonald’s in the 14800 Blk. Lytle-Somerset St. Officers were unable to locate the male. 11:00 PM Ofc. Diaz – Suspicious Vehicle – 15300 Blk. Oak St. Officer responded and was unable to locate the vehicle. Saturday, July 19 5:21 AM Ofc. Diaz / Ofc. Reyes – Traffic Accident – 14900 Blk. Saddle Ridge Blvd. Officers responded to a two-vehicle non-injury accident. One vehicle was unoccupied. 6:20 AM Ofc. Mendez – Follow-Up Investigation – Best Western Plus (19800 Blk. IH 35) Officer conducted a follow-up on the previous accident. 8:05 AM Sgt. D. Lopez – Officer received a CPS notification 2:26 PM Ofc. Barrera / Sgt. D. Lopez / Ofc. Mendez – Information Report – 20000 Blk. Huckleberry St. Officers were flagged down regarding a vehicle repossession. 2:38 PM Ofc. Barrera / Sgt. D. Lopez / Ofc. Mendez – Incident Documentation – HEB Plus (19300 Blk. McDonald St.) Officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle. It was discovered that an identical 2024 red Jeep was parked next to each other with the keys left in the vehicle. The Jeep was returned undamaged when the driver realized what had occurred. 3:19 PM Ofc. Mendez – Found Narcotics – HEB C-Store (19500 Blk. McDonald St.) Officer responded to a report of a bag containing white powder. The bag was taken to the PD. 10:18 PM Ofc. Reyes / Ofc. Diaz / Ofc. Barrera – Suspicious Person – HEB C-Store (19500 Blk. McDonald St.) Officers responded and were unable to locate the male. Sunday, July 20 9:11 AM Ofc. Mendez – Information Request – Lytle PD Officers spoke to a female on the phone regarding the property exchange between a female and her ex-boyfriend. 6:20 PM Ofc. Barrera – Information Request – 100 Blk. CR 6840 Officer was flagged down by a resident regarding a civil stand-by he had requested from the Medina Co. Sheriff’s Office. Subject was advised to contact MCSO. 8:44 PM – Ofc. Barrera / Ofc. Diaz / Ofc. Reyes – Threats – 19900 Blk. Lonesome Dove Officers responded to location regarding information the caller received via social media concerning a fight that may have occurred on 7/19/2025 in the Atascosa Co. Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction. The caller was receiving anonymous calls saying someone was coming to find them.
The Devine Masonic Lodge is inviting the community to take part in giving a blood donation on Saturday, August 23 anywhere from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will take place at 612 W. Moore Ave Devine, TX 78016. Everyone is encouraged to come out and help save a life with the donation of blood, at which the first six donors will receive the following incentives: 1st donation: T-shirt 2nd donation: $20 gift card 3rd donation: $30 gift card 4th donation: $40 gift card 5th donation: $50 gift card 6th donation: $60 gift card + grand prize entry ($500 value) Register for your appointment and reminder today at donatebloodtoday.com
Pastor Michelle Keith has been joyfully serving as Pastor of Yancey United Methodist Church since January 2025 and is thrilled to expand her ministry to include Devine First United Methodist Church as part of a two-point charge. Michelle’s journey into pastoral ministry began after over 20 years of lay service within the local church. In 2022, she formally answered God’s call to ordained leadership and became a Licensed Local Pastor in 2024, initially serving as Associate Pastor at Devine First United Methodist Church. Michelle and her husband, Kevin, are blessed with a beautiful blended family of six children—Sean, Natasha, Forrest, Ian, Eleni, and Emma—and are proud grandparents to five grandchildren. Passionate about living out love as a verb, Pastor Michelle is committed to sharing the radical love and grace of God in meaningful ways, both inside and outside the church walls. Her ministry is defined by a genuine dedication to connecting with others and embodying Christ’s love in action, even when life’s obstacles—like traffic—test her patience and sense of humor! Michelle is excited to continue fostering a spirit of faith, community, and service at both congregations, inspiring others to embrace God’s love in every aspect of their lives.
MCESD #2 Fire regular monthly meeting is the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm.
Devine Volunteer Fire & Rescue Board to meet July 21- The Board of the Devine Volunteer Fire Department meets monthly on the third Monday of the month. They have business meetings on Mondays and Trainings on Thursdays.
City of Devine- The City of Devine meets the third Tuesdays of the month at 6:00 pm. The Zoning Board meets the third Monday of the month. Devine ISD-The Devine ISD Board of Trustees meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Admin Office, 605 W Hondo Ave.
City of Lytle- The City of Lytle meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6:30 pm at City Hall in the council chambers.
Lytle ISD-The Board of Trustee of Lytle ISD meets in the Admin Building usually at 6:00 pm.
City of Natalia- The City of Natalia meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at City Hal l in the council chambers Natalia ISD- The Natalia ISD Board of Trustees meets the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 pm in the junior high cafeteria.
City of LaCoste- The City of LaCoste Council typically meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at city hall at 7:00 pm. MVISD- MVISD’s regular school board meetings are normally on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 pm.at the location named in the public notices.
Devine ISD staff development is Monday, August 4 through Monday, August11. Student classes begin Tuesday, August 12
Natalia ISD staff development is Monday, July 28 through Thursday, July 31. Student classes begin Monday, August 4 Natalia High School Volleyball will begin practice on Friday, August 1.
Lytle ISD staff development is Friday, August 1 through Friday, August 8. Student classes begin Monday, August 11 Junior High / High School Meet the Teacher Night is Wednesday, August 6 from 5 to 7 pm Lytle Pirate Community Pep Rally @ Lytle High School on Wednesday, August 13 from 6 to 8 pm
Medina Valley ISD staff development is Friday, August 1 through Monday, August 11. Student classes begin Tuesday, August 12
Caring for the community, and its residents is a top priority for the Medina County Republican Party. Under the leadership of Chris Schuchart Republican Chair, and food pantry organizer Samantha Bryant, the group began collecting donations since June 2024 for the food pantries in, and around the Medina County. This need became apparent as they saw local food pantries in the area struggling for donations as prices in the grocery stores began to rise with inflation. The Medina County Republican party donates to numerous food pantries to include the Devine Food Pantry in Devine, the Lytle Methodist Food Pantry, and the Hondo Food Pantry. At each meeting donations of 20 to 40 pounds of food are collected along with sometimes cash donations. Recently the Meals on Wheels in Medina County for seniors, a non-profit which provides much needed weekly food lost one of their major sponsors leaving approximately 60 seniors on a waiting list. At the last Medina County Republican Party meeting more than 75 pounds of food was donated and given to Medina County Meals on Wheels. If you are interested in donating or attending a meeting of the Medina County Republican Party details and contact are on the website at https://www.medinatxgop.org.
