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Fire Cider for Health

“Health is not valued til
sickness comes.”
-Thomas Fuller

With the peak pestilence of the cold and flu season upon us, it might behoove us to prepare. It is no fun to be sick. Recently I stumbled upon an ancient preventative, said to boost the immune system and give your body a superhuman protective shield. And the story behind it is too compelling not to share. Here it is…
During the mid-14th century, Europe experienced perhaps the worst pandemic in human history. Over 50 million people perished from the bubonic plague, or the Black Death as it is often called. The plague was one of the most significant events in human history.
During this time, in the French port city of Marseilles, four friends who worked the shipyards there had an idea. They launched a diabolical, yet profitable criminal enterprise after noticing something strange.
During the day these friends labored within the bowels of a seaside warehouse that processed herbs and spices from abroad. Every evening, they stumbled home from work covered in spice dust. And, as the plague-ridden dead bodies of their fellow townspeople were stacked like firewood, with many more sick and dying all around them, they remained healthy. They didn’t get sick. The dreaded Black Death didn’t seem to affect them at all. The four friends realized that covered in herbs and spices, they were apparently protected from sickness. And this provided them with a profitable criminal opportunity too tempting to pass up.
These friends went into business looting the infected homes of the dead. When a family succumbed to the plague, they promptly showed up at the empty residence to steal what they could. Either fearless or foolish, they worked ignoring the danger and never got sick. At some point, it is believed they began also making a tonic with their herbs and spices and ingesting it. The friends, covered in spice dust and drinking their spicy herbal concoction, looted and lived.
All good things must come to an end (or in this case, bad things), and the friends, now thieves were arrested for their crimes and faced death by hanging. The judge in their case, aware of their apparent immunity to the disease around them, made the thieves an offer they couldn’t refuse. In exchange for their secret plague-protection recipe, their lives would be spared. The thieves quickly coughed up their secret, were released, and went on to live honorable and upright lives, we assume.
The four thieves’ recipe, sometimes called Fire Cider, has been passed down for generations. The recipe does vary some, depending on your source. But essentially it is apple cider vinegar infused with various toe-curling extracts, spices, and anti-microbial herbs.
The 20th century French physician and world-renowned aromatherapist Jean Valnet is thought to have most closely re-created the original Four Thieves’ recipe. It includes some interesting ingredients like wormwood, meadowsweet, marjoram, angelica, horehound, and camphor. The recipe below may be the Texas version. It omits some of the more exotic ingredients but includes jalapeno peppers. Most of what is listed can be found at your local supermarket. I think it is okay to pick and choose the ingredients you can best tolerate. And when drinking a shot of this stuff every day to stay healthy, you might want to keep an ice-cold Dr. Pepper handy to use as a chaser. This stuff can’t taste good.
FIRE CIDER INGREDIENTS:
5 jalapeno peppers (or other hot chilis)
2 chopped onions (red or white or both)
4 cloves garlic – halved
½ cup fresh ginger – chopped
½ cup fresh turmeric root – chopped
2 – 3 lemons – cut into chunks
¼ cup rosemary sprigs – chopped
¼ cup thyme – chopped
¼ cup peppermint – chopped
¼ cup lemon balm – chopped
1 tbsp. cinnamon (use Ceylon cinnamon)
3 pods of star anise
3 – 6 cloves (or more)
1 tbsp. peppercorns – black
3 tbsp. elderberries – dried (optional)
6 cups raw apple cider vinegar
Maple syrup to sweeten (use real maple syrup – not fake breakfast or pancake syrup)
Add dry ingredients to a large sealable jar and cover with apple cider vinegar.
Store jar in a cool dark place for 3-4 weeks, shaking every few days to agitate.
After steeping period, strain through mesh or cheesecloth into a sterilized container. If your concoction is too strong, add maple syrup to taste (start with a tablespoon and adjust from there).
If you store your cider in the fridge it will last for several months. Take one to two tablespoons daily. Mix with water (or try carbonated mineral water). Drink up – stay healthy!

$4.2 M for Medina County Law Enforcement Radio Upgrades

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed all remaining annual funding bills, keeping the federal government fully operational through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Through his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) secured over $42 million in direct funding for communities across South and West Texas.
$4.2 M for Medina County law enforcement radio upgrades is one of the community investments secured by Congressman Gonzales.
“There are several major highways and two major rail lines that run through Medina County—as a result, the county has seen an increase in calls to help assist other agencies with border crisis issues. Further, there are schools along the county line, making communication between surrounding agencies imperative to ensure a quick response time to emergencies at those schools. This project would upgrade the communications system to improve interoperability throughout the county,” a representative with Gonzales’ office added.

William James Cole, Jr (Billy)

San Antonio Tx
Billy was born in Corpus Christi, Tx. He attended and graduated from Pearsall ISD 1981. After graduation he worked in the oilfield for several years until his enlistment in the US Coast Guard. He retired from the USCG and moved to San Antonio for a few years then was in Springfield, IL for several more years until moving back to San Antonio, Tx.
He is survived by 2 sons William Austin Cole (Sarah)and Travis Cole and 1 daughter – Kali Cole. His mother – Linda Cole and Sister – Margie (Randy) Zinsmeyer, Nephews – Beau (Sierra) & Tyson Zinsmeyer. Grandchildren – Makenna , Michael and Abeline Cole as well as multiple Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. He was predeceased by his father William James Cole, Sr. He had a large group of friends in Pearsall and surrounding areas he cherished from his high school days.
His final resting place will be Feb 2, 2026 at 2:30 pm in Ft Sam Houston Memorial Cemetery with full military honors.

New fire protection management conducts emergency pre-planning at 31 Devine businesses

Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners president Todd Summers, left, presides during the board’s Jan. 20 meeting with board vice president Jeff Howard seen at right. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Since assuming management responsibility for Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 in October, Castroville-based ESD1 has visited 31 businesses in Devine to establish pre-fire planning for any local emergencies, ESD1 battalion chief David Powers reported during the Jan. 20 ESD2 board meeting.
“We got out with the public, visiting to see where everybody is at,” Powers said.
A fire pre-plan is a detailed mapping of a building’s layout, fire protection systems and special hazards to assist emergency responders with rapid, safe and effective decision making upon arrival.
For example, Powers noted that it was determined that an interior hydrant at one major retailer was not providing adequate pressure for fire protection. The emergency pre-plan directs firefighters to another hydrant instead.
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‘The Power of Pages’: An FCCLA Project Focusing on Reading

Briana Balderrama and Angeliana Rendon-Zapata prepare to introduce their project to the community at the fall parade.

Briana Balderrama and Angeliana Rendon- Zapata, Devine FCCLA members, are aiming to increase the number of people in our community and surrounding areas who read during their leisure time, because many people are unaware of the mental and physical benefits that come along with reading.
To get their project started, on November  1, 2025, they participated in Devine’s fall parade and festival by throwing over 500 pieces of candy with their information, an insert of a children’s book character, and a quote, “Help us lead the community with the power of pages!” Next, on November 10, 2025, they visited the elementary school library and read/performed Eric Litwin’s Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons as a puppet show to a first-grade and a kindergarten class. To let the 43 students have some fun with the activity, they had the children create their own brown paper bag puppet to take home.
You can follow the girls’ social media platform, the_powerofpages, which currently has 129 followers.

FCCLA Group is Helping Others Reach Their Goals 5% at a Time

Devine FCCLA members, Jaden Rodriguez and Rolando Garcia brought their STAR event, 5% Mentality, to the Devine Fall Festival to introduce others to the concept of achieving a large goal a little at a time: give 5% each day to reach the big goal.

Devine Juniors, Rolando Garcia and Jaden Rodriguez, are on a mission this year to teach others about their STAR event, ‘5% Mentality’. The goal of this project is to introduce the concept at Devine High School to help students build discipline and stay motivated. Rodriguez stated, “Many people abandon their goals due to procrastination, a lack of discipline, or the belief that their dreams are impossible.” The 5% Mentality helps students overcome procrastination by focusing on small, achievable daily actions that contribute to long-term success.
To keep other high school students motivated, the team started to deliver weekly motivational announcements to reinforce consistency and daily improvement. They began these in November and will continue them throughout the year during the campus morning announcements. The duo created inspirational messages to attach to the candy they threw from the Devine FCCLA float during the fall parade. They created posters to post around the high school campus so that those participating in the 5% Mentality can be reminded to keep working toward their goals. In January, the boys presented to middle school classes to help younger students start setting goals now and create the mindset to achieve them at a younger age.
Garcia and Rodriguez plan to create post-surveys for the participants to measure their progress on their goals. They are also planning to create a digital resource hub for students to track their 5% progress to keep them motivated to keep going.

FCCLA Spotlight Team Promoting Overall Wellness

Brooke Dubose and Camila Sierra shown with DMS students at their presentation in November.

Devine High School FCCLA members Brooke Dubose and Camila Sierra are educating our community on proper personal hygiene practices, including handwashing, oral care, and skincare, to reduce illness and promote overall wellness.
On November 13 and 18, 2025, the duo visited Devine Middle School to present to the P.E. students and Coach Beaty’s Health and Wellness classes about the importance of social and personal hygiene. After the presentations, they played Jeopardy and handed out 50 goodie bags to students who answered their questions correctly. The team also created 300 QR codes and received 500 hand sanitizers to distribute at all the events held.
Their project ‘Stay Fresh, Stay Confident’ has 100 followers on Instagram and has reached nearly 250 people so far.

Lytle Police Report

Monday, January 19
3:15 AM – 16100 Blk. Farmer – Officers responded to a report of fireworks being “popped”. The residents were advised of the city ordinance and stopped discharging the fireworks.
8:00 AM – Cash America Pawn (San Antonio) – Officer received information from Leads Online that a Sig Sauer, which had been reported as stolen to Lytle PD on 11/4/2016 during a vehicle burglary (in Lake Shore Estates), had been sold to a pawn shop on 1/18/2026. LPD responded to the San Antonio Pawn Shop and verified that the handgun was the stolen one. It was returned to the owner.
10:12 AM – 16000 Blk. Stratford Cove – Officer responded to a report of electrical breakers being stolen from two homes under construction, valued at $3,500.
11:34 AM – 18600 Blk. N. Prairie St. – Unlocked a 2006 Kia SLE.
3:27 PM – 18500 Blk. FM 2790 W. – Officers responded to the report of an open door. Everything was okay.
6:09 PM – 19900 Blk. FM 3175 – Officers responded to transport a consumer to Laurel Ridge Treatment Center for a Higher Level of Care.
6:20 PM – 18700 Blk. Wisdom Rd. – Officer responded to a report of an estray pig. The pig was returned to the owner before the officer’s arrival.
6:23 PM – Assist San Antonio PD – Main St. @ S. Prairie St. – Officer responded to search for a suicidal female whose phone was pinging in the area. The officer was unable to locate the female. Atascosa County dispatch informed the officer that the female was located on 1/20/2026 at 5:50 AM.
8:43 PM – White Cap Dr. – Officer responded to a report of a male in dark clothing. Everything was okay.
10:57 PM – 15100 Blk. Main St. – Officer initiated a traffic stop for speeding, resulting in the citation and release of a 22 year old male for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Tuesday, January 20
3:36 AM – W. FM 2790 S. @ Blume Dr. – Officer was involved in a deer vs vehicle accident. No damage to the vehicle, and the deer left the scene without exchanging information.
5:10 AM – Lytle PD – Officer spoke to a citizen regarding personal issues.
8:45 AM – John Lott Park – Officer responded to a report of a male urinating in the park but was unable to locate him.
9:40 AM – 17900 Blk. Rocky Circle – Officer responded to speak to a resident regarding possible identity theft over the past year.
3:08 PM – Assist Atascosa County EMS – 14700 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to assist a patient having a medical emergency.
3:24 PM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officer responded to check on a one-year-old child, and everything was okay.
3:38 PM – 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to check on a crying female pushing a child in a stroller but was unable to locate them.
6:55 PM 19300 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded, but the driver had already received help before his arrival.
8:00 PM – IH 35 MM 131 – Officers responded to a hit-and-run involving an 18-wheeler. No injuries were reported.
Wednesday, January 21
4:10 AM – 20200 Blk. IH 35 – Officers responded to a 911 hangup but could not locate the caller.
7:32 AM – Ethan Crossings @ Laney’s Catch – Officer was flagged down by a resident regarding a previous call about identity theft.
10:28 AM – 14900 Blk. Adams St. – Officer responded to check on an elderly female in a motorized scooter. She was okay.
4:57 PM – 19500 Blk. McDonald St. – Officer responded to check on a homeless male who stated he was okay.
8:39 PM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officers spoke to a resident regarding a letter.
10:00 PM – IH 35 NB @ FM 2790 – Officer responded to a report of a tarp hanging over the overpass but was unable to remove it.
11:30 PM – Assist Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office – Blue Quail Dr. @ Covey Dr. – Officer responded outside the city limits of Lytle to look for a vehicle that was possibly involved in mail theft. The vehicle wasn’t located.
Thursday, January 22
6:28 AM – 19800 Blk. Doc Holiday – Officers responded to an active alarm. The home was secure.
8:31 AM – IH 35 NB Frontage Rd. @ FM 3175 – Officer observed a downed stop sign. Lytle Public Works and TXDOT were notified.
1:20 PM – Whataburger – Officer responded to the Whataburger for a 911 hang-up. Officer determined it was accidental.
3:00 PM – Fire Marshal Inspections – Officer conducted 3 inspections at locations within the city.
4:48 PM – McDonalds – Officer responded to a reported 2-vehicle minor accident.
6:24 PM – 19100 Blk. N. Somerset St. – Officer conducted a welfare check on an elderly female. Officer was unable to contact anyone on the property.
9:26 PM – Main St. @ McDonald St. – Officer conducted a traffic stop for no front license plate, which resulted in the arrest of a 47year old male for DWI First w/Open Container.
Friday, January 23
11:46 AM – 19100 Blk First St. – Officers responded to the location for a 911 hang-up. Officers determined that a verbal disturbance had occurred, but no offense occurred.
1:47 PM – 19100 Blk First St. – Officers responded to the location to check on the welfare of a male. Officers determined all was fine.
2:00 PM – IH 35 MM 130 SB – Officers responded to the location for a possible intoxicated driver. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which fled. Officers stopped the vehicle on IH 35 SB at the Natalia exit. A 40 year old female was arrested for Evading Arrest w/Motor vehicle. At the Medina County Jail, subject was found to be in possession of Methamphetamines on her person, which resulted in a charge of Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility.
15:45 PM – Minor Accident – US Post Office Officer responded to a 2-vehicle minor accident.
Saturday, January 24
1:35 AM – TXN Bank – Officers responded to a commercial alarm. Building was found secure.
6:38 AM – Lytle PD – Officer met with a resident.
10:28 AM – IH 35 NB Frontage Rd. @ FM 3175 – Officer responded to location for a down stop sign. Officer stood the temporary sign back up.
11:25 AM – Stripes – Officer conducted a welfare check on a homeless person. Officer was unable to locate.
11:58 AM – 18200 Blk Wisdom Rd. – Officer responded to location for a Hospice death.
1:40 PM – Stripes – Officer conducted a welfare check on 2 homeless people. The subjects refused assistance.
2:10 PM – 17900 Blk. Rockys Circle – Officer responded to location to speak with a resident about the odor coming from the oil pump jacks behind the house.
4:01 PM – Stripes – Officers conducted a welfare check on 2 homeless people. The subjects were transported to Best Western Plus.
4:30 PM – 15800 Blk. CR 681 – Officers conducted a welfare check on a resident. Residents stated they were fine and would call if they required assistance.
5:14 PM – Goodwill – Officers conducted a welfare check on a homeless person.
5:40 PM – HEB Plus – Officer was flagged down for a minor 2-vehicle accident.
Sunday, January 25
12:02 AM – CR 6841 @ CR 6844 – Officers stopped to assist MCSO, who was out with a minor accident.
3:05 AM – 15000 Blk. Main St. – Officer observed a vehicle in front of a vacant building. Officer was unable to locate anyone, and the vehicle appeared to have been left at the location.
5:07 AM – Assist EMS – Stripes – Officer assisted Atascosa Co. EMS at the location.
8:59 AM – Assist VFD – 14800 Blk Harbour St. – Officer responded to assist the Lytle VFD with a malfunctioning smoke detector.
9:40 AM – FM 463 @ FM 2790 N – Officer responded to assessing reports of water coming from the water tower. LPW was notified and determined it was a tank overflow issue.
12:01 PM – Stripes – Officers conducted a welfare check on 2 homeless people.
12:21 PM – 15400 Blk. Lake St. – Officer assisted with unlocking a vehicle.
3:00 PM – Stripes – Officers conducted a welfare check on 2 homeless people.
3:33 PM – Subway – Officer responded to the location for a reported disturbance. Upon arrival Officer was unable to locate.
4:26 PM – Benton City Rd @ Magnolia St – Officer was flagged down by Lytle Animal Control and advised that they were out looking for any animals running at large due to the weather.
6:45 PM – Stripes – Officers conducted a welfare check on 2 homeless people. Both subjects were transported to the warming center.
10:05 PM – 15200 Blk. Park Place Dr. – While on patrol Officer observed debris in the roadway that was removed.

JV Horses lose to Pleasanton

JV Warhorse Nick Vasquez concentrates on the rebound during Devine’s game against Pearsall. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The turnover bug and ineffectiveness at the free throw line ultimately cost Devine a victory in their 60-58 loss in Pleasanton on January 20. The Horses committed 26 turnovers that led directly to 17 points for the Eagles. Devine only made 3 of 11 from the charity stripe (27%) in the two-point defeat.
Things looked good for the Horses early as they had leads of 14-13 at the end of the first period and 29-25 at the break.
Devine still led by 45-42 going into the final period but cold shooting by the Horses (21%) and the Eagles points off turnovers (6) and their 10-0 run eventually led to the 60-58 final score.
Jace Alegria 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!

Arabians down Pleasanton, jockey for playoff positioning

Varsity Arabians #14 Madi De La Garza, #30 Kalli Bedford, #20 Caroline Suhr and #15 Kenadi Marek leave the huddle during Devine’s game against Pearsall. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine got an all-important win in Pleasanton to begin the second round of District 27-4A action as the Arabians took down the Lady Eagles rather easily 45-23. Devine lost to Pleasanton in the first round, so this evened things up between them in case any tiebreakers are needed at the conclusion of district play on February 10.
Kenadi Marek had a tremendous night scoring 20 points including 7 in the fourth quarter as Devine solidified their victory.
Kyrie DuBose scored all 8 of her points in the first half and Karsyn DeLeon nailed her 6 points all in the first frame as the Arabians bolted to a 27-12 halftime advantage. Caroline Suhr scored 6 of her 7 points in the second half.
Devine’s defense was tenacious all evening, limiting Pearsall to only six points in each of the first three periods then lowering that number to 5 in the fourth.
Madi De La Garza scored 4 points while Devine also got major contributions from Gigi Madrid, Lily Owen, Kalli Bedford, Hali Carroll, and Aaliyah Moralez.
vs Carrizo Springs
The Arabians had a difficult time keeping up with the…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!