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Local Police report

Natalia Police Report

1/5/2026 – Officers responded to the 500 Blk of 5th street for a theft that had occurred the case is being investigated.
1/6/2026 – Officers were dispatched to the 600 Blk of 4th street for a dog bite that occurred the victim was take to the hospital for the bite case is still pending investigation.
1/8/2026 – Officers responded to the St Hwy 132 for illegal dumping the individual was advised and picked up the trash.
1/9/2026 Officers were dispatched to the 600 Blk of 4th St for a verbal disturbance; everyone was separated and no charges were filed.
1/9/2026 – Officers were dispatched to 3rd St and 471 for a couple arguing upon arrival they were separated and the female left the area.

Barbara Lee Smith

Barbara Lee Smith passed away on December 31, 2025. Barbara was born July 12, 1940 in San Antonio, TX.
She was independent and strong-willed, living life on her own terms and loving her family deeply.
She is survived by her sons James Woodcock and wife Missy, Greg Woodcock and wife Tena, and Fred Smith Jr.; grandchildren Chris, Logan, and Savanah Woodcock; Jaren and Lily Woodcock; Jayden Causey; sister Sissy Joyce; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Lytle Methodist Church, 19341 S. Somerset St., Lytle TX 78052.

Robert David Brown

Robert David Brown passed away on January 7, 2026, at the age of 70.
Robert was born in San Antonio, Texas, on October 26, 1955, to Robert (Bob) Brown and Ruth Hernandez Brown.
He moved to Devine at age 10 after his father, Mr. Brown Sr., had the opportunity to open a Chevrolet dealership in town. It was then that Robert discovered his first passion—the auto industry.
He began with humble beginnings at the dealership; his first assignment was washing cars for years.
Robert graduated from Devine High School, Class of ’74, and went on to college with all his Beatles albums—music being another of his passions.
He attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in the Class of ’78 with a degree in Business Administration.
One of his proudest memories from this time was driving from Austin to Devine almost every weekend to sell cars and continue learning about the auto industry.
Along his college journey was his high school sweetheart, Connie, whom he married on July 8, 1978. They shared a son, Robbie. Connie sadly passed away in 1999.
Robert continued to work his way up in the Brown Auto Stores, holding many titles at dealerships in Devine, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Laredo—proudly becoming one of the nation’s youngest dealers.
Over the years, he served as a salesman, sales manager, Finance Director, and ultimately CEO/President and Dealer Principal of the Brown Auto Group.
He also served on the Board of Directors for the Bank of Texas and the Texas Auto Dealer Association. Robert was a proud member of the Texas Exes Alumni Association. Hook ’em!
He carried on his parents’ legacy and commitment to supporting the communities served by the dealerships.
Robert was a dedicated season ticket holder for the San Antonio Spurs for more than 30 years. He attended games regularly, inviting family, friends, and employees, and donated his seats in the Super Box countless times for charity.
In 2008, Robert found love again, marrying Thelma Romero Brown on November 13, 2010. Together, they had three beautiful children: Victoria, Delilah, and Armando.
Robert held many titles and accolades, but the one he valued most was being a dad.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert B. Brown and Ruth Marie Hernandez Brown; his first wife, Connie; his infant son, Baby Boy Brown; and his brother, Michael.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma Romero Brown; his children, Robbie, Victoria, Delilah, and Armando; his siblings, William George Brown and wife Tammy of New Braunfels, and Jeannette Brown Perez and husband Carlos of Del Rio; his grandchildren, Robbie and Milli; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Robert (Robbie) Brown, Armando Jorge Brown, Carlos Perez, Pete Ortiz, Christopher Ortiz, Emmanuel Cuevas, Jorge Alberto Romero, Gustavo Gallegos.
Honorary pallbearer, William George Brown.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Primrose Funeral Service of Devine, Texas. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Castroville, Texas, with interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Devine, Texas.
Anyone wishing to leave condolences, share memories, or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.primrosefuneralservices.com Arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services 303 W. College Ave., Devine, Texas 78016, (830) 663-4445.

JoAnn Marsh Davis

We are sad to announce the passing of JoAnn Marsh Davis, born September 21, 1946, passed on December 22, 2025. She resided in Seguin, Texas for the last couple decades of her life where she is survived by her Husband Mike Palmer.
JoAnn went to school and later taught in Natalia and Devine, where her parents were very active in the Church of Christ.
She is predeceased in death by her Son Joey Nathan Davis.
She is survived by her eldest Son Carl Von Oberlender and his spouse Loyd Hawkins; Son Terry Jay Oberlender and his wife Bernarda Oberlender; Grandchildren Samantha Bailey Oberlender, Branden Chase Oberlender and his wife Sara, Tristen Seth Oberlender and his wife Lahni, Jayven Blane Davis and Jaya Mae Davis; Great Grandchildren Jade Aura Dubose, Bluenn Fleur Dubose, Riley Grey Oberlender and Weston Tate Oberlender.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, January 18th at 2 PM at Evergreen Cemetery in Devine, Texas.

Della Marie Linehan

Della Marie Linehan of Natalia, Tx, was born September 20, 1934, in Seagraves, Tx. At the age of 91, she peacefully left this world surrounded by family and entered the pearly gates on January 4, 2026.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jimmy of 64 years, parents, John C. and Viola Bluhm, along with six sisters and two brothers.
Della is survived by her children, Joe “Doc” Linehan, Brenda Fernandez (Mike), Janice Gray (Ricky), Monty Linehan (Lisa), eleven grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandkids.
Della, also known as Del and Mom, but most importantly, Granny, and Mimi, lived a life defined by faith. Her heart for her family, friends, and Church has been felt for many decades and across generations. Countless people were blessed with her gifts. Whether through sewing, quilting, embroidery, upholstery, baked goods, handmade jewelry, or something grown in her garden. No project was ever too big or small for her loving hands. She lived to serve others first, and few have ever loved as fiercely or as faithfully as she did.
Service officiated by Grandson, Chestly Gobar.
Honorary Pallbearers: Joe “Doc” Linehan, Monty Linehan, Mike Fernandez, and Ricky Gray
Pallbearers: Kellen Nixon, Antonio “Nano” Ramirez, Frankie Reyes, Jr., Aidan Villarreal, Alec Villareal, and Joshua Ramon
A visitation was held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at Primrose Funeral Services at 303 West College Ave, Devine, Texas, 78016.
The funeral service was also held at Primrose Funeral Services on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 10:00am with interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Devine, Texas.
If you would like to express your condolences, or share a memory, please do so at www.primrosefuneralservices.com
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Primrose Funeral Services in Devine, Texas

Devine FCCLA group spreads awareness on Domestic Violence

Devine High School juniors Melenie Cardenas, Esteban Mendoza, and Margarita Vizcarra have teamed up this year for their STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event in FCCLA. They have two goals: to raise awareness about domestic violence and to educate their community.
Vizcarra stated, “Our project, Break the Cycle, can be found on Instagram at @BREAK_THE_CYCLE_AND_SPEAK_UP, where we share updates on everything we are doing for our FCCLA project. We would greatly appreciate your support with a follow — we have already reached 227 followers, and every new supporter helps us spread awareness.”
The team would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our local sports nutrition store,
KickStart Nutrition (kickstartnutrition_devine), for helping them spread awareness and collaborating with them by offering purple drinks during No Violence November (November 17–30, 2025). Thanks to this partnership, 100 purple beverages were sold to support their cause.
They also sincerely thank Devine Middle School for allowing them to present to the 8th-grade students on December 11, 2025, where they discussed domestic violence and the importance of knowing right from wrong. The trio presented to 120 students, making this an impactful experience for the team. They will be presenting to Mrs. Outlaw’s FCS classes in January and doing an activity where students receive a handout listing five things they could say to someone experiencing domestic violence.
Thanks to these collaborations, the group has successfully completed two major events and is planning additional ones for the Spring semester.

Beaver, Loeffler are Students of the Month

Devine High School students Mason Beaver and Brady Loeffler were honored as Students of the Month at a recent Devine Lions Club meeting. Both are seniors at DHS.
Mason Beaver
Beaver is a member of the varsity basketball team and earned a spot a starter. He is also a member of the National Honor Society since his junior year and does community service through Devine. He is in the top 10% of the Class of 2026; he’s #8 out of 131 as of the last rating.
“I will be attending Tarleton State University to pursue a major in Kinesiology. Once finished with aht, I plan to attend medical school, either in San Antonio or at Tarleton. When in medical school, I plan to study to become an Orthopaedic Surgeon,” said Beaver.
He is the son of Kayli and Sean Beaver.
Brady Loeffler
Loeffler is a senior, graduating in May 2026. He is active in band and FFA. He has been a member of the band since 6th grade and served as section leader for the sax section. He has worked three years in the consession stand to raise money for the band boosters. He has been in the FFA since his freshman year and been involved in many competitions, such as land, livestock and wildlife judging. He has served as the FFA chapter secretary, vice president, and currently is the president.
“My future plans after graduation are to continue working on our family farm until this fall, at which time I plan on attending TSTC, Texas State Technical College in Waco to earn a degree in diesel mechanics. I hope to pursue a career in large diesel mechanics and possibly return to our farming operation to work on equipment and keep our tractors running. I have grown up in the farming operation since I was little, driving tractors by age 5, so it is for sure in my blood,” said Loeffler.
He is the son of Mark and Kimberly Loeffler.

Medina Electric Announces Executive Leadership Transition and Departmental Realignment

Internal promotions and structural shifts ensure a seamless transfer of knowledge
(Hondo, Texas) – 1/12/2026 – Medina Electric Cooperative announces a strategic reorganization of its leadership team and the appointment of a new Chief Member Relations Officer, effective January 2. These changes are driven by a commitment to operational excellence and a strategic realignment of departments to better serve the cooperative’s growing membership following several key retirements.
New Chief Member Relations Officer Appointed
Leading a new team is Katie Kothmann Haby, who has been promoted to the recently created role of Chief Member Relations Officer. A veteran of the utility industry with 16 years of experience, Haby has spent the last 13 years at Medina EC, demonstrating a deep understanding of the cooperative’s mission and its members’ needs.
Under this new structure, communications, business development and member services will be consolidated under Haby’s leadership. This move is designed to streamline member touchpoints and ensure a cohesive strategy for community engagement and growth.
Strategic Departmental Realignment
To further optimize operations and prepare for the future, Medina EC is realigning several key internal functions.
Human Resources will move under the Chief Financial Officer, linking workforce development with long-term fiscal planning.
Safety will transition under the engineering department to further integrate safety-first protocols into technical workflows.
Facilities will move under operations, aligning physical asset management with field activities.
Honoring a Legacy of Service
The reorganization comes as Patti Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer, prepares for retirement after a distinguished 27-year career with Medina EC. Taylor is joined by several other dedicated team members also retiring this year; collectively these individuals represent over 176 years of industry knowledge and service to our members. Additionally, the cooperative is pleased to announce that Armando Castillo has been promoted to Manager of Southern Region Operations, filling a vacancy created by a concurrent retirement in the field.
“While it is bittersweet to see long-time leaders like Patti move into a well-deserved retirement after nearly three decades of service, we are incredibly excited about the future of Medina EC,” said Trey Grebe, CEO. “By promoting proven internal talent like Katie and Armando, and strategically grouping our departments, we are ensuring that our cooperative remains agile, efficient, and—above all—dedicated to the members we serve.”
Looking Ahead
These leadership changes represent Medina EC’s proactive approach to a changing energy landscape. By aligning member-facing departments under a single chief officer and integrating support services like HR and safety into core operational hubs, the cooperative is positioned for continued stability and enhanced service delivery in the new year.

Medina County Fire/EMS releases 2025 recap, ends with 3,183 emergencies across 4 ESDs

Medina County Fire/EMS released the year-end report which includes service for ESD1, ESD4, ESD2 and ESD6.
In total, Medina County Fire/EMS responded to 3,183 emergencies. Of the total 3,183 calls, 60 were regarding grass/brush fires, 33 concerning residential fires, and 40 responding to vehicle/RV/machinery fires. With that, the departments average response time was 8.1 minutes.
ESD1, requested and we began providing transport EMS on May 30, 2025, responded to 2,110 total calls for the year. Of those calls, 1,422 were EMS responses excluding MVC’s. There were 688 Fire calls including MVC’s.
ESD2, requested, and we began providing fire response on October 1, 2025, responded to 66 fire calls.
ESD4, requested and we began providing transport EMS on October 31, 2025, responded to 390 total EMS calls.
ESD6, the department responded to 615 total calls, with 360 being fire calls including MVC’s and 255 EMS calls excluding MVC’s.
Overall, the Medina County Fire/EMS department experienced a year of significant growth through the increase of staff levels for fire/rescue and bringing the total to 4 of Medina County’s six primary ESD’s (4/6) now being covered by their personnel. (ESD1 Castroville/LaCoste area Fire/EMS, ESD2 Devine area Fire, ESD4 Devine/Natalia/part Lytle EMS area, ESD6 Hondo Fire).
Source: Medina County Fire/EMS.

War Horse’s at the All-American game!

The Devine Warhorse Linebacker Tristan LaFond had a great week in Dallas showing off his skills in the Dream All-American game. Tristan was a standout Linebacker for Team Stars making many stops during his game. He’s an amazing player and we look forward to seeing which college he’ll be playing at next year.

Enoch Hall had an amazing weekend in Dallas Texas. Enoch earned the Leadership Award and was named one of Team Dreams Captain’s as well as winning the MVP award for the game. Enoch had over 200 yards total offense playing both Running back and the slot positions. He had over 150 yards on the ground and over 70 yards receiving. I couldn’t be more proud of how Enoch represented Dream Sports Group and we’ll as the city of Devine. This young man has a very bright future and we look forward to having him come back next year and represent Dream Sports Group. Outstanding job Enoch Hall, Congratulations on these well deserved awards.