Celebrating 126 Years of Serving the communities of Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, and Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties
State Champion- Lady Mustang Ashley Aguirre took the gold at the State Powerlifting Meet. Photo by Jasmine Vasquez.
Multiple young athletes from Natalia, Lytle, and Devine recently competed in the Regional and State Powerlifting Meets, and this young lady pictured below brought home an individual State Championship medal. See full story in Sports!
Authorities believe there may be as many as 15-20 people involved in the massive organized vehicle theft ring for which the investigation continues.
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office has made 8 arrests so far and successfully recovered numerous stolen vehicles in a lengthy investigation during the past two and a half years. Many of the vehicles were classic Corvettes and Camaros, but the loot included a variety of work trucks and other vehicles too.
The Lytle Music Festival 2025 is this Friday and Saturday evenings March 21 & 22 in the John Lott Municipal Park in Lytle featuring six artists.
The event is free. There will be food trucks, drinks and vendors. No coolers.
Music will start at 6:30 pm Friday, 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday evening will feature at 6:30 p.m. Bidi Bidi Banda opening up for a 8:30 p.m. show by Mario Flores.
Saturday evening music will start at 5:00 p.m. with Texas Double Shot, followed by 6:30 Weston Ripps. At 8:00 p.m. the Chuck Wimer Band will perform. Bri Bagwell will headline the night taking the stage at 9:30 p.m.
Car Show on Saturday from 12 noon to 5:00 pm at the park.
SEE our SPORTS SECTION at www.devinenewsmembers.com to keep up with important city, county, school, and other news!
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By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Every kid loves to see the airplanes flying by, and it looks like they may be seeing a lot more of them soon. The military has selected most of Medina County and parts of Uvalde, Frio, and Bandera Counties as a prime area to conduct “low-altitude” flight training with a floor of 500 feet above ground level.
Continue reading “Military eyes airspace over Medina County for simulated combat training”
SEE our SPORTS SECTION at www.devinenewsmembers.com to keep up with important city, county, school, and other news!
You can get FULL DIGITAL ACCESS INSTANTLY by signing up for a subscription, and you’ll also begin getting the print edition mailed to your home weekly.
You can read the full story as early as midnight Tuesday if you are a member. Note the images below are low res for fast upload. They are designed to show a sample of the awesome stories and photos you can expect to see in our weekly Sports Section!
GET INSTANT DIGITAL ACCESS at www.devinenewsmembers.com to keep up with important city, county, school, and other news!
You can get FULL DIGITAL ACCESS INSTANTLY by signing up for a subscription, and you’ll also begin getting the print edition mailed to your home weekly.
You can read the full story as early as midnight Tuesday if you are a member.
By Anton Riecher
A specialized forensic audit to uncover any further misconduct in Devine Volunteer Fire Department finances during resigned fire chief Greg Atkinson’s administration was unanimously approved by the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners at a March 5, 2025 special meeting.
Urged by Sheriff Randy Brown and the Medina County Commissioners Court, the audit is estimated to cost a minimum of $20,000 for each of the three years slated for investigation. A decision is pending on whether that cost should be passed on to Devine VFD by withholding future ESD funding.
Continue reading “Forensic audit approved to study Devine VFD’s troubled finances”
The US Drought Monitor is classifying Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties as being in an “Extreme” Drought.
Centered directly above Medina County is an area classified as an “Exceptional Drought” (the highest level of drought).
“Groundwater and reservoir levels continued to drop in the San Antonio area amid very large precipitation deficits,” it notes, leading to the development of an area of exceptional drought centered above Medina.
Growing concerns about water security, especially with our rapidly growing Medina County area, recently prompted local cities and water groups to band together forming the “Regional Water Alliance”.
Board President Robert Pequeno explained the command structure will continue with interim positions until the board can initiate a hiring and review process with qualifications.
To ensure uninterrupted service to our community, former assistant chief Jessica Martinez has stepped up into the role of Interim Fire Chief, and Capt. Scott DeLucia is now serving as assistant chief with Lt. Bryan Hill assuming DeLucia’s former duties as captain.
Amidst all of the turmoil, Devine VFD fire crews never skipped a beat, responding in times of crisis such as last week when several fires broke out, complicated by 45+ MPH winds.
In action Monday evening, the Devine Volunteer Fire Department’s volunteer association board voted unanimously to formally remove resigned fire chief Greg Atkinson from the department roll call in the wake of recent criminal allegations and his resignation.
The motion to remove Atkinson’s name was put forward by board member Barry Haywood and seconded by Henry Salas.
“Motion passes,” said board president Robert Pequeno, finalizing the vote. “ Dropped from roll call.”
A misdemeanor count of official oppression by sexual harassment was filed against Atkinson by the Medina County Criminal Attorney in late February 2025. The action came in the wake of the arrest of DVFD office administrator and suspect Heather Schultz in December 2024 on a charge of tampering with evidence related to more than $76,000 in missing funds.
Atkinson officially resigned only one day before the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners voted March 5 to authorize forensic audits of Devine VFD’s finances for the past three fiscal years.
As is standard on any board agenda, Pequeno called for the names of any Devine VFD members to be dropped from the roll call. Interim Fire Chief Jessica Martinez responded with Atkinson’s name.
“As of right now the only one getting dropped from roll call would be Gregory Atkinson,” Martinez said.
As opposed to the contentious March 5 ESD2 board meeting, the Devine VFD board meeting was relatively
In action Monday evening, the Devine Volunteer Fire Department’s volunteer association board voted unanimously to formally remove resigned fire chief Greg Atkinson from the department roll call in the wake of recent criminal allegations and his resignation.
The motion to remove Atkinson’s name was put forward by board member Barry Haywood and seconded by Henry Salas.
“Motion passes,” said board president Robert Pequeno, finalizing the vote. “ Dropped from roll call.”
A misdemeanor count of official oppression by sexual harassment was filed against Atkinson by the Medina County Criminal Attorney in late February 2025. The action came in the wake of the arrest of DVFD office administrator and suspect Heather Schultz in December 2024 on a charge of tampering with evidence related to more than $76,000 in missing funds.
Atkinson officially resigned only one day before the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners voted March 5 to authorize forensic audits of Devine VFD’s finances for the past three fiscal years.
As is standard on any board agenda, Pequeno called for the names of any Devine VFD members to be dropped from the roll call. Interim Fire Chief Jessica Martinez responded with Atkinson’s name.
“As of right now the only one getting dropped from roll call would be Gregory Atkinson,” Martinez said.
As opposed to the contentious March 5 ESD2 board meeting, the Devine VFD board meeting was relatively CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com
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