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Celebrating 126 Years of Serving the communities of Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, and Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties
Carter Clayton was recognized as the Youth Citizen of the Year by Lytle City Council this week. Mayor Gonzalez described him as “an unbelievable person” who began volunteering at the animal care and control center and eventually adopted a dog named Freckles. Together the pair began visiting the local nursing home with Freckles serving as a therapy dog to the residents
Authorities took every precaution after the report was made, with the FBI,
SA Bomb Squad and many others responding to help.
Chief explains Donation was neither a hoax nor bomb
We spoke to Chief Justin Kohler this Tuesday, who wants to clear up any confusion about the incident, which was neither a hoax nor a bomb.
This past Monday, December 9, a man set the backpack down near the donation station beside the Diamond Shamrock/ Dairy Queen area in Castroville, and quickly drove off.
Castroville PD was notified and after inspection, contacted the SA Bomb Squad who quickly responded to help.
“Basically what happened is it was a backpack that had material in it that looked suspicious. So we contacted the SA Bomb Squad, and they agreed,” Chief Kohler said.
The investigation and procedures eventually led to shutting down HWY 90 around 3:40 pm.
“They did an X-ray of the package and were concerned enough…
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Speakers voiced concerns on both sides of the Devine 4-day week debate.
By Anton Riecher and Kayleen Holder
A decision on whether Devine ISD will move to a four-day school week remains in limbo after the big school board meeting Dec. 4. Citizens, staff, and school board spoke on both sides of the important issue.
Trustees Chris Davis, Carl Brown and Henry Moreno voted in favor of the four-day week with Davis making the motion. Renee Frieda, Keri James and Ali Buvinghausen opposed the measure.
All eyes focused on board president Nancy Pepper when the stalemate became apparent. Pepper said she had strong feelings on both sides of the fence, and chose to abstain from voting for the change.
“I feel I need to abstain since it’s a split vote,” Pepper said…
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The Arriola family’s float was awarded with “Most Lights” at the first annual Night Christmas parade which was a huge hit!
By Catherine Richard
A large crowd gathered in the cold, breezy night last Thursday, and Christmas music drifted through the air as everyone waited for the parade to begin. Cars lined the half mile stretch in front of the Natalia Veterans Memorial Monument, with families sitting on tailgates and lawn chairs while others shopped the Christmas market set up nearby.
At 6:30 p.m., runners dressed in their Santa suits raced past the crowd, drumming up excitement for the beautiful hour-long parade that followed.
There were more than 60 floats in the lineup!
After the display of lights, the appearance of iconic Christmas characters such as Santa and the Grinch, and even fireworks (courtesy of Scooterz Fireworks) aded tons of fun. Many kiddos lined up excitedly to meet with Santa at the Natalia City Offices.
Biker Santa from Calvary Chapel
Destino Danzzar Performance Group Dancer
Fire Department Santa
The City of Lytle awarded its annual citizen awards last Monday, Dec 10. Pictured above is the winner of the adult category Sammy Aguinaga with Mayor Gonzalez and the council.
Lytle council presents 2024 Citizenship Awards
By Anton Riecher
With the holiday season upon us, one local personality that Mayor Ruben Gonzalez dubbed “one of Santa’s helpers” was among this year’s recipients of the City of Lytle Annual Citizenship Awards presented Monday.
Adorned with a large white beard, Sammy Aguinaga received the 2024 award in the adult category for his work with local children. In the youth category, pre-teen Carter Clayton was recognized for his volunteer work at the local animal care and control facility.
Gracie Gallegos received honorable mention for a wide range of activities including the local food bank and health care outreach to elderly residents.
About Aguinaga, Gonzalez called him “a great, great person” who is “always there to help out in the sense of being able to take care of kids in different ways.” The community previously recognized him for his work with children by naming him grand marshal of the 2024 Lytle Homecoming Parade.
“On a personal note he’s gone through a lot of challenges and he’s always been very positive about it,” Gonzalez said.
As for Clayton, the mayor described him as “an unbelievable person” who began volunteering at the animal care and control center in 2022. Eventually, Clayton adopted a dog named Freckles and together the pair began visiting the local nursing home with Freckles serving as a…
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Every year Lytle holds its Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14th at the Lytle Community Center. Santa arrives at the Community Center to turn on the lights at the Community Center and Main Street. After the lighting, Santa accompanies the children and their guardians on his hayride.
The 2024 Annual Christmas Lighting and Santa’s Hayride will start loading trailers at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 19031 Priest Blvd., Lytle, Tx.
Admission is $1.00 or one canned good.
For information call 830-709-3692.
Please also join us at the Shops of Lytle at 15126 Main Street where we will have Santa’s Workshop with events for the kids to include an Ornament Workshop, the North Pole Post Office and Gingerbread Bakery.
The event is brought to you by the City of Lytle, Lytle Chamber of Commerce, Pena Family, Patriot Automotive, Lytle VFW Post 12041 and HEB Plus.
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By Anton Riecher
The Lytle City Council Monday again voted unanimously to deny approval for a proposed 30-acre manufactured home park, reaffirming its decision in November citing the project’s failure to conform to current zoning of the property.
City Administrator, Zachary Meadows, explained that the final plat for Lytle MHC Mobile Park had been resubmitted by the developers after the council’s previous action.
“The state does require that with the changes that were done under the local government code regarding platting when we receive basically a request to reconsider it, we have 15 days to hear it,” he said.
Since the council does not have another meeting schedule before 2025, the request to reconsider was placed on the Dec. 9 agenda.
District 3 Alderman David Emery made the motion to deny the request “as the final plat does not conform to the City of Lytle comprehensive plan and related zoning regulations.” District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes seconded the motion.
Meadows reported in November that both the city staff and the city planning and zoning commission recommended denying approval for the mobile home park.
“Staff has communicated…
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“MARKDOWN MANIA” this Saturday Dec. 14 with late hours 6-9 pm
By Kathleen Calame
Publisher, The Devine News
This shopping event of the year is being hosted in Devine again by small town locally owned businesses on Saturday, December 14. It is their way to say “Thank You” to customers for “Shopping at Home” and helping small businesses, while keeping shopping for Christmas gifts safe and close to home.
The businesses will be open 9 am to 9 pm Saturday with a Late Night event, opening late from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. to celebrate the Markdown Mania event with specials all day and super RED LIGHT SPECIALS sale prices and prizes from 6-9 pm that night!
Also known as a Sip and Shop style event, some will offer cookies, cider, hot chocolate, or other beverages as well as door prizes and special savings during this Shop at Home and Save opportunity!
Any businesses is invited to join in on by hosting their own markdowns, special offers, door prizes, or drawings and late hours this Saturday, December 17. The more the merrier!
As an added bonus six lucky people will win a $100 gift certificate during the event, one at Bushel and a Peck, one at Mag’s Place & Boutique, one at Country Gals Market, one at Lavish Vibes, one at Cynthia Calame, Massage Therapist, and one at Sherry’s Flowers by registering with a purchase at those locations the all day event! Each business will draw their own winners.
Thanksgiving Day dawned bright and beautiful and just begged for people to be outdoors as well as indoors, with the weather being just cool enough for a light jacket or sweater, and many family members did just that.
My son got his large turkey-fryer out and soon had everything set up to begin cooking a turkey while the ladies were inside getting ham and dressing into the oven to heat and tables set up so everyone had a place to sit as we visited and compared notes.
It is always an interesting time for me, as we never have “just family” for a Thanksgiving Day at their home, it has always been family, extended family (from both sides), and basically anyone who decided they wanted to be with us. One year, we had Military members with us, and even though, technically, we were a little ways out of the distance allowed, (at that time, it was thirty miles from the base), since a family member was stationed in San Antonio, it was allowed, and we had an interesting and fun day.
This year, we were family members, and a couple of friends but we were missing several family members due their being with their spouses’ family. However, we still had another great and memorable day, sitting around the table playing games after the meal and dessert! This has become a tradition with this group and the amount of game players and the games change from year to year. All I can say is “Thank you, Lord for another great Thanksgiving with my family”.
Well, everyone, since Thanksgiving is over and done with, most of the leftovers eaten, and our memories made, the so-called Black Friday, (which to me, started early and was followed by Cyber Monday), with shops opening at all hours beginning on Thanksgiving Day, is over as well, and you either were up until all hours shopping, or like me, didn’t even bother to go, maybe it’s time to think about making some Christmas gifts.