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Devine looks to finish strong in home stretch of the season

Arabians Maddy Hester and Karsyn Deleon both had a homerun during Devine’s win over Uvalde. Photo from Devine Arabian softball page.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports editor
With two weeks left in the season, the Arabians are poised to make run back to the Area championship game. The Arabians are currently third in the district standings but are tied record wise with Pleasanton at 6-3. Devine has four more games left before the post season begins.
Vs Floresville
Despite the late surge in the fourth inning, Devine fell to Floresville 3-4. The Tigers scored one run per inning, even when Devine held them scoreless after 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!

Warhorse baseball looks to finish strong

Warhorse Gerardo Villasenor sets up his stance during Devine’s win over Pearsall. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The UIL Playoffs are not out of reach for Devine, but they need to go on a good run to end their 29-4A campaign. The Horses played Carrizo Springs on April 7 and next go against the Eagles in Pleasanton on April 10 and at home versus Somerset on April 17.
The Horses were on a tear earlier in district but hit somewhat of a rough patch by dropping their two previous contests prior to their Wildcat encounter on Tuesday night.
Devine lost 7-3 to Uvalde on April 1 after briefly holding a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second inning.
Things quickly turned for the worst on the bottom of the second as 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!

Devine to continue with “hybrid”school calendar for 2026-2027

By Anton Riecher
The Devine school board voted unanimously Thursday (March 26) to continue with a hybrid class calendar for the 2026-2027 school year walking the the line between the traditional five-day school week and the amended four-day week found in many Texas rural systems.
Also, in another unanimous action, the board voted to continue its current plan to purchase two new school buses annually to comply with new legislation requiring all school buses in Texas be equipped with three-point seat belt restraints by September 2029.
Regarding the school calendar, district superintendent Todd Grandjean reported during the March 26 meeting that board members originally adopted a shortened school calendar in January 2025. Although the board chose not to resort to a four-day week calendar, the decision called for no less than 177 teaching days, each at least 450 minutes long.
The Texas Education Agency requires that school…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!

Devine actors Area Bound!

Devine High School One Act play cast and crew will be advancing to the Area round after a standout performance at the Bi-district contest in Navarro on March 24. This will be the first time the troupe has progressed this far in nine years and will take the stage April 7 in New Braunfels. Pictured above: Director: Mr. Jose Guardiola Cast/Crew: Maverick Beaty, Nolan Beaty, Melenie Cardenas, Jacelyn Delaney, Gwyn Deleon, Isabella Duron, Miranda Guerrero, Payton Hester, Manuel Leal, Dakota Nighswander, Emma Martinez, Nathan Sanchez, Griffin Blouin, Angelica Castillo, Zach Martinez, Natalie Gutierrez, Briana Balderrama, Jessica Ballesteros, Deidre Bishop, Kayla Dzierzanowski, Kassandra Fajardo, Taylor Garcia, VeraLee Martinez. Not pictured Mia Gonzales and Isaac Medina. STORY INSIDE

Local airman deployed overseas

E-4 Aerospace Propulsion Specialist Hildenbrand is serving at an undisclosed location overseas. Earlier this year, the local airman gave a base tour to the Hellums family who is so proud of his service.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Aidan Hildenbrand, son of Will and Miranda Hellums, recently deployed overseas as part of Operation Epic Fury. He is a part of the 9th SMOAX squadron and left for his deployment on March 18th.
Hildenbrand graduated from Devine High School with the Class of 2022, and enlisted in the Air Force his senior year.
He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. Hildenbrand finished his training on aircraft maintenance for the C1-30 at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls before…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!

Smith opens Devine Counseling & Wellness

Vonna Jo Smith, of Devine, offers counseling at her practice here in Devine, as well as tele-health and home visits for elderly/ homebound residents.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
We had a short visit with Vonna Jo Smith, of Devine this week, who is thrilled to announce she is bringing her practice to Devine, where she has lived for about 20 years now. Smith received her Bachelor’s from A&M and Master’s from UTSA, and began practicing about 4 years ago in San Antonio, before deciding to launch her own business–Devine Counseling & Wellness right here at home.
“I love helping people solve problems!” Smith said with a welcome smile. “I love seeing people become empowered to feel better when they realize they don’t have to stay in mental pain.”
Her motto is a John Wayne quote, “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”
Smith is especially passionate about working with grandparents and caregivers as well. Smith has a Master’s in Psychology and a minor in special education, which she feels is very helpful in understanding the complexity of being a caregiver, as well as those facing disabilities.
“It’s a passion for me. I understand the stresses, lack of support and long hours being a caregiver entails,” Smith said. “They are a population that is often misunderstood…Very few people understand the complexity of the situation.”
She lends…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!

Driver ejected, 2 injured in I-35 wreck

Reports indicate a “mechanical failure” possibly resulted in this terrible rollover accident on I-35. Photo by Lauren Maleske.

Authorities responded to a serious rollover on I-35 around 8:20 pm this past 3/25 near mile marker 124 in Medina County.
According to a DPS report, “Preliminary information indicates that a 2003 Brown GMC Yukon was traveling north on IH 35, experienced a mechanical failure, and rolled over into the center cables.”
A total of 5 people were occupying the vehicle (3 adults and 2 juveniles).
“A 45-year-old female driver was ejected and transported to a hospital with serious injuries. A 21-year-old male passenger was also transported with serious injuries. The other occupants were not transported. This investigation is ongoing, and no more details are available at the time of this release,” DPS Sgt De Luna Jr. stated.
Crews on site hours…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!

Homeland Security called to investigate bizarre case of fake police department in Uvalde Co.

Utopia PD does not exist, and an AI detecting program tested by the New York Times found that this image along with others was likely artificially generated. Utopia is located about 20 miles northwest of Medina County. This image of a vehicle was uploaded to a Yelp page for the fraudulent agency, which was created March 10.

Hali Mecklin
Staff writer
Uvalde Leader-News

Utopia Police Department’s website boasts a professional force dedicated to community-oriented policing, protecting the tiny town’s roughly 200 residents and keeping it “one of the safest communities in the Texas Hill Country.”
Even chief James R. Dawson bragged about the agency’s relationship with locals in a quote on the homepage. 
“Utopia is a small town, and that is our greatest strength. We know our residents by name, and we take pride in the trust this community places in us. Whether you need to report an incident, have a concern, or simply want to say hello, my door is always open.”
But Utopia PD doesn’t exist, and neither does Dawson.
“It’s definitely a scam,” Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco said. “I know that they’re reaching out to actual institutions, they’ve contacted phone companies. They’re trying to obtain information from people.”
The sheriff’s office became aware of the fake police department in March, after Utopia “officers” solicited customer information from various companies including Rolex and Verizon. Now UCSO is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security on an…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!

Devine ISD receives latest Dollars for Scholars donation

Pictured above are Superintendent Todd Grandjean and Michelle Spivey with a check for $1,134, a “College Go Get Week Donation”.

Devine Dollars for Scholars educational foundation presented a check for $1,134 to the Devine school board Thursday night, the latest in its 17 year history of supporting local students seeking to continue their education, district superintendent Todd Grandjean said.
The organization was founded in 2009 by Devine High School graduate Harold Conrad, he said.
“Mr. Conrad, who graduated in 1954 from Devine High School, along with other original board members Bob Bendele, John Ward, Susan Brauchle and Bill Bain who established the foundation for the sole purpose of giving scholarship monies to DHS graduates to help them pursue a post-secondary education,” Grandjean said.
Over 430,000 in scholarships have been given annually to DHS seniors since 2013.
“The foundation continues to grow and every year DISD contributes to that foundation during our ‘Education, Go Get It! Emphasis’ in January,” Grandjean said.
The current Dollars for Scholars board of directors includes Bendele as president, Bain as vice president, Michelle Spivey as secretary/treasurer, DeeAnn Schofield and Brenda Gardner. Conrad still serves as financial adviser.