Telling the story of what's going on in Wilson County, Texas!
Looking for a loyal companion with a heart of gold? Meet Reyna, a beautiful 1-year-old tan Black Mouth Cur mix who is ready to find her forever family! Reyna is the kind of dog who loves her people with her whole heart. She adores everyone she meets, including children, and is happiest when she's by your side soaking up love and attention. Reyna isn't interested in making dog friends, but she's never aggressive— she simply prefers human companionship and would love a family all her own to spoil with unconditional love. Ready to meet your new best friend? Submit an... Article Link
The Stockdale Blue Bonnet Club held its monthly meeting on Monday, May 11, in the lovely home of Kay Deagen. President Lana Wilson called the meeting to order. The minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved. Mary Denson gave the treasurer's report. There was no correspondence to report. It was decided that the club will fill bags with hygiene items to be gifted to the local Senior Housing residents during the holiday season. This Christmas Gift endeavor will replace our previous Christmas project. Under new business, the members were presented a slate of new officers to vote on... Article Link
Members of the Floresville Peanut Festival Court-elect for 2026 visit the Stockdale City Council meeting June 1, inviting all in Stockdale to enjoy the festival in October. Welcoming the “Court of Confectionery Creations” and association 2nd Vice President Hannah Dugi (far right) are (l-r) council members Saul Bosquez and Henry Rivera, Mayor Saul Urrabazo, and council members Joseph Neyland and Jeff Stavinoha. The 2026 Floresville Peanut Festival will take place Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 8-10. Article Link
Instructor Chris Deuter shows young library patrons the results after putting acetone on a foam cup June 8, during Science Heroes' “Digging It” program at the Sarah Bain Chandler Public Library in Stockdale. The presentation was part of the Wilson County Public Libraries' Summer Reading program. Learn more about the program and its events, running at all the county libraries, at https://www.wilsoncountylibrary.org/srp. Article Link
The Stockdale Masonic Lodge recently presented LoriDawn Messuri with its Community Builder Award. This award is the highest recognition a lodge can award to a non- Mason. LoriDawn has not lived in Stockdale for a long time, but has become very active in the community. She is active in the Stockdale Economic Development Corp. and works tirelessly to promote our community. She created and manages the community website. She was instrumental in creating the mural on the side of the Masonic lodge building and also helped the lodge obtain a GVEC Power Up grant. Stockdale Masonic Lodge No. 470 A.F.... Article Link
At the Stockdale High School Senior Recognition banquet, the Stockdale ISD Education Foundation celebrated Dream Makers from Stockdale Independent School District (ISD). Each of the top 10 students from the Class of 2026 selected two educators to honor who made a significant impact in their life. •No. 10, Adisen Magill — Kimberly Terry (she did not attend Stockdale ISD in elementary) •No. 9, Peyton James — Destiny Doughtery and Matthew Frontz •No. 8, Kaitlyn Keiser — Taylor Hastings and Gina Deason •No. 7, Emily Hrubetz — Jacque Cunningham and Destiny Faulkner •No. 6, Alyssa Deagen — Taylor Hastings and Kimberly... Article Link
In May of every year, Australians submit themselves to a national experience of repentance. Sounds unusual, but it's true. First, there's National Sorry Day (this year it was May 26), which is followed by National Reconciliation Week, which this year was May 27 to June 3. According to one source, National Sorry Day, also known as National Day of Healing, is “an annual event that has been held in Australia on May 26 since 1998, to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of the country's indigenous peoples, as part of an ongoing process of reconciliation between the indigenous peoples and the... Article Link
Rilee Welliver of Falls City is among Mississippi State students who presented at the university's Undergraduate Research Symposium this spring. Welliver, a junior wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture major, presented “‘What's The Buzz?' — Precision and Efficiency Comparison of Human vs. Automated Honey Bee Counting Methods” in the Biological and Life Sciences category. Welliver won first place, College of Forest Resources and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center Award. MSU's Undergraduate Research Symposium engages students in showcasing faculty-guided research and creative activity. This biannual event includes students from diverse departments and colleges who participate in poster and oral presentation sessions, sharing... Article Link
Wilson County Retired School Personnel members, Lila Galindo, Lydia Martinez, Jesse Ramos, Nena McChesney, and Clifton Rogers, visit during the June 9 Texas Retired Teachers Association's Leadership Conference. MaryGrace Klespies, RheaNell Rogers, Maria Vargas, Carol Chitty, and Bonnie Rice also attended the conference. Article Link
The San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants will host “Find Your Roots, Claim Your Story” on Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the DoSeum in San Antonio. The organization works to preserve and honor the legacy of Indigenous peoples of the San Antonio Missions while helping descendants reconnect with their ancestral roots. At the June 24 event, participants can discover their ancestral heritage and engage with community leaders. Refreshments will be served. The DoSeum is located at 2800 Broadway in San Antonio. For more information about the San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants organization or this event, email info@samidtx.org or call... Article Link
Enjoy free summer movies at the Arcadia Theatre in Floresville every Tuesday and Thursday at noon through July 30. •”Night of the Zoopocalypse,” June 16 and 18 •”How to Train Your Dragon,” June 23 and 25 •”Pets on a Train,” June 30 and July 2 •”Spongebob: Search for Squarepants,” July 7 and 9 •”Dog Man,” July 14 and 16 •”Smurfs,” July 21 and 23 •”The Bad Guys 2,” July 28 and 30. The Arcadia Theatre is located at 1417 Third St. in Floresville. Article Link
As summer heats up, you can keep your cool — and keep your kitchen cooler, too — with these summer meal suggestions from Take Care of Texas. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) created Take Care of Texas in 2007 to provide helpful information about Texans' collective role in environmental protection in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Learn more about Take Care of Texas at https://takecareoftexas.org. Chipotle Chicken Tacos In the slow cooker, add 2 pounds of chicken breasts, a can of chipotle peppers in adobo, 1 diced white onion, and a few tablespoons of taco seasoning. After 7-8... Article Link
Loyal readers visit the Wilson County News office to receive gift certificates or prizes from local businesses, which is their prize for participating in WCN's “Springtime Photo Contest.” WANT TO JOIN THESE WINNERS? Read the Wilson County News every week to find a variety of different promotions and contests that include chances to win! Subscribe today! Visit wilsoncountynews.com/subscribe/ or call 830-216-4519. Article Link
Enjoy a great day of food, visiting, and shopping at the Falls City Market Day Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Falls City Community Hall on U.S. 181 in Falls City. Over 30 vendors will offer market, craft, and garage sale items in this well organized, air-conditioned indoor event. Breakfast tacos will be available inside and a food truck will be outside for lunch. For more information, contact 830-254-0338 or visit their Facebook page at Falls City Market Day for a sneak peek of all the vendors. Article Link
In a kitchen cabinet in her Floresville home, Rebecca Rodriguez has a set of amber glasses, including some dimpled iced tea glasses. The set belonged to her mother, Paula Gauna, who collected S&H Green Stamps to acquire the glasses. Do you remember S&H Green Stamps? The popular nationwide customer loyalty program started in 1896 and ran until the 1980s. Shoppers were given a stamp for every 10 cents spent at participating vendors — grocery and department stores, gas stations, and other merchants. You put each stamp in a book; when the book was filled, it could be exchanged for items... Article Link
Thanks to all the kids who entered the La Vernia News spring coloring contest! Article Link
As the weather heats up, it's time to cool off — with the 82nd annual Stockdale Watermelon Jubilee! This annual event started in 1936 and continues each year on the third weekend in June, hosted by the Stockdale Chamber of Commerce. Head over to Stockdale this Thursday through Saturday, June 18- 20, for all the fun and festivities of this annual hometown celebration — a carnival, coronation, concerts, rodeos, and more! Queen Melone, carnival Reigning over the festivities are Queen Melone and the Rodeo Queen. Coronation of the queens and courts kicks off all the fun. This year's royalty will... Article Link
Area taxpayers can get a look at what local taxing entities plan to spend tax revenue on in the coming fiscal year, at upcoming budget hearings which are open to the public. Upcoming hearings include: •La Vernia ISD — Monday, June 22, 6:30 p.m., high school cafeteria at 225 Bluebonnet Road. The school board will discuss the budget and proposed tax rate of [post_excerpt].05190 per 0 of taxable property value, the same as the current rate. The average market value of a residence in the district has decreased from 0,012 last year to 5,756, and the tax bill is anticipated... Article Link
WCN “Meeting Watches” present highlights from recent meetings of some area entities; not all entities, or their actions or discussions, are included here. View WCN's video coverage of these meetings online at wilsoncountynews.com/meeting-coverage/. St. Hedwig City Council, June 4 La Vernia City Council, June 11 La Vernia Municipal Development District, June 11 Floresville EDC, June 8 St. Hedwig City Council Meeting: Regular meeting, June 4, 7-10:10 p.m., closed session 8:38-10:10 p.m. Actions: •Approved the appointment of Brian Barr to the open Place 5 seat on the city council; Barr will be sworn in at a later date •Approved to send... Article Link
A two-vehicle crash on U.S. 181 north of Floresville closed northbound lanes for a period of time, and sent four people to the hospital. According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol Staff Sgt. Orlando De Luna Jr., the accident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. June 10 at U.S. 181 and Creekpark Drive, between F.M. 775 and Loop 1604 north of Floresville DPS troopers and members of the Wilson County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash, along with first responders. The preliminary investigation indicated that a white 2020 Ford SUV failed to yield the right of way at... Article Link
Dear Dave, My wife and I make about 0,000 a year combined. We're also debt-free, and we have no kids. We'd like to start planning to buy a nice piece of land sometime in the near future. Do you have a rule of thumb when it comes to determining what percentage of our savings we should put toward a large purchase like this? Daniel Dear Daniel, Honestly, I'm not sure there's necessarily a specific percentage for this kind of thing. Since you guys are already debt free — and congratulations on that, by the way — I'd advise first making... Article Link
Area law-enforcement agencies have reported the following recent activity: Editor's Note: All individuals arrested and charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. Department of Public Safety •June 1, Jose A. De La Cruz, 44, of Hutto was arrested at the intersection of S.H. 123 and U.S. 87 in Stockdale and charged with interfering with public duties. •June 2, Celestino I. Marroquin, 35, of Floresville was arrested at the intersection of F.M. 539 and Fourth Street in Sutherland Springs and charged with possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a controlled... Article Link
Editor: The Department of Justice was created to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and serve the public. Under Donald Trump, it has been twisted into something far smaller and far darker — a presidential shield deployed to defend him personally, attack his critics, and bend federal law enforcement to his political will. What was meant to be the nation's impartial legal backbone now looks, in case after documented case, like the president's private law firm, intervening for his allies, undermining investigations into his conduct, and echoing his political narratives as if they were legal doctrine. It's a... Article Link
Editor: Re: “And so it begins ...,” June 3 The letter sent in by Thomas Yingst about James Talarico left me with only questions. Why is Mr. Talarico the best choice? Mr. Yingst said nothing about Talarico's qualifications to hold any public office. Does Mr. Talarico support closing the borders? Does he support ICE? Is he conservative fiscally or socially, and does he really believe there are six genders? Is he in favor of the SAVE Act? Without any information about the candidate, I could not possibly support him or say he is the only choice. Mr. Yingst, if you... Article Link
Editor: Re: Letter, “No more expensive subdivisions; Wilson County needs senior housing!,” June 10 Well, this letter sounds good, but unfortunately that's all the merit it has. Subdivisions create tax revenue, as would data centers, providing the county doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater by providing tax incentives to these entities. While the author calls for affordable senior housing, which is laudable, what she is really asking for is public supported affordable housing. That requires tax dollars, which could come from new subdivisions and data centers, hmm. Otherwise, the rest of us will be coughing up larger and... Article Link
I woke up early to catch the latest news on the election results, only to find that the first text message I saw was not a news alert from Maine, but a warning from Apple Customer Support. Someone in Moscow, Russia, was trying to access my Apple account to make a 9.49 purchase on the AliExpress Marketplace. The transaction would be processed within 80 minutes unless I called Apple Customer Support at 1-877-603-5084. That is, obviously, not the real number for Apple Customer Support. I've included it as a warning, like the rest of this column. I should have checked... Article Link
Last week's blockbuster jobs report, with more than 265,000 jobs added when including upward employment revisions, was very welcome news to almost all Americans. The exception would be the economists of the left who throughout Donald Trump's now-five-and-a-half years in the White House keep getting the economy dead wrong. Just a few months ago a gaggle of economists on the left, led by Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman, started warning of “stagflation,” a witch's brew of high inflation and high unemployment at the same time. He wrote that “any statement that things aren't as bad as they were in the... Article Link
Stockdale's Sarah Bain Chandler Public Library and the Sam Fore Jr. Public Library in Floresville will participate in the ROAR program, a child abuse prevention program. Presentations are set for: •Friday, June 26, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sarah Bain Chandler Public Library, 602 W. Main St. in Stockdale; register by Wednesday, June 24 •Monday, July 6, at 10 a.m.at the Sam Fore Jr. Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville; register by Thursday, July 2. The free program will be presented by the Children's Alliance of South Texas, A Child Advocacy Center (CAST).This program teaches body safety and gives... Article Link
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The individual appointed by President Donald Trump as the Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness is John Bellinger, not Joel as stated in “Screwworm confirmed in Texas” in the June 10 Wilson County News. Readers can alert the Wilson County News to any errors in news articles by emailing nkilbey-smith@wcn-online.com or by calling 830-216-4519. Article Link
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock has reported said state sales tax revenue totaled .5 billion in May, 6.6 percent more than in May 2025. The majority of May sales tax revenue is based on sales made in April and remitted to the agency in May. Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in May 2026 was up 8.7 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58 percent of all tax collections. Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes: •Motor... Article Link
Donors are invited to register now to give the gift of life as American Legion Post 539 hosts a blood drive Saturday, June 27. The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Bloodmobile will be at the American Legion Hall, 14290 F.M. 1346 in St. Hedwig, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All donors will receive a free tote bag. Sign up for a donation time at https://donor. southtexasblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_ schedule/ 155470. For more information, call blood drive coordinator Kelley Higit at 210-409-1370. Article Link
Texas high school students showed improvement in every subject in this spring's end-of-course STAAR exams, the Texas Education Agency reported. The results include assessments in Algebra I, English I, English II, biology and U.S. history. The biggest improvement was in biology, with 71 percent of students meeting expectations, up 9 percent. “These results reflect the hard work of Texas students, educators and families and demonstrate that focused instruction and high expectations continue to produce positive outcomes for students across our state,” said Commissioner Mike Morath. “These results may also be reflective of the legislature's ban of cell phone use in... Article Link
Incoming Floresville High School sophomore Zaidyn Rico has earned a spot on Team USA for the 2026 Portugal Basketball Festival this summer. Zaidyn, who moved to Floresville in fourth grade from Lubbock, has been playing basketball since he was 4 years old, first learning from his father, Jerry Rico, and eventually playing for the Floresville High School freshman Tigers, where he ended his freshman year with 277 points. He also plays in the Floresville High School junior varsity Summer League and the Houston Hoops AAU basketball program. Encouraged by his mom, Yesenia Rico, Zaidyn applied for the opportunity to play... Article Link
Author Alex Z. Salinas reads aloud from his novel, The Dream Life of Larry Rios, as fellow authors and book enthusiasts listen on June 5 during the Wilson County Public Libraries second annual Book Festival. The two-day festival featured approximately 70 authors from across Texas for book lovers to meet and learn about. Article Link
[Video below] The Floresville Economic Development Corp. (FEDC) has approved a funding request for improvements to the city's swimming pool, but stopped short of approving a five-year Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Board members heard a presentation from new Parks and Recreation Director Reena Gonzalez at their June 8 meeting. Gonzalez proposed a five-year capital improvement plan for 2027-31, with projects that included improvements to the city pool and Watts Park near the American Legion Hall, A Street skate park modifications, athletic field improvements, and possibly a trail connection between Pecan Park and the Floresville El Camino Trail.... Article Link
Two men have died, following a two-vehicle crash June 12. The crash, on U.S. 181 north of Floresville near Shady Oak Court, not far from Las Lagunas Restaurant, occurred about 9:20 a.m. last Friday. According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol Sgt. Orlando De Luna Jr., the preliminary investigation indicated that a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck, driven by Wayne Earl Christiansen, 53, was traveling north in the southbound lanes of U.S. 181 and collided head-on with a 2022 Ford Maverick driven by Daniel David Heinen III, 75. The two men, both of San Antonio, were pronounced... Article Link
[Video below] It was a typical evening June 1 as I left work at the Wilson County News, when I came upon an unusual early-evening sight — a mother gray fox was nestled on the lawn area of the old A Street Gym near the Floresville Food Pantry, while her young kit playfully pounced around her. I've rarely seen foxes in downtown Floresville, and I noticed that the mother fox appeared injured, so I decided to make a call to Audrey Naughton, Wildlife Biologist for Karnes and Wilson counties with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Urban foxes are... Article Link
[Video below] Residents and landowners voiced strong opposition to a proposed wastewater permit at a June 11 public meeting in Floresville hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The meeting focused on an application submitted by HK Bella's Ranch LLC for a wastewater treatment treat- facility that would serve the proposed Bella's Ranch residential development. Under the proposal, the facility would discharge up to 250,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day from the 900-home subdivision on U.S. 181 north of Floresville into Kicaster Creek, and eventually into the San Antonio River. A primary concern throughout the evening was... Article Link
Semester 2, Cycle 3 First grade All A's: Ashlynn Angell, Harrison Aniol, Brantlee Biela, Terrence Clark, Riley Gallion, Kaydence Garcia, Holland Hancock, Kamryn Hosek, Graham Kolodziej, Ashlyn Kowalik, Liam Malik, Harper Messenger, Sarita Nuernberg, Iley Orth, Jackson Pawlik, Owen Sanchez, Elizabeth Trevino, Mathias Tunchez, Kora Zaiontz A/B: Arthur Alexander, Colin Band, Liam Barfield, Quintin Baumann, Novalee Calhoun, Alyssa Calmes, Ezra Dunham, Karter Erwin, Bellamy Gorzell, Haylen Haberstroh, Waylon Jackson, Adelyn Moczygemba, Caden Moore, Huntley Pawelek-Jacquinot, Caroline Ploch, Jensyn Pruski, Matthew Ramon, Kai Reyna, Janelly Rodriguez Martinez, Emily Rosene, Houston Sanchez, Julian Sanchez, Caroline Wallace, Emily West, Hudson Wiatrek Second grade... Article Link
To help a number of local students achieve their dreams of furthering their education, Wilson County Farm Bureau has awarded ,000 in scholarships. Congratulations to: •La Vernia High School — Landon McBee, Lacey Matney, and Peyton Dylla •Stockdale High School — Emily Hrubetz and Kierstyn Fey •Floresville High School — Kambri Angle. “We offer these scholarships at a local level to help kids right here at home,” Wilson County Farm Bureau President Milton Lowak said. “Trade school, college, and university educations can be expensive. Scholarships are one way we invest in the future of Texas agriculture.” Students were selected based... Article Link
COLLEGE STATION — Nicole Pruski, a 2023 graduate of East Central High School and an Agricultural Communications and Journalism major at Texas A&M University, recently began a summer 2026 internship in Washington, D.C. Nicole, the daughter of Allen and Roxy Pruski, will spend the summer as an integral part of the Office of Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz. She's one of 17 students selected for an internship through the Agricultural & Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) Internship program at Texas A&M. She'll be monitoring legislation, attending committee hearings and briefings, and preparing reports for senior staff members. An incoming senior, Nicole... Article Link
The Wilson County Public Libraries' Summer Reading program for all ages is underway, and it's not too late to register! The summer reading program, Unearth a Story, began June 8 and continues through Saturday, July 18. Participants are encouraged to keep track of their minutes read. Each 5 minutes you spend reading equals one square on the reading logs. After you have read 200 minutes, return to the library to receive a prize entry form and your next reading log. Note: TV time and video gaming do not count as minutes read. You can sign up at https://www.wilsoncountylibrary.org/srp. But wait;... Article Link
Semester 2, Cycle 3 Sixth grade All A's: Sawyer Albert, Beau Brockman, Teagan Cofield, Christian Escobedo, Xuya Fan, Cheyenne Frank, Madyson Garza, Molly Harton, Cambree Holloway, Kaylee Holloway, Tinley Hosek, Sonny Ortiz, Brennen Pape, Kade Posey, Kyler Poth, Anna Powell, Camryn Pruski, Jase Richardson, Aleah Sanchez, Kylie Stuman, Cash Toborg, Kaylee Zamora A/B: Sloane Alexander, Denali Bodden, Case Caraway, Ashley Carrillo Salas, Elise Deason, Diego DeHoyos, Carter Denson, Jordan Gallardo, Ernest Garza, Lillyana Gauthier, Hagen Hartmann, Lillie Huitron, Kael Korzekwa, Kelly Lopez Perez, Zoey McGirr, Kade Mitschke, Conner Moczygemba, Brooklyn Morris, Averi Moy, Olivia Olvera, Noah Ramirez, Nixon Ramirez- Hons,... Article Link
Santana Montez and Jesse Ramos with the Floresville Masonic Lodge No. 515 present a Lamar Medal May 21 to Braelynn Brooks, a 7th grader at Floresville ISD. Mirabeau Lamar is considered the Father of Public Schools in Texas and the Lamar Medal is given in his honor annually to a 7th and 8th grader in both the Poth and the Floresville school districts. Braelynn also received a gift card. Article Link
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