SDN: March 25, 2026

March 25, 2026

Guadalupe County reviews road conditions, shares findings

New assessment aimed at providing planning tools amid rapid growth

(Seguin) -- With continued population growth and development placing new demands on local infrastructure, Guadalupe County Commissioners Court on Tuesday received an in-depth presentation on the condition of its roads.

The assessment, conducted by Roadway Asset Services, showed the county has a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 75—considered solid but requiring proactive maintenance to avoid costly deterioration.

First sharing some insight on the county’s roads was Scot Gordon, the asset management engineer and current president of Roadway Asset Services.

“Just to go through some terms real quick, centerline miles, the county has 591 centerline miles. That’s over 7.2 million square yards. And to put that into perspective, if you were to pave a two-lane road, you could go all the way to Wichita, Kansas with the amount of pavement you have in this county.

Roads, pg. 2

City of Seguin receives distinguished Budget Presentation Award

(Seguin) – The city of Seguin is being recognized nationally for its fiscal responsibility. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has announced that the City of Seguin has received GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its FY 2026 annual budget.

The city’s finance department is led by Finance Director Susan Caddell, City officials say the award represents a significant achievement by the entity. They say it reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and as a communications device.

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.

City officials say there are over 1,900 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website.

It is noted that award recipients “have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.”

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is recognized for advancing excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 25,000 members and the communities they serve.

In addition to Caddell, the city thanks Assistant Finance Director Tracy Stephens and the entire business staff for their hard work on this project and recognition.

The interactive budget book is available online at https://city-seguin-tx-cleardoc.cleargov. com/11641/715526/d

Roads, continued.

So, it is quite a bit of material that you guys need to maintain. Most of it is asphalt concrete. Only about 2.6 percent of that is pure, what we call hot mix concrete. Most of it is chip sealed. Some of it has a pavement section underneath it and some of it, is just chip sealed. It’s been built up over the years on county roads,” said Gordon.

Gordon says the findings are categorized so that the county can begin the budgeting and planning for the future.

“And we can break that down into percentage measurement. So you can quickly see what percentage of your county road network falls in each of these categories. So what you can start doing in a maintenance standpoint then is start looking at these satisfactory, fair, poor categories as satisfactory, maybe it’s time to go put crack sealing or surface seal down. When I get into fair, maybe I’m looking at more chip seals. a little bit more aggressive maintenance. When I get down into pour, I’m probably needing to put on overlays and put more structure into the roadway to sustain the loading,” said Gordon.

With a new list of rated roads, Gordon stressed the importance of early maintenance. He says this will be key to avoiding significantly higher repair costs later.

“The theory in pavement management is to try to treat it while it’s still in fairly good shape, putting seals, preservation type chip seals or slurry seals to protect the pavement structure. Think of it as painting your house. You’ve got the main structure -- that’s a lot of money that you put down on the roadway. As the UV rays and the oxidation age that pavement, it’s going to start cracking more and more. So, if we can put seals on it early and protect it, it’s just like painting your house to preserve the structure. So, if you do that more frequently at a much lower cos -- the whole thing is at $4 a square yard, I can put a slurry seal or chip seal down on the roadway. If I let

it deteriorate down further, now I’m going to have to mill it out, overlay it, put in more structure, rebuild portions of the road. It can be up to $35, $40 a yard. So much more expensive if we wait,” said Gordon.

Douglas Burnside, Guadalupe County road and bridge administrator, also spoke before the commissioner’s court. He says this will be important for long-term planning, especially as Guadalupe County continues to rank among the fastest-growing areas in Texas and the nation.

“There’s so many different areas to touch on. We’ll start with what you’re talking at hand as far as the depth of how far, how deep we go to get these roads structurally sound. That’s all part of budget talks of how much money we’re willing to put into the roads, how much we need to put into the roads due to the influx of the community being the top 10 in America, top five in Texas all the time on the list of fastest growing counties. This whole process that we’re going through -- so many different areas are going to be beneficial to us. There was kind of a sigh of relief when somebody saw the PCI network index was 75. I don’t consider that a relief. That’s where we need to be. And if we don’t put more into it because of our growth, we’re going to be playing catch up like San Antonio and all the other big cities. And it’s cheaper to do it now,” said Burnside.

Burnside says new tools from the assessment will also help the county hold developers accountable as the growth continues.

“As these developments come in, they’re going to plot these developments on this map so we can see what type, where the roads are when that development’s planning on coming through. If that road is at an 80 and that development starts, this is the ammunition we have that, hey, they need to -- we’re going to see what it looks like in a year after, you know, 10, after 1,000 concrete trucks go rolling through there.

Roads, pg. 4

Roads, continued.

We need to be able to track this and go back to these developers and say, look, we’re maintaining roads. You need to build these roads because you’re bringing in 2,000 people where we formerly had 20.’ And this is all a tool to do such a thing. There’s so many different areas to expand all this,” said Burnside.

Burnside says the issue of roads is not always an easy discussion to have but added that the county will

need to balance the fixing of its deteriorated roads.

“We’re not just going to go out to the red areas and go, ‘we got to fix those.’ We’re going to have to look at where the community is growing and possibly get ahead on some of these roads rather than repair the ones that are really bad. And I know that’s not what a lot of people want to hear. Why aren’t you repairing the ones that are worse? Well, because we can spend X amount of money and get 10 miles ahead or the same amount of money is only going to take care of 1 mile. So, we have to

weigh all those options, and all these tools are the beginning of that process of us being proactive instead of reactive in the county,” said Burnside. Officials noted that additional work is underway to better understand local soil conditions and their impact on roadway durability. The road trip around the county was made with a roadway asset collection van. The van is equipped with the latest intelligence and imagery technology to measure distressed surfaces and their distribution throughout the county.

Navarro’s Henke wins championship at women’s state powerlifting meet; Seguin girls finish 8th

Chris Austin

(Edinburg) -- Navarro freshman Lyla Grace Henke took home the gold medal in the 97-pound weight class at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet in Edinburg this past Thursday.

Henke squatted 285 pounds, bench pressed 120 pounds and deadlifted 175 pounds for a total of 580 pounds in the Unequipped State Championship Final. The totals matched or exceeded her season bests. The 175-pound deadlift was 25 pounds better than her lift at the regional championships, where she also took gold.

On Saturday, the Seguin girls finished eighth as a team in the Class 5A Division I state championship.

Three Lady Matadors finished in the top three at state. Kelsie Torres finished third in the 105-pound weight class. Vida Hernandez was third in the 123-pound division while Kailyn Herrera was second in the 123-pound class.

Presley Just was sixth in the 105-pound weight class. McKayla Sanchez finished sixth in the 114-pound weight class. Elyanna Schmidt finished 10th

in the 114-pound weight class. Alannah Torres took 14th in the 148-pound division while Zerenity Garcia and Bryana Arce were sixth and seventh, respectively, in the 181-pound weight class. Malia Davila also competed in the 105-pound weight class for Seguin.

The Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet was held Thursday through Saturday at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.

For the boys, the Texas High School Powerlifting Association state championship meet is set for this Friday and Saturday at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene. Navarro will send eight lifters to the boys state championships. Cael Scott, Trinidad Aguirre, Korbin Benes, Dylan Trotti, Mason Harvey, Hagan Krauel, Isaiah King and Hudson Stadler all advanced after competing at the Boys Region 5 Division 2 meet March 14 in Kingsville.

The Seguin Matadors will have five lifters at the state meet. John Medrano, Xavier Rangel, Rylan Rubio, Hunter Mica and Frankie Medina qualified at the Boys Region 2 Division 1 meet at Joshua High School on March 14.

Lyme Disease Vaccine 70 Percent Effective

(New York, NY) -- A Lyme disease vaccine is being deemed 70 percent effective. New York-based Pfizer and Valneva Pharma, headquartered in France, produced the vaccine and determined the efficacy after reviewing results from a Phase Three clinical trial. According to the Washington Post, trial results have not been studied or peer reviewed, but if approved by regulators, it would be the only vaccine for humans against Lyme disease. Pfizer issued a statement noting that the findings are “highly encouraging and creates confidence in the vaccine’s potential to protect against this disease that can be debilitating.”

Survey: Gen Z Most Alcohol-Averse Generation

(Charlotte, NC) -- A new survey says Gen Z would rather not drink. The Lending Tree report found that 53-percent of Gen Z reported they don’t drink. That was followed by 47-percent of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who also avoid spirits. Millennials were found to be the most likely to drink with 63-percent saying they do. Overall, 56-percent of Americans say they consumer alcohol.

Spring Cleaning Is Good For Mental Health

(Cleveland OH) -- Spring cleaning is good for your mental health. Kia-Rai Prewitt, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic says decluttering will not only make your home look nice but it will also boost someone’s mood. She says the cleaning itself releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins, which can increase energy and lift moods. On the flip side, she says keeping clutter can increase stress and anxiety.

Alcohol Pads Recalled Over ‘Life-Threatening’ Bacterial Contamination

(Undated) -- Cardinal Health is issuing a nationwide recall of antiseptic wipes due to concerns over ‘life-threatening’ bacterial contamination. The wipes are commonly used to clean and disinfect skin before injections or blood draws, and health officials said there is a ‘reasonable probability’ that the contaminated wipes could lead to infections spreading through the body. The recall impacts nearly 400 lots of the product which was distributed across the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan between September 2025 and February 2026. It remains unclear whether the wipes have led to any infections, hospitalizations or deaths, but Cardinal Health has urged consumers to check their first aid supplies immediately and dispose of any recalled wipes.

GRMC WELCOMES PRIMARY CARE + OBSTETRICS PHYSICIAN

Caroline Flowers, MD

Caroline Flowers, MD, is a family medicine & obstetrics provider passionate about whole-person care for all stages of life. Originally from Houston, Dr. Flowers earned her undergraduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University and taught high school science through Teach for America before completing her medical degree at UT Southwestern. She trained in family medicine at the University of Arizona and completed a surgical obstetrics fellowship at Full Circle Health in Boise, Idaho. Her clinical interests include maternal-child health, breastfeeding support, women’s reproductive care, adolescent medicine, preventive care, and managing complex chronic conditions. Outside of medicine, she enjoys family time, reading, podcasts, and cheering on the San Antonio Spurs.

Eggapalooza Returns with Free All-Abilities Egg Hunt at TLU

Families across Seguin are invited to the 4th Annual Eggapalooza All Abilities Egg Hunt from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at TLU’s Bulldog Stadium, located at 815 Fleming Dr. This free community event is open to children ages two to 12 of all abilities and features more than 40,000 eggs, age-specific hunts, games, booths, and activities hosted by local organizations. Guests can also enjoy free donuts, photos with the Easter Bunny, Kona Ice, and chances to find prize eggs. Gates open at 8:30 a.m., with the first egg hunt beginning at 9:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and check in at the main Fleming Street entrance to be part of one of the largest egg hunts in South Central Texas.

Free Mulch for Seguin Residents

Free wood chip mulch is available to residents within the Seguin city limits through the City of Seguin Public Works Department while supplies last. Mulch may be picked up from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at 634 Fred Byrd Drive. Residents must bring shovels, gloves and containers if self-loading. Staff will assist with loading large trailers or dump trucks only. For information, call 830-401-2416.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Service Begins in Seguin

Seguin residents now have a safe and convenient way to dispose of household hazardous waste as the City of Seguin launches a new at-your-door collection service beginning Monday, March 1. The service is available to residents who receive City garbage collection, with scheduled pickups taking place every Monday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at participating homes in Seguin. The program allows residents to properly dispose of items such as automotive fluids, paints, chemicals, household cleaners, and small electronics while helping protect public health and the environment. Residents must schedule a pickup in advance. For scheduling details or additional information, visit hhwsolutions.com or call 888-694-4978.

Women’s History Month Events at TLU

Texas Lutheran University will celebrate Women’s History Month throughout March with a series of free events open to the community. The celebration concludes with the “Her Vision, Her Voice” Women’s History Month Recital at 7 p.m. Monday, March 30 in Ayers Recital Hall at the Schuech Fine Arts Center.

AAMPO Seeks Public Input at Seguin Meeting on $1.9 Billion Transportation Plan

The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) is inviting residents to attend a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 23, at the Seguin Public Library, 313 W. Nolte St., to review and comment on its Draft FY 2027–2030 Transportation Improvement Program. The plan outlines more than $1.9 billion in roadway, safety, and mobility projects scheduled over the next four years. Community members are encouraged to attend, learn about projects impacting Guadalupe County, ask questions, and provide feedback to help guide future transportation investments in the growing region.

SHS students offer free tax help

Seguin ISD students are offering free tax preparation assistance through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The service is available from 4:10 to 5:10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through March 31 at the Seguin High School Library. The program is provided by IRS-certified students in

the Seguin Independent School District Career and Technical Education business pathway and is open to individuals and families earning about $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers. Appointments are encouraged. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Helen Stamper at hstamper@seguin.k12.tx.us

Free Tax Help at Texas Lutheran University

Texas Lutheran University is offering free tax preparation assistance through its IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. The clinic will be held Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through April 15 at the Beck Center on the Texas Lutheran University campus, 1020 Beck Drive in Seguin. The service is provided at no cost by accounting students from Texas Lutheran University and is open to individuals and households earning $69,000 or less, as well as seniors, people with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

Energy Assistance Available

The Community Council of South Central Texas is accepting applications for utility bill assistance through the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). Funding is limited and available in select counties, including Guadalupe County. Apply online at ccsct.org/ utility-assistance-apply-for-services/ and schedule an appointment with your county office. An appointment does not guarantee assistance.

Geronimo VFW Dance Schedule

Dance the night away at the Geronimo VFW Post 8456, located at 6808 Hwy 123 N. All dances are open to the public with $10 admission/donation at the door. Sunday Dances: Doors open 1:30 p.m. | Dance 3–6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Friday Dances: Doors open 6 p.m. | Dance 7–10:30 p.m. For reservations, call or text 830-305-8829. Upcoming Dance Schedule: Mar. 29 – Ken Simpson & Bentley Boys.

Green Valley SUD Scholarships

Green Valley Special Utility District is offering four $5,000 scholarships to graduating seniors whose parent or guardian receives water service from the district. Two scholarships are for university-bound students and two for those pursuing trade schools. Eligible students include those attending Seguin, Marion, New Braunfels, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City or John Paul II Catholic School. Applications are due March 24. Apply at gvsud.org.

Guadalupe County Republican Women to Host Guest Speaker

The Guadalupe County Republican Women will host their monthly meeting and luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 26 at the Seguin Silver Center, 510 E. Court St. in Seguin. Guest speaker Krista Schild, Texas Director of the RAIR Foundation, will present a program discussing grassroots activism, America’s founding principles and organizing at the local level. The program portion of the meeting is free to attend. Lunch is available for $20 with RSVP or $25 at the door. Those planning to attend lunch are asked to RSVP by calling or texting 830-391-3979.

Vietnam War Veterans Ceremony

A Vietnam War Veterans Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 27 at Memorial Plaza at the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert St. in Seguin. The event will honor all veterans who served during the Vietnam Era, from November 1, 1955 through April 30, 1975. The ceremony will feature a presentation by

the Seguin High School NJROTC Drill Team, a tribute to Vietnam veterans, and the presentation of the 2026 Honor Wall recipient, Luis Gonzalez, CSM (Ret.), U.S. Army. For more information, call 830-303-8870.

Online Presentation Explores “The Science of God” rescheduled for March 27

The public is invited to attend an online presentation titled “The Science of God” hosted by Minister Stanley Holmes. The program has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 27 via Zoom. The event will explore the relationship between faith and science. Participants may join online at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/9910714276 or by phone by dialing 1-346-248-7799 and entering meeting ID 9910714276. The virtual presentation is open to anyone interested in the discussion.

International Cat Show & Adoption Event

An international cat show and adoption event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 at the Seguin Events Complex Coliseum, 950 S. Austin St. in Seguin. Hosted by the Mission City Cat Club and The International Cat Association, the event will feature a variety of cat breeds competing in multiple judging rings, along with opportunities to adopt cats and kittens from area rescue groups. Attendees can also enjoy vendors, children’s activities, and giveaways. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 5–12 and seniors, and free for children 4 and under. For tickets or more information, visit https:// events.ticketleap.com/tickets/mission-city-cat-club/ letsCadeo.

Homestead Exemption Audit Process Begins for Property Owners

Property owners in Guadalupe County are being advised of a new requirement involving homestead exemptions. Under a new state law, appraisal districts across the state, including the Guadalupe Appraisal District, will begin conducting audits of homestead exemptions. As part of the process, property owners with an active homestead exemption may receive a notice asking them to reapply for the exemption every five years to verify eligibility. The appraisal district does not calculate taxes based on exemptions. Any tax adjustments will be handled by the Guadalupe County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office and reflected either in amended bills for previous years or on the current year’s tax bill issued in October. Property owners who receive a notice should follow the instructions provided by the Guadalupe Appraisal District.

TLU to Host Free “Chemistry of Health and Medicine” Science Event

Texas Lutheran University will host a special night of fun through science event from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 in the Student Activity Center at Jackson Park. The university invites the public to its Chemistry Chaos event, titled “The Chemistry of Health and Medicine.” The free, family-friendly event will feature interactive science activities and demonstrations focused on health and medical science. Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend and explore handson learning opportunities.

To ensure non-profit organization’s meetings and events appear in this calendar, send information to: communitycalendar@kwed1580.com, or drop off the information at the Seguin Daily News/KWED offices located at 609 E. Court St. in Seguin. For best results, submit information at least two weeks prior to the event.

&KOE WETZEL TREATY OAK REVIVAL A

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INSIDE SALE: 5-Family Sale at 435 Pine Meadow Road - Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 from 9 am to 1pm. Store closeout sale with lots of girls Easter dresses and home decor.