August 19, 2025
Legacy of play lives on: Jungle Jam Xtreme set to revitalize ZDT’s indoor space
(Seguin) -- As one family entertainment legacy closes in Seguin, a new chapter is about to begin at that same location.
ZDT’s Amusement Park officially closed its doors on Sunday, and on Monday an announcement was made that the original indoor play area at ZDT’s will soon reopen as a new space called Jungle Jam Xtreme Indoor Family Entertainment.
The new operation is starting thanks to Ben and Misti Guenther. The Seguin couple already operates Jungle Jam Party & Play in New Braunfels. Misti Guenther says they are excited to bring this new form of fun and play to Seguin.
“We are going to be opening up Jungle Jam Xtreme at ZDT’s, which some people will wonder why are we saying at ZDT’s? ZDT’s is a legacy. (ZDT’s owners) Danny and Sarah (Donhauser) have created such a legacy for Seguin and the kids and the families and the surrounding areas. We are getting to use the ZDT’s building, and so much of what they’ve built — creating our own (space), but we are truly keeping a legacy of Seguin going for the kids and the families of Seguin,” said Guenther.
Guenther says much of what’s inside of ZDT’s works well with their theme, but she says they have big plans to make some changes to enhance the overall experience inside the building.
“We are revamping and reconfiguring some things. A lot of it is going to look the same. I don’t know if you ever paid attention to that wonderful artwork in ZDT’s, but it is made for the Jungle Jam family to be able to combine with ZDT’s. So, the artwork is going to be a lot of the same, but a lot of what you see is going to be changed. We’re
working on changing out some of the arcade games. We’re looking to get some more interactive games and also have a Redemption Center for the games so that there’s a driving force behind winning something when you’re playing all those games. There’s going to be a bouncy house obstacle course. There’s going to be massage chairs. There’s going to be seating changes. It’s going to look different, but a lot of things will be the same. We did purchase the content on the inside of the original building, and I think that we can make it still a wonderful family fun center without all of the things from outdoors,” said Guenther.
The Guenthers are familiar with how to make this kind of operation a success. She says they’ve learned a great deal through their operation of the facility in New Braunfels.
“We bought Jungle Jam in New Braunfels back in February of 2020. (Those were) hard times guys. We are survivors, and through that, we’ve been looking for the past five years for a location in Seguin. With always the hesitation that we didn’t want to compete against ZDT’s and that original building and that wonderful climbing structure that we’ll be adding some things to and whatnot.
They had some of the same things, but we serviced a little bit younger of an age group in New Braunfels and I felt like ZDT’s did a little bit older. So now, we’re going to combine both. I get to be back. Ben and I get to be back in our hometown, which really drives me. If anybody knows me, you know how much I love Seguin and how much I just want to be able to give back to Seguin.
Jam, pg. 3
Darren Dunn
State accountability ratings show mixed results for local schools
(Austin) -- The Texas Education Agency has released its A-F Ratings for schools and school districts across the state. The Seguin ISD was rated as a D overall, while both the Navarro and Marion school districts were both rated as a B.
In the Seguin ISD, Barnes Middle School was the only school to receive a failing grade. Seguin High School earned a grade of D. Rodriguez Elementary School also earned a D rating. Vogel Elementary School, Weinert Elementary School, and Briesemeister Middle School were all rated as a C.
Some of the top scores in the Seguin ISD went to the Ball Early Childhood Center, Jefferson Avenue Elementary School, Koennecke Elementary School, McQueeney Elementary School and Patlan Elementary School, which all earned a letter grade of B. The lone A rated camps in Seguin was the district's Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center. The Navarro and Marion school districts were both rated as a B.
In the Navarro ISD, individual
Darren Dunn
campuses all earned B's with the exception of the Navarro Middle School campus, which received a grade of C. Navarro primary and intermediate campuses, and Navarro High School all received a letter grade of B.
Marion High School was rated as a B, but all other campuses in Marion, including the elementary schools and Marion Middle School earned C ratings.
On the west end of Guadalupe County, the Schertz-CiboloUniversal City ISD also received a grade of B for 2025.
According to the TEA, the release of the 2025 A-F Ratings reestablishes critical transparency for Texas families, communities and school leaders after two years of lawsuit-induced delays. “Today marks a return to clarity and accountability. With the release of the 2025 A–F Ratings, we are reinforcing our commitment to transparency and to providing accurate, readily available information that helps every family understand how their school
is doing,” said Texas Education Commissioner, Mike Morath. The TEA says that 1,208 districts and 9,084 campuses were rated in 2025. Compared with 2024, 24 percent of districts and 31 percent of campuses improved their letter grade. Most campuses maintained their previous rating, and only a small portion, approximately 15 percent saw a decline. Forty-three percent of highpoverty campuses in Texas were rated an A or B, continuing to prove that demographics do not equal destiny.
The A–F Accountability System was established in 2017 by the 85th Texas Legislature through House Bill (HB) 22 to provide clear and consistent information on how schools are performing in three key areas: Student Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps. Designed to drive continuous improvement, the A-F system helps ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to a highquality education that prepares them for success after graduation. Rating, pg. 3
So, when I went to Danny and had the conversation, the original conversation, I said — ‘Danny, I’ve wanted to come to Seguin for five years, but I didn’t want to compete against you, because we wanted’ them to succeed. So, this has been something that did happen very fast and furious, but it’s not something that has not been in our hearts for a long time,” said Guenther.
Guenther says they want to add some features that make the space more accessible for everyone. They want little kids, big kids and all families to have a space that they can enjoy themselves and make lasting memories right here in Seguin.
“We will be adding a toddler area for those moms who maybe stay at home during the week or work from home moms, that will have some comfortable seating for them to be able to work and be able to see the toddlers maybe play in one area. But then of course, we want to be able to go from there. I’ve been asked, ‘well, what’s the age range?’ Well, the play structure, the obstacle course, (and) the arcades — all that’s for the whole family. There isn’t an age limit there. I visited ZDT’s this past weekend. I’ve been there quite a bit, you know, trying to enjoy it, and I realized there were some people that definitely were in their golden years that were riding on rides and we’re going to miss that place. So, if I can bring that kind of excitement for a whole family and for the grandparents to bring the grandkids and everybody to have something to do, that’s my goal. I just want a good, controlled environment for people to feel safe, have birthday parties and just be able to enjoy Seguin and know that you don’t have to go far to do everything,” said Guenther.
This is a big opportunity for the ZDT’s legacy to continue. Guenther says they will be taking over the original indoor space, but she says there may be other businesses also coming to that complex. She says regardless of what else happens, she hopes that the community will come out and support these small businesses, who work hard to give back to the community in so
Rating, continued.
A-F Ratings help educators and school systems celebrate successes and focus support where it is needed most.
TEA officials say the A–F Accountability System is structured to balance rigor, fairness and transparency, establishing goals for preparing students for postsecondary success while acknowledging their effort and progress. A-F Ratings provide clear, accessible information on school and district performance, serving as an essential tool for parents, educators, policymakers and local communities to make informed decisions that support student success. To view the 2025 A-F Ratings for school systems and campuses, visit TXschools.gov.
Here's a quick glance at the local
many ways.
“The big thing for people to remember, and I think that it’s very important for Seguin to remember, is how important it is to support small businesses. Small business is the mom and pops stores and the people with lots of heart that are very connected to business – not that we don’t need and thrive off other organizations and franchises. Those are also very important, but the ability to keep places open and have things like this it’s just so important to support them --even if that’s just sharing or liking (posts, offering) prayers or, you know, being inside the business,” said Guenther.
Guenther says they plan to open the Jungle Jam Xtreme Indoor Family Entertainment doors in October. Meanwhile, they’re encouraging people to follow their Facebook page to learn more about their exciting plans.
grades:
Seguin ISD, D
Ball Early Childhood Center, B
Jefferson Av. Elementary School, B
Koennecke Elementary School, B
McQueeney Elementary School, B
Rodriguez Elementary School, D
Patlan Elementary School, B
Vogel Elementary School, C
Weinert Elementary School, C
AJ Briesemeister Middle School, C
Jim Barnes Middle School, F
Seguin High School, D
Mercer/Blumberg Learning Center, A
Navarro ISD, B
Navarro Elementary School, B
Navarro Intermediate School, B
Navarro Junior High School, C
Navarro High School, B
Marion ISD, B
Norma Krueger Elementary School (Primary), C
Bert Karrer Elementary Campus (intermediate), C
Marion Middle School, C
Marion High School, B
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, B
Steele High School, B Clemens High School, C
Dobie Junior High, B
Corbett Junior High, B
Allison Steele ELC, B
Rose Garden Elementary School, D
Schertz Elementary School, D
Watts Elementary School, C
Wiederstein Elementary School, C
Schlather Intermediate School, B
Green Valley Elementary School, B
Sippel Elementary School, B
Wilder Intermediate School, B
Barbara Jordan Intermediate School, B
Cibolo Valley Elementary School, C
Navarro Panthers debut new offense in scrimmage against Fredericksburg
(Geronimo) -- The Navarro Panthers showed off a new offense in their scrimmage with the Fredericksburg Battlin’ Billies on Friday night in Geronimo.
New Panther head coach Glenn Hill, who spent the last four years as the offensive coordinator at Smithson Valley, opened things up a little for the Purple and Gold in their first action against competition. For nearly the last 20 years, Navarro has run the Slot-T offense, but on Friday fans got their first glimpse of the Panthers in a new offense that will still feature the run but will spread the ball around.
One of the beneficiaries of the new offense on Friday was Evan Rodriguez. The senior scored on a dazzling 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Austin Davidson. Head coach Glenn Hill raved about his wide receiver following the scrimmage.
“Evan is a great player, great kid too,” Hill said. “He’s kind of a leader in the locker room, kind of a quiet kid, but he leads by example. His work ethic is amazing. I don’t think he missed a single day of summer skills. He didn’t miss a single spring morning workout. He was obviously a good player in the past, but with the growth that he has shown over the summer, I’m happy to see him go out there and perform.”
A two-way player, Rodriguez also came up with an interception on defense. Davidson also found receiver Hudson Jenner for another score during the scrimmage.
Navarro will play at Devine for their second scrimmage this Thursday. The Panthers open the regular season at Floresville on August 29.
Also on Thursday, the Marion Bulldogs will host Poth at Veterans Stadium at Marion High School for a scrimmage. Meanwhile, the Seguin Matadors will play their first and only scrimmage this season on Thursday when they travel to Kerrville Tivy.
Chris Austin
VITAL STATISTICS
Bogdan
Gloria Rangel Bogdan, beloved mother and grandmother, age 76, of Seguin, TX gained her angel wings on August 14, 2025 after a courageous journey with Parkinson’s.
Gloria Rangel was born in Seguin, TX on June 26, 1949 to Domingo and Sara Rangel. Gloria was a 1967 graduate of Seguin High School and also earned an Associate’s degree from Austin Community College. Before retiring, she primarily worked in executive & administrative assistant roles and in customer service for employers like Texas State University, Comal County Human Resources, HD Supply, and Harland Clarke. She enjoyed the art of drawing, painting, coloring, sewing, thrift shopping, spending time with her sisters and family, and was always present at all of her grandchildren’s functions and events.
Gloria is preceded in death by her parents Domingo Sr. and Sara Rangel, brothers Domingo Jr. and Benito Rangel and sister Josie Longoria, brothers in
Kornegay
Irene Brandenburg Kornegay
Irene Kornegay, a longtime resident of Seguin, TX, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at the age of 99 in her home. She was born in Austin, TX on September 27, 1925 to Paul and Milda (Wissemann) Brandenburg.
Irene is preceded in death by her husband Duane Kornegay, her parents, her sister Alice Turner, and
law James Sanchez and Mingo Contreras, and former husband Stanley Bogdan. Left to cherish her memory, is her daughter Melissa (Bogdan) De La Cruz, son in law Anthony De La Cruz, her pride and joys of her life grandchildren Jarred, Joshua, and Paris, siblings Martin Rangel, Sara Contreras, Chavela (Carl) Bittner, Virginia Sanchez, brother in law Joe Longoria, and many nieces and nephews and extended family.
The family would like to thank everyone that helped with her journey with Parkinson’s including Dr. Susan Bouillion and staff, GRMC Outpatient Physical Therapy staff, Advanced Home Health staff, Advanced Hospice staff, and her caregivers at Visiting Angels & American Medical especially her most loyal, treasured, & favorite caregiver of all her grandson Jarred.
Services will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at Goetz Funeral Home in Seguin, TX. Public visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Santo Tomas Cemetery in Seguin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name to Parkinsonvoiceproject.org
Services are under the direction of Goetz Funeral Home, Seguin, Texas.
her brothers William Brandenburg and Howard Brandenburg. She is survived by her dear friend and neighbor Joyce Trainer, her nieces Melanie Millsap and Sheila Schuetz, her nephews Barry Brandenburg, Scott Brandenburg, and Gordon Brandenburg, many great nieces and nephews, her step-granddaughter Charlene Kornegay, and her step-great grandson Elijah Kornegay.
Visitation will be Monday, August 25, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life service at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Seguin, TX. Donations may be made to the First Baptist Church in Seguin or the charity of your choice.
Services are under the direction of Goetz Funeral Home, Seguin, Texas.
VaughnWalter William “Trey” Vaughn, III, age 74, of Seguin, passed away on August 13, 2025. He was born on January 17, 1951, in Seguin, Texas, to Marceille “Marci” Anna Marie (Meyer) and Walter William Vaughn, Jr.
Trey was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend who will be remembered for his kindness, wit, love for his family, good nature, and fun-loving attitude. He spent most of his life as a funeral director, where he was dedicated to serving and caring for families in their time of need. Trey had a quick smile, a warm handshake, and a gift for making people feel at ease.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his son, Lelon Vaughn; his daughter, Marci Russell, and her
husband Richard; his sisters, Brenda Vaughn and Sandra Thomas; as well as many other loving family members and friends.
Visitation will begin on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 5 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 6 p.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel with Reverend Tom Jones officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Yorktown, Texas, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
For those who desire the services may be livestreamed at https://s3-us-east-2. amazonaws.com/mf-fwp/hewell/hewell_20250818.html .
This is a man who will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.
STATISTICS
Ramon
www.SEGUINTODAY.com
David Viviano Ramon, age 38 of Seguin, passed away on August 5, 2025. David was Born August 12, 1986 in Austin, Texas to Irene (Arce) and Johnny Ramon.
David is preceded in death by his father, Johnny Juan Ramon; brothers, Johnny Ramon, Jr. and Gabriel A. Ramon.
Survivors include his loving mother Irene
Crees
Linda Kay Grossman Crees, age 82 of Seguin, passed away on August 5, 2025. Linda was born on January 12, 1943 in Hebbronville, Texas to Theresa (Baker) and Robert Anthony Grossman.
Linda was preceded in death by her son, Robert “Rob” Lester Dietrich, Jr., her parents, her brother, Robert Grossman, and her sisters, Theresa Fielder and Pam Farrington.
Survivors include her loving husband of 44
Ramon; brother, Jordan Ramon; sister, Sandy Jane Ramon; nephews Pedro Ramon, Logan Ramon, Luke Ramon, Eric Marmolejo and wife Sandra and Israel Arce, Jr.; nieces, Jenna Ramon, April Marmolejo, numerous other loving family members and friends.
Visitation will be at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. with Deacon Nick Carrillo officiating.
You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.
years, Charles “Chuck” Allyn Crees; sons, William Dietrich, and David Box and wife Cindy; step son, Sean Allyn Crees; brother, Stanley Grossman; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other loving family members and friends.
A private celebration of her life is being planned for a later date.
MOM WE WON!!!!!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Inc., 1359 Broadway, STE 1509, New York, New York, 10018.
You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.
Poll: Majority Of Americans Think Alcohol Is Bad For Health
(Washington, DC) -- A new survey finds that a majority of Americans believe moderate alcohol consumption is bad for your health. The Gallup poll found the number of adults who said they drink alcohol to be at an all-time low since the poll’s inception in 1939. The survey found 54-percent of Americans reported drinking alcohol occasionally which is down from at least 60-percent between 1997 and 2023. The survey also found those who said they drink reported consuming an average of about two-point-eight drinks in the last week. According to Gallup, that’s the lowest the poll has recorded in nearly 30 years.
FDA Warns Americans To Avoid Certain Sunscreen Products
(Silver Spring, MD) -- Federal health officials are warning consumers to avoid sunscreens marketed in whipped, mousse and foam form because they are not approved as effective methods for applying the product. The FDA sent warning letters to several companies, including Supergoop, over those types of unapproved products. The agency said these products are labeled and marketed as drugs but have not been approved by the FDA in those forms. It noted that selling misbranded drugs is illegal under federal law.
Dollar General Instant Coffee Recalled (Goodlettsville, TN) -- Dollar General is recalling three lots of its eight ounce Clover Valley instant coffee due to possible glass contamination. The FDA said the coffee was sold between July 9th and 21st in every U.S. state except Alaska and Hawaii. Dollar General said it has not received any reports of injuries but anyone who purchased the instant coffee should throw it away. Consumers can contact Dollar General for a full refund by email or phone call.
Kellogg To Remove Artificial Dyes By 2027
(Battle Creek, MI) -- Kellogg is announcing it will stop using artificial dyes in its breakfast cereals by the end of 2027. In a statement, the maker of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies said there’ll be changes to include less of what customers don’t need while adding more whole grains and fiber. Kellogg pledged to remove FD&C colors from their cereals served in schools and dyes from all their products. The change comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues his crackdown on synthetic food additives.
August
Canned Good Drive to Support Flood Victims
Refuge III will be hosting a Canned Good Drive throughout the month of August to benefit flood victims. Donations can be dropped off at 7535 Elm Creek Rd. For more information or directions, contact Lorraine Davis at 210-548-8780.
Gabe Galvan Band
The Silver Center will be hosting Gabe Galvan Band at 7:30 p.m. on August 22nd at the Crystal Chandelier Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Presale tickets are $10 by calling 830-303-6612. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Financial Health Class: “Lettuce” Talk About Money – August 26
The New Braunfels Food Bank in partnership with Credit Human will be hosting “Lettuce” Talk About Money, a free financial health class, at 9 a.m. on August 26. The class is designed to help participants gain the confidence and skills to take control of their finances.
White-tailed Deer Management Symposium in San Antonio
The Bexar Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will be hosting the White-tailed Deer Management Symposium at 9:00 a.m. on August 26 at 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. The event will cover topics including basic deer habitat management, use of game cameras, and antler scoring. Presenters include specialists from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife. The cost is $15 per partic -
ipant, payable in advance or at the door by cash, check, or credit card. To RSVP by August 22, contact Kennedy Green at 210-631-0400 or kennedy.green@ag.tamu.edu.
September
Goodbye Summer All Media Art Show at Seguin Art
League
The Seguin Art League will be hosting the Goodbye Summer All Media Art Show submission drop-off from 10:00 a.m. to noon on August 30 at 104 S. Austin Street, Seguin. The show is open to all artists 18 and over, with an entry fee of $15 per artwork for members and $20 per artwork for non-members. A reception and award ceremony will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3. The exhibit will remain on display through October 11. Awards will be presented in photography, 2D, and 3D categories. For more details, visit seguinartleague.com or call 830-305-0472.
FinancialPeaceUniversityClassesatFaithLutheranChurch
The Faith Lutheran Church will be hosting Financial Peace University classes at 4:00 p.m. on September 7 at 1326 E. Cedar, Seguin. The course, developed by financial expert Dave Ramsey, offers tools and strategies for effective money management. Special discounted pricing is available for the first 20 participants who register and pay. Childcare will be provided. For more information, call 830-379-7036.
Finding Perspective in Beginning Watercolors Class at Seguin Art League
The Seguin Art League will be hosting How to Find Perspective in your Beginning
Watercolors at 1 p.m. on September 10 at the Seguin Art League. The class runs until 4 p.m. and will focus on creating a barn landscape while exploring perspective techniques and the use of resist. It is limited to five students, ages 18 and older, and costs $50 with supplies included. For more information, call 830-305-0472 or visit 104 S. Austin Street in Seguin.
Bimbo
The Silver Center will be hosting Bimbo at 7:30 p.m. on September 12th at the Crystal Chandelier Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Presale tickets are $10 by calling 830303-6612. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Abstract Floral in Beginning Watercolor Class at Seguin Art League
The Seguin Art League will be hosting an Abstract Floral in Beginning Watercolor class at 1 p.m. on September 24 at the Seguin Art League. The class runs until 4 p.m. and will guide students in creating an abstract floral using fine watercolor and sable brushes. Techniques covered include high saturation painting, bleeding, hard and soft edge control, and the use of salt, alcohol, and bleed-proof white. Open to all ages, the class is limited to five students and costs $50 with supplies included. For more information, call 830-305-0472 or visit 104 S. Austin Street in Seguin.
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.
