SDN: July 20, 2026 by Seguin Today

July 20, 2026

Guadalupe County welcomes new Division Chief for Fire Rescue

(Seguin) -- As Guadalupe County crews responded last week to heavy rains and rising creeks, a newly hired fire administrator was already busy coordinating emergency operations behind the scenes.

Aaron Ward is the county’s newest Division Chief for Guadalupe County Fire Rescue.

Patrick Pinder, Guadalupe County emergency management coordinator and fire marshal says Ward will oversee the department’s daily operations while also supporting firefighters and coordinating emergency response efforts across the county.

Pinder says the new position places Ward third in command with the county’s fire structure, reporting directly to Assistant Fire Marshal/EMC Bryce Houlton.

“Aaron Ward is the new Division Chief of Guadalupe County Fire Rescue, and his duties are kind of just to oversee the daily operations of Guadalupe County Fire Rescue.

Chief, pg. 3

Summer on the Water

This month’s Seguin Today is all about summer fun in Seguin. From Red Beard’s Landing to Lake Breeze Ski Lodge, we share two different stories of life on the water you won’t want to miss. All that plus, a look back at Freedom Fiesta in this month’s issue. Available around town, or online. You won’t want to miss this issue!

Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

Guadalupe County recaps its weathering of heavy rain during last week’s storms

(Seguin) -- While Guadalupe County avoided the catastrophic flooding experienced in parts of the Texas Hill Country last week, emergency officials say the county still experienced several days of dangerous weather that kept first responders on high alert.

That’s according to Guadalupe County Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Marshal Patrick Pinder. Pinder says county officials spent much of the week monitoring storms moving through Central Texas, thankful that the heaviest rainfall stayed north and west of the county.

“These last few days, we were monitoring the weather conditions north of us. Here in Guadalupe County, we were able to kind of skirt the outsides of the heavy impacted rains like you seen in Uvalde and Kerrville the last couple days. We kind of were on the outskirts of that storm. So we were fortunate enough not to get the heavy rainfalls that they got. However, we did see a significant amount of rain in the county. I think some people are reporting five, six, seven inches of rain depending on where you’re at in the county,” said Pinder.

Despite that, he says emergency crews remained busy. Pinder says Wednesday’s heavy downpour in the

Cibolo area triggered numerous high-water emergencies.

“We did have several water rescues, folks driving around barricades, getting into the water. We did have to utilize boats. We used the boat team from Cibolo, McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department had a boat available, and we also were contacting Seguin just to make sure that we had enough resources available,” said Pinder.

While localized rainfall caused some issues, Pinder says officials became increasingly concerned as floodwaters from Kendall County traveled downstream along Cibolo Creek.

“When we saw that the gauge at I-35 was looking at 21 feet projected, that causes a lot of concern. Overnight, the water was hitting the frontage road bridge on I-35. That’s a lot of water coming down,” said Pinder.

He says the greatest concern came downstream near New Berlin, where Cibolo Creek eventually crested at 36 feet.

Communities including Schertz, Cibolo, Selma and areas near New Berlin closely monitored the rising creek. Pinder says local officials should be praised for notifying their residents living near the water.

Guadalupe County residents asked to report storm damage following heavy rain

(Seguin) -- Guadalupe County officials are asking anyone whose home or property sustained damage during last week’s heavy rainfall to report it -- even if the damage appears minor.

Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Marshal Patrick Pinder says county officials have received reports of flooding in some low-lying areas, particularly south of Interstate 10 near New Berlin along Cibolo Creek.

He says Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher even signed a voluntary evacuation order for

residents along portions of Cibolo Creek as a precaution.

“Those residents down there were asked to leave on their own.

Guadalupe County did not do a mandatory evacuation. Judge Kutscher did sign a voluntary evacuation for areas along the Cibolo Creek. We just wanted to make sure residents were aware,” said Pinder. Now, county officials are focused on collecting damage information through the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s iSTAT Damage Survey.

Pinder says the reports help determine whether Guadalupe County qualifies for state or federal disaster assistance. Damage, pg. 3

Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

Chief, continued.

He’s out there to support the staff and kind of make sure the operations run smoothly in incidents like we had yesterday,” said Pinder.

Pinder says Ward brings nearly two decades of fire service experience to Guadalupe County.

Pinder says that background made Ward the top choice during what he says was an extensive hiring process.

“Aaron brings a knowledge of administrative experience. His previous role was with the City of Selma as the fire marshal. His background has experience in ESDs. He was with the City of Houston for a little bit. He’s got almost 20 years of fire service, so he’s going to bring a wealth of knowledge to the area and a new

Damage, continued.

“We are encouraging those folks to report to the iSTAT, which is the state’s damage assessment, just to make sure that we’re collecting that information. If we meet a threshold, we can definitely try to get those folks some assistance,” said Pinder.

He says residents shouldn’t assume their damage is too minor to report.

“We just want to make sure that folks are reporting. If it’s something little that you think needs to be

perspective of fire service professionalism to the county,” said Pinder.

As for his selection, Pinder says the county intentionally sought someone from outside the organization to provide a fresh perspective.

“He’s an outside person looking in. We wanted to make sure that we had that perspective. We went through an extensive process of applications, interviews, and testing just to make sure that we found the right candidate. Aaron is the one that came out on top,” said Pinder.

Ward’s addition to the county fire marshal’s office is among the many steps being taken in addressing the county’s rapid growth and the addition of facilities including the current construction of Guadalupe County’s Fire Rescue Station 71.

reported—if you’re in that area and you’ve got a fence that goes down,” said Pinder.

Pinder says the survey is especially important for residents who may not have adequate insurance coverage.

“Understand that this is a collective of uninsured damages. If you have insurance, it’ll ask you that, but we want to make sure those folks that are uninsured or underinsured have that resource available if and when it becomes available,” said

Pinder.

Residents can complete the iSTAT damage survey online through the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Officials stress that reporting damage does not guarantee financial assistance, but it is a critical first step in determining whether disaster aid may become available.

Links for the iSTAT survey can be found on the Guadalupe County Emergency Management Office or city of Seguin Facebook pages.

STATISTICS

FRANKLIN

www.SEGUINTODAY.com

Ray Charles Franklin Jr, age 56 of Seguin, passed on July 12, 2026. Ray was born on March 26, 1970, in Seguin, Texas to Ray Franklin Sr and Patricia (Gonzales) Franklin.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents and Ronnie Cleve Franklin Sr.

Survivors include his loving wife of 30 years Tien Franklin; daughter, Trisha Marie Franklin; son, Andrew Martin Franklin and wife Angel; granddaughter; Adelaide Franklin; sisters, Angela Franklin Hernandez and husband

Michael, Kimberly Franklin; brothers, Craig Franklin and wife Sarah, Deon Franklin and wife Valerie, and Shawn Franklin; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving family members and many friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 24, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service will be Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 10:00 am at Emanuel’s Lutheran Church. A reception to follow in the Emanuel’s Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

Serving as pallbearers will be Andrew Franklin, Deon Franklin, Shawn Franklin, Doug Brannon, John Pena, Austin Black, Brandon Bogisch, Hunter LaFrieda, Steven Fettman, and Theodore Arriola.

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

Tips To Beat Unhealthy Air Being Caused By Wildfires

(Undated) -- Experts are offering up advice with unhealthy air levels present across large sections of the US due to wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota. Wildfire smoke can be dangerous for sensitive people like the very young, the elderly and people with health conditions like asthma. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports poor air quality is a trigger for asthma attacks, or other symptoms like coughing, wheezing, irritation of the eyes and throat, burning sensations in the chest, shortness of breath, and unusual fatigue. Health experts advise those diagnosed with respiratory issues to remain indoors. They also suggest that everyone else choose less strenuous activities, such as walking instead of running. People should keep windows and doors closed, and use air purifiers to keep improve air quality indoors.

Tips For Reducing Risk Of Contracting Cyclosporiasis

(Chicago, IL) -- A multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis is causing widespread panic, so health experts are offering tips on reducing the risk. Dr. Emily Landon, an infection prevention expert at University of Chicago Medicine, recommends avoiding fast food chains right now if you’re immunocompromised or have gut health issues. She says eating at home or at local smaller restaurants is safer. Washing all fruits and vegetables under running water is important before eating, cutting or cooking. Leafy lettuce, especially bagged lettuce, is suspected in the current “explosive diarrhea” outbreak. Buying whole lettuce and peeling off the two outer layers, she says, is a safer option.

FDA Approves Merck’s New Cholesterol-Lowering Pill

(Rahway, NJ) -- The FDA has just approved a new cholesterol-lowering pill. It’s made by Merck, a New Jersey pharmaceutical giant, and will be marketed under the brand name Lipfendra. It’s a daily pill that’s been shown to lower cholesterol way below what’s currently achieved with statins, the current gold standard. Clinical trials showed that the drug can reduce LDL, or bad cholesterol, down to 50 or 60 and even lower. The American Heart Association recommends getting LDL below 70 if you have an above average risk of a heart attack or stroke and under 55 if you’ve had a heart attack.

Healthy Lifestyle Program Shows Improved Brain Health In Older Adults At-Risk For Dementia

(Undated) -- A healthy lifestyle program is showing improved brain health in older adults at risk for dementia. It was conducted in Latin America and included more than one-thousand adults. The program, built on the Alzheimer’s Association’s U.S. Pointer intervention program, included regular physical activity, dietary guidance, cognitive training, social engagement and ongoing heart health monitoring. Popular local foods, including avocado and quinoa, were used to support healthy nutrition and salsa and tango dancing were incorporated into the routine. The study showed a 55-percent greater improvement in overall memory, thinking and reasoning among those who received structured coaching, compared to those following a self-guided program. The study was published in The Lancet.

Friedens Church Fish Fry

Come enjoy a Friedens Church Fish Fry this Friday, July 17, in Geronimo. Serving begins at 5 p.m. and continues until sold out. Fish plates are $15 and include fish, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw and tea. Hot dog plates are available for $5, and desserts will be sold for $2. Everyone is invited.

Veteran and First Responder Breakfast

The Seguin Elks Lodge invites veterans, first responders and the community to a Veteran and First Responder Breakfast on Saturday, July 18, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the lodge, located at 1331 CH Matthies Jr. Drive in Seguin. Veterans and first responders eat free, while breakfast is $8 for all other guests. Everyone is welcome.

National Ice Cream Day Celebration

Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with the Seguin Elks Lodge on Sunday, July 19, from noon to 3 p.m. at the lodge, located at 1331 C.H. Matthies Jr. Drive in Seguin. The afternoon will feature pizza, ice cream, fellowship and fun as the community comes together to celebrate. Everyone is invited.

Comal Country Music Show

Enjoy an evening of live country music during the Comal Country Music Show on Tuesday, July 21, at the Columbus Club Hall, located at 111 Landa Street in New Braunfels. Doors open at 6 p.m.,

with the show from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Featured performers include Denise Steele and Conrad Gonzales. Admission is $10, with proceeds benefiting charity. Sandwiches, coffee, candy and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

New World Screwworm Seminar

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is inviting livestock owners, pet owners and anyone interested in learning more about the New World Screwworm to attend a free seminar and webinar on Tuesday, July 22. The program will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Bexar County Greenies Urban Farm, located at 1615 Sherman Street in San Antonio, with a virtual attendance option also available. The seminar is open to the public, but registration is required for both in-person and online participation. RSVP at NWSBexarcounty. eventbrite.com.

New Braunfels Food Bank Job Fair

Job seekers are invited to meet with multiple local employers during a Job Fair hosted by the New Braunfels Food Bank and Workforce Solutions Alamo on Wednesday, July 22. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon upstairs at the New Braunfels Food Bank, located at 1620 S. Seguin Ave. in New Braunfels. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resume and dress professionally for the opportunity to connect with area employers who are hiring.

CASA of Central Texas Foster Care Simulation

CASA of Central Texas will host a free Foster Care Simulation from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, at Gruene United Methodist Church, 2629 E. Common St. in New Braunfels. Participants will experience the challenges and realities of the foster care system through an interactive simulation. Registration is required. For more information, visit casacentex.org.

Call for Artists for 2026 Sip ‘n Stroll Mug

Local artists are invited to submit original artwork for the 2026 Sip ‘n Stroll commemorative mug. This year’s theme features Seguin’s Heritage Village properties, and all artistic mediums are welcome. Entries must be submitted by Friday, July 31, to You’re So Crafty, located at 208 South Austin Street in downtown Seguin. The selected artist will receive a $100 stipend, and the winning design will appear on more than 800 commemorative mugs. For more information, call 830-379-0730.

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.