June 1, 2026
Ribbon cutting marks new era for Starcke Park Golf Course ahead of public reopening
(Seguin) -- After nearly two years of construction, redesign work and infrastructure improvements, city leaders officially celebrated the reopening of the newly renovated Max Starcke Park Golf Course with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday. The celebration ushered in a new chapter for “one of Seguin’s most treasured recreational facilities.
The ceremony included a VIP tournament featuring city and county leaders, elected officials, members of the golf advisory board and longtime supporters of the course. Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen, City Manager Steve Parker and several others participated in an honorary tee-off to commemorate the occasion.
While the public will get its first opportunity to play the course today, June 1, city officials say the weekend festivities offered a preview of the muchanticipated renovation, including the course’s redesigned layout, upgraded infrastructure and new greens.
The reopening concludes an approximately $8.75 million renovation
project led by Ross Golf Design and Mid-America Golf and Landscape. City leaders say the work included a complete overhaul of the irrigation system, course redesign and improvements aimed at elevating both playability and long-term sustainability.
Golf, pg. 3
Community mourns Seguin mother killed in Walmart parking lot shooting; family establishes fund for children
(Seguin) -- The Seguin community continues to mourn the tragic loss of a local mother who was killed in a shooting Thursday afternoon while putting groceries in her truck in the Walmart parking lot. Her family members also continue to rally around her five children – raising money not only for them but for her burial.
According to the Seguin Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 4:51 p.m. Thursday after receiving multiple reports of shots fired in the parking lot of Walmart, located at 550 S. Hwy. 123 Bypass.
Murder, pg. 2
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
Courtesy Max Starcke Park Golf Course
Golf, continued.
Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen says the project ensures the course will continue serving residents and visitors for generations.
“The renovation we celebrate today ensures that this course will continue serving our residents and visitors for many years to come. Golf itself has a rich history dating back centuries, but here in Texas, community golf courses has always represented something special, accessibility, fellowship, and hometown pride,” said Dodgen.
Dodgen says the upgraded course reflects Seguin’s continued growth while preserving a community asset that has long been a source of local pride.
“In Seguin, we are proud to continue that tradition by creating a course and park experience that reflects the growth, progress, and true spirit of our city. This renovation did not happen overnight. It did not happen overnight, and I know you’ve all been waiting. Thank you for your patience. My Aunt Martha would say, don’t pray for patience because all you get are trials and tribulations. I’m sorry. It took vision, planning, partnership, and dedication from many individuals and organizations. We want to thank everyone who played a role in bringing this project to fruition,” said Dodgen.
She says the renovated facility belongs to the community and will continue to be a place for recreation, competition and connection.
“We can’t tell you how deeply grateful we are. To our residents and visitors alike, this course is yours. It is a place to play, enjoy the outdoors, to compete, to relax and to connect. As we open this next chapter for Starke, we do so with pride in where we’ve been and excitement about where we’re going. On behalf of the City of Seguin, welcome and may this course continue to serve and inspire generations to come. Thank you and welcome everyone,” said Dodgen.
City Manager Steve Parker says the reopening is the culmination of years of planning and investment by city leaders committed to maintaining high-quality community amenities.
“Just want to say thank you very much for being here today. This is such a special day. This has been in the works for years and years and years. And until the last few rounds of council members that truly believe that we deserve nice things in Seguin, this wasn’t a possibility. And to have the council and the mayor that are dedicated to making sure that our nice things are
now kept up, that was the challenge, right? This was a very old course with a lot of variations of grasses, old water infrastructure. It made it hard to have a mowing program and a fertilizer program when you got all these varieties of grasses. Our staff was spending time just fixing water leaks all the time and our council stepped up and said this is for the betterment of Seguin and it’ll be something here that we can really truly do. But our staff has done a wonderful job because it was a very difficult decision because before we started this project, the courses actually look pretty dadgum good. But we knew that we needed to get something that was next level and fix all the water infrastructure and so forth,” said Parker.
Among the changes is the course’s conversion to a par-72 layout, a redesign recommendation made by the course architects. Officials say golfers can preview the new layout through virtual hole tours available on the course website.
Parker says city leaders have also committed the staffing and resources needed to maintain the course at a high standard moving forward.
“I do really value the expertise of our staff. Gabby and Bruce have been wonderful. It was a challenging project for sure, but I think they did a great job. And now with this next year’s budget and the budgets we’ve been creating, we actually have the staff to keep it at this high level. We have the fertilizer budget -- all the different things that go into a golf course, we now have that and are going to be able to maintain this at a high level to make sure that the things that we have in Seguin stay nice and are nice for all our visitors. This is a game changer. It won’t be too long before Seguin has a conference center and hotel out on the interstate, more than likely, and people will be playing this golf course. Our community Schertz, Cibolo, Marion, they come here and spend money. That’s a good thing for our community. So, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to the council, mayor, former council, everybody who was here to support this project,” said Parker.
The celebration continued Sunday with a public tournament featuring teams selected through a lottery drawing. Again the course officially opens to all golfers Monday, June 1, marking the first public tee times on the newly renovated greens and the beginning of a new era for golf in Seguin.
Those wishing to visit the golf course can learn more on the Starcke Park Golf Course’ Facebook page.
Murder, continued.
When officers arrived, they discovered 35-yearold Katrina Wheeler suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say a second victim, Wheeler’s 37-year-old brother, Pito, also suffered gunshot wounds during the incident. He was treated at the scene by Seguin EMS and transported by air ambulance to a San Antonioarea hospital. Authorities have since reported that his injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators allege that the shooter was Katrina Wheeler’s soon-to-be ex-husband, 42-year-old John Wheeler of Seguin.
According to police, the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. At approximately 5:19 p.m., the suspect’s vehicle was located outside the Seguin city limits by the New Berlin City Marshal’s Office. Guadalupe County Sheriff’s deputies, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, New Berlin deputy marshals, and members of the Seguin Police Department’s CASE Unit assisted in a low-speed pursuit.
The pursuit ended in the 3000 block of FM 775, where John Wheeler was taken into custody without
further incident. Authorities say two young children were inside the suspect’s vehicle at the time he was apprehended.
The shooting has left behind a grieving family and five children, ranging in age from 5 to 15 years old, who are now facing life without their mother.
Family members have established a GoFundMe campaign titled “In Memory of Katrina (Torres) Wheeler” to help cover funeral expenses and provide ongoing support for her children.
In a statement shared through the fundraising campaign, family members said they are facing not only overwhelming grief but also the financial burdens associated with funeral costs and providing stability for Katrina’s children.
The family says donations will be used for funeral expenses, daily living necessities, and continued support for the children in the months and years ahead.
Those wishing to contribute can do so through the GoFundMe page established in Katrina’s memory.
The Seguin Police Department says the investigation remains ongoing. Assistance in the case was provided by the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Berlin City Marshal’s Office.
Courtesy Max Starcke Park Golf Course
Courtesy Justin Ramirez
Courtesy Justin Ramirez
Sirens sound off during Tuesday’s storm Officials explain safety protocol
(Seguin) -- As severe storms pushed through Guadalupe County Tuesday night, emergency warning sirens sounded across portions of the community, alerting residents to dangerous weather conditions and urging them to seek shelter immediately.
The warnings came as an EF-1 tornado touched down near New Berlin during the late evening hours, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, lightning, and flooding to areas across the county.
Guadalupe County Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Patrick Pinder says the county’s outdoor warning siren system is designed to activate automatically whenever the National Weather Service issues certain emergency warnings affecting the area.
“So, the sirens are their emergency notification or warning sirens. So, the way the sirens got triggered was when the tornado warning was triggered, the National Weather Service drew a shape file over the area. So, when you see those red shape files on the map -- when a shape file like that goes over a siren in our area, the siren will automatically go off. And when the sirens go off, it’s either a tornado when a tornado warning is going off or it’s a flood warning or a major issue,” said Pinder.
The sirens are tested weekly at noon on Saturdays, but Tuesday night’s activation served as a real-world reminder of the importance of paying attention to severe weather alerts and having a safety plan ready.
Pinder says residents should begin preparing long before storms arrive, especially when forecasters warn of severe overnight weather.
“When you start seeing these notifications come in from early in the day, storms never hit during the day when it’s a perfect time, right? So be prepared. If you see these notifications coming -- that there’s a potential of an overnight storm, know your plan. When that tornado warning hits, what are you going to do? Where are you going to go? When you have severe weather or rain coming in, if you’re out and about, how are you going to get home? Is it the right time to go home? Just make those preparations and call people and let them know because we had a couple of car rescues in streams and things like that. So just be prepared,” said Pinder.
Emergency crews across Guadalupe County responded overnight to flooded roadways, water rescues, lightning-related fires, and storm damage while residents were encouraged to stay indoors and avoid travel whenever possible.
Pinder says residents should rely on trusted news and emergency information sources during severe weather events to stay informed as conditions change.
“We encourage those folks to tune to their media outlets. We push all of our information through our social media page. And if it’s something that’s major that we need to get on the radio, we contact KWED and get on the radio live and push that information out to the public. So, if it’s something
you don’t know what to do, tune to your social media outlets or your news outlets. They’re pushing the information out or just listen to the radio station KWED and the radio will tell you what to do,” said Pinder.
Officials continue encouraging residents to have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts, including weather radios, mobile phone notifications, local media outlets, and social media updates during severe weather events – must haves are the Guadalupe County Emergency Management and Fire Marshal Office’s Facebook page plus the social media pages for KWED radio, the Seguin PD and the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office.
For live weather alerts, tune in to AM 1580 KWED. You can also listen live at SeguinToday.com. Listeners can also hear the station on any Alexaenabled device by simply saying, “Alexa, play KWED Radio.”
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
STATISTICS
MACHADO
www.SEGUINTODAY.com
Ty Joseph Machado, age 24 of Seguin, passed away on May 24, 2026. Ty was born on January 28, 2002, in New Braunfels, Texas to Catherine Michelle (Steffens) and Joseph “Joey” Anthony Machado.
Ty graduated from Navarro High School in 2020. He loved art, fishing, cooking, music, traveling, his dogs Rosie and Walker and spending time with his friends and cousins who meant the world to him. At a young age Ty enjoyed competition BBQ that allowed him to travel the country and appear on Food Network along with many accolades and even World Championship titles before the age of 16. Most recently he was employed by Encompass Services where he served as Crew Chief surveying across the country and his family is eternally grateful for them and the support shown at this time.
WILLMANN
Charles Julius “Charlie” Willmann, Sr., age 101 of Seguin, passed away on April 25, 2026. Charles was born on March 31, 1925, in Seguin, Texas to Ethelda (Behrendt) and Charles Willmann, and grew up on his family farm in Seguin.
Charlie is preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Patricia “Patty” Willmann, his parents, and his sister, Ethel Willard and her husband D. B.
Survivors include his children, Charles “Chuck” J. Willmann, Jr. and wife Kay, Daniel N. Willmann and wife Carol and Jennie Willmann Moseley and husband Mike; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren,
Ty is survived by his parents, Michelle and Joey Machado; twin sister Taya Allert and husband Aaron, Fiancé Heather Faber, Paternal Grandparents Joe & Sylvia Machado, Maternal grandparents Cathy Ball, Terrie Edwards, and Robert Steffens, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so many other loving, extended family and friends.
Visitation will begin on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel, followed by a memorial service celebrating Ty’s life at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Jeremy Roy officiating. Following the service, a Celebration of Ty’s life will continue at 12:30, with a BBQ and all the trimmings at the family home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Ty Machado BBQ Memorial, PO Box 1978, Seguin, Texas 78156. The memorial fund will benefit youth BBQ events across the country, to help instill and educate the future of BBQ.
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.
great great grandchild; other loving family members and a host of friends.
A Life Service celebration is being planned at the Texas Agricultural and Heritage Center (Big Red Barn), on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. with remarks made at 2 p.m., 250 Cordova Road, Seguin, Texas, 78155, sometime this summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 870, Seguin, Texas, 78156, the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center (Red Barn), 250 Cordova Road, Seguin, Tx, 78155, Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, 1215 East Court St., Seguin, Texas, 78155 or to Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center, 265 Wetz, Seguin, Texas, 78155.
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.
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JFK Is One Of Four U.S Airports With Enhanced Ebola Screening
(New York, NY) -- JFK International is one of four U.S. airports named Wednesday as a designated entry point for passengers arriving from African countries impacted by Ebola. The CDC is still allowing some people from the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, where Ebola is spreading unchecked, to enter the USA, but only at four designated sites. They are: JFK International Airport in New York, Dulles in Virginia, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston with Secretary of State Marco Rubio making it clear that, “We can not and will not allow any case of Ebola to come into the United States.” He says there’ll be enhanced Ebola screenings at those airports that’ll include a questionnaire about travel history and any symptoms, a temperature check and observation for signs of illness. Travelers flying through JFK had mixed reactions, some saying that the issue should have “been taken care of over there,” others expressing confidence in the U.S. approach and others saying, “Better they’re doing something that pretending it doesn’t exist.”
WHO Calls For Ceasefire To Help Contain Ebola Virus
(Congo) -- The World Health Organization is calling for a ceasefire in Congo to put health officials in a better position to work on the Ebola outbreak. The head of WHO says it’s hard to isolate the sick while bombs are falling. Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that Americans exposed to Ebola in Central Africa will now be treated and observed at a health facility in Kenya. In previous Ebola outbreaks, they were brought back to the U.S. Health experts say they are still months away at earliest from clinical trials for a vaccine. The virus has so far killed at least 220 people and is centered in the Congo, with neighboring countries at risk.
CDC Report: Dengue Fever Cases Have Skyrocketed 359-Percent In America
(Atlanta, GA) -- Dengue [[Den-gay] fever cases are skyrocketing in America. The CDC says cases of the mosquito-borne illness, which was once confined to the tropics, surged 359-percent over the usual yearly average in 2024. While 97-percent of the cases were travel-related, CDC scientists say the risk of local transmission is increasing over time. There were about one-hundred locally-acquired documented cases in three states: Florida, California and Texas, and they were found in multiple counties. Dengue fever can cause severe bone pain, flu-like symptoms and in some cases, life-threatening complications like shock and internal bleeding. Of the four-thousand U.S. cases in 2024, 108 patients developed severe dengue and six died.
Summer Reading Experience Underway at Seguin Public Library
The Seguin Public Library is inviting readers of all ages to participate in its 2026 Summer Reading Experience, “Unearth a Story.” The free program features books, activities, special events, and opportunities to win dino-mite prizes throughout the summer. Children, teens, and adults are all encouraged to join. Registration is available in person at the library or online at Seguin Public Library Summer Reading Experience. No library card is required to participate. Participants have until Aug. 6, 2026, to complete their activity boards and be entered into drawings for raffle prizes.
Golden Ticket Raffle
The Rotary Club of Seguin is hosting its Golden Ticket Raffle drawing on Thursday, June 4, 2026, with proceeds benefiting local high school scholarships and community grant programs. Only 150 tickets will be sold at $100 each, and the winner will choose between a trip for two to the 2027 Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, or the 2026 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. Tickets are available online through the Rotary Club of Seguin.
Geronimo Lions Club First Friday Feast
The Geronimo Lions Club will host its First Friday Feast from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 5. Guests can enjoy a hand-cut ribeye steak or fried battered cod dinner while supporting a great cause. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department Green Santa program. The evening will also feature live music by the Brushy Creek Boys and recognition of two First Responder Honorees from the York Creek Volunteer Fire Department and the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department. The Geronimo Lions Club says all proceeds are reinvested into the community through
support for local nonprofit organizations and student scholarships.
Texas
A&M
Chemistry Roadshow Coming to Marion
GVEC and Marion ISD will host the Texas A&M Chemistry Roadshow at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, in the Marion Primary Campus Cafeteria. The free educational presentation is designed for students in grades 3 through 12, as well as adult learners, and features engaging chemistry demonstrations that make science fun and interactive. Families looking for a unique summer learning opportunity are encouraged to attend. For more information about the program, visit the Texas A&M Chemistry Roadshow website or contact Kasie Tankersley at ktankersley@gvec.org.
Art Show Honors Military Veterans
The Seguin Art League will accept entries for its Red, White and Blue Honoring Veterans Art Show from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 13, at the Seguin Art League Gallery, 104 S. Austin St. The exhibit is open to league members and free for non-member veterans. The show will be on display through July 11. A Veterans Art Talk reception is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the gallery. A prospectus can be downloaded at seguinartleague. com, or picked up at the gallery. For more information, call 830-491-0778.
Crayton Cemetery Historical Marker Dedication
The Guadalupe County Historical Commission will dedicate a Guadalupe County Historical Marker at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Crayton Cemetery. The cemetery is located on Lehmann Road between Hermann Road and Offermann Hill Road in Guadalupe County. The public is invited to attend the ceremony recognizing the his-
torical significance of the cemetery and its place in the county’s history.
Father Daughter Dance
The Seguin Police Department is hosting its annual Father Daughter Dance from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at the Seguin Event Complex, located at 950 South Austin Street. This year’s coastal and beachthemed event invites fathers or father figures and their daughters to enjoy an evening of dancing, fun and lasting memories. The annual community tradition offers families a special night designed to celebrate those important relationships. Tickets go on sale soon for this popular Seguin event.
Junior Lifeguard Program
The Seguin Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Junior Lifeguard Class from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 25 at the Seguin Wave Pool, located at 1 Wave Pool Drive. The class is open to participants ages 9 to 15 and will teach basic first-aid, CPR, water safety, rescue techniques, communication skills and lifeguard responsibilities. Participants must be able to swim and complete a swim-tread-swim sequence. This is not a learn-to-swim program and does not provide official lifeguard or CPR certification. The cost is $40 per participant. Participants should bring a swimsuit, sunglasses, towel, water, hat and a cold sack lunch. For more information, call Seguin Parks and Recreation at 830-4012480.
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.
