Gobblers Capture Ingleside SQT Championship, Punch Ticket Back to State Tournament
Cuero Online News | June 1, 2026
INGLESIDE, TEXAS — For the second straight year, the Cuero Gobblers 7‑on‑7 football team left the Ingleside State Qualifying Tournament as champions — and once again secured their spot in the Texas State 7‑on‑7 Tournament in College Station.
Cuero’s performance was nothing short of dominant. The Gobblers went undefeated throughout tournament play for the second consecutive year, further solidifying their reputation as one of South Texas’ premier summer football programs.
Leading the charge was returning senior quarterback Jayce Guajardo, who steps into the starting role for the 2026–27 season after backing up former standout Jaxxon Marie last year. Marie guided Cuero to the State Tournament in 2025, and now the proverbial torch has officially been passed to Guajardo. Yet Marie remains a key figure in the program — he and his father, Jon Marie, now serve as volunteer coaches, helping develop the next wave of Gobbler talent.
The results in Ingleside reflected that continuity and growth.
Guajardo commanded an explosive offense that racked up 100 total points during tournament play. The senior consistently distributed the ball to one of the deepest skill groups Cuero has fielded in recent memory. Veterans D’Zayvin Bonner and Christopher Mathis delivered big plays throughout the day, while junior standout Jarvis Williams added another dynamic threat to an already loaded receiver and running back corps.
Simply put, the Gobblers had weapons everywhere.
On the other side of the ball, the defense was equally impressive. Anchored by returning senior linebacker Dominic White, Cuero’s defensive unit shut down opponents from start to finish. White was joined by veteran defensive back Melo Perez and two‑way playmaker Jarvis Williams, whose athleticism created problems for opposing quarterbacks all afternoon.
By tournament’s end, the Gobblers had surrendered just 25 total points, a testament to their discipline, communication, and relentless defensive effort. The combination of a 100‑point offense and a stingy 25‑point defense proved unsolvable for every opponent in Ingleside.
With the championship secured, Cuero now turns its focus to the Texas State 7‑on‑7 Tournament in College Station, where the competition will intensify as the top teams from across the state converge.
If Ingleside was any indication, the Gobblers will arrive in College Station with confidence, momentum, and a roster built to compete.
One important distinction: the Cuero Gobblers 7‑on‑7 program is not affiliated with Cuero ISD. The program operates entirely through volunteer community coaches, parents, and supporters who dedicate countless hours to giving local athletes a chance to compete during the summer.
As the team prepares for their trip to College Station, parents and volunteers are set to begin fundraising to help offset travel and tournament expenses. Anyone interested in supporting the team’s state run can donate using the Venmo QR code featured in this article or by visiting the team’s 7 on 7 Gobbler Facebook page.
For now, the Gobblers can celebrate another remarkable accomplishment.
Back‑to‑back Ingleside State Qualifier Tournament champions.
Back‑to‑back undefeated tournament runs.
And another opportunity to represent Cuero on one of Texas high school football’s biggest summer stages.
Happy 69th Anniversary Ernestine & Gregory Arroyo
Wishing you continued love and blessings on this beautiful milestone.
— Message from the Family and Cuero Online News
Karen Gonzales Earns Master of Education in Counseling and Development
Cuero Online News | June 1, 2026
Karen Gonzales of Cuero has achieved a significant academic milestone, earning a Master of Education in Counseling and Development from Lamar University. A first‑generation college graduate, Gonzales brings more than 20 years of experience as a nurse, a career that shaped her deep commitment to service and compassion.
Before pursuing her graduate degree, Gonzales earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston–Victoria. A profound personal turning point influenced her path toward counseling — the loss of her brother — which inspired her to redirect her professional life toward supporting others through mental health challenges, grief, and major life transitions.
Gonzales now aims to advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, guided by a mission to ensure individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. Through her work in the mental health field, she hopes to help individuals and families find healing, resilience, and renewed hope.
MYRTLE JANSSEN – MAY 27, 1930 TO MAY 25, 2026 (95)
Myrtle Janssen, 95, of Yorktown, Tx passed away May 25, 2026. She was born May 27, 1930 in Yorktown, Texas to George and Mary Meyer Schmidt. She married Otto Janssen Jr. on June 10, 1948 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Yorktown.
Myrtle was a devoted and active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Nordheim, where she faithfully served in many capacities throughout the years. She held several positions within the church including Recording Secretary, assisting with communion services and teaching Sunday School for many years. She also was actively involved with Young at Heart and the Coffee Klatch group
Myrtle was a talented and precise seamstress who lovingly made clothes for her girls. She enjoyed attending her children’s games and was an enthusiastic fan of the Houston Astros and San Antonio Spurs. Above all, she was a devoted homemaker, an excellent cook, and took great pride in caring for her family.
Myrtle is survived by her daughters, Bonnie (Frank) Carter, and Penny Sievers, grandchildren Neal (Elizabeth) Linhart, John (Pauline) Linhart, Erin (Coler) Yoakam, Jeffrey (Kayla) Sievers and Joshua Sievers. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Isabella Linhart, Kendall Sievers, Caroline Yoakam, and Madeleine Yoakam.
She is preceded in death by her husband Otto Janssen Jr., parents, brother George Schmidt Jr., and son-in-law Arlan Sievers.
Pallbearers are Frank Carter, Neal Linhart, John Linhart, Jeff Sievers, Josh Sievers, Coler Yoakam.
Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Nordheim or Donor’s Choice.
Our family would like to thank mom’s caregivers: Yvonne Torres, Rachel Guerrero, Mary Alvarado, Alexis Torres, Wilma Smith, and Hope Brown for their many years of loving care.
Visitation will be 5-7 pm Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at Massey Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be 2 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Nordheim. Interment to follow at Nordheim Cemetery.
Jo “Jodi” Ellen Hubbell – November 12, 1951 to May 22, 2026 (74)
Jo “Jodi” Ellen Hubbell, passed away Friday, May 22, 2026. She was born November 12, 1951 in Falfurrias, Texas to Zen and Evelyn Reynolds Domstead. She married the love of her life John Hubbell, on August 15, 1970. Jodi taught for 25 years in Westhoff, Nordheim, and lastly Yorktown. She majored in English, minored in Speech and retired 3 times. In 1983, she was voted Volunteer of the Year in Victoria County for her graciously donated time in the PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and several other volunteer quests.
She is survived by her children Jared (Lexie) Hubbell, Jessica Hubbell, grandchildren: Kameron (Skyelyn) Hubbell, Ashley Hubbell, Jade (Alexis Davis) Hubbell, James (Bri Fergueson), Ali (Ian Smith) Hubbell, Logan Hubbell, great-grandchildren: Cameron, Tatum, Kaison, Winston, and Emmitt. Also left to cherish her memories are numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the heart, sons and daughter of other mothers: Terri Flores, Cassie Audilet, and Trent Deal.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 55 years and 280 days, John, son Josh Hubbell, brother Dr. Delbert Domstead, and sister Phillis Owen.
Services will be at a later date.
Fatal Crash Under Investigation in Cuero; Eyewitness Describes Harrowing Moments
By Pat Trevino | May 31, 2026
CUERO, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating a fatal two‑vehicle crash that occurred early Friday morning, shortly after 1:30 a.m., following a police pursuit that began late Thursday night within the Cuero city limits.
According to DPS, a Cuero Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop on a 2016 Ford F‑250 driven by an unlicensed juvenile from Victoria. As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver fled southbound on North Terry Street.
Investigators determined the juvenile driver in the black truck failed to stop at the intersection of North Terry Street and East Broadway Street, where the truck T-boned the 2014 Ford F‑150 driven by Dwayne Kent Morris, 66, of Cuero. Morris had been traveling westbound on East Broadway.
The impact pushed Morris’s vehicle across the oncoming lanes, where it struck a utility pole and came to rest in the front yard of a residence. The fleeing truck also crossed the roadway, overturned, and came to rest upright in the same yard.
Morris was pronounced deceased at the scene by DeWitt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Judge Ruppert at approximately 1:47 a.m. The juvenile driver was transported by Cuero EMS to Cuero Regional Hospital with minor injuries.
An eyewitness who was standing nearby described the crash as sudden and violent, saying they were “about 20 feet from being hit.”
According to the witness, the teen driver “ran from the police and did not stop at the stop sign,” striking Morris’s truck as it traveled down the hill on Broadway. The witness said the red truck was pushed into the yard, missing the home by only a foot. Both vehicles came to rest in the same yard.
The eyewitness reported that the juvenile was able to exit his vehicle and was placed into a patrol car, while Morris remained pinned inside his truck. “Myself and the officer ran over to get to him and had to break the window,” the witness said, adding that Morris had no pulse. Cuero Fire Department used extraction tools to remove him from the vehicle, and EMS personnel performed CPR.
The witness said the experience was deeply unsettling, noting they had nearly been in the path of the collision. “My heart is still going a hundred miles a minute thinking it could have been me if I left my house on time to get to work,” they said.
DPS continues to investigate the crash.
The Epidemic of Loneliness — Even Here at Home
BY Pat Trevino | May 31, 2026
For the past several weeks, Cuero residents have quietly whispered about two recent tragedies: an alleged suicide in our downtown district and, in that same week, a body reportedly found in an abandoned warehouse— also believed to be a suicide. As of today, I am still waiting for official confirmation from law enforcement.
But the rumors themselves — the fact that people are asking, searching, and unsure — reveal something deeper happening in our community.
They reveal that people are hurting, and too often, they are hurting alone.
A Silent Crisis in a Small Town
Across the country, loneliness is being called a public‑health emergency. People live side‑by‑side but not together. Surrounded by neighbors, yet feeling unseen. Even in Cuero — a place that prides itself on being tight‑knit, friendly, and neighborly — we have:
- Elders who go days without a visitor
- Teens battling depression in silence
- Families carrying burdens behind closed doors
- Individuals grieving losses no one knows about
If the rumors circulating in Cuero are true, then we are not just dealing with isolated tragedies. We are facing a mental‑health crisis that we have not fully acknowledged.
And if the rumors are not true, the fear behind them still tells us something important: People believe these tragedies could happen here because they know how many of their neighbors are struggling quietly.
Why Transparency Matters
When tragedies occur — especially suicides — communities often receive little or no information. Some of that is due to privacy laws. Some is due to stigma. Some is due to outdated beliefs that silence prevents more harm.
But silence also prevents understanding. Silence prevents action. Silence prevents healing.
Residents deserve to know when their community is hurting. Not for gossip. Not for spectacle. But because awareness is the first step toward prevention.
If we don’t know what is happening, how can we respond? How can we support one another? How can we build the resources we clearly need?
In Scripture, Jesus healed people by seeing them — truly seeing them. The crisis today is that people feel invisible.
A community that doesn’t notice suffering becomes part of the suffering.
Whether these recent incidents are confirmed or not, the message remains the same: Someone in Cuero is hurting right now. Someone is lonely. Someone is struggling. Someone needs to be seen.
Where We Go from Here
This is not about blame. This is not about fear. This is about responsibility — the shared responsibility of living in a community.
We must ask ourselves:
- Who in my neighborhood might be struggling?
- Who haven’t I checked on?
- Who is grieving quietly?
- Who needs a conversation, a meal, a moment of kindness?
And we must also ask our institutions — including law enforcement — for transparency, communication, and partnership. Not to sensationalize tragedy, but to prevent the next one.
Because if Cuero is facing a mental‑health crisis, we cannot fix what we refuse to see. And God help us if we choose comfort over compassion, denial over truth, or silence over love.
We are called to see one another. To lift the weary. To comfort the brokenhearted. To notice the ones who feel invisible.
A community that opens its eyes becomes a community that opens its arms. And that is how healing begins — not in secrecy, but in shared humanity.
DAVID VILLARREAL – SEPTEMBER 14, 1966 TO MAY 21, 2026 (59)
David Villarreal, a beloved father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend, was called home to the Kingdom of Heaven on May 21, 2026, at the age of 59.
Born on September 14, 1966, in Yorktown, David was the son of Elijio and Susan Villarreal. He was one of six children.
David loved his family deeply — every single one of them. He checked on his loved ones daily just to make sure they were okay. He was always ready for a good time, whether it was showing up for a birthday party or relaxing while watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys play. If you saw David around town, chances were he had his clipboard in one hand and his favorite drink in the other.
One of the things he cherished most was spending time with his father. The two enjoyed taking drives around town together every day, often multiple times a day. David was a simple man who never asked for much from anyone. His love, presence, and steady care for those around him will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
David was truly a jack of all trades. Over the years, he worked for Yorktown ISD, spent many years as a market worker at The Outpost and 5D Steakhouse, and was a talented painter who proudly owned and operated Villarreal Painting. He was also known as a grill master at Town Market BBQ, where his hard work and skill were appreciated by many. His last place of employment was Lowe’s Market.
David is survived by his father, Elijio Villarreal Jr.; his children, David Eric Villarreal, Brian Villarreal, Bianca Gonzales, Daniel Villarreal, and Braden Villarreal; and his cherished grandchildren, Nina, Serena, Xavien, Evalynn, Mira, and Tierlan. He is also survived by his siblings, Peggy (Robert) Franke, Danny (Claudina) Villarreal, Debbie Villarreal, and Christy (Chris) Garcia, along with numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Villarreal; his brother, Elijio Villarreal III; his nephew, Alfonso Villarreal; his great-niece, Kailee Villarreal; as well as his maternal and paternal grandparents.
He is buried at San Luis Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were David Eric Villarreal, Brian Villarreal, Daniel Villarreal, Braden Villarreal, Christian Garcia, Robert Franke Jr. and Danny Villarreal Jr.
Joe Louis Reyes – January 1963 to May 5, 2026 (63)
CUERO — Joe Louis Reyes, 63, passed away on May 5, 2026. He was born on January 19, 1963, and lived most of his life in San Antonio, Texas, before recently moving to Cuero, his wife’s hometown.
A service in Joe’s honor was held in San Antonio at Sunset North Funeral Home, where family and friends gathered to remember his life and legacy.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Pablo Sr. and Louisa M. Reyes; his sisters, Carolina Ramos and Amalia Simonson; and his brother, Pablo Reyes Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Margie” Reyes; his children, Nicholas Reyes and wife Rosalind, Jesse Reyes, Michael Reyes, and Victoria Brock; and 11 grandchildren who were the greatest joy of his life.
For 30 years, Joe worked as a truck driver, meeting the demands of the road with steady dedication and a work ethic that spoke for itself. He gave freely of his time and his heart—showing up, helping where he could, and placing the well‑being of those he loved at the center of his life.
Joe enjoyed photography, building and learning about computers, and visiting local buffets. He also loved trips to Las Vegas, where he enjoyed spending time in the casinos. A devoted movie buff, he appreciated a good film and the simple pleasure of sharing that time with others.
Joe will be remembered for his deep love for his family, his funny and sarcastic sense of humor, and the joy he found in—and the love he gave to—his grandchildren.
A memorial gathering in Joe’s honor will be held at Cuero Park at 2 p.m. on June 13. Family and friends are welcome to join.
The family extends heartfelt thanks for the kind messages, calls, and prayers during this difficult time. A special thank‑you is given to all who helped and contributed; your support means more than words can express.
With love, Margie Reyes and all his family