COUPLAND – On the Nov. 8 ballot, there are three Coupland City Council places up for election. There are five candidates for these places. Incumbents are Barbara Piper and John Roulston-Bates. New candidates are Victoria Gonzalez, Russell Schmidt and Ruby Wabbel. While you can vote in the Coupland city election at any Williamson County location, there will be a polling place in the St.
Peter’s fellowship hall on Election Day.
Coupland Civic Organization (CCO)
On Sept. 26, Coupland resident Debrah Candelas spoke to the CCO about her trip to Ukraine. She and her partner, Jeff Teasdale, gave medical care to Ukrainians who had just come over the border to Poland. They also delivered supplies in Ukraine and brought disabled Ukrainians to safety. She is also sponsoring a Ukrainian woman and her son.
Also at this meeting, Coupland School Superintendent Tammy Brinkman and School Board Vice President Michael Roepke spoke about the school bond that will be on the November ballot. Prior to the program, the CCO board members hosted a spaghetti supper.
On Oct. 10, there was a special CCO meeting because of the November election.
Three places on the Coupland city council are up for election. Four of the five candidates, spoke at the meeting including incumbents Barbara Piper and John Roulston-Bates, and new candidates Russell Schmidt and Ruby Wabbel. Also, School Board President Crystal Ward and Vice President Michael Roepke spoke about the school bond proposal that is on the ballot. Before the program, the CCO board hosted a sandwich supper.
The CCO will host its annual Halloween Trunk or Treat Sunday, Oct. 30, beginning at 5 p.m., in front of St. Peter’s Church.
Residents in costumes will decorate car trunks or the backs of SUVs, park on the street, and hand out treats to the trick or treaters. This is a safe and fun activity for kids who live in the country and don’t have a neighborhood in which to trick or treat.
Choo Choo Fest
The annual Choo Choo Fest was held Sunday, Oct. 2, in the fellowship hall and on the grounds of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland. There was a barbecue meal of sausage, pork loin and chicken drumsticks prepared by Coupland’s Master Chef Peter Wabbel. The sides of beans, potato salad and slaw were homemade by CCO board members. Members always say that serving will continue until the food runs out, and this year it really did run out. It’s best to get your food early at Choo Choo Fest. There was also a bake sale that sold out, and the silent auction items were snapped up.
It wouldn’t be Choo Choo Fest without a choo choo, and Coupland welcomed back JC Callis and his wife Julie with their Kiddie Express train.
Kiddies and their parents enjoyed free rides through Coupland.
Two-year-old Ember Haines kept saying, “Ride train again!”
Coupland School News
Coupland School’s Board of Trustees has called for a bond election to be on the November ballot for $56 million to build facilities to address the growth at the Middle School.
The student population has already outgrown the recent expansion of the school facilities.
This November proposal will not consider a high school, it will address only the middle school needs.
Board President Crystal Ward says, “With all the growth our district has seen over the past three years, the best little school in Texas is now busting at the seams. Our transfer rate at the beginning of the 22-23 school year was at 15%, and we get new in-district students every month.”
The current middle school classrooms are undersized for the number of students. The bond funds will be used to build a middle school with classrooms for grades six through eight for 150 students and core common areas like science labs, a media center, dining and serving lines, Fine Arts classrooms, practice gym with locker, weight and training rooms and Special Education classrooms.
Assistant Principal Kate Knapek reports, “Coupland School had their first Cultural Night Sept. 15. We celebrated the many different cultures of our school.
Parents brought in their favorite dish. This included dishes from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mexico, El Salvador, Ukraine, Germany and Czech Republic and more.”
She adds that there was a performance by the eighth-grade Spanish class and a dance by Daniella Osorio-Perez, a former Coupland student.
Another special night was Literacy Night Oct.
27. Students wore costumes and visited different booths for reading and writing activities.
Knapek says, “Thanks to the amazing Coupland PTA for providing dinner for our families. Our librarian, Ms. Lake, kept the book fair open for parents.”
St. Peter’s Church of Coupland
Co-Chairs of the Senior Luncheons, Lois Schmidt and Sandra Wernli, remind everyone about the Thanksgiving luncheon on November15 at 11:30 a.m.
Schmidt says, “We will be playing “42” Dominoes and Bingo. If you are playing Bingo, you are encouraged to bring a prize of $10 or under.”
The next luncheon will be Jan. 17.
On Oct. 20, the St.
Peter’s Diners met at the Thrall Country Diner, with Bill and Charlotte Albert coordinating.
The traditional Kirchenfest, which recognizes past confirmation graduates, was Sunday, Oct. 23. The history of the church was honored, and the new siding was dedicated during the service. In place of the monthly potluck dinner, a catered meal was served.
Pastor Charles will be on vacation from Monday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct.
30. Pastor Albert will lead the Bible Study Oct. 26, and the worship service Sunday, Oct. 30.
On Tuesdays the Coffee Connections group meets at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room.
All are welcome at the worship services at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays. For more information, email [email protected] or go to the website stpeterscoupland. org and click on the calendar link at the top to see all the church events.
New Sweden Church
Barbara Carisalez says, “Sunday School is back in full swing at New Sweden Lutheran Church. Adult Sunday School is at 9:15 a.m. and Youth/Children’s Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m.” She adds, “Bible Studies continue with Ladies Bible Study the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Tuesdays in the morning at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to join us.”
At the start of the school year, New Sweden had another successful backpack project, giving backpacks filled with school supplies to Coupland School and Thrall School.
All are welcome at New Sweden events, including the upcoming holiday activities.
Thanksgiving Eve Service is Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m.
Carisalez notes, “Christmas Sing-along is Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., and it will also include our traditional St. Lucia celebration.
Coffee and cookies are served afterwards.”
The candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. with the Swedish tradition of Julotta Service Christmas morning at 7, followed by breakfast in the Parish Hall. The holiday events conclude with a game night on New Year’s Eve at 7 p.m. New Sweden Church is at 12809 New Sweden Church Road.
For information, go to [email protected] and www. newswedenelca.org.
Emergency Services District #10
“The ESD#10 board meetings are held in person at the Coupland Fire Station each second Tuesday of the month.
The meetings are also available via telephone conferencing,” reports Maranda Cummings.
Meeting notices are posted each month at the Coupland Fire Station, Coupland Post Office, Citizens National Bank in Coupland, Thrall Fire Station and Thrall Post Office. The approved minutes, meeting notice/agenda, and audited financial report are posted on the ESD’s website at www. wcesd10.org.
Cummings notes, “The board voted to approve the same tax rate that has been in place since the formation of the ESD in 2005, which is $0.10 per $100 valuation. This tax rate will raise more taxes for Maintenance and Operations than last year’s tax rate.” She continues, “The tax rate will effectively be raised by 23.095% and will raise taxes for Maintenance and Operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $16.36.”
Contact Jared Cummings at jcummings@ wcesd10.org if you are interested in joining Williamson County ESD #10. For updates and upcoming events, see the Facebook pages of the Coupland and Thrall Departments.
