On Monday, June 26, at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland, the Coupland Civic Organization will experience a rare treat.
Hollywood cameraman Cal Roberts, who retired to Georgetown’s Sun City, will present information about his career to the CCO and display materials that he has collected over the years.
Attendees will hear about the behind-the-scenes workings of filmmaking.
Before the presentation, the CCO will host a sandwich supper with homemade cookies. Everyone is invited to come at 6:30 p.m. for the meal. The program begins at 7 p.m.
Roberts is native to California. He served in Vietnam, then returned to California and joined Warner Brothers, where he was assistant cameraman for 40 years. His films include Speed, Top Gun, Lethal Weapon, Gran Torino and Jurassic Park. He has worked with stars such as Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood.
CCO board member Jonathan Jones arranged the program by Cal Roberts and said, “Mr. Roberts is one of those fascinating people who is larger than life. He has had many interesting experiences in his 82 years.”
Roberts has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy Awards. He has donated an antique train artifact to Coupland’s historic Depot and caboose.
COUPLAND SCHOOL
At the June 13 meeting, the Coupland Board of Trustees voted to hire a new law firm, Walsh Gallegos Trevino Kyle & Robinson. The precursor of the firm, Doyal, Hairston and Walsh, was co-founded by local attorney, Joe Beck Hairston, who passed away Sept. 9, 2020.
Along with Tom Doyal and Jim Walsh, Hairston founded the firm in 1983.
Hairston was a graduate of Taylor High School and held a B.A. from Harvard and a J.D. from the University of Texas Law School. The agreement to form the law firm came out of a meeting at the historic Hairston house in Rice’s Crossing.
Hairston retired from the practice of law in 1991, and the firm’s name changed. He returned in 1995 but didn’t want the firm’s name to be changed again. Hairston retired for the second time in 2011. His mother, Beth Beck Hairston was a long-time teacher at Coupland School.
On May 6, a bond election was held in Coupland Independent School District to fund construction of a new middle school.
The bonds passed and Superintendent Tammy Brinkman was instrumental in getting the bonds approved. She got information to the public, including hosting explanatory meetings. There also was a Public Action Committee that produced signs and mailed cards to get information to voters. Then, at the point of the success of the bond election, for reasons unknown, the board asked for Brinkman’s resignation.
At a special meeting May 15, the community turned out to support Brinkman. During the public comment period, 19 people spoke including teachers, staff members and other public members. Every single speaker praised Brinkman and asked her to stay as superintendent. Many credited her as the reason the school bonds passed.
Brinkman later said, “The outpouring of love and support really touched my heart.”
At the June 20 School Board meeting, questions were raised — but not answered — regarding ongoing administration of the district including next year’s budget, setting of the tax rate, submitting documentation regarding grants and other necessary actions regarding the upcoming 2023-24 school year.
A petition is circulating in the community asking for the resignation of school board members who pressured Brinkman for her resignation.
However, it seems that her resignation will stand. The board has been interviewing candidates for an interim superintendent to serve during the superintendent search. Brinkman attended the June 20 meeting and said that a superintendent search usually takes three to four months.
She advised the board, “It is important to get this going. Get started on it right away. I want you to understand the urgency.”
ST. PETER’S CHURCH OF COUPLAND
St. Peter’s Church has a new permanent pastor.
Pastor Charles Stark has been serving as interim pastor while St. Peter’s search committee looked for a permanent pastor.
Rev. Scott Wasdin will start as pastor July 1.
On Sunday, June 25, Stark will preach his final sermon at St.
Peter’s. During his service as interim pastor, five new members joined the church, three students were confirmed and Stark assisted with coordinating the filming of Love and Death which appeared on HBO Max.
Following the service June 25, there will be a potluck dinner and party in honor of Stark. People will share favorite stories and thank him for his time as interim pastor.
The congregation approved funds to renovate the parsonage and to purchase and install playground equipment.
Coffee Connections is every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room.
Planning is underway for Vacation Bible School starting in July.
The next seniors luncheon will be picnic style July 18 at 11:30 a.m.
There will be root beer floats and games including Bingo and ‘42’ dominoes.
Everyone is welcome at St. Peter’s worship services Sunday at 10:15 a.m. For more, email [email protected] or visit https://www.stpeterscoupland. org/ and click calendar on the top header.
NEW SWEDEN CHURCH
New Sweden Church secretary Barbara Carisalez resigned. The church received a new Allen GX 235 organ as a gift in memory of Howard and Willella Lundgren. A program on the new organ was presented June 4 by renowned organist Christina Harmon.
Yvonne Creppon, who has been the church’s organist for more than 50 years, was recognized with a plaque.
The New Sweden God & Country Celebration will be June 25 at 5 p.m. with hotdogs, hamburgers and beverages, 12809 New Sweden Church Rd.
A service recognizing the military begins at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Ice cream will be served after the service in Parish Hall.
Sunday, July 23 will be the annual church picnic at 5 p.m. with games, fellowship and a potluck meal.
From now until July 30, the church will fill children’s backpacks with school supplies.
Contributors may bring school supplies to the church or give monetary donations. The backpacks will be blessed during the Sunday church service Aug. 6.
For more, email [email protected] or visit www. newswedenelca.org. New Sweden welcomes everyone to all its events.
NEW SWEDEN COMMUNITY
The New Sweden community has been fighting a proposed concrete batch plant to be located off Manda Carlson Road. Five Star Concrete has applied for a permit from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Area residents have been writing letters and over 100 attended a hearing May 24.
Objections to the plant include cement truck traffic, noise and light pollution, air pollution from dust and pollution from run-off. Many residents believe these physical problems will cause damage to physical health, livestock, crops and areas of historical significance.
In addition, TCEQ is being criticized for insufficient notification — not telling area residents about the proposed plant. Susan Erickson is managing the opposition effort based on an existing area organization called Blackland Prairie Concerned Citizens, which has evolved into a new organization called Save New Sweden. The permit application is continuing through the TCEQ process.
To stay informed about the issue, sign up at [email protected].
TYPE CHURCH
Type Church will hold three Wednesday evening summer events from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with raffles and prizes, 1200 CR 466, Coupland.
June 28 will have nachos and board games. July 19 will have a faithbased movie with popcorn and snacks. Aug. 2 will have yard games, a bounce house and hot dogs for a back-to-school bash.
Regarding the event, Pastor Ryan said, “We would love the opportunity to get to know you.”
Ryan is at the church Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and for Bible study on Wednesday evenings.
Sunday morning service begins at 10:30 a.m.
Type Church welcomes all. For more, call Pastor Ryan 281-229-8962.
COUPLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, ESD #10
Administrative support, Maranda Cummings, notes that ESD #10 board meetings are held at the Coupland Fire Station the second Tuesday of the month.
According to Cummings, “The meetings are also available via telephone conferencing. Each month the meeting notice is posted at the Coupland Fire Station, Coupland Post Office, Citizens National Bank in Coupland, Thrall Fire Station and Thrall Post Office.”
For more, visit www. wcesd10.org.
If you are interested in joining Williamson County ESD #10, please contact John Roulston-Bates, District 1 chief at [email protected] or Zach Hall, District 2 chief at zhall@wcesd10. org.
For news and upcoming events, see the Williamson County ESD #10 Facebook page and the Coupland and Thrall Volunteer Fire Departments’ Facebook pages.
