Coupland Civic Organization to hear from author

COUPLAND NEWS

At its Jan. 29 meeting, the Coupland Civic Organization had its annual State of the City report, along with news from community organizations. First, Susan Schmidt, CCO president, discussed 2023 activities— National Night Out, Choo Choo Fest and Santa at the Depot.

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, Halloween Trunk or Treat had to be cancelled. The CCO will arrange for a protected alternative site in 2024, so that Trunk or Treat can go on regardless of the weather. Schmidt reminded attendees that the CCO holds informative meetings the last Monday of every month, with a free supper hosted by CCO board members beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland.

Coupland’s new mayor, Russell Schmidt, discussed the nuisance ordinance that was just passed by the Coupland City Council. He noted that the Council meets the third Tuesday of every month in the Coupland Fire Station and the public is welcome.

Coupland Independent School District superintendent, Earl Parcell, explained that the staff with input from the community would be working on strategic planning in order to come up with a five-year plan for the school. There is a new school board member, Karen Holgersen, who has filled one vacancy. There is one more vacancy on the board.

Presenting the firefighting situation were Mark Moellenberg, ESD#10 chief, and John Roulston-Bates, Station 1, Coupland chief.

“As the area population grows, we have to have more equipment.

We have got to expand our capacity,” Moellenberg said. “The brush trucks take a beating, and we’re getting two new brush trucks. Also, we’re getting a new first response truck with full capability, medical and firefighting and two command trucks with full medical on them.”

Moellenberg noted, “We are always recruiting. John runs a phenomenal training academy. In 2024, we will continue to update equipment. It costs $3,600 for gear for each person. We have a roster of 30 to 40 volunteers.”

Pastor Scott Wasdin of St.

Peter’s Church discussed the relationship

of the church with the community. “We will continue in 2024 to partner with the community. We support events like Trunk or Treat, and the fellowship hall is available for gatherings,” he said.

“The playground is open. We are considering possible spring and fall festivals, with a meal and where the kids can play safely. We are thinking of anything we can do to help the community.”

At the Feb. 26 meeting, the Coupland Civic Organization will hear from Coupland resident Cheryl Aker, who has written and published a children’s book about her family’s dog Cisco called “Cisco’s Best Day.”

The book is “A heart-warming and fun story about an ordinary dog on an ordinary day who becomes an extraordinary hero. Cisco is the lovable star of this tail…errr, tale. And things only get better when Cisco gets the chance to be a true hero and make a lifelong friend.”

Aker will explain the process of writing a book, acquiring the illustrations and getting it published.

Her program will be of interest to those who would like to know about the process of publishing a book and especially to those who may be considering writing their own book.

Aker will have signed books available for purchase.

Come at 6:30 p.m. for a supper hosted by the CCO’s board of directors. The program begins at 7 p.m.

Coupland ISD

Coupland ISD has completed a successful basketball season, thanks to Coach Rinderknecht, Coach Lester and Coach Moore.

Spring break is March 11-15. On March 21, there will be a Habitat Hunt at Austin Nature and Science Center. The student council will host a dance March 22 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

St. Peter’s Church of Coupland St. Peter’s congregation enjoyed a concert by Stephen Mansolo Feb.

4. He is a past music leader of St.

Peter’s, as well as music leader at other Austin area churches.

Pastor Charlotte Albert held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 14 with the distribution of ashes. St. Peter’s Diners met Feb. 15 at Thrall Country Diner. The gathering was coordinated by Ted and Cynthia Wittliff.

St. Peter’s will celebrate the Lenten season with weekly soup suppers and meditative worship Wednesday nights at 6 p.m., beginning Feb. 28 through March 20.

New Sweden Church

The New Sweden Church website has been updated, with new photos and a video. The website includes the church history, sermons by Pastor Hans Lillejord, church news and upcoming events. There is a church calendar that shows events throughout the year. The website is newswedenelca.org.

The Lenten season for New Sweden Lutheran Church started Wednesday, Feb. 14, Ash Wednesday, at 7 p.m., with holy communion and imposition of the ashes. Each Wednesday evening during Lent, there will be a meal at 6 p.m. with a worship service at 7 p.m. in the parish hall.

There is a worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Palm Sunday, March 24. Maundy Thursday service will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 28, and will conclude with the stripping of the altar and the Discipline of Silence. On Good Friday, there will be an evening meal at 6 p.m. with a Lenten film following.

On Easter Sunday, March 31, there will be a sunrise service at the New Sweden Cemetery at 7 a.m. An Easter breakfast will be served at 8 a.m., and there will be an Easter egg hunt at 9:30 a.m. at the parish hall.

The Easter festival service will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Church secretary Susan Rountree shares the story of New Sweden’s “church dog.”

“Over the past years, our congregation has come to feel that ‘Kimbro,’ a dog owned by our president, Jack Atterstrom, deserved a special designation of ‘Church Dog.’ Kimbro visited the church every time his master came, which was very often. You could expect to see Kimbro at game nights, workdays and worship services. He was always very friendly and reverent. We were saddened when Kimbro passed away. Jack is training another dog to fill the spot left vacant by the death of Kimbro. The new church dog’s name is Phantom.

We are reminded that all animals are, as St. Francis wrote, ‘creatures of our God and King.’”

Type Church

Pastor Ryan Evans says, “We are looking forward to a great year at Type Church. Sunday services are at 10:30 a.m., and we have children’s church.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, we started Bible study on the Book of Revelation. There will be a meal provided.”

On Feb. 11, there was a potluck following the service.

“We would love to have you come visit our church and enjoy fellowship with us,” Evans said.

Type Church has a Facebook page where you can listen to the sermons by Evans.

The church is east of Coupland at 1200 County Road 466 and Evans’ phone number is 281-229-8962.

He can also be reached at pastorryan91@ gmail.com.

Williamson County ESD #10 Board meetings are held at the Coupland Fire Station each second Tuesday of the month. The meetings are also available via telephone conferencing. Each month the meeting notice is posted at the Coupland Fire Station, Coupland Post Office, Thrall Fire Station, and Thrall Post Office.

Official information is posted on the ESD’s website at www.wcesd10.org.

“The ESD would like to thank Mark Jaeger for his years of service as a member of the board,” said Maranda Cummings, administrative support. “Mark Prinz will now be taking the position as secretary of the Board. The ESD would like to welcome

DJ Jirasek as a commissioner.”

If anyone is 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 [email protected].

Check the Williamson County ESD #10 Facebook page, as well as the Coupland and Thrall Volunteer Fire Departments’ Facebook pages for updates and upcoming events.