RT-C Education Foundation Receives Honorary Chapter FFA Degree

The Round Top-Carmine Education Foundation was very surprised and honored at the annual RT-C FFA Banquet on May 19 with an Honorary Chapter FFA Degree.

This Honorary Degree is a prestigious recognition awarded by local FFA chapters to farmers, school administrators, chapter advisors, and community members who have rendered outstanding service to agricultural education and the FFA program.

Accepting the award on behalf of the RT-C Education Foundation were Board of Directors Jackie Sacks and Ronny Sacks. Ronny Sacks has been with the RT-C Education Foundation since its inception in 2011, serving as its first president for nine years. Jackie Sacks joined the Foundation as a Director in 2021.

RT-C ISD 

The Round Top-Carmine Class of 2026 graduated on May 22 at Round Top Festival Hill. Special recognition goes out to Kaegan Wagner, Valedictorian, and Avery Nelius, Salutatorian. Kaegan is the daughter of Jason and Karen Wagner of Round Top. Her grandparents are Pearlie and Wayne Wagner of Round Top, and Diane and Joe Janish of Fayetteville. Avery is the daughter of Ashley and Travis Nelius, of Round Top. Her grandparents are Robert and Becky Brown from Brenham, and Lloyd Nelius of Round Top and the late Marie Nelius.

Round Top Historical Society 

On Sunday, May 24, the Historical Society held a very impressive grand opening and reception of their new historic photo exhibit in their Pavilion. David Collins, President of the RTAHS, welcomed all in attendance, introduced and thanked his Board of Directors for all their work on the exhibit. Fayette Public Library Archivist/Curator Rox Ann Johnson, Round Top Mayor Judith Vincent, and RTAHS curator Neale Rabensburg all also addressed the crowd. Refreshments were served, guests mingled and browsed the remarkable restored images, while others enjoyed the fabulous slideshow of the history of Round Top.

The RTAHS Board consists of David Collins, Erik Diers, Rose Diers, Andrea Reibling, Sally Reynolds, Cameron Amanns, Marco Hernandez, Jeannette Burger, Jennifer Kitchens, Wilburn Hackebeil, and Neale Rabensburg.

The exhibit will be open to the public every Saturday in June and July from 1-4 p.m. at the Pavilion located at 397 E. Mill Street in Round Top (behind the Round Top Post Office).

Bethlehem Lutheran Church On Sunday, May 24, three young men affirmed their faith during the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Pastor John David Nedbalek confirmed Teague Weinert, Seth Kelley, and Brenner Bishop.

Teague’s parents are Tanner and Amy Weiner, and his grandparents are Roy and Cynthia Wied and David and Kelly Weinert. Seth’s parents are Christy Kelley and the late, Matthew Kelley, and his grandparents are Wade and Nancy Eilers and Timothy and Teresa Kelley. Brenner is the son of Michael and Ashley Bishop, and his grandparents are Daryl and Susan Ray and Nila and the late Will Hastings.

Methodist Church 

Several members of the Round Top community have recently started up a new church called Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Round Top. It is a satellite congregation of the Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, which is one of the largest Methodist churches in Texas.

Through this partnership, the Round Top congregation will have access to a wide range of resources, live-streamed sermons, Bible studies, global mission opportunities, and the leadership of Chapelwood Houston’s senior pastor and other ministers on staff.

The Chapelwood Round Top congregation meets on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in the historic church located on the Round Top Historical Society campus at 397 E. Mill Street in Round Top (behind the Round Top Post Office). Currently, they are averaging about 30 people consistently attending, and to date they have met 6-7 times. They welcome everyone seeking a Christ-centered church community to join them.

Round Top American Legion On June 4, the next meeting of the American Legion Quade-Werchan Post No. 338 and Auxiliary will be held on at their facilities located at 1503 N. State Highway 237 in Round Top, beginning at 6:30 p.m. All veterans in the Round Top-Carmine, Winedale, Warrenton, Ledbetter, Waldeck, and Rutersville area are encouraged to attend and share in fellowship with others who have served our nation.

Florida Chapel Cemetery The Florida Chapel Cemetery Association will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m. at the Muesse Chapel, which is the covered pavilion on the cemetery grounds. The meeting is open to the public. Election of officers will be held. Please plan to attend and to encourage others to attend to help in preserving and maintaining the cemetery. For more information, contact Megan Buro at (979) 249-5333 or email mlb_meganb@hotmail.com.

Round Top Family Library Round Top Family Library’s Annual Gala invitations have been mailed. The Gala will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, at The Windy Knoll. Tables are available at three levels, and several underwriting opportunities exist if you would like to help. The annual gala is RTFL’s largest fundraiser, bringing in almost half of RTFL’s annual operating budget needs. They invite the Round Top community to join in making this a huge success for RTFL.

RTFL’s Executive Director Katey Crowley will officially begin her full-time role starting June 1. Katey has been doing amazing things already as RTFL’s Executive Director in a part time capacity while she finished out the school year with La Grange ISD. She completed a 21-year career in education and last Friday said goodbye to her students and teaching colleagues. RTFL is excited to welcome Katey on board in her full-time role and they invite you to stop by the library Monday through Friday to meet her.

The RTFL expansion project is almost done. The original completion date was set for June, and they will be close to meeting that goal. The muchanticipated new Children’s Wing should be ready in July and once it is opened, they will start on a few modifications in the original Main Library while putting the finishing touches on some upgrades to the campus including walkways, drainage, a child drop off lane, and more.

On June 10 at 10:15 a.m., storyteller and musician Sue Young will be at the RTFL as part of their Summer Camp program. You do not need to be enrolled in the camps to attend these performances.

Fitness classes will continue to be offered five days a week at Round Top Family Library throughout the summer months. All classes are free and open to the public. The schedule can be found at www.ilovetoread.org.

The Bluebonnet Mahjong Society meets weekly in the Rummel Haus at the RTFL every Thursday from 12:303:30 p.m. for open play. All are welcome to join the fun.

Round Top Festival Hill The 2026 Summer Festival tickets are now on sale, featuring more than 30 exciting events, including chamber music concerts, master classes, lectures, and showcases. It’s the perfect way to spend your Saturdays and experience world class music right here in our community. For more information, visit festivalhill.org, email info@festivalhill.org, or call (979) 249-3129.

Church Services for May 31 Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Round Top, 9:30 a.m.

Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Round Top, 10:30 a.m.

Round Top Church Christian Fellowship, Round Top, 10 a.m.

St. Cecilia’s Episcopal Church, Round Top, 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Warrenton, 8:30 a.m.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shelby, 8:30 a.m.

Celebrations 

Happy birthdays to Danny Rudloff-May 28, Amy Wagner Hoage, Sandra Krebs-June 1; Tara Steele, Kim Cmajdalka-June 2; Caydan Nelius, Morgan Nelius, Jennifer Finke-June 3; Logan Lange, Emily Siemsglusz, Michael Budell-June 4; Doris Eckermann-June 5.

Happy Anniversaries to Bobby and Lanette Williams-May 29; Gerry and Jan Banik-May 30; Ben and Rae Worrell-June 2; Thomas and Roxanne Fricke-June 5.

Have News? 

Send any news, announcements, notices, travel, birthdays, or anniversaries you wish to share to SherryPen@icloud.com by Monday morning for the Friday paper.