Scholarship Available Through Civic Association

The Winchester Area Civic Association will be offering a scholarship to a person(s) enrolled or enrolling in an institute of higher learning for careers in the professions helping in the community such as nursing, teaching, criminology/peace officer, fire sciences, dental, radiology/ imaging, EMT certification/ paramedic or other degree that will help in this or your future community.

The application deadline is April 24, 2025. For more information or to obtain an application, please contact Barb Schafer at richardbarbschafer@ gmail.com.

Winchester VFD Meeting The annual Winchester Fire Department Business meeting is scheduled for March 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Zilss Hall. A fried catfish meal will be served. If you live in the Winchester response area you are welcome to attend.

April Quilt Block Paint Class The April class for painting a quilt block will be on April 12 at Zilss Hall in Winchester. Karen Kilian, paint instructor, has announced that the class is $90 for registration and can be completed online at quiltblocktrail.com. All supplies will be furnished in order that each participant can complete a 2 X 2 block. Design templates are available. Class runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Please dress appropriately for painting and bring a sack lunch, snacks, and beverages. There is a refrigerator, microwave, and Keurig available for your use.

Winchester Quilt Block Trail Drive out to Winchester, pick up a map at Murphy’s or Zilss Hall, and enjoy viewing the sixty-five quilt blocks displayed in our area on the Quilt Block Trail. The trail is self-driven, available at your convenience, and is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon viewing quilt blocks on fences, gates, barns, and houses that can be seen from the road. Winchester Barn Board Quilt Trail maps may be picked up at the Texas Quilt Museum, Casino Hall, the Wendish Museum, Zilss Hall, Murphy’s Steakhouse, quilt stores, and other businesses in Giddings, Smithville, and La Grange.

Recycling Trailer 

The Winchester Recycling trailer is located on the side of Zilss Hall on Memorial Hall Street. Please place your recycling in the appropriate bins. We would appreciate it if you made sure that you close the bins so that any trash will remain in the bins and not blow out.

Spring Fling Community Party 

The 8th Annual Spring Fling will be held on April 19. Please mark your calendars for a pancake and sausage breakfast, Easter egg hunt, other games along with the Easter Bunny. The fun begins at 9 a.m.

Zilss Community Hall 

Anyone wishing to rent Zilss Hall should contact (512) 434-0292. The hall is inexpensive and air conditioned. The hall is now available for rentals.

The Little Free Library 

The library is on the covered patio at the Hall and is always open and has a variety of authors. Space is limited, so please, if you donate a book(s) look through the current selection and take as many as you leave. Also on the patio, there is a bulletin board available to post event notices.

Round Table Book Club 

The March read is “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. on March 18 at Zilss Hall. All are welcome.

Birthdays 

Happy birthday greetings are sent to Georgia Appleman and Kurtis Hankemeir -March 19; Bill Karisch and Kelton Schulze-21; Arla Hart-22; Leighann Bedient and Michael Adams-23.

Anniversaries 

Congratulations and best wishes to Dinah and Chuck Breeden-March 20; Rhoda and Sherwood Gersch-22; and Krystel and Bryan Burton and Pam and Bob Prendergast-23.

Karisch, Witherspoon Wedding Best wishes are sent to Bailey Karisch and Joseph Witherspoon who were united in marriage on Saturday, March 8 in College Station. Several Winchester families traveled to the wedding which was held at the Peach Creek Ranch. Bailey is the daughter of Anna and David Karisch of Winchester.

Winchester United Methodist The United Methodist Church has service on the first and third Sunday of the month at 9 a.m. Richard Johnson is the pastor.

Shiloh Baptist Church 

The Shiloh Baptist Church is located on FM 153 at North Raymond Road. For more information, contact Rev. Paul Whitmill at (512) 629-1428.

St. Michael’s Lutheran 

The weekly worship service takes place at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning in the sanctuary. Following the worship service, you may gather in the Education Building for Bible Study and Sunday School beginning at 10:15 a.m. The Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.

St. Michael’s has full scholarships available for children of our church members to attend a week of camp this summer at Camp Lone Star. For more information, contact Pastor Nate. Please visit https://camplonestar.org/ lagrange-summer/ to look at the summer and activities.

Camp Lone Star 

Registration for all Summer 2025 programs opened Nov. 12. All campers from ages 5-18 are invited to join us for an unforgettable summer filled with adventurous Christcentered experiences. From day camp and family camp to 2-night and 5-night overnight experiences, we have something for everyone. https:// camplonestar.org/lagrangesummer/ to look at the summer and activities.

In Our Prayers 

Those on the prayer list include: Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Kolton Montgomery, Dana Srubar, Layne Schramm, and Sharon Teinert.

Remembering Our Shut-Ins Charlene Franke, Evelyn Kasper, Lillian Pietsch, Thelma Kieschnick, Audrey Koenning, Marie and Raymond Schulz.

Calendar of Coming Events March 18-Round Table Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall. Book to be discussed is “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford.

March 25 - Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

March 25-Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Depatrment Annual Business Meeting from 6-8 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

Have News? 

If anyone has news to share with readers of the Winchester News column, contact Rhoda Gersch at (512) 237-0842 or email rmgersch@yahoo.com.