Local News Correspondent Visits Minnesota

I am writing this column from Kiester, Minn., a town of around 400 people just over the Iowa border. Pat Karisch of La Grange and I have embarked on a road trip which started from Winchester on July 26.

We spent time in Keller, Texas and Wichita, Kansas. We landed in Hamilton, Missouri where we visited the Missouri Star Quilt Company and the birthplace of JC Penney. Our next stop was the “bridges” of Madison County, Iowa and the birthplace of John Wayne as well as the location of the Clint Eastwood and Merle Streep movie “Bridges of Madison County,” in Winterset, Iowa.

We are currently spending time with Rhoda’s daughter, Jodi and son-in-law Scott Miller. We will be leaving for a weekend in Brainerd, Minnesota which is farther north. We have visited Rochester, Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic; Mankato and the Minneopa Creek waterfall and seen swans on the Minnesota Lake and lakes surrounding the communities of Albert Lea and Fairmont.

Minnesota is an amazing state and should be added to your list of “must sees.”

Recycling Trailer 

All cardboard boxes need to be broken down before placing them in the recycling trailer. 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. The Winchester Recycling trailer is located on the side of Zilss Hall on Memorial Hall Street. Please place your recycling in the appropriate bins.

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.

Zilss Community Hall 

Anyone wishing to rent Zilss Hall should contact (512) 434-0292. The hall is inexpensive and air conditioned and 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 next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Zilss Hall with the book selection being “Long Bright River” by Liz Moore. All are welcome.

August Neighbors Night Out The August Neighbors Night Out will be held Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Zilss Hall. The event will be an ice cream social. You are asked to bring your favorite ice cream, homemade or store bought, or any ice cream topping or dessert. Rhoda and Sherwood Gersch will be hosting the evening.

Birthdays 

Happy birthday greetings are sent to Irma Gersch, Cheyenne Maldonado, and Virginia Raley-Aug. 12; Ricky Schultze and Stacey Lehmann-14; Glenn Zoch and Jamie Zoch-15; Adele Wilson, Eva Maldonado, Evelyn Parker, LeRoy Bartlett, and Tracy Robbins-17; and Zachary Jones-18.

Anniversaries 

Anniversary congratulations to Betty and Don Jakobeit- Aug. 13 and Candice and Pastor Nate Hill-15.

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 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Nate Hill is the pastor. You are welcome to visit.

In Our Prayers 

Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Scott Miller, Kolton Montgomery, Dana Srubar, and Layne Schramm.

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

Calendar of Events 

Aug. 19-Round Table Book Club meets at 7 p.m. at Zilss Hall.

Aug. 20-Neighbor’s Night Out with Ice Cream Social begins at 6:30 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)2370842 or email rmgersch@yahoo. com.