Winchester’s Women Luncheon Thursday
The Winchester Ladies Luncheon is on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Murphy’s Steakhouse. Combined Community Action, Inc representatives will be present to receive the stockings and stuffers made by the area citizens to help with the CCA Christmas distribution. A “White Elephant” gift exchange is also being held. Do not buy anything, bring a gift from your house to decorate ours. If you plan to attend, please let Bobbie Hajek know by calling (979) 639-1646.
Dinah 4 Christmas
A free Community event will be held again for the fourth year at the Dinah 4 Ranch at 1231 FM 153 west of Winchester. The free event features a lighted walking trail, children’s activities, Santa Visits and refreshments. This year fireworks and live music will be added on select evenings. The first nights of the events will be Dec. 12-14 and then again Dec. 19-22. The gates are open from 6-9 p.m. with lights out at 9:30 p.m. Santa will visit from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.dinah4.com.
Round Table Book Club
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen has been chosen as the book for the January meeting of the Round Table Book Club scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Zilss Hall at 7 p.m. The group has decided that there will be no meeting in the month of December. All are welcome.
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. Reminder: these bins are not for household garbage.
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 wonder-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.
Birthdays
Wishing birthday greetings to Georgianna Fox and LaVerne Schulze-Dec. 12; and James Liebscher and Tish Lehmann-13.
Anniversaries
Celebrating an anniversary this week are Jenny and Casey Fajkus-Dec. 13 and Michellle and Bobby Smith-14.
Condolences
Sympathy is extended to the family of Steven Schulze of La Grange and Winchester. Steven, 59, passed away December 2, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Laura and Paul Schulze and two brothers Rodney and Michael. Steven is survived by his daughters Brittany and husband Frank D’Addio of Houston and Bethany Schulze of La Grange and his best friend and partner Gina Conly of La Grange; three grandchildren and numerous siblings, Mark, Ricky, and Melvin and wife Virginia of Winchester and Nathan and wife Jennifer of Fayetteville; Sharon and husband Billy Buntos of La Vernia; Gladys Tschatschula of La Grange; and sister in law, Mary Schulze of Smithville as well as numerous other relatives and friends. Funeral was held in Giddings with burial following in the Winchester Cemetery.
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
Those on the prayer list include: Kourtney Burton, Sam Gibbs, Bea Kilian, Ramona Lopez, Travis Miertschin, Jodi Miller, Scott Miller, Kolton Montgomery, Eddie Schneider, Dana Srubar, and Layne Schramm.
Remembering Our Shut-Ins Charlene Franke, Evelyn Kasper, Lillian Pietsch, Thelma Kieschnick, Raymond Schulz.
Calendar of Events
Dec. 9-Young at Heart meets at 2 p.m. at Zilss Hall.
Dec. 9-Winchester Volunteer Fire Department meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Fire Station.
Dec. 12-14 & 19-22-4th Annual Dinah 4 Christmas event at 1231 FM 153, West of Winchester.
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.