Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Jury Cancellation

Persons called for jury duty in Wharton County Court and have a jury summons for Monday, Oct. 29 at 9:30 a.m. need not report. The jury has been canceled. This notice does not cancel the jury for Oct. 29 in District Court.

Ballroom dancing

Ballroom dancing classes will be held Fridays in October at First Presbyterian Church. The charge is $3 per person. Couples and singles are welcome.

4-H Poinsettia sale

The Wharton County 4-H Exchange Program will be selling holiday poinsettias for $10. The last day to order is Nov. 16 with the poinsettias delivered on Nov. 28. Proceeds from this fund raiser will go toward the 4- H New Hampshire trip. To place an order, call the Wharton County Extension Office at 532-3371.

Dracula at the Plaza

The Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton will present Bram Stoker's classic horror tale, Dracula, this month. Tonight will be a special midnight show at 10 p.m. Curtain time for the Sunday, Oct. 28 performance is 2:30 p.m. General admission is $10; seniors, students and groups of 10 or more $8 each. Theatergoers are encouraged to come in costume. For reservations or tickets, please visit www.whartonplazatheatre.org or call 979-282-2970.

Glen Flora VFD fund raiser

The Glen Flora VFD will hold its annual fund raiser from 6 p.m. to midnight today at the Wharton County Youth Fairgrounds. Activities for the evening will include games, door prizes, dancing and an auction. For more information or to make a donation, please call Peggy at 979-332-3458 or 979- 677-3502.

Peace Tabernacle fall festival

Peace Tabernacle Church will hold its annual fall festival from 3-7 p.m. today. There will be games, food and rides. The church is located at 1416 N. Alabama, phone 532- 4933.

EB Elementary Fall Festival The East Bernard Elementary PTO is holding a Fall Festival today from 5-8 p.m. in the Elementary Building. There will be games, prizes and activities for all ages including a hay ride, barrel train, moonwalk, cakewalk, dunking booth and hair painting. Food items include hotdogs, personal pan pizzas, corn chip pies and nachos. There will be a raffle of great prizes with tickets priced at $1 each and available in the school cafeteria. Help support the EBPTO continue to provide many fun and educational programs for the students.

Drainage plan meetings

In order to obtain more public input and participation in the Wharton County drainage master plan, a series of public meetings have been scheduled, one in each commissioner's precinct, to provide general information about the study. All concerned citizens are welcome. Engineers and county officials will be available to make presentations, answer questions, and gather any additional and pertinent information. Remaining meetings include Louise Fire Hall - Monday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; El Campo WCEC Edison Room - Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7-9 p.m.; East Bernard Community Center - Wednesday, Oct. 31, 7-9 p.m.

The Peddler Show

The Peddler Show at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds continues today and tomorrow. In celebration of the 30th year of the show, all shoppers turning 30 in 2007 will received free admission. Regular admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and free for children under 12. Shopping hours are 1-9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For additional information, visit www.PeddlerShow.com.

Mt. Calvary Baptist musical

The Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Brotherhood would like to invite the community to help the congregation up lift the name of Jesus at the church's musical scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today. On Sunday, Oct. 28, the church will have its men's annual day at 3 p.m. with guest speaker Rev. C. Gardner and St. Stephen Baptist Church of Wharton. The church will have a revival with guest speaker Rev. L.D. Smith of the Mt. Sinai Fellowship of Houston on Oct. 29 through Oct. 30. Pastor A.J. Jones. president Rev. Roy Harris, 832-595-4569.

Wharton VFD Annual Dinner The Wharton VFD Annual Dinner will be held on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Wharton Fire Department. The meal will feature a half barbecue chicken plate with bread and tea and will be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the cost is $7 per plate with dine-in and drive-through plates available.

Camp Zion Homecoming

Camp Zion Rising Star Baptist Church will have its Homecoming for Family and Friends Day at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28. Everyone is invited.

Shiloh Baptist Homecoming

Shiloh Baptist Church will hold its 53rd Annual Homecoming Service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28. The guest speaker will be Rev. Donald Archie and congregation from Alvin. Dinner will be served. Rev. Carl Neal, pastor, Deacon Leroy Watkins, chairperson.

Wharton County Democrats

The Wharton County Democratic Party invites the public to a general informational meeting to discuss the upcoming Party Primary and share information on the State Democratic Party. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the El Campo Civic Center. Everyone is invited. For information, call 979-453-0821.

Avalon Place bingo

Halloween bingo is being offered at Avalon Place, 1405 Valhalla Dr. on Oct. 31. Activities will start with a party at 2 p.m. followed by bingo at 3 p.m. The community is invited. Great prizes.

Caney Creek Blest Fest

Caney Creek Church will hold a Blest Fest on the square with games, activities, food and fellowship from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The church is located on Milam Street across from the Courthouse. Trick-or- Treaters welcome.

St. John's Fall Carnival

St. John's Lutheran Church will be holding a Fall Carnival from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. There will be free games, prizes, a hayride and pony rides. Food will also be available. The church is located at 614 Pecan St. For information, call Carol Koenig at 532- 4012.

Wharton Nursing goodies

Wharton Nursing and Rehab are inviting the little ghosts and goblins in the community to join their residents for Trick-or-Treat on Oct. 31 in their front lobby at 418 N. Rusk. Time will be 4-8 p.m. Residents will be handing out all kinds of goodies. Have a safe and Happy Halloween.

College Heights Party

College Heights Baptist Church will be hosting a harvest party on Oct. 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The event is free to the public and the community is invited to attend a positive experience on Halloween. We ask that no scary costumes be worn to the event. The harvest party will be held in the church's fellowship hall. The church is located at 1515 Briar Lane. Call 532-4442 for information.

WHS Academics for Life garage sale

The Academics for Life class at Wharton High School will be holding a garage sale at the Tiger Tots building at Wharton High School. The garage sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2. Included in the contest for sale will be items previously used in the PEP program at Wharton High School that is now available for public purchase.

Wharton Farmers' Market

The Wharton Farmers' Market will return on Saturday, Nov. 3 in the Courthouse Square. It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday through mid-December.

Turkey dinner

The annual turkey and dressing dinner sponsored by St. John's KJT and KJZT will be held at Hungerford Hall on Sunday, Nov. 4. Serving will begin at 10:30 a.m. with both dine-in and drive through plates offered at $7 each. Pastries also available.

Texas Home Health

Texas Home Health is sponsoring a fund raiser for the Wharton County Senior Meals on Wheels Program on Wednesday, Nov. 7. It will be a drive through pickup lunch served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wharton County Junior College LeDue Building. Tickets are pre-sale only and cost $6. The goal is to sell 700 tickets for the Wharton Senior Meals on Wheels Program, please help us reach our goal. Delivery is available to Wharton, El Campo and East Bernard businesses with 10 or more purchases. Contact Jena Myska at 713-705-3332 for tickets.

Christmas Bell parade The Wharton Chamber of Commerce's "Ring the Christmas Bell" Parade will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20. The route will be from East Milam Street, then around the courthouse square, turning south on Fulton and west on Burleson. There will be entertainment before the parade, and, a community Christmas Tree will be officially lighted about 6:45 p.m. Santa will be available after the parade for children and for photos in the gazebo. Parade entry forms are available at the chamber office, 225 N. Richmond Road, Wharton. You can pick them up at the chamber office or the chamber can mail, fax or email a copy to you. Call 532-1862 or e-mail helpdesk@whartonchamber.com.

DAV Super Raffle

The Disabled American Veterans of Wharton County will be holding a 100 Gun Super Raffle. Tickets are $20 each with the drawing held Dec. 3. Proceeds will benefit the DAV Chapter 72 Transportation Fund. The raffle is being sponsored by Everyday Heroes Inc. For tickets, contact Bruce Williams at 979-282-9837 or Chester Houston at 979-531-0916.

B&G Club registration

The Boys & Girls Club of Wharton is now registering for the 2007-2008 After-School Program. Membership fee is $20 per person and operating hours are from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The club is open for kids ages six to 12 and is open until 7 p.m. for teens.

Community Calendar

A calendar of local events is maintained by the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Before scheduling an event, check with the chamber for possible conflicts. And notify the chamber, 532-1862, as early as possible to get your event on the calendar. There is no charge.

Dateline Wharton is a calendar of upcoming events in Wharton and surrounding communities. Normally space permits only events that will occur in the next two weeks. It is intended for special activities open to the public rather than regularly recurring meetings.