Boling's Valdez to get Congressional Freedom Medal
Who's News
Liliana Johse

Hello friends! Christmas is practically here and I have some very good news coming for all of us. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving, because we have plenty to be thankful for.

An 18-year-old Boling native will be receiving the nation's highest and most distinguished civilian award this month. Vinson Valdez has been working as a Boy Scout without expecting any big prize. Vinson will receive his honor to be presented by Congressman Ron Paul. The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are generally considered to carry the same level of prestige. The difference between the two is that the Freedom Medal is personally awarded by the President, and the Congressional Gold Medals are awarded in the name of the Congress. Congressional legislation is required to recieve the medal and needs at least two-thirds of the House of Representatives to sponsor the legislation to the house committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth. Then 67 senators have to sponsor it to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Once the legislation is passed, Congress commissions the U.S. Mint to design and create the medal. Each medal is unique, representing each individual and/or event that it has been awarded for. Proud parents are Deacon David Valdez and his wife Deborah Valdez and younger sister Angela.

We rejoice with the Valdez family who are a role model in our community. Vinson is currently attending WCJC and is a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church.

Our very special 96 years young is friend Billy Cline who always has something interesting to share with all. I visited with him at home the other day and his daughter Carolyn happened to be in town from Galveston. That made the visit more special.

Mr. Cline handed me The Arab Times, the first English language daily newspaper in freed Kuwait, dated Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. On page 22 there is a good color picture of the Tee Pee Motel. "The quirky bit of American history is one of four such lodges left in the country ..." it read. Byron and Barbara Woods' dream hotel has made news on another continent. Mr. Cline got the paper through one of his clients or friends who called him and told him about it and said he would be mailing him the paper. Thanks for sharing.

Wharton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is getting closer to being the newest and most modern facility of this area. We are hoping to have the groundbreaking ceremonies any day now. More to come soon.

Our friend Tommy Chen is now a deacon. Tommy is almost considered from Wharton since he has spent so much time here and has made so many friends. The ceremony and Mass were held at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Houston. Archbishop

Daniel Flores from Detroit officiated with standing room only. It was done in English, Spanish and Vietnamese on Nov. 10. Following the ordination a reception was held at St. Mary's Seminary. Some of the Wharton friends attending were Frank Solorzano, Valentina SanMiguel, Janie Pena, Irineo Ureste and his daughter Erlinda Ureste and Santos Munoz. This group went in a van, other friends traveled in their private automobiles. Tommy will become a priest next June.

Holly and Dustin are getting married. Mr. and Mrs. August Sohrt of El Campo are the parents of Holly Marie Sohrt who will marry her sweetheart Dustin Wade Kana, son of Christine and Gary Kana and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Buenger, on Saturday Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in New Taiton. A reception, dinner and dance following at Taiton Community Center.

I was reading Becca Socha's news of El Campo Chamber of Commerce and this caught my eyes. When a company is looking at relocating a site, a selector will come to the community and look at the cemeteries to see how well they are maintained. The comment regarding this was: "If a town could not properly take care of the deceased how well does it take care of the living." Another unusual way some prospects see how people care for things is by going into large parking lots like H-E-B, Wal-Mart, etc. and looking into cars to see how clean they are. This is how some people judge. Very interesting.

Sylvan Miori was lifeflighted to Methodist Hospital in Houston last week. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Greg and Rose Marie Goudeau are on a trip to Russia.

Alfred and Ruth Sabrsula celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary Nov. 16. Alfred has been under the weather.

Cyn-

thia Brewer, the co-chair of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenica Foundation's support network in Victoria, received the non-profit foundation's President's Award Oct. 26 at HCEF's 9th annual International Conference in Washington, D.C. She accepted the award on behalf of the organizations in the Victoria Diocese of which Wharton belongs to. The diocese, its churches and Catholic organization helped raise $33,000 toward the Holy Land indigenous Christians. Upcoming parish sales will be held in all the Diocese churches. Dec. 1 and 2 sales will be at Holy Cross in East Bernard. Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Wharton is raising funds by selling Our Lady of Guadalupe candles throughout Advent. Cynthis is editor of the Catholic Lighthouse distributed to all parishioners in the diocese.

The CDA Christmas Social is Monday, Dec. 17. It will be held at the KC Hall beginning at 6 p.m. Please bring two decorated coffee cans filled with cookies and canned goods to share. Dinner reservations must be made by Dec. 13 by calling Delores or Donna

Svatek at 532-1312 or mailing to 1311 Linwood Dr. Meal cost is $6.50 per person or $13 per couple. Meal prepared by Hinze's. Cheer chairperson is Norma Jean House.

Decorating the hall are Robin Johnson, Christine Evanicky, Monica Pospisil and Maria Kocian. Helpers are Carmen Longoria, Janie Munoz, Janet Bubela, Jeanette Krenek and any other volunteers are welcomed.

Jonathan Allen Krenek and his bride Tristan Brynn Turnage will be honored this evening with a reception, dinner and dance at Crescent Hall at the Wharton County Fairgrounds.

They were married Nov. 17 in Tennessee.

Birthday wishes to Pierce Otto, Kaylor Lynn Rolf, Ann Gleason, Patsy Legler, Rae Otradovsky, Kristen Cullers, Kaitlyn Norrell, Grace Hilderbrand, Matthew Wittig, Janice McDonald, Ty Harrell, Armando Terronez, Dee Treybig, Peggy Watkins, Bill Wilson, Courtney Jetelina, Bennie Hundl, Bob Baker, Jeanette Koenig, Neil Mc- Donald, Myles Kubicek, Darrell Evans, Donna Svatek and Christopher Martin. Belated birthday wishes to Kenneth Johse Sr. and Kerry Johse Nov. 14. Celebrating wedding anniversaries. Scott and Lynell Ustynik, Lillian and Joe Wisnieski.

Please keep in your prayers our troops, our police and firefighters. Jimmy Somers in a Houston hospital, Barbara Svatek had recent surgery at Methodist hospital in Houston. Cylinda White had leg surgery, Lillian Wisnieski, Verlie Sherrill, Marlene Riley and Doris Kleas recovering from back surgery. Chloe Harrison at Texas Children's Hospital, newborn daughter of Kate and Rex Harrison. David Garza recent throat surgery. Ernest Chudala recent surgery, Betty Bozarth recovering from back surgery. Marion Bozarth receiving therapy at Wharton Nursing. Louise Adams at Wharton Nursing.

Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers Inc., Wharton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, will have a Christmas Party for employees of their homes located on this side of Victoria. Cuero, Port Lavaca, Southbrooke Manor in Edna, Stevens, Halletsville, Yoakum and Wharton. The party will be Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Inez Community Center in Inez. Some great fun, food, entertainment and door prizes. Employees will be transported by special buses to and from their locations.

The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish will be Dec. 12 on the Feast Day. Triduum starts Dec. 9 at 7:30 a.m. with Rosary and Mass at 8 a.m. and reflection in Spanish by Sister Miriam Perez MCSH. Dec. 10 and 11 at 6:30 p.m. is Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass, bilingual, reflection by Sister Miriam. Solemnity is Dec. 12 at 5:30 a.m., Mananitas at 6 a.m. Mass. Chocolate and pan dulce is after Mass. At 5 p.m. a procession starts at the Riverfront Park and Rosary prayed.

A trailer will be available for people who cannot walk. Please bring a flashlight. Mananitas at 6:30 p.m. and Serenata with Mariachis at 7 p.m. Solemn Mass, bilingual, offering of roses at 8 p.m.

It includes Serenata with Mariachis, dinner, mariachis, Ballet Folklorico after mass. Everybody is invited and welcome.

Alma Zalesak was honored Oct. 24 with a surprise party for having been a dedicated employee of Dr. James Jalowy of East Bernard for 40 years. When Dr. Jalowy began his dental practice in 1966, his first assistant was Henriette Jalowy his wife.

Alma was Dr. Jalowy's only assistant/receptionist for some time.

I enjoyed a good visit with a wonderful busy friend Phyllis Sliva. Always rushing or going somewhere, we caught up with a lot of news but didn't have enough time to really catch up on it all. It was good to see her.

Marcus Longoria is now retired from Philips in Old Ocean. He will continue with his passion - raising and caring for his race horses. Happy retirement.

I had a wonderful surprise last Sunday. My daughter Brigitte was at our door as we were having supper.

It certainly was a surprise to J.B. and me. It was the best birthday gift. She will be returning to Nicaragua today.

Have a wonderful weekend and keep warm and dry in case of rain.

Be safe and keep reading the WJ-S.