Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

2008 Bridal Guide

The Wharton Journal-Spectator, East Bernard Express and El Campo Leader-News will be producing its 2008 Bridal Guide next month and is in need of your input. First, if you have been married five to seven years, we would like your personal views on why your marriage has lasted. Second, we need any unique wedding proposal stories. Please include contact names, daytime phone number(s), years married and where you reside. Otherwise, the information will not be published. E-mail or mail the "Secrets to your Successful Marriage" and/or "Unique Wedding Proposals" to lifestyle@leader-news. com or P.O. Box 1180, El Campo, TX 77427. Deadline for consideration is no later than Jan. 25. For more information, contact Quala Matocha, lifestyle editor, 979-543-3363..

Wharton Girls Softball

Wharton Girls Softball has scheduled several registration dates for the upcoming season in January at the Wharton High School old gymnasium. Registration will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday Jan. 10 and 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 12. The registration fee is $60 for the first child and discounted for the second child. The league is open to girls 4 years old by Dec. 31 through 14 years old. Copies of birth certifi- cate are required. Those interested in coaching or managing a team should submit a letter of intent. For information, contact Lori Jaquez at 532-4947 after 6 p.m. or Lydia Reyna at 532-3673.

Wharton Garden Club

The Wharton Garden Club is hosting a program on wildlife and gardens by Mark Klym, Coordinator, Texas Wildscapes. The meeting is set for Thursday, Jan. 10 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Wharton County Museum. The public is invited.

Veterans Service Office The office of the Wharton County Veterans Service Officer will be open in January on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The office is located at 1017 N. Alabama Road. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Harvey Stelzel Jr. is the Wharton County Veterans Service Officer.

Alzheimer's Network

The Alzheimer's Caregivers Network is for those who are taking care of a loved one or who have a loved one who has Alzheimer's Disease, any form of Dementia or Parkinson's. The group will meet on Thursday, Jan. 10 from 4-5:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcoal Chnurch. It will be time for sharing resources, voicing concerns and making contacts for networking among other caregivers. The group is hosted by St. Thomas Episcopal Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church and 1st Presbyterian Church. Pass the word to anyone you know who could benefit from such a group. For more information, call 532-1723.

Pipeline awareness meeting

The Pipeline Group will be holding a public awareness meeting open to landowners and farmers who are located or work near a pipeline right of way. The meeting will be held at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds - Building B, 4310 Highway 36 South in Rosenberg on Thursday, Jan. 10. A free continental breakfast will be served for all the attendees from Fort Bend and Wharton counties. To attend this meeting, you must register by calling 1-800-982-8752 or online WWW.PIPELINE.COM. Pipeline companies sponsoring the meeting are Crosstex Energy Service-Teppco Crude Pipeline LLC.

Kids Safe Saturday

The Pilot Club of Wharton will be sponsoring a Kids Safe Saturday on Jan. 12 at the Boys and Girls Club of Wharton. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the activity is open to students in grades K-4.

Boling Little League The Boling Little League will hold early registration on Saturday Jan. 12 and regular registration on Saturday, Jan. 26. Registration hours are from 8 a.m. to noon at the Boling High School Home Economics Room.

Bright Minds

The Bright Minds Scholarship Fund Dinner and Dance will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Wharton Civic Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner is served from 7-8 p.m. and dancing with music by the Triumphs begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. Call David Gilbert at 532-5964 for tickets or table reservations. Tickets are also available at the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Capital One Bank. Proceeds benefit graduating seniors from Wharton, Boling and East Bernard High Schools.

Annual Fellers Cake Auction

The Annual Fellers Cake Auction to support area Cub Scouting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, at the First United Methodist Church, 1700 Pioneer in Wharton. Supported by Wharton area businesses, the auction has helped meet the financial needs of Pack 3303. To RSVP plans to attend, contact John Hasenpflug, Cubmaster Pack 3303 by calling 979-531-1301 or e-mail pack3303@ykcwb.com. For those unable to attend but interested in participating in the auction, you can contact Hasenpflug about your bid strategy.

Knights of Columbus dinner

The Knights of Columbus No. 3262 of Wharton will be selling whole barbecue chickens on Sunday, Jan. 13 as a fundraising event for their building renovation fund. Serving will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chickens are pre-sale only and available only on drive through basis. For information, contact Richard Zahn at 282-2451 or Marvin Macek at 532-3664 for tickets.

Bereavement Support Group

The Houston Hospice-El Campo is hosting a Life After Loss Bereavement Support Group meeting on Monday, Jan. 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church library in Wharton. The group will meet every Monday for six weeks. the facilitator for the meetings is Rev. Don Storey, Hospice Chaplain. For information, call 1-800-420-6193.

Little League Registration

Wharton Little League has set two dates for registration. Registration is open to players ages 5-12 (based on age as of April 30). Registration will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wharton Civic Center. New players must bring a copy of birth certificate. Register online at eteamz.active.com/whartonlittleleague/ links.

Wharton Fair Fund

The annual Wharton Fair Fund's dinner, dance and auction will be held Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Wharton Knights of Columbus Hall. A barbecue chicken dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 5:30-8 p.m. Plates are available for dine-in or drive through and are priced at $7.50 per person. Meal tickets include admission to the dance. The auction starts at 6:30 p.m. followed by dancing until midnight with music provided by DJ Chris Garza.

Remembering the Dream

Citizens of Wharton County are invited to the 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Celebration on 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20 at Mother Zion Baptist Church, 112 Neals Lane. Special guest will be Rev. E.L. Dawson and Progressive Baptist church of El Campo. The theme will be Marching from Dream to Reality. Other guests include Vocalist Debra Wilson of Houston, Rev. Mickey Reynolds and Caney Creek Church, St. Stephen's Missionary Baptist Church Barrier Breakers Choir and the Wharton Boys and Girls Club Drill Team. Each church is asked to represent with $150 towards the MLK Scholarship Fund. A parade celebration is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan 19, marching from Wharton Square to Dawson Elementary Gymnasium. For information, call Vivian Wyatt @ 532-3872 or Rev. Ruiel Taylor at 979-257-9183.

Pilot Club Chili Supper

The Pilot Club of Wharton will hold its 25th Annual Chili Supper on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2820 N. Fulton in Wharton. Serving will be from 5-7 p.m. with drive through available. Tickets available from any member. Meals are priced at $8 with a menu of homemade chili, rice, beans and pie. The Pilot Club invites you to mark you calendar and join them.

Art Exhibit

The Houston Livestock show and Rodeo Art Exhibit will be on display at the Education Support Center for public viewing Jan. 23-31 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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. To place an item in Dateline Wharton, drop the information off at the Journal-Spectator Office at 115 W. Burleson or an e-mail to bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com.