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 Otherwise, the information will not be published.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..

Veterans Service Office

The office of the Wharton County Veterans Service Officer will be open this Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 29-30. 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.

Art Exhibit

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

Little League Registration

Wharton Little League has one remaining registration date for the upcoming season today from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wharton Civic Center. Registration is open to players ages 5-12 (based on age as of April 30). New players must bring a copy of birth

com/whartonlittleleague/links.. certificate. Register on-line at eteamz.active.

Open Horse Show

The Boots and Bridle 4-H will be hosting an open horse show today at the Wharton County Youth Fair Arena in Crescent. There will be 30 classes offered, including Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Showmanship and Speed Events. The three age divisions are 12-and-under, 13-18 and 19-and-over with high point belt buckles for all age divisions. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the events starting at 9 a.m. Fees are $10 per class or $50 for all day. For more information, rules and regulations, contact Lora Cline at 532-1315 or Melissa Locke at 532- 0250.

Boling Little League

The Boling Little League will hold regular registration today from 8 a.m. to noon at the Boling High School Home Economics Room.

Faith Christian Elvis concert

Elvis Impersonator Randy Hinson will be performing Ol' Time Gospel Favorites in concert for tonight's barbecue chicken dinner fundraiser to benefit the Faith Christian Academy of Wharton County. The doors will open at 6 p.m. with serving starting at 6:30 p.m. The night will include the meal, music and a silent auction until 8 p.m. A live auction and door prizes will be featured from 8-9 p.m. Tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, call 979-531- 1000 or e-mail info@FaithChristianAcade my-Wharton.org.

New Faith bilingual services

The New Faith Church - La Iglesia de Nueva Fe - will be having its first bilingual service on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. They invited the communit to come and attend the service. Bilingual services will be held every fourth Sunday at 7 p.m. New Faith Church is located at 2412 N. Walnut St., Felicia Matthews, pastor. Call 531-1453 if you need more information or for transportation.

Joint Worship Service

East Gate/New Prosperity Baptist Church and College Heights Baptist Church will celebrate a joint worship service Sunday morning, Jan. 27, at East Gate's new facility on FM 102. Sunday School will start at 8:45 a.m. and morning worship will be at 10 a.m. The service will be followed by a fellowship meal. this year, Rev. Ruiel Taylor will be the host and Rev. Don Hurley will be bringing the morning message. The commujnity is invited to attend this time of celebration.

Bingo at WCJC Senior Center

Bingo sponsored by Avalon Place is scheuduled from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28 at the WCJC Senior Center located in the LaDieu Building at 911 Boling Highway. Seniors are invited to attend.

Community Bible Study Community Bible Study is inviting the public to come to a special visitor's night from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 325 N. East Avenue.

Panhellenic Association

The Texas Gulf Coast Alumnae Panhellenic Association was formed to promote the ideals and leadership opportunities offered to college girls through the sorority system. Alumnae of sororities are invited to the next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church in Wharton. The church is located on the Boling Highway between Wharton Funeral Home and Wharton County Junior College. For more information, contact Betty Joyce Sikora at 532-2435.

First Baptist Blood Drive

The First Baptist Church-Wharton will hold a blood drive from 4:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at the church's fellowship Hall. To schedule an appointment, visit www.giveblood.org and enter sponsor code 0772 or contact Herb Mc- Cown at 532-3774.

South Texas Blood Drive

South Texas Medical Clinics, P.A. will sponsor a blood drive at the Wharton clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

First Baptist Musical

The First Baptist Church in Glen Flora, Rev. E. Gillis pastor, will be hosting a musical on Saturday. Feb. 2. The musical will begin at 7 p.m. and the public is invited.

The Traveling Lady auditions

The Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton will hold open auditions for Horton Foote's The Traveling Lady on February 3 and 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wharton County Historical Museum, 3615 N. Richmond Road in Wharton. Performances are slated for April 11-20. Director Candyce Byrne needs women who can play ages from mid to late twenties through "incredibly old," men who can play ages late twenties through late sixties, and a girl who can play age six. For more information about the play and characters, please visit www.whartonplazatheatre.org. Anyone interested in joining the backstage or front-of-the-house crews should also attend one of the auditions. Ms. Byrne will arrange special appointments for those for whom the audition dates are inconvenient. She can be contacted at 979-532-1084 or footlite@warpspeed1.net.

Wharton County Job Fair

The Wharton County Job Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Wharton Civic Center, 1924 N. Fulton St. Admission is free to those seeking a job or seeking a better job. Free booth space is available to employers. Free seminars on such topics as resume writing and dressing for success also will be free and scheduled throughout the day. For more information, contact 979-532-0999 or wedco@intertex. net. Sponsors are Wharton Economic Development Corp., City Development Corp. of El Campo, Wharton Chamber of Commerce, El Campo Chamber of Commerce, The Work- Source, Experience Works, Wharton County Junior College, and the City of Wharton.

KC Lenten Fish Fry

St. Bernard's County No. 2500 is inviting all to come and eat a good fish dinner at East Bernard's Riverside Hall this Lenten season; which runs from Friday, Feb. 8 through Good Friday, March 21. Serving will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The public may dine in or take plates to go. Thee will be a drive-through pate to go line serving you at your vehicle. Plates are priced at $7 to go, while prices inside the all are $8 for all you can eat, $3.50 for children ages 6-11, and free for children under age six. Fish will also be available at $7 per pound and can be picked up inside the hall. The menu will include fresh catfish fillets, french fries, hush puppies, cole slaw, pinto beans, tartar sauce, ketchup, cocktail sauce and iced tea (inside only.) Other drinks and beverages will be available for purchase inside the concessions area. Proceeds benefit local scholarships and charities.

CDA Mardi Gras Dance

A Mardi Gras Dance has been scheduled for 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Wharton. Music will be provided by DJ Gerard Caspar, Tough Country. Tickets are $5 per person or $10 per couple. The event is being sponsored by Court No. 1990 of the Catholic Daughters of America.

Tommy Johnson Benefit

A benefit dance, stew supper, auction and prize drawing to help cover the cost of medial expenses for Tommy Johnson Sr. is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 9. The benefit will start at 4 p.m. and will be held at Muldoon's Saloon and Steakhouse, 110 W. Railroad in El Campo. All profits will benefit the Tommy Johnson Benefit fund. Johnson is a retired Texas State game warden and Ranger for the Southwest Texas Cattle Raiser's Association. Raffle tickets are currently on sale at the Wharton County Sheriff's Office, Ryan Services, R&R Printing, R&M Firearms, D-A-M Services or by calling 979-543-3703. Tickets are priced at $10 each.

42 Tournament

The Wharton County Junior College Senior Citizen Program is hosting a 42 Tournament for seniors with prizes, gift bags and refreshments furnished by Girling Health Care on Friday Feb. 15 at the WCJC Senior Center located in the LaDieu Building at 911 Boling Highway. Sign-in and rules and regulations will be from 1-1:30 p.m. with play from 2-4 p.m. If you are 60 years of age or older you are invited to attend. To register, call 532-6430.

Boling Fair Fund Social

The 2008 Boling Fair Fund Social, Barbecue, Auction and Dance will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23. The social is from 4-5 p.m. followed by the meal from 5-8 p.m. The auction is scheduled for 6:30-9 p.m. with the dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets will be sold at the door, are priced at $7 per person and includes both the meal and the dance. Music will be provided by Party Time DJ Russell Hubenak. The auctioneers are Douglas Hubenak and Lex Forgason. This is the Boling Fair Fund Inc.'s 24th annual fundraiser.

Fishing Tournament

The Boling Booster Club will be hosting its Annual Fishing Tournament on Wednesday, March 19. The entry fee is $250 with tournament proceeds to benefit the club's scholarship fund. For more information, call 979-532-0805.

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.