Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Veterans Service Office

The office of the Wharton County Veterans Service Officer will be open this today. 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.

First Baptist Blood Drive

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

Senior Serve Talent Show

The 15th Annual Senior Serve Talent Show will be held Friday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Wharton High School Auditorium. Admission is $3. The Senior Serve Dinner and Talen show on Saturday is sold-out so organizers are asking you please come and show your support on Friday night. Public viewing of the table settings will be ehld from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Wharton Civic Center. Donations are welcome. All donations and proceeds from the talent show go to benefit the 2008 Project Graduation Celebration.

Tango and Salsa lessons

Phil Hoke will be teaching the tango and salsa at the First Presbyterian Church, 1602 John Knox, Wharton. Lessons will be held Fridays, Feb. 1, 8 and 15, from 7-8 p.m. It's $3 and singles or couples are welcome. For more information, call 532-3375.

South Texas Blood Drive

South Texas Medical Clinics, P.A. will sponsor a blood drive at the Wharton clinic today 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.

East Bernard Little League

Baseball tryouts for the East Bernard Little League will be held beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Koym Field Complex. Machine League tryouts for ages 7-8 will be held at 5 p.m. at Koym Field 3. Minor League for ages 9-10 will be held at 5 p.m. at Koym Field 2. Major League for ages 10-12 will be held at 5 p.m. at Koym Field 1. And Junior League for ages 13-14 will be held at 6 p.m. at Koym Field 1. Girls kids coach pitch for ages 7-9 will be held on Koym Field 3 at 6 p.m. Minor league for girls 12 years old will be held on Koym Field 2 at 6 p.m. There are no tryouts for Junior League softball, ages 13-14. For more information contact Steven McGuire at 3335-4718 or at 713-253-4352

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.

Democratic Party

The Wharton County Democratic Party will hold a meeting on Monday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at the El Campo Public Library, 200 W. Church Street. This will be an opportunity to meet the party's local primary candidates and learn about how to be a delegate to the county and state conventions.

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. There 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.

Grease is the Word

Betty and Sylvan Miori present the musical Grease, book and music by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey; additional music by Robert Stigwood, Friday through Sunday, February 8-24, at the Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $13 for seniors 65 and older, students 24 and younger, or groups of ten or more. Curtaintime is 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. For tickets, call 979-282-2970 or visit www. whartonplazatheatre.org.

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.

Legion Post No. 226 fundraiser

American Legion Post No. 226 of East Bernard will hold its Annual Scholarship Fundraiser at the Legion Hall on Sunday, Feb. 10. A barbecue chicken meal with all the trimmings will be served starting at 11 a.m. with both dine-in and drive through available. Plates are priced at $7. There will be an auction at 12:30 p.m. followed by a free dance with music by Texas Legacy Czech Band. Proceeds will benefit the post's scholarship fund. The legion hall is located 1.5 miles south of East Bernard on Highway 60. The public is invited.

Republican Candidate Forum

The Wharton County Republican Party will host a candidate forum on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Wharton Civic Center. District Attorney candidates Dawn Allison and Josh McCown will field questions during the forum and all local Republican Party candidates will have an opportunity to address the voters. The forum is free and open to the pub lic.

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.