Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

TTC Deadline

The deadline to submit comments for inclusion in the Tier One Final Environmental Impact Statement is today. The public can still provide comments through the project Web site, www.keeptexasmoving.com or by mail to I-69/TTC, P.O. Box 14428, Austin, Texas 78761.

WHS prom dresses

Are you looking for something to do with your used prom dresses? Why not donate them to the Wharton High School's prom dress drive. Donations of dresses, shoes, hand bags and jewelry can be dropped off in the front office of the high school up until April 18th. For any questions, please contact Brooke Domel, 532-6800.

Pajama drive

The Caney Creek Church will be the drop site for the 2nd Annual Pajama Drive to collect new sleepwear to be distributed to children removed from their homes and placed in foster care. Every size is need from infants to teenagers and this year donations of stuffed animals for younger children is being requested. Donations can be dropped off at the church, 118 W. Milam, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The drive is organized by Emily Gertson and Shelley Deluna. For information, call Gertson at 531-9565.

EC Aquatic Center

The El Campo Aquatic Center is extending its hours for Spring Break. Hours today through Friday will be 6-11 a.m. and 1-7 p.m. Saturday hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ECAC will be closed on Easter Sunday.

First Baptist Church

The Easter week service schedule for First Baptist Church, Wharton, includes Maundy Thursday, 6 p.m. on March 20; Good Friday, 6 p.m., March 21 and Easter Sunday, 10:45 a.m., March 23.

St. Paul's Lutheran

St. Paul's Lutheran Church's Easter week schedule includes Maundy Thursday services at 7 p.m., March 20; Good Friday at 7 p.m., March 21 and an Easter Sunday Service at 8 a.m., March 23. The Easter service will be followed by a breakfast and then an Easter Egg Hunt. The services and other activities are open to the public. The church is located at 325 N. East Ave.

Comfort Wood DAR

The Comfort Wood Chapter of the DAR will meet at 2 p.m. on March 20 at Hearthstone, 1930 Briar Lane in Wharton. The education program will be presented by Philip Spenrath, ECHS government teacher and basketball coach and feature student essays based on interviews with Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Peace Tabernacle Bake Sale

Peace Tabernacle, 1416 N. Alabama Road, will be having an Easter bake sale on Friday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Easter Egg Hunt

Avalon Place residents are inviting the community to their annual Easter Egg Hunt and celebration on Friday, March 21 at 3 p.m. Participants are urged to arrive early and have photos taken with the Easter Bunny.

BSA bake sale

BSA Troop 123 of Boling will be having their annual Easter Bake Sale beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 22 at Vista Bank in Boling. Proceeds to benefit summer camp fees.

Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for pictures during the Saturday, March 22 Palacios Main Street Market Days event.

Sunrise service

Camp Zion Rising Star Baptist Church will be having a sunrise service at 5 a.m. on Sunday, March 23. Everyone is invited. Breakfast will be served.

Legion egg hunt

A community Easter egg hunt will be held starting at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 23 at the Wharton American Legion Hall. The event is open to the public and is for children from toddlers to sixth grade.

Relay for Life

The Relay For Life of Wharton County will be holding classes on the new online Web site. All team captains (new and current) need to attend one of the meetings listed. If you are not able to attend, please send one of your team members in your place. El Campo's training will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 24 at the El Campo Public Library's Meeting Room. Wharton's training will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25 at the Wharton Public Library's Meeting Room. If you have any questions, contact Relay For Life of Wharton County at events.cancer. org/rflwhartoncotx.

Panhellenic Association

The Texas Gulf Coast Panhellenic Association was formed to promote the ideals and leadership opportunities offered to college girls through the soroity system. Alumnae of sororities are invited to the next meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, in the Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church in Wharton. The church is located on the Boling Highway adjacent to Wharton County Junior College. For more information, contact Betty Joyce Sikora at 979-532-2435.

Church revival

The members of Shiloh Baptist Church would like to invite area residents and families to join them for a three-day revival March 26-27-28 in Boling. Services will be at 7 p.m. nightly.

KC Lenten Fish Fry

East Bernard Knights of Columbus Chapter No. 2500 is inviting all to come and eat a good fish dinner at East Bernard's Riverside Hall on Friday's during the Lenten season; which runs 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 plate to go line serving you at your vehicle. Plates are priced at $7 to go, while prices inside the hall 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.

Crescent Ex-Students

The Crescent Ex-Students Reunion will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 at the Wharton County Fairgrounds. All ex-students, faculty and friends are invited to attend, including those from Jones Creek and Lake View schools.

KC concert and dance Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88s will return to Riverside Hall in East Bernard for a performance on Saturday, March 29 from 8 p.m. to midnight. The show is sponsored by Knights of Columbus No. 2500 of East Bernard. Admission is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. For tickets, table reservations and information, call 335-6301. One thousand raffle tickets will be sold for 25 prizes with the drawing taking place during the dance. Everyone is invited but it is a "No Smoking" event.

RMC Golf Classic

The 11th Annual Rice Medical Center Four-Player Scramble Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 at the Eagle Lake Golf Course. The field will be limited to 30 teams with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Prizes will be paid out for the top three places along with closest to the hole, long drive and other prizes and giveaways. The entry fee is $200 per team or $50 for individual player and includes meals and a gift. The meal will be served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Rice Medical Foundation and RMC Employee Volunteers. The entry deadline is March 21. For information, contact Noble Anderson or Kurt Sunderman at 979-234-5571.

Knights fundraiser

The Knights of Columbus No. 3262 will hold a pork steak dinner fundrasier on Sunday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals are pre-sale and drive through only. For tickets, contact Richard Zahn at 282-2451 or Marvin Macek at 532-3664.

Fried Catfish Dinner

First Baptist Church, 9719 Beadle Street, in Lane City will hold a Fried Catfish Dinner with season potatoes, cole slaw, beans and cake from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. The cost is $7.50 per plate and served drivethrough only. For information, contact Jerry Laitkep, pastor, at 543-1652 or 532-2016.

Blood pressure check

The CVS Pharmacy location in Wharton, 1710 N. Richmond Rd., will be holding free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings on Thursday, April 16. Visit the company Web site at CVS.com for more information.

Bilingual services

The New Faith Church - La Iglesia de Nueva Fe - is now holding bilingual services the 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.

Heather's Dream

The Heather's Dream Cancer Support Group for cancer patients, survivors and families will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first Monday of every month at the Wharton County Library in Wharton. For information, call Misty at 361-258-1611.

AAU track

Anyone between the ages of 7 and 13 and not currently participating in a junior high track and field program and would like to join the Wharton Wave, an AAU Spring and Summer track and field program can do so by reporting to the Jr. High Track on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. and talk to coach Edwards. First time members need to bring a copy of their birth certificate and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. For information, contact Curtis W. Evans at 282-9556.

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.