Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

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 18. For any questions, please contact Brooke Domel, 532-6800.

Cooking with Faith

Faith Christian Academy "Cooking With Faith" cookbooks are on sale at the school located at 5227 FM 1301 in Burr. Cookbooks are $15 each and are full of delicious recipes from the school's students, staff and families. Quantities are limited. For information, call the school office at 531-1000.

Pre-K, K pre-registration

The Wharton Independent School District will hold pre-registration for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten through May 29. Pre-registration packages may be picked up between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Hopper Elementary School campus.

The Traveling Lady

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sinatra and Wanda White will present Horton Foote's The Traveling Lady Fridays through Sundays until April 20, at the Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 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. Season ticket holders are requested to make reservations to assure availability of seats.

Fibromyalgia Support Group

The April meeting for the Wharton Fibromyalgia Support Group will be held today at the Main Branch of the Wharton Public Library, 1920 North Fulton, from 10:30 a.m. until noon in the Harrison Conference Room. The topic this month is support products; what products are available that can help make life easier for those who suffer from chronic pain an related roblems? Where and how can the average person get these products? For more information, contact Kristine Keeney 979-532-1996 during the day or Tanya Lovett 532-0510 during the evening. Alternatively, join the newsgroup at health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Wharton- FibromyalgiaSupportGroup.

Mission workshop

Camp Zion Rising Star United Baptist Church, Spanish Camp Community will hold its annual mission workshop today. Registation starts at 9:30 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Josie Hurd and the summary will be brought by Pastor H. Long of the South Point Baptist Church of Garwood. The workshop will close out on Sunday, April 13 during the 10 a.m. service. Minister Clarence Owens Jr. is the pastor.

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. today. The cost is $7.50 per plate and served drive-through only. For information, contact Jerry Laitkep, pastor, at 543-1652 or 532-2016.

Ladies luncheon

Faith Christian Academy will host a Ladies Luncheon benefiting the scholarship fund at 11 a.m. today. The lunch will be held at The Lodge, located at 1521 FM 1301 in Wharton. The menu includes chicken spaghetti, green beans, salad, and cobbler. There will be a silent auction featuring wonderful items for all ladies to enjoy. Special guest speaker, Audrey McClung, our own Kim Singleton's mother, will provide an inspirational message sure to touch us all. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the school located at 5227 FM 1301 in Burr. For more information call 531- 1000.

Shiloh Baptist

Shiloh Baptist Church in Boling will be having the 4th year Appreciation Services for Pastor Carl Neal Sr. and family this month. The theme is "Celebrating the Man God Chose to Lead." The Anniversary hour will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Pastor Curtis Lucas and the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Richmond, will be the guest.

Turkey shoot fundraiser

The Wharton Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 4507 will hold a Turkey Shoot fundraiser starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13 at Joe's Place (Macek's), located on County Road 138 in Wharton. The shooting will include both meat and money rounds. Preregistration is available. For information, or to register in advance, call Keith Stolle at 559- 2919.

Pastor Appreciation Day

New Zion Bethel Baptist Church is inviting the public to joing them for their Pastor and wife 15th Appreciation Day on Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be Pastor Herman Clay III of the Sanctuary of Praise Fellowship Church in Houston. New Zion Bethel is located along Country Road 235 in the Jake Ford Community.

Book Review Club The Wharton Book Review Club will meet at 10 a.m.m on Monday, April 14 at the Wharton County Historical Museum, 3615 Richmond Rd. Dr. Paul Spellman will be telling of his research and reviewing his latest book, "The Lost Treasure of Buffalo Gap." This is the title of his new historical fiction book for children scheudled for publication later this year. Tickets for the review may be purchased at the door for $5. For more information, call Sally Soderquist at 532-4936 or Sammy Lou Franks at 532-4615.

First Baptist CDC fundraiser

First Baptist Child Development Center is having their Spring Fundraiser, a chicken fried steak plate dinner, from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. It will be drive-through only at First Baptist Church, 507 N. Fulton. Tickets are $7.50. For tickets, call First Baptist CDC Office at 532-1462.

Crisis Center open house

The Crisis Center, 116 E. Burleson, at the corner of Burleson & Rusk is holding an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. A ribbon cutting is set for 11 a.m. The Center is inviting the public to drop by and see their new offices. Refreshments will be served.

Baked potato fundraiser

The Wharton County Senior Citizen Center will hold a baked potato fundraiser on Wednesday, April 16. Potatoes ordered in Wharton can be picked up from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the WCJC LaDieu Building, 911 Boling Highway. East Bernard orders can be picked up at 11 a.m. at Savon Drugs and El Campo orders can be picked up at 11 a.m. at the South Texas Medical Clinic. Tickets are $6 each and pre-sale only through Friday, April 11.

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.

Red Cross open house

The American Red Cross Rio Colorado Chapter will hold a ribbon cutting and open house at their offices in the County Building at Burleson and Rusk, 116 E. Burleson, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16. It is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Extension fundraiser

The Wharton County Extension Education Association will hold a Taco Salad Lunch fundraiser on Thursday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Extension Office on the corner of Rusk and Burleson in Wharton. Meals are presale and drive through only. For tickets or more information contact Margie Krenek at 532-2285 or Peggie Hobbins at 657-4691.

American Legion fundraiser

The American Legion Post No. 87 will hold its annual fundraiser, a chicken spaghetti dinner with salad, from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at the Legion Hall. Plates are priced at $6.50. For information, contact Johnnie Gonzales at 282-9610 or 282-8680; Fred Lara at 532-1621 or James May at 532- 4866. The Ladies Auxiliary will have a bake sale during the dinner.

Swim Team

The Wharton Tiger Shark swim team will be holding registration from 4-7 p.m. on April 17 at the Wharton Civic Center in Meeting Room B. New swimmer tryouts will be held May 6-8. Adults wishing to lap swim may also register for $10.

WCJC new campus

A grand opening celebration of the Wharton County Junior College Bay City campus is schudled from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. The program will begin at 6:20 p.m. with remarks by President Betty McCrohan, Board Chairman P.D. "Danny" Gertson III, and Foundation President Ann Uher. Also scheduled is a reception, networking and campus tours. Open to the public, it will be held at 4000 Avenue F, Suite B, in Bay City.

Golf fundraiser

The StraightWay Training Center is holding a "Teed Off About Taxes" golf tournament on Thursday, April 17 at the Weston Lakes Country Club in Fulshear. Golfers and sponsorships are currently being sought. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, call Rhonda Meek at 281-798-2101.

Fish Fry

Camp Zion Rising Start UBC will sell fish dinners on Friday, April 18 at the church, located on FM 1161 in the Spanish Camp Community. Serving will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu includes fried catfish, potato salad, green beans, bread, dessert and a drink. A donation of $7 is required. For information, call 531-1288 or 532-1909.

LULAC Chapter

The League of United Latin American Citizens Wharton Council No. 4910 will hold a membership drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 at 600 W. Burleson Street. Membership dues are $21 per person. For information, call 453-0745.

Children's Ministries

The First United Methodist Church Children's Ministries program has planned a Chicken Fried Steak Dinner Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. Meals will be offered dine in or drive through and tickets are priced at $8. There will also be a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will go to help renovate and purchase new playground equipment. For tickets or information, contact the church office at 532- 1100, Cindy Ward at 282-2412 or Kim Williams at 532-0179.

Blood Drive

Gulf Coast Regional Blood center will be administering a blood drive to benefit Martha Allen, a local Wharton resident. She was recently diagnosed with Acute Leukemia and blood is needed on a daily basis for her right now. Please help by donating blood from noon to 4:30 p.m . on Monday, April 21at the C.W. Dawson Elementary Science Lab. If you have any questions, you call Linda at 532-6201.

WCJC Blood Drive

The Wharton County Junior College Student Government Association is sponsoring a Diamonds are for Donors Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, in the Pioneer Student Center. Contact Patti Lawlor at 532-6441 or www.eblooddrive. org sponsor No. 6022. Free T-shirts to donors. Bring your identification.

WCJC Boosters

The deadline for purchasing tickets for The Wharton County Junior College Booster Club's 45th Annual Athletic Banquet is Friday, April 25. The banquet is set for Tuesday, May 6 at the WCJC Pioneer Student Center, Wharton Campus. Athletes and guests will be honored with a reception at 6 p.m. and banquet at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. Athletes are admitted free of charge. Call 532-6322 for additional information or to purchase tickets.

Health Fair

The Seven Star Baptist Church is hosting its first ever Spring Community Health Fiar entitled "Spring into Good Health" on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The health fair will be held at the church, 7506 Hawes Street in Hungerford. The target audience includes children, adults and senior citizens with an anticipated audience of Spanish speaking families. The Gulf Coast Blood Donor coach will be available during the fair. The public is invited.

Saturday night movie

Caney Creek Church is sponsoring Saturday Night at the movies at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. The movie title is "The Moment After II. Free snacks, popcorn and drinks are provided. Pre-movie activities start at 6:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 7 p.m.