Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

National Day of Prayer

A National Day of Prayer observation is planned for Wharton County at Caney Creek Church, 118 W. Milam on Thursday, May 1. The observation is open to the public and will be held from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. and noon to 1 a.m. for a time of prayer for government, military, media, business, education, church and family.

Select baseball

A Wharton age 6 and under select baseball team is now being organized. Interested persons can contact Robert Acosta at 533- 9221 or Bobby Munoz at 453-0073 for information. You are asked to contact Acosta or Munoz before the end of the current Little League season.

Pajama drive

Donations are still being accepted for this year's 2nd Annual Pajama Drive. The Caney Creek Church is the drop site for drive to collect new sleepwear to be distributed to children removed form the homes an 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.

River Road 4-H

River Road 4-H will be having their monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 at the Extension Office in Wharton. Fair activities will be discussed. Attendance is important.

Comfort Wood Chapter

Comfort Wood Chapter, DAR will have their annual Memorial/Scholarship Luncheon in the Hudgins Room, WCJC on Thursday May 1, at 12:30.

Hidden Garden Tour

The Fourth Annual Hidden Garden Tour will be held from 2-5 p.m. the weekends of May 3-4 and May 10-11. Tickets are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Advance tickets are available during business hours at the Wharton Chamber of Commerce, Wharton County Historical Museum, Charles Chambers State Farm Office and all local banks. Tickets and maps are available on tour days at each garden during tour hours. This year's featured gardens include Coi and Guy Guttenberger, 331 Lazy Lane, Maureen and David Voulgaris, 1600 E. Boling Highway, Pat and Doc Blakely 2639 County Road 154, Avalon Nursing Home, 1405 Valhalla Drive and Becky Smith and Suzanne Dworsky, 662 Mesquite Hills in Hungerford. For information visit the Web site at www.whartonhiddengardentour.com.

UMC Rummage Sale

The First United Methodist Church in Wharton, located next to the WCJC campus on Boling Highway, will hold a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 3. Proceeds will go to benefit the church's youth programs.

Plant sale

The Wharton Garden Club will be holding a plant and flower show and craft sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, at Dinosaur Park, located off Richmond Road at the River.

Juneteenth fundraiser

There will be a BBQ plate sale to benefit this year's El Campo Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, May 3, at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket price is $6. Please buy your tickets in advance to help support the festivities. The Juneteenth Committee will be signing up volunteers to help with this year's celebration on Sunday, May 4, at Willie Bell Park in El Campo from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you are interested call Loretta Johnson at 1-832-967-3659.

Mission workshop

The First Baptist Church of Glen Flora, Rev. E. Gillis pastor, will be holding its annual mission workshop starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. The public is invited to attend. The church is located in Glen Flora off of FM 102. For information, call Marva Allen at 532-2044.

Summer play

This year's Litefooter Summer Youth Program gets started this weekend with registration and auditions on Sunday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton. Director Roshunda Jones will audition youngsters ages six through sixteen for roles in a musical version of Grimm's fairy tale Enchanted Sleeping Beauty as retold by Vera Morris, with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur. The production will be staged June 26-29. A $25 registration fee is due at sign-up. For additional information, please contact Ms. Jones at 713-703-0343.

Benefit service

The New Light Progressive Church of God in Christ is hosting a benefit for Rev. Jesse Williams at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 at Caney Creek Church, 118 W. Milam. New Light is inviting church congregations, choirs or soloists to attend. Williams has been diagnosed with a congenital heart disease and is awaiting a transplant. For information, contact Mammie Willer at 979-548-2691 or Sandra Gale Williams at 979-618-6085.

Turkey shoot fundraiser

The Wharton Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 4507 has rescheduled its Turkey Shoot fundraiser for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, 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.

WCJC Music Recitals

The Wharton County Junior College Center for the Arts Series is sponsoring a pair of music major recitals at the Horton Foote Theater. The Freshman Music Majors Recital will be held Monday, May 5 with the Sophomore Music Majors Recital scheduled for Tuesday, May 6. Both performances will start at 7:30 p.m. and are free to the public.

Fish fry

The Greater St. Stephen Church will hold a fish fry and chicken wings dinner on Monday, May 5 starting at 10 a.m. until sold out. Plates are priced at $8. For information, contact the church at 282-2284.

Family Council Meeting

Wharton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will hold a 'Family Council Meeting' at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 at the WNRC Dining Hall. Resident family members are invited to come and meet other family members and loved ones. Refreshments will be served.

Garden Club

The May 8 meeting of the Wharton Garden Club will be a social, that includes picnic lunch, plant exchange and new officer installation. The meeting will start at 11 a.m. and held at Diane Matula's home at 612 N. Resident. Guests are always welcome.

Bake sale

A pre-Mother's Day Bake Sale will be held starting at 7 a.m. on May 9 in front of he Plaza Theatre. The sale is being sponsored by the Catholic Daughters Court No. 1990.

Senior's 42 tourney

The Wharton County Junior College Senior Citizen Program is inviting seniors to compete in a 42 tournament with prizes, gift bags and refreshments furnished by Angels Care Home Health. The tournament is set for Friday, May 9 with sign-in and rules and regulations meeting from 1-1:30 p.m. and tournament play from 2-4 p.m. at the WCJC Senior Center located in the LaDieu Building at 911 Boling Highway on the college campus. To register, call 532-6430. Open to persons ages 60 or older.

WTHS Bake Sale

The Wharton Training High School Alumni and Ex-Students Association will hold a bake sale starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the East Gate Shopping Center in front of Palais Royal. It will feature an assortment of baked goods. Contact persons are Chester Houston at 532-0916 and Earline Phillips 532-5214.

Church Bazaar and BBQ

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church of Wharton is holding its 60th Anniversary annual Bazaar and Barbecue Dinner on Sunday, May 11 on the church grounds at 506 S. East Ave. A barbecue dinner of a half chicken and sausage with all side dishes will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plates are $7 each and available for dining in or drive through service. An afternoon of activities including an auction, raffle, music provided live by Grupo Soledad, Victor Martinez y Puro Conjuntazo and a DJ, games, cake walk, plant walk, pastry, food booths and more are planned. The auction starts at 1 p.m. Meal and raffle tickets may be purchased at the rectory during office hours and after Saturday and Sunday Mass.

Book Review Club

The deadline for purchasing tickets for the next Wharton Book Review Club program is noon on Thursday, May 8. Tickets are $15 and include the program, featuring "Swing Riders" with Mike and Doc Blakely, and a catered lunch by Chef Shane of WCJC. The program will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 12 in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church. To purchase tickets, call Sally Soderquist at 532-4936, Marion Nordhof at 532-2936 or Sammy Lou Franks at 532-4615. Seating will be ticket sales only for members or guests.

Senior Class Mass

The Catholic Daughters Court St. Bernadette No. 1108 is sponsoring a mass and worship service in honor of the 2008 Senior Class at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard. All seniors and their families are invited.

EB Booster banquet

The East Bernard Athletic Booster Club All Sports Banquet will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at the American Legion Hall. The meal will be chicken fried steak and tickets are priced at $8. Meals will be served starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the High School Office, Savon Drugs, Vincek's Smokehouse and E.B. Rice Marketing through May 7.

JHCWH Golf Tournament

The inaugural Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt Golf Tournament is scheduled for May 17 at Newgulf Golf Club. The tournament will be a four-man string scramble. Entry fee is $200 per team. Morning and afternoon flights are available. Proceeds will benefit the Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt Scholarship Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide scholarships for students entering the wildlife management and biology fields. For Information cal, 832-642-0711 or e-mail JHCWH@yahoo.com.

B and G Club Golf

The Boys and Girls Club of Wharton 7th Annual Dave Williams Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at the Wharton Country Club. The tournament is a four-man handicapped scramble. The entry fee is $60 per player or $240 per team and includes card, green fees, food, drinks and souvenir cap. All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Wharton. To register or for more information call 533-2317.

Fiesta Hispano Americana

Fiesta Hispano Americana Contestant registration has begun. Little Mister and Miss Contestants ages are 5-9. Jr. Miss Contestants ages are 10-13. And Queen contestants ages are from 14-18. The deadline for entry is May 31. For information, contact Felicia Compian at 832-455-4553 or visit www. fiestahispano-wharton.com.