New physicians start practices here, house blessing for Burditts
Who's News
Liliana Johse

Two new young physicians have opened their offices in Wharton. Dr. Biju Lukose, general surgeon and Dr. V. Ranganathan, gastroenterologist. They held an open house last Thursday at their office on Regional Medical Drive. Guests were welcomed by their staff as they arrived. Stevie Jones, Christine Martinez and Danielle Cardenas, executives from the corporate office in Nashville here for the occassion. I met Mary Ann Smokler, the marketing person, who was flying back to Nashville that evening. Some of the guests were Carol and Mike Wooton, Dr. Karyn Cumberbach, Dr. Deborah McCoy, Jo Ann Balles, Cheryl Roach, Kirk and Edwina Kuykendall, Billie Jones, Richard Arnold and Katherine Gallier.

As I was leaving more guests were arriving. Dr. Lukose and his family reside in Wharton, Dr. Ramganathan is also here during the week. Please help me give them a most warm welcome.

A happy Mother's Day dear mothers.

A house blessing was held at the new home of Abby and Josh Burditt on May 5 and a surprise baby shower for the couple's first baby to be named

Logan Elizabeth due to arrive in a few more weeks. Dinner was served after the house Blessing.

Amber Barbee will be honored with a baby shower at the home of Mary Grissom May 31 from 2 to 4 p.m.

This morning at 10 a.m. the mural of churches will be dedicated. It is located across the street from New First Bank on Fulton Street. Please join the City of Wharton Beautification Committee to celebrate the contribution to Wharton made by our churches.

The Methodist Church will be honoring their graduates next Sunday during worship service and a special lunch. Congratulations to Taylor Albrecht, Eric Doetsch, Christopher Feyen, Jessica Kainer, Ethan Massey, Howard Morgan, Robert Washington and Dylan Wrench.

Happy birthday this week goes out to Lady Drake, Cathy Perez, Becky Von- DerAu, Larry Wind, Roy Ramirez, Russ Cenko and Debbie Cenko. KCs celebrating this week are Joseph Svatek, Bill Kincer and Rev. Henry Rachunek. He will be honored on his 76th birthday with a supper at St. Wenceslaus in Beasley at 7 p.m. All parishioners of St. John are invited along with his family and friends.

More birthdays this week are Laura Hudgins, Jodie Phillips, Kerri Quiggins, Susan Freese, Clint Kalina, Joan Baca, Kaye McKinny Dale Brown, Trey Berglund, Floyd Talafuse, Ronald Massey, Justin Barnes and Kelly Horton. Celebrating anniversaries are Gene and Margie Hubenak, Johnny and Kay Kunkel, Bill and Linda Lins, Pat and Becky Kubala, Stephen and Katie Laitkep and Danny and Shannon Moses.

Congratulations to Raymond Valchar, Knight of the Month and Anton and Geraldine Peter, Family of the Month for the Knights of Columbus.

Madison Howell, precious daughter of Jonathan and Melissa Howell, was baptized April 27 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church by Rev. Augustine Asante. Madison's godparents are Ryan Bubela and Chelsea Benich. Grandparents in attendance were Gloria Bubela, Allen Bubela, Ruth Kunz, Jess and Betty Howell. Also there were great-grandmother Tillie Smaistrla, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

WCJC Cosmetology instructors Jacqueline Brinlee, Joshann Gonzalez and Marlene Kolafa took their hair cutting and coloring talent to the next level at the awardwinning Redken Exchange in New York City. They learned advanced techniques in hair design and haircolor from leading experts. WCJC offers a certificate program in cosmetology.

Sorry to see Dr. Jon Snelling leave us. He has decided to retire from STMC. We wish him a happy retirement.

Come and celebrate with us the 60th anniversary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church.

We are having our annual Bazaar Sunday on the church grounds. A half-chicken barbecue dinner, sausage and all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plates are $7 each, dine in or drive-through. Raffle and auction activities are planned for the afternoon. There will be live music, a cakewalk and plantwalk, pastry and food booths. Come join us and bring the family.

An important meeting will be held at Glen Flora Cemetery at 9 a.m. This cemetery may have to be moved. It is very important that anyone who has family buried there come to the meeting.

Justin Garza is the newest member of the Wharton Lions Club.

He was welcomed last week officially as the newest member. Justin was a Junior Lion in his high school years. He is the son of Robert and Anita Garza.

Doc Blakely, Bill Havins and Pastor Paul Quiggins of the First United Methodist Church made the Cinco de Mayo celebration an unforgettable and enjoyable time for nursing home residents. Special guests for lunch were Billie Jones, Richard Arnold and J.B. Johse.

The residents also broke a pinata after lunch and pinned the tail of the donkey, a popular entertainment for young and old in Latin American countries.

Tomorrow, mothers have a special lunch and a tea time with goodies will be served at 2 p.m. A time for families to visit their mothers and spend precious time with them.

Next week we'll be celebrating National Nursing Home Week. There will be entertainment through the whole week for the residents and on Wednesday. Volunteers will be honored with a luncheon in the facility.

Congratulations on their upcoming wedding to Veronic Kocian and Shawn Jimenez of Boling.

There are mothers that are a true inspiration to us in their patient acceptance of old age and ill health.

They still find reason to rejoice and are filled with a love for life right up to the end. That pretty much describes my mother. A woman of tremendous faith who firmly believed in eternal life.

My love to all the living mothers and prayers to the ones who are in the heavenly home. Have a nice Mother's Day.