Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Summer at the library

The Wharton County Library will be hosting Lisa Janstram and a program of storytelling, puppets, music and more at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 as part of this summer's Texas Reading Club Jubilee program. Other public programs scheduled for the week include preschool story time at 9:30 a.m. and young adult activity hour at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 23; craft time at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 and movie time at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25.

Habitat for Humanity

Low income ($14,350-$37,920 per year depending on family size) persons who are interested in buying a home to be built with Habitat for Humanity should call the message phone at 282-9302 and leave your name and phone number to begin the application process. The home will be built in Boling in 2009.

Freedom Fest

Registration for this year's Wharton County Freedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off, Car and Motorcycle Show and vendor booths are now being accepted. Registration forms are available from the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and on the chamber Web site at www.whartonchamber.com. Cook-Off entry forms must be received by June 20 and vendor booth spaced but be reserved and paid in full by the same date. This year's Freedom Fest celebration is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 27-28.

Wharton Wave Track

The Wharton Wave Track Meet will be held today at Tiger Stadium. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. with a coaches meeting at 8 a.m. and start time of 8:30 a.. Admission is $5 for athletes, $4 for spectators with children ages 5 and under free. The meet is sanctioned by the AAU Gulf Association and will use current AAU rules and regulations. For information, contact Curtis W. Evans at 282-9556.

Bilingual services

The New Faith Church - La Iglesia de Nueva Fe - is now holding bilingual services every fourth Sunday of the month 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.

Juneteenth Festival

The Wharton Training High School Wolves will conclude their 11th Annual Juneteenth Festival today. A church service will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Stevens Baptist Church with a farewell luncheon starting at 1 p.m. at Wharton Steak and Seafood Restaurant. Lunch is not included in the dues and is optional.

First Baptist Speaker

First Baptist Church in Wharton will have Coach Russell Roberts as guest speaker in the worship service at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 22. Coach Roberts was Athletic Director in Wharton High School through the 2006-07 school year.

Confederate Veterans

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp No. 2105 of Wharton County will be honoring a Confederate Veteran buried at Garden of Memories Cemetery on Sunday, June 22 at 2 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public.

Harvesting the Future

"Harvesting the Future" is the theme for Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center's annual field day, scheduled June 24 at the David R. Wintermann Rice Research Station, three miles northwest of Eagle Lake on FM 102. The event, scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m., will feature discussions on the farm bill, outlooks on harvest and tours. The public is invited to the free event. A barbecue dinner will be provided. For more information, contact Coleen Meitzen at the Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Eagle Lake at 979-234-3578, cmeitzen@elc.net.

Titanic Exhibition

Comfort Wood Chapter, DAR is inviting the public to join them in going to Moody Gardens in Galveston for the Titanic Exhibition on Tuesday, June 24. The group will meet at the Wharton Chamber of Commerce in the morning and carpool. The group will be returning around 5 p.m. If you are interested, please call SeeWee Dupuy at 532-5865 as soon as possible.

First Methodist VBS

The Vacation Bible School "Power Lab" is being offered at First United Methodist Church, 1717 Pioneer (next to the college) is being held Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27, 9 a.m. to noon each day. Children ages 4 through those just completing fifth grade are welcome to come join in "Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power." Activities include amazing crafts, wacky snacks, mind-blowing Bible adventures, hyperspeed games, incredible music, hands-on mission project, new friends, and more "powerful" fun. For more info or to register call Lillian Carolan, 5323925, or the church office, 532-1100.

Business education

Reservations are now being taken for "Top 10 Mistakes Employers make in Hiring, Firing and Paying Employees" to be presented by Joe Bontke, Outreach Director for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Houston Division Office. There will be two sessions on Tuesday, June 24 from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. at the Northside Education Center in El Campo. Free registration, but seating will be limited, so call (979)543-6750 today. Co-sponsored by City Development Corp. of El Campo, Northside Education Center, the Worksource and the U of H/Coastal Plains Small Business Development Center.

ACS BBQ fundraiser

The American Cancer Society Lifesavers Relay for Life team is holding a BBQ Plate fundraiser on Tuesday, June 24 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Country Pride located on the Loop south of El Campo's Wal-Mart SuperCenter. The plate will consist of barbecue brisket, sausage and side dishes. Dessert is banana pudding. Tickets are available at Mid Coast Medical Clinic for $7 each.

Emergency preparedness

The Emergency Preparedness Expo 2008 being held from 2-7 p.m. at the Wharton Civic Center on Tuesday, June 24. The event is being hosted by the Wharton County Office of Emergency Management. A number of information booths covering a wide range of ways to prepare will be set up and several speakers will make presentations starting at 2:15 p.m. In addition, several speakers will be making presentations ranging hurricanes to evacuation reasoning and Colorado River flooding. The first speaker will start at 2:15 with new speakers starting about every 45 minutes. There will also be door prizes and free hot dogs served starting at 5 p.m.

WCJC blood drive

The Wharton County Junior College Spirit of America Blood Drive is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pioneer Student Center on Wednesday, June 25. Contact Patti Lawlor at 532-6441 or www.eblooddrive.com sponsor no. 6022. Donate twice before Sept. 30 and receive a $20 Target gift card. Free T-shirts to donors.

Sleeping Beauty

Von-Wil Ford presents the Litefooters summer musical, Enchanted Sleeping Beauty, June 26 through 29 at the Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton. The Brothers Grimm fairy tale is adapted by Vera Morris with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors 65 and older or groups of ten or more, $5 for students 24 and younger, and $3 each for members of authorized youth groups. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. during Freedom Fest on Saturday, June 27; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 28. For tickets, call 979-282-2970 or visit www.whartonplazatheatre. org.

Junior tennis tourney

The entry deadline for the Wharton County Texas Association Junior Tennis Tournament is June 24 with the tournament set for June 28-29 at the El Campo High Tennis Courts. Ryan Reck is the tournament director. Entry forms are available from All-Star Sports and Things in El Campo, Coach Novicke in East Bernard, Coach Black in Boling and Coach Eller and Dr. John Kieler in Wharton.

Softball tournament

The Wharton Freedom Fest Softball Tournament will be plated Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29 at Pleasure Park. A Men's Class C tourney, it will use ASA rules modified. The entry fee is $125 per team along with umpire fees. Award are 15 T-shirts for first and second place and 10 All-Tournament T-shirts. For entry information, contact Curtis Evans, 282-9556 or Curtis Edwards, 532-0491.

Women's Conference

The 20th Century District Association Mission Society is inviting the public to their annual Women's Conference starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28 at the Camp Zion Rising Star United Baptist Church. The contact person is Julia Moses, 532-5291.

Fish Fry

The mission team at College Heights Baptist Church is hosting a Fried Fish Plate fundraiser from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the church located at 1515 Briar Lane. Plates are presale and drive through only and are $7.50 each and feature fried catfish, hush puppies, coleslaw and pinto beans. To get tickets, call 532-4442 or 532- 0233. Proceeds go to the team which will be holding two Vacation Bible Schools in Colorado at the end of July.

Holy Family Bazaar

The 20th Annual Holy Family Catholic Church Bazaar in Wharton will be held Sunday, June 29 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2820 N. Fulton. A barbecue pork steak and sausage meal with side dishes will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. An auction, country store and various games will be offered throughout the afternoon. Pre-sale meal tickets are priced $7 and available at the rectory during business hours and after all Saturday and Sunday masses. Plates will be $7.50 at the door.

Youth Soccer

The Wharton Youth Soccer League is accepting early, mail-in registration through June 30. The league is open to boys and girls ages 4-13 as of Sept. 1. The current registration fee is $30 per player. After June 30, the fee is $40. Registration forms are available at Custom Creations, 202 N. Houston St. For information, call Anna Rivera at 532-8296 or Theresa Hall at 532-8968.

Agriculture scholarship

The Wharton County Beef and Forages Committee is taking applications for the Wharton County Beef and Forages Committee Scholarship. One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded and paid over two semesters. To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 60 credit hours or be enrolled in a graduate or veterinary school program. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in an agriculturally related field. Applications may be picked up at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Wharton County office or online at wharton-tx.tamu.edu. Applications are due July 1, 2008. For more information, call 532- 3310.

Barbecue chicken

The Sons of the American Legion Squadron No. 226 will host its annual Fourth of July barbecued chicken dinner on Sunday, July 6 at the American Legion Hall in East Bernard. Plates, which are $7.50 each, will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with both dine-in and carryout available. Homemade pastries can also be purchased. A large raffle is also planned, with over $3,000 worth of prizes offered. Only 750 tickets will be sold. There are no pre-sale tickets. All tickets will be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit the Sons of the American Legion's various charities and scholarships.

Home-based business

A "So You Want to Start Your Own Home-Based Business in Texas!" interactive and information workshop is scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 at the El Campo Northside Education Center. Registration is free but seating is limited. To reserve a space, call 979-543-6750. Class materials and refreshments provided.

Biblical Womanhood

A seminar on Biblical womanhood will be held on July 12 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wharton Public Library Meeting Room. For reservations, call Kathy Wozniak at 832-643-1357 or Pat Joyce at 532-2283. There is no charge but a light lunch will be provided and the organizers need to know for how many to prepare.

Football camp

The Wharton Youth Football League will hold a pre-season skills and drills camp at Wharton Junior High on July 12 and July 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration fee for both days is $25. The camp is open to boys ages 6-12. The camp will introduce players to the fundamentals of football. For more information, call Pete Esposito at 979-559-0074 or e-mail pd_espo@yahoo.com.

Junior Art League

The Wharton Junior Art League is conducting a workshop July 14-18. Reservations are limited. Call 532-2380 or 532-1435 for information.

Vacation Bible School

St. Paul Lutheran, First Presbyterian and St. Thomas Episcopal Churches are hosting their annual joint Vacation Bible School the Week of Sunday, July 20 to Thursday, July 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. St. Paul Lutheran will be the site of this year's event with the exciting theme of "Rainforest Adventure!" Dinner will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. and then youngsters will engage in activities ranging from Bible storytelling to crafts and games, music and science experiments. All children from pre-K to entering 6th grade are invited to attend. St. Paul is located at 325 N. East Ave. at the corner of Alabama and East. Anyone wishing to register or needing more information may call director Debbi Dimmick at 532-0155 or the church office at 532-2315.

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.