Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Biblical Women

A seminar on Biblical Equality of Women will continue today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wharton Public Library Meeting Room. For more information, call Kathy Wozniak at 832-643-1357 or Pat Joyce at 532-2283. There is no charge.

Football camp

The Wharton Youth Football League will hold a pre-season skills and drills camp at Wharton Junior High July 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration fee is $25 with the league offering a $10 discount for players registering for the regular season. 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.

Foote honored

The Plaza Theatre on the Square cordially invites you to a Southern Luncheon honoring Lamplighter of the Year Horton Foote today. Luncheon is served at 11:30 a.m. at Pat-a-Cake's Cascade Room, 119 South Fulton, after which festivities move across the Square to the Plaza Theatre for dessert, coffee and entertainment that includes local historians discussing Foote's Wharton, a film of Mr. Foote reading his one-act play "The Actor," presentation of the 2008 Lamplighter of the Year Award, and announcement of the Plaza's 2008-2009 season. Tickets are $50, with proceeds benefiting the Light Up The Square Fund for restoration of the historic building. Attire is dressy-casual, with hats encouraged for those so inclined. For tickets, call 282-2970 or visit www.whartonplazatheatre. org.

Wallis Legion Dance

The Wallis American Legion Dance Club is hosting a dance at the Wallis American Legion Hall on Saturday, July 19 from 8-11:30 p.m. Music will be provided by Central Texas Sounds. The public is invited and there is a $7 guest fee. Coffee will be served and door prizes will be awarded. For information, call 979-478-6548.

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.

WCTA tennis tourney

The deadline for entering this year's 80th Annual Wharton County Tennis Association Adult Tennis Tournament is July 21. The tournament will be held the weeks of July 24- Aug. 2 in Wharton. Players will arrange their own matches during the week and the finals will be played Sunday, Aug. 3. The events are men's and women's singles and doubles in A and B Divisions. Registration forms are available from Wharton ISD Tennis Coach Roben Eller and Travis Smith and at the Wharton Journal-Spectator office, Dr. John Kieler's office and Trey Maffett's office.

WISD athletics meeting

There will be an important parent-student meeting for all Wharton ISD athletes from seventh grade through seniors at 7 p.m., July 22 in the Wharton Junior High Gymnasium. New Athletic Director Stacey Hunt will introduce his coaching staff and go over new policies. The required paper work will also be distributed for all participants. The paperwork includes physical forms that must be completed prior to the first day of practice.High School football, volleyball and tennis workouts start on Aug. 4.

Shiloh Baptist VBS

Shiloh Baptist Church in Boling will host VBS July23-25 nightly from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to register or needs transportation may call Angela Harris at 282- 8008.

KC fundraiser

A Knights of Columbus No. 3262 will be holding a hamburger dinner with trimmings fundraiser for building renovations from 5-7 p.m. on Thurday, July 24 at the KC Hall, 2820 N. Fulton. The dinner is pre-sale/drive through only. Contact Richard Zahn, 282-2451 or Marvin Macek, 532-3664, for tickets.

KC Blood Drive

A Knights of Columbus Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, July 24 from 4-8 p.m at the Wharton KC Hall. Hamburgers provided to donors. Call Coby Frankum at 979-257- 9475 to sign up or for more information.

Angel Food Ministry

The Angel Food Ministry delivery will take place on July 26 from 8:30- 10 a.m. For more information contact Caney Creek Church at 532-2533.

Do Well Be Well

Registration is still being accepted for Do Well Be Well with Diabetes, an educational program to help people with type 2 diabetes learn the skills they need to understand and manage their diabetes. Do Well Be Well is a five week program sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension, Gulf Coast Medical Center, South Texas Medical Clinics and El Campo Memorial Hospital. Classes will be held each Monday, beginning July 28 at 5:30 pm. at the Wharton County Fairgrounds, Directors Room. Cost is $10. Contact Jaime at 532-3310 to register.

Seniors Bingo

The Wharton County Junior College Senior Citizen Program is holding Bingo for seniors with prizes and refreshments furnished by Avalon Nursing Home from 2-3 p.m. on Monday, July 28 in the WCJC Senior Center in the LiDieu Building, 911 Boling Highway.

Caney Creek VBS

Caney Creek Church VBS presents "Jerusalem Marketplace: Where Jesus walked to the cross," Aug. 3- 7 at 6:30 p.m. A Bibletimes experience, it offers families an interactive study of life as it was when Jesus lived on earth. Come to know and understand customs of the era. For more information or registration by phone call 532-2533.

Christian Concert

David Kauffman will be performing in Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8 at Holy Family Catholic Church. The concert is free and a free will offering will be collected. Kauffman will also offer a prayer journaling workshop from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9 in the Alpha Room. Workshop fee is $25 and includes journal and CD. For workshop reservations, call Sharon at 282- 9646.

Training with the Tigers

The Wharton Athletic Booster Club will be hosting "Training with the Tigers" on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Tiger Stadium. WHS intersquad scrimmages will be held from 10 a.m. to noon followed by an introduction of the coaches, players and cheerleaders at 12:15 p.m. Mini-camps for football players and cheerleaders from Kindergarten to 8th grade will be held from 12:30- 1:30 p.m.; pre-registration is NOT required. Join in on the fun, lunch is available for $2. All Tiger Fans are invited to attend!

Boling Boosters

The Boling Athletic Booster Club will hold it's annual "Hot Dogs With The Dogs" on Saturday Aug. 9. Parents and boosters will be able to meet the football and volleyball teams, cheerleaders and coaches. Inner squad scrimmages will start at approxmiately 10 a.m. A pep rally will follow at noon and the luncheon will be held in the high school cafeteria. Membership to the booster club is only $5 and they will be selling new green booster shirts.

Punt, Pass and Kick

The Wharton Youth Football League is hosting an NFL and Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Wharton High School Practice Field. The PPK competition is open to both boys and girls ages 8-15 and there is no fee to participate. Participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate to register. No cleats allowed. For information or to register, contact Matthew Watkins at 533-0288.

WYFL Texans tickets

The Wharton Youth Football League is selling tickets to the Houston Texans-Tampa Bay Buccaneer Aug. 28 pre-season football game. Tickets are priced at $30 and must be purchased by Aug. 20. The tickets sales will benefit the local youth football program. For tickets, call Matthew Watkins at 533-0288.

Fiesta Parade

Parade applications for the Fiesta on tthe Square, scheduled for Saturday Sept. 6 in Wharton, are now available. The sign-up deadline is Sept. 1. Entry is free. For information or for an application, conatact Felicia Compian at 832-445-4553 or e-mail fiestahis panoamericana@yahoo.com.

Wharton School Start The Wharton ISD start date for students will be Sept. 2, the Tuesday after Labor Day.

Spay/Neuter assistance

The Matagorda County SPCA has a program to help people who can't afford the cost of spay/neuter surgery for their dogs/ cats. The program includes Wharton, Jackson, Matagorda and the southern part of Colorado County. Please call the SPCA at 979-323-8787 for information about the program or for an application. "If you want to help us out with this effort to get dogs/cats sterilized. Please give us a call."

Fiesta vendor booths

Booth vendor applications for the Fiesta on the Square on Saturday Sept. 6, are now available. Deadline for applications is Aug. 30. For information, contac Yvonne Compian at 532-2107 or fiestahispanoamerican a@yahoo.com.

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.

Heather's Dream

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

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.