Covert Bus Shelter Campaign uncovered at local H-E-B
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

The first of what local organizers say will eventually be 30 enclosed bus shelters in Wharton County was unveiled last Tuesday at its Wharton HE B location to help kick off the Covert Bus Shelter Campaign.

One of two pre-existing enclosed shelters, Colorado Valley Transit's Executive Director Vastene Olier said this first was actually funded out of insurance money. The next 29, she said, will be funded mainly by local contributions.

Colorado Valley Transit is the public transportation provider in Wharton County.

"It was one of only two enclosed locations (the other is on Barfield Lane) but it was hit by a truck," she said. "It was initially built with federal dollars but we used the insurance money to help build the new one. It's 8-foot-by-10-foot in size while the others will probably six-by-eight."

In a letter supporting the bus shelter campaign, Judge John Murrile wrote that in addition to the shelters themselves, the county is hoping to establish park and ride sites in Boling, East Bernard and Louise to make bus service more available in the community. In the letter, he reported the Gulf Coast Medical Foundation has granted $40,000 to begin the campaign effort to raise $150,000.

Among those attending the kick-off event was Louise ISD Superintendent Andy Peters who said he was hopeful one of the shelters could be located on the district's campus and the proposed park and ride would also be within a reasonable walking distance.

Murrile was at the event representing the county. Others attending included Olier; Karen Heintschel, Wharton Economic Development Corporation; Diane Gertson, Texas Extension; Sylvan Miori, Gulf Coast Medical Foundation; and Scott Lovejoy, H-E-B store manager.

As part of the program, Olier and Marilyn Sebesta, who is a member of the campaign committee, announced three different programs designed to raise funds.

The main promotional activity is a slogan contest open to all school age children in Wharton County. The poster guidelines include using half a poster board, 14-inches-by-22-inches and attaching an identification label on the backside in the upper right hand corner. The objective of the posters is to encourage people to ride the transit, tell advantages of riding public transit and to inform the public of the new stops and covered shelters. There will be one prize winner per school and one grand prize winner. The poster submission deadline is Nov. 21. More information is available by calling the Extension Office at 532-3371.

Students are also being asked to help raise funds by participating in community service activities with donated prizes being presented to the top three individual and top three clubs/ classes. A list of activities is available and all money raised should be turned into the Wharton County Judge's Office by April 24. For more information, call the judge's office at 532-4612.

The second major fundraiser is the "Adopt a Bus Shelter Campaign," which is soliciting direct, tax deductible donations at several levels ranging from "Gold Donor" at $5,000 and up; to "Other," from $1-$1,249. Donors will be recognized based on the amount of their donation. Donations can be made on line at www.gotransit.org by clicking on "partner with the transit" and then clicking on donation to make a secure credit card donation. Donation forms can be obtained by calling 1-800-548-1068, ext. 16 or e-mailing cvt@gotransit.org.