Wharton Journal-Spectator (Wharton, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 80, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 5, 2013 Page: 2 of 14
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A2
Wharton Journal-Spectator, Saturday, October 5, 2013
journal-spectator.com
Wharton’s Local Weather
Checkjournal-spectator.com for current conditions and updated forecasts
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91/73
91/61
78/50
82/52
83/57
Partly
Slight chance
Slight chance
Mainly
Abundant
cloudy. A
of a Llumder-
of a thunder-
sunny. Highs
sunshine.
stray shower
storm.
storm.
in the low
1 lighs in the
or thunder-
80s and lows
I ow 80s and
storm is pos-
in the low
lows in the
sible. High
9 IF.
50s.
upper 50s.
©2009 American Profile Hometown Content Service
Wine and Arts Fair
flourishes in five years
Ron
Sanders
Wharton
Chamber News
When the Mon-
terey Square Wine
and Arts Fair started
five years ago, it
might have been
surprising — if not
shocking — that
something like that
not just occur, but
flourish, in Wharton.
What a sight! Sidewalks
filled with people from all
over opening their wallets
to shop local merchants,
dine in our restaurants, and
perhaps fill up the gas tank
while they are still here, too.
The annual festival has
grown each year, with a size-
able crowd from not only all
corners of Wharton County
but Fort Bend, Victoria and
Houston.
And since then, the bar
has risen. Another festival
was born, marking a key
historic event in our history,
Juneteenth.
Freedom Fest is deep in a
process of reinvention itself,
which, we think, will make
it even more popular and
stronger after it is com-
pleted.
And look at the Run for
Katie occurring today! What
a blessing, and what a state-
ment about what our town
can do.
Why?
First off, the time has to
be right. Then, the objective
has to be worthy. Then, the
organizational team has to
be stronger than steel. Then,
it has to be visionary, evolv-
ing as times change and
ensuring new leadership
after the current leadership
is ready to move on.
The formula of one idea,
one person often works, but
not long enough for a process
of succession for the long
haul.
Lordy, enough preaching.
The Wine and Arts Fair
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Networking with neighbors state
Encouraging taxpayer in-
put and keeping local citizens
informed are top priorities
for your county judge. Today’s
column lists a number of
forums we regularly use to
connect with countywide resi-
dents and network with city
officials, neighboring counties
and state agencies. Team-
work and transparency are
the cornerstones to increas-
ing public trust, achieving
needed support and enhanc-
ing our county’s ability to
accomplish its purpose.
• Local county forums:
Monthly newspaper columns,
biweekly radio spots and
town hall meetings provide
our Wharton County taxpay-
ers with timely briefings on
commissioners’ court deci-
sions, legislative updates,
burn bans and other county-
wide activities.
Internally, your county of-
ficials and department heads
meet the first Thursday of
each month to share policy
updates, solicit employee
input and provide answers to
budget, personnel, and other
administrative questions.
Local city managers and
economic development direc-
tors meet with your county
judge on the first Wednesday
of each month to convey
ideas, solicit support, discuss
cost-sharing projects and
collaborate on strategies that
best promote our county-wide
assets and ensure continued
economic growth.
Your county commis-
sioners understand the
importance of reaching out
and educating our younger
voters and future community
leaders. Each April, approxi-
mately 150 countywide high
school students are invited
to Wharton for our County
Government Day program
that includes meeting with
elected officials, sitting in on
a district court proceeding
and wrapping the day up
with an eye-opening tour of
our Wharton County Jail.
Other in-county forums
include: monthly groundwa-
ter district meetings (second
Tuesday), county wide advi-
sory meetings (second Thurs-
day), economic development
meetings (third Monday),
East Bernard community
breakfast (every Wednesday),
and a plethora of Rotary,
Lions, Chamber and other
weekly civic luncheons, ban-
quets and bazaars.
• Regional Forums:
Your Wharton County of-
ficials regularly collaborate
with neighboring counties
to strengthen legislative
coalitions, share assets and
develop effective strategies
for achieving regional needs.
Your county judge serves
on the board of directors of
the Houston Galveston Area
Council which is a 13-county
planning region located along
the Texas Gulf Coast. On the
third Tuesday of each month,
32 area judges, commission-
ers and mayors collaborate
on regional economic develop-
ment, transportation plan-
ning, cooperative purchasing,
homeland security, air and
water quality planning, fore-
casting and mapping.
On the last Tuesday of
each month, approximately
30 elected officials and civic
leaders sit down with Lower
Colorado River Authority
staff members to discuss our
basin’s ever-increasing de-
mands for water, electricity,
public safety and recreational
space. Representatives serv-
ing on this LCRA Regional
Council hail from Wharton,
Austin, Colorado, Fayette,
Matagorda, Waller, and
Washington counties.
Your county judge and
the mayors of El Campo and
Wharton have partnered
with Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) offi-
cials to identify and prioritize
a number of Wharton County
transportation projects that
will improve local roadways,
enhance public safety and
promote economic develop-
ment. During our six years
of service on TxDOT’s 1-69
Segment Three Committee,
the aforementioned represen-
tatives provided information,
solicited countywide input
and judiciously advocated
local views that Interstate
69 must stay within TxDOTs
existing corridors and never
compromise our county’s
unique agricultural heritage
and small town way of life.
Additional regional col-
laborations include quarterly
Texas Water Development
Board regional planning
meetings, monthly Rural
Literacy Coalition confer-
ences and CWAM Regional
Economic Development
workshops.
• State forums: Your
county judge, elected officials
and numerous concerned
citizens frequently travel to
Austin to testify at LCRA
board meetings, TxDOT
advisory meetings and state
legislative hearings. Through
face-to-face meetings, your lo-
cal leaders have successfully
advocated and secured much
needed support for local wa-
ter, education, transportation
and economic development
projects and needs.
Each March, when our
state legislature is in ses-
sion, a large contingency of
countywide residents, civic
leaders, high school students,
and local government of-
ficials caravan to Austin for
Wharton County Day at the
Capitol. This bi-annual excur-
sion spotlights local Wharton
County issues and provides
our state representatives
with an exclusive opportunity
to share their special achieve-
ments and proposed legisla-
tion.
See SPENRATH, Page A3
J 3ateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community
Continued from Page A1
rent Aggie students.
■ Support Group Meets
Dementia Support Group of Wharton
will hold its monthly support group at 6
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Wharton Nurs-
ing & Rehab Center, 1220 Sunny Lane in the
facility's chapel area. Guest speaker will be
Meegan Crown, LBSW. The event is open to
anyone who is interested in attending. Re-
freshments will be served. For more informa-
tion, call Kaitlyn Humberson at 532-5020.
■ Benefit Set
A benefit honoring Josh Haynie will be
held on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and
Oct. 12. Haynie passed away April 12, leav-
ing behind a wife and two girls. A cook-off,
auction, meal and dance will be held. Cook-
off spots are still available. Barbecue plates
will be served Oct. 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the
KC Hall in Wharton for $8 per plate. Music
will be provided by Jeff Mayes, Zach Melton
and MT Sounds. For more information, call
Brandon Cruz at 281-253-5020, Donald
Vaughn at 832-6614194 or Anthony Tyrone
at 979-533-8804.
■ Church Workshop
The Mission Department at Shiloh Bap-
tist Church in Boling will hold a workshop
titled At Midnight at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct.
12. The public is invited.
■ WCYF Golf Events
The eighth annual Wharton County
Youth Fair Golf Tournament will be held
Saturday, Oct. 12, at Newgulf Golf Course.
There will be two tournaments that day. A
Daylight String Tournament begins with reg-
istration and check-in at 8 a.m. with tee time
at 9 a.m. Entry fees are $70 per player and
$280 for a team. Entry includes cart, food,
drinks and green fees. Prizes will be: first
place, $400; second place, $280; and third
place, $200. Then a Lights Out Tournament
begins with check in at 3 p.m. The front nine
holes will be played as soon as the daylight
tournament has completed. The back nine
holes will be played after dark. Entry fees are
$70 per player and $280 for a team. Entry in-
cludes cart, food, drinks and green fees. The
Lights Out Tournament must have six teams
signed up and paid by Wednesday, Oct. 9 or
the Lights Out event will be canceled. Prizes
are: first place, $400; second place, $280;
and third place, $200. There are still some
spots open, call the fair office at 677-3350
to sign up a team.
■ S.P.O.T. Adoptions
Wharton County S.P.O.T. will have a pet
adoption from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 at Wharton County Junior
College Parking Lot No. 2. For more informa-
tion, call S.P.O.T. at 979-253-3446.
■ A&M Watch Party
Wharton County Aggies will host a Tail-
gate/Watch Party for the Texas A&M versus
Ole Miss Saturday, Oct. 12 at 9er's Grill in
Wharton, on Boling Highway in Wharton.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Free flags will be giv-
en. This is a family-friendly event.
■ Pray For America
The 2013 Public Sguare Rosary Crusade
will offer prayers for the U.S. at noon Sun-
day, Oct. 13, in the CCD Building parking lot
at Holy Family Catholic Church. The public is
invited to the event to pray for the nation.
For more information, call Dolores Svatek at
532-13-12.
■ Holy Family Blood Drive
Holy Family Catholic Church will host a
blood drive from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13, in the CCD Building, 2011
Briar Lane. To schedule an appointment, go
to giveblood.org and login to Digital Donor.
Enter sponsor code No. 0027 or call Shirley
Chilek at 532-3356 for an appointment or
more information.
■ EB Church Bazaar
East Bernard's Riverside Hall will be the
site of the annual Holy Cross Parish Bazaar
Sunday, Oct. 13. Lunch will be served at 11
a.m. The menu will consist of barbecued
beef, chicken and sausage with homemade
dressing and all the trimmings. Hamburgers
will be available at 3 p.m. Czech pastries, re-
freshments and country store items will be
available for purchase during the day. The
Grand Auction will begin at 12:30 p.m. All
kinds of games from noon until 5 p.m. will
be available. Attractions include a Bounce
House, Velcro Wall and pony rides. Live mu-
sic performances by The Dujka Brothers will
be from noon until 3 p.m., The Red Ravens
from 3 to 6 p.m. and No Limit, 6 p.m. until
closing. Raffle tickets will be available for pur-
chase throughout the day. The raffle draw-
ing will be at 8 p.m. for 98 prizes, including
a $3,500 Visa gift card and other gift cards
totalling $12,750. Masses at Holy Cross on
Sunday, Oct. 13, will be at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The public is invited.
■ Chicken Spaghetti Dinner
First United Methodist Church, 1717 Pio-
neer in Wharton, will host a Chicken Spa-
ghetti Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.
15. Plates are take out only and the plates
are $9 each, which includes pie. For tick-
ets, call the church office at 532-1100, any
member of Concerned Methodist Women's
group or drive through during serving times.
■ Chicken Soup Dinner
The Boling High School junior class will
sponsor a Chicken Noodle Soup and Chicken
Salad Sandwich Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 17. This is a pick-up only event
at the BHS Homemaking Building. Dinners
are $7 and tickets can be purchased from
any junior class member. All proceeds will go
to the 2014 Prom. Contact persons are Lisa
Burger at 979-533-0368 or Kern Ford at 979-
533-2698.
■ Republican Dinner
George P. Bush, 2014 candidate for land
commissioner, will be the keynote speaker at
a dinner sponsored by the Wharton County
Republican Party Thursday, Oct. 17, at the
Wharton Civic Center. Social hour starts at
6 p.m. and a barbecue dinner starts at 7
p.m. Dress is western attire. Tickets $15 and
sold in advance. For ticket information, call
Sharon Mersmann at 532-8550 or Sarah L.
Hudgins 281433-3357.
■ Class of 1973 Reunion
Wharton High School Class of 1973 will
hold its 40-year reunion in Wharton Friday,
Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19. They invite,
as their guests, all former teachers, coaches,
staff and administration associated with
WHS Class of '73 to attend. On Friday there
will be a party at 6:30 p.m. at Pam and
Timmy Barker's barn, CR 416 in Wharton.
If planning to attend, contact the reunion
committee by Oct. 1 at one of the follow-
ing: Regular mail: Class of 1973, c/o Terri
Scheller Youngblood, 22450 Wetherburn
Lane, Katy, TX. 77449; Lisa Williams Wilson
at whs.tigers.73@gmail.com; or Tom Joines
at 532-2636, Ross Arth at 979-255-9412,
Lisa Williams Wilson at 713-877-1056 or
Terri Scheller Youngblood st 281-347-8430.
■ S.P.O.T. Garage Sale
Jeff and Angela Wilson and Sharon Sit-
ford, all of El Campo, are hosting a garage
sale to benefit Wharton County S.P.O.T. on
Saturday, Oct. 19. It will be held at 902 Av-
enue I in El Campo. To donate items, call Jeff
at 979-578-3488 or Sharon at 979-543-1264
to arrange for pick-up or to drop items off.
Raffle tickets for a Duck Dynasty wreath and
lemonade and cookies will also be sold.
■ CC Golf Tournament
The sixth annual Wharton Chamber of
Commerce & Agriculture golf tournament
will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Whar-
ton Country Club. Proceeds benefit the
chamber's business development programs
to make the town a better place to live. The
format is a four-player scramble, play what
is brought and maximum score on any hole
is a bogey. There will be one flight only with
a limit of 15 teams. Mulligans are two per
player, $20 for two. Prizes include closest to
the pin on par 3s, most accurate drive and
a new vehicle for a hole in one. Entry fee is
$240 per team, which includes green fees,
refreshments, snacks, lunch and a golf cart.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. and breakfast
will be available. The tournament begins at
8 a.m.
Sponsorships are available at various lev-
els, including supporter is $100, hole spon-
sor is $200, flag sponsor is $300 and event
sponsor is $1,500.
For more information, call the chamber
at 532-1862 or send an email to helpdesk@
whartonchamber.com.
■ WES Monster Mash
Wharton Elementary School's PTO will
host a Monster Mash Fall Bash on Friday,
Oct. 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Wharton Ele-
mentary School. This event will be geared for
elementary school age children and younger.
There will be games, concessions, a drawing,
costume contests and music provided by a
dee jay. Admission charge will be $1 per per-
son. All children must be accompanied by an
adult. For more information, contact Kelly
Zbranek at 979-758-1251 or kellyzbranek@
att.net.
■ FCA Rodeo Fundraiser
Faith Christian Academy will host rodeo
events on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday,
Oct. 26, at the Wharton County Youth Fair-
grounds. On Friday a 4D Barrel Race will be
held at 7 p.m. Registration begins at 4 p.m.
Entry fee is $35 with $1,000 added and 75
percent payback. For more information, call
Tiffany Sonnier at 979-358-0662. At 4 p.m.
Saturday there will be a Ranch Rodeo. Regis-
tration closes at 3 p.m. Entry fee is $400 per
team with a 75 percent payback and the per-
son named Top Hand receives a saddle and
first place finishers get buckles. For more in-
formation, call Jared Wakefield at 533-0820.
A dinner, dance and auction will be held at
7 p.m. Saturday in Crescent Hall. Tickets are
$15 each and the band is Texas Wild. For
more information, call 531-1000. Food and
drinks will be available at all of the events.
Dateline Wharton is a free listing for
nonprofit events and fundraisers open to
the public. We encourage local civic groups,
organizations and groups with activities
that will benefit local residents to sub-
mit information. Submissions must be in
our office three weeks prior to the event,
deadline for registration or ticket sales. Sub-
missions subject to editing. The listing will
publish in up to four issues. Send listings to
bparsons@journai-spectator.com or 115 W.
Burleson St. IX 77488. Please include con-
tact information.
Wharton Journal-Spectator
Established 1889
USPS #681400
Volume 124, Issue No. 80
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Periodicals Postage Paid at Whar-
ton, Texas 77488. Annual subscrip-
tion price 45.00* per year in Wharton
County, Eagle Lake, and Pledger;
$60.00 per year elsewhere in Texas;
$85.00 per year out of state.
‘Carrier delivery extra
The Wharton Journal-Spectator is
published semiweekly by Wharton
County Newspapers, Inc., PO. Box
111, Wharton, TX 77488. Postmaster:
Send Change of Address Notices to:
PO. Box 111, Wharton, TX 77488.
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Wallace, Bill. Wharton Journal-Spectator (Wharton, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 80, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 5, 2013, newspaper, October 5, 2013; Wharton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth661614/m1/2/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.