BULLETIN BOARD
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DON'T MISS:

Rice Belt Coin Show The 23rd annual coin show will be held at the American Legion Hall south of U.S. 59 today from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission, door prizes every hour and free parking for everyone. Buy, sell and trade; also baseball cards, collectibles, antiques and arts-and-crafts booths. On-site security and refreshments. Call Steve Harris at 543-1230 or Gerd Conner at 543-3493 for more information.

TODAY

Louise-Hillje Cook-off/Festival The Louise-Hillje Chamber Fall Festival Barbecue Cook-off is today. Food and vendor booths from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; a pet costume contest at 3 p.m.; live auction at 6 p.m. and entertainment throughout the day. New events this year are a washer pitch tournament and motorcycle fun run.

Dairy Merit Heifer Workshop The Dairy Merit Heifer validation and workshop is at 8 a.m. today at the Wharton County Fairgrounds. All exhibitors are required to bring their heifers and pay their $15 entry fee at that time. Call Fair office at 979-677-3350 or Grace Glaze at 543-4168 for more information.

TOMORROW

St. Philip Annual Picnic St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church hosts its annual picnic Sunday, Sept. 30. The Dujka Brothers will entertain from 10 a.m. until noon and again from 2-4 p.m. Texas Sound Czech will play noon until 2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. in the parish hall. Barbecued beef and sausage dinner begins at 11 a.m. and meal tickets are $7. Bulk meats will be sold at the pit. A country auction starts at 1 p.m., and other events include bingo, a "Second Time Around" booth, country store, cake wheel, fish pond and rides for children. Holy Mass will be at 5 p.m. Saturday.

MONDAY, OCT. 1

DAV and Auxiliary Meet Monday Wharton County DAV Chapter and Auxiliary 72 hold their monthly meeting Monday, Oct. 1 at the VFW Hall. Covered dish meal served at 7 p.m. and meeting will follow.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3

EC Book Club Enjoys Novel The El Campo Book Club meets Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. at the El Campo Library. Note the new day. This month they review Walter for Elephants by Sara Gruen, a novel recounting the memories of a man who once ran away and joined a traveling circus. For information call Phyllis Hodges at 543-8391.

Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 2786 Meeting The regular monthly meeting of the ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 2786 is Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. at the Vets Memorial Home.

COMING

Class of 1977 Planning Reunion The ECHS Class of 1977 is planning a class reunion. Names and addresses are needed. Contact Mary Johnson at 543-1664.

BEEs Sell Decorative Street Lamps The BEEs have eight new decorative street lamps for sale. They will be placed on either corner around Walgreen's. To purchase a lamp or for more information call Carolyn Kelly at 543-2397 or Ruth Sacco at 543-5339.

'Walking 9 to 5' Host Bake Sale The El Campo Clerical/Para Professional Association's 'Walking 9 to 5' team hosts a bake sale Friday, Oct. 5 at the ECISD Administration Office from 8 a.m. until sold out. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. For questions call 543-6771.

Car Wash Fundraiser Oct. 6 Class of 2008, 8th Grade Washington, CD Trip students will be having a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at El Campo McDonald's Restaurant. Donations will be accepted. Disclaimer: The 8th grade Washington Trip and/or fundraisers are not sponsored by St. Philip Catholic School.

Wharton Rotary Presents Bellamy Brothers Wharton Rotarians present their 16th Annual Legends of Western Music Gala Oct. 6 at the Wharton Civic Center. This year's featured musicians are the Bellamy Brothers. Heavy hors d'oeuvres are served at 6 p.m., the music starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and support Wharton Rotary projects. Tickets are available in El Campo at the law office of Karen Meinardus, 411 W. Jackson.

Trade Days Fundraiser Celebration Faith Christian Academy and For All Seasons hosts its 1st Annual Trade Days Fundraiser Celebration Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the corner of Armstong and Richmond streets in Wharton. Vendors will include concessions, craft booths, metal art, on-site photography studio, pumpkin patch, children's activities and more. Admission is $5; children 12 and under free. Booth rentals available. For information call 979-531-1000.

Veterans Service Office Hours The office of Wharton County Veterans Service Officer Harvey H. Stelzel Jr. will be open every Tuesday and Wednesday during October. Office hours are 7:30 a.m.noon and 1-4 p.m. The office is located at 1017 N. Alabama Road in Wharton. Phone 532-1311.

Cattle Call Pen of 3 Raffle Tickets The Heritage Center will conduct a drawing at the Oct. 6 Cattle Call Fund-raiser, with first prize being a Pen of 3 F-1 Heifers or $3,000 gift card and second prize being $750. The tiger-striped heifers are bred to black. If the winner chooses the gift card rather than the cattle, the cattle will be auctioned off, with those proceeds also benefiting the Heritage Center. Raffle tickets are $75 each and may be obtained from the Chamber of Commerce or Heritage Center directors. Dinner tickets are $50 each.

Wharton Book Review Club Meeting Wharton Book Review Club begins its 2007-2008 season Monday, Oct. 8 at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and refreshments in the Wharton County Historical Museum, 3615 N. Richmond Road in Wharton. The program follows at 10 a.m. with Ted Lashley presenting a musical program. Season memberships are $20 and individual reviews are $5. For information call Sally Soderquist at 979-532- 4936, Sammy Lou Franks at 979-532-4615 or Dorothy Hensley at 543-5837.

Aggie Moms of Wharton County Meet Aggie Moms of Wharton County meet Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomas Edison room at WCEC. All new and current Aggie Moms are welcome. For information call Motsy at 541-7607.

Derby Doll Mini Clinic Registration Deadline Derby Doll Mini Clinic is Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. until noon in the old gym at El Campo High School. The deadline to register to guarantee a T-shirt is Oct. 1. Ages are 4 years old through 8th grade. The cost is $30 per child with each additional child per family at $15. Registration papers are being sent home with your child from school and they are available at the ECHS principal's office. Registration is also Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8:30 a.m. at the old gym. The mini clinic dancers will perform with the Dolls at the Bay City pregame, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Call Dobie Rod for information at 543-8018.

Huge Garage Sale Oct. 13 Class of 2008 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip is having a huge garage sale Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Fire Training Field behind Friendship Park. Most items $1. Lots of miscellaneous items. (Disclaimer: The 8th grade Washington Trip and/or fund-raisers are not sponsored by St. Philip Catholic School).

Rosary Rally At Evans Park Oct. 13 A "Rosary Rally" is being held in honor of Our Lady of Fatima at noon, Saturday, Oct. 13 in Evans Park in downtown El Campo. "America Needs Fatima" is the theme of the event, which should last about an hour. This marks the 90th anniversary in which it is believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three Portugal children delivering instructions for peace and salvation.

Check ECHS Class of '92 Web Site The ECHS Class of 1992 will have its 15-year reunion Homecoming weekend, Oct. 5-6. Check the ECHS Class of '92 Web site at www.classreport.org/usa/tx/el campo/echs/1992/ or contact Heath Bush at 979-578- 3230 or Dawn Korenek at 979-541-6646.

Labor of Love Distribution Friday Those who have applied for the Labor of Love food program may pick up their commodities at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5.

Class of 1967 To Reunite At Greeks The class of 1967 holds its reunion Dec. 1 at Greek Bros. at 5 p.m. There will be no formal mail-out; the event is by word of mouth, so call anyone you know and give them the information.

Workplace Violence Presentation Oct. 4 Learn how to become a better people watcher, know the signs and be more prepared for workplace violence by watching a PowerPoint presentation by El Campo Police Officer Cindy Howell Thursday, Oct. 4 from 3-4 p.m. at the El Campo Memorial Hospital in-service room. Call to register and reserve your space at 543-6251.

St. Philip School Hosting Fundraiser St. Philip Catholic School is offering items for sale from the Reader's Digest Home and Gift Collection, including chocolates, snack items, gift items for the home (or for Christmas presents), magazine subscriptions, Disney High School Musical items, gift wrap and much more. To order or see a brochure, stop by the school office, see www.qsp.com and list St. Philip School as the participating school (account #710319364) or call Michelle Wilson at 543-3510.

Swimming Lessons at Aquatic Center The following schedule is currently in effect at the El Campo Aquatic Center: Tuesday through Thursday, 6-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.; Friday, 6-11 a.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. Yoga, Monday at 5 p.m.; water aerobics, Tuesday and Thursday, 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; arthritis water therapy, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:15 a.m. Swimming lessons will start in October. Call the ECAC at 543-1468 for information.

Ricebird Booster Club Meeting Ricebird Booster Club will not meet Monday, Oct. 1 because of open week. The next booster club meeting will take place Monday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Spay/Neuter Assistance Available The Matagorda County SPCA has a program to help financially disadvantaged people in Wharton, Jackson, Matagorda and the southern part of Colorado County get their dogs/cats spayed/neutered. Please call the SPCA at (979)-323-8787 for information about the program or for an application, or if interested in helping with this effort.

B&G Club Southwest Airlines Tickets The Boys & Girls Club of El Campo holds a drawing at the Oct. 11 Snag, Tag and Brag Seafood Fund-raiser, with the prize being two tickets on Southwest Airlines to any city to which the airline flies within the continental U.S. Tickets are $5 each or six for $25. They may be obtained at the club, from directors and staff or from the Leader- News (which, unfortunately, is currently under construction. The back door may be used.)

KC Truck Give-Away Raffle KC Truck Give-away - 500 tickets at $100 each - is Sunday, Oct. 21 at the KC Hall on Armory Road at the St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Picnic. No meal plate service, just food stands available. Auction, raffle, games, food stands, rides, live music, Folklorico Dancers and lots of fun. For questions call the Parish Office at 543-4298.

Please Use Back Door of L-N Due to needed repairs at the El Campo Leader-News, the front of the building is under construction. Please excuse the mess as workers replace the facade of the building. For your convenience we do have a back entrance, accessed via the alley, in case the front door is inaccessible. Just drive into the alley or the parking lot adjacent to our building on East Jackson. Also, you may e-mail or fax information to the Leader-News and use your debit or credit card as a convenient way to pay for advertising, subscriptions and other bills. Please fax information to 979-543-0097. We are sorry for the inconvenience.