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DON'T MISS:

Christmas Parade Thursday Christmas Around the World is the theme of this year's lighted Christmas Parade. It gets under way Thursday at 7 p.m. when the fire siren blows. The weather should be nice, with no rain and a temperature in the mid-60s.

THURSDAY, DEC. 6

'Books Are Fun' Book Fair El Campo Memorial Hospital Sunshine Ladies are hosting a Books Are Fun book fair Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children's books, general interest and reference books, education books, cook books, religious and inspirational, sports, photo albums, stationery, toys, videos, music and much more. Great Christmas gift items. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sunshine Ladies.

Christmas Silent Auction Benefits ACS A Christmas Silent Auction to benefit the American Cancer Society Lifesavers Relay for Life Team is Thursday at 8 a.m. and Friday, Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m. in the lobby at Mid Coast Medical Clinic. Everyone can come by and bid on beautiful items for Christmas.

Scouts Collecting Toys At Parade Cub Scout Pack 196, sponsored by the Rotary Club, will collect toys and non-perishable food items during the Christmas Parade Thursday. All donations will be distributed locally. For information call Cubmaster Dawn Merta at 979-543-4542 after 5 p.m. or e-mail dmerta@txins.com.

FRIDAY, DEC. 7

El Campo Art Club Sponsors Lunch The El Campo Art Association will hold a soup and sandwich lunch Friday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at First Christian Church, 205 W. West. Tickets are $6. To purchase, call Lavon at 543-0911 or buy them at the door.

Labor of Love Distributing Commodities Labor of Love commodities are available Friday, Dec. 7 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. for those who have applied for them. Pick up is at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 810 Palacios.

ECHS Presents 'Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch' The ECHS Theatre Department's fall production of Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch by Shubert Fendrich will be staged Dec. 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. All tickets are $3 and the play is suitable for all ages. Tickets can be bought from any cast or crew member and will also be sold at the door.

SATURDAY, DEC. 8

CPR Class For Wharton County Residents A CPR class for Wharton County residents is Saturday, Dec. 8. Students must pre-register a minimum of 48 hours prior to the class with the chapter headquarters in Bay City. Information at 979-245-3056.

SUNDAY, DEC. 9

SPJST Installing Officers Dec. 9 El Campo-Hillje SPJST Lodge 40 holds its monthly meeting Sunday, Dec. 9 at the lodge in Hillje. Registration at 11:30 a.m., catered meal at noon. Guests bring $5, members bring dessert. Officers will be installed.

Burgers Available From Scouts Cub Scout Pack 1249 will hold a hamburger plate dinner Sunday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. behind the KC Hall on Armory Road. Drive-through only. Cost is $6. Call Dawn Collins, (979) 618-6518 for information.

'Extreme Makeover' Home On ACS Tour The East Wharton County Unit of the American Cancer Society will host its biannual Christmas Tour of Homes from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. This year two of the three homes are in East Bernard and the third is in Lissie. Featured are the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition residence of John and Monica Kubena, 18618 CR 270 in East Bernard; Harlan and Nena Boettcher's Texas country ranch home at 17502 Highway 90A in East Bernard; and the ranch-style home of Dan and Maryan Gertson at 1105 CR 271 in Lissie. Tickets are $10 each and will be available, with maps, at any of the homes the day of the tour. Tickets are also available at the Wharton County Historical Museum and Wharton Chamber of Commerce.

MONDAY, DEC. 10

Derby Doll Booster Club Meeting The Derby Doll Booster Club meets Monday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at J. Brews. Brick orders can be turned in at this time.

DON'T FORGET

Legion Monthly Executive Meeting Craig-Harriss American Legion Post 251 holds its Executive Committee meeting Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the auxiliary room. This meeting is to finalize plans for the Christmas Party and other projects.

Farmers Co-op Blood Drive Dec. 12 Farmers Co-op of El Campo hosts a blood drive Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit www.giveblood.org and enter sponsor code C037 or contact Sally Andel at 543-6284. Those who donate or attempt to donate in the month of December will be able to write notes of well-wishes to patients spending the holidays in the hospital. Notes from gold-level Commit for Life members will be attached to cuddly stuffed animals and hand-delivered to patients.

AARP December Meeting AARP Chapter 1419 meets Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Heritage Center. A covered-dish lunch at noon and meeting at 1 p.m. Installation of officers. Call 543-3514 for information on becoming an AARP member.

Louise Elementary DARE Graduation The fifth grade students and staff of Louise Elementary School, and the Wharton County Sheriff's Office host a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) graduation ceremony Thursday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Louise Elementary cafeteria. Parents, family and friends are welcome to attend this special occasion honoring our drug-free leaders of tomorrow.

Veterans Service Office Hours The office of Wharton County Veterans Service Officer Harvey H. Stelzel Jr. is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Dec. 19. 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.

Louise-Hillje Chamber Lighting Contest Louise-Hillje Chamber of Commerce is having its annual Christmas Lighting Contest. Entries must be called in by noon on Friday, Dec. 14. Prizes will be awarded. Also, beginning this year will be a Lighting Contest for Businesses. Judging of both categories will be Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. Be sure your lights are on. To enter contest, call the water department at 979-648-2615; leave a message if no one answers.

IMUD District Christmas Open House The Annual Isaacson Municipal Utility District Christmas Open House will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 at the IMUD office at 403 N. Liberty. Santa Claus will be on hand with treats for the kids and refreshments and door prizes.

Louise Band Boosters Host Bake Sale The Louise Band Booster Organization will hold a bake sale in front of Wal-Mart in El Campo Saturday, Dec. 15. Homemade cakes, pies and treats will be available from 8 a.m. until all items are sold. The money will be used to support the Louise Band's upcoming trip to DisneyWorld in June. Contact Robert Sims at 979-648-2202 ext. 130 for more information.

American Legion and Auxiliary Meeting American Legion Craig-Harriss Post 251 and its Ladies Auxiliary will hold their annual Christmas party Tuesday, Dec. 18 at the Legion Hall beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. Turkey and dressing will be served at 7:15 p.m. Ladies Auxiliary members are asked to bring deserts and raffle items. Legionnaires and Auxiliary members are to bring non-perishable food items or gifts for the Blessing Cup. Guests are welcome at $6 per plate.

BEEs Sell Decorative Street Lamps Let's continue to beautify the downtown El Campo area with decorative street lamps, available from the BEEs. They will be placed on either corner around Walgreen's. To purchase a lamp or for information call Carolyn Kelly at 543-2397 or Ruth Sacco at 543-5339. Would make a great Christmas present for that "hard to shop for" person.

Citywide Christmas Tree Established A Citywide Christmas Tree has been created again this year, by First Convenience Bank in coordination with New Life Assembly of God and Angels on a Mission to help meet the needs of local families during the holidays. Donations of new and gently-used items will be accepted at the bank, located inside Wal-Mart, or people may help out by selecting someone from the tree and buying them gifts. Monetary donations may be made payable to New Life Assembly of God Church at the bank. For information or to ask for assistance, call Delana Joines at 979- 578-9937.

Leader-News Going To Bed Early For Santa The folks running the press that prints your El Campo Leader-News have told us to have all pages for the Wednesday, Dec. 26 edition to them by noon Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24. Therefore all news items and advertising must be submitted the week before. The same schedule will prevail for the Wednesday, Jan. 2 edition of the newspaper. Thank you for helping us to get the paper out while meeting these early deadlines.