BULLETIN BOARD

Chicken Fried Steak Fundraiser July 16 El Campo Prairie Switch Riders hold a chicken fried steak dinner today, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Pick up at El Campo Fire Department Training Facility behind Friendship Park on N. Wharton. Plates are $6 donation. Tickets available at B&B Wireless, El Campo Cycle Center, Socha's Carwash office or any Prairie Switch Riders member.

THURSDAY, JULY 17

Cholesterol Screening at ECMH El Campo Memorial Hospital's lab offers various blood screenings Thursday, July 17. Call 979-578-5185 for an appointment; space is limited. Do not eat or drink for 12 hours before screening. Register in the front Lobby of ECMH, pay your fees at the ECMH Business office and report to the ECMH Lab for your screenings.

FRIDAY, JULY 18

Catfish/Chicken Wings Plate Lunch Progressive Missionary Baptist Church holds a fried catfish or chicken wings, salad, French fries, cake and toast meal today for a $7 donation. Serving begins at 10 a.m. Call for delivery at 578-8047.

SATURDAY, JULY 19

Louise HS Reunion, 1986-1990 Louise High School class reunion is Saturday, July 19 at Greek Bros. in El Campo. Classes of 1986-1990 are invited. Addresses are needed if you haven't received your invitation or if you know someone from these classes, contact Shannon at 979-578-1090 or Dina at 979-648- 2163.

SUNDAY, JULY 20

EC/Hillje SPJST Monthly Meeting El Campo Hillje SPJST Lodge 40 holds its monthly meeting in Hillje at the Lodge Hall Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m. Lodge furnishes meal after meeting. Members are asked to bring a desserts. Members and guests are welcome.

'Hearts of Grace' Perform In Garwood Lehrer Memorial United Methodist Church in Garwood invites everyone to a service of praise and worship Sunday, July 20. Hearts of Grace, a southern Gospel trio, will perform during the 9 a.m. worship service. All are welcome.

Mt. Sinai Choir Annual Day The Mt. Sinai Choir hosts its annual day Sunday, July 20 at 3 p.m. at 1010 Grace. Guest speaker is the Rev. Phillip Turner, pastor of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Hallettsville. All area churches are encouraged to attend Saturday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY, JULY 21

EC Class 2009 Project Graduation Meeting The Class of 2009 Project Graduation meets Monday, July 21 at 6 p.m. at the Northside Elementary cafeteria. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. Tickets for the Aug. 13 dinner will be distributed.

TUESDAY, JULY 22

Louise Youth Cheer Camp The Louise Varsity Cheerleaders host their annual Youth Cheer Camp for ages 4-entering 6th grade. Campers age 4-3rd grade attend Tuesday, July 22 from 1-5 p.m. and children entering 4th-6th grade attend Wednesday, July 23 from 1-5 p.m. Cost per child is $20; the cost for a second sibling is $15, and $10 for a third sibling. To preregister, call Cindy at 979-648-2724 or 979-541-9001. Your child may register at camp, but a parent or guardian must accompany the child to sign registration and permission forms.

SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Soccer Registration July 1-31 Soccer registration is July 1-31 at the Boys & Girls Club of El Campo for ages 4-18. Soccer camp is July 28-Aug. 1 for ages 3-16. For information call 543-8320.

EC Library Summer Reading Programs Registration is under way for the El Campo Branch Library's Summer Reading programs, "Texas Reading Jubilee: 1958-2008" for ages 6 months-10 and "Game On! Texas Teens Read!" for ages 11-18. Children under age 10 must be registered by an adult. The library has a number of free activities for all ages. Summer schedules are available at the library at 200 W. Church. For information call 543-2362.

Louise Branch Library Summer Program The Louise Branch Library has a summer program for children 6 months to 18 years. Schedules are available at the library. For information call 979-648-2018.

Aquatic Center Summer Hours The pool is open Tuesday-Friday from 6 a.m.-noon and 1- 8 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-6 p.m. The pool is closed Mondays. Red Wave swims from 8-11 a.m., and swimming lessons started June 10. Aerobics are Tuesday and Thursday at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and arthritis classes on Wednesday and Friday are at 8 a.m. For information call 543-1468.

FBC Louise Summer Youth Program The First Baptist Church of Louise's summer youth RESCUE program offers food, fun and fellowship, organized activities, field trips, VBS, REC and more every Sunday at 6 p.m. for kids in grades 7-12. The focus is on relationships, service and community this summer.

Join The Fun On Wednesdays El Campo Church of Christ has VBS Fun every Wednesday night from 5:45-8 p.m. July 2-Aug. 6. For information call Mindy McCord at 543-4279.

Memorial Baptist Club VBS July 21-25 Club VBS: Cactus Canyon is 6-8:30 p.m. July 21-25 at Memorial Baptist Church for ages 4-those who have completed 6th grade. Call the church to register or for information.

COMING SOON

Flavored Licorice Fundraiser For Cancer The Cancer Stampers Relay for Life team is winding down their Flavored Licorice Fundraiser. Flavors still available are blue raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, chocolate, grape and root beer. The cost is $5 per 1-pound bag. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. If interested call Janice Winter at 979-578-0367 or Gigi Lewis at 543-8851.

Mt. Olive Host Mission Workshop Mt. Olive Baptist Church of El Campo, 325 Olive, hosts its annual Mission Workshop Saturday, July 26 at 9 a.m. Women's annual day is Sunday, July 27 with the Rev. A.J. Jones from the host church Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Sorrell as guest speaker. The public is invited to attend both events.

BBQ Chicken/Sausage Dinner Fundraiser A barbecue chicken and sausage lunch benefit for Hazel (Boone) Perry is Sunday, July 27 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the KC Hall in El Campo. Plates to-go only for $6. For information call Bessie Boone at 543-5166 or Cindy Strnadel at 543-6530 or 541-4541.

'Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes' Class Registration is being accepted for "Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes," a five-week program to help people with Type 2 diabetes learn the skills they need to understand and manage their disease. Classes are each Monday beginning July 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wharton County Youth Fair's Directors Room. Cost is $10. Contact Jaime at 979- 532-3310 to register.

Louise High School Reunion For 1997-1999 Louise High School Reunion for classes of 1997, 1998 and 1999 is Saturday, Sept. 20. Addresses, phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses for all classmates are needed. Call Janet at 979-618-0451 or Melissa at 713- 677-9059.

Civic Center Renovations, Museum Closed Due to Civic Center renovations, the museum is closed through Nov. 4. During July the wall mounts will be taken down and crated and the animals will have crates built over them, to protect them while the new roof is built. To volunteer to help pack, call 543-6885.

Raffle Tickets For Hubenak Fundraiser Raffle tickets are available with 10 prizes: Nine guns and one rechargeable flashlight. Tickets are $20 each. Winners will be drawn the day of the event - Wednesday, Aug. 6 - at the KC Hall in El Campo after a free stew dinner and live auction. Tickets available at D-A-M Services or Ryan Services in El Campo or by calling 979-578-9490 or 979-578-2608. Ask for Clayton or Amy. All proceeds will go to the family to help defray the medical expenses of cystic fibrosis treatment.

WCJC Foundation 2008 Gala The Wharton County Junior Foundation 2008 Gala is Friday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond. Tickets are $85 each. Sponsor tables (seating for 8) are $1,500 and $2,500. The gala features a reception, dinner, auctions and a comical performance by the Capital Steps. Tickets went on sale May 1. Call Cheryl Machicek at 979-532-6322 for information.

Brick Deadline Nears For Heritage Center Imprinted bricks are being ordered to be ready and in place as soon as the El Campo Heritage Center opens this fall. They can include the name of the purchaser, a business, graduating class or any honoree. The bricks, which cost $100, will be used in the Heritage Center garden, between the Boys & Girls Club and the center's front porch. For information, call Hubert Kaiser at 543-7313.

Derby Doll Booster Club Membership Drive Derby Doll Booster Club membership dues, along with money raised throughout the year, are used for scholarships, contest expenses, costumes and props. Platinum Derby $100, Gold Derby $50, Silver Derby $25 and Family membership is $15. Platinum, Gold and Silver donors names appear in the home games football program. Call Delores Cox at 543-8273 by July 31.

Ricebird Booster Club Membership Drive Support the Ricebird Booster Club and become a member. Memberships are; diamond $1,000., Gold $500, Silver $250, Ricebird $100, Red $50, White $25 and individual is $10. Diamond, Gold, silver, Ricebird and Red memberships will be printed in the football programs. Call Peggy Fucik at 979-543-1543 by Aug. 1, 2008.

BEEs Sell Decorative Street Lamps Let's continue to beautify the downtown El Campo area with decorative street lamps, available from the BEEs. The lamps are a special and lasting way to honor or memorialize someone special in your life. They can be purchased individually or by a group. For information call Carolyn Kelly at 543-2397 or Ruth Sacco at 543-5339 or any BEE board member.

EC Ricebird Red Out Shirt Sponsors Sought Advertise your business name on the back of the El Campo Ricebirds Red Out 2008 shirts. A minimum of 25 shirts at $12 each. Order extra for your employees and family members. Call 541-6356 to order shirts to be given away at the first home football game Friday, Aug. 29 against the Brazoswood Bucs.

Early Help For Children Important Region III Education Service Center Early Childhood Intervention Program provides support and services to families with children, birth to age 3, with developmental delays and disabilities. For questions call Region III ESC ECI at 1- 888-909-3512. ECI screenings and evaluations are free.

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

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 or cats spayed or neutered. Please call the SPCA at 979-323-8787 for information.