1976: Finally – Needed Rain

Oct. 8-12, 1976

Thanks to a cool front on Monday night, La Grange got its first rain of more than an inch in over four months. Precipitation officially measured 1.02 inches. The last time it rained an inch or better was early in the morning of June 1, when the official gauge registered 1.46 inches. Monday night’s moisture was general over the county with reports of 1.2 to 1.5 inches most common. A total of 28.62 inches had now been tabulated in La Grange for the year. The annual average rainfall was 36.52.

The chili that James Novak of Flatonia made topped the El Chico Regional Cookoff at the Astrodome in Houston on Sept. 25. The victory earned Novak an all-expenses- paid trip to the Texas State Fair Cook-off in Dallas on Oct. 17.

The trial of a cross-action condemnation suit, styled Lower Colorado River Authority and City of Austin versus Harry W. Anderson and others, was to resume later in the week in the 155th District Court, with Judge Paul Huser presiding. The case stemmed from an earlier condemnation suit in which Anderson was awarded $305,870 for 209.5 acres of land in the Fayette Power Project Area, following appraisal of the property by three court-appointed commissioners.

The La Grange Leopards took an unbelievably easy victory over the Giddings Buffaloes here on Friday night. With a final score of 49-7, the Leps picked up their second District 25-AA win. La Grange scored in less than two minutes after the kickoff. They converted 66 yards in six plays. A 44-yard spurt by Bradley Kalmus put the ball on the two. Michael Miller kept it for the final yard and then Jay Louy did his thing. His kick was good as were the first six touchdowns, running his PAT string to 18. Tommy Supak converted after the seventh touchdown. La Grange scored again in the first quarter on a 70-yard journey, which began when Mark Ashley grabbed a Buff fumble.

Carmine area rancher Hugh Pitts, who lettered in football in 1953 at Texas Christian University, was inducted into TCU Letterman’s Hall of Fame alongside Bob Lilly, Harry Taylor and Dick Lowe.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Hedwig (Hattie) Toll, 75, of La Grange; Philip Bade, 5, at Warrenton; Mrs. Mary Koenig, 93, of La Grange; Mrs. Marie Kovar, 77, of Fayetteville; and Mrs. Lena Vernon, 96, of Ledbetter.

An Exxon truck loaded with 1,850 gallons of gasoline rolled over in an accident 1.4 miles west of Sheridan on Hwy. 90-A.

Mr. and Mrs. Andy Lamascus, the adult leaders of the Swiss Alp 4-H Club, were presented with diamond clovers in recognition of 20 years of service to the program.

Fayette County’s 400 4-H members were among 5.6 million across the U.S. celebrating National 4-H Week, Oct. 3-9.

La Grange native Roger W. Roitsch, assistant vice president of the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank of Houston, was named an associate vice president and head of the internal credit department. In his new position, Mr. Roitsch was in charge of loan approvals and credit standards for the 32 Production Credit Associations of Texas and seven agricultural credit corporations that borrowed agricultural funds from the FICB of Houston.

Former La Grange High School student James R. Etheredge was promoted to U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal while serving with Marine Aircraft Group 36 on Okinawa.

In his monthly report, Fayette County Sheriff Jim Flournoy said civil work had kept his office busier in September than criminal cases. “I think we had more civil cases than ever before. Seems like everyone is suing someone else.”

Geosource, Inc. sent William A. Karisch, formerly of Warda, to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 9. Mr. Karisch, a 1968 graduate of La Grange High School, would be setting up a trucking operation from the Arabian Gulf ports to the inland oil-producing areas.

Timothy Meinardus, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Meinardus, was the boy’s winner of the 1976 “I Dare You” 4-H award. Donna Wallace, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Mueller, won the girl’s award. Tim was a member of the Rutersville 4-H Club and Donna was in the Ellinger 4-H Club.

Bobby Huenefeld of La Grange was one of six delegates from the Brenham Conference of the American Lutheran Church who attended the 8th National ALC Convention at the Shoreham Americana Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Kenneth Zapalac of La Grange was one of 50 outstanding Texas youth receiving recognition at the 30th annual Honor Award Dinner for 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Future Homemakers of America at the Texas State Fair. Kenneth would receive an engraved tie tack.

St. Paul Lutheran Churches of Shelby and Fayetteville installed a new pastor, the Rev. James Allen Snyder, on Sunday, Oct. 3. Rev. Snyder was a native of Minneapolis, Minn.

Trish Cufr was elected sweetheart of the Fayetteville Future Farmers of America chapter. A senior at Fayetteville High School, Trish was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Cufr.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Chovanec were honored on their 40th wedding anniversary by their family at Roitsch’s Camp. Miss Ella Horak and Frank Chovanec were married on Sept. 30, 1936, at Live Oak Hill near Ellinger by the late Rev. Vinc Raska.

If you’d like to reach Elaine, please email her at callacomm@ hotmail.com. You can also visit her website: www. elainethomaswriter.com.