1976: Leps Win District 25AA Crown

June 1, 1976

The La Grange Leopards annexed the bi-district baseball championship (again) on Friday with a 7-3 victory over Medina Valley’s Panthers from Castroville. The Leps had built up a 5-0 cushion against the Panthers by the fourth inning. Mike Pechal, the other half of the Leopards’ left-handed duo, limited Medina Valley to only five safeties through 4.5 frames. Ricky Dippel finished, giving up a lone safety in his tenure. Lep backstop Johnny Johnson got two of La Grange’s nine base hits, a double and a single. He drove in two runs and scored one himself. La Grange scored solo runs in each of the first two heats, plated two in the third, another in the fourth and still another pair in the last of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Medina dished its trio in the first of the fifth. Kenny Hatfield’s walk, swipe of second, advance to third on a wild pitch and passed ball got the Leps their final counter. The Leps were looking forward to the contest with the Elgin Wildcats for the regional flag.

A suspect sought since February in connection with cashing two allegedly forged checks in La Grange was being held here, after being apprehended in Giddings. Sheriff T.J. Flournoy said the arrest came after the suspect drove to Giddings with a car that had allegedly been stolen in Houston. The checks, both for $250, were drawn on La Grange State Bank and Citizens State Bank in Giddings. Judge A.V. Smith, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, set bond at $5,000 in each case.

Commencement exercises for 112 graduating La Grange High School seniors were scheduled on Tuesday in the school auditorium at 8 p.m. Kathy Holub was to give the invocation; Shelby Willett, the pledge of allegiance; Kara Graham, the welcome; Jane Kana, the farewell; and Rhonda Koether, the benediction. The high school band was to play for the processional and recessional.

Ground was broken for the construction of three rental projects in the area by James A. Muncey Jr., owner and architect, of Manos & Muncey, ALA of Dallas. Development of the buildings would take place simultaneously in La Grange, Schulenburg and Weimar. The La Grange project was to be constructed on a one-acre site purchased from Eugene Kruppa of La Grange, who lived in Houston. Wooded with large, mature oak trees, the location was at the intersection of N. Monroe and N. Madison Sts. The two-story apartment building would offer eight twobedroom/ one bath rental units of less than 1,000 square feet featuring all-electric kitchens. Rental rates would vary, starting at $150 (plus electric and cable) for residents receiving Social Security.

A funeral service was held for Valentine Rataj, 89, of La Grange.

The Travis Street United Methodist Church of La Grange was celebrating its 137th anniversary with a bicentennial homecoming service on Sunday, June 6, at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. A gospel quartet from Dallas, The Master’s Four, would perform in the afternoon program.

St. Paul Lutheran Church confirmed: Lisa Brandt, Pamela Dunk, Ron Hagemann, John Hill, Laura Kolbe, George Mode, Frank Moellenberndt, Richard Roberts and Sheryl Weber.

Ed Lowe was promoted from assistant band director to head band director by the La Grange ISD Board of Trustees.

The Knippel building in Fayetteville was fully occupied for the first time in many years. The current owner, architect Clovis Heimsath, had his offices at the front of the building. Country Place Restaurant, operated by Mrs. Mary Heimsath and open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, was in the middle part. In the rear of the building, Kendall MacDaniels operated Antiques on the Square. The upstairs was being run as a country hotel. The two-story structure, believed to date back to the 1920s, had a basement and a low attic.

The Dodgers defeated the Indians in a free-hitting regular Little League game on Friday night, winning 13-8. Each club accumulated eight base knocks while the tribe contributed seven miscues to abet the Dodger cause. Chris Vitek cracked out a double, and Mark Matocha and Kenny Sury each had a pair of singles for the victors. Joey Strmiska homered and socked a pair of one-baggers. Kevin Bippert doubled and singled twice, and Mark Prause singled a couple of times for the Indians. Mark Matocha was the winning mounds man, fanning eight. Strmiska was the loser, giving up 11 runs in three frames. Koether, who finished, permitted the other two tallies.

Rev. Wilburn L. Loessin received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Loessin of La Grange.

Flatonia Precinct 3 had two spirited races for commissioner and constable on June 5.

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