Marvin Zindler Sues Fayette County Sheriff

Houston television newsman Marvin Zindler filed a federal lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages from Fayette County and its sheriff. The suit stems from an alleged fracas about the Chicken Ranch. Zindler, with station KTRKTV in Houston, alleged that Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy attacked him without provocation on Dec. 30, 1974, when the broadcaster was filming a TV story in La Grange. Zindler claimed he returned a year after the Chicken Ranch closed to shoot a news story about the economic impact of the shutdown. During the filming, Zindler alleged the sheriff assaulted him, smashed his camera and ordered him to get out of town. Sheriff Flournoy denied the allegation, maintaining he never laid a hand on Zindler, smashed his camera or destroyed any property.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Shirley Bennetsen, 37, of La Grange; Mrs. Edwin Trueper, 76, formerly of Prairie Valley; and Miss Lucille Shaw, a La Grange native.

Close to one-third of a million dollars was set as the price to be paid to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Mills for 178.7 acres of land and improvements in the area near Fayetteville selected by the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Austin for a coal-fired electric generating plant. After a hearing at the Fayette County Courthouse, which lasted almost all day, a court-appointed commission of three county freeholders set the price at $333,250. The figure included $110,000 for one portion containing about 88 acres, $158,250 for another parcel of approximately 91 acres, and $65,000 for the following improvements: twobedroom brick home, barn, feeder, sheds, pump house, utility buildings, stock pens and other facilities. The final figure worked out to $1,864 per acre, including improvements. Although a crowd of about 100, many of them landowners from the power plant site, filled the courtroom during the morning hours, the afternoon crowd was thinner. Commissioners were Leona C. Giese of La Grange and Ray Elliott and Myke Klein of Schulenburg.

Fayette Water Supply Corporation awarded Leroy Richter Well Drilling Company of Flatonia a $27,900 contract for a 100-gallon-per-minute water well that was expected to supply 150 to 160 households. The well, to be drilled and equipped in conformity with Texas State Department of Health standards, would be completed with pump, motor, starter, all electrical work including wiring and controls, pump foundation, pipe hypochlorinator and painting. Corporation directors agreed on a $11 monthly minimum water bill due to the extra $75,000 loan needed to construct the system. The Fayette Water Supply Corporation officers were: Kenny L. Stork, president; Ben Janda, secretary-treasurer; Joseph C. Hild, engineer; and Michael F. Kelsel, attorney.

Sunday, April 27 marked the 40th anniversary of the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The chair of the Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District, A.W. Fietsam, said SCS had been providing local landowners with technical help for needed conservation measures since 1945. The Fayette district covered about 592,511 acres with 2,805 operating units for about 1,000 landowners.

Firefighters were called to Hattermann’s Trailer Park in La Grange at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday regarding a possible mobile home fire. However, no damage was reported. A pot left on a burning cookstove had caused all the smoke.

Two overhead flashing lights and bell warning signals were erected at the Hwy. 77 and Jefferson St. crossing in La Grange on the Missouri, Kansas and & Texas Railroad. The previous year, crossing gates had been installed on the other city M-K-T crossing on Hwy. 71 at Consolidated Lockers.

Deposit totals for the April 16 bank call indicated the money squeeze in Fayette County, compounded by inflation and depressed cattle prices, was beginning to ease. Deposits in the county’s eight banks increased $2,280,012 over the year-end call, a gain of 3.2%. Schulenburg continued to show the fastest rate of deposit gains with its two banks showing deposits of $19,185,682, a gain of 13.2%.

Fayetteville High School was sending three students to the state meet in Austin following the Brenham regional meet. They were: Mary Ann Konvicka, who placed third in shorthand; Ann Schmidt, who was first in editorial writing and third in news writing; and Catherine Heimsath, who placed second in persuasive speaking in the regional competition.

The following KJT members received 50-year membership pins: Elo Goerig Sr. of the La Grange Lodge, Anton J. Kallus of Ellinger, and William Bordovsky of the Bridge Valley society.

Mrs. Clinton Krause was reelected president of the Walhalla Home Demonstration Club. Also reelected were: Mrs. Ben F. McCormick, vice president; Mrs. James Painter, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. L.L. Petrich, council delegate; and Mrs. George Ullrich, alternate delegate. Mrs. Petrich was also continuing to serve as parliamentarian and Mrs. V.G. Frenzel as reporter.

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Photo courtesy of the Fayette Heritage Museum & Archives

Below are ads from 1975