REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago from The Fayette County Record

May 2-5, 1972

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reported that the jail had handled 59 prisoners and collected $3,248 in fines and fees for the county in April. According to the entries in the sheriff’s log, on April 5, two deputies were sent to Muldoon to pick up a mental patient who was taken to Austin State Hospital. Activity on April 24 saw six jailed: two for misdemeanor theft, one for investigation, two run-away girls from Delaware and one held for the police in Delaware. During the following two days, one was jailed for theft of gasoline, trips were made to Ellinger and Flatonia serving civil papers and officers responded to a call from Round Top in reference to family trouble.

Deposits in the five area banks exceeded $33 million for the first time. Deposits in the two La Grange banks topped $24 million for the first time with The First National Bank of La Grange becoming the first Fayette County bank to exceed $13 million in deposits.

La Grange Schroeder Drug Demons’ Paul Czerwinski and the New Ulm Firemen’s Billy Johnson hooked up Sunday in one of the neatest hill duels seen here in a long time. When it was over, Johnson and the Firemen prevailed 3-2 in the South Central Texas League opener at Fair Park. Czerwinski doled out seven safeties, struck out 11 and gave up only two walks, but one of those counted in New Ulm’s winning counter. Three homers sailed across the barriers with La Grange’s Rick Blume poling one and Firemen Roy Golan and Bill Bohne getting the others.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Clara Schumann, 76, a Fayette County native; Mrs. Frances Biehle, 47, of Warda; Mrs. Lola Mae Fleck, 77, of West Point; August J. Janda, 89, of Hostyn; Charles H. Fein, 78, of Plum; Mrs. W.R. Newton Sr., 89, a Fayette County native; Denny Darwin, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Arden Knight of Fayetteville; Mrs. Rueben Irene Helton, 56, of Muldoon; and Gardett P. Townsend, 68, formerly of Muldoon.

The Rev. Harry Mazurkiewicz turned the first spade of soil at groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Sacred Heart Church and Rectory. Looking on were members of the finance committee: Dr. A.J. Darilek, Robert A. Winkler, George Hajovsky, Gus F. Lindemann, Frank J. Hanacek, Frank Brauner, Adolph Matocha and Dr. C. Garrette Ray. In his remarks, Father Harry recounted that when the first church was built in 1887, it served 30 to 35 families. When the diamond jubilee was observed in 1961, membership had increased to 245 families. At the time of the groundbreaking, well over 300 families were part of Sacred Heart.

La Grange High School top speller Katherine Urban, who had won first in the regional contest, was to compete in the Texas University Interscholastic League. Other students from La Grange High School who placed regionally included: Elaine Warhol, Patricia Bush, Charles Mayer and Melanie Brown.

The grand opening of the Plum Restaurant located in the former Rocking J on Hwy. 71 about four miles west of La Grange was set for noon on May 6. The restaurant, owned by Katie and Booty Mobley, would be serving Mexican food, sizzling steaks and hot bread and country fried chicken, as well as catfish and hush puppies.

The Warda Aces, behind a 14-hit attack, out-scored the Plum Ravens 10 to 5 in the first league game of the newly-formed Colorado Valley Amateur Baseball league. Going almost nine innings, Gus Schramm got the victory. He allowed five runs on nine hits before giving way to Hermann Lehmann in the top of the ninth. Clement Trlicek started on the mound for the Ravens and was tagged with the loss. He was relieved in the fourth inning by George Maxwell. Paul Schramm slammed a three-run homer to cap a big five-run third inning for the winners. Johnny Dawson and Bill Prihoda each hit a solo homer for the Plum Ravens. In the other CVAB opener, Winchester eased by Serbin, 3 to 1. Charles Koepke was the winning hurler and Ronnie Oltmann took the loss.

Hermes Cartwheel Lodge, a La Grange nursing home, was acquired by Geriatrics, Inc. of Greeley, Colorado.

Susan Fritsche, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Fritsche, was among the students at Southwest Texas State University who had earned a place on the fall dean’s honor roll.

For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.