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Do You Remember?

Do You Remember?

Jan. 9, 1973

Burglars robbed two houses in the area, one on Saturday night and the other sometime after Dec. 22. Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reported that the former Prause place, currently owned by Bruce Farmer on the FM road at Nechanitz, was entered Saturday night. Mr. Farmer, who lived in Galveston, said an electric cookstove, four electric heaters, a refrigerator, TV, bed sheets, towels, blankets, trolling motor, battery charger and duck decoys were stolen. When the vehicle used in the burglary got stuck, the perpetrators placed blankets stolen in the heist under the wheels for traction in order to get out, the sheriff noted. The other residence broken into was theWinchester area home owned by John Weth of Houston. A clock radio, bedspread, cowboy boots, work boots, flashlight, jackets, pants, shirts, socks, caps and western hat were missing from his house. Mr. Weth told officers the last time he visited his place was Dec. 22.

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reported that his office’s workload continued to grow all the time and getting criminal cases tried had become more difficult. He also lamented that 17 people had lost their lives in Fayette County traffic accidents in 1972.

The State Insurance Board in Austin ordered large fire insurance rate reductions for 98% of Texas homes, effective with policies written or renewed on or after Jan. 1. Only one class of houses, those of entirely brick construction, would see an increase that amounted to 3%. Fire insurance rates on brick veneer, asbestos or stucco homes were to drop 12%, while a 9% reduction was ordered for frame dwellings. For local residents, the average savings would total between $4 and $11 annually.

Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant in Schulenburg was advertising its Monday night $1.89 all-you-can-eat buffet special featuring barbecue ribs and fried chicken. The Wednesday night special was seafood and steak with a fix-your-own salad, also priced at $1.89. All mixed drinks on Monday and Wednesday evenings were 85¢.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Elenora Behrens, 66, of La Grange; Mrs. Sophie Trojan, 75, of La Grange; Mrs. Louise Lydia Kaase, 86, of La Grange; Dr. Michael Alexander, 62, a native of La Grange; and Mrs. Lydia Gross, 79, of New Ulm.

E.A. Roitsch, the manager of the Federal Land Bank Association of La Grange, announced that The Federal Land Bank of Houston closed 3,701 loans for more than $16.4 million during 1972. Mr. Roitsch’s office, which served Fayette, Lee and Bastrop counties, closed 70 loans totaling $3.378 million. He said it had been a record year for new loan business with an increase of more than 60% over 1971, which had been the largest year in the bank’s 54-year history. He credited the lending authorities made possible by the Farm Credit Act of 1971, which was implemented in 1972. Mr. Roitsch also reported that interest in buying farm and ranch land had sharply increased during the year. Officers and directors of the local association were: George R. Kainer of Schulenburg, president; Williams T. Higgins Jr. of Bastrop, vice president; John A. Dube of McDade, director; Woodrow W. Brewer of Lexington, director; Quintus W. Lehmann of Ledbetter, director; E.A. Roitsch, manager; and John E. Morris, assistant manager.

In preparation for spring semester registration, Blinn College planned to run its buses for commuter students on Thur., Jan. 11. Driver Jerry Hoskins would pick up students at the Longhorn on Hwy. 71 and Mike Wallace would stop at the Exxon at Hwy. 77 and 71. The buses were scheduled to arrive in La Grange around noon and return from Brenham immediately after all the riders had registered. When regular classes began on Tues., Jan. 16, the same fall semester bus schedule would be in effect.

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