Remember When?

July 19-23,1974 

Three men attempting what the arresting officer described as a “pigeon drop” operation in downtown La Grange pled guilty in county court, drawing fines and jail terms. The trio was picked up after beginning a pitch to a local man who was getting in his car. He reported their activities to La Grange Police Chief Lawrence Ulrich, who made the arrests, with assistance from the sheriff’s department.

The San Antonio and Houston suspects pled guilty to attempted fraud before Fayette County Judge Fritz Lobpries.

They were fined $200 each, assessed $47 in court costs and given 30-day jail terms.

Burglars entered Albers Hatchery and Feed Store and City Radiator Service on Wednesday night and got away with around $80 in cash and an assortment of keys.

At Albers Hatchety on East Travis, the burglars broke in through a back window. Manager Rudolph Voss said about $20 was missing from the cash register, a cigar box of coins and a soda water machine, as well as keys used at the business. At City Radiator Service on West Travis, the burglars stole about $60 in cash.

A big hay bam struck by lightning at the old Mischer place near Walhalla burned to the ground before firefighters arrived. A few days later, a fire of undetermined origin destroyed a frame home and its contents also near Walhalla.

The structure was beyond saving by the time neighbors noticed the blaze and called the Round Top-Warrenton Fire Department. The place was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Lany Blackmon.

According to former county superintendent Fritz Lobpries, the Fayette County School Board officially annexed the Cistern Rural High School District to the Flatonia Independent School District.

More than 700 members and guests attended the F ayette Electric Cooperative annual membership meeting at the La Grange Fairgrounds. L.A.

Giese, Edwin G. Kruppa and John J. Beck were elected as directors. Arthur Friemel was reelected president; Ewald W.

Friedrich, vice president; and Edwin G. Kruppa, secretarytreasurer. A rate increase of 46.64% was announced at the meeting. Representing only demand and energy passthrough charges, the increase did not directly benefit Fayette Electric.

Response was swift to a call for blood donors for Leo F. Tiemann, a prominent La Grange area citizen who was very ill. After over 150 persons answered the appeal, a unit of the M.D. Anderson Hospital Blood Bank confirmed it would be in La Grange on Sun., July 28, at the KJT office to accept blood donations. Lawrence Adamcik was among those KJT representatives still accepting signatures of persons willing to participate.

Charles Koether was the winner of the hit-a-homer contest staged at Fair Park.

A total of 75 contestants took part in the La Grange event, swinging at the offerings of a pitching machine. In addition to Koether, David Zátopek, Lany Harbers, Clinton Bippert and Wesley Steinmann also hit homers.

Arnold W. Fietsam, a poultry and livestock farmer in the Ammannsville area, was named to a three-year term on the Fayette County Farmers Administration Committee, succeeding Leo J. Heller, also of Ammannsville.

La Grange Independent School District trustees approved the proposed $1 million budget for 1974-75, raised cafeteria prices and increased the maintenance tax. In the fall, lunch would cost 600 for elementary students, up from 450; 600 for junior and senior high school students, up from 500; and 750 for teachers and other adults, up from 600.

Fayette County commissioners voted in favor of a cost-of-living increase for county employees. The amount would be determined after the county auditor presented figures at a special meeting on July 22.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Walter (Irene) Carnell, 69, of Prairie Valley; Milton Lindemann, 62, of Industry; Mrs. Alpha Eichler, 65, of Round Top; and Mrs. Lilly E.

Naegeli, 74, of La Grange.

The La Grange American Legion Auxiliary saluted retiring president Mrs. Elvira Saxton with a token of their appreciation for serving 22 years in that post. She had been president of the group, which was organized in 1919, since 1953. Thirteen years of U.S.

Air Force service provided several interesting foreign assignments for Lt. Col. Tommy W. Lueders, a newly appointed staff judge advocate at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Before entering the service, the 1958 graduate of La Grange High School and son of Mrs. Theo W. Lueders of La Grange graduated with a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www. elaine1homaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at (979) 263-5031.