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West Point Burglary Case Solved

Sept. 10-13, 1974

A suspect apprehended in connection with a house burglary near West Point was charged with felony theft in Judge A.V. Smith’s Justice of the Peace Court and bound over for the grand jury. The 20-year-old from Smithville entered the Thomas M. Berry home during the day on Sunday, Sept. 1, and stole an automatic .22 rifle and a tape recorder. The two items were sold to a party on the other side of Bastrop and later recovered. The suspect had been free on five years probation in connection with an earlier burglary indictment.

District Judge Paul Huser in the 155th District Court in La Grange set Tuesday, Sept. 17 as the date for taking depositions in Austin’s city hall fromAustin Mayor Roy Butler on the city’s involvement in the coal-fired electric power plant between La Grange and Fayetteville. Judge Huser also set a deadline for Austin city officials to turn over all the records and contracts between the city and the Lower Colorado River Authority to W.J. Merrill, attorney for the Fayette County Landowners Association, which opposed construction of the plant.

The 100th anniversary of the Fayetteville Brethren Church building was set for Sunday, Sept. 22. The observance was being held in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the first Czech Protestant worship services conducted in Texas at that location. The church building stood in its entirety with the original floor, walls, ceiling and roof covered with new materials. An annex had been added and the front porch had been converted into an entry foyer. The foundation, hewn from heavy live oak and post oak logs 100 years ago, stood solid, providing the structure’s support. The congregation was holding a worship service at 10:45 a.m., followed with a beef stew dinner at 11:45 a.m. A memorial service in the cemetery was planned for 2 p.m.

Subscription rates for The Fayette County Record were increasing to offset higher newsprint and production costs. Beginning Oct. 1, rates would be $6 per year for subscriptions in Fayette and adjoining counties and $7 per year elsewhere.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Augusta Finke, 82, of Waldeck; Mrs. Mary Rosenauer, 70, of La Grange and Weimar; Mrs. Reike Arlitt, 82, a native of Walhalla; Paul F. Dittrich, 63, of Schulenburg; Mrs. Amanda Steinmann, 77, of La Grange; Donna Leonhardt was selected as Future Farmer of America Sweetheart by members of the Round Top-Carmine chapter. Donna, a senior at Round Top-Carmine High School, was to represent the chapter in the Area III FFA Sweetheart contest. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Bennie R. Leonhardt of Carmine.

Six Fayette County tractor pullers brought home awards from the Guadalupe County Fair. With his modified ‘Outlaw’ tractor, Ludwig Michalsky of Ellinger was awarded a handsome trophy and $250 for winning first place in the 9,000 modified class and third place in the 7,000 modified class. He also placed fourth in the 7,000 super stock class and second in the 12,000 super stock classification with his LA Case tractor. Roger Brandt placed fourth in the 5,000 stock class with his Case SI. Other pullers included: Bruce Dopslauf – first, Eugene Polasek – third, and Fred Knebel – sixth, in the 12,000 stock class; and R.B. Wagner – second, in the 15,000 stock class. Franklin Brandt of La Grange served as track manager and Charlie R. Giesber, also of La Grange, was the announcer.

The future of the quality of life on this planet was the challenging question discussed by delegates from 140 countries at the first United Nations population conference in Bucharest, Romania. La Grange native Virginia Leech, the daughter of Mrs. Agnes Mika, represented her area newspaper, the Richardson (Texas) Daily News, at the meeting.

At Cistern, Ronnie Beck opened his new business in the Lasso. Mrs. John J. Beck was the manager.

Mr. and Mrs. Victor Kulhanek of Ellinger observed their golden wedding anniversary on Sept. 3. They were honored by their children on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Ellinger C of C Building with a dinner and social.

A grand opening event for Cash & Carry Grocery at its new location of 256 W. Colorado St. was planned. Owned by father and son George and George Allen Rainosek, the store was offering 25,000 Buccaneer Stamps as free prizes at the event. No purchase was necessary to enter the drawing for six free baskets of groceries.

Charles Lynch of Waldeck reported killing a large coral snake at his place. It measured 27 inches long (minus the head) and was as thick as a man’s thumb.

Three defendants, two charged with driving while intoxicated and another with driving while license suspended, were tried in County Judge Fritz E. Lobpries’ court. After entering guilty pleas, the trio was assessed $491 in fines.

Fayette County families who had held and worked their land for a century or more qualified for recognition in the Family Land Heritage Program. Included were: Arnold Fietsam, La Grange; J.L. Frierson, Flatonia; Mrs. Howard F. Fuchs, Carmine; Mr. and Mrs. Otto L. Fuchs, Carmine; Marvin Hahn, Flatonia; Frank Q. Janda, La Grange; Mrs.Alberta Laux, Schulenburg; Mrs. and Mrs. Ben McCormick, Warrenton; Marvin Matejowsky, Ledbetter; Mrs. and Mrs. Elmo Minzenmeyer, La Grange; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Muenzler, Fayetteville; E.A. Roitsch, La Grange; Frank Schuetze, Muldoon; Ira Syler, Flatonia; Mrs. Edwin Gau, Rosenberg; Maxine K. Johnson, San Antonio; Mr. and Mrs. Eroy Roscher, La Grange; Andy Speed, Muldoon; and Mrs. Zora Werth, La Grange.

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