Remember When?

September 19-23, 1975

Two first aid courses that would qualify participants to serve as volunteer ambulance operators were scheduled at Fayetteville High School on two consecutive Saturdays at the end of September. Highway trooper N.D. Ball of La Grange would lead the sessions that were open to those interested in becoming ambulance operators or other community members. In making the announcement, Fayetteville Mayor William (Bill) Graeter said advanced first aid courses would be offered later.

More advertising signs along highways in Fayette County would be coming down, reported Carl V. Rament, district engineer of the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. At the time, 344 advertising signs had been removed from local highways controlled under the Texas Highway Beautification Act. It was estimated another 74 would be taken down by the end of the year, nine of which exceeded 200 square feet in size. Initially, illegal and abandoned signs or those in a right-of-way project, where additional land was necessary, were removed. Funds had become available to purchase non-conforming signs that had been lawfully erected, but were not within 800 feet of an established, ongoing business on the same side of the highway.

The 1¢ La Grange sales tax rebatefortheperiodendingSept. 1 added up to $15,788, according to the monthly report from the office of State Controller Bob Bullock. That was the highest return in this region, with the exception of Brenham. All told, Fayette County towns and cities that adopted the optional 1¢ levy received a total of $28,749. This included: Carmine, $468; Fayetteville, $1,108; Flatonia, $3,160; Round Top, $458; and Schulenburg, $7,752.

Superintendent C.A. Lemmons told trustees of the La Grange Independent School District that the 7.3% increase in the number of students represented families employed in initial work on the Fayette Power Project. More new students from power plant families were expected in the next few months. Bill Miller, resident engineer for S.J. Groves & Sons, the contractor for the project’s road and dam building and the site preparation, said his company would hire 30 more workers in the coming weeks, most of whom would be heavy equipment operators. Groves already had 100 on the payroll.

Despite missing a half-dozen scoring opportunities from inside the 20-yard line, two of them from within the 10, the La Grange Leopards again banked on their stellar defensive corps to pull out a heart-throbbing 21-7 victory over the Columbus Cardinals before a capacity crowd in Columbus. One Lep lad who really came into his own was 172-pound halfback Billy Dunk.

Fayetteville’s city council voted to restore the precinct courthouse and city hall in downtown as a Bicentennial project. The structure was to be restored to its original 1869 condition. Afterward, the building would likely house a museum for area records and 19th-century artifacts.

Catherine Heimsath, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clovis B. Heimsath, was a semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Miss Heimsath, a senior, was the first semifinalist ever from Fayetteville High School. A senior from La Grange High School, Shelby D. Willett, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Burrel Willett, was also named a semi-finalist in the 1976 competition.

Mr. and Mrs. Willie Lehmann were surprised on their 35th wedding anniversary by their children, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lehmann and Miss Linda Lehmann, and granddaughters, Denise, Sheila and Jennifer. A party was held on Saturday evening, Sept. 13, at the Winchester Community Hall. An anniversary litany was led by the Rev. A. Brand and hymns sung were accompanied by Miss Diane Schulz.

The La Grange Leopards were in seventh place for the week in the Associated Press rankings of Class AA Texas high school football teams. Bellville, which had ranked seventh the prior week after beating La Grange, dropped out of the top 10 following a 38-0 loss to Caldwell.

A funeral service was held for Ralph Martin, 83, of La Grange.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stancik celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the Hillcrest Hall near Columbus with a barbecue beef dinner for family and close friends, followed by an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. The table grace at noon was said by the Rev. Walter C. Probst Jr. of Rutersville. Displayed on the registration table was a letter of congratulations from President and Mrs. Gerald Ford.

The Rev. Francis Kolar was honored on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Hall on his 25th anniversary as pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Ellinger. James Tips served as master of ceremonies and introduced guests at the head table during the meal. This included: the Rev. Ben Mazurkiewicz, the Rev. Harry Mazurkiewicz, the Rev. Werner Buckholts and the Rev. Michael Bodnar of Giddings.

Thirteen farms and ranches in Fayette County qualified for the 1975 Family Land Heritage Program by documenting that they had owned and worked the same land for at least 100 years. The following is a partial list. The Dickmann farm, settled in 1866, was owned by Miss Malinda Dickmann of Round Top. The Panarma Estate, settled in 1870, was owned by Mrs. Delta Hausmann of La Grange and Mr. and Mrs. Leon Adamcik of Smithville. The Hensel farm, settled in 1871, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Herman C. Hensel of La Grange. The Kunze farm, settled in 1871, was owned by John F. Kunze of Warda. The Kraus farm, settled in 1858, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bodo Kraus, Round Top.

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Below are ads from 1975