Remember When?

Area Merchant Attacked and Robbed

Jan. 9-13, 1976

An around-the-clock investigation continued in the search for three males and one female who were wanted in connection with the beating and robbery of Winchester merchant Paul Karisch. The investigation was centered principally in the Houston area where the green 1972 Ford pickup, which the quartet was said to have been driving, had been stolen. Sheriff T.J. Flournoy related that the four people came into the Karisch Store at about 7:45 p.m., made a small purchase and handed Mr. Karisch a large bill. When the storekeeper went to the cash register to make change, one of the men allegedly approached from behind and hit him over the head. Mr. Karisch’s billfold containing $260 and $75 from the cash register were stolen. When the suspects fled in the pickup, a witness jotted down the license plate number, which was later traced to Houston. The sheriff and several deputies went to Giddings, Carmine and other places but came up with no clues. Sheriff Flournoy said the culprits had about an hour’s head start.

The New Year’s wintry blast – and which could be this season’s coldest – hit a wee bit earlier than usual. The front that zipped through South Texas on Wednesday morning sent the thermometer plummeting to an official low of 17 degrees.

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy filed for reelection. Having served as sheriff since Jan. 1, 1947, he would round out his 29th year in office at the close of 1976. For the year 1975, Sheriff Flournoy’s office jailed 471 prisoners and collected $39,319.81 in fines and fees for the county.

After having flattened out for the past two years under pressure from inflation and a depressed cattle market Fayette County’s bank deposits’ growth curve turned sharply upward. The county’s eight banks had $81,300,229 on deposit at the fourth quarter bank call on Dec. 31. This was an increase of $12,032,680 over the 1974 total, a growth rate of 17.4%.

Fire destroyed the home of John Mackey on FM 155 about three-quarters of a mile south of the U.S. Hwy. 77 intersection. Since the building was in full flames when firefighters arrived, there was no chance of saving it. The fire was believed to have started when Mackey poured kerosene into a wood-burning stove that back-flashed.

La Grange’s witty and fast-talking Charlie Giesber had agreed to serve as the announcer at two big tractor pulls in February. The first was the Texas Championship Tractor Pull in San Antonio and the second was the Houston Astrodome Spectacular in Houston.

Airman Clinton R. Pyburn, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack D. Pyburn Jr. of La Grange, completed his U.S. Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. Airman Pyburn was a 1974 graduate of La Grange High School. His wife, Pamela, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Al Chernosky of La Grange.

Captain Joe M. Kana successfully completed the Army Depot Operations Management Course with honors at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The 1962 graduate of La Grange High School and 1966 graduate of St. Edwards University in Austin with a bachelor of arts degree, was working on his master of science degree in management from Frostburg State College in Frostburg, Maryland. Kana, a Vietnam veteran, had received the Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and National Defense Medal.

La Grange Volunteer Fire Department members reelected L.A. Williams as their 1976 president. K.A. (Moe) Moellenberndt was reelected vice president; Calvin Kuehn, secretary; Rev. Harry Mazurkiewicz, chaplain; and C.V. Creuzbaur, assistant chaplain. Rudolph Voss was elected to another one-year term as fire chief, with Wesley Steinmann again serving as first assistant chief and Pete Willrich, second assistant chief.

Thanks to two more gifts, the total of cash and pledges for the Fayette Heritage Museum/ Library project rose to $225,993.53. The Moody Foundation of Galveston contributed $50,000 and Consolidated Smokehouse/Mr. and Mrs. E.B. (Tex) Mayer and Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Spencer donated $2,500.

The Pennsylvania Bicentennial Wagon Train was scheduled to arrive in La Grange at about 4 p.m. Thursday, via FM 159. Sheriff T. J. Flournoy, along with other county, city and Bicentennial officials, planned to escort the convoy. The wagons were to circle the Square and proceed to the fairgrounds to camp for two nights. A free 40-minute Bicentennial show was planned for Friday at 7:30 at the fairgrounds.

John J. Merecka of Flatonia announced his candidacy for the office of Precinct 3 county commissioner.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Julia Janak, 80, of Holman; Mrs. Sophie Schultz, 83, formerly of La Grange; Frank J. Trlicek, 79, a native of Rabbs Prairie; Robert Mennix, 69, of Winchester; Mrs. Monroe R. (Adelene Rinn) Henniger, 78, of New Ulm; Mrs. Mary Louise Menking Kunkel, 59, a former La Grange resident; Ennis H. Patton, 82, of La Grange; Mrs. Elsie Hunt Lawson, 59, of Plum; and Mrs. Frances Coufal, 77, of Fayetteville.

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