Remember When?
1976: Miss Ella Kruschel Dies
Miss Ella, the last of the Kruschel sisters, passed away Wednesday at Retama Manor Nursing Home here. She attained the age of 92 years, 10 months and 11 days. Born in La Grange on Oct. 16, 1883, Miss Ella, the daughter of pioneer La Grange residents Charles and Emma Schmidt Kruschel, resided here her entire life. The Kruschel sisters were well known for their philanthropy over the years, including donating land for the La Grange Recreation Association’s pool, La Grange Little League parks and a new home for the Chamber of Commerce. The Kruschel sisters also made liberal monetary contributions to various civic and related organizations over a long period of time.
Fayette County property values took a jump of more than $1.7 million during the past year, according to the tax roll. The 1976 assessment came to $40,604,560, compared to the prior year’s total. However, the county would only be collecting taxes valued at $35,804,590 because of homestead exemptions.
The Plum Yankees made the most of eight base-knocks, scoring what proved to be the winning run in the fifth and adding five for icing in the ninth to annex the 1976 Community League Championship, 8-2, over the Noack Bears at Lincoln on Sunday. The triumph was Plum’s second straight. Steve Janda, for the second straight weekend, turned in a stellar performance, allowing only two hits and fanning 11. Janda also contributed a two-run home run. He cracked out a single to join Steve Kovar, who had a bases-loaded two-bagger and a single, for hitting laurels. Janda’s homer after Kovar singled gave the Yanks a pair in the second. After Plum scored a solo in the fifth, the Fayette County team paraded five players home in the ninth to put the game out of reach of the Noack Bears.
A well-known Smithville family lost their lives in the crash of their airplane near Goldthwaite in Central Texas. Dead in the tragedy were: Carroll C. Smith, Jr.; his wife, Janet Smith; and two daughters, Christine Louise, 12, and Jana Ree, 8.
Hot and dry weather conditions were blamed for two La Grange Volunteer Fire Department calls, neither of which proved serious. The first was near Warda, where a bulldozer caught fire while laying a water line for the Lee County Rural Water Co-op. The next was to the roadside park area on U.S. Hwy. 77 just south of Warda, where a grass fire threatened pine trees. Local firefighters called the Texas Forest Service, which had the best equipment to fight such blazes, while they stood by ready to help.
Fayetteville’s public schools were opening on Wednesday. Superintendent Ben W. Cobb said about 252 students were expected to report for classes on the first day. Although the Round Top-Carmine schools had kicked off their term the previous week, a headcount had not been issued. On Monday, when classes would begin in Schulenburg, approximately 600 students were expected.
Stephen Kovar of La Grange signed a letter of intent with the University of Houston Cougar baseball team and was to report for classes on August 30. He planned to major in accounting. Kovar, a recent Blinn College honors graduate, was named all-conference shortstop, having lettered two years. Steve batted .321 the prior season, drove in 27 runs, scored 34 points by himself and stole 23 bases.
The Fayette Memorial Hospital Auxiliary awarded the first Ida Reichardt Memorial Scholarship to four area students planning careers in medicine. Receiving $500, payable in $250 increments for the fall and spring terms, were Judy Chovanec, Rae Weishuhn, Martha Bargas and John Williams. The hospital established the scholarship in memory of Miss Reichardt, who passed away in May.
A 1970 International trailer truck loaded with 120 cases of eggs, or 45,200 individual hen-fruit, didn’t make the two curves on FM 155 two miles south of Hwy. 77. It ended up on its side in the ditch. Owned by Metcalfe Poultry & Livestock Co. of Franklin, the load was on its way to Weimar.
The U.S. Senate passed a bill providing an additional $1 billion subsidy for the debtridden U.S. Postal Service temporarily barring postal rate increases and service cutbacks. A special commission to examine postal problems and submit recommendations was to be appointed.
Funeral services were held for: Harold W. (Tee) Tiemann, 65, of La Grange; Mrs. Grace Lee Svec, 30, who attended Schulenburg schools; Mrs. Caroline Vasut, 85, of Fayetteville; Jimmy Janak, 46, of Holman; Kermit Pohl, 60, of Carmine; Leslie Kneip, 71, of Round Top; Miss Paula Wotipka, 97, of New Ulm; John Wesley Sykes, 81, who was buried in La Grange; Joe R. Zanek, 69, of Industry; Maurice (Dutch) Baumgarten, 61, who was buried in Schulenburg; and Jeff Hromodka, 52, of Schulenburg.
If you’d like to reach Elaine, please email her at callacomm@ hotmail.com. You can also visit her website: www. elainethomaswriter.com.
LATE CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: 1976 SR-Scorpion jet boat, 455 Olds. See at Hattermann’s Trailer Park.
FOR SALE: 2-row Ford corn picker, good shape, also corn elevator. Grant Williams WANTED: Auto mechanic. Experienced only need apply, guarantee plus commission, paid vacation. Group insurance available. New facilities. Boriack Motors, Ford & Mercury, Bellville Below are ads from 1976