REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette County Record

Nov. 24-27, 1970

Ending a long and bitter political battle over the shape of the nation’s agriculture policy, a new farm bill was going to the White House following approval by the U.S. Senate. Called a “significant victory for American farmers,” the bill set the framework for all major farm subsidy and price support programs for the following three years at a cost of $3.5 billion. For the first time, a $55,000 limit was being placed on the amount that growers of cotton, corn, wheat and feed grains could be paid for holding land out of production. For Fayette County farmers, it meant there would be no marketing quotas on cotton. What other impact the bill would have on locals still was under study.

The La Grange Leopard cagers scored with uncanny accuracy through the first three quarters of their second game of the season at Navasota. However, a hot 26-point fourth period finish by the host Rattlers did the Leps in by an 80 to 70 score. La Grange, mentored by Ricky Peters, trailed by 21-18 at the end of the first stanza and was behind by two, 39-37, at the intermission. Then, with a flourish, the Leopards meshed 21 in the third round to go out in front by a 58- 54 margin and stretched the lead to six points early in the final canto before the Rattlers put on their torrid scoring spree.

Sister David Jilek of Fayetteville was elected district executive committee member of District XIII, TSTA, at the House of Delegates meeting in Austin. Sister David had been serving as chair of the teacher welfare committee for the district.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lawrince R. Heinrich, the son of Mrs. Gilbert Bittner of La Grange, was on duty at Tan Son Nbut Air Base in Vietnam. Sgt. Heinrich, a supply supervisor, was assigned to a unit of the Pacific Air Forces.

Inter-denominational Thanksgiving services were planned for Wednesday night at St. James Episcopal Church. Rev. Frank McElroy of First Presbyterian Church was to read the lesson and St. James pastor the Rev. Ed Hartwell was to bring the Thanksgiving sermon.

Edward C. “Pug” Hart, a senior vet student at Texas A&M University, was attending a four-day stud management course at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. While there, he was staying with the president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and visiting the large horse farms around the city.

Frank J. Pratka, who had been appointed as the City of La Grange’s plumbing inspector in conformity with the new code adapted by the city council, received his licensed inspector license.

The Rev. and Mrs. John F. Jensen returned from a successful deer hunt in Kerr County, west of Kerrville where each bagged a buck.

Mrs. Elizabeth Rainosek of La Grange scored fourth place at the preserving contest held in connection with the Bellaire Antiques Show in Houston. Mrs. Rainosek, who showed 10 entries ranging from pickled okra to grape jelly, won five blue ribbons, four red and one white. Mrs. Rainosek’s daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Vecera, was in charge of the contest. She was assisted by Bellaire 4-H Club members.

George Hajovsky, Muscular Dystrophy Association campaign treasurer, reported raising $503.72 in the September 15 Mother’s March.

The Fayetteville Lions Club was conducting a benefit light bulb sale on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. The entire city and surrounding areas were to be canvassed.

Jerry and Edna Haluska, who lived on FM 955 just north of Ellinger, had a museum on their farm for years but didn’t realize it until a few weeks ago. The Haluskas, who were preparing to raze a 108-year-old house on the place, had a change of heart. Mr. Haluska decided it would be an ideal place to store or display the assemblage of real, sure-enough antiques he had been collecting from around the farm since he was a lad of nine. The house, itself an antique, was built in 1862 by Andreas Ondrey, using 1x12-boxing, weatherproofed with 1/2x4-inch stripping, hand-hewn post oak logs for sills and hand-hewn shingles, all held together with square nails. Although the roof had been replaced in 1961 to repair damage from Hurricane Carla, the sidewalls were still as good as new. Some of the color from a coat of paint years before was still visible. The house contained seven rooms or eight if the extra backroom was counted. A ladder-type stairway led to the second floor. Mr. Haluska’s inventory of 288 antique items from the farm did not include a collection of around 300 bottles. Some were square and others wouldn’t stand up because they were roundbottomed. The antiques included seven old trunks, a turnip cutter for making turnip kraut, hand-forged chisels, hay cutters, other metal tools, a cotton quilt corder and harnesses. The most unusual item in the collection was a rheumatism belt that was worn around the waist. The bright red gadget that had three buttons for contact required about 30 batteries that were recharged every once and awhile with cider vinegar.

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