REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

July 10-14, 1970

For the first time in recallable history, a local candidate’s name was to appear in the independent column on the general election ballot in November. Elmo A. Pietsch, who resided in the Nechanitz-Warda community, was running for Precinct 2 County Commissioner. Paul Jaster of Round Top, who had won the Democratic nomination over incumbent Clinton P. Krause in the May primary election, also would have his name on the ballot.

La Grange City Secretary Mrs. Margaret S. Mason issued $54,400 worth of building construction permits for the second quarter of 1970. These included: Andrew Herns, E. Guadalupe St., home addition; Helmuth Hunger, N. Franklin St., home remodeling; Meiners Motor Co., S. Madison St., car wash; Mrs. Billie Holloway, E. Lower Line St., rent house; P.J. Bednar, E. Guadalupe St., two rent houses; Dr. C.E. Ebel, Oak St., residence; Estella Burley, E. Guadalupe St., home remodeling; and La Grange Auto Supply, general building repairs. Permits for the year to date totaled $631,850, including the new nursing home on N. Main.

Senator John G. Tower advised the City of La Grange that a $10,250 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant had been approved for park improvements. Under the terms of the project, the city was to match the HUD grant dollar for dollar, to beautify and improve the playground at the junior high school.

E.B. (Tex) Mayer of La Grange was one of seven new directors from across the U.S. elected at the annual Lions International convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

U.S. Army First Lt. Eugene C. Supak, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold F. Supak of Fayetteville, received the Bronze Star Medal in Vietnam. He was honored for outstanding meritorious service in connection with military operations against hostile forces in Vietnam, while assigned as a security and training officer headquarters with 12 Signal Group near Phu Bai. Supak also held the Army Commendation Medal.

The Cardinals, sponsored by The First National Bank of La Grange, topped the 1970 Little League. Team members included: Bruce Williams, Gary Dippel, Dennis Wessels, Burt Vasut, Billy Dunk, Michael Pechal, Richard Dunk, Michael Hluchanek, Michael Roberts, Michael Miller, Eddie Hale and Billy Roitsch. Charles Vasut was the team’s coach and W.O. Miller served as manager.

The La Grange Braves defeated their counterpart Ravens 8-5, at Fair Park to clinch first place in the Tri-County Teenage League. The victorious Braves with 12-0 for the campaign, opened with a lone counter in the first frame, exploded for four in the fourth and racked up three more in the fifth. They got seven bingles, all told. Harold Lindemann stroked a pair of doubles and Marcus Cook a double and single to pace the attack. David Zatopek and Tim Sulak each collected a brace of singles to lead the Ravens, who also amassed seven bingles. Billy Miller hurled the distance for the winners, fanning eight, and Bubba Smith, tossing for the Ravens, struck out four.

Funeral services were held for: Lavaca County Judge Gus J. Strauss, 58, and Otto H. Reeder, 83, of New Ulm.

G.H. Osthoff, the president of La Grange State Bank, was named a District 3 member of the Texas Bankers Association agriculture committee following the group’s annual convention in Fort Worth.

The Sacred Heart CYO girls’ softball team won the Austin Diocesan championship for the third consecutive year in the playoffs held at Bartholomew Field in Austin. Outstanding pitching performances by Sacred Heart’s Jane Sulak and Wanda Wessels, plus clutch hitting on all the team, led the locals to easy victories. In the first game against Bremond, the leading hitters were: Doris Kiska with two singles and a triple; Betty Heintschel, Jana Hluchanek, Carolyn Liska and Jane Sulak with two singles each, and Rebecca Munsch with a double.

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