REMEMBER WHEN?
Jan. 23-30, 1973
A large two-story frame house, owned and occupied by H.J. and Glenn Zapalac, was destroyed by fire at daybreak Sunday morning three miles west of Fayetteville. The blaze had gained such headway in the high northwest wind that Fayetteville firefighters could do little more than contain the fire. Although it was only a short distance away, a large barn filled with hay and other feed was spared because it was out of the wind’s path. The Zapalacs were cooking breakfast on an electric stove when embers began falling through their high ceiling, their first inkling of a fire. Glenn climbed a ladder with a garden hose to fight the flames, but the hose burst. After that, the alarm was sounded. The origin of the disastrous blaze that destroyed all the men’s household goods and many family heirlooms except one rocking chair grabbed from the front porch is uncertain. However, conjecture was that the flue top on the roof may have blown off during the high wind causing sparks from a wood heater to drop onto the shingled roof. The house was built in 1913 and was originally known as the Joe Novosad estate. The Zapalac’s loss was partially covered by insurance.
La Grange High School junior Dennis Zbranek, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bennie L. Zbranek, was named as a member of the All-State Band, which was to meet in San Antonio Feb. 8, 9 and 10. Zbranek ranked first chair bass clarinet in the Texas Music Educators Association Area D auditions in Austin. By placing first, he became one of the five contrabass clarinetists to be named to the All-State group.
Commissioners’ court scheduled a Feb. 4 public hearing concerning recommended salary increases for Fayette County’s elected county and precinct officials. The proposed increase for all countywide elected officers’ salaries was set to increase from $8,349 to $8,766. The projected salary increases for Justices of the Peace were: Precinct 1, from $5,386 to $5,655.30; Precinct 2, $1,500 to $1,575; Precinct 3, $2,100 to $2,205; and Precinct 4, from $4,886 to $5,130.30. Increases recommended for constables included: Precinct 1 from $834.84 to $876.58; Precinct 2, $834.84 to $876.58; Precinct 3, $115 to $120.75; and Precinct 4, $115 to $120.75.
The average payment rate per acre of set-aside corn in Fayette County in 1973 was $14.70 under the 30% option and $10.08 under the 15% option, according to Johnnie S. Petter, Fayette County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service committee chairman.
A twin-engine Piper Apache airplane seeking refuge from a thunderstorm front was damaged while landing at Guenther Field in La Grange. However, the pilot, T.F. Robins Jr., and two passengers from Houston were not injured. Mr. Robbins told airport manager Frank Guenther that he was approaching the landing strip from the north. When nearing the field, he saw he was a bit low and also noticed the electric powerlines directly ahead. Mr. Robbins pulled up sharply, went into a stall and hit the landing pavement hard. The right landing gear buckled, the right wing was twisted and the wing’s center section received damage. The right motor and prop also were beat-up.
La Grange’s Leopards returned to their former winning ways Friday night, annexing both ends of a double bill over the Bulldogs at Yoakum. The regulars copped a 64-61 decision over the Yoakum team with the victory coming in the final moments. Robert Poole put the Leps ahead with a field goal with 40 seconds left, and Hal Lindemann’s free throws with just 18 seconds remaining secured the triumph. Poole hit 25 points to take the individual scoring honors. Stephen Kovar was next with 13, while Lindemann tallied 11. The La Grange junior varsity tacked on a 75-61 victory in the opener, leading throughout the game and by halftime having a 46-30 advantage.
Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Moritz Niesner of Schulenburg; Otto W. Albrecht, 85, of La Grange; Mrs. Lola Weyand, 90, of Carmine; and Mrs. Lula Naumann, 80, of Cistern.
The office education department of the La Grange Area Vocational School was offering typewriting classes for adults starting Feb. 1 in room 100 of the Vocational Education Building, led by La Grange High School teachers.
Marvin Schubert, chosen as the county’s most progressive farmer of 1972, was awarded a plaque and a $50 prize at the annual La Grange Chamber of Commerce banquet. On his 500acre farm in the Rabb’s Prairie community, Mr. Schubert grew corn, cotton and grain sorghum.
Also at the La Grange Chamber of Commerce banquet, Mrs. Leola Tiedt, a La Grange Public Schools German teacher, was presented with a plaque recognizing her conservation efforts over the years.
Annette Citzler, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Atlan M. Citzler of La Grange, reported to The Record on her first few months as a guest student studying at St. Gallen, the eighth largest city in Switzerland. She was fascinated that a city of 100,000 could manage traffic with only one traffic light and noted the natives were great lovers of cheese. She observed that most businesses in downtown buildings were on the first floor with several stories of apartments above them. Annette also found it interesting that residents took off two hours at midday to rest.
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