Remember When?

A 19-year-old Fort Hood serviceman became Fayette County’s seventh traffic fatality of the year early Saturday morning when he was killed in an auto- pedestrian accident just north of Kirtley on Hwy. 71. Highway Patrolman David Wansley, who investigated along with Patrolman Norman Ball and Deputy Sheriff Vastine Koopmann, said W/M David R. Britton was apparently lying in the west lane of the highway when he a 1967 Olds struck him. The Houston driver of that vehicle said the car immediately ahead of him had veered to the right, but he assumed it was because an approaching vehicle was moving across the center line. As soon as he saw a man on the road, the driver said he slammed on his brakes. However, he could not stop his car fast enough to avoid the accident. The victim was attached to Company C., 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry of the 2nd Armored Division.

The new U.S. Agricultural and Consumer Protection Act of 1973, signed into law by President Richard Nixon, would directly affect all Fayette County farmers in one way or another. The Act was a four-year bill described as “attracting the farm production needed to meet domestic and foreign demands for food and fiber.” It was supposed to accomplish that “by creating a favorable climate within which farmers could respond to market signals that indicate consumer demand and produce the crops that are needed at home and abroad.” A guaranteed (target) price concept was set for feed grain, cotton and wheat. Target prices would not be paid as long as the average market price remained above the target level. That would provide farmers with a form of insurance if average prices dropped below the target levels.

Fayette County cattle producers were invited to a meeting at the courthouse in Hallettsville on Aug. 27 regarding new regulations for brucellosis testing. Speakers were to address how to eliminate the cattle disease in Texas, thus allowing the state to be declared Certified Brucellosis Free.

An appreciation stag barbecue honoring Congressman J.J. (Jake) Pickle and Congressman Bob Poage was set for Thurs., Aug. 23, at the Wilson H. Fox Riverside Ranch at Taylor. Tickets were available locally from La Grange Mayor L. W. Stolz Jr. at a cost of $4.50 each.

La Grange’s lady softball players roundly topped the Giddings stars, 19-4, at the Giddings Little League field Wednesday night. Wanda Wessels hurled five-hit ball to register the mound victory, whereas her mates collected 30 licks off Giddings’ pitching. Nancy Zingelmann socked a pair of doubles and two singles to lead the winners’ hit parade. Barbara Liska contributed a two-bagger and a single, and Irene Campbell had a trio of singles.

Thanks to alert local citizens, a suspect was captured following the break-in Wednesday night at the Henry Sanders Package Store in Carmine. Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reported that a man seen exiting the store at about 8:30 p.m. headed east in a 1966 Pontiac with California plates. R. H. Pohl, owner and operator of City Garage in Carmine, got into his pickup and gave chase while another citizen alerted the Brenham police. A successful arrest followed after a roadblock was set up west of the Washington County seat.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. J.B. (Louie Todd) Garrard, 97, of La Grange and Mrs. Exa Wayne Stierling Holmes, of La Grange.

U.S. Air Force T/Sgt. Jessie L. Collins, the son of Artis Collins Sr. of La Grange, arrived for duty at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Sgt. Collins, an aircraft environmental systems technician with a unit of the Pacific Air Forces, previously served at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Mr. and Mrs. John Koenig of La Grange returned home after visiting with their son, Cmdr. J. Weldon Koenig, his wife and family at Charleston, South Carolina. The John Koenigs attended the ceremony at the Charleston Naval Base where Weldon became commander of a nuclear submarine, the USS Simon Bolivar.

A mid-morning blaze destroyed the frame dwelling of Miss Frances Beier of High Hill. Schulenburg volunteer firemen answered the call at 10:10 a.m., but the small house was engulfed in flames and they could not save it. Quick action, however, kept the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. It is believed the blaze started on the shingle roof. Miss Beier, with the aid of neighbors, managed to save some of her belongings and furniture.

Two La Grange Jaycee Demons were named to both the National Baseball Congress allstar casts – state and south zone. Allen Garbs and Danny Muzny were listed as pitchers on both squads.

Area residents appointed to the reorganized Fayette County Mental Health-Mental Retardation advisory board were: Fritz Lobpries, C.A. Lemmons, Tyson Parker, Peggy Edwards, Mary Louise Schmidt and Sue Conder.

General Telephone Company asked Schulenburg City Council for permission to increase its business telephone service rates for the first time in 11 years. Although General Telephone had requested a $3.60 increase per line, the council approved a $2 increase. No new pricing was sought for residential rates.

Jack Dyer, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dyer Sr., was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Texas in Austin.

Members of the Frisch Auf! Valley Country Club elected Tommy Brasher of Weimar as their new president.

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