Remember When?
Oct. 26-30, 1973
Czechoslovakia’s ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Dusan Spacil, appeared overwhelmed by the reception he received during brief ceremonies at La Grange City Hall on Saturday morning. About 80 people, including city and county officials and representatives of civic and other organizations, were on hand when the ambassador, his wife and son arrived at mid-morning with Rep. J.J. (Jake) Pickle. Mayor L.W. Stolz Jr. presented Dr. Spacil with a key to the city and the ambassador reciprocated with a gift of a picture book of Czechoslovakian architecture. Congressman Pickle spoke briefly during the kolache and coffee reception.
A sturdy defense couldn’t quite make up for a sputtering offense and, as a result, the Wharton Tigers annexed a 21-7 decision over the La Grange’s Leopards. The victory put the Bengals firmly in the driver’s seat of the District 13-3A west zone grid chase. Despite losing the ball three times on fumbles and once on a swiped pass during the first half, the Leps stayed abreast of their opponents through the two stanzas and went to the dressing rooms with the score knotted at 7-7.
Sales tax receipts for 12 South Central Texas cities, including La Grange, indicated retail sales in this area were increasing by approximately 16% annually.According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, the figures showed that none of the 12 cities had any great advantage over the other as far as growth was concerned. Retailers collected the 1% city sales tax on all major sales items except groceries, prescription drugs and farming materials. That revenue was paid quarterly along with a 4% state sales tax to the comptroller’s office, which rebated the city tax to the respective municipalities.
Based on third quarter bank call figures, deposits in Fayette County’s eight banks continued to increase at a healthy rate. Total county deposits of $65,834,715.03 at the Oct. 17 call set a new record. At the June 30 call, the total was $64,203,716.18. The $1,630,998.85 gain represented a 2.5% increase for the quarter. La Grange’s banks continued to be the two largest depositories with Oct. 17 call totals of $28,195,819.06, an increase of 4.5% since Dec. 30. Fayette County’s banks were: The First National Bank of La Grange, La Grange State Bank, First National Bank – Schulenburg, Fla-tonia State Bank, Farmers State Bank – Schulenburg, Fayetteville Bank, Carmine State Bank and Round Top State Bank.
City council approved a voluntary rat control program for the City of La Grange. A representative of the rodent and predatory animal branch of Divisional Wildlife Service appeared before council to describe the program and offer his free services. Council approved the purchase of 100 pounds of rat bait in half-pound packages for distribution on an appointed date. Efforts were also being made to get the bait to areas containing abandoned buildings harboring rodents.
United States Navy Commander L.D. Nagel was assuming command of the Naval Air Station at Kingsville. Round Top Mayor and Mrs. Don Nagel, the parents of the incoming commander, planned to attend the ceremonies.
The new District VI office of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department moved into the former quarters of the county judge on the second floor of the Fayette County Courthouse in La Grange. District supervisor W.C. Childress, who relocated from Victoria, said his office offered all types of licenses, including hunting, fishing and shooting preserves, plus he could register boats. The District VI office had responsibility for hunting and fishing law enforcement in Fayette, Colorado, Austin, Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales and Lavaca counties.
Funeral services were held for: Benno Hoffmann, 72, of Freyburg; Robert F. Hackemack, 84, a Round Top native; Mrs. Mary Chovanec, 88, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Delta Spies, 72, a native of Warrenton; and Mrs. Emmett Forester, 68, a Fayette County native.
Bernadette Janda, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alois R. Janda of Hostyn and a senior at Bishop Forest High School in Schulenburg, was selected DAR Good Citizen for 1973.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Marburger of Port Arthur celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sun., Oct. 21 at Luther Hall in Port Arthur. The couple was married on Oct. 25, 1923, at Round Top by Rev. Falkenburg.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Matocha Sr. honored their parents on their 50th wedding anniversary on Sun., Oct. 21. A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in La Grange with the Rev. Ben Mazurkiewicz officiating. Following the Mass, a dinner of beef and chicken barbecue and sausage was served at the couple’s home in La Grange. Mr. and Mrs. Matocha were married on Oct. 30, 1923, in Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Hostyn. The couple had five children: Mrs. Ben (Bernice) Janda of La Grange, Mrs. Frank (Georgia) Holub of Houston, Adolph Matocha Jr. of La Grange, Mrs. Gilbert (Veronica) Bohuslav of Lake Jackson, and Mrs. Frank (Lillie Ann) Nash of Houston.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Muras Jr. of Hostyn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sun., Oct. 21, with a High Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Hostyn at 10:30 a.m. Concelebrants of the Mass were the Rev. Edward J. Jansky of Inez, the Rev. Adolph Janda and Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. J. Morkovsky of Hostyn. Frank Muras and Emillie Klecka were married in Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Wallis on Oct. 23, 1923. They had made Hostyn their home ever since. The couple was blessed with nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The four living sons and three daughters were: Frank of Hostyn; Gregory and Fred of Houston; Albert of High Hill; Mrs. Hugo (Annie) Beyer of Schulenburg; Mrs. Robert (Beatrice) Sumbera of La Grange; and Mrs. Lawrence (Lillian) Klesel of Schulenburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kallus of Houston observed their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sun., Oct., 21 at the KC Hall in Houston. Mr. Kallus and MissAgnes Vaclavik were married on Oct. 16, 1923, in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Plum by the late Rev. Paul P. Kaspar. They lived in the area for a number of years before moving to Flatonia. The couple had resided in Houston for 27 years.
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