Remember When?

La Grange firefighters knocked out in short order what could have developed into a serious fire at the Anton Vasek Cafe in the Riverside addition just west of La Grange at 9 a.m. on Friday. Upon their arrival, firefighters found the kitchen stove in flames and a small blaze had started in the attic. The fire was thought to have been caused by a pan of grease on the stove that spilled over and ignited. When Mr. Vasek was in the cafe earlier, he thought he had turned off the burner but apparently had not done so. Damage was minor.

LGISD senior Eddie Oppermann won the first-place trophy in the boys’ informative speaking contest at the two-day Goliad Speech Tournament in Goliad. Sophomore Lucia Williams took home the secondplace trophy in the girls’ prose interpretation contest. Other participating LGISD students were: Lisa Hart, Mark Freeman and Glenn Smith.

The first in a series of Lucky 13 Bargain Days was set to commence in La Grange to stimulate local commerce. A total of 27 businesses were participating in the trade-athome event sponsored by the La Grange Chamber of Commerce. It was unnecessary to make a purchase to register for the prize drawing. On Saturday, Feb. 9, gift certificates for $75, $50, $20 and 10-$10 gift certificates were to be awarded. In addition, the Airborne Infantry Unit of the Columbus National Guard would be exhibiting its training equipment, including the ‘Gamma Goat.’

The new 1974 auto tags, which were to go on sale Friday, would be red on a white reflectorized background. Plate colors over the years had principally been black on white or white on black.

The La Grange Leopards went up against the taller Columbus Cardinals in the Leopard’s gym Tuesday night in a last-ditch effort to retain a chance to earn District 13-3A cage laurels, but it was not the night for Bob Johnson’s La Grange charges. The Cardinals won 74-25. Johnny Johnson, Robert Poole and Kenny Hatfield each hit 10 points to lead La Grange scorers. Leon Thomas was high for the Redbirds with 26, Willis Perkins was runner-up with 18 and big Ben Scott chimed in with 14.

Funeral services were held for: Alfred Seiffert, 81, of Oldenburg; Mrs. Louise Ahirich, 86, a native of Round Top; J.L.

(Red) Etlinger, 67, of Flatonia; and Vlasta Mary Gaither, 59, a native of Fayetteville.

Homer D. Eck, Fayette County’s auditor for more than 30 years, retired on Feb. 1. He was succeeded by Dan von Rosenberg, who was appointed to the post by District Judge Paul Huser of Schulenburg.

Forty-nine members and guests attended the Fayette Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s annual luncheon meeting at the Frisch Auf! Valley Country Club. Mrs. Henry C. Paine was installed as president for a second term. Other 1974 officers were: Mrs. R.J. Edwards, vice president; Mrs. Burleson Graham, secretary-treasurer; and Mrs. Justin Bartos Jr., auditor. In 1973, members had donated 2,659 hours of time inside and 2,276 hours outside the hospital for a total of 4,935 hours of service. Seven active new members had joined the auxiliary the prior year: Mrs. M.A. Snodgrass, Mrs. John F. Rohan, Mrs. Joseph J. Gregory, Mrs. R.B. Mayo, Mrs. Clarence Weigman, Mrs. Gladys F. Cronenberger and Mrs. Les Blume.

Fayette County completed 1973 without a single confirmed screwworm case. Colorado and Lavaca counties had one each, while Bastrop reported two. Elmo Minzenmeyer, named the area’s most progressive farmer of 1973 at the annual La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, donated his $50 prize back to the chamber, asking that it be spent on community betterment projects.

Two precinct-level contests had developed in county races. Elmo A. Pietsch, a Warda-Nechanitz farmer and rancher, filed for commissioner of Precinct 2 on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Pietsch was vice president of the Fayette County Farm Bureau. He had been on the Round Top-Winchester community ASCS committee for the prior six years and was serving his second one-year term as alternate for the county ASC committee. He was opposing Paul Jaster of Round Top, who was bidding for his second elective term. Two filed for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Joe R. Schwartz was the incumbent. They were Norman C. Krischke and Mrs. Lois V. Brauner. Mr. Krischke, 47, a retired Army man, had served as assistant to the incumbent justice of the peace at Schulenburg and done extensive road map work for the county. Mrs. Brauner operated a cafe in Schulenburg and had served as secretary for the late attorney Harvey R. Clark for a number of years.

Army Spec 5 Earlie Burleson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Burleson of La Grange, was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Meritorious Service with the 43rd Engineering Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was an engineer mechanic in the battalion’s CompanyA.

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