Remember When?

The $3,000 resident homestead exemption for those over 65, adopted by Fayette County’s commissioners by resolution, was not expected to necessitate an increase in the county’s future tax structure. Although the exemption policy would deprive the county of approximately $29,000 in annual tax revenues, Revenue Sharing Fund disbursements would amply make up for the deficit. The exemption for the elderly, adopted by the court at a special meeting, was added to the Texas Constitution effective Jan. 1, 1973. It specified that ‘the governing body of any county, city, town, school district or any other political subdivision could exempt by its own action not less than $3,000 of the assessed value of homesteads of a person 65 years of age or older from all ad valorum taxes thereafter levied by the subdivision.’

Two young Floridians were released Thursday after they were tried in Fayette County criminal court on charges of unlawful possession of marijuana. Each was fined $2,047. The duo was arrested after their hippie-type van was in a one-vehicle accident near Flatonia. They were admitted to Fayette Memorial Hospital and then taken to jail.

Sheriff T.J. Flournoy received a call Monday morning from Springfield, Missouri, where law officers had apprehended and were holding Norman Cecil Donovan, who had broken out of the Fayette County Jail in the summer of 1973. By mid-morning, Sheriff Flournoy was seeking extradition papers from the district attorney. He planned to send a deputy to Missouri to bring Donovan back.

Misses Debra Hrncir, Kerry Harvan and Sharon (Kim) Vanek and their sponsor, Mrs. Lillian Zingelmann, attended the State Teenage Library Association Conference in San Antonio.

Vastine Gebert, a long-time employee of W.E. Schulze Grocery, joined Lindemann Real Estate of La Grange as a full-time salesman.

United Gas brought an alternate rate hike proposal before La Grange city council on Wednesday night. The new proposition called for a residential minimum of $3 a month for use of 400 cubic feet of natural gas and a commercial minimum of $3.50 for the same usage. Previously, United Gas had presented a new rate plan that adjusted the rate upward by 50¢ a month across the board, plus a costof- service adjustment clause. No action was taken at the meeting because there had been insufficient time to study the information provided by United Gas.

Lloyd Kolbe was named chair of a three-person group that included Lee Mueller Jr. and Louis Schroeder to seek additional medical doctors for La Grange. Mr. Kolbe said the committee would meet with the hospital board and staff and chamber of commerce directors to begin compiling information sheets and a list of prospective doctors.

The Fayette School District was providing two buses to take fans to the regional girls’ basketball tournament at San Marcos on Friday afternoon. The buses would leave the FHS campus at 3:30 p.m., giving fans ample time to grab a meal before the 8:30 game between Fayetteville and Colmesneil. The round-trip fare was $1 per person.

Funeral services were held for: W.J. Hruska, 61, a La Grange native; Harry Mitschke, 61, a native of Winchester; John Trlicek, 66, of La Grange; Mrs. Paula K. Tielsch, 53, of La Grange; and Joe Antosh, 72, of Columbus.

Timothy Meinardus of Fayetteville and Bodie Parks of La Grange were participating in the calf scramble during the 1974 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the Tuesday night performance. Since its inception in 1942, the calf scramble had paid youngsters well over $1 million to buy more than 7,000 calves to feed and develop. The purpose of the calf scramble was to encourage and further educate 4-H club and FFA students in the raising, feeding and breeding of high-quality Texas cattle. Only half of the 388 boys taking part in the 1974 scramble would be winners.

U.S. Air Force Colonel John F. Rhemann, the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Rhemann of La Grange, was awarded the Legion of Merit at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. He received the award, one of the nation’s highest decorations, for outstanding service to the U.S. as deputy commander for operations and commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina. Colonel Rhemann was serving at Udorn as director of operations for the 13th Air Force Advanced Echelon, a component of the Pacific Air Forces.

Boy Scout Troop No. 204 was sponsoring a paper drive. Papers could be taken to the trailer located at the rear of the Kubesch Phillips 66 Service Station, or a pickup request could be made from anyone connected to Troop 204. Dr. Charles Ebel was the scoutmaster.

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