1973: Lightning Kills Cattle & Damages Hay Shed

A bolt of lightning killed a large bull, three cows and two calves and knocked off the corner of a hay shed at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Joe Marek place at Willow Springs. The Mareks estimated the loss at $2,500. However, the nearby Marek home and country store escaped damage in the storm in which about an inch of rain fell.

When La Grange’s four schools opened for the new term, enrollment stood at 1,341, with 1,220 students in the public schools and 121 at Sacred Heart Catholic School.

A burglary charge was filed Thursday against a California man in Judge A.V. Smith’s Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Court following a break-in at Henry Sanders’package store in Carmine last Wednesday night. A total of $9 in cash was taken. After Judge Smith set bond at $5,000, the thief remained in jail. Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy said the subject had a three-page police record going back to 1957, principally concerning burglaries in the California area. He was out on probation before committing his misguided theft in Fayette County.

Three La Grange area students received degrees from Texas A&M University during its summer commencement exercises. Floyd Wayne Etzel, the son of Mrs. Ruth Etzel of Carmine, received an undergraduate degree in education curriculum and instruction. Donald Louis Tietjen and James Leslie Tietjen, the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Tietjen Jr. of La Grange, both received Master’s Degrees in electrical engineering.

Atlan M. Citzler, La Grange’s city manager for the past 10 years, was named business manager for La Grange’s public schools. He had held the position of city manager since it was established in 1963. He began his employment in March 1946 with Texas Public Service Company and continued in his role when the city purchased the system later that year. He became utilities manager after the death of L.G. Tilton in December 1952.

The Director of Selective Service for Texas, Col. Melvin N. Glantz, announced the relocation of Local Board No. 44 from La Grange to Brenham. All young men were still required by federal law to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthdays and were to report to the local board office in Brenham or to one of the officially appointed registrars in Austin, Colorado or Fayette counties: Mrs. Ruby Kelly, La Grange; Mrs. Florence E. Bremer, La Grange High School; Miss Cynthia G.

Hengst, county attorney’s office, La Grange; Miss Adel Myers, Schulenburg; Marvin Finger, Flatonia; G. E. Rodgers at Western Auto Store in Weimar; Adolph Vacek, Columbus; John R. Saul, Columbus; Leroy H. Grebe in the Bellville courthouse; and Fred F. Grahmann, Sheridan.

Season tickets for the 46th annual Fayette County Fair were on sale. A four-day pass costing $2 was available at First National Bank of La Grange and La Grange State Bank.

Funeral services were held for: John F. Orsak, 69, of La Grange; Hugo Keilers, 80, of Warrenton; and Pat Wessels, 60, of La Grange.

The walls were going up on the new office for The Fayette County Record. The brick and concrete tile building occupied the site of the former Alexander home just off the Square in downtown La Grange. Two unique features of the new building were a bridal nook for The Record’s expanding wedding and social invitation service and a refreshment lounge for employees and customers adjacent to the restrooms and commercial department.Adolph Matocha Jr. of La Grange was the general contractor and Paul Medack Jr. of Giddings was providing the masonry expertise.

Several changes were underway at the Fayette County Courthouse. The offices of the county judge and secretary were moving from the second to the third floor to what had previously been the grand jury room. The premises vacated by the county judge and secretary were to become the district headquarters for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s district supervisor, who was relocating to La Grange, along with a secretary from Victoria to head a new nine-county district carved out of District IV. The driver’s license examiners’ office on the third floor was being converted into a commissioners’ court and county courtroom, although the examiners would continue to use it, too.

Chris Wostarek read 62 books during the 1973 summer reading program at the La Grange City Library. His voracious reading habit earned him first place among the 90 youngsters who participated.

The Fayetteville Independent School District board decided the desirable skirt length for female students was three inches above the knee. However, disciplinary action would only be taken when a skirt measured five or more inches higher. Other dress stipulations included: no shorts, playsuits, culottes or jeans that were too tight, faded or ragged, plus no hip huggers. Dresses could be no lower in the back than the bottom of the armpit. Also against the rules were garments or accessories that provoked criticism from a teacher or distracted from the learning process. Sunglasses were not to be worn inside the building except for medical reasons. Regular shirts that were not tucked in, tank tops, t-shirts and midriffs were not acceptable, nor were dresses longer than five inches above the ankle. Boys’ hair was to be cut half an inch above the eyebrow, trimmed to above the shirt collar and not touch the ears. Boys’ hair was to be tapered to a thin edge at the back of the head. If a blocked style of cut was used, it should be thin and also tapered. Sideburns were not to be longer than mid-ear.

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