1973: Narrow Escape for Concrete Truck and Driver

After a truck loaded with concrete drove across Bullfrog Branch Bridge south of La Grange, it collapsed. Neither the truck nor the driver sustained as much as a scratch in what could have been a serious incident last week. Precinct 3 Commissioner Eddie Zouzalik decided to construct a low-water crossing with a culvert until the main structure could be rebuilt with new steel that was on order.

One young woman was fatally injured and seven other people were hurt in a two-car collision on U.S. Hwy. 77 about 4.7 miles north of Schulenburg at 11:05 a.m. Sunday. Justice of the Peace Gary Krause of Flatonia pronounced Kathleen E. Teinert, 17, of Victoria, dead at the scene. She was driving a 1970 Ford Falcon. State Highway Patrolman Norman Ball of La Grange reported that Miss Teinert’s car veered onto the left shoulder of the highway as she headed north, colliding with a southbound 1973 Chevrolet station wagon operated by Mrs. Pamela Brown, 27, of Cedar Hill, Texas. Miss Teinert and a passenger, Matthew Wall, 17, also from Victoria, were reportedly on their way to Lutherhill.

Fayette Memorial Hospital Auxiliary announced it would sponsor a food booth in the German- Czech Mart, a new addition to the Fayette County Fair. The auxiliary planned to serve wieners and sauerkraut on hotdog buns.

The Fayette County Fair Association chose Sheriff T.J. Flournoy as its 1973 parade marshal. A lawman for more than 50 years and sheriff of Fayette County for more than 30, the sheriff and Mrs. Flournoy would lead the parade with a sign on their vehicle reading “Fayette County’s Friend, Sheriff Jim Flournoy.”

Ralph Voss, the secretarytreasurer of the La Grange Young Farmers, announced a tractor pulling competition would be held on Sunday and Monday at the Fayette County Fair. Entrants would pull a weighted sled on a prepared track to set distance records in several events. Designed and manufactured by the Southwest Tractor Pullers Association at a cost of $12,000, the sled would give each puller an equal chance to win an award.

Local growers were harvesting one of their best milo maize crops in several years, according to William W. Wilson, the executive director of the Fayette County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation office. Wilson estimated the harvest was about 50% complete with some yields exceeding 5,000 pounds per acre. “The milo market is good, and the price is still going up, with maize currently selling for $4-plus per hundredweight,” he said. A Palestine Red Arrow Freight Lines truck driver may have dozed at the wheel or momentarily took his eyes off the road coming down the Bluff at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. He slammed into the retaining wall next to the Dr. L.D. Boelsche driveway. The 1972 truck-tractor with semi-trailer loaded with about 17,000 pounds of freight was en route between San Antonio and Dallas when the accident occurred.

La Grange Public School trustees approved a budget of $1,133,560 for operation of the schools in 1973-1974. Revenue was projected to be $1,138,588, up a fraction (1.3%) over the prior year’s total. The schools, which employed 135 to 145 people, were the largest employer in Fayette County, and had the biggest budget of any enterprise.

Connie McComb was crowned the new Miss La Grange for 1973-1974 at the annual Aqua Festival at the La Grange Recreation Association pool. Connie, 17, was a senior at La Grange High School and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill McComb of Riverside Drive in the FrischAuf!Addition. The La Grange Noon Lions Club sponsored her. Patti Seale, sponsored by The La Grange Journal, was first runner-up and Denise Roberts, sponsored by Radio Station KVLG, was second runner-up.

Conditioning practice for La Grange Leopard football aspirants was to get underway with an organized drill at 5 p.m. on Monday. Pads were being issued on Friday and the first contact practice was scheduled for the following Monday. About 70 lads were expected to turn out for the drills.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Martha Helble 74, of La Grange; Mrs. Irma M. Zatopek, 77, of Ellinger; and Dr. William Thomas Youens Jr., 53, founder of the Youens Eye Clinic of Columbus.

A 27-year-old dairyman, C.M. (Mac) Lamascus was named Star Youth Farmer of the Schulenburg area at the Schulenburg Centennial Celebration. Mac, who resided at Swiss Alp, operated a 97-cow dairy in partnership with his father, C.M. Lamascus Sr., on a 147-acre blackland farm. In addition, they usually raised about 30 replacement heifers and bred their Holstein and Brown Swiss cows to Limousine bulls. Anne Ermis, the editor of La Grange High School’s newspaper, The Hi-Standard, was awarded a proficiency citation for superior journalistic talent, as exemplified by excellence in features, by the Interscholastic League Press Conference.

Alfred Ermis received his Master’s Degree from Sam Houston State University. He and his wife were moving to Louise, Texas, where Mr. Ermis would be teaching high school math and chemistry.

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