1973: Two Local Car Thefts Attributed to Same Subject

A 1973 Ranchero stolen from an E. Fannin St. address in La Grange shortly before midnight Saturday was abandoned at Ellinger where it had run out of gas. Missing from Ellinger was a 1973 Monto Carlo containing several prized guns. Despite allpoints radio bulletins issued by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Monto Carlo had not been located by the following day. Sheriff’s officers said a prime suspect in the theft of the two vehicles was a young Louisiana man who sustained minor injuries in a Schulenburg traffic accident on Saturday morning. He disappeared from Fayette Memorial Hospital where he was being treated about 11:30 p.m. Saturday and had not been heard from since.

The U.S. Post Office raised the limit on money orders from $100 to $300. According to La Grange officer-in-charge Oscar L. Cook, customers would receive a larger receipt containing a detailed record of when and where the money order had been purchased. If a money order was lost, a new system would provide faster claim service through machine processing.

Voters of the newly incorporated town of Carmine adopted the optional 1¢ sales and use tax by an almost unanimous vote. Of the 62 ballots cast on Saturday, 61 were in favor of implementing the tax. According to Mayor Jerry D. Jacob, collection would begin on Jan. 1, 1974.

The La Grange Leopards made good on two of three scoring opportunities at Weimar on Friday night. As a result, the Leps nosed out the hometown Wildcats, 10-7, for the purple and gold’s first victory of the 1973 grid season. La Grange had driven to the Wildcat twoyard line, drew a penalty and subsequently ran out of downs. Marcus Cook attempted a field goal from the 25 but the snap from center was a bit off kilter and the boot also was partially blocked. Coach Robert Gal’s Cats then took the offensive role when Otis Henry intercepted a Leopard aerial – the only one La Grange had stolen all night – on the La Grange 20 and returned to the 21. Five minutes before the half, Robert Poole took a pitchout, broke around left end and the speedy fullback dashed 39 yards into the end zone. Cook’s boot was dead center over the crossbar and the two clubs went to their respective dressing rooms with the score knotted at 7-7.

Bastrop was without long distance telephone service for a time Friday morning following the derailment of 16 MKT railroad freight cards near the city. The train carrying gravel jumped the track about two and a half miles north of Bastrop. This was the latest in a series of more than a half dozen railroad mishaps in Bastrop County.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Rosie Ryza, 76, of Rabbs Prairie; Joe F. Ryza, 79, of Rabbs Prairie; Charles J. Zettel, 81, of Industry; Walter Gus Noak, 81, of Winedale; Wesley Janacek, 64, of Schulenburg; Mrs. Patricia Childress, 59, of Schulenburg; Paulie P. Lueders, 79, of La Grange; Reinhard Gerhard Stork, 83, a native Nechanitz- Waldeck; and Miss Millie Agnes Korenek, 70, formerly of Plum.

Local cotton ginners issued a plea to farmers that they bring in better – and drier – cotton for processing. A spokesman for the Kasper-Michalk Gin said much of the cotton they had received was too wet for ginning. He recommended that farmers wait until the morning dew had dried off before beginning cotton stripping operations. Doing so would also add to the quality of the sales sample, equating to a better price.

The American Cancer Society issued a certificate of authorization to Fayette County duly qualifying it again as a unit of the Texas Division. Mrs. Evelyn Heintschel was recognized for leadership as service chair of the Fayette County unit and Mrs. Clara Michalka received a certificate of appreciation for her work in the Crusade to Conquer Cancer. Fayette County had reached 100% of its 1972 goal with $3,880 raised during the crusade and $630 given in memorial contributions. During the Fayette County Fair, 513 people stopped by the Mobile Cancer Unit.

The newly formed Fayette County Industrial Foundation, which already had $70,000 in contributions and pledges, was well on its way to reach its goal of $100,000. The organization, an outgrowth of La Grange Industrial Foundation, had been formed earlier in the year to seek new industry for the La Grange area and help existing businesses expand. Lee Mueller was president.

Charlie Davis of West Point killed a 20-inch coral snake in his garage.

The 1% optional sales tax for the second quarter of 1973 amounted to $23,731 for the City of La Grange. That was $3,519 more than received for the corresponding period in the prior year.

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Weinert of Carmine observed their 40th wedding anniversary on Sept. 15 at the Legion Hall. Herbert Weinert and Norma Jacob were married on Sept. 14, 1933, by Rev. W. Kralik at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Round Top. The couple had one son, Charles, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, all of Spring, Texas. The Weinerts owned and operated a garage and grocery store at the Carmine Y.

The Round Top-Carmine FFA elected its officers for the new term: Freddie Behnke, president; Ronnie Jahnz, vice president; Roy Weyand, secretary; Stuart Markwardt, treasurer; Mark Jacob, sentinel; and Terry Wunderlich, reporter.

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