1973: Wild Storm Strikes Farms West of Plum

Atornadic windstorm roared through a rural area just west of Plum on Thursday morning, ripping roofs off homes and outbuildings and tearing large oak trees out by their roots. Fortunately, no one was injured. The storm struck first at the Arnold Korenek home and dairy, where it ripped off part of the house and barn roofs and damaged other outbuildings. One corner of the house was moved several inches, but remained on its pillared foundation. The most damage was done at the Henry Harbers place where a large section of the house roof was torn off and scattered over adjacent fields and pastures for several hundred yards. The dairy barn’s roof was completely torn off, but the rafters were left intact. Almost all of the outbuildings suffered damage; an 8x10-foot metal pump house that was bolted down on a concrete foundation was torn up and its pieces scattered.

That same severe Thursday morning rain and electrical storm knocked out electricity at The Fayette County Record. Because the typesetting machines could not operate, many subscribers, regrettably, received their Friday paper late.

Fed by heavy rains around Austin and rising local creeks on Thursday, the Colorado River crested at 29.5 feet, but had dropped to 18.5 feet by Monday morning in La Grange. That high mark exceeded by five feet the peak set in June 1972 when as much as 11.5 inches fell in some parts of the county.

Six felony indictments – three involving motor vehicle thefts, two for carrying guns in licensed premises and the other for robbery by assault – were returned by the new 155th District Court grand jury. Although the tribunal was dismissed after completing these duties, District Attorney Oliver Kitzman indicated that the grand jury would likely be recalled to resume its work in about two weeks. One defendant, billed in two cases of auto theft, had not been arrested. Leon Rosenberg of La Grange was serving as foreman of the September court term grand jury.

The La Grange Leopards, ever the opportunists, staged drives of 48 and 84 yards to post two field goals and put up its brick-wall defense in the final minutes to preserve the margin for a District 13-31 6-2 opening game victory over Edna’s Cowboys during drizzling rain in Edna on Friday night.

At its regular meeting, La Grange City Council discussed overgrown lots most likely infested with rodents and other vermin. To rectify such conditions, aldermen were directed to check on property overrun with weeds or fallen-down struc-tures in their respective wards, and report their findings to city hall. Owners would then be sent letters demanding that proper clean-up measures be undertaken within 30 days. City or hired crews would take care of any properties not attended to and their owners charged. If not paid in a reasonable time, the fees would be assessed against the property. In addition, council also noted complaints received relative to a Travis St. antique business that was displaying merchandise on the sidewalk. The police chief was instructed to contact the owner with a demand that the walk be cleared within five days.

The board of trustees of the Fayetteville school district accepted the bid of Scholtz Construction Company of La Grange for additions to the school’s vocational agriculture building.

Funeral services were held for: C.A. Falke Jr., 48, of Warda; Frank J. Korenek, 78, a native of Plum; Otto Loessin, 93, of Black Jack; Mrs. Annie Korenek, 86, of La Grange; and Alwin Wolff, 89, of Waldeck.

Mr. and Mrs. Eldor Zoch celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Sat., Oct. 6, at the Winchester Community Hall. Married on Oct. 1, 1933, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester by the Rev. Erich J. Moebus, Mr. and Mrs. Zoch had always made Winchester their home.

A 1970 Ford Maverick driven by Jonathan Kalich of Schulenburg struck a young Angus steer on FM 2236 north of Engle at 6:50 a.m. Thursday and rolled over. Patrolman Norman Ball of La Grange, who investigated the accident, said Mr. Kalich was unhurt. The animal suffered a broken hind leg in the mishap.

Fayette County 4-Hers brought home more than $1,400 in premiums and sales from the Texas State Fair. Carol Zimmermann of the La Grange 4-H Club earned $300 for exhibiting the grand champion pen of broilers in the junior show. Bruce Mozisek, also of the La Grange club, showed the reserve champion pen of broilers that sold for $150. Other local exhibitors included: Richard Cernoch; Brian Mozisek; Debbie, Larry, Douglas, Charles and Kevin Bippert; William, Diane and Susan Ernstes; Dan Ryan III; and Rhoda and Jonathan Brand.

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