1976: Bodies Moved from Fayette Power Project Area Cemeteries

Feb. 10-13, 1976

Finding a .38 caliber bullet slug in a shattered skull and silver dollar coins on the eyes of a dead person to keep their lids shut were two of the discoveries unearthed by Coates Field Services Inc., during disinterment of bodies in a Black church cemetery located within the 8,500-acre footprint of the Fayette Power Project. A total of nine cemeteries had to be moved. Another historic object that was to be removed for the coal-fired electric generating plant was a gigantic oak, generally considered to be the one where William Short was buried on the spot where he was hanged as a horse thief by a vigilante committee. His grave was likely one of two unearthed from headstones under the tree. Assisting Dana Morris of Coates on the relocation of graves were: Royce Zbranek, Ed Janda, Robin Rhodes and Myron Menking of Phil Bradley Land & Construction Co. of La Grange, the successful bidder for the job.

A wealthy, elderly Bastrop rancher and his wife, who appeared to have been forced at gunpoint from their home for more than a week, were still missing. Law officers had few clues about the disappearance of John Whatley, 72, and his wife, Faye, 69, from their 1,600-acre ranch along the Colorado River. Bastrop Deputy Sheriff Verlin Hemphill said a gunshot had been fired inside the two-bedroom, white concrete block house through the front window. There were no signs of blood or a struggle in the house or the barns. Both of the couple’s cars, latemodel Mercedes-Benz, were parked in the garage. Cash in the house had not been taken. “We should have heard from someone if it was a kidnapping for ransom,” Hemphill explained.

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy was elected to life membership in the new Texas Ranger Hall of Fame when the new facility was dedicated in Waco. Flournoy was presented with an engraved plaque and identification card, spelling out the honor. The Fayette County sheriff, who was also a director of the former Texas Rangers Association, served as a ranger along the Texas-Mexico border during the World War II years.

Funeral services were held for: Frank J. Willmann, 87, of La Grange; Ernst J. Kuehn, 90, of the Welcome community; Charles J. Richter, 79, of La Grange; Elo Rohde, 67, of La Grange; Mrs. Louise Kunkel, 86, of Carmine; Melvin Alfons Kaluza, 45, a native of Ammannsville; Otto H. Behrens, 64, of La Grange; and Elo Wied, 70, formerly of Fayette County.

Melanie Jayne Hengst, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Hengst of La Grange, was named to the dean’s honors list of the University of Texas School of Communications for the fall semester of 1975.

E.J. Hensel was elected president of the La Grange Farm Bureau, succeeding William E. Meyer. Leo Wick was reelected secretary-treasurer. Named as a new director was Anton Tietjen Jr.

Judy Chovanec, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Chovanec of La Grange, was selected as the 1975-76 Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow at La Grange High School.

Fayetteville Junior High School’s 1975-76 cheerleaders were: Shannon Rohde, Janice Matocha, Sharon Nitschke, Terri Krenek and Kimberly Adams.

Sheriff’s officers were continuing to investigate a break-in at the Lehmann Store in Ledbetter. Officers confirmed that a number of pocket knives, jars of peanut butter and preserves, and several other items had been gathered but were left just outside the store building, indicating the suspects were frightened away before they could load their loot. Efforts made to break into the post office adjacent to the store were unsuccessful.

The La Grange Housing Authority named Mrs. Verta Hill executive director of the new low-rent housing project. Mrs. Hill and her husband, Thomas Hill, formerly of Houston, resided on Rt. 2, La Grange, on the former John Svoboda place. The new executive director, who had previously managed large apartment complexes in Houston, came with very high recommendations.

Round Top-Carmine trustees renewed the contracts of Alvis Mueller, high school principal and coach, and Floyd Etzel, also a coach, and extended the contract of Superintendent Clifford L. Curry until 1978. The superintendent was instructed to make a formal application for one of the surplus buildings located at the former Bastrop Military Depot, which were being offered for sale to schools. The purchase of a new school bus for the 1976-77 term was also approved.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 9,669 resident trapping permits were issued between September and December 1975. The law governing the trapping and taking of pelts of fur-bearing animals dated back to 1925, but it was only in the last few years that this business had boomed in Texas.

The 127th annual council of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas elected Jack Wallace of Round Top to a three-year term on the diocesan executive board. Mr. Wallace was the delegate from St. James Church, La Grange, where he was a member.

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