1976: Dozer Hits Oil Pipeline East of Park
August 10-13, 1976
A bulldozer ruptured an oil pipeline about a quarter mile off Hwy. 159 near Park, igniting a huge fire that sent clouds of black smoke several hundred feet in the air. The incident occurred on the former Steve Urban place, now part of the Fayette Power Project. Although the driver escaped unhurt, his abandoned dozer remained fiery red for hours. La Grange firefighters stood by from the time they got the call at 4:30 p.m. until around 7:30 p.m. when valves above and below the scene of the mishap had been closed to cut off the oil flow. Then local firefighters used foam and 27,500 gallons of water to finally douse the blaze.
A Sunday fishing trip to the Colorado River ended in tragedy with the discovery of the body of Gus Willie Schneider Jr. of the Prairie Valley- Plum community several days later. He had accidentally drowned.
The Independent Cattlemen’s Association asked Texas ranchers to cooperate fully with new federal guidelines aimed at controlling a screwworm outbreak gripping the state. New guidelines required that all cattle in Texas be sprayed within 72 hours of any planned movement to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi or Tennessee. Those seven states had climates in which screwworm flies could ‘overwinter,’ setting up a disastrous situation for the following year. Previously, the spraying requirement had been in force in only 30 South Texas counties in the screwworm belt.
The official thermometer reading made it all the way to 105 degrees on August 8. When an unpredicted thunder and electrical storm blew through that afternoon, the mercury dropped 30 degrees. This marked the first time since Aug. 11, 1969, that the 105-degree mark had been reached here. In 1975, there was not a single triple-digit day.
Congratulations to the 1976 state Class C bowling champions, who won 18 firstplace trophies and set eight state records in the annual Texas Ten Pin Tournament in Seguin. Team members were: Garry Janda, Larry Harbers, John Eilert, Alan Jecmenek, Gary Prause and Brian Prause. Brenham Sports Center sponsored the team.
Robert Ruckert purchased Landbrokers, Inc., a La Grange real estate firm, from Charlie Jungmichel. Ruckert, a La Grange native, graduated from high school here in 1961.
Texans could brag about one more distinction for their great state. For the first time in history, Texas slaughtered more cattle than any state in the country. Nebraska and Iowa followed close behind.
When the La Grange ISD board of trustees met, contracts were awarded to the following low bidders: Superior Dairies for milk; Consolidated Smokehouse for meat; Texaco for antifreeze, Lee County Coop for gasoline; and Austin Baking Company for buns.
Three new teachers were hired for one year: Miss Pamela Stephens, Title I; Miss Susan Barnhouse, Spanish; and Michael G. Wallace, special assignment class.
Fay Graeber received a Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction with certification in supervision from Texas A&I University, Corpus Christi. Ms. Graeber’s Bachelor’s degree was from Southwest Texas State University at San Marcos.
Lawrence Williams, a native of the Winedale community, was honored by the Austin district of the Washington National Insurance Co. for 30 years of service at a dinner at the Bon Ton Restaurant.
Funeral services were held for: Willie A. Voelkel, 88, of Shelby; Mrs. Ida Peters, 83, of Ellinger; Miss Mary Rippel, 94, of Fayetteville; Max B. Citzler, 85, of La Grange; Mrs. Lydia E. Galle, 67, of Willow Springs; and Herbert F. Schulze, 76, a native of Rutersville.
The Plum Yankees earned the right to meet the Noack Bears in the Community League finals by tripping up the Warda Aces, 10-5, in Lincoln on Sunday afternoon. None of the 10 runs scored by the Yankees were a direct result of home runs. Steve Janda opened the scoring in the top of the second with a two-run homer, followed by Danny Muzny’s three-run homer in the top of the third. The Yankees scored a single run in the top of the fourth, and the final four runs came on a grand slam by Marcus Cook in the top of the sixth. The Aces scored single runs in the second, fourth and seventh innings, and their final two tallies came in the bottom of the eighth. Kenny Hatfield, who went the distance for the Yankees, was credited with the win. Neal Miller started for the Aces and was relieved by Gus Schramm Jr. in the sixth. Two double plays were registered in this contest, with the Aces getting theirs in the top of the ninth and the Yankees hitting theirs in the bottom of the same inning.
If you’d like to reach Elaine, please email her at callacomm@ hotmail.com. You can also visit her website: www. elainethomaswriter.com.