1976: Rains of 4-5 Inches Reported Across Area
May 11-14, 1976
Rainfall, a much-needed commodity at times, was suddenly becoming an excess item, with more of the wet stuff soaking an already saturated landscape. The latest heavy precipitation fell early Friday morning and then again during the day, with up to five inches reported west and east of La Grange. West Point received four inches, while four to five inches fell from Warrenton to Round Top. Warda recorded 3.2 inches, while south of town at Holman, only 1.3 inches filled rain gauges. La Grange got 1.48 inches. The Colorado River gauged 17 feet before cresting at 22 feet on Friday.
In his monthly report, Sheriff T.J. Flournoy said,” First, I want to thank the voters of this county who so overwhelmingly elected me your sheriff again. It is wonderful to know that I have so many good, loyal friends who have been so faithful to me for all these years and I hope the Almighty God will allow me to live long enough to repay in some small way your kindness. I know it is impossible to please everyone, but I will still do everything possible to enforce the laws of the land in a fair and impartial way, as I always have done.”
St. James Episcopal Church, La Grange, was hosting a community-wide religious festival celebrating the nation’s Bicentennial on Saturday, May 29, with a worship service at 10 a.m., followed by a barbecue lunch. The celebration would also mark the 90th anniversary of the building of the historic church and the 120th year of its inception as a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
John M. Yarling and Ola Dee Koeppel were elected as delegates to the Texas Republican Convention during the county’s GOP convention in La Grange.
Something new was introduced at the Fayette County Agricultural Building. Three agencies, theAgricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Farmers Home Administration and Soil Conservation Service, combined into an ag service center with one joint telephone number. Personnel of the three agencies were to alternate daily in answering the phone and switching callers to the requested agency via intercom.
Johnnie Johnson was presented the La Grange Jaycees’ trophy as the outstanding La Grange High School athlete of 1975-76 at the Leopardette allsports banquet. The following 1976-77 Leopardette cheerleaders were introduced that evening: Elaine Cernoch, Brenda Tatum, Sandra Sulak, Susie Mach, Luci Henderson and head cheerleader Linda Hrncir.
La Grange Senior High School class favorites for 1976 were announced in The Leopard Spots high school annual. Kenneth (Kenny) Hatfield and Rhonda Koether were named Mr. and Miss LHS.
When the Fayetteville board of trustees met for its May session, Superintendent Ben W. Cobb was instructed to secure bids for replacing the school gymnasium floor. He was also to obtain bids for remodeling the red high school building with new aluminum windows, interior painting and other improvements.
Linda Muras, a sixth grader at Hermes Elementary School in La Grange, received a 100% spelling certificate after her paper was graded by State Office Graders of the University Interscholastic League.
More than 100 persons attended the annual Home Demonstration Achievement Day Program in the HD Building at the fairgrounds. Mrs. Bernita McCormick of the Wallhalla Club was named HD Woman of the Year. Mrs. McCormick had been active in HD work in Fayette County for 32 years, serving as HD Council chair, secretary-treasurer and parliamentarian. In her local club, she had served as president and vice president, and in various other offices. HD Council Chair Mrs. L.L. Petrich presented Mrs. McCormick with a corsage and a gold medallion commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Texas Home Demonstration Association.
Bert Vasut, who didn’t like to pitch, did just that at Hallettsville when he faced 15 batters over a five-inning stint, notching a no-hit performance in the process. Vasut and his La Grange Leopards won, 12-0, to stay at the top of the District 25AA zone race. La Grange bashed out eight hits and also got the benefit of eight enemy bobbles and seven free tickets to first. Billy Dunk with a double and a single, and Jeff Lindemann, who was 2-3 and had four RBIs, led the Lep charge. Garry Dippel, Kenny Hatfield and Billy Dunk got home in the first stanza on consecutive walks. Another trio spiked the plate in the third on Dunk’s two-bagger. Tommy Supak’s walk, Lindemann’s bunt, Vasut’s walk, Kenny Zimmerhanzel’s grounder that was bobbled, Bippert’s roller and Johnnie Johnson’s stroll forced across the third counter.
Kana Bros. towed the La Grange Boy Scout hut from the city park on S. Jefferson St. to City Park North. The building had to be relocated because of the Fayette Heritage Museum/ Library project.
At a recent board of directors meeting of the Texas Exes of Fayette County, Miss Doris Bacak was selected as the club’s 1976 scholarship recipient. A senior at Flatonia High School, she was expected to graduate in the upper 15% of her class. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Julius Bacak.
Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Emma Hunger, 81, of La Grange; Marvin B. Matejowsky, 59, of Nechanitz; and Mrs. Hannah Heise Woodall, 69, a La Grange native.
If you’d like to reach Elaine, please email her at callacomm@ hotmail.com. You can also visit her website: www. elainethomaswriter.com.