1976: Swine Flu Inoculations to Start Next Month
State inoculations against the swine flu virus would probably start in October, more than two months later than planned, according to a Texas Health Department spokesperson. Legal, administrative and production difficulties had caused the delays. Senior citizens and chronically ill persons would be the first to be vaccinated for swine flu and Victoria-A flu. State vaccine supplies would be coming from the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
With a Saturday crowd topping 12,000, the 49th Fayette County Fair could be counted as a big success. Although final attendance figures for the event were not yet in, the headcount would likely pass 30,000. Eight quilts made by different Fayette County Home Demonstration Club members brought $2,070 at the Saturday night auction. The top sale was $1,000 for the beautiful white satin creation from the Bluff club. Half of the total sales was being donated to the Fayette Museum/ Library building project.
La Grange building construction edged upward another $138,420 during July and August to bring the sum within sight of another million- dollar year. The total for the first eight months of 1976 stood at $835,000. The prior year was the fourth in local history that city building permits passed $1 million, and with four months to go in 1976, a fifth repeat was on the horizon. Some of the permits over $500 were: Lukas Bakery, storage addition; Milton J. Pechal, home additions; Ross D. Wolcott, residence; Lee Mueller, roof repairs; Emil Kiesling, closing in carport and remodeling; R.T. Warren, remodeling; Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative, chain link fence; and Sherman Kendall, home additions.
Johnnie A. Schramm was named the new executive director of the Fayette County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. A Fayette County native, Mr. Schramm succeeded the late William W. Wilson.
Winners in the summer reading program at the La Grange City Library were Jimmy Head, primary division, with 67 books and Tracy Peck, intermediate division, with 31 books. They each were awarded a book of their own choosing.
Carmine was reported to have received a 2.75-inch downpour in 30 minutes when a thunderstorm swept across the area late Wednesday afternoon.
A total of 1,293 students were on hand at La Grange’s public schools on the second day of the new term. There were 542 in the primary and elementary, 258 in the two junior high grades and 494 in high school. Ninth grade had the most, 145 students.
Funeral services were held for: Harold W. (Tee) Tiemann, formerly of La Grange; Lad Rausl, 56, of La Grange; and Arnold Bowles, 62, of West Point.
A May graduate of Rice University, Bruce Wayne Schultz of Walhalla and Waller, was starting his job with an architectural firm in Boston, Mass. His sister, Carolyn, was just beginning her classes at Rice.
Sister Adriana Cernoch, the principal of Sacred Heart School in La Grange, celebrated her silver jubilee as a member of the Order of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Victoria on Sunday afternoon in Holman.
Mrs. Tony Buban of Carmine received her master’s degree in elementary education from Stephen F. Austin College in Nacogdoches.
La Grange High School and Texas A&M graduate Captain Michael R. Krenek, an F-4 Fighter Weapons System officer, and his pilot had a narrow escape at a U.S. Air Force Base at Lakenheath, England. On assignment to NATO Command Forces, Captain Krenek and the plane commander were taking off on a routine training mission when the aircraft’s vertical control malfunctioned; the F-4 climbed at a too-steep angle, causing it to roll and stall. The airmen managed a lastmoment safe ejection at low altitude. Although Captain Krenek was unable to steer his canopy chute away from landing on the concrete runway, his injuries were minor, yet painful. The plane crashed and exploded a short distance away, narrowly missing a house and starting a forest fire in the drought-stricken English countryside.
William Charles Miller of La Grange received his bachelor’s degree in General and Comparative Studies from the University of Texas in Austin.
John Williams, Deborah Bohac and Virginia Wostarek Muehr received March of Dimes Health Career Awards.
Editor Charlie Priebe was surprised by the presentation of a $40 check and a cake marking 40 years since he joined The Fayette County Record as a reporter on Sept. 1, 1936. At one time, he also served as a stringer (freelance reporter) for three daily Texas papers, submitting local stories of interest to big city readers.
The U.S. Army’s cash bonus enlistment option for nonprior- service enlistees entering active duty on August 31, 1976, or thereafter, was significantly expanded. Previously, the $1,500 bonuses limited to only six military occupation specialties would now be offered to 15. A $2,500 bonus was offered for those choosing careers as: radio operator, radio teletype operator, light weapons infantryman, infantry indirect fire crewman, armor reconnaissance specialist, armor crewman, field artillery cannon operation/fire direction assistant or improved Hawk Launcher and mechanical systems repairman.
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Below are ads from 1976