Building Permits Top $1 Million for Third Time in City History

La Grange building permits exceeded $1 million for the third time in the city’s history with a total of $1,074,656. The top record was set in 1972 when the total reached $1,218,715, and the next highest number was in 1966 with $1,114,702. In the fourth quarter of 1974, the First Baptist Church educational building was the largest project. The 40 permits issued from October through December 21 were valued at $400 or less for small remodeling jobs, roof repairs, etc.

Aubrey D. (Red) Voelkel of La Grange was elected chair of the Lower Colorado River Authority Board of Directors. A vice president of La Grange State Bank, he was a former director and president of the La Grange Chamber of Commerce, served as the director of the National Baseball Congress state tournaments held in La Grange for four years, and was also active in organizations such as the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Rotary.

A Freeport man and his wife, who were in the process of moving into their recently acquired home near West Point, barely escaped with their lives when fire destroyed the large two-story structure and its contents on Saturday morning. The house, which had recently been refurbished, was owned by Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Polk. They were awakened by the crackling of flames at about 12:30 a.m. Although the main stairwell was enveloped in flames, they found another way to exit the second floor and flee the home in their nightclothes.

The Carmine Volunteer Fire Department was called to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Mueller on Friday after an explosion occurred in the kitchen. The Muellers had purchased the home, moved it to its present site and were in the process of remodeling it. The cabinetmaker was installing Formica in the kitchen when apparently the fumes from the paste reached the pilot light, causing the combustion. Although the kitchen window was open, which helped to keep the fire from spreading to the other rooms, a large hole was burned in the window screen. The cabinetmaker suffocated the flames with a sack, but the entire kitchen cabinet and utility room were smoke-damaged.

A stray cow on Hwy. 290 was struck by two cars about 2.7 miles east of Ledbetter around 9:10 p.m. Wednesday. Although the collision inflicted damage on the vehicles, the drivers escaped without injury.

La Grange’s Leopards won the championship of the Yoakum cage tournament with ease, defeating their opponents by top-heavy scores. The Leps walloped the host Bulldogs in the finals by a 6437 score. The charges of Bob Johnson took a 15-12 firstquarter lead, then stretched the margin to 32-19 by halftime and, at the end of three heats, were in front by 55-31. Tommy Taylor led the victors in point-making with 19. Robert Poole followed with 14, Johnny Johnson had 12 and Kenny Hatfield chimed in with 9.

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Meyer of Rutersville celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the American Legion Hall in La Grange on Christmas Day with a buffet from 5-7 p.m. followed by a dance. Miss Lillian Eck and William E. Meyer were married on Dec. 26, 1924, by the late Rev. Dare at Travis Street Methodist Church. The couple lived their entire married life at Rutersville in the same location. They had one daughter, Lou Beth of Victoria, a son-in-law W.A. Sexton, a granddaughter and one grandson. After retiring from 30 years of teaching school, Mr. Meyer was instrumental in organizing the Fayette County Farm Bureau. He also worked diligent in developing Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative.

Former La Grange resident Sue Ann Gun wrote a three-act comedy that had its worldwide premiere at the Dallas Theatre Center. The play entitled “Why Don’t They Ever Talk About the First Mrs. Phipps?” had been playing to full houses.

Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Brunkenhoefer, who were married in 1934 at the home of the bride’s parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. John C. Schuhmacher of Rutersville, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Corpus Christi.

Eight students from the La Grange area received degrees at Texas A&M University’s fall commencement exercises. Lonnie G. Herman graduated magna cum laude in pre-medicine. Those receiving undergraduate degrees were: James E. Bremer, animal science; Jackie E. Finke, physical education; George F. Gold Jr., civil engineering; Richard M. Grobe, animal science; Kyle R. Kingery Jr., animal science; Joseph H. Munsch, finance; and Bernard T. Orsak, modern languages.

Funeral services were held for: John Alfred Huelsebusch, 79, of Trinity Hill; Glen Prause Sr., 74, of La Grange; Walter W. Grayson, 61, of Fayetteville; Oliver A. Wolle, 63, of Round Top; Robert E. Fellman, Fayetteville; and Anton Urban, 88, of Ellinger.

President Gerald Ford signed into law a bill that opened Little League baseball to girls. All references in Little League’s federal charter to boys would be changed to young people.

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