Fayette County Precincts Divvy Up Federal Funds

Like middle-aged children seeking their share of a family windfall, citizens from all four Fayette County precincts converged on commissioners court Friday seeking a four-way division of federal revenue sharing funds. After what turned out to be a real-life exercise in citizen participation in local government that entailed two hours of discussion, they got what they wanted. The commissioners’ unanimous decision addressed $280,000 out of the $318,000 from the 1972 and 1973 funds expected to be on hand at yearend. Existing obligations to be paid from the remaining funds included: $70,000 for ambulance service; $10,000 for the bookmobile; $6,000 for the mental health and mental retardation workshop; and other plans. Each precinct was to receive $70,000 and how it would be used was up to the citizens of each precinct, although approval would have to be sought.

A 49-year-old West Point man escaped what might have been a critical or even fatal accident when the Ford 2000 tractor and shredder he was operating along the M-K-T right-of-way overturned on Wednesday afternoon. Although he didn’t appear to be seriously injured, Charles Wellington was taken to Fayette Memorial Hospital by Austin Ambulance Service. Sheriff’s officers said Mr. Wellington was shredding tall weeds along the railroad embankment just west of Jax Beer Distributing Company and east of the American Legion Hall when a wheel of the tractor apparently hit a partially buried rail. The equipment overturned, landing bottom side up, but the driver, fortunately, was not pinned underneath.

Food retailers in counties participating in the Food Stamp Program, including Fayette, were authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to accept food stamp coupons on Nov. 1, 1973. On that date, the old surplus commodity distribution program would be closed out. Under the Food Stamp Program, which was expected to be operating in all Texas counties by the end of the year, needy families would be certified by the Texas State Department of Public Welfare. Families then could pay a certain amount of money, depending on income, resources and other factors, for food stamps, which could be used to purchase eligible foods at local stores authorized by the USDA. Although the regulations were relatively simple, certain items such as nonfood items and imported foods could not be obtained with food stamps. Grocers were instructed to redeem their coupons through local banks and Federal Reserve System.

The La Grange Ravens shutout their hometown rival Braves, 10-0, in six innings at Flatonia Saturday night to tack on the Tri-County Teenage League baseball championship for 1973. Kenny Hatfield southpawed a two-hit shutout for the Ravens who made the most of 10 base hits. Kenny also was the leading hitter for the victors, socking a triple and double in three trips, besides striking out 13.

A suspect from San Angelo was charged with two counts of burglary in Judge A.V. Smith’s justice court on Monday. Sheriff T.J. Flournoy said the thief had stolen record players from the Schulenburg Methodist Church and Schulenburg United Church of Christ. However, the thefts were not discovered until after a similar burglary was reported in Weimar.

The resignation of the coach who took La Grange High School to the AAA state championship, a change in auditors, cafeteria issues and handbook changes were among the matters La Grange public school trustees discussed at their regular meeting. Leonard May, whose La Grange Leopards went all the way to the state AAA baseball title inAustin, resigned from the faculty to enter another line of business. La Grange would seek a replacement for Coach May who also taught math. In other closed session matters, trustees asked Mr. Lemmons to approach Robert L. Schroeder to conduct the 1972-73 audit. The Brenham accountant had audited La Grange’s books for 15 years until the previous year, when Edgar L. Bauer of La Grange performed the 1971-72 audit. Following Mr. Bauer’s critical findings regarding the school’s accounting procedures and related matters, two Texas Education Agency auditors had visited the school in June. After re-auditing the cafeteria fund, a major source of Mr. Bauer’s criticism, they agreed with the La Grange accountant’s findings. Mr. Lemmons said corrections had been made. The TEA auditors were to make a second re-audit in August.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Louise Beyer, 69, of Ellinger; Mrs. Olga Ahrens, 72, of Schulenburg; Carl A. Moerbe Jr., 79, of Warda; and Mrs. Fredericka Skrobanek Kloesel, 97, of Weimar.

Rice University announced that John William Mikus, the son of Mrs. John K. Mikus and the late Mr. Mikus, of Fayetteville, had been named to the President’s Honor Roll.

The Rev. Arlyn J. Hausmann, the pastor of United Evangelical Lutheran Church at Swiss Alp, announced his resignation. He had accepted a call to become pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the Texas Panhandle town of Darrouzett.

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