Heritage Museum-Library Plan Given the Go-Ahead
La Grange City Council gave architect-planner Clovis Heimsath of Fayetteville and Houston the green light to proceed with the second round of plans for the Heritage Museum-Library, a bicentennial project that hopefully would be completed by mid-1976. Heimsath showed and discussed his firm’s original sketches for the dual complex to be located on the one-block city park in the southeastern part of town. The proposal showed about twothirds of the first floor would be devoted to chronological and general displays in the museum area, with the other third devoted to a temporary library. More library facilities, along with a fireproof archives room, would be located on the second floor.
An 8.8% average statewide increase in automobile insurance rates was ordered by the State Insurance Board in Austin, raising an average Fayette County motorist’s yearly premium by $17. The new rates, which were to go into effect on Jan. 16, 1975, would cost Texas drivers about $50 million. The increase was less than half what the insurance industry requested and considerably less than what experts had recommended at the annual rate hearing in October.
Traffic over the Missouri- Kansas-Texas Railroad resumed following the derailment of 15 cars of a southbound freight train shortly before midnight Monday. The ill-fated cars were loaded with stone from Georgetown.
La Grange led the area for city sales tax receipt gains in the third quarter of 1974 compared to the third quarter of the prior year. The city had received a rebate of $28,925 from the State Comptroller’s office versus a $23,609 check for the third quarter of 1973.
George H. Fricke, a charter member of Round Top State Bank, retired with 40 years of service. He was a director from 1912 to 1918 and director and cashier from 1940 to 1974. He would continue to serve the bank as an honorary director in retirement.
Olivia McIntyre and Marilyn Perkins, who received their clinical experience at Fayette Memorial Hospital, were among the 16 students who graduated from Blinn College Vocational Nursing program.
Funeral services were held for: Charles Frank Barker, 68, of La Grange; Willie E. Stavinoha, 78, of Ammannsville; Mrs. Louis Bauch, 92, of La Grange; Mrs. Agnes Vasek, 88, of La Grange; Mrs. Julia Fajkus, 82, of Praha; Joseph B. Krenek, 68, of Ellinger; and Alfred G. Buescher, 83, former La Grange Federal Land Bank president.
More than 90% or 130 of Fayette County’s growers voting in the 1974 referendum approved the program to promote peanuts and peanut products.
Saving the government more than $13,000 a year earned a handsome award for a former La Grange lady. Jackie Letzerich, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Letzerich of La Grange, was employed as a material management inventory specialist at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio. She was awarded $645 for her suggested policy change in promotion and placement of Weapon System Logistic Officers in the Air Force Logistics Corps.
Clyde Ussery, the wife of a former La Grange Baptist Church pastor, co-authored a book called “Southern Appalachian Heritage.” Ms. Ussery was the director of public relations at Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn.
Mr. and Mrs. August Thiel of Plum were honored Saturday, Dec. 14, on their 50th wedding anniversary. The late Rev. R. Heise performed the marriage of Miss Elsa Kiesling and August Thiel on Dec. 16, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Thiel resided in Ellinger until 1966. Mr. Thiel was a retired farmer. The festivities at the Plum Hermann Sons Lodge were hosted by the couple’s children.
Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Francke entertained approximately 300 relatives and friends at a Christmas open house at their home on Tuesday evening. Mrs. Franke wore a lovely formal accented with a pink carnation corsage. A Christmas theme in fuchsia and white was carried out throughout the home’s decor. The refreshment table in the dining room was overlaid with a white net cloth bordered with white felt and enhanced with designs of grouped candles and greenery with fuchsia accents arranged in a tall, gold-stemmed crystal compote. It was flanked by matching crystal and gold candleholders with fuchsia tapers. The table overflowed with silver trays of assorted Christmas cookies and other goodies, apple strudel, poppy seed roll, party sandwiches, a tray of sliced baked turkey, ham and cheese, pickles, party breads and more.
Gary Ray Bayer of La Grange was among the 90 students who were candidates for Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degrees from the University of Texas at the end of the fall semester.
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