Power Plant Bonds Set to Hit the Market

The low-interest bid on the first series of bonds for the Lower Colorado River Authority’s part of the lignitefired power plant near La Grange was tabulated by the LCRA board of directors in Austin. Weeden & Company of New York quoted an effective interest rate of 7.3281% for $35 million in bonds. LCRA director Aubrey D. (Red) Voelkel of La Grange said the Weeden firm would likely offer the bonds for sale about Nov. 1.

A $971,322 operating budget, up slightly from the prior year, was the subject of a public hearing by Fayette County’s commissioners. The officers’ salary fund was likely the largest item on the anticipated expense list for the fiscal year starting Jan. 1, with $290,000 budgeted for wages. County Auditor Dan Rosenberg allowed for a 10% increase in the salaries of officers and appointed officials.

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reported that hot check and petty theft cases were about to run him and deputies ragged. “The thieves nowadays will steal just about anything from a postage stamp to a bulldozer. We catch a few of them, but not all of them,” he said. During the month of September, the sheriff’s department handled 43 prisoners through the jail and collected $2,739 in fines and fees for the county.

The baler twine situation facing U.S. farmers had improved and was expected to stabilize through the end of the year, according to William W. Wilson, executive director of the Fayette County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Hay production was down, twine imports were up and U.S. production of sisal and plastic twines had risen in response to higher prices.

The annual Octoberfest Antiques Fair at Round Top was set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7 at the Rifle Association Hall.

The new Bon Ton Restaurant opened its doors.

Boy Scout Troop No. 204 held a Court of Honor on Monday night, Sept. 23 at the Travis Street United Methodist Church fellowship hall. Howard Bohot led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Philmont Grace. The very impressive tenderfoot investiture of Kevin Ray was led by Jack Py-burn. Scoutmaster Dr. Charles Ebel handed out merit badges to: Kevin Ray - mammals, first-aid, basketry, sports, athletics and swimming; Kenneth Ebel - first-aid, mammals and basketry; Tory Bennetsen - environmental science, sports, athletics, swimming, basketry and forestry; Howard Bohot - mammals, pioneering and farm mechanics; Tommy Purifoy – first-aid, basketry and mammals; John Czichos ˗ basketry and first-aid; Brad Bloomer – mammals, pioneering and swimming; Douglas Vanek - first-aid, basketry and mammals; Bruce Freudenberg – sports, first-aid, basketry, mammals and athletics; and Sammy Klein ˗ mammals and basketry.

Daniel Cernoch, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Cernoch, was featured in the 8th annual edition of Who’s Who Among American High School Students, 1973-74. Cernoch, a graduate of La Grange High School, was a freshman at Texas A&M University.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Kleimann, formerly of Columbus, were planning to open the former Kreuz Market in La Grange as Kleimann Meat Market.

Carmine’s Lions and Chamber of Commerce members were joining together to stage a fundraising festival at the Carmine Hall. Included was a beef barbecue dinner, followed by the opening of an old-fashioned biergarten, an invitational volleyball tourney, dancing with music by The Variations, a sausage barbecue supper, an auction sale and a special feature at 9 p.m.

Building permits in La Grange hit a new low for a third quarter, with the July-September period amounting to only $113, 124. Permits were issued for two new homes, one new business warehouse and a collection of home additions and improvements.

Mr. and Mrs. Pete Michalsky were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary by their children on Sunday, Sept. 22 at a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville. The couple were married there on Sept. 23, 1924, by the late Rev. John Varricek. The honored couple had three daughters and six sons, 30 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Hobratschk celebrated their 40th anniversary on Sept. 28 with a gathering at the VFW Hall in La Grange. The couple was married on July 8, 1934, in Warda. They had eight children.

Funeral services were held for: Leroy Alvin von Minden, 55, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Lloyd J. January, a native of La Grange; Mrs. Minnie Scheel, 87, a native of Ellinger; Willie H. Berndt, 89, of Industry; Frank Conner Sr., 60, of Swiss Alp; George T. (Pat) Cox, 67, of Schulenburg; Otto M. Schneider, 65, of Carmine; and William Miller, 75, of Fayetteville.

A Carmine man, R.D. McCullough, was reported in critical condition in a Houston hospital after suffering a construction job injury at Chappell Hill. He was helping to lay drainage ditch pipe when the walls caved in, covering him up to his chin.

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