REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette County Record
May 4-7, 1971
Fayette County Sheriff T. J. Flournoy reported that although April wasn’t quite as busy as previous months there was something going on all the time somewhere in the county. In April, the sheriff’s office handled 34 prisoners and collected $3,478 in fines and fees for the county.
Fayette County was approved for assistance under the Emergency Drought Program, according to William W. Wilson, Fayette Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation executive director. This meant grazing and haying of set-aside acres under the annual cotton and feed grain programs could begin immediately and continue through June 30. Ordinarily that was prohibited from May 1 to October 1. Farmers and ranchers were able to start making application for hay and grain purchasing assistance, as well.
A seven-run inning rally by the Flatonia Wildcats was just a bit too much for La Grange’s Schroeder Drug Demons. As a result, the Cats came up with a 10-4 triumph in the 1971 opening game of the South Central Texas League. The Demons starter, Steve Janda, encountered control troubles right from the start and retired in favor of Hal Tiedt after walking three and giving up two safeties. The Cats came back in round two with another counter. Mica’s double and Cooper’s one bagger accomplished the feat and Flatonia completed its scoring in the last of the fourth with another duo. Dennis Flores opened the inning with a single and Mica doubled him home and, at that point, Danny Glasier relieved Tiedt. Kurtz followed with a run-producing single before Glaiser retired the next three batters in a row.
James A. (Jimmy) Head, the son of Mrs. James C. Head and the late Mr. Head, who had withdrawn from Texas A&M University for a year to run the family dairy due to his father’s illness, completed his degree in dairy science management.
Funeral services were held for: Charlie F. Muesse, 72, of Oldenburg; Elton G. Wessels, 74, of La Grange; Mrs. Myrtle Steele, 67, formerly of La Grange; and Paul Kipp, 76, of Ledbetter;
Named La Grange High School cheerleaders for 1971-72 were: Sandy Winkler, head cheerleader; Donna Zapalac, Maecile Henderson, Denise Roberts, Rita Struve and Melanie Brown.
Four La Grange area students who were candidates for spring graduation from Texas A&M University included: Wayne W. Scholtz, BS in agricultural economics; Gerald W. Altmann, BS in wildlife science; James S. Brown, BS in veterinary science; and James E. Sladek, BS in veterinary medicine.
Army Private Ralph W. Kasper, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold P. Kasper, completed eight weeks of basic training at the U.S. Army Training Center, Infantry, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Kasper was a 1969 graduate of La Grange High School and, before entering the Army, had been employed by Farmers Lumber Company in La Grange.
Leona Urban, a senior at La Grange High School, won first place in the national spelling contest at the Office Education Association’s leadership conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Urban of Holman, Leona had earlier placed second in the state contest. The previous year she had been state champion and placed second in the national competition.
Fourteen-year-old Robert Pietsch, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anton C. Pietsch of La Grange, suffered scald wounds in a mishap at a local service station where he was working. When he opened the radiator cap of a car that had pulled into the station, steam and boiling water spewed over Robert. The eighth grader was admitted to Fayette Memorial Hospital where he was treated for second-degree burns on his left arm, the left side of his face and his back.
A total of 121 La Grange High School seniors were candidates for graduation. Both the baccalaureate and commencement exercises were being held in the school auditorium.
A medical fund was started to help Debbie Kolek, the 13-yearold daughter of Patrolman and Mrs. A. F. Hall, who was seriously ill at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. One of Debbie’s kidneys had been removed some years before and her remaining kidney had begun to fail.
Rose Mary Teinert and Howard Lindemann were representing La Grange as duchess and duke at the annual Brenham Maifest.
Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Roitsch of Swiss Alp celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on May 1 with approximately 200 guests at Freyburg Hall. Mrs. Roitsch and her daughter, Mrs. Eldon Knape Jr., wore identical dresses of light blue double-knit with silver beaded trim.
Rep. J. J. Pickle of Texas hand delivered a copy of a resolution passed in the Texas House of Representatives honoring the long marriage of Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Kovar. The prominent La Grange couple had celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on January 10.
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