REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

July 9-13, 1971

The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that lowered the voting age to 18 in all elections was duly ratified. It overrode Article VI of the Texas Constitution that required a qualified voter be 21 years of age to vote.

The rash of petty burglaries and thefts that had occurred in La Grange over a period of several months was brought to an abrupt halt with the arrest of five local youths ranging in age from 12 to 16. Three places, including the Hill Top, Recreation Club on W. Colorado and Jax beer warehouse were entered sometime Wednesday night. Other businesses victimized earlier were Ruether’s Grocery, Frank’s Place, and Edna and Millie’s. Officers, who would not disclose how they solved the case, recovered $110.57 in cash and one can of beer. After being charged in juvenile court, the quintet appeared before County Judge David M. Murray, who placed them on temporary probation. The young burglars were instructed not to leave their homes at night unless accompanied by their parents.

Walter Chernosky returned to La Grange to rejoin the staff of Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy as a deputy sheriff.

Clement Trlicek, a longtime employee of Consolidated Frozen Foods, suffered painful burns in an accident at his home. Mr. Trlicek, the foreman on the kill floor at Consolidated, was cleaning his hands with gasoline on the back porch of the house he had recently purchased from Mrs. Millie Herzik. The fumes apparently found their way to the pilot light of a nearby water heater, setting off an explosion and flash fire. Mr. Trlicek was taken to Fayette Memorial Hospital by his neighbor, Loydie (Buck) Tiedt.

Floyd Plueckhahn was appointed division agency manager for Farmers Insurance Group in Austin. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. Plueckhahn of Carmine.

Four local cub scouts and their fathers who spent a fun-filled Dad and Lad weekend at Camp Tom Wooten in Austin were: Dr. Charles Ebel and Kenneth; Frank Brauner and Frankie; Lawrence Ryza and Kenny; and Justin Bartos and John.

Waldeck dairyman E.T. Radenz succeeded Leo J. Heller of Ammannsville on the Fayette County Water Supply steering committee. Mr. Heller had resigned his post after being named to the Farmers Home Administration county committee.

Both the La Grange Ravens and Braves notched Tri-County Teenage League victories for their Monday pairings. The oncebeaten Ravens ran roughshod over Flatonia, 16-0, behind Kenny Hatfield’s no-hit mound stint. Eugene Niemeyer’s Braves went to Hallettsville where they beat the hometown lads by a score of 10- 3. Mike Maxwell fashioned a nifty four-hit hill performance in going all the way.

Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Delgado were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary at Cistern by their children. A Mass of Thanksgiving was offered at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church by Msgr. Edmund J. Bily. Mr. and Mrs. Delgado had been married in the Cistern Catholic Church by the Rev. John Anders on June 4, 1921. Their witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. Felipe Euresta of Waelder.

The Warda Aces ran away with the game Sunday afternoon in which they defeated Serbin 15- 5. Kenny Harbers came up with two home runs. Paul Schramm belted the longest hit ball this season on home grounds for his home run. Herman Lehmann started on the mound for the Aces and was relieved by Gus Schramm in the fifth inning.

La Grange’s Schroeder Drug Demons got in a good workout Friday night at Fair Park when they scored seven times in the very first inning and went on to defeat the new semi-pro Bellville Rockets, 11-6. Ricky Blume turned out as the game’s leading hitter. Tommy Knippel and Clint Bippert poked out singles. Danny Muzny socked a two-bagger his second time up in that scoring spree off two Bellville chunkers.

Funeral services were held for Robert A. Coufal, 63, of Willow Springs and Joe Urban, 63, a native of Ellinger.

A 1960 La Grange High School graduate, Carolyn Burkett Muegge, was named the highest ranking woman judoist in the State of Georgia, according to a story in the Atlanta Journal. Carolyn was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Burkett of La Grange.

The five banks in the La Grange area: The First National Bank of La Grange, La Grange State Bank, Fayetteville Bank, Carmine State Bank and Round Top State Bank, continued to set new deposit records. The total was on the brink of $30 million, a gain of 2.2% over the April 20, 1971, call. Since June 1970, they recorded a one-year growth of 17.4%.

Petzold Gulf Service Station was advertising new tubeless tires for $17.95, $23.95 and $34.95 with six months to pay and no down payment.

For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.