REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

June 16-20, 1972

Although three young people had about 45 minutes of freedom, they never got to spend the $21,000 they allegedly took in a hold-up at First State Bank of Smithville shortly after 10 a.m. on Friday. After making the mistake of coming into Fayette County, they were arrested on the east side of Plum at about 11:15 a.m. It wasn’t until after the get-away car was driven to the courthouse and Sheriff T.J. Flournoy ordered a check of the vehicle that two young women, who were also suspects, were found in the trunk. The 18-year-old Austin man driving the 1968 Dodge Charger and the two females were advised of their constitutional rights by Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Judge Harvey Albers of Warrenton. The trio was then searched and transferred to the Bastrop County Jail, where charges of robbery by firearms were filed against them.

Precinct 1 County Commissioner Guenther Behrens and his crew had completed a prime coat on the Frisch Auf! road from near Buckners Creek to the top of the hill where it intersected with Spur 92. Two coats of pea gravel pavement would be applied as soon as the weather got good and warm. Another road selected for paving ran off FM 155 about three miles south of La Grange in a westerly direction past the Dr. J.C. Guenther farm and intersected with another county road near the Piwetz farm.

One-party telephone service for Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative patrons on the Borden exchange was about six months away, according to Frank C. Reichert and Frank A. Schmidt of La Grange. The telephone company representatives were seeking permission from Colorado County Commissioners Court to lay cable along, and in some cases, across country roads. The exchange reached roughly from New Bielau to Holman, outside the Weimar city limits.

The American Red Cross was asking residents of Fayette County for donations to assist flood victims at Rapid City, South Dakota.

After nursing a 3-2 lead over Winchester through seven innings, the Schroeder Drug Stars erupted for five counters in the bottom of the eighth to salt away an 8-2 triumph. Singles by Hal Lindemann, Mark Muzny and Jim Quinn around walks to Billy Miller and David Bordovsky, and Charles Koether’s sacrifice in the eighth ensured the young Stars their third straight triumph.

Chas. Rightmer of Muldoon was presented with a plaque in recognition of 31 years of service as a director and past president of the Brenham Production Credit Union Association at its 38th annual stockholders’ meeting in Katy. Milton Koenning of Winchester was elected to serve as a director to represent Fayette County in Mr. Rightmer’s place.

Oldenburg Hermann Sons Lodge No. 118 was selling chicken barbecue to go on Sun., June 18, at Ziese’s Store in Oldenburg.

The Cistern School closed on May 29, completing a very successful year. A picnic of roasted wieners and smokettes with potato chips, cookies and drinks was served at the recreation hall for both the primary and elementary students. The group returned to the schoolhouse after lunch to receive their report cards. Eight students were presented with awards for making the honor roll every six weeks during the school term: Jamie Beck and Gale Farek, first grade; Ronnie Beck, Steve Firkins and Sandra Vinklarek, second grade; Angie Paige and Karen Vinklarek, third grade; and Michael Firkins, fourth grade. Michael also received a perfect attendance certificate for being neither tardy nor absent during the entire school year. The day concluded with Mr. Beck and his group doing some fishing in Ronnie Beck’s tank.

Brandt Bros. Equipment Co. was selling a 1070 Agri-King Case tractor for $9,450, plus an interest waiver until March 1973.

Paul Hoelscher was named the new head baseball coach for the Brenham High School Cubs. Hoelscher had been with the La Grange school system for the prior four years, serving as baseball coach in 1969 and again in 1972. His 1969 team, which had a 14-6 record, was beaten by Brenham’s Cubs for the district title. In 1972 when his team amassed a 23-7 mark, the Leopards captured the bi-district championship but lost the regional title to Jasper.

Special sale prices at W.E. Schulze Grocery in La Grange included: celery, nice large stalk, 23¢; Hunt’s Pork and Beans, No. 2½ cans, 29¢; Osage Peaches, large No. 2½ cans, 29¢; stew meat, per lb., 49¢; and American Beauty Fine Noodles, 10 oz. package, 29¢.

Funeral services were held for: Theodore D. Heinsohn, 91, of Willow Springs; Miss Mary Elizabeth (Bettie) Croft, 93, of Winchester; Martin Wagner, 75, of Freyburg; and Mrs. Alberta Gest, 67, of West Point.

Mrs. Emily Blume was elected chair of the Fayette County Home Demonstration Council.

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