Sheriff Jim & Marvin Zindler Ink Out-of-Court Settlement

April 2-6, 1976

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy confirmed that an outof- court settlement had been reached in the $3 million damage suit brought against him by Houston TV personality Marvin Zindler. The parties agreed not to publicly share the size of the settlement. Zindler had filed suit against the Fayette County Sheriff after an altercation that allegedly took place between the two in La Grange on Dec. 20, 1974, in which the TV reporter claimed he was injured. Sheriff Flournoy said the lawsuit “made me stronger. It sure let me know I have a lot of support around here.” Friends and constituents sponsored barbecues and proudly rode around with ‘I’m a friend of Sheriff Jim’s’ bumper stickers on their vehicles to raise money to fight the lawsuit.

The first good rain in La Grange for 1976 measured 2.42 inches.

Mrs. Robert Ruckert and John D. Marburger scored decisive victories to win trustee seats on the La Grange School Board. Mrs. Ruckert polled 561 votes against 466 for two opponents to succeed Lloyd Kolbe in Place 6. Of the 714 votes cast, the former teacher turned housewife, polled 402 in the La Grange box to 250 for Dr. C. Garrette Ray and 48 for James W. Bramblett. Mr. Marburger, a La Grange attorney, won handily over challenger Richard Landrum for Place 7, with 771 votes compared to 252. Mr. Marburger would assume the board place occupied by Rudolph Voss, who, like Mr. Kolbe, did not seek reelection.

Catherine B. Heimsath, a senior at Fayetteville High School, was named the Family Leader of Tomorrow for Texas in the Betty Crocker Search, sponsored by General Mills, Inc. Miss Heimsath received a $1,500 college scholarship and an expense-paid educational tour of Washington, D.C., in April, accompanied by her homemaking teacher, Mrs. Betty Henderson. The student also earned a 20-volume reference book, The Annals of America, from Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation for her school.

Thirty-eight building permits were issued in February and March to record La Grange’s construction total for the first quarter of the year at $473,948. The largest January permit ever issued was Donald Dopslauf’s 14-unit apartment complex. Among the other permits approved was $70,000 to remodel the Lester Hotel for Lee Mueller and Richard J. Cernosek.

A partnership known as ABCD was formed to operate the former Stackhouse Restaurant on Colorado St. in downtown La Grange. The partners were: Willie Brooks, Lee Mueller, Richard J. Cernosek and Jim Weikel. Mr. Brooks was to manage the new business, Brooks Restaurant.

Fayette County Commissioners Court accepted the resignation of Willie Brooks as the ambulance driver in Precinct 1.

Fayette County University of Texas Exes organized a local club to award an annual scholarship for county students attending UT. Dr. Don Mayer, Dr. Norman DeRuiter, Dr. David Moore, Rev. Frank Fuller, Mrs. Donald Maeker and Mrs. Bob Fritsch were elected as directors. In turn, the board elected Dr. Moore to serve as president for the next year.

Funeral services were held for: Alfred R. Weyand, 86, of Round Top; Walter H. Kalmus Jr., 40, of La Grange; Emil Prasifka, 90, of Fayetteville; Melissa Lynn, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ross White, of La Grange; Herbert A. Frede Sr., 84, of La Grange; and Mrs. Annie Fein, 75, a Fayette County native.

Law enforcement officers from all over South Texas were conducting a widespread search in and around Sealy for two suspects wanted in connection with the slaying of Department of Public Safety trooper Mark A. Fredrick around 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Among the 3,400 Southwest Texas State University students whose grades earned them places on the Dean’s Honor and Superior Honor Role were local scholars: Rox Ann Albrecht, Margaret Janda, Mark Janda, Theresa Kruppa, Harold Lindemann, Suzanne Mikula, Jeanette Reinhardt, Diane Schulz and Donna Starnes of La Grange; also Michael Galipp, Milton Holub, Kyle Holz, Donna Kubala, Jeffery Parker, Virginia Stanzel, Arleas Upton, William Wagner and Debbie Winkler of Schulenburg; Lonnie Lehmann, Warda; Linda Muras, Sylvia Segura and Renee Zapalac, Flatonia; Richard Walls, West Point; and Ann Zoch, Smithville.

Andrew C. (Snooks) Cowan of Flatonia was chosen as the Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District’s 1976 Resident Conservation Farmer. He operated a 92-acre farm in the Colony community.

Miss Cindy Petras of La Grange was representing the AustinAqua Festival at the Festival of States in St. Petersburg, Fla., April 6-11. Other out-ofstate queens competing in the contest were from Minnesota and Michigan.

La Grange Cleaners & Laundry opened for business on Monday at 124 S. Washington St., across fromThe Record. The firm’s hours were 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. The business was managed by Mrs. Leo Schultz, who had been associated with the dry cleaning business in La Grange for over 10 years.

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