Norman Porter & J.D. Krisell with part of Porter’s collection of over 100 Barbed Wire. PLEASANTON EXPRESS PHOTO While the Young Farmers Rodeo is still in the air, I have to share something special. I became an aunt again this week. Mind you not the aunt in the typical way…my Dad’s longhorn, Spot had a beautiful baby with an awesome cream color body, brown legs, and one eye patched brown. I can handle being this type of aunt no presents, diapers, or entertaining when I am around.

5 years ago this week

Members of the Pleasanton City Council unanimously adopted the resolution showing dissension with San Antonio Water Systems’ plan to use brackish water from Atascosa County. A loud round of applause from the audience followed.

•Many might think only big metropolitan areas get involved in the evacuation efforts for a hurricane. That is simply not true. The State and Atascosa County worked together in preparation to evacuate people from the Texas Rio Grande Valley as Hurricane Dean was slamming its category 5 winds into the Yucatan Peninsula and making its way to mainland Mexico or possible south. Strawberry Festival grounds became 1 of 2 refueling stations as truck loads of port-a-potties were brought in for potty and smoke breaks during evacuation.

10 years ago this week

•Pleasanton City Council unanimously approved preparing a resolution to the Texas National Resource Conservation Commission in opposition of the application of waste water treatment plant sludge in Atascosa County. Sludge permit, referred to as “toxic soup”, will allow the land application of sewage products on approximately 1,198 acres of land in Atascosa and Wilson County. Large cities have problems disposing of sewage.

•Thanks to money raised at the Poteet Strawberry Festival, two of the Atascosa Boxing Club’s more successful boxers, Ronald “Trey” Evens 17, of Jourdanton and Joe Robert Sambrano 18, of Pleasanton were invited by USA Boxing to compete in a Boxing Under 19 Tournament in Reno this past weekend. Sambrano with a record of 23-12 faced the number two ranked boxer in their weight class and lost in a close four round decision. Evans a starter on defense for Jourdanton Indians received two byes before he lost a close semifinal bout and earned a bronze metal.

15 years ago this week:

•Danny Arguijo, formerly of Pleasanton, has never missed a Cowboy Gallop in 19 years and he’s making plans to attend next year’s 20th annual 5k run.

20 years ago this week

•Majority of citizens attending a public hearing at Pleasanton City Hall last week spoke against the idea of instituting any type of curfew. General feeling was that the curfew would penalize the 95% of teens who pose no problem and that a curfew would have little effect on the 4 or 5 percent who cause problems and break the law. Curfew would place a burden on police and create additional paperwork. Sandra Poth stated “a curfew is basically a negative issue.”

25 years ago this week

•Pleasanton Rotary Club sponsors two exchange students to Sweden, Steve Kopp and Debbie Wilkins. Through the efforts of Rotary Clubs and districts around the world more than 10,000 students have learned firsthand of cultures, problems and accomplishments of people in distant lands. In addition to attending school in the foreign country, each student will present slide shows and speeches about America at Rotary Clubs and other organizations. Youth exchange program goals promote increased international understanding through contacts within the host family and efforts to expand awareness of differences in culture and language.

40 years ago this week

•Leonard Fluitt of Poteet was named 1972 Texas Youth Rodeo Association (TYRA) Rodeo Sportsman of the Year during the 1972 TYRA finals in Kingsville. Fluitt a charter member of the TYRA and a contestant in its rodeo for the past 14 years was a May graduate of Poteet High School and leaving this week for Tarleton State University.

45 years ago this week

•J.D. Krisell and Norman Porter of Pleasanton are captives of barbed wire. Not mind you, in the sense of having the seats of their britches hooked by the thorny stuff in trying to crawl through a fence. If might be less expensive if this were true – but not nearly so much fun. Both are “hooked” on the hobby which is the fastest growing in the country today. Both men guess they have over 100 kinds of barbed wire. There is a controversy with the number of barbed wire varieties, 400 patents, and as to who actually invented it. Some of the 18 inch pieces cost .75 cents to $10

. (WRITER’S NOTE: And here I thought my husband’s board with 6 pieces was just junk. Goes to show you, I may have something of value on the wall.)

ESTHER POKLADNIK, delves into the Express shelves for news of the past. She may be reached at : epokladnik@pleasantonexpress.com.