Pleasanton GRADUATION Express closed SPECIAL SECTION PLEASANTON for INSIDE Memorial Day GRADUATION CEREMONY The Pleasanton Express office will be SCHEDULE IS IN closed Monday, May 29 in observance of OUT & ABOUT ON Memorial Day. The office will re-open on PAGE 7A. Tuesday, May 30 at 8 a.m. for business as XPRESS usual. Classified ad deadline will be moved pleasantonexpress.comX PRES $1.00 NewsstandS EE Wednesday, May 24, 2017 to noon on Tuesday. SERVING THE CITIZENS OF CHARLOTTE, JOURDANTON, PLEASANTON, POTEET, ATASCOSA COUNTY AND THE BRUSH COUNTRY Congratulations, 2017 Graduates Mark Barrera Jared Meyer Hannah Arisola Samantha “Sammie” Bast Emma Foster Valedictorian Valedictorian Valedictorian Valedictorian Valedictorian Charlotte High School Jourdanton High School McMullen County High School Pleasanton High School Poteet High School Mark Franklin Barrera is an Jourdanton High School Vale- Hannah Arisola is the 2017 Samantha Bast is the 2017 Emma Foster is the 2017 Poteet exemplary student who has dictorian, Jared Meyer is the son Valedictorian of McMullen Valedictorian of Pleasanton High Valedictorian. She is the daugh- proven himself in his educational of Joseph and Monica Meyer. County High School. Hannah, is School. Samantha, called Sammie ter of Doug and Dawn Foster. pursuits here at Charlotte High Being the third generation the daughter of Janean Arisola. by many, is the daughter of Alan Foster received a congres- School. He has undertaken many to graduate from Jourdanton, Hannah is a very dedicated, and Callie Bast. sional appointment from challenges and has proven him- Meyer was in a variety of activi- hard-working person who always Sammie grew up playing Congressman Henry Cuellar to self a superior scholar and com- ties throughout high school. puts forth a full effort into what almost every sport available the United States Naval Academy munity member. This has earned In the FFA, he showed goats ever she’s doing. locally; Tri-City Soccer, Little in Annapolis, Maryland. She Mark the distinction of being and pigs while also serving as a She was in varsity volleyball League softball, and Little will also be running track while named Charlotte High School’s chapter officer for three years. and basketball for four years Dribblers basketball. When she attending college. Valedictorian for 2017. He also participated in Plant ID, where she was the captain of entered high school she decided Foster will be a Pre-Med major Mark is the son of Adam and Range Judging, Livestock Judg- both. She was also involved in to focus on the sport she has and plans to become a neurolo- Maria Barrera of Charlotte. ing, Chapter Conducting, Quiz, National Honor Society for two come to love the most, tennis. gist or pediatric geneticist. She After graduation Mark plans on Creed and Public Speaking. years and was also the president Sammie is a four-year letterman has maintained a 4.0 GPA and attending Texas State University During his freshman and and FFA for four years and was in tennis, was named District ranked first in her class. She has and majoring in biology. He sophomore years, he was the president, too. MVP, Outstanding Tennis Player competed in volleyball, track and plans on pursuing a career in the president of his class. His fresh- Being involved in many differ- twice and has been a Regional weight lifting. medical field. man year, he made the ent activities made it difficult to Qualifier the past three years. She is a State record holder SEE BARRERA, PAGE 7A SEE MEYER PAGE 7A SEE ARISOLA, PAGE 7A SEE BAST, PAGE 7A SEE FOSTER, PAGE 7A Leonhardt appointed to Pleasanton City Council ERIKA VELA tude to the council mem- said Best. to appoint Leonhardt to SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS EDITOR bers and city. Several of the council the council. Judge Rosalin- “This was one of the members told Best they da De La Fuente adminis- Robert Leonhardt was last things I ever wanted would miss him serving tered the oath of office to appointed and sworn-in as to do…I’m so fortunate to on the council and they Leonhardt and was met by a Pleasanton City Council have been working for this enjoyed working with him. applause from the audi- member on Wednesday, city for this amount of “I just want to say also ence. May 17. Leonhardt will time and I am so fortunate I think who we’re replac- now occupy the Place 1 to have been working with ing me with will end up ERIKA VELA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS seat vacated by Doug Best, these council members being more than happily Robert Leonhardt was appointed after Best submitted his and the mayor. I just wish up for the job…He is an as the new Place 1 Pleasanton City resignation. there was another way for outstanding individual, Council member on Wednesday, Best who served on the us to do this. At this time, has real love for the com- May 17. Leonhardt was sworn-in city council for 3 years, I respectfully request that munity and he will do an by Judge Rosalinda De La Fuente announced his resignation the council and the mayor exceptional job,” said Best. immediately after the council’s and expressed his grati- accept my resignation,” The council then voted unanimous vote for appointment. Express brings home seven more awards at TGCPA SUE BROWN won second place for EDITOR Best Website and News Photos. Third place was Seasoned journalists awarded for Feature gathered for the annual Writing. Texas Gulf Coast Press The awards ceremony Association Better News- was held at the Holiday paper Contest in Galves- Inn Resort on the Beach ton last weekend. during the luncheon on The Pleasanton Friday, May 19. Express came home with “I am extremely proud seven awards - four first of the talented team of place, two second place newspaper and media and a third place. professionals at the The Express won first Pleasanton Express,” place for Humorous said Noel Wilkerson Column, Advertising, Holmes, Publisher. “We Special Section and were up against 27 Serious Column. We also SEE AWARDS, PAGE 7A MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ| PLEASANTON EXPRESS The award winning Express team brought home seven more from the Texas Gulf Coast Press Association Better Newspaper awards. Left to right back row, Aaron Davidson, Sarah Pace, Lisa Luna, Rhonda Chancellor, Ste- phen Garcia, Brianna Smith and Leon Zabava. Second row, left to right, Hope Garza, Jennifer Jaksik and Robbie Clifton Hamby. Front row, left to right, Erika Vela and Sue Brown. The Express won first place for Special Section, Advertising, Humorous Column and Serious Column. We also won second place for News Photos, Best Newspaper Website and a third place for Feature Writing. www.pleasantonexpress.com VOL 107, NO 29 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 5B CLASSIFIEDS 6-7C 830-569-6130 | 830-569-4967 64 pages, 4 sections, 5 inserts SPORTS 1-5C REAL ESTATE 7C View: EXPRESS Metro: 830-281-2341 © 2017 Pleasanton Express FARM & RANCH 8C PUBLIC NOTICES 7C PHOTOS FAX: 830-569-6100 SINCE 1909 OBITUARIES 9C pe1909 @PE1909.