Whatever happened to

TWENTY YEARS AGO (2003)

                --A graduation ceremony was held for fifth graders at the Gatesville Intermediate School who had completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. High school role models Ashley Goss and James Barron helped hand out the certificates.

                --U.S. Representative Chet Edwards was holding a town hall meeting in Gatesville where he discussed several issues, including a possible war with Iraq, the budget and veterans’ benefits, and answered a variety of questions from locals.

                --Coleman Autoplex was advertising a drawing to win a free trip for two to Las Vegas. Employees promoting the drawing included Gus Krueger, Rick Gonzales, Mark Staton, Buddy Cuevas, Ronnie Warren, and John Barron.

                --Students in Kay Bell’s kindergarten class had the chance to rub their physical education teacher’s bald head. Brian Edwards, the head boys’ basketball coach, had agreed to shave his head if the Gatesville squad qualified for playoffs… and they did.

THIRTY YEARS AGO (1993)

--Former Gatesville mayor John Ward was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. Ward, age 38, was to sit on the board through Feb. 1, 1999, pending confirmation by the Texas Senate.

--A vital and incredibly historic asset for Coryell County, and for all of Central Texas, had been reaffirmed with the addition of Mother Neff State Park and the scenic Old River Road to the National Registry of Historic Places.

--Osage resident, Alfa B. Nettles, was set to be honored on the occasion of her 90^th birthday. Friends were invited to come and help her celebrate. A party in her honor was being held at the Osage Baptist Church.

FORTY YEARS AGO (1983)

--Cub Scout den members in Pack 272 were busy working on projects for their Blue and Gold Banquet. The banquet was held in February each year to celebrate the birthday of Cub Scouting. The organization was celebrating their 53^rd year of scouting.

                --Pete Wasson, along with his wife Nancy and son David, visited in Boston, Mass., where they attended the dedication of the Tina and Gordon Wasson Ethnomycological Collection in honor of his parents. The event was held at the Botanical Museum at Harvard University in Cambridge.

                --Gatesville Mayor Creston Brazzil signed a proclamation designating the week of Feb. 19-26 as FFA week. Gatesville FFA president Billy Hopson and vice-president Tim Eary were present for the signing.

FIFTY YEARS AGO (1973)

--Five Gatesville High School seniors, Elizabeth Bennett, Cindy Byrom, Tony Henson, Brian McCorkle, and Phillip Williamson were selected by the S.L. Pruitt chapter of the National Honor Society for national recognition as outstanding NHS members.

                --The Riverside Nursing Home in the Fort Gates community was closed, and its 23 patients transferred to other nursing homes in the area. The facility, which had been open since 1966, was closed by the State Health Department saying the building had no fire sprinkler system.

                --Gatesville High School band members were rehearsing a Peter Rabbit book review scene for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Betsy Floyd was playing Peppermint Patty, Carla Donaldson was playing Linus, Judy Rhoads playing Lucy, and Cindy Nichols as Snoopy.

                --Mr. and Mrs. Don Conners were hosting a house-warming party in their new brick home on their ranch located two miles west of Bee house. Neighbors and friends had a special invitation to come and see their spacious new home.