Twenty years ago — 1998

The Seventh Annual Share A Dream tractor-trailer caravan consisted of 164 tractor-trailers which rolled out on a 25-mile-long round trip as a Confederate Civil War re-enactment group fired a cannon to signal the start of the convoy. More than 75 children with terminal illnesses or disabilities participated in the caravan this year which also included area fire companies, the Chautauqua Cruisers classic car club and four motorcycle organizations. As the caravan made its way through the villages of Fredonia, Brocton and Westfield on its journey back to the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk, spectators held signs and cheered on the riders.

Thirty years ago — 1988

Inattentiveness is one of the main reasons that the number of car-train accidents in New York State is on the increase. There are about 10-15 deaths a year in New York State caused by car-train accidents. And in spite of increased efforts to promote grade crossing safety, the rate of accidents seem to be going up in this state. In more than 45 percent of the accidents, drivers disregarded the mechanical devices, including bells, flashing red lights and even watchmen who tried to flag them down.

Forty years ago — 1978

The schedule at the new solid waste transfer plant on Webster Road in the town of Pomfret is seriously disrupting operations for Dunkirk rubbish collectors. The new transfer station is closed on Sunday and Monday. In addition to the Monday closing, city trucks are being forced to wait upward of an hour to unload at the transfer station. The uncollected Monday rubbish is delaying operations with Tuesday’s pickup.

Fifty years ago — 1968

Mike Tramuta of Dunkirk, who had two winning seasons as junior varsity basketball coach at Cardinal Mindszenty High School, has been appointed varsity basketball coach at Lake Shore Central High School. The popular Fredonia State graduate is a sixth-grade teacher in the Lake Shore school system. As head basketball coach, he will be replacing Gene Eddy.